Female Weatherstrip Clip With Visible Locking and Spring-Back Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing weatherstrip assembly methods in the automotive sector lack visibility during mounting, leading to reduced sealing effectiveness and quality due to non-fixed strips, and existing solutions do not provide easy and full assembly without causing deformation to the weatherstrip.
Innovation Solution
A female clip designed for easy assembly by mounting on a connector within the weatherstrip and passing to a pin on the vehicle body, featuring a thermoplastic material construction with specific prong structures for secure locking and spring-back mechanisms to ensure full fixing without deformation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional male clip-female part assembly method is used, then the weatherstrip can be assembled to the vehicle body, but the operator cannot see whether the mounting has been carried out correctly and non-fixed strips cause loss of sealing effect
Solution Approach 1:
The female clip is designed with a visible color that contrasts with the weatherstrip and vehicle body, allowing the operator to see when the clip is properly mounted and the weatherstrip is securely fixed. This visual indicator resolves the contradiction by making the mounting status detectable while maintaining sealing effectiveness.
2Ease of operation
If existing clip designs are used, then the weatherstrip can be fixed to the vehicle, but the assembly process is not easy and may cause deformation such as scratches or tears on the weatherstrip
Solution Approach 1:
The female clip is designed with flexible prongs that can elastically deform during assembly to engage with the connector, then spring back to lock securely. This flexibility allows easy assembly without requiring excessive force that could damage the weatherstrip, resolving the contradiction between assembly ease and weatherstrip integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The female clip acts as an intermediary component between the weatherstrip connector and the vehicle body pin. It provides a controlled engagement mechanism that distributes assembly forces evenly, preventing direct contact that could cause scratches or tears while maintaining secure fixation.
3Strength
If the female clip uses rigid structure for secure locking, then the fixing strength is improved, but the assembly process becomes more difficult and may cause deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The female clip incorporates dynamic elements with prongs that can elastically deform during assembly. The prongs bend to allow insertion, then spring back to create a secure locking force. This dynamic behavior provides strong fixation while maintaining ease of assembly, resolving the contradiction between strength and operational ease.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The female clip ensures complete fixing of weatherstrips, enhancing sealing against water, air, and dust while allowing for easy assembly and replacement, maintaining the integrity and appearance of the vehicle surfaces.
Implementation Method 1
comprises a spring element (310) having a longitudinal axis extending between an open end and a closed end
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
The invention relates to a female clip (30) for the assembly of weatherstrips used in automotive sector to prevent the entry of water, air, sound, dust into vehicles. The female clip (30) enables the weatherstrip fully fixed to the vehicle, by mounting on a connector (20) preinjected in a rubber-based injection compound (10) of the weatherstrip and then passing to a pin (50) spot welded to a vehicle body (40).