Wire Retaining Bracket Form-Fit Anchoring

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fastening arrangements for vehicles, such as child seat anchorage systems, face challenges in reliable and simple production due to issues like welding spatter contamination during assembly, requiring complex protective measures and increased production complexity.

Innovation Solution

A form-fitting connection between the retaining bracket and the vehicle body, utilizing a U-shaped wire bracket with foot sections that engage under a reinforcement element, eliminating the need for welding and allowing for a simpler, tool-free pre-assembly process with latching elements for secure anchoring.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If welding is used to connect the reinforcement plate to the body panel, then a strong material connection is achieved, but welding spatter contaminates the connection surface requiring post-treatment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection strengthVSAvoidmanufacturing simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The connection system is divided into three separate components: the retaining bracket, the reinforcement plate, and the body panel. The retaining bracket is separated from the welding operation and connected via form-fit connection, while only the reinforcement plate is welded to the body panel. This segmentation allows the connection surface to remain clean without spatter contamination.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The retaining bracket acts as an intermediary element between the reinforcement plate and the final anchorage function. By introducing this intermediate component with form-fit connection features (U-legs engaging with receiving elements), the design eliminates the need for direct welding of the bracket to the panel, thus preventing spatter contamination of the connection surface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a protective film is used to cover the body surrounding the mounting bracket connection, then welding spatter on the connection surface is avoided, but production technology becomes complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewelding spatter contaminationVSAvoidproduction complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The retaining bracket is extracted from the welding process entirely. Instead of being welded directly to the body panel, it is connected through a form-fit mechanical connection system. This extraction removes the source of spatter contamination from the connection surface, eliminating the need for protective films and their associated production complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If the retaining bracket is anchored directly to the floor panel, then forces are applied directly to the vehicle body, but a complex pre-assembly process with welding is required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveanchoring reliabilityVSAvoidassembly simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The anchoring system is segmented into modular components: the retaining bracket with form-fit connection elements, the reinforcement plate with welding interface, and the body panel. This segmentation enables simplified assembly where the bracket can be installed via form-fit connection without requiring welding operations for the bracket itself, reducing assembly complexity while maintaining reliability through the combined connection system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP2694326B1Retaining bracket in an automobile
Publication Date: 2017.05.10 VOLKSWAGEN AG
  • EP2694326B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2694326B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2694326B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The invention relates to a fastening arrangement for a vehicle, with a retaining clip (1), in particular wire clip, the foot part (15) of which is anchored on a reinforcing element (17), in particular reinforcing plate, fixed on a body component (3) of the vehicle. According to the invention, in order to anchor the foot part (15) between the reinforcing element (17) and the body (3), a mounting gap (21) is formed, in which the foot part (15) of the retaining clip (1) is arranged for engaging under the reinforcing element (17).