Adjustable Collar for Non-Standard Right Angle Cable Assembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

Standard right angle cable and connector assemblies are limited to fixed angular orientations (90, 180, 270, or 360 degrees) when attached to a host receptacle, failing to accommodate customized orientation requirements in various applications.

Innovation Solution

A collar is introduced between the cable transition member and the connector body, allowing for adjustable angular orientation between 1 and 360 degrees by aligning the longitudinal axes of the collar and cable transition member, and secured using injection molding or mechanical means, ensuring the cable assembly can be oriented non-interferingly with respect to a host receptacle.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a standard right angle connector is used, then the cable assembly can be attached to a host receptacle, but the angular orientation is limited to fixed positions (90, 180, 270, or 360 degrees)

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveangular orientation flexibilityVSAvoidconnector structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The connector assembly is divided into separate components: a collar component with indexing features and a connector body with corresponding engagement features. This segmentation allows the collar to be independently positioned at different angular orientations before being secured to the connector body, enabling flexible cable routing angles while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The collar acts as an intermediary component between the cable transition member and the connector body. It provides indexing features that enable predetermined angular orientations and includes a cable clamp to secure the cable at the desired angle, thereby mediating between the fixed connector body and the flexible cable routing requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the cable is positioned at a non-standard angle, then interference with host receptacle components is prevented, but standard connector molding processes cannot be used

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinterference with host componentsVSAvoidmolding process

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The collar is pre-formed with indexing features and cable clamp structures before being attached to the connector body. This preliminary preparation allows the collar to be positioned at the desired non-standard angle in advance, and then secured to the connector body using conventional molding or mechanical attachment processes, thereby achieving custom angles without requiring complex custom molding.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The collar serves as an intermediary that absorbs the complexity of angular positioning. By providing pre-formed indexing features and attachment mechanisms, it enables non-standard angle positioning while allowing the connector body itself to be manufactured using standard molding processes, thus separating the customization requirement from the main production process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If a collar is added to enable angular adjustment, then flexible positioning is achieved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveangular positioning flexibilityVSAvoidnumber of components

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple functions are merged into the collar component: it provides indexing features for angular positioning, includes a cable clamp to secure the cable, and serves as an attachment interface to the connector body. By combining these functions into a single component rather than using separate elements, the angular positioning flexibility is achieved with minimal increase in overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The collar is designed as a multi-functional component that can accommodate different cable angles while also providing cable retention and structural support. This universal design allows a single component to fulfill multiple roles, reducing the need for additional specialized parts and thereby limiting the increase in device complexity despite the added adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS11223156B2Collar for connector assembly

Publication Date: 2022.01.11 ADVANTAGE COMPONENTS INC

AI summary

A cable assembly is provided comprising a collar adjacent to a cable transition member, the cable transition member having a first longitudinal axis x1, the collar having a second longitudinal axis x2. The cable transition member provides for a cable to extend by approximately 90 degrees from the first axis x1 of the cable transition member, a connector body having a non-circular outer diameter, wherein the collar is disposed between the connector body and the cable transition member so that the first axis x1 and the second axis x2 are aligned and the collar secures the cable transition member in a predetermined angular orientation z with respect to the connector body. The angular orientation z of the cable transition member with respect to the connector body is other than 90, 180, 270 or 360 degrees with respect to the first axis x1.