Angled Wire Contacts in Telecommunications Distributor Blocks

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing distribution strips for telecommunications and data technology lack compactness and efficient electrical contact mechanisms.

Innovation Solution

A distribution strip design featuring angled wire connection contacts and a housing structure with specific geometries, including a 45° orientation of contact limbs and a tapered contact leg, which allows for better electrical contact and easier plug introduction, along with a modular housing comprising upper, middle, and lower parts for enhanced guidance and stabilization.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If wire connection contacts are aligned parallel to the housing side surfaces, then plug insertion is facilitated, but electrical contact reliability with wires deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveplug insertionVSAvoidelectrical contact
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The wire connection contacts are oriented at a 45-degree angle relative to the housing side surfaces, transitioning from a parallel alignment to an angular orientation. This dimensional change in contact orientation enables both reliable wire contact (through the angled approach) and facilitates plug insertion (through the geometric configuration), resolving the contradiction between electrical contact reliability and ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Volume of moving object

If contact elements are arranged in a compact configuration, then device size is reduced, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice sizeVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The contact elements are divided into modular components: a connecting web portion and contact limb portions that can be formed as separate features in the stamping process. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently for compactness while maintaining manufacturability through standard stamping techniques, reducing overall device volume without excessively increasing manufacturing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The contact elements utilize variable thickness parameters throughout their structure, with thinner sections in high-stress areas and thicker sections where structural support is needed. This parameter optimization enables compact design while maintaining structural integrity and ease of manufacture through controlled material distribution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If contact limbs are positioned at 45 degrees to the housing surfaces, then electrical contact with wires is improved, but plug insertion difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical contactVSAvoidplug insertion
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The contact limb geometry exhibits asymmetric design where the 45-degree angled portion provides optimal wire contact, while the opposing face and overall configuration are shaped to accommodate plug insertion. This asymmetric geometry allows the same contact element to fulfill both functions effectively, transforming the potential disadvantage of the 45-degree angle into an advantage through careful geometric optimization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Data Source

PatentEP2507869B1Distributor block
Publication Date: 2018.01.10 COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC
  • EP2507869B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2507869B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2b
  • EP2507869B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3b

AI summary

The invention relates to a distributor block (1) for telecommunications and data technology, comprising a housing and wire connection contacts (41, 51), wherein first wire connection contacts (41) are accessible from an upper face of the housing and second wire connection contacts (51) are accessible from a lower face of the housing, wherein the first and the second wire connection contacts (41, 51) are part of one-piece first and second contact elements (40, 50), respectively, which contact elements each comprise a connecting web (42, 52) and a contact leg (43, 53), wherein one contact leg (43) of a first contact element (40) and one contact leg (53) of a second contact element (50) form a disconnecting contact, wherein the wire connection contacts (41, 51) lie flush in a plane (E1), wherein the contact legs (43, 53) are arranged in such a way that the plane (E1) of the wire connection contacts (41, 51) is at an acute angle from a plane (E3) of the contact legs (43, 53).