Ball-Locking Socket Connector for Anti-Disconnection Plugs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing power extension cables with female socket connectors are prone to accidental disconnection due to the plug falling off when contacted accidentally.
Innovation Solution
A socket connector with a locking mechanism featuring an insulative body, conductors, balls, and sliders, where the slider is slidable along a channel to lock the plug in place using a ball and a latch mechanism, and can be released by pressing a push button.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a simple socket connector is used, then the device complexity is low, but the reliability is poor due to accidental disconnection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic locking mechanism where the slider can move between locked and unlocked positions. The ball and slope configuration allows the connector to transition from a loose state to a securely locked state, providing dynamic adaptability while maintaining connection stability. This resolves the contradiction by introducing controlled movement rather than a fixed static structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanism is nested within the socket connector body. The ball is positioned within the communicating path, the slider moves within the slide channel, and the latch engages with the slide channel wall. This nested arrangement adds locking functionality without significantly increasing the overall device footprint or complexity.
2Reliability
If a locking mechanism is added to prevent accidental disconnection, then the reliability improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple locking elements (ball, slider, latch) into an integrated mechanism where the slider simultaneously performs multiple functions: it positions the ball, engages the latch, and provides the push button interface. This merging of functions reduces the number of separate components compared to having independent locking elements, thereby improving reliability while limiting the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The slider serves multiple purposes: it acts as a positioning element for the ball, an engagement element for the latch, and provides the user interface through its push button. This multi-functionality allows the locking mechanism to achieve high reliability without requiring numerous separate components, thus resolving the contradiction between reliability and complexity.
3Ease of operation
If a locking mechanism with push button is used, then the ease of operation improves for secure locking, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is designed to be self-actuating through the push button on the slider. When the user presses the push button, it automatically moves the slider to the locked position, which in turn positions the ball and engages the latch without requiring additional manual manipulation. This self-service characteristic improves ease of operation while keeping the mechanism relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The slider acts as an intermediary element between the user's push button action and the locking function. It translates the simple linear motion of pressing the button into the coordinated movement of the ball and latch engagement. This intermediary role simplifies the user interface while managing the complexity of the locking mechanism internally.
Data Source
AI summary
A socket connector includes an insulative body (100), a conductor (200), a ball (300) and a slider (400). The insulative body (100) has a socket (101), a slide channel (102) and a communicating path (103), and the communicating path (103) is connected to one side on the socket (101) and one sided on the slide channel (102). The conductor (200) is arranged in the socket (101), and the communicating path (103) is disposed corresponding to one side of the conductor (200). The ball (300) is disposed in the communicating path (103). The slider (400) is disposed in the slide channel (102), and the slider (400) has a slope (401). The slider (400) is slidable along the slide channel (102) to a locking position to press the ball (300) by the slope (401) so as to push the ball (300) into the socket (101) to abut against the conductor (200).