Bendable Magnetic Connector Housing for Clothing Attachment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing connectors with rigid housings and magnetic metal members are difficult to attach to bendable objects like clothing and cannot follow the object's bending, risking dislodgment, damage, or discomfort.
Innovation Solution
A connector with a bendable insulator housing and spaced magnetic retainer members that allow for flexible bending, along with electrically conductive contacts formed as a coating layer or from conductive rubber, enabling secure attachment to bendable objects without interfering with their shape.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the housing is made rigid and magnetic metal members are disposed across the entire mating surface, then the connector can maintain stable mating, but it becomes difficult to attach to bendable objects like clothing and cannot follow bending
Solution Approach 1:
The magnetic metal members are divided into multiple discrete retainer members spaced apart from each other in a predetermined direction, rather than forming a continuous rigid structure. This segmentation allows the housing to bend while the retainer members remain distributed throughout the housing, maintaining magnetic attraction capability while accommodating flexing movements.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing is constructed from a bendable insulator material that allows the connector to flex and conform to bendable objects like clothing. This flexible housing can be attached to such objects and will follow their bending without breaking or dislodging the connector.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the housing is made bendable, then the connector can be attached to bendable objects, but the magnetic metal members may interfere with bending
Solution Approach 1:
By spacing multiple retainer members apart from each other rather than using a continuous rigid magnetic structure, the housing can bend more freely. The discrete retainer members do not create a rigid framework that would resist bending, allowing the flexible housing to conform to bendable objects while still providing magnetic retention force.
3Force
If magnetic metal members are disposed across the entire mating surface, then strong magnetic attraction is achieved, but the connector cannot be sewn or attached without avoiding these members
Solution Approach 1:
The magnetic metal members are segmented into multiple retainer members spaced apart from each other. This creates open spaces between the retainer members where sewing threads or adhesive can be applied, making it easy to attach the connector to bendable objects like clothing without needing to avoid magnetic interference zones.
Solution Approach 2:
The spaced retainer member configuration allows the connector to be attached by multiple methods (sewing, adhesion) and accommodates various attachment patterns. The open spaces between retainer members provide universal attachment zones that work with different fastening techniques.
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 connector can be reliably attached to bendable objects without causing damage or discomfort, maintaining a secure mating state while allowing for flexibility in design and sewing without extra sewing regions.
Implementation Method 1
the plurality of retainer members which are formed from a magnetic substance or magnet and arranged in the housing, and when the connector is mated with the mating connector, attracted to a magnet the mating connector has so as to hold the mating state
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are a connector and a connector assembly which can be attached for use to a bendable object of interest such as clothing. A connector, which is mated with a mating connector, is provided with a plate-shaped housing, electrically conductive contacts arranged on the housing, and a plurality of retainer members formed from a magnetic metal and arranged in the housing. When the connector is mated with the mating connector, the retainer members are attracted to a magnet that the mating connector has so as to hold the mating state. The housing is formed from a bendable insulating rubber, and the plurality of retainer members are spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction (the X direction) parallel to a front surface of the housing.