Circuit Board Connector with Integral Housing-Movable Member Molding

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electric connectors for circuit boards require multiple production steps due to separate molding of the housing and movable member, leading to complexity and high production costs.

Innovation Solution

The electric connector is produced by integral molding of the housing and movable member simultaneously, with the movable member being movable between positions, eliminating the need for additional assembly steps.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the housing and movable member are molded separately and then assembled, then the production process is complex and costly, but the structural integrity and reliability are maintained

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction process complexityVSAvoidconnector reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the housing and movable member into a single integrally molded component. The housing includes a reception part for the flat conductor and a housing part that houses the movement restricted part and movement restricting part. This integration eliminates separate assembly steps, simplifies the production process, and reduces costs while maintaining structural integrity through the unified design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Productivity

If the housing and movable member are molded at the same time, then the production steps are reduced, but the movement restriction mechanism becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction efficiencyVSAvoidmovement restriction mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The movement restricting part is formed as an exposed part of the metal member that is held by the housing through integral molding. The housing part includes a penetration space or communicating space that allows the movement restricted part to interact with the movement restricting part. This integrated design achieves both production efficiency through simultaneous molding and functional simplicity through the natural interaction of the exposed metal part with the housing structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Manufacturing precision

If separate molding steps are used for housing and movable member, then the manufacturing precision can be controlled, but the production time and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemolding precisionVSAvoidproduction time
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The metal member is prepared in advance with a rolled surface and an exposed part that will form the movement restricting part. During the integral molding process, the housing is formed around this pre-prepared metal member, with the housing part creating the penetration space or communicating space that accommodates the exposed part. This preliminary preparation of the metal member allows for precise control of the movement restriction mechanism while maintaining efficient simultaneous molding.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3629422B1Electric connector for circuit board, and producing method for electric connector for circuit board
Publication Date: 2026.04.15 HIROSE ELECTRIC CO LTD
  • EP3629422B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3629422B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP3629422B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

An electric connector for a circuit board includes a housing including a reception part, a plurality of metal members, and a movable member that is movable relative to the housing. The movable member includes a movement restricted part. The metal members include a rolled surface that is parallel to a connector width direction and an exposed part that is exposed from the housing. The rolled surface of the exposed part faces the movement restricted part and the exposed part includes a movement restricting part that restricts movement of the movement restricted part. The connector includes a housing part for housing the movement restricted part and the movement restricting part.