Board-Mounted Connector With Elastic Retainer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bottom entry type connectors require soldering of reinforcement members and lead terminals to prevent electrical discontinuity, making the assembly process complex and prone to errors.
Innovation Solution
A connector design featuring a housing with a leg section and head section, retainer pieces with cantilever springs, and contacts that establish secure electrical contact without soldering by inserting the leg section through an opening in the board, using retainer pieces to prevent pull-out and contacts to supply power elastically.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If soldering is used to connect reinforcement members and lead terminals to the board, then electrical continuity and reliability are improved, but the assembly process becomes complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the soldering process (thermal/chemical joining) with a mechanical press-fit system. The connector housing is inserted into a recess in the board and secured by elastic retention pieces that engage with grooves on the board surface, eliminating the need for soldering while maintaining secure electrical connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic retention pieces automatically engage with the board grooves when the connector is inserted, providing self-retaining functionality without requiring additional fastening steps. The press-fit design allows the connector to secure itself to the board through elastic deformation and mechanical interlocking.
2Reliability
If soldering is performed on all lead terminals, then electrical reliability is improved, but manufacturing time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates soldering entirely by using a mechanical press-fit connection system. The connector housing fits into a recess and is retained by elastic pieces that engage with grooves, allowing for rapid assembly without thermal processing or soldering operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The board is pre-formed with grooves and recesses that guide and secure the connector during insertion. The elastic retention pieces are pre-configured to engage with these grooves, enabling automatic positioning and securing without additional assembly steps.
3Reliability
If lead wires are routed through openings in the board, then electrical connection is achieved, but the assembly process becomes complex and error-prone
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the need for lead wires by integrating the electrical connection function directly into the connector housing. The connector itself serves as both the mechanical support and the electrical contact element, removing the separate lead wire component and its routing requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the mechanical support function (housing) and the electrical connection function (contacts) into a single integrated connector component. This eliminates the need for separate lead wires and simplifies the assembly process by reducing the number of components and steps.
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
Enables a simple and automated assembly process with secure electrical contact, eliminating the need for soldering and ensuring reliable power supply to the board, while allowing for easy disassembly and reuse of components.
Implementation Method 1
a cantilever spring section which extends toward the bottom surface of the board while obliquely separating from the side surface, and which is pressed by an edge of the opening to be deformed in a direction approaching the side surface when the leg section is inserted in the opening, and an apex section of which goes through the opening to the side of the bottom surface of the board to recover from being deformed so as to prevent the board from being pulled out
Implementation Method 2
a contact that has a shape protruding from the head section toward the top surface of the board, and that is pressed by the contact point of the top surface of the board to be elastically deformed when the leg section is inserted in the opening so as to press the contact in a state of being retained by the retainer piece, and that serves for supplying electric power to the contact point
Data Source
AI summary
A connector adapted to: (a) extend through an opening in a board to protrude from both a top surface of the board and a bottom surface of the board, (b) secure the connector to the board, and (c) electrically connect a power supply to a terminal on the board. The connector includes a housing having: (a) a leg section, (b) a head section at a first end of the leg section of the housing, and (c) a receiving recess at a second end of the leg section adapted to receive the power supply board. This connector also includes an elastically deformable retainer piece having: a) a cantilever spring section fixed at a first end to the leg section of the housing and adapted to be below the bottom surface of the board, and (b) an apex section at a second end of the cantilever spring section adapted to bear against the bottom surface of the board. This connector further includes an elastically deformable contact protruding from the head section of the housing adapted to contact the terminal of the board.