Cable End Retention Clip With Angled Release Ramp
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cable end connection systems are difficult to access and install/remove, often leading to cross-threading and jamming, resulting in insecure attachment and potential future disconnection.
Innovation Solution
A connector assembly with a cable end plug featuring outwardly extending flanges and a retention clip with spring arms and a distal entry ramp portion, allowing for secure engagement and easy release through a combination of angled retaining shoulders and ejector tabs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If threaded fasteners (screws) are used to retain cable end plugs, then secure attachment is achieved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to difficulty in accessing and seeing the screws for installation and removal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the fastening function from threaded screws and relocates it to a retention clip with spring arms that engage with flanges on the cable end plug. This allows the fastening action to be performed by simply pushing the plug into place, while the retention clip automatically secures it, eliminating the need for technicians to access and manipulate hidden screws.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of requiring active manipulation of screws to secure the plug, the invention inverts the mechanism so that passive engagement of flanges with spring arms provides secure retention. The spring arms are biased to engage the flanges automatically upon insertion, reversing the traditional approach where active fastening is required.
2Reliability
If threaded fasteners are used, then secure attachment is achieved, but device complexity increases due to risk of cross-threading and jamming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex threaded fasteners with a simpler retention clip mechanism using spring arms and flanges. This simpler mechanism eliminates the complexity of threads while providing reliable retention, accepting that the retention clip may need replacement rather than designing for indefinite service life of the fastening mechanism.
3Ease of operation
If cable end plugs are left pressed in without anchoring, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to inadvertent disconnection
Solution Approach 1:
The retention clip with spring arms provides self-service retention by automatically engaging the flanges on the cable end plug upon insertion. The spring arms are biased to maintain constant engagement pressure, providing continuous retention without requiring active intervention from the technician to secure the connection.
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 secure and easy installation/removal of cable end plugs without damaging the connection parts, preventing inadvertent disconnection by providing a reliable retention mechanism.
Implementation Method 1
the spring arms are set at an angle of at least 94° to the flange receiving portion to form a release ramp that allows disengagement when a sufficiently high predetermined release force is applied to the cable end plug in a direction away from the receptacle, causing the spring arms to resiliently deflect outwardly and release the respective flanges
Implementation Method 2
the distal entry ramp portions of the spring arms cause the spring arms to resiliently deflect outwardly as the cable end plug engages and is pushed into the receptacle, until the flanges pass the retaining shoulder portions and the spring arms resiliently spring inwardly
Data Source
AI summary
A connector assembly is provided having a cable end plug with a body adapted to be connected to a cable with a connector part, and at least one outwardly extending flange on the body. A mating receptacle receives the cable end plug. The receptacle has a body with a complementary connector part to the cable end plug connector part. A retention clip is connected to the receptacle body, and includes at least one spring arm extending outwardly therefrom with a distal entry ramp portion, a retaining shoulder portion and a flange receiving portion. A thickness of the flange is approximately equal to a depth of the flange receiving portion so that the retaining shoulder portion engages behind the flange in a connected position of the cable end plug in the mating receptacle. For release, the retaining shoulder can be set at an angle of at least 94° to the flange receiving portion to form a release ramp that allows disengagement when a sufficiently high predetermined release force is applied to the cable end plug. Alternatively, the retaining shoulder is set at about 90° and ejector tabs are provided on the cable end plug to disengage the spring arms.