Data Cable Connector Angled Actuating Lever Unlocking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing data cable plugs with latching tongues face issues such as complex manufacturing processes, susceptibility to snagging, and difficulty in unlocking, especially in tight or inaccessible spaces, due to rear plastic encapsulations and conventional strain relief mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A multi-part connector design featuring a front plug-in element with a conventional latching tongue, an overmolded front body, and a rear slip-on grommet with an angled actuating lever that presses on the latching tongue to facilitate easy unlocking by pulling on the kink protection, without touching the latching tongue, allowing for simplified handling and reduced manufacturing complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a rear plastic encapsulation with a forward-facing protective arm for the latching tongue is used, then the latching tongue is protected, but the protective arm crawls under the rearward-pointing latching tongue during use, making unlocking difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional design by making the latching tongue protection extend backward instead of forward, and by directing the actuating lever's force forward onto the latching tongue rather than pressing from behind. This reversal prevents the crawling issue while maintaining protection functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent separates the latching tongue protection from the actuating mechanism, allowing the protection element to be a distinct component that can be optimized independently for both protection and non-interference with the actuating lever's motion.
2Ease of operation
If a complex pawl/release construction is used, then the connector can be unlocked, but the manufacturing effort and device complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex pawl/release mechanism and replaces it with a simpler actuating lever system that directly presses the latching tongue downward, eliminating unnecessary intermediate components while maintaining the unlocking function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical pawl/release system with a more direct mechanical action where the actuating lever applies force to the latching tongue, simplifying the mechanical system while achieving the same functional result.
3Reliability
If a conventional strain relief mechanism is used, then the data cable is protected, but the overall device complexity and manufacturing effort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the strain relief function with the existing connector body structure, integrating cable protection into the overall design rather than adding a separate complex strain relief mechanism, thereby reducing total device complexity.
4Reliability
If the latching tongue protection protrudes forward beyond the locking tongue, then the latching tongue is protected, but the plug becomes difficult to pull out of sockets in inaccessible places
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the protrusion direction by making the latching tongue protection extend backward instead of forward, eliminating the obstruction in front of the connector while maintaining protection through the backward-extending structure that supports the actuating lever's motion.
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 solution enables easy and reliable unlocking of the plug, even in tight spaces, with a simplified manufacturing process and no need for modifications to existing connectors, providing a cost-effective and space-efficient solution for high packing densities.
Implementation Method 1
an angled, curved actuating lever on the front part of the body, the axis of rotation of which is mounted in the encapsulation and which presses on the latching tongue with one end of the lever arm
Implementation Method 2
a front partial body with an overmolding, which is tensile at the front end the data cable is attached to the plug element in order to obtain a high tensile strength
Implementation Method 3
a flexible kink protection for the data cable
Data Source
Figure 1~1D
Figure 2~2d
Figure 3~3c
AI summary
The invention relates to a connector (1) for a data cable (2) with a front part (7) having a locking tongue (4), wherein the conductors of the data cable (2) lead to contacts (6) of a plug element, comprising: - a front part (7) with an overmolding (30) which is tensile-resistant and attached to the front end of the data cable (2) to ensure high tensile strength; - a rear part (8) in the form of a push-fit socket with a forward-facing locking tongue guard (9) and a flexible strain relief (10) for the data cable;- an angled actuating lever (20) on the front part body (7), the axis of rotation of which is mounted in the overmolding (30) and which presses on the locking tongue (4) with one lever arm end and is guided with the other lever arm end in an actuating lever guide (5) of the locking tongue guard (9), wherein, in the connected state of the plug (1), the actuating side of the actuating lever (20) lies on the front area of the locking tongue guard (9) and, when the plug (1) is pulled out, the actuating lever (20) is actuated by the actuating lever guide (5) at an area of the rear part body (8) to press on the locking tongue (4) releasing the plug locking in a socket and the data cable plug can be pulled out unlocked.