Electrical Connector Elastic Arm Segmentation for Structural Strength
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wire-to-board electrical connectors have poor structural strength due to slender elastic arms, which can break easily when attempting to detach the male connector from the female connector.
Innovation Solution
The design includes an extension plate on the male connector body with hooks that latch into the female connector's latch edge and a blocking wall to enhance structural strength, allowing for secure assembly and easy detachment without breaking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If slender elastic arms are used in the male connector, then the connector can be easily detached by flipping, but the structural strength is poor and the elastic arm may break off from the male connector body
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic arm is divided into multiple sections: a body portion integrated with the male connector body, an extension plate portion extended from the front end surface, and hooks at the ends. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function while distributing stress, preventing breakage at any single point during detachment operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The extension plate is extended directly outwards from the front end surface of the male connector body, creating a linear plane configuration. This dimensional arrangement enhances structural strength by distributing mechanical stress across a larger area and providing additional structural support during the flipping and detachment process.
2Reliability
If hooks are used to latch to the latch edge for secure fixing, then the male connector is fixed securely to the female connector, but the elastic arm may break when flipped for detachment
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic arm is segmented into a body portion, extension plate portion, and hooks. This segmentation allows the hooks to provide secure latching while the extension plate provides structural reinforcement, preventing breakage during the detachment process.
Solution Approach 2:
The extension plate creates a linear plane with the top surface of the male connector body, adding structural dimensionality that reinforces the elastic arm against breaking while maintaining the latching function of the hooks.
3Strength
If the extension plate is extended outwardly from the front end surface forming a linear plane, then the structural strength is enhanced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The extension plate is merged as an integrated component of the male connector body, formed as a single piece that extends directly from the front end surface. This integration enhances structural strength while avoiding the complexity of separate assembled parts, as the entire elastic arm assembly (body portion, extension plate, and hooks) functions as one unified structure.
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical connector includes a female connector (10) and a male connector (20). The female connector (10) includes a female connector body (11) and a vertical wall (12) that define an accommodating space (17), a positioning block (13) disposed in the accommodating space (17), a latch edge (121) and a blocking wall (122) protruded from the vertical wall (12), and a latch space (18) defined by the latch edge (121) and female connector body (11). The male connector (20) having front, rear, and side end surfaces (211, 212, 213) is plugged into the accommodating space (17) and includes a male connector body (21), an extension plate (22), and a hook (23) latched to the latch edge (121), and the rear end surface (212) abuts the blocking wall (122), and the side end surface (213) has a positioning notch (217) for positioning the positioning block (13).