Connector Cover Mounting with Asymmetric Locking and Interfering Portion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing connectors face challenges in ensuring the cover is mounted in the proper posture on the housing, leading to potential errors in assembly and connection due to point-symmetric locked portions and lack of clear differentiation between lock portions.
Innovation Solution
The connector design includes first and second mounting portions with specific lock and interfering portions arranged 180° inverted from the housing center, along with a lever and laterally projecting portion to prevent erroneous mounting and connection by interfering with the cover if it is not in the correct posture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If locked portions are arranged in a point-symmetric manner on four corner parts, then the cover can be mounted in two mounting postures, but the operator may mount the wire cover on the housing in the inverted mounting posture
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by making the first lock portion and interfering portion arranged at positions inverted 180° with respect to each other around the center of the rear surface portion. This asymmetric arrangement ensures that when the cover is mounted in the inverted posture, the interfering portion interferes with the first lock receiving portion, preventing erroneous mounting while maintaining the ability to mount in the correct posture
2Reliability
If the interfering portion is arranged in the escaping space, then the cover can be properly mounted, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the interfering portion with the second lock portion, arranging them side by side on the second mounting portion. This integration allows the interfering portion to perform its function of preventing inverted mounting while sharing the structural space with the second lock portion, thereby reducing overall structural complexity
Data Source
AI summary
A first mounting portion 31 of a housing 10 includes first lock portions 33. A second lock portion 32 of the housing 10 includes a second lock portion 37 and an interfering portion 38 arranged side by side with the second lock portion 37. A first mount receiving portion 66 of a cover 60 includes first lock receiving portions 68 to be locked by the first lock portions 33. A second mount receiving portion 67 of the cover 60 includes a second lock receiving portion 69 to be locked by the second lock portion 37 and an escaping space 71, the interfering portion 38 being arranged in the escaping space 71. The first lock portion 33 and the interfering portion 38 are arranged at positions inverted 180° with a center of a rear surface portion 28 in a back view of the housing 10 as a center.