Electric Connector Retaining Piece Barb Protrusion Fixation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical connectors face challenges in stably assembling retaining members to insulating bodies during mounting on circuit boards.
Innovation Solution
An electrical connector module design featuring an insulating body with protrusions and a retaining piece with a mounting opening and barbs, where the barb pierces into the protrusion for secure fixation, enhancing assembly reliability and structural strength.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a retaining member with mounting feet is used to be mounted to circuit boards, then the electrical connector can be fixed to the circuit board, but the assembly reliability between the retaining member and the insulating body is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The retaining piece is divided into a main body and a mounting portion, with the mounting opening and barb structure segmented from the insulating body's protrusion design. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each component's function while maintaining reliable assembly through the barb-protrusion engagement mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting opening of the retaining piece is designed to sleeve over the protrusion of the insulating body, creating a nested structure where one component fits into another. This nesting arrangement ensures precise alignment and stable assembly without requiring additional fastening elements.
2Ease of manufacture
If the retaining piece is designed with a simple structure, then the manufacturing cost is reduced, but the assembly stability between the retaining piece and the insulating body deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The retaining piece features localized structural features (mounting opening and barb) concentrated at the assembly interface with the insulating body. This local quality enhancement ensures stable assembly without requiring complex structures throughout the entire component, maintaining manufacturing simplicity while achieving assembly stability at critical locations.
Solution Approach 2:
The assembly system combines different structural characteristics: the flexible barb element that can deform during assembly with the rigid protrusion of the insulating body. This composite structural approach allows easy assembly through elastic deformation while achieving stable fixed connection after assembly.
3Reliability
If the barb structure is added to the retaining piece, then the fixation reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The barb structure is extracted as a distinct functional element from the retaining piece, specifically designed to engage with the protrusion. This extraction allows the barb to be optimized for its fixation function while the rest of the retaining piece remains simple, achieving high fixation reliability without overall structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of adding complex fastening mechanisms to the retaining piece, the design inverts the approach by creating a simple barb that pierces into and locks onto the protrusion of the insulating body. This inverted design achieves reliable fixation through a simple, minimalistic structure rather than through complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical connector module includes an insulating body, a number of conductive terminals and a retaining piece. The insulating body includes an end wall. The end wall has an end surface and a protrusion. The retaining piece includes a main body and a mounting portion for being mounted to a circuit board. The main body includes a frame portion. The frame portion includes a mounting opening and a barb protruding into the mounting opening. The mounting opening is sleeved on the protrusion. The barb at least partially pierces into the protrusion for fixation. The present disclosure also discloses an electrical connector formed by combining a number of electrical connector modules.