Electrical Connector Blocking Portions Prevent Latching Arm Tilting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing card edge connectors can cause latching arms to tilt and potentially break when electronic cards are inserted, leading to deformation of contacts and loss of connection.

Innovation Solution

An electrical connector design featuring an insulative housing with latching arms and blocking portions on the sidewalls to prevent tilting, where the blocking portions extend into slots to stabilize the latching arms and prevent upward movement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If latching arms are designed to lock the card, then connection reliability is improved, but the latching arms may tilt and break causing device failure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection reliabilityVSAvoidlatching arm strength

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The latching mechanism is divided into separate functional components: the latching arm for locking, and the blocking portion for preventing tilting. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally without compromising the other.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The blocking portion acts as an intermediary element between the latching arm and the card. It mediates the interaction by preventing the latching arm from tilting while allowing the latching function to work effectively.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If latching arms are allowed to move freely to lock the card, then ease of operation is improved, but the contacts may deform causing harmful effects

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecard insertion easeVSAvoidcontact deformation

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The blocking portion provides preliminary anti-action by preventing the latching arm from tilting before the card can cause contact deformation. This preemptive measure stops the harmful sequence before it begins.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Solution Approach 2:

The potential harmful tilting motion of the latching arm is converted into a beneficial constraint. The blocking portion transforms what could be a destructive movement into a controlled, predetermined path that ensures proper card seating without contact damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Stability of the object's composition

If blocking portions are added to prevent latching arm tilting, then latching arm stability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelatching arm stabilityVSAvoidconnector structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The blocking portion is merged with the latching arm assembly, forming an integrated structure. This combining approach adds the stabilizing function without requiring a completely separate mechanism, thus minimizing the increase in device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The blocking portion serves multiple functions: it prevents latching arm tilting, guides card insertion, and maintains structural integrity. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS7828580B2Electrical connector with blocking portions for preventing latching arms from tilting

Publication Date: 2010.11.09 HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO LTD

AI summary

An electrical connector (100) includes an insulative housing (1), a plurality of contacts (2) received in the housing and a pair of latching members (3) assembled on the housing. The insulative housing defines a longitudinal main body (10) with an inserted groove (101) extending along a longitudinal direction, a pair of latching arms (11) extending forwards from two opposite ends of the main body and a pair of sidewalls (12) respectively positioned outside of the latching arms, each sidewall defines a slot (121) therein. The latching members are assembled on the latching arms, each latching member is being attached to an outer side of a corresponding latching arm and defines a blocking portion (35) extending into the slot.