Electrical Connector Board Locks Eliminate Fasteners
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electrical connectors with board locks are complex and costly due to the need for additional fasteners to secure the housing, shell, and board locks, increasing the number of elements and complicating the structure.
Innovation Solution
An electrical connector design featuring an insulative housing with a body and mating portion, integrated board locks with a hollow cylinder and hook section, and a metal shell that sandwiches the board locks without additional fasteners, along with a full-proofing device using a post and slit for accurate mating, simplifying assembly and reducing components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If additional fasteners are used to secure the housing, shell, and board locks, then the structural integrity is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The board lock integrates the fastener function directly into its structure. The hollow cylinder of the board lock serves dual purposes: it acts as both the locking mechanism and the fastening element that secures the shell to the housing. This eliminates the need for separate fasteners, reducing the number of elements while maintaining structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The board lock performs multiple functions simultaneously: it provides electrical grounding, secures the shell to the housing, and acts as a fastening element. The hollow cylinder structure serves as both a structural component and a fastening mechanism, reducing the overall component count while maintaining all necessary functions.
2Strength
If additional fasteners are used to secure the housing, shell, and board locks, then the structural integrity is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
By combining the fastening function into the board lock structure itself, the manufacturing process is simplified. Fewer separate components mean fewer assembly steps, reduced inventory management, and lower manufacturing costs while maintaining the necessary structural integrity through the integrated hollow cylinder design.
3Reliability
If the housing and shell are secured with multiple fasteners, then the grounding path is established, but the assembly process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The board lock's hollow cylinder integrates the grounding function with the fastening function. As the board lock is installed and secured to the housing, it simultaneously establishes the grounding path between the shell and the housing. This eliminates the need for separate grounding operations, simplifying the assembly process while ensuring reliable electrical connection.
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical connector (100) includes an insulative housing (10), a number of contacts (20) retained in the insulative housing, a metal shell (30) shielding the insulative housing, and a pair of board locks (40). The insulative housing has a body portion (11) and a mating portion (12). The body portion defines a pair of receiving spaces (14) extending therethrough. Each board lock has a first plate (41) with a hollow cylinder (44) and a hook section (42) extending out of the insulative housing. The metal shell defines a pair of through holes (33) corresponding to the hollow cylinders respectively. The metal shell and the insulative housing sandwich the first plates of the board locks therebetween.