Connector Cage Spring Member Fixing via Hole Insertion

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional connector cages risk breaking the spring assembly when a mating connector is fitted due to the distal ends of the tabs catching the mating connector.

Innovation Solution

A connector cage design featuring a cage body with a reception portion, a partition member, and a spring member with protruding portions that are inserted through holes in the cage body and bent to prevent the spring member from being caught during connector fitting, ensuring the spring member is securely connected and less likely to break.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If tabs are folded back toward the mating connector to fix the spring assembly, then the spring assembly is secured to the partition wall, but the distal ends of the tabs may catch the mating connector, causing breakage of the spring assembly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefixing strength of spring assemblyVSAvoidbreakage resistance of spring assembly

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The harmful distal ends of the tabs are extracted or removed by bending them inward toward the partition wall, eliminating the catching hazard while preserving the fixing function of the tabs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The tabs are preliminarily bent inward to prevent the harmful effect of catching the mating connector before the connector is inserted, thereby avoiding spring assembly breakage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

2Reliability

If protruding portions are bent to prevent catching, then the spring member is protected from breaking, but the manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebreakage resistance of spring memberVSAvoidmanufacturing simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The fixing structure is segmented into multiple components (cage body, partition member, spring member with protruding portions) connected through holes, allowing independent manufacturing and assembly while achieving reliable fixation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of bending tabs inward to prevent catching, the invention inverts the approach by having protruding portions pass through holes and bend outward, achieving both secure fixation and protection from catching

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS10819072B2Connector cage and connector including same

Publication Date: 2020.10.27 JAPAN AVIATION ELECTRONICS IND LTD

AI summary

A connector cage that makes a spring member difficult to be broken when a mating connector is fitted. The connector cage includes a cage body that has a reception portion for receiving a mating connector therein, a partition member that partitions the reception portion in a left-right direction of the cage body, and a spring member that is arranged at a front end of the partition member in a front-rear direction, and is brought into contact with the mating connector. A first hole is formed which is a through hole extending through the cage body in an up-down direction. The spring member includes a spring member-side protruding portion which is inserted through the first hole, and is connected to the cage body.