Electrical Connector Coupling Member Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical connectors require complex internal structures and burdensome assembly processes due to the use of multiple joining means, such as engagement tabs and coupling members, which also weaken the housing halves and increase manufacturing time.
Innovation Solution
An electrical connector design that uses metal strip-shaped coupling members with engaging portions that span both housing halves, allowing for secure coupling and assembly solely through lateral face engagement, eliminating the need for engagement window portions and simplifying the internal structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If engagement tabs and coupling members are used to join housing halves and connect connecting units, then the connector can be assembled and coupled, but the internal structure becomes complex and assembly operations become burdensome
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the functions of engagement tabs and coupling members into a single integrated coupling member structure. The coupling member includes engagement portions that directly engage with the housing halves, eliminating the need for separate engagement tabs on the shielding plates. This merging simplifies the internal structure and reduces the number of components required for assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and eliminates the engagement tabs from the shielding plates, removing this redundant component from the system. The coupling member is designed to perform both the functions of the former engagement tabs and coupling members, thereby simplifying the overall structure and reducing assembly complexity.
2Ease of manufacture
If engagement window portions are formed in housing halves for engaging engagement tabs, then the housing halves can be joined, but the strength of the housing halves is weakened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the engagement window portions from the housing halves by eliminating the engagement tabs that required these windows. The new coupling member design engages with the housing halves through solid material rather than through windows, thereby maintaining the structural integrity and strength of the housing halves while still enabling joining capability.
3Reliability
If multiple types of joining means are used for assembling connector components, then the components can be securely joined, but the manufacturing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple joining functions into a single coupling member that performs both engagement and coupling operations. This reduces the number of assembly steps and the time required for manufacturing while maintaining secure joining through the integrated engagement portions that directly connect the housing halves.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling member is designed with pre-formed engagement portions that are ready to engage with the housing halves upon insertion. This preliminary configuration of the coupling member allows for quick and secure assembly without requiring multiple separate joining operations, thereby reducing manufacturing time while ensuring reliable connection.
Data Source
AI summary
The coupling members are positioned so as to span both paired housing halves and extend across the multiple connecting units in the direction of coupling of the connecting units, while, at the same time, having pairs of engaging portions engaging the respective housing halves of each connecting unit 10, and each of the paired housing halves has engageable portions engaging the corresponding engaging portions both in the direction of connection to counterpart connector components and in the direction of coupling.