Connector Cover Locking Mechanism Prevents Vertical Detachment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing connector designs fail to securely attach a cover to a housing, allowing detachment when wires are pulled vertically, as the locking mechanism is disengaged, leading to potential separation of the cover from the housing.
Innovation Solution
A connector design featuring a housing and cover with alternating outer and inner lock portions that maintain a locked state regardless of directional force, ensuring the cover remains attached by having outer locks approach the outer lock receiving portion and inner locks approach the inner lock receiving portion, even if one lock is disengaged.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single locking mechanism is used to attach the cover to the housing, then the structure is simple, but the cover can be detached when wires are pulled vertically
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is divided into multiple independent locking portions (first locking portion with outer lock and inner lock, second locking portion with outer lock and inner lock) distributed around the circumference. Each locking portion can independently engage with its corresponding receiving portion, so that when one locking portion disengages due to vertical wire pull, other locking portions maintain the attached state, preventing cover detachment
Solution Approach 2:
Different locking portions are positioned at different locations (outer peripheral side and inner peripheral side) to provide localized locking functions. The outer locks engage with outer lock receiving portions while inner locks engage with inner lock receiving portions, creating distributed local locking zones that collectively secure the cover against various方向的 forces
2Reliability
If outer locks and inner locks are disposed in an overlapping manner, then the locking coverage is comprehensive, but the fitting tube size increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of arranging outer locks and inner locks in an overlapping radial configuration that increases diameter, the invention transitions to a side-by-side circumferential arrangement where outer locks and inner locks are positioned adjacent to each other around the circumference. This dimensional reorganization maintains comprehensive locking coverage while reducing the fitting tube outer diameter
Data Source
AI summary
A connector 10 disclosed by this specification includes a housing (retainer 30), and a cover 50 to be attached to the housing from behind. The cover 50 includes an opening 57 open in a direction intersecting an attaching direction to the housing, a facing portion 58 facing the opening 57, an outer lock portion 55 provided at least on the facing portion 58 and an inner lock portion 54 provided adjacent to the outer lock portion 55. The housing includes an outer lock receiving portion 36 to be locked in a separating direction of the cover 50 by the outer lock portion 55 coming into contact therewith from an outer peripheral side and an inner lock portion 35 to be locked in the separating direction of the cover 50 by the inner lock portion 54 coming into contact therewith from an inner peripheral side.