Connector Assembly End Wall Contact Shielding

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The existing connector assembly design exposes electrode terminals, making it prone to accidental contact and electric shock when used on a power supply side.

Innovation Solution

The connector assembly is designed with a two-step mating process and incorporates end walls and additional walls that hide the contact points, preventing operator contact through slits and protrusions, ensuring the contacts are shielded from accidental touch.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If electrode terminals are exposed in the recess portion for easy connection, then ease of operation is improved, but safety deteriorates due to risk of electric shock

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of connectionVSAvoidelectric shock risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The connector is divided into multiple structural components: a housing with recess portions, electrode terminals, and protective walls. The protective walls segment the space to create protected regions that shield exposed electrode terminals while maintaining connection functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Protective walls act as intermediary structures between the operator and the electrode terminals. These walls physically intervene to prevent direct contact with exposed terminals while allowing the connector to function normally.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If electrode terminals are hidden to prevent electric shock, then safety is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to difficulty in connection

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectric shock preventionVSAvoidconnection difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Different regions of the connector are given different properties: some areas have protective walls for safety, while other areas maintain open access for easy connection. The protective walls are strategically positioned to shield only the necessary portions without obstructing the connection process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS11362453B2Connector assembly and connector

Publication Date: 2022.06.14 PANASONIC HOLDINGS CORP

AI summary

A first housing of a first connector has a first end wall which is located downward of a first accommodation portion in an up-down direction. When viewed from beneath along the up-down direction, the first end wall hides, in part, a first contact located in the first accommodation portion. A second housing has a second end wall which is located upward of a second accommodation portion in the up-down direction. When viewed from above along the up-down direction, the second end wall hides a second contact located in the second accommodation portion. The first end wall prevents a finger of an operator from coming into contact with the first contact, and the second end wall prevents the finger of the operator from coming into contact with the second contact.