Connector Housing Looseness Suppression via Elastic Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing connector design experiences looseness between the upper and lower housings due to gaps formed between the elastic locking pieces and locking portions after coupling, leading to potential detachment issues.
Innovation Solution
The connector features a cantilever-shaped elastic locking piece on the upper housing and a protruding piece portion on the lower housing with an inclined surface, reducing the movable range of the protruding piece portion in the separation direction, and includes fitting portions and pins to enhance securement, thereby restricting movement and preventing looseness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If elastic locking pieces are used to couple the upper and lower housings, then the assembly can be easily coupled together, but gaps are formed between the locking pieces and locking portions leading to looseness in the separation direction
Solution Approach 1:
The locking piece is designed to swing dynamically between a coupling phase position (during assembly) and a locked phase position (after assembly). This dynamic movement allows the locking piece to transition from an engaged state that facilitates coupling to a locked state that prevents separation, resolving the contradiction between ease of coupling and looseness suppression
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanism is divided into two distinct phases: coupling phase and locked phase. The locking piece separates the functions of facilitating assembly and preventing separation by moving between these two phases, with each phase optimized for its specific function without interfering with the other
2Stability of the object's composition
If the elastic locking pieces swing about fixed ends during coupling, then the housings can be brought together, but gaps are formed between the protrusions and locking portions
Solution Approach 1:
The locking piece is preliminarily positioned in a coupling phase before final assembly. In this preliminary position, the locking piece engages with the locking portion to guide the housings together. After coupling is achieved, the locking piece swings to the locked phase where it prevents separation, ensuring that the preliminary coupling action does not result in permanent gaps
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration effectively suppresses looseness between the housings by reducing the movable range of the protruding piece portion, ensuring a secure assembly and preventing detachment, while simplifying the structure by integrating the elastic locking piece and protruding piece restriction portion.
Implementation Method 1
the elastic locking pieces are pressed by the upper housing and elastically deformed to be inclined. After the two housings have been coupled, the protrusions of the elastic locking pieces have passed the locking portions, and thus the elastic locking pieces are elastically restored and hooked on the locking portions
Data Source
AI summary
Looseness of two housings are suppressed. A connector includes a lower housing and an upper housing. The lower housing is provided with a locking portion. The upper housing is provided with an elastic locking piece that is hooked on the locking portion. The elastic locking piece has a cantilever shape, and restricts relative movement of the lower housing and the upper housing in a separation direction, which is a direction opposite to a coupling direction. The lower housing is provided with a protruding piece portion that protrude outward in a left-right direction. The upper housing is provided with a protruding piece restriction portion that restricts movement of the protruding piece portion. The protruding piece restriction portion is provided with an inclined surface that is inclined in an assembly direction to reduce a movable range of the protruding piece portion in a separation direction.