Connector Housing Latch Arm With Graded-Rigidity Latch Structure
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing connector housings face challenges in achieving elastic deformation of the latch arm while maintaining the strength of the latch portion, particularly when subjected to inadvertent forces, and the co-injection molding process is costly and prone to separation issues.
Innovation Solution
A connector housing design featuring a latch arm formed from a soft material for elastic deformation and a latch portion made from a higher rigidity material, with a transition region having a continuously-changing mixing ratio between the two materials, integrated through co-injection molding to prevent separation and enhance strength.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a soft material is adopted for the latch arm to enable elastic deformation, then the latch arm can be elastically deformed by a moderate operating force, but the latch portion may fail to retain latching because it may be cracked or lost when an inadvertent force acts thereon
Solution Approach 1:
The latch arm is designed with non-uniform material properties: the latch arm main body uses a soft material for elastic deformation, while the latch portion uses a hard material for strength and retention. This local differentiation of material properties resolves the contradiction between ease of operation and strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The latch arm is constructed as a composite structure combining a soft material (first material) for the latch arm main body and a hard material (second material) for the latch portion. This composite material approach allows simultaneous achievement of elastic deformation capability and latch portion strength.
2Adaptability or versatility
If co-injection molding is used to form the latch arm main body and latch portion from different materials, then materials suitable for each function can be used, but the molding process is performed twice resulting in higher cost and the latch arm main body and latch portion are more likely to separate at their joint
Solution Approach 1:
The molding process is segmented into two sequential injection stages: first injecting the soft material for the latch arm main body, then injecting the hard material for the latch portion. This segmented injection approach within a single molding cycle reduces process complexity compared to traditional co-injection molding while maintaining material suitability.
Solution Approach 2:
The soft material is injected and preliminarily formed into the latch arm main body before the hard material is injected for the latch portion. This preliminary action ensures proper material placement and reduces separation risk at the joint between different materials.
3Length of moving object
If the length of the latch arm is shortened to satisfy size reduction requirement, then the connector housing size is reduced, but the latch arm is required to achieve a sufficient amount of elastic deformation regardless of its short length requiring an even softer material
Solution Approach 1:
The latch portion is designed with a hard material that provides sufficient elastic deformation for short latch arms while maintaining latching strength. This local quality differentiation allows short latch arm length while achieving sufficient elastic deformation without requiring an even softer material.
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
The design allows for reliable elastic deformation of the latch arm while maintaining the strength of the latch portion, preventing accidental loss and ensuring secure latching, with the transition region enhancing the latch portion's strength and visibility through color differentiation.
Implementation Method 1
by co-injection molding
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
Provided is a connector housing provided with a latch arm suitable for elastic deformation while retaining the strength of a latch portion latching to a latched member. A connector housing has a housing main body and a latch arm. The latch arm has a latch arm main body and a latch protrusion. The housing main body is molded by injecting a first material 21A into a housing main body portion 71 of a cavity 70 of a mold. The latch arm main body is molded by injecting the same first material 21A as that injected into the housing main body portion 71 into a latch arm main body portion 721 of the cavity 70. The latch protrusion is molded by injecting a second material 22A into a latch protrusion portion 722 of the cavity 70. The second material 22A is a material having a higher rigidity than the first material 21A. Further, a mixing ratio between the first material and the second material changes continuously in a transition region T where the first material and the second material come into contact with each other.