Plug-in Connector Latching Tongue Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing connector arrangements often expose latching elements, making them susceptible to damage and accidental release due to their protruding positions, which can lead to incorrect or damaged connections.
Innovation Solution
The connector arrangement features a latching tongue with a latching lug arranged in a U-shaped tongue receiving pocket, where the U-legs protrude beyond the tongue, providing protection and guiding it into a completely enclosed position when plugged, along with guide grooves in the second housing part to prevent damage and ensure correct alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the latching tongue is arranged in an exposed position to enable easy access and operation, then the ease of operation is improved, but the latching tongue becomes susceptible to damage and accidental release
Solution Approach 1:
The latching tongue is nested within a receiving pocket formed by the U-legs and guide grooves. When the connector parts are plugged together, the tongue is completely enclosed within the housing parts, protecting it from external damage while remaining accessible for operation during the plugging process.
Solution Approach 2:
The latching tongue is moved from an exposed external position to an internal position within the receiving pocket, changing its spatial dimension from externally accessible to internally protected, while still maintaining operational accessibility through the housing structure.
2Ease of operation
If the latching tongue protrudes beyond the housing to enable external access, then the ease of operation is improved, but the risk of incorrect or angled insertion increases
Solution Approach 1:
The U-legs and guide grooves are designed with asymmetric geometries that only accommodate correct alignment. The U-legs protrude laterally beyond the latching tongue in a specific asymmetric pattern that prevents incorrect or angled insertion while still allowing the tongue to be accessed and operated externally.
Solution Approach 2:
The U-legs and guide grooves act as intermediary elements between the exposed latching tongue and the housing structure. These intermediaries provide both the external accessibility needed for operation and the protective guidance to prevent incorrect insertion angles.
3Ease of operation
If the latching element is made resilient and movable to enable latching action, then the ease of operation is improved, but the susceptibility to damage from external pressure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The receiving pocket formed by the U-legs and guide grooves provides beforehand protection for the resilient latching tongue. When the connector parts are plugged together, the tongue is cushioned and enclosed within the housing, preventing external pressure from damaging it while still allowing it to move resiliently for latching action.
Data Source
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AI summary
A plug-in connector arrangement comprising two plug-in connector parts (100, 200) which can be plugged into each another and which each have a housing part (101, 201), the housing parts being adapted to each another, and a plug contact (110, 210) provided therein, the plug contacts being adapted to each another, wherein the two housing parts (101, 201) have detent elements for detachably connecting the two housing parts to each other, characterized in that the detent elements comprise at least one detent tongue (300) that has a detent lug (310) and is arranged in a tongue-receiving pocket (500) in the first housing part (100), said detent lug (310) engaging in an opening (400) provided therefor in a housing wall of the second housing part (201), and in that said tongue-receiving pocket in the first housing part (101) is in the form of a groove that has a substantially U-shaped cross-section, the two lateral limbs (510, 520) of the U projecting beyond the detent tongue (300).