Connector Locator Groove Segmentation for Cable Bending
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cable connectors require large sizes to avoid damaging cables when bending, limiting their miniaturization potential due to excessive stress requirements.
Innovation Solution
A connector design featuring a locator with a positioning groove system that allows for smooth cable bending without excessive stress, comprising a front groove, rear groove, and coupling groove, enabling proper cable positioning and bending even in compact sizes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the locator size is reduced, then the device compactness is improved, but excessive stress is applied to the cable during bending
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning groove is divided into multiple segments: a front groove for receiving the front regulated portion of the cable, a rear groove for receiving the rear regulated portion, and a coupling groove connecting them. This segmentation allows the cable to be positioned and bent in controlled stages, distributing the bending stress across different zones rather than concentrating it in a single small space, thus enabling cable bending in a compact locator without excessive stress
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning groove extends in the front-rear direction (length dimension) rather than only in the upper-lower direction (width dimension). By utilizing the front-rear dimension for the groove extension, the locator provides sufficient bending space along the cable's length direction while maintaining a compact overall size. The coupling groove connects the front and rear grooves, creating a three-dimensional path that accommodates cable bending without requiring a large locator volume
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the locator size is increased, then the cable can be bent without excessive stress, but the device compactness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling groove is formed with a curved surface that has a predetermined radius of curvature. This curved geometry provides a smooth transition path for the cable between the front and rear grooves, allowing the cable to bend naturally along the curved surface without sharp angles or abrupt changes in direction. The curvature distributes the bending stress evenly along the cable, enabling effective cable positioning in a compact locator structure
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
A connector comprises a locator configured to position a cable. The locator has a front-end surface, a first surface and a second surface and is formed with a positioning groove. The first surface and the second surface are located at opposite sides of the locator, respectively, in the upper-lower direction (Z-direction). The positioning groove has a front groove, a rear groove and a coupling groove. The front groove is recessed rearward from the front-end surface and extends from the first surface to the coupling groove along the upper-lower direction. The rear groove is recessed from the second surface along the upper-lower direction and extends rearward from the coupling groove. When the locator positions the cable, the front groove receives a front regulated portion of the cable, and the rear groove receives a rear regulated portion of the cable.