Connector Lock Arm Bridge Restriction for Detection Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing connector design fails to reliably prevent the detecting member from incorrectly moving to the detecting position before the housing main body is engaged to the counterpart housing, leading to incorrect detection of engagement due to the pressing portion's deformation under strong force, which allows the lock arm to be improperly pushed up.
Innovation Solution
The connector incorporates a bridge portion that covers the top surface of the lock arm, supported by pairs of walls, to restrict excessive bending and prevent the lock arm from being pushed up, along with an abutting portion and contact portion on the detecting member's elastic arm to ensure accurate movement to the detecting position only after proper engagement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the pressing portion extends in a cantilevered state from the top end of the wall, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the pressing portion deforms upward under strong force, allowing the lock arm to be improperly pushed up and the detecting member to incorrectly move to the detecting position
Solution Approach 1:
The excessive bending restriction portion is divided into a pair of walls and a bridge portion connecting them. This segmentation creates a structured support system that prevents the pressing portion from deforming upward, thereby maintaining reliability while keeping the manufacturing process simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The bridge portion acts as an intermediary element between the pair of walls, providing additional support to prevent upward deformation of the pressing portion. This intermediary structure ensures that the lock arm cannot be improperly pushed up, preventing incorrect detection while maintaining ease of manufacture.
2Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If the detecting member is designed to move from the initial position to the detecting position when engaged, then engagement detection is enabled, but the detecting member may incorrectly move to the detecting position before engagement due to lock arm pushing up
Solution Approach 1:
The excessive bending restriction portion (pair of walls and bridge portion) is designed to prevent upward bending of the lock arm before engagement occurs. This preliminary anti-action ensures that the detecting member cannot incorrectly move to the detecting position, thereby maintaining detection accuracy while preserving the detection capability.
3Ease of operation
If the lock arm can be bent and deformed in the vertical direction to hold engagement, then the lock arm can function as a locking mechanism, but the lock arm can be excessively pushed up by the elastic arm portion, causing incorrect detection
Solution Approach 1:
The excessive bending restriction portion is segmented into a pair of walls and a bridge portion, creating a structured constraint system. This segmentation allows the lock arm to bend and deform for locking functionality while preventing excessive upward bending that would cause incorrect detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The bridge portion serves as an intermediary constraint between the pair of walls, providing the necessary support to prevent excessive upward bending of the lock arm. This maintains detection reliability while preserving the lock arm's ability to function as a locking mechanism.
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 enhances the reliability of the detecting member's operation by preventing incorrect movement to the detecting position, ensuring accurate detection of engagement and maintaining the lock arm's integrity by restricting excessive bending.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic arm portion that is formed on the detecting member, extends in a cantilevered state diagonally upward and forward, and can be bent and deformed in a vertical direction
Implementation Method 2
a lock arm that extends rearwardly in a cantilevered state from a top surface of the housing main body, can be bent and deformed in a vertical direction crossing a direction of engagement of the housing main body and the counterpart housing, and holds the housing main body and the counterpart housing in a normal engagement state by virtue of being elastically engaged to the lock receiver
Data Source
AI summary
A connector includes: (i) a lock arm that extends rearwardly in a cantilevered shape from a housing main body, and (ii) a detecting member arranged to be movable forward from an initial position to a detecting position. The detecting member includes (i) an elastic arm portion extending in a cantilever shape diagonally upward and forward; (ii) an abutting portion at an extended end portion of the elastic arm portion and restricting movement of the detecting member from the initial position to the detecting position; (iii) a pair of walls, one at the left and one at the right, raised from the top surface of the housing main body; (iv) a bridge portion connecting top ends of the walls; and (v) an excessive bending restriction portion restricting excessive bending of the lock arm upward by covering the top surface of the lock arm with the bridge portion.