Connector Lock Arm Correction Structure Against Deformation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing connectors suffer from lock arm deformation during transportation due to prolonged external forces, leading to easy release of the locking mechanism between the female and male connectors.
Innovation Solution
A connector design featuring a lock arm with a correcting portion that allows for displacement to a lock position and a lock releasing position, with a correcting portion facing the unlocking direction to maintain the connected state and correct the lock arm position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the lock arm is designed with a clearance between the female housing and the lock arm to enable displacement, then the lock arm can move between lock and unlock positions, but the lock arm may deform and remain close to the female housing when external force is applied for a long time
Solution Approach 1:
The correcting portion is designed to automatically correct the lock arm position when it deviates due to deformation. The correcting portion includes a correcting protrusion that engages with a correcting groove, creating a self-correcting mechanism that restores the lock arm to its proper position without requiring external intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The correcting portion acts as an intermediary element between the lock arm and the female housing. It provides a mechanical interface that guides and constrains the lock arm movement, ensuring that even when deformation occurs, the lock arm can be realigned through the correcting groove path.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the lock arm is coupled to the female housing at multiple positions, then the lock arm position is stabilized, but the ability to displace for locking and unlocking is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is divided into multiple functional segments: the lock arm itself, the correcting portion with correcting protrusion and groove, and the coupling portions. This segmentation allows different parts to perform specialized functions - the coupling portions provide stability while the correcting portion enables controlled displacement and position correction.
Solution Approach 2:
The lock arm is designed with dynamic characteristics, allowing it to move between fixed positions (locked and unlocked) while the correcting portion provides a dynamic correction mechanism. The correcting groove allows the lock arm to temporarily deviate from its ideal position during displacement and then automatically return to the correct position.
Data Source
AI summary
It is aimed to satisfactorily correct the position of a lock arm. A connector (1) is provided with a first housing (10), female terminal fittings (27) to be inserted into the first housing (10) from behind, a second housing (50) to be connected to the first housing (10), a lock arm (22) provided at the first housing (10) and displaceable to a lock position where the first and second housings (10, 50) are locked in a connected state by the lock arm locking the second housing (50) and a lock releasing position where separation of the first and second housings (10, 50) is enabled by releasing the locking, and a correcting portion (74) arranged to face a surface on an unlocking direction side of the lock arm (22) in the connected state.