Connector Lock Arm Deformation Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing connectors with stoppers and interference portions to prevent lock arm deformation are costly due to complex mold requirements, increasing manufacturing costs.
Innovation Solution
A connector design featuring a swingable lock arm with a locking projection and a turn-up preventing projection on a protective wall, where the projections are flush at their ends to prevent excessive deformation and simplify mold design, reducing manufacturing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a stopper and interference portion are provided in the lock arm and hood portion to prevent excessive deformation, then the lock arm is protected from breakage, but the mold shape becomes complicated and manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The protective function previously requiring separate stopper and interference portion structures is merged into a single integrated protective wall structure. The protective wall extends from the hood portion and includes both the protective function and the deformation prevention function in one unified structure, eliminating the need for complex separate components and reducing mold complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective wall is designed to extend in multiple directions - upright from the hood portion and along both sides of the lock arm. This three-dimensional configuration provides comprehensive protection against excessive deformation while maintaining a simple structural form that is easy to manufacture with standard molds.
2Reliability
If the protective wall extends along both sides of the lock arm, then the lock arm is better protected from external forces, but the housing structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The protective wall is integrated directly into the housing body structure, extending upright from the hood portion. This merging of the protective function into the existing housing structure provides comprehensive protection without adding separate complex components or increasing overall structural complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A connector includes a housing having a housing body, a lock arm and a protective wall. The lock arm includes a swingable arm, a lock claw and a locking projection. The protective wall includes a turn-up preventing projection projecting toward the swingable arm, the turn-up preventing projection being provided such that the locking projection is disposed between the housing body and the turn-up preventing projection and such that the locking projection and the turn-up preventing projection overlap each other in a direction in which the swingable arm swings. With respect to the fitting direction, a front end surface of the locking projection and a front end surface of the turn-up preventing projection are flush with each other and a rear end surface of the locking projection and a rear end surface of the turn-up preventing projection are flush with each other.