Connector Housing Lock Geometry Against Unintended Full Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing connectors often unintentionally configure a fully assembled state during conveyance due to external forces, leading to complicated assembly processes at the destination.
Innovation Solution
A connector design featuring a first housing with a locking portion and a second housing with a sacrificial pressing surface, where the sacrificial pressing surface generates a larger contact area with the locking portion when an external force is applied, preventing unintended full assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the second housing is designed to be easily inserted into the first housing, then the assembly process is simplified, but unintended full assembly may occur during conveyance due to external forces
Solution Approach 1:
The sacrificial pressing surface is designed to preemptively counteract external forces that could cause unintended full assembly during conveyance. When external force acts on the second housing, the pressing surface generates a reaction force through the locking portion to prevent the housing from being pushed into the recess, thereby preventing unintended full assembly before the connector is actually installed
Solution Approach 2:
The locking portion is designed to engage with the locking groove in advance during normal assembly, creating a preliminary locked state that prevents the second housing from being fully inserted into the recess. This preliminary engagement acts as a preventive measure against unintended full assembly during subsequent handling and conveyance
2Reliability
If the locking mechanism is made more secure to prevent unintended assembly, then reliability improves, but the assembly process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The sacrificial pressing surface is strategically positioned at a specific location on the second housing where external forces are most likely to act. This localized design provides targeted protection against unintended full assembly without requiring complex locking mechanisms throughout the entire connector structure, thereby maintaining simplicity while improving reliability
3Productivity
If the connector is designed for quick assembly, then productivity increases, but the risk of unintended full assembly during conveyance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking portion acts as an intermediary element between the second housing and the recess. It mediates the interaction by engaging with the locking groove to prevent the second housing from being fully inserted into the recess, thereby protecting against unintended full assembly while maintaining the simplicity and speed of the original assembly process
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 design effectively prevents the unintentional configuration of a fully assembled state during conveyance, simplifying the assembly process by maintaining the connector in a temporarily assembled state until intended assembly, thus improving workability.
Implementation Method 1
When an external force acts on the second housing in a temporarily assembled state, the sacrificial pressing surface is configured to cause a pressing force to act in a direction in which a contact area of the locked portion with respect to the locking portion is larger
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a connector including: a sacrificial pressing surface that is provided in a second housing and is a flat surface formed at an end portion on a side opposite in an insertion direction of the second housing. When an external force acts on the second housing in a temporarily assembled state in which the second housing is more shallowly fitted to a first housing than in a fully assembled state and a locking portion is not locked to a locked portion, the sacrificial pressing surface is configured to cause a pressing force to act in a direction in which a contact area of the locked portion with respect to the locking portion is larger than that in a case in which the second housing is pressed in the insertion direction.