Connector Locking Arm Contact Structure for Lower Mating Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing connectors face issues with stress concentration at the base end portion of the locking arm due to miniaturization, leading to potential breakage and excessive mating resistance, and the use of a double-supported beam shape enhances locking feel but risks high stress concentration.
Innovation Solution
A connector design with a locking arm having a base end portion coupled to the housing body and a free end portion that contacts a contacting part on the housing body, distributing stress and reducing excessive elastic reaction force, while maintaining a favorable locking feel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If the locking arm is formed in a double-supported beam shape with both ends coupled to the housing body, then the elastic reaction force is enhanced and locking feel is improved, but stress concentrates on both front and rear end sides resulting in excessive mating resistance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by having the locking arm contact the housing body at only one location (one surface) during mating, rather than at both ends. This partial contact provides sufficient elastic reaction force for locking while avoiding the excessive stress concentration that would occur with full double-supported beam configuration, thereby reducing mating resistance.
2Device complexity
If the locking arm extends rearwardly from the base end portion in a cantilever manner, then the structure is simple, but stress concentrates at the base end portion leading to potential breakage during miniaturization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary contact point on the housing body that contacts the locking arm during mating. This intermediary structure distributes the stress from the locking arm to multiple locations on the housing body rather than concentrating it at the base end portion, thereby improving stress resistance without significantly increasing structural complexity.
3Volume of moving object
If the thickness of the base end portion is decreased for connector miniaturization, then the connector size is reduced, but the base end portion becomes more prone to breaking under stress
Solution Approach 1:
The contact structure on the housing body acts as an intermediary that redistributes stress away from the thinned base end portion. By providing an additional stress distribution path through the contact point, the base end portion can be miniaturized without compromising its strength, as the intermediary structure compensates for the reduced thickness.
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
The design avoids stress concentration at the base end portion, prevents breakage, and improves locking feel by distributing stress between the base and free end portions, reducing mating resistance and enhancing operability.
Implementation Method 1
the locking arm is elastically displaced. A rear end portion of the locking arm approaches the upper surface of the female connector housing but does not come in contact with the upper surface of the female connector housing. When mating both connector housings, the locking arm elastically returns with a predetermined elastic reaction force and is locked to the male connector housing.
Data Source
AI summary
A housing (20) has a housing body (28) and a locking arm (31). The locking arm (31) has a base end portion (38) coupled to an end portion of the housing body (28) on a front side, an arm body (39) extending rearwardly in a cantilever manner from the base end portion (38) and having a free end portion (42) on a rear end side, and a locking part (41) provided in an intermediate position of the arm body (39) in the front-back direction and lockable to a partner locking part (82) of a partner housing (80). The housing body (28) has a contacting part (51) on a center-side upper surface part (32) which is an upper surface thereof and comes in contact with the free end portion (42) of the arm body (39) in a mating process.