Electrical Connector Locking Mechanism Single-Handed Operation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical connectors requiring external tools for unlocking often necessitate simultaneous use of both hands due to unscrewing movements, making them impractical for single-handed operation while still needing to comply with regulations.
Innovation Solution
An electrical connector design featuring a leaf spring with a hook that slides onto a notch for locking, and a second sliding surface allowing relative rotation during unlocking, enabling the connector to be unlocked using a tool without requiring the user to perform additional rotational movements, thus allowing single-handed operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an external tool is used to push the locking tab to unlock the connector, then the connector complies with legislation requiring tool use for unlocking, but the user must simultaneously perform unscrewing movement which requires both hands, making it impractical for single-handed operation
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the unlocking action and the rotational unscrewing action into a single motion. The slot in the outer part is oriented at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis, so that inserting a tool and pushing the locking tab simultaneously generates both the unlocking force and the rotational moment needed to unscrew the connector. This combines two previously separate operations into one unified action that can be performed with a single hand.
Solution Approach 2:
The slot structure serves multiple functions: it guides the tool for unlocking, transmits the unlocking force to the locking tab, and simultaneously generates the rotational moment for unscrewing. This multi-functional design allows the same structural element to accomplish both unlocking and rotational separation, eliminating the need for separate hand operations.
2Ease of operation
If the locking tongue is pushed with a tool to disengage it from the abutment, then the connector unlocks, but the relative unscrewing movement causes the tongue to not reposition itself in the stop, requiring two simultaneous actions
Solution Approach 1:
The angled slot design combines the unlocking push action and the unscrewing rotation into a single tool insertion and push motion. The geometry of the slot converts the linear push force into both tab displacement and rotational movement, reducing the number of distinct user actions from two to one.
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 allows for practical single-handed unlocking and relocking prevention, ensuring compliance with regulations and accommodating manufacturing uncertainties and handling variations.
Implementation Method 1
the spring effect of the blade bringing the second end back to the rest position in the absence of any external force
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a
Figure 2b
AI summary
The connector has protection elements formed of skirt and a cap fixed with each other by rotation movement of nut-screw/bayonet. One of the elements has a leaf spring (31) whose end in the shape of a hook (41) freely moves between rest and release positions. Another element has a sliding surface (43) formed such that the latter end is supported on the surface during movement to the release position to cause rotation of the latter element relative to the former element to allow the hook to be supported on another sliding surface (47) when the latter end returns toward the rest position.