Connector Housing Mating Aid With Automatic Unlocking Latch
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional mating aids for electrical connectors are often space-consuming and require unnecessary manipulation, leading to productivity losses in assembly processes, especially in the automotive sector, as they need to be pre-positioned and secured, which complicates the plugging process.
Innovation Solution
A housing assembly for electrical connectors that includes a movable mating aid with a securing element, allowing it to be locked in a defined position for space-saving transport and automatically unlocked during the plugging process by the mating connector, reducing the need for pre-positioning and minimizing manipulations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional mating aids are attached to be freely movable, then they can be easily positioned, but they take up unnecessarily large space and require pre-positioning manipulation
Solution Approach 1:
The mating aid is designed with a securing element that can transition between a secured position (during transport/storage) and a release position (during operation). This dynamic positioning allows the mating aid to be compact during transport while easily accessible during use, eliminating the need for pre-positioning manipulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The securing element is pre-configured to automatically secure the mating aid in a defined position during transport. This preliminary securing action eliminates the need for manual pre-positioning before the plugging process, while still allowing easy access when needed.
2Stability of the object's composition
If securing elements are used to lock the mating aid in position, then the position is stable during transport, but additional space and manipulation steps are required
Solution Approach 1:
The securing element is integrated directly into the mating aid structure, combining the functions of positioning and securing into a single component. This eliminates the need for separate securing elements, reducing device complexity while maintaining position stability during transport.
Solution Approach 2:
The securing element is designed to automatically engage and disengage based on the mating aid's position and the plugging process progression. The mating connector itself interacts with the securing element to trigger its release, eliminating the need for additional manipulation steps or external securing mechanisms.
3Ease of operation
If the mating aid is made accessible during plugging, then automatic unlocking is possible, but it may be vulnerable to unintentional movement
Solution Approach 1:
The securing element provides localized stability at specific positions (secured and release positions) while allowing controlled movement between these positions. The element is designed with specific engagement features that provide stable positioning when secured, but can be easily transitioned to the release position during the plugging process.
Solution Approach 2:
The securing element acts as an intermediary between the mating aid and the mating connector. It maintains the mating aid in a stable secured position during transport, but can be triggered by the mating connector during plugging to automatically unlock, thus mediating between stability and accessibility requirements.
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a housing assembly (1) for an electrical connector (2) that can be plugged together with a mating connector (6) along a plugging direction (8), having a connector housing (10), a mating aid (16) that is arranged on the connector housing (10) to be movable between an initial position (18) and a final position (20), and a securing element (50) that is arranged on the mating aid (16) and is movable between a secured position (52) and a release position (54), wherein the mating aid (16) has at least one drive section (30) which can be made to engage with the mating connector (6) for moving the mating connector (6) into a state in which it is plugged together with the electrical connector (2), wherein the securing element (50) in the secured position (52) is engaged with the connector housing (10) and in the release position (54) is disengaged from the connector housing (10), and wherein the securing element (50) in the secured position (52) is arranged to be accessible to the mating connector (6) from outside the housing assembly (1) and is movable to the release position (54) by the mating connector (6). Due to accessibility of the securing element (50) to the mating connector (6), it is possible for the securing element (50) to be pushed from the secured position (52) to the release position (54) by placing the electrical connector (2) onto the mating connector (6). Consequently, the mating aid (16) can be unlocked automatically and without unnecessary manipulations. This unlocking also transfers the securing element (50) from the secured position (52), which is advantageous in the delivery state in terms of installation space, to the release position (54), wherein the actuating force of the mating aid (16) in the release position (54) can be reduced. The present invention furthermore relates to an electrical connector (2) with such a housing assembly (1) and a connector assembly (4) with the electrical connector (2) and the mating connector (6).