Connector Mating Lock Structure to Suppress Assembly Instability

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Connector mating structures with mating securing members experience assembling instability, leading to sliding wear of terminal contacts.

Innovation Solution

A connector mating structure design that includes a male connector with a male housing and short circuit spring, and a female connector with a mating securing member and female locking section, where the mating securing member moves from an initial to a securing position, locking with the male locking protrusion to stabilize the connection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a mating securing member is added to ensure complete mating, then reliability is improved, but assembling instability occurs between housings and mating securing member

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomplete matingVSAvoidassembling stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The locking mechanism is divided into two independent but coordinated systems: a female locking section that locks to the male locking protrusion, and a mating securing member locking section that locks to the female locking section. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function while maintaining overall stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The locking structures are nested within each other: the male locking protrusion is locked by the female locking section, which in turn is locked by the mating securing member locking section. This nested arrangement creates a stable hierarchical structure where each level supports the others, preventing assembling instability while ensuring complete mating.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Reliability

If the mating securing member is made movable to ensure complete mating, then reliability is improved, but assembling instability occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomplete matingVSAvoidassembling stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The mating securing member is designed to be movable between an initial position and a mating securing position, allowing it to dynamically adapt during the mating process. This movability ensures complete mating while the dual locking mechanism provides stability once positioned.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The female locking section is positioned and locked to the male locking protrusion before the mating securing member reaches its final securing position. This preliminary action establishes a stable foundation that prevents assembling instability even as the mating securing member moves into place.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If the mating securing member is positioned close to the male connector, then complete mating is ensured, but assembling instability occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomplete matingVSAvoidassembling stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The female locking section acts as an intermediary between the male locking protrusion and the mating securing member locking section. It transmits and distributes the locking forces, ensuring that the close positioning of the mating securing member to the male connector does not cause assembling instability but rather contributes to complete mating.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

Suppresses assembling instability in both forward-rearward and upward-downward directions, reducing sliding wear of terminal contacts and maintaining a stable connection.

Implementation Method 1

the short circuit spring is configured to come into elastic contact with the pair of male terminals

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic contact: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

the mating securing member is movable to a mating securing position in vicinity of the male connector

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical movement: Mechanical Force

Implementation Method 3

a female locking section configured to be locked to the male locking protrusion in order to maintain a mating state

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical locking: Mechanical Fastener

Data Source

PatentUS12531374B2Connector mating structure

Publication Date: 2026.01.20 YAZAKI CORP

AI summary

A connector mating structure includes a male connector and a female connector mated with each other. The female connector includes a mating securing member. In a state where the male connector and the female connector of the connector mating structure are in a mating state and the mating securing member is positioned in a mating securing position, a forward end of a female locking section is positioned between an upper locking protrusion and a protrusion of an upper locking section. In this manner, assembling instability between a male housing, a female housing and the mating securing member in a forward-rearward direction is suppressed. Furthermore, a short circuit spring is in elastic contact with a short circuit release section and thus presses the female housing upward. In this manner, assembling instability between the male housing, the female housing and the mating securing member in an upward-downward direction is suppressed.