Electrical Connector Pin Protection Latch Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical connectors with exposed pins are prone to deformation or breakage during manufacturing and transportation due to lack of protection, affecting connectivity and service life.
Innovation Solution
An electrical connector design featuring a first housing with pins and a second housing that can be detachably assembled with clearance fit pin receiving holes and a latch mechanism to prevent deformation, ensuring easy assembly and stable latching without over-tightening or damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If interference fit is used between pin and positioning hole to hold connector protection cover, then connector protection cover can be securely held on connector, but pin will be squeezed by positioning hole causing deformation risk
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the connection function into two separate components: positioning holes for alignment and latches for secure holding. This segmentation allows the positioning holes to have clearance fit (avoiding pin deformation) while latches provide the necessary holding force through engagement with engagement grooves on the pins.
Solution Approach 2:
The holding function is extracted from the positioning holes and transferred to dedicated latches. The latches engage with engagement grooves on the pins to provide secure holding, while the positioning holes only serve for alignment with clearance fit, eliminating the squeezing effect on pins.
2Ease of operation
If latch is made detachable for easy assembly, then assembly and detachment become easy, but latching state may become unstable or latch may be damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The latches are designed as movable components that can transition between engaged and disengaged states. The latches slide along the housing to engage with or release from engagement grooves, providing dynamic control over the latching state while maintaining stability when engaged.
Solution Approach 2:
Engagement grooves are introduced as intermediary features on the pins that work with the latches. These grooves guide the latches during engagement and disengagement, ensuring proper alignment and stable latching while facilitating easy assembly and detachment operations.
Data Source
AI summary
A connector assembly is provided which includes a first connector having a first housing and a second connector having a second housing. The first housing has two fixed portions positioned apart from one another in the transverse direction, an elastic portion passing between the two fixed portions and able to bend elastically in the longitudinal direction, and an engaging protruding portion formed on the elastic portion and able to be hooked in an engaging hole in the second housing. The engaging protruding portion is positioned between upper and lower edges of the elastic portion.