Connector Plate Spring Locking Member Design
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional connectors face issues with terminal locking members being prone to damage due to their free lower end, which can catch other components, and loss of flexibility, making smooth locking and unlocking difficult and unreliable.
Innovation Solution
A connector design featuring a plate spring member with a fixed narrow portion and a housing with a locking member reception recess, allowing for high flexibility while maintaining a solid structure, with a second lock protrusion that enables easy transition between locking positions and reduces the risk of damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the lower end of the arm member is left free to maintain flexibility, then the locking and unlocking operation becomes smooth, but the arm member may abut or catch other members causing damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a guide groove in the housing and a guide protrusion on the arm member that engages with the groove beforehand. This preliminary guiding arrangement ensures that the moving end of the arm member follows a predetermined safe path during operation, preventing it from catching other members while maintaining operational smoothness
Solution Approach 2:
The guide groove and guide protrusion act as an intermediary mechanism between the arm member and the housing. This intermediary structure controls the movement of the arm member's end, preventing direct contact with other components that could cause damage, while still allowing the necessary flexibility for smooth operation
2Reliability
If the lower end of the arm member is connected to the main body to prevent damage, then reliability improves, but the flexibility is lost making locking and unlocking difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the arm member into two parts: the main body connected to the locking piece, and the moving end with the guide protrusion. The moving end is connected via a hinge or pivot joint, allowing it to move independently within the guide groove. This segmentation provides structural support where needed while maintaining flexibility for smooth operation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the connection between the arm member's main body and moving end dynamic through a hinge joint rather than a fixed rigid connection. This dynamic connection allows the moving end to flex and follow the guide groove's path, maintaining operational smoothness while the overall structure remains supported and reliable
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 connector achieves reliable locking and unlocking with improved flexibility and strength, preventing damage and ensuring a secure locked state, enhancing the overall reliability of the connection.
Implementation Method 1
a plate spring member 28 held from both sides having both ends supported and a middle portion free, wherein a second lock protrusion 28a is formed on a wide portion 28c wider than a narrow portion 28b
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A housing includes a terminal reception hole that can receive a terminal therein, and a locking member reception recessed portion that can receive a terminal locking member therein, the terminal locking member includes a first lock protrusion that is received in the locking member reception recessed portion and engages with a first lock portion of the housing when in a temporary locking position making insertion/removal of the terminal to the terminal reception hole possible, and a second lock protrusion that is received in the locking member reception recessed portion and engages with a second lock portion of the housing when in a main locking position making insertion/removal of the terminal to the terminal reception hole impossible, and the second lock protrusion is formed on a wide portion of a beam-shaped plate spring member held from both sides having both ends fixed and the middle free, the plate spring member having one end side as a narrow portion, and the other end side being the wide portion wider than the narrow portion.