Connector Restricting Portion Prevents Cover Opening Under Stress
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing connectors face issues with the cover being inadvertently opened due to excessive stress applied when a corrugated tube is swung downward, potentially breaking the lock mechanism and leading to the cover being unlocked.
Innovation Solution
A connector design featuring a housing with a restricting portion between the housing side surface and the cover side surface, which efficiently transmits stress and prevents the cover from being inadvertently opened, including a rotatable lid cover with a hinge and ribs for enhanced durability and stress distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the corrugated tube is swung downward, then the wire can be moved or adjusted, but excessive stress is applied to the holding piece which may break the lock mechanism and cause the cover to open inadvertently
Solution Approach 1:
A restricting portion is introduced as an intermediary element between the cover and housing. This restricting portion limits the downward movement of the corrugated tube, thereby preventing excessive stress from reaching the holding piece and lock mechanism while still allowing necessary wire adjustment operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The restricting portion provides preliminary counter-action by physically blocking the corrugated tube before it can swing downward enough to generate excessive stress. This preventive measure stops the harmful motion before it can compromise the lock mechanism.
2Device complexity
If the cover is held on the housing without a restricting portion, then the structure is simpler, but the cover may be inadvertently opened due to stress from corrugated tube movement
Solution Approach 1:
The cover assembly is segmented by adding the restricting portion as a separate functional element. This segmentation allows the restricting portion to independently manage the stress from corrugated tube movement, protecting the main locking mechanism while maintaining overall structural simplicity.
3Reliability
If the restricting portion is added to straddle between housing and cover, then the cover is reliably held and stress is distributed, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The restricting portion is merged with either the cover or housing structure, combining multiple functions into a single integrated element. This merging approach provides the restricting function while minimizing the increase in overall device complexity by eliminating the need for separate additional components.
Data Source
AI summary
A connector is provided with a housing 10 including a rear surface portion 28 facing rearward and a housing side surface portion 29 facing laterally, and a cover 60 held on the housing 10, the cover 60 surrounding wires 25 pulled out from the rear surface portion side 28. The cover 60 includes a cover side surface portion 82 arranged toward the housing side surface portion 29 with respect to a front-rear direction with the cover 60 held on the housing 10. A restricting portion 83 is provided to straddle between the housing side surface portion 29 and the cover side surface portion 82.