Electrical Connector Retaining Mechanism for Front Cover
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electrical connectors have a weak retaining force for the front cover, which can lead to detachment when dropped or when the mating connector is removed, and increasing the number of protrusions and engaging dimples to enhance retention results in an oversized connector, making downsizing impossible.
Innovation Solution
The electrical connector incorporates a retaining mechanism involving front cover retaining protrusions on the retainer, front cover openings, projection portions on the front cover, and retaining pieces on the retainer to securely lock the front cover in place, enhancing the retaining force without increasing the connector's size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the number of protrusions and engaging dimples is increased to enhance retaining force, then the retaining force of the front cover is improved, but the connector size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the front cover retaining mechanism with the retainer structure by integrating front cover retaining protrusions and retaining pieces into the existing retainer component. This merging allows the retainer to perform dual functions: locking contacts and retaining the front cover, thereby improving retaining force without adding separate structures that would increase connector size
Solution Approach 2:
The retainer is designed as a multi-functional component that simultaneously locks the contacts in the contact receiving cavities and retains the front cover through integrated retaining structures. This universality allows one component to serve multiple purposes, enhancing reliability without increasing overall device complexity or size
2Ease of manufacture
If the front cover is made detachable for ease of assembly, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the reliability of connection is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The front cover retaining mechanism employs elastic retaining pieces that can deform elastically during assembly and disassembly operations, allowing the cover to be easily attached and removed when needed. However, under normal operating conditions, the elastic deformation creates sufficient retaining force to ensure reliable connection, thus balancing ease of manufacture with connection reliability
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided an electrical connector in which the retaining force of retaining a front cover is improved. Electrical connectors 1, and 1′ each have a housing 10 having contact accommodating cavities 13; a front cover 20 that is attached to the front side of the housing 10 and that has mating connector inserting openings 24 at positions that correspond to the contact accommodating cavities 13; and a retainer 30 that is attached form the lower side of the housing 10 and that locks contacts accommodated in the contact accommodating cavities 13. Retaining means 27, 28, 32, and 33 is arranged at the front cover 20 and the retainer 30 to cause the retainer 30 to retain the front cover 20.