Electric Connector Retainer With Elastic Projection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electric connectors face issues where retainers can be easily released due to external forces, and complex configurations lead to reduced strength and potential damage during insertion or removal.
Innovation Solution
An electric connector design featuring a retainer with an elastically deformable projection that engages with partition walls, allowing it to securely hold terminals in place without a complex configuration, using a housing with retainer insertion holes and cut-outs to facilitate smooth insertion and prevent release.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a simple retainer structure is used, then ease of manufacture and device complexity are improved, but reliability deteriorates because the retainer may be released under external forces
Solution Approach 1:
The retainer incorporates an elastically deformable projection that can dynamically adapt its state. The projection can elastically deform to pass over partition walls during insertion, then return to its original shape to engage with the partition wall and prevent terminal release, providing both ease of insertion and reliable retention.
Solution Approach 2:
The retainer is divided into distinct functional elements: a body portion and a separate elastically deformable projection. This segmentation allows the projection to independently perform the engagement function while keeping the overall retainer structure simple and easy to manufacture.
2Reliability
If a complex retainer configuration is used, then terminal retention is improved, but strength deteriorates causing potential damage during insertion or removal
Solution Approach 1:
The retainer design applies local quality by concentrating the engagement function in a specific elastically deformable projection rather than distributing complexity throughout the entire structure. This localized approach maintains overall retainer strength while achieving reliable terminal retention through the specialized projection.
3Reliability
If an elastically deformable projection is added to the retainer, then terminal retention under external forces is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the physical parameter of the projection by making it elastically deformable rather than rigid. This parameter change allows the projection to naturally pass over partition walls during insertion and then engage with them to prevent terminal release, achieving improved retention without adding complex mechanical mechanisms.
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 design effectively prevents terminal release from the housing even under external forces, enhancing the retainer's strength and reliability while maintaining a simple structure for easy insertion and removal.
Implementation Method 1
the projection being elastically deformable in the first direction
Data Source
AI summary
The electric connector includes a housing having cavities partitioned by partition walls, a terminal being inserted into each of the cavities, the housing being formed with at least one retainer insertion hole formed through a sidewall of the housing and the partition walls in a second direction perpendicular to a first direction in which the terminal is inserted into each of the cavities, and a retainer inserted into the retainer insertion hole to be engaged with the terminal in the housing, the retainer including a surface with which the retainer makes contact with the retainer insertion hole, and at least one projection formed on the surface, the projection passing over at least one partition wall and being engaged with a particular partition wall, the projection being elastically deformable in the first direction.