Connector Retainer Side Wall Reinforcement for Insertion Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing connectors fail to reliably detect insufficient insertion of retainers without enlarging the connector size or compromising the strength of the housing, leading to potential damage and incomplete locking of terminals.

Innovation Solution

The connector design incorporates reinforcements at the rear ends of the side walls that project inwardly from the front ends, allowing for reliable detection of insufficient insertion without increasing the overall side wall thickness or enlarging the connector, while minimizing the impact on resin flow and maintaining structural integrity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the side walls are made thicker to strengthen them and improve detection of insufficient insertion, then the reliability of detection is improved, but the connector width increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection of insufficient insertionVSAvoidconnector width

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by providing reinforcements only at specific locations (front ends and rear ends of side walls) rather than uniformly thickening the entire side walls. This localized reinforcement approach strengthens the critical contact areas for detecting insufficient insertion while avoiding unnecessary material addition that would increase connector width.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The side walls are segmented into different sections with different thickness characteristics. The front ends and rear ends have reinforcements for strength and detection, while the intermediate portions maintain original thickness. This segmentation allows the connector to achieve reliable detection functionality without overall width increase.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Strength

If the wall of the housing is thickened to maintain strength after providing a coupling, then the strength of the housing wall is improved, but the connector size increases in the height direction and material costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestrength of housing wallVSAvoidconnector size

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The reinforcement function is extracted from the housing and transferred to the retainer. By providing reinforcements on the retainer's side walls instead of modifying the housing wall, the patent avoids increasing connector size and material costs while still achieving the desired strength and detection capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS7828607B2Connector

Publication Date: 2010.11.09 SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS LTD

AI summary

A connector is provided with a housing 10 fittable into a receptacle 52 of a mating connector 50 and a retainer 20 to be inserted into the housing 10 sideways. Cavities 12A, 12B for accommodating terminals are arranged side by side in the housing. The retainer 20 includes a main body 21 with side by side engaging portions 26A, 26B for engaging the terminals. Side walls 31 are provided at the opposite ends in an arrangement direction of the engaging portions 26A, 26B and projecting forward from the main body 21 in a connecting direction with the mating connector 50. Reinforcements 34 project in from front end portions of the side walls 31 in the connecting direction with the mating connector 50 and are at the rear ends of the side walls 31 in an inserting direction of the retainer 20 into the housing 10.