Connector With Serrated Terminal And Elastic Member

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing connectors require different designs for electrical wires of varying thicknesses, as the pressing force is suitable only for a narrow range of wire thicknesses, limiting their applicability.

Innovation Solution

A connector design featuring a terminal member with serrations and an elastic member that deforms to apply varying pressing forces based on wire thickness, allowing a single design to accommodate a wide range of wire thicknesses by increasing deformation with larger diameters.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a cantilever-like elastic member is pressed by a second member against the electrical wire, then the pressing force is suitable for a predetermined wire thickness, but the connector can only be applied to a narrow range of wire thicknesses

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepressing force suitabilityVSAvoidapplicability to different wire thicknesses
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The elastic member is designed to dynamically adapt its deformation amount based on the wire thickness. Thinner wires cause smaller deformation while thicker wires cause larger deformation, automatically adjusting the pressing force to maintain reliability across different wire thicknesses without requiring multiple connector designs

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the physical state parameter of the elastic member (deformation amount) in response to different wire thicknesses. By allowing the deformation amount to vary with wire thickness, the pressing force is automatically adjusted, resolving the contradiction between maintaining suitable pressing force and adapting to different wire thicknesses

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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

Enables stable and suitable pressing force application across a wide range of electrical wire thicknesses, ensuring effective electrical continuity without the need for multiple connector designs.

Implementation Method 1

an elastic member (30) for pressing a pressed region (221) of the back face (22) opposite to the serrated region (211)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3496209B1connector
Publication Date: 2022.07.13 TE CONNECTIVITY JAPAN GK
  • EP3496209B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3496209B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3496209B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A connector (1) applicable to a wide range of thicknesses of electrical wires (40) is provided. The connector (1) has a housing (10), a terminal member (20), and an elastic member (30). The housing (10) has a cavity (12) accommodating the terminal member (20) and the elastic member (30). The terminal member (20) has a contacting face (21) for contacting the electrical wire (40), and a back face (22). A serrated region (211) having one or more serrations (23) formed thereon is provided in the contacting face (21). The elastic member (30) presses a pressed region (221) of the back face (22) of the terminal member (20) opposite to the serration region (211).