Connector Shell Bent Piece Geometry for Erroneous Insertion Blocking

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electric connectors face challenges in reducing erroneous insertion of partner connectors and deformation of the shell due to mismatched shapes or orientations, which can lead to damage or breakage.

Innovation Solution

The electric connector features a metal shell with a tubular shape, including a fitting port with asymmetrical side walls and branched band-shaped pieces that are bent along the fitting direction, forming part of the fitting port and enhancing stiffness to prevent erroneous insertion and deformation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a bent piece is provided at the edge of the fitting port to form an asymmetrical shape, then erroneous insertion is prevented, but the shell becomes more prone to deformation under insertion force

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveerroneous insertion preventionVSAvoidshell deformation resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The bent piece is configured with an asymmetrical shape where the tip end portion extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the fitting direction, creating a characteristic fitting port shape that prevents erroneous insertion. The asymmetrical configuration ensures that only connectors with matching asymmetrical shapes can be properly inserted.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

The bent piece is bent in a substantially U-shape with a predetermined curvature radius, allowing it to flexibly absorb insertion forces while maintaining its blocking function. The curved structure provides both mechanical flexibility and structural strength to resist shell deformation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Reliability

If the bent piece tip end portion extends perpendicular to the fitting direction to block erroneous insertion, then insertion prevention is improved, but the bent piece becomes more susceptible to deformation under force

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinsertion blocking capabilityVSAvoidbent piece deformation resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The bent piece is bent in a substantially U-shape with a predetermined curvature radius, which allows it to flexibly absorb insertion forces while maintaining its blocking function. The curved structure provides both mechanical flexibility and structural strength to resist deformation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The distance from the coupling portion to the tip end portion of the bent piece is set to 0.5 times or more and 2.0 times or less of the width of the bent piece. This specific parameter range optimizes both the blocking capability and the resistance to deformation, ensuring the bent piece can effectively prevent erroneous insertion while maintaining sufficient strength.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If the bent piece is positioned closer to the fitting port side than the coupling portion, then erroneous insertion is blocked more effectively, but the structural integrity of the shell may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveerroneous insertion blockingVSAvoidshell structural integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The distance from the coupling portion to the tip end portion of the bent piece is set to 0.5 times or more and 2.0 times or less of the width of the bent piece. This specific parameter range ensures the bent piece is positioned optimally to block erroneous insertion while maintaining sufficient structural integrity through its proximity to the coupling portion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The U-shaped bending with predetermined curvature radius provides structural reinforcement to the bent piece, allowing it to be positioned closer to the fitting port for effective blocking while the curved structure itself resists deformation and maintains shell integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Data Source

PatentUS12126118B2Connector with bent piece such that the bent piece can block fitting of the partner connector by a bent piece surface forming the tip end portion, and therefore prevent erroneous insertion

Publication Date: 2024.10.22 HIROSE ELECTRIC CO LTD

AI summary

An electric connector includes: a housing having a plate-shaped body; multiple terminals held on the plate-shaped body; and a metal shell surrounding the plate-shaped body and the terminals and having a tubular shape, the shell has: a fitting port in which a partner connector is to be fitted; two or more side walls provided along a partner connector fitting direction; a coupling portion coupling adjacent ones of the two or more side walls; and a first branched band-shaped piece provided closer to a fitting port side than the coupling portion is to the fitting port side, the first branched band-shaped piece is bent about an axis along the fitting direction from one of the adjacent ones of the two or more side walls, and extends toward another one of the adjacent ones of the two or more side walls, and an edge of the first branched band-shaped piece opposite to the coupling portion forms part of the fitting port.