Connector Slide Lock Mechanism for Fitting Verification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional connector sets fail to accurately check the completion of fitting between a first housing and a second housing due to accidental slide movement of the slide member before the housings are fully fitted, leading to unreliable connection verification.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a slide lock mechanism that interferes with a slide restrictor on the housing to prevent sliding to the second position until the housings are fully fitted, ensuring accurate verification of the fitting completion by releasing the interference only when the housings are securely locked.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the slide member is locked to the lever part to prevent accidental slide movement, then the reliability of fitting completion verification is improved, but the device complexity increases due to the additional slide lock mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The slide lock mechanism merges the locking function with the existing lever part and slide member structure. The lever part serves dual purposes: as an operating component for the slide member and as part of the locking mechanism when engaged with the locked part. This integration adds the reliability function without proportionally increasing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The slide lock mechanism acts as an intermediary between the slide member and the housing. It provides a controlled interface that allows or restricts slide movement based on the engagement state of the lever part with the locked part, thereby verifying fitting completion without requiring a completely separate verification system.
2Ease of operation
If the lever part is made elastically deformable to enable locking, then the ease of operation is improved, but the risk of accidental slide movement increases before complete fitting
Solution Approach 1:
The slide lock mechanism provides preliminary anti-action by preventing slide movement before the fitting is complete. The locked part on the housing engages with the lever part to restrict slide member movement in advance, eliminating the risk of accidental sliding that occurs with purely elastic deformable lever parts.
Solution Approach 2:
The lever part maintains its elastically deformable dynamic characteristic for ease of operation during normal sliding, while the slide lock mechanism introduces a conditional constraint that activates only when the lever part is properly engaged with the locked part. This dynamic system adapts its behavior based on the engagement state.
Data Source
AI summary
A connector set includes: a first connector having a first housing; a second connector having a second housing; and a slide member slidably held in one of the housing. The slide member includes a slide lock mechanism to interfere with a slide restrictor formed on the one housing to restrict sliding of the slide member to a second position in a state where the first housing and the second housing are not fitted together. The slide restrictor is formed on the housing main body of the one housing.