Connector Spring Biting Core for Secure Retention
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing connectors for conductive cores of cables are prone to releasing the connection easily, especially under external forces, leading to insecure connections.
Innovation Solution
A connector design featuring a spring member with a harder metal press portion that bites into the conductive core when pulled, combined with a slope portion angled at 45° or greater, ensuring secure retention during connection and disconnection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a spring member with S-shape is used for quick connection, then ease of operation is improved, but connection reliability deteriorates because the connection state is easily releasable under external forces
Solution Approach 1:
The spring member transitions from a uniform S-shape to a composite structure with distinct functional regions: a resilient portion for easy deformation during connection, and a press portion with harder metal for secure retention. This local differentiation allows the same component to provide both ease of operation and connection reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring member is constructed from composite materials with different hardness levels - a softer resilient portion (e.g., phosphor bronze) for elastic deformation and a harder press portion (e.g., stainless steel) for biting into the conductive core. This material composite enables simultaneous achievement of easy connection and secure retention.
2Ease of operation
If the spring member is made easily deformable for quick connection, then ease of operation is improved, but connection strength deteriorates because the connection can be easily released
Solution Approach 1:
The spring member is divided into regions with different mechanical properties: the resilient portion has low hardness for easy deformation during insertion, while the press portion has high hardness for strong retention. This local quality differentiation resolves the contradiction between ease of operation and connection strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The hardness parameter of the spring member is changed along its length, creating a gradient from soft (resilient portion) to hard (press portion). This parameter change enables the spring to be easily deformed during insertion while maintaining strong retention force during use.
3Reliability
If a slope portion with angle ≥45° is provided on the spring member, then connection reliability is improved by enhancing the biting effect, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The slope portion is localized to the press region of the spring member, concentrating the anti-pullout function in a specific area rather than distributing complexity throughout the entire component. This localized approach improves reliability without proportionally increasing overall device complexity.
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 connector securely maintains the connection state by preventing the conductive core from being pulled out, even under force, ensuring reliable electrical contact.
Implementation Method 1
each of the S-shaped springs 920 is resiliently deformed so that its free end 922 is moved outward in an X-direction
Implementation Method 2
the press portion of the spring member whose metal is harder than the metal of the shell presses the conductive core against the contact portion
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
A connector is connectable with a conductive core of a cable which is inserted from a front of the connector along a front-rear direction. The connector comprises a shell and a spring member. The shell is made of a metal. The shell has an operation portion and a contact portion. The spring member is made of another metal which is harder than the metal of the shell. The spring member has an operated portion and a press portion. When the operation portion moves the operated portion, the press portion is moved away from the contact portion. The press portion presses the conductive core against the contact portion under a connection state where the conductive core is connected with the connector.