Electrical Connector Terminal Retention Without Base
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional electrical cable connectors have a limited ability to minimize their dimension in the mating direction due to the presence of a retention base, which restricts the reduction of the contact length.
Innovation Solution
The electrical cable connector design eliminates the traditional retention base by incorporating a terminal with a front contacting section and a rear connecting section, featuring a soldering region and securing structures on the housing to retain the terminal, allowing for a shorter length along the front-to-back direction and minimizing the overall connector dimension.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional retention base is used to retain the terminal in the housing, then the terminal can be securely retained in position, but the length of the terminal along the front-to-back direction increases, preventing minimization of the connector dimension
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the traditional retention base from the terminal structure. Instead of having a separate retention base component, the invention integrates the retention function directly into the housing through securing structures, thereby removing the unnecessary portion that increased terminal length while maintaining retention capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions the retention mechanism from a horizontal extension (retention base extending forwardly) to a vertical integration (securing structures formed on housing in vertical direction). The securing structures extend upwardly from the housing to engage with the terminal, achieving retention through vertical dimension rather than horizontal extension
2Length of moving object
If the terminal length is reduced to minimize connector dimension, then the overall connector size decreases, but the terminal can no longer be securely retained in the housing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces securing structures as an intermediary retention mechanism between the terminal and housing. These structures act as mediators that provide secure retention through a different mechanism (vertical engagement rather than horizontal base), enabling short terminal length while maintaining reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical retention base system with a simplified securing structure system integrated into the housing. The new system uses vertical securing structures with engagement features rather than the traditional horizontal retention base, achieving the same retention function with reduced terminal length
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical cable connector includes an insulative housing, a plurality of terminals disposed in the housing, a mating cavity formed in the housing and forwardly communicating with an exterior. The terminal includes a front contacting section and a rear connecting section with an extension section therebewteen in a front-to-back direction. The front contacting section is exposed in the mating cavity, and the rear connecting section includes a soldering region and a pair of securing structure formed on two sides of the soldering region and secured to the housing for retaining the terminal in position with regard to the housing.