Female Connector Tongue Hard-Wall Locking Without Added Thickness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional female connectors are prone to damage due to varying connector sizes, necessitating a metal middle board for structural strength, which increases thickness and limits application, and require improved connection mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
An electronic connector assembly with a female connector featuring a hard wall embedded in the tongue, incorporating notches in the sidewalls and a locking element that engages with the male connector to enhance structural strength and secure connection without increasing thickness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a metal middle board is embedded in the tongue to improve structural strength, then the structural strength of the tongue is improved, but the thickness of the tongue is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from adding thickness in the vertical dimension to creating notches in the horizontal dimension. The hard wall with notches provides structural reinforcement through geometric design rather than material addition, maintaining the original tongue thickness while improving strength through the notched structure that interlocks with the locking element.
2Strength
If a metal middle board is embedded in the tongue to improve structural strength, then the structural strength of the tongue is improved, but the application of the connector is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses notches cut into the hard wall structure to provide reinforcement without adding vertical thickness. This dimensional approach allows the connector to maintain compatibility with various mating connectors while achieving the necessary structural strength, thereby improving adaptability across different applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the structural parameters by introducing notches with specific geometries that provide reinforcement. By modifying the shape and configuration of the hard wall rather than changing material composition or thickness, the connector achieves improved strength while maintaining versatility across different connector types and applications.
3Reliability
If locking elements are added to engage with notches in the hard wall, then the connection between male and female connectors is improved, but the device complexity is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the hard wall structure with integrated notches directly formed in the tongue assembly. The locking elements are positioned within the housing structure rather than being separate external components. This merging of functions reduces the number of discrete parts while maintaining reliable locking engagement.
Solution Approach 2:
The notches in the hard wall serve as an intermediary mechanism that mediates between the tongue structure and the locking elements. This intermediary feature provides a simple geometric interface that enables reliable engagement without requiring complex mechanical structures, thereby improving connection reliability while minimizing added complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic connector assembly has a female connector and a male connector. The female connector has terminal base mounted in a housing and having an insulation base and multiple metal terminals. The insulation base has a base and a tongue. A hard wall is embedded in two opposite sides and a front side of the tongue. Each sidewall has a notch defined in at least one position corresponding to a top surface or a bottom surface of the tongue and exposed from the tongue to engage a locking element in the male connector.