Connector Window View for Water Stop Verification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing connectors lack a method to ensure proper mounting of water stop members, which is crucial for maintaining waterproof performance, and there is no straightforward way to visually verify the correct positioning of these members.

Innovation Solution

A connector design that includes a viewing window part allowing visual confirmation of the locked water stop member's position, ensuring it is properly inserted and locked, thereby facilitating easy verification of its mounting state.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a water stop member is mounted on the fitting part to ensure waterproof performance, then waterproof reliability is improved, but it becomes difficult to verify whether the water stop member is properly mounted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewaterproof performanceVSAvoidverification of mounting state

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses visual indication through color or transparency changes to show the mounting state of the water stop member. The front holder or fitting part includes a viewing portion that allows operators to visually confirm whether the water stop member is properly positioned, using color-coded indicators or transparent sections to display the correct assembly state.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary viewing mechanism (front holder with viewing portion, or transparent/colored indication parts) that mediates between the hidden water stop member and the operator's visual inspection capability, allowing indirect observation of the mounting state without disassembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the connector structure is made complex to enable visual verification, then ease of operation for verification is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveverification operationVSAvoidconnector structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the connector into distinct functional parts: the fitting part, the front holder, and the water stop member. The viewing function is integrated into one of these segments (either the front holder or fitting part), allowing verification capability to be added without redesigning the entire connector structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The front holder or fitting part serves multiple functions: it provides structural support for the connector, holds the water stop member in place, and simultaneously provides a viewing portion for verification. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate verification components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS11456560B2Connector having a window view part

Publication Date: 2022.09.27 YAZAKI CORP

AI summary

Included are terminal metal parts, a housing provided with a fitting part housing the terminal metal parts thereinside and to be inserted and fit into a counterpart fitting part having an inner circumferential wall face, a front holder causing the fitting part to be inserted along an insertion direction of the fitting part to the counterpart fitting part, and a ring-shaped water stop member having an inner circumferential face side mounted on a protruding portion of an outer circumferential wall face of the fitting part from the front holder to fill a ring-shaped gap between the protruding portion of the outer circumferential wall face and the inner circumferential wall face of the counterpart fitting part.