CPA Connector Lock Structure With In-Plane Arms for Compact Fitting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing CPA attachment structures for small connectors, such as board-mounted type connectors, tend to increase the size of the CPA-attached connector in the out-of-plane direction, which is undesirable for compact designs.

Innovation Solution

A CPA attachment structure that includes a CPA-side lock structure with pair of arms bendable in the in-plane direction and CPA-side lock portions, and a connector-side lock structure with pair of ribs and temporary and final lock portions, allowing for temporary and final locking without increasing the connector size.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the CPA member uses cantilever-shaped arms bent in an out-of-plane direction to achieve temporary and final locking, then the locking function is improved, but the connector size increases in the out-of-plane direction

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocking functionVSAvoidconnector size

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions the arm bending direction from out-of-plane to in-plane, effectively changing the dimensional plane of deformation. This allows the CPA member to maintain its locking functionality while staying within the connector's planar footprint, thus preventing out-of-plane size increase.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of bending arms outward (out-of-plane) to achieve locking, the patent inverts the approach by bending arms inward (in-plane) toward the connector housing. This inverted deformation direction enables the same locking objective to be achieved without increasing the connector's external dimensions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the CPA member is attached to small connectors such as board-mounted type connectors, then the applicability is improved, but the connector size increase becomes more critical

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveapplicability to small connectorsVSAvoidconnector size

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies localized in-plane bending to specific arm sections rather than requiring overall out-of-plane deformation. This localized deformation approach enables the CPA mechanism to function effectively in compact spaces, making it suitable for small connectors like board-mounted types where space is constrained.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the deformation parameter from out-of-plane bending to in-plane bending, fundamentally altering how the CPA member achieves its locking function. This parameter change enables the mechanism to operate within the limited space available in small connectors while maintaining full functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS12334683B2CPA attachment structure, CPA-attached connector and wire harness

Publication Date: 2025.06.17 YAZAKI CORP

AI summary

A CPA attachment structure capable of suppressing increase in connector size, a CPA-attached connector and a wire harness are provided. A CPA-side lock structure of the CPA attachment structure includes a pair of arms provided so as to be bendable in an in-plane direction of a housing outer surface, a CPA-side lock portion which is temporarily locked to a connector-side lock structure and which is released from the temporary locking at a time of fitting. The connector-side lock structure includes a pair of ribs that are arranged to stand according to an arrangement interval of the pair of arms, a temporary lock portion to which the CPA-side lock portion is temporarily locked, and a final lock portion to which the CPA-side lock portion is finally locked.