Crescent Buckle Hook Prevents Plug Connector Deformation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing electrical plug connectors lack a stopping structure for their hooks, leading to potential deformation and reduced resilience when pressed, which can result in unintentional detachment from the receptacle connector.
Innovation Solution
The electrical plug connector incorporates a first and second buckle structure of crescent shapes, where the first buckle structure is protruded from the top surface and the second buckle structure forms a crescent-shaped hole, allowing for rotational engagement to prevent deformation and unintended detachment, with inspection holes for visibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the hook is pressed to detach the electrical plug connector, then the connection is released, but the elastic portion of the hook may be deformed and the resilience performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a stopping structure (limit groove or limit column) in advance on the hook member, which preliminarily defines the pressing distance. When the button is pressed, the pressing portion stops at the stopping structure, preventing excessive deformation of the elastic portion before detachment occurs. This preliminary constraint ensures the hook maintains its resilience performance for future operations.
2Ease of operation
If the hook is pressed without a stopping structure, then detachment is achieved, but the hook may squeeze with the plastic plate structure and deform
Solution Approach 1:
The stopping structure (limit groove or limit column) is pre-designed on the hook member to define the pressing distance in advance. This preliminary action prevents the pressing portion from moving too far and squeezing against the plastic plate structure, thereby maintaining the structural integrity of the hook during the detachment operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The stopping structure acts as an intermediary element between the pressing portion and the plastic plate structure. It mediates the pressing action by providing a defined stopping point, preventing direct contact and potential damage between the pressing portion and the plastic plate structure.
3Device complexity
If the hook lacks a stopping structure, then the design is simpler, but the hook may be deformed when pressed, leading to unintentional detachment
Solution Approach 1:
The stopping structure is incorporated into the hook member design itself (as a limit groove or limit column), rather than being a separate component. This preliminary built-in feature adds minimal complexity while effectively preventing excessive pressing and maintaining secure engagement reliability.
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
This design enhances the resilience and assembly/disassembly of the hook members, ensuring secure engagement with the receptacle connector and preventing unintentional detachment, while allowing for convenient assembly and disassembly.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic portion (54) extending from one of two ends of the second buckle structure toward the recessed groove and having an elastic force to bounce back
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical plug connector includes an insulated housing, contact terminals held in the insulated housing, an outer shell covering the insulated housing, and hook members. First buckle structures are at side arms at two sides of the insulated housing. Each of the hook members includes a second buckle structure mating with the corresponding first buckle structure. The buckle structures are of crescent shapes and mated with each other. When the press portion of the hook member is pressed by an excessive force, the first/second buckle structure stops the second/first buckle structure to prevent the elastic arm of the hook member from deforming. When the elastic arm is bounced back excessively, the first/second buckle structure stops the second/first buckle structure to prevent the hook member from detaching off the side arm.