Cylindrical Connector With Finger-Resting Portions
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing connectors for cables, especially those with combined electrical and optical components, face challenges in simplified connection and alignment, often requiring complex positioning and risk of finger entrapment during insertion due to limited fitting geometries.
Innovation Solution
A connector design featuring a cylindrically-shaped gripping portion with upper and lower surface finger-resting portions, an insertion portion, and a guide protrusion that aligns with a receiving-side connector's guide groove, allowing intuitive gripping and precise alignment without rotation, reducing the risk of finger entrapment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a connector uses a rectangular connecting surface with trapezoidal fitting portions, then fitting position is limited and alignment is achieved, but the connector requires rotation for connection and increases complexity of the connecting operation
Solution Approach 1:
The connector employs a cylindrical outer periphery instead of a rectangular shape, and the finger-resting portions use curved concave surfaces that match the natural curvature of fingers. This curved geometry eliminates the need for rotation during connection while maintaining precise alignment through the guide protrusion portion.
Solution Approach 2:
The connector features asymmetric finger-resting portions with different positions and orientations on the cylindrical surface. The upper surface finger-resting portion extends in the longitudinal axial direction while the lower surface finger-resting portion extends in a direction intersecting the longitudinal axial direction, creating an asymmetric grip configuration that guides correct insertion orientation without requiring rotation.
2Measurement precision
If a connector uses limited fitting geometry, then alignment precision is improved, but the risk of finger entrapment during insertion increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guide protrusion portion acts as an intermediary element that interfaces between the connector and the receiving-side connector's guide groove. This intermediary structure provides precise alignment guidance while maintaining a safe distance between the user's fingers and the insertion interface, eliminating the risk of finger entrapment.
Solution Approach 2:
The connector separates the gripping function (cylindrical body with finger-resting portions) from the insertion function (distal end insertion portion with guide protrusion). This segmentation allows users to grip the safer, rounded body portions while the insertion portion with precise alignment features operates independently, preventing finger entrapment while maintaining alignment precision.
3Measurement precision
If a connector requires rotation for connection, then fitting accuracy is achieved, but the connecting operation time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guide protrusion portion and guide groove are pre-aligned in the cylindrical connector design, eliminating the need for rotation during connection. The finger-resting portions are pre-configured in asymmetric positions that naturally guide the user's hand orientation, performing the alignment action beforehand and allowing direct insertion without time-consuming rotation.
Data Source
AI summary
A connector comprises an upper surface finger-resting portion that extends in the longitudinal axial direction on the outer periphery of the gripping portion, and on which the first finger is placed, a lower surface finger-resting portion on which the second finger or the third finger is rested when the connector is gripped by placing the first finger on the upper surface finger-resting portion, and a guide protrusion portion that is arranged on the same straight line as the upper surface finger-resting portion in the longitudinal axial direction and determines the position to be inserted, in which the connector is directly fitted into the receiving-side connector by directing the finger tip of the first finger that is placed on the upper surface finger-resting portion to the guide groove of the receiving-side connector and inserting the connector.