Elastic Connector Housing for Tolerance-Stable Wall Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional connectors experience looseness and instability due to low dimensional accuracy of case openings, leading to potential detachment and scratching, and require a complex structure with high component count and manufacturing costs.
Innovation Solution
A connector design featuring a housing with integrated elastic members and ribs that securely engage with the wall member, ensuring stable attachment without looseness, reduced size, simplified manufacturing, and lower costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional connector is used with a retainer clip, then the connector can be attached to the case, but dimensional tolerance of the opening causes gaps and looseness between the connector and wall surface
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state of the housing from rigid to elastically deformable, allowing it to adapt to dimensional variations in the opening. The housing material or structure is modified to enable elastic deformation that compensates for manufacturing tolerances, eliminating gaps and looseness without requiring higher precision in the opening dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a flexible housing that can elastically deform to conform to the opening dimensions. This flexible shell approach allows the connector to accommodate variations in opening size and shape, ensuring stable attachment despite manufacturing tolerances in the wall surface opening.
2Reliability
If a retainer clip is used to prevent detachment, then the connector can be secured to the case, but the structure becomes complex with multiple components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the housing and retainer functions into a single integrated component. The housing itself is designed with elastic properties that enable it to perform both the structural housing function and the retention function previously requiring a separate retainer clip, thereby reducing component count and simplifying the overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic housing serves itself by providing both structural support and retention capabilities. The housing automatically adapts to the opening and prevents detachment through its elastic deformation, eliminating the need for separate retention mechanisms and reducing overall system complexity.
3Reliability
If multiple components are used including retainer clip and gasket, then the connector can be assembled, but manufacturing cost and assembly complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions (housing, sealing, retention) into a single elastically deformable component, eliminating the need for separate gaskets and retainer clips. This integration reduces the number of parts to manufacture and assemble, lowering production costs while maintaining sealing and retention reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic housing performs multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural support, ensures sealing through elastic contact with the opening, and prevents detachment through its retention capability. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate specialized components, simplifying manufacturing and assembly processes.
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
The connector achieves stable and reliable attachment to wall members, reduces size and component count, simplifies manufacturing, and lowers costs while maintaining high reliability.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of elastic members combined with the housing
Data Source
AI summary
A connector, comprising:a housing;a plurality of elastic members combined with the housing; anda plurality of terminals mounted in the housing, whereinthe housing can be inserted into an opening formed in a wall member,the elastic members include a mating exposed surface exposed on a mating surface of the housing and a side wall exposed surface exposed on a side wall surface of the housing and constitute at least one left and right symmetric pair positioned respectively on both left and right sides in the width direction of the housing, andthe side wall exposed surface includes a rib extending in the mating direction that is able to come into contact with an inner surface of the opening.