Elastic Locking Mechanism for Electrical Connector Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical connectors with integrally formed spring latches in the insulative housing tend to lose elasticity or break after repeated use, leading to unstable engagement with mating connectors.
Innovation Solution
An electrical connector design featuring an insulative housing with a plurality of contacts, an elastic locking member, and a positioning spacer, where the elastic locking member has moveable locking arms that extend through a mating surround interface, allowing for stable engagement and preventing over-movement, and a metallic shell for assembly and protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If spring latches are integrally formed by the insulative housing, then the structure is simplified and ease of manufacture is improved, but the locking mechanism easily loses original elasticity or breaks after repeated use, worsening reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is divided into separate components: the insulative housing provides the mounting structure, while the elastic locking member is a separate component that can be independently replaced. This segmentation allows the elastic component to be manufactured separately with optimized material properties, improving reliability without complicating the overall manufacturing process.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrical connector combines different materials for different functions: the insulative housing provides structural support and insulation, while the elastic locking member uses a separate material optimized for elastic properties. This composite approach allows each component to be made from the most suitable material, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and locking reliability.
2Device complexity
If spring latches are integrally formed in the insulative housing, then device complexity is reduced, but the locking mechanism breaks or loses elasticity after repeated use, worsening durability
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the elastic locking member from the insulative housing, the patent maintains relatively simple device structure while ensuring the locking mechanism can be independently replaced when worn. The segmentation allows the critical elastic component to have extended service life without significantly increasing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic locking member is extracted as a separate component from the insulative housing, allowing it to be independently manufactured, assembled, and replaced. This extraction enables the locking mechanism to be optimized for durability while keeping the rest of the device structure simple.
3Reliability
If elastic locking member with moveable locking arms is used, then engagement stability is improved, but the structure becomes more complex, worsening device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The moveable locking arms are integrally formed with the elastic locking member body, merging two components into one. This integration improves engagement stability by ensuring coordinated movement of the locking arms while avoiding the complexity of separate mounting mechanisms for the arms.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking arms are designed to be moveable relative to the body portion, allowing dynamic adaptation during engagement and disengagement. This dynamic capability improves engagement stability by enabling the locking mechanism to flex and conform during operation, while the integral construction keeps the overall structure relatively simple.
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 design ensures a stable and secure engagement between the electrical connector and its mating counterpart, preventing disengagement due to loss of elasticity or breakage, while enhancing durability through the use of a metal positioning spacer and elastic locking member.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic locking member (4) disposed between the insulative housing (1) and the positioning spacer (3), wherein the elastic locking member (4) includes a body portion (41) mounted on at least one side wall (12) defined by the insulative housing (1) and a pair of moveable locking arms (42) integrally extending from both ends of the body portion (41)
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical connector (100) with a mating surround interface (A1) for mating with a mating electrical connector (600) includes an insulative housing (1), a plurality of contacts (2) retained in the insulative housing (1), an elastic locking member (4) and a positioning spacer (3) is mounted on the insulative housing (1). The electrical connector (100) also includes a receiving slit (103) defined between the insulative housing (1) and the positioning spacer (3). The elastic locking member (4) includes a body portion (41) mounted on the side wall (12) and a pair of moveable locking arms (42) integrally extending from both ends of the body portion (41) which are bended to a different plane and extend through the mating surround interface (A1).