Female Connector Segmented Boundary for Reliable Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing connector sets for medical devices can form gaps at the boundary between the engagement protrusion and the outer peripheral wall, leading to potential misalignment and unintended engagement of the lock protrusion, making it difficult to determine if the connector is in a normal connected state, which can result in abnormal liquid delivery situations.
Innovation Solution
The female connector design features a boundary between the engagement protrusion and the outer peripheral wall that does not include portions extending along the circumferential direction longer than the lock protrusion, using alternating portions that either do not extend or have specific shapes like polygonal or curved waveforms, ensuring the lock protrusion cannot engage with the boundary, thus preventing abnormal connections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional connector design with a continuous boundary between the engagement protrusion and outer peripheral wall is used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but gaps may form at the boundary allowing the lock protrusion to engage abnormally
Solution Approach 1:
The continuous boundary between the engagement protrusion and outer peripheral wall is segmented into multiple discrete boundary portions with gaps between them. This segmentation prevents the lock protrusion from forming a continuous engagement path, thereby eliminating abnormal locking while maintaining structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
Specific portions of the boundary are extracted or removed to create intentional gaps. By taking out segments of the boundary structure, the design prevents the lock protrusion from engaging with the boundary, ensuring reliable connection status indication without adding complex components.
2Reliability
If dimensional accuracy and assembly accuracy are improved to reduce gaps, then connection reliability improves, but manufacturing cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of relying on high manufacturing precision to minimize gaps, the boundary is deliberately segmented into discrete portions. This approach converts a precision-dependent solution into a structure-based solution, reducing manufacturing difficulty while maintaining or improving connection reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The design changes the parameter of the boundary from continuous to discontinuous, transforming the problem from one requiring high dimensional accuracy to one solved by structural configuration. This parameter change allows standard manufacturing tolerances to suffice.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the boundary includes portions extending along the circumferential direction, then the structural continuity is maintained, but the lock protrusion may engage with the boundary causing false connection indication
Solution Approach 1:
The boundary is divided into multiple discrete portions arranged circumferentially with gaps between them. This segmentation maintains the boundary's presence for structural support while preventing continuous engagement of the lock protrusion, ensuring accurate connection status indication.
Solution Approach 2:
The boundary portions are asymmetrically arranged around the circumferential direction, creating gaps at specific locations. This asymmetric configuration prevents the lock protrusion from finding a continuous engagement path while maintaining structural integrity where needed.
Data Source
AI summary
A connector set includes a male connector; and a female connector. The male connector includes: a hollow rod-shaped flow path connection portion that defines a first flow path therein and that has a first axis as a center, and a lock protrusion that has an inner peripheral edge extending in a circumferential direction around the first axis. The female connector includes: a cap, a housing, and a valve body. The cap includes: a top wall, and a cylindrical outer peripheral wall extending from an outer peripheral edge of the top wall and that has a second axis as a center. The housing includes: a cylindrical wall, and an engagement protrusion protruding from an outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical wall so as to form a lower surface configured to engage with the lock protrusion to lock the male connector.