Adjustable Flat Cable Guide Assembly for Bend-Safe Routing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solutions lack an effective means to securely route and manage flat flexible cables in devices with dense electronics, as they often fail to maintain cables in desired positions without causing damage from sharp bends.
Innovation Solution
An angle clip assembly with rotatable guides and locking mechanisms, featuring interlocking teeth for radial stability and resilient lock arms for axial security, allows for adjustable cable routing while preventing rotation and movement, ensuring the cable is retained at a desired angle without causing damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional cable support is used to retain the flat flexible cable, then the cable can be held in a desired position, but the cable may be damaged from sharp bends
Solution Approach 1:
The guide surfaces are curved to match the natural bend radius of the flat flexible cable. The first guide surface and second guide surface both feature radiused edges that guide the cable through a gradual arc, preventing sharp bends while maintaining secure retention. This curvature ensures the cable follows a smooth path between cable runs.
2Ease of operation
If an adjustable cable support is provided to facilitate cable routing, then cable management is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The assembly incorporates a rotatable connection between the first and second guides, allowing the angle between them to be adjusted dynamically. A locking mechanism with teeth and lock arms enables the structure to transition from a movable state during installation to a fixed state during operation, providing adjustability without permanent complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The cable support is divided into separate modular components: a first guide, a second guide, and a locking mechanism. These segments can be independently positioned and assembled, allowing flexible cable routing configurations while keeping each individual component relatively simple in structure.
Data Source
AI summary
An angle clip assembly includes a first guide. The first guide has a first guide surface. A first retainer is adapted to retain a first part of a flat flexible cable on the first guide surface. The angle clip assembly also includes a second guide. The second guide has a second guide surface. A second retainer is adapted to retain a second part of the flat flexible cable on the second guide surface. The second guide is rotatable relative to the first guide about a lock axis to one of a plurality of assembly angles. The angle clip assembly includes a radial lock. The radial lock prevents rotation of the first guide relative to the second guide.