Flat-Conductor Connector Housing with Integrated Retaining Structure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flat-conductor connectors require additional metal locking members to prevent the flat conductor from being accidentally dislodged, increasing the number of components and assembly steps, which complicates the structure and manufacturing efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A flat-conductor connector design that incorporates a housing with a deformation guiding portion to curve the side edge of the flat conductor and a retaining engagement portion to secure it in place, eliminating the need for separate metal locking members by using integrated resin components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate metal locking members are used to prevent the flat conductor from being dislodged, then the reliability of preventing accidental disconnection is improved, but the device complexity and number of components increase
Solution Approach 1:
The locking function is merged with the housing structure. The deforming portion and retaining portion are integrated into the housing as a unified structure, eliminating the need for separate locking members. This merging maintains the reliability of preventing accidental disconnection while reducing device complexity and component count.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing serves multiple functions: it provides structural support, guides the flat conductor during insertion, and prevents accidental disconnection through its integrated deforming and retaining portions. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for dedicated locking components, resolving the contradiction between reliability and device complexity.
2Reliability
If separate metal locking members are used to secure the flat conductor, then the reliability of preventing accidental disconnection is improved, but the number of assembly steps increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking function is merged with the housing structure. The deforming portion and retaining portion are integrated into the housing as a unified structure, eliminating the need for separate locking members. This merging maintains the reliability of preventing accidental disconnection while reducing device complexity and component count.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing is pre-formed with the deforming and retaining portions during the housing manufacturing process. This preliminary action eliminates the need for separate assembly steps to install locking members, thereby improving productivity while maintaining the reliability of preventing accidental disconnection.
3Reliability
If metal locking members are used to prevent dislodgement, then the reliability of connection is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking function is merged with the housing structure. The deforming portion and retaining portion are integrated into the housing as a unified structure, eliminating the need for separate locking members. This merging maintains the reliability of preventing accidental disconnection while reducing device complexity and component count.
Solution Approach 2:
The material and structural parameters of the housing are optimized to provide the necessary elastic deformation and retaining forces. By changing the housing's structural parameters (adding deforming and retaining portions), the connection stability previously provided by metal locking members is achieved through the housing itself, simplifying manufacturing.
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
This design effectively prevents the flat conductor from being dislodged while simplifying the structure, reducing the number of components and assembly steps, and maintaining electrical connection reliability without the need for additional locking members.
Implementation Method 1
a deformation guiding portion that is brought into contact with the flat conductor, which is inserted into the holding portion, and that causes a side edge portion of the flat conductor to be curved and deformed in a plate-thickness direction of the flat conductor
Implementation Method 2
an engagement portion included in the side edge portion of the flat conductor, the side edge portion having returned from the state of being curved and deformed to an original shape of the side edge portion
Data Source
AI summary
To provide a flat-conductor connector that implements, with a simple structure, a function of preventing a flat conductor from coming out thereof.A flat-conductor connector includes a housing including a holding portion into which a flat conductor is inserted to be electrically connected. The housing includes a deformation guiding portion that comes into contact with the flat conductor and that causes a side edge portion of the flat conductor to be curved and deformed in a thickness direction and a retaining engagement portion that is located on a far side of the deformation guiding portion in an insertion direction of the flat conductor and that engages an edge of a recess formed in the side edge portion of the flat conductor that has returned from a state of being curved and deformed to its original shape, in a direction in which the flat conductor is to be pulled.