Electrical Connector for Flat-Type Conductors with Oblique Pressure-Arm
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical connectors for flat-type conductors face challenges in miniaturization, particularly in reducing the profile in the up-down direction due to the design of locking members and actuating mechanisms, which increases the overall size of the connector.
Innovation Solution
The electrical connector features a housing with a movable member that pivots between closed and open positions, utilizing a pressure-receiving arm portion and cam portions to apply pressure, allowing for reduced profile dimensions by positioning these components within the shaft body portions, thereby minimizing the connector's height and easing the unlocking process with fewer locking members.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the movable beam portions are entirely rectilinear and the actuating locking cover portions are located above the actuating unlocking portions, then the locking mechanism is simple to manufacture, but the connector increases in size in the up-down direction
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure-receiving arm portion is configured to extend in a direction oblique to the forward-backward direction, utilizing diagonal spatial arrangement to reduce the up-down dimension. This dimensional reorientation allows the actuating unlocking portions to be positioned at a lower elevation while maintaining functional effectiveness, thereby reducing overall connector height without compromising manufacturing simplicity
2Device complexity
If the actuating unlocking portions are located at an elevation near the top wall of the housing, then the movable beam portions can be entirely rectilinear, but the connector profile increases in the up-down direction
Solution Approach 1:
By configuring the pressure-receiving arm portion to extend obliquely rather than rectilinearly, the design shifts the functional positioning to a diagonal arrangement. This allows the actuating unlocking portions to be positioned lower in the up-down dimension while maintaining structural simplicity, effectively reducing connector profile without significantly increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the geometric parameters of the pressure-receiving arm portion by introducing an oblique extension angle. This parameter modification enables the actuating unlocking portions to be positioned at a lower elevation, thereby reducing connector height while maintaining adequate structural integrity and functionality
3Reliability
If multiple locking members are provided on opposite external sides of the terminal array range, then the locking reliability is improved, but the connector width increases
Solution Approach 1:
The movable member integrates multiple functional elements including the pressure-receiving arm portion, cam portions, and actuating unlocking portions into a single unified component. This merging approach maintains locking reliability through coordinated action of integrated elements while reducing connector width by eliminating the need for separate locking members on opposite sides
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 achieves significant miniaturization in the up-down direction while maintaining effective locking and unlocking mechanisms, reducing the actuating force required for unlocking and preventing connector detachment.
Implementation Method 1
the cam portions apply downward pressure to the pressure-receiving portions when the movable member moves from the closed position to the open position
Implementation Method 2
a movable member that is provided forwardly of the receiving space and is capable of moving between a closed position and an open position while pivoting about a pivoting axis extending in the terminal array direction
Data Source
AI summary
The locking members have an upper arm portion that extends in the forward-backward direction, a mountable portion that is mounted to the housing downwardly of the upper arm portion, and a strut portion that extends upwardly from the mountable portion and is coupled to the upper arm portion, the upper arm portion has a pressure-receiving arm portion that extends forwardly from the top end of the strut portion and a locking arm portion that extends toward the rear from the top end of the strut portion, the locking arm portion has an engaging portion positioned so as to permit engagement with the flat-type conductor when the movable member is in the closed position, the pressure-receiving arm portion has its front end portion located downwardly of the other parts while forming a pressure receiving portion.