Flat Conductor Connector Slider for Easy Locked Cable Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flat conductor electric connectors require complex and visually non-intuitive operations to unlock and remove the flat conductor, making it difficult to detach without careful manipulation.
Innovation Solution
The connector design includes a slider with abutting portions that restrict upward or downward movement of the flat conductor at the advance position and facilitate easy removal by moving to a retreat position, allowing the abutting portions to guide the conductor out of the locking mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If locking raised portions are used to lock the flat conductor from the back, then the connector achieves reliable locking, but the removal process becomes complex and non-intuitive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional locking approach by having the locking protruding portion lock the flat conductor from the back (opposite direction), and the abutting portions guide the conductor during removal. This inversion allows reliable locking while simplifying removal through the slider mechanism that moves abutting portions to guide the conductor out of the locking portion.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the slider is positioned at the advance position to maintain locking, then connection stability is improved, but the flat conductor cannot be removed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the slider movable between advance and retreat positions. At the advance position, abutting portions restrict conductor movement for stable connection. When moved to the retreat position, the abutting portions guide the conductor out of the locking portion, enabling easy removal. This dynamic positioning resolves the contradiction between stability and ease of detachment.
3Ease of operation
If the upper end of the second abutting portion is positioned at the same level as the locking protruding portion, then the flat conductor can be guided out during removal, but the slider design becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the guiding function with the existing abutting portions of the slider. The second abutting portion's upper end is positioned at the same level as the locking protruding portion, allowing it to guide the flat conductor out during removal without requiring separate guiding components. This merging approach facilitates removal while avoiding additional complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A flat conductor electric connector to hold a flat conductor inserted in a front-back direction includes: terminals arrayed in the flat conductor width direction; a housing holding the terminals; and a slider. The housing includes a receiving portion receiving the flat conductor and a locking protruding portion upwardly protruding in the receiving portion and lockable to the flat conductor. The slider is attached to the housing and movable in the front-back direction between a retreat position and an advance position, and includes a first abutting portion to abut the flat conductor at the advance position and a second abutting portion to abut the flat conductor at the retreat position. The second abutting portion is on a front side from the first abutting portion. An upper end of the second abutting portion is at a position identical to or higher than the upper end of the locking protruding portion.