Flat Conductor Connector Structure for Strength Without Wider Profile
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical connectors for flat conductors face a challenge in ensuring high strength of side reinforcement portions and shaft restriction portions while minimizing the overall size of the connector in the terminal arrangement direction.
Innovation Solution
The connector design includes a movable member with a side reinforcement portion that has an inclined portion extending inward and a shaft restriction portion with an angled inner surface, both positioned to overlap in the Y-axis direction, allowing for increased thickness without increasing the connector's size in this direction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the side reinforcement portion and shaft restriction portion are made thicker to increase strength, then the strength is improved, but the connector size in the Y-axis direction increases
Solution Approach 1:
The side reinforcement portion is designed with an inclined surface that extends in the X-axis direction (front-rear direction) rather than only increasing thickness in the Y-axis direction. This allows the reinforcement to provide structural strength by utilizing the inclined geometry and overlapping arrangement, while the connector's overall size in the Y-axis direction remains minimized.
Solution Approach 2:
The side reinforcement portion and shaft restriction portion are arranged to overlap in the Y-axis direction, with the inclined portion of the side reinforcement portion positioned to overlap with the shaft restriction portion. This nested arrangement allows both components to share the same spatial envelope, providing enhanced strength without increasing the connector's external dimensions in the Y-axis direction.
2Length of stationary object
If the movable member is made thinner to satisfy low-profile requirements, then the profile is improved, but the strength of reinforcement portions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of increasing the thickness (Z-axis dimension) of the movable member to strengthen the reinforcement portions, the invention uses inclined surfaces that extend in the X-axis direction. This allows the side reinforcement portion to provide adequate strength through its inclined geometry and overlapping arrangement with the shaft restriction portion, while maintaining a thin profile in the Z-axis direction.
Solution Approach 2:
The side reinforcement portion features an inclined surface with a specific inclination angle, creating local structural characteristics that enhance strength where needed. This localized geometric feature provides the necessary reinforcement without requiring the entire movable member to be thicker, thus maintaining the low-profile requirement.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an electrical connector to which a flat conductor is connected includes: a housing; terminals; and a movable member, the housing has a receiving portion that receives the flat conductor, a main body of the movable member has a side reinforcement portion that includes an inclined portion that extends inward, a side part of the housing has a shaft restriction portion that is located outside of the side reinforcement portion and restricts movement of a shaft part of the movable member, the side reinforcement portion and the shaft restriction portion are provided adjacent to each other within a predetermined range, and at least a part of the shaft restriction portion is provided in a range that overlaps with the inclined portion, and an inner surface of at least the part of the shaft restriction portion extends at an angle along an outer surface of the inclined portion.