Flexible Arm Terminal Holding Structure for Grounding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing terminal holding structures for grounding terminals in molded articles face a trade-off between improved holding performance and workability, as increasing stiffness to prevent terminals from coming off also increases the force required for deformation, thereby deteriorating workability.
Innovation Solution
A terminal holding structure featuring a flexible arm portion connected to a fixing wall, which locks a locking portion of the grounding terminal and forms a passage with supporting portions to securely hold the terminal while allowing easy insertion and reduced force for locking, utilizing a flexible arm body and locking projection to enhance retention without compromising ease of assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the stiffness of holding members is increased to improve holding performance, then the grounding terminals will not easily come off, but the force required for deforming the holding members increases, leading to deterioration in workability
Solution Approach 1:
The arm portion is designed to be flexible rather than rigid, allowing it to dynamically change shape during terminal insertion and locking. The arm portion bends when the grounding terminal is inserted and then locks onto the terminal, providing both ease of insertion and secure retention without requiring high deformation forces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameter of the holding member from rigid to flexible by controlling the thickness and material properties of the arm portion. This allows the arm to deform easily during insertion (improving workability) while maintaining sufficient elasticity to lock securely (improving holding performance).
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
The solution effectively improves both holding performance and workability by allowing secure retention of grounding terminals with reduced force requirements, enabling easy assembly and disassembly while maintaining stability against unintentional dislocation.
Implementation Method 1
a flexible arm portion that is connected, at a proximal end thereof, to the fixing wall portion, and extends in a direction along a wall surface of the fixing wall portion, and that is configured to lock a locking portion provided at a distal end portion of the grounding terminal
Data Source
AI summary
A terminal holding structure includes a fixing wall portion configured to be fixed, together with a grounding terminal, to a fixing target part by a fixing member; a flexible arm portion that is connected, at a proximal end thereof, to the fixing wall portion, and extends in a direction along a wall surface of the fixing wall portion, and that is configured to lock a locking portion provided at a distal end portion of the grounding terminal; and a supporting portion that forms, in conjunction with the arm portion, a passage into which the grounding terminal is inserted by being slid thereon along the arm portion, and that is configured to support the grounding terminal from a side thereof opposite to the arm portion side in a state where the arm portion locks the locking portion.