Front Holder Connector Unlocking by Opposite-Side Compression
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing connectors require a dedicated tool to separate the front holder from the housing, which complicates maintenance and recycling processes.
Innovation Solution
The connector design includes a front holder with a pair of first locking portions and a pair of operating portions, allowing the front holder to be separated from the housing without a dedicated tool by displacing the operating portions to release the engagement between the locking portions and the housing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a dedicated tool is used to separate the front holder from the housing, then the engagement between the front holder and housing can be reliably released, but the complexity of the separation process increases and requires additional tools
Solution Approach 1:
The front holder is designed with operating portions that allow it to be separated from the housing by manual operation without requiring external tools. The locking portions engage with the housing to provide reliable connection during use, while the operating portions enable the user to directly manipulate and release the locking mechanism through simple radial displacement, making the system self-servicing for separation operations
Solution Approach 2:
The front holder is divided into functional segments: locking portions for engagement with the housing and operating portions for release. This segmentation allows the locking mechanism and the release mechanism to be independently optimized - the locking portions provide strong engagement while the operating portions provide easy manual actuation, resolving the contradiction between reliable engagement and easy separation
2Ease of operation
If the front holder structure is simplified to enable tool-free separation, then the ease of operation improves, but the locking mechanism reliability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The front holder employs asymmetric design where the locking portions have a specific geometry that engages with corresponding features on the housing in one direction, while the operating portions are positioned and shaped to apply force that releases the locking in the opposite direction. This asymmetric configuration ensures that the same structure provides both strong locking during normal operation and easy release when actuated, maintaining reliability while enabling tool-free separation
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a connector including: a housing including a cylindrical wall portion; and a hollow annular front holder attached to the cylindrical wall portion to surround an outer periphery thereof. The front holder includes: a pair of first locking portions and a pair of operating portions arranged that are arranged to face with each other in a radial direction of the front holder. The connecter is configured such that: in a state where the front holder is fitted externally on the cylindrical wall portion, the pair of first locking portions is engaged with the cylindrical wall portion; and in response to an operation of displacing the pair of operating portions to approach with each other in the radial direction, the pair of first locking portions is displaced to release an engagement between the front holder and the cylindrical wall portion.