Low-Profile Holder-Mounting Structure With Segmented Locking Arms

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional holder-mounting structures for electrical junction boxes face challenges in achieving both mechanical strength and a low-profile design, as reducing the thickness of locking arms can lead to bending or breaking, while increasing thickness results in a larger size, and the alignment of locking arms in the same direction compromises mechanical strength and size.

Innovation Solution

A holder-mounting structure featuring a holder with plate portions that include thick-walled and thin-walled sections, where the thin-walled portion is elastically deformable and used for locking engagement, allowing the holder to be slidably inserted into a mounting portion with an accommodating terminal, ensuring mechanical strength and a low-profile design by allowing deformation in different directions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If the thickness of locking arms is reduced to achieve a low-profile design, then the size of the holder mounting portion is reduced, but the mechanical strength of the locking arms deteriorates causing bending or breaking

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesize of holder mounting portionVSAvoidmechanical strength of locking arms

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The locking arm is divided into two distinct sections: a thick-walled portion providing mechanical strength and support, and a thin-walled portion enabling elastic deformation for locking engagement. This segmentation allows each part to fulfill its specific function optimally without compromising overall performance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different sections of the locking arm have different wall thicknesses tailored to their specific functions. The thick-walled portion near the holder body provides structural strength, while the thin-walled portion at the locking end allows elastic deformation. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between strength and deformability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Strength

If the thickness of locking arms is increased to ensure mechanical strength, then the strength of locking arms is improved, but the size of the holder mounting portion increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemechanical strength of locking armsVSAvoidsize of holder mounting portion

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The locking arm is divided into two distinct sections: a thick-walled portion providing mechanical strength and support, and a thin-walled portion enabling elastic deformation for locking engagement. This segmentation allows each part to fulfill its specific function optimally without compromising overall performance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different sections of the locking arm have different wall thicknesses tailored to their specific functions. The thick-walled portion near the holder body provides structural strength, while the thin-walled portion at the locking end allows elastic deformation. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between strength and deformability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Device complexity

If locking arms are aligned in the same direction to simplify structure, then the device complexity is reduced, but the mechanical strength and size optimization are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructure of locking armsVSAvoidmechanical strength of locking arms

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The locking arms are arranged in different directions (one extending in the first direction, another in the second direction perpendicular to the first) rather than being aligned in the same direction. This spatial arrangement in multiple dimensions provides better mechanical support and strength while maintaining structural simplicity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 provides a low-profile holder-mounting structure with enhanced mechanical strength, preventing unstable contact and allowing for easy connection and disconnection of electric components, while maintaining a reduced size and ensuring reliable mechanical support.

Implementation Method 1

a thin-walled portion (8B) continuing to the thick-walled portion (8A) and provided at an end (81) of the plate portion away from the holder body, the thin-walled portion being thinner than the thick-walled portion, and adapted to be elastically deformed in a second direction (Z-direction)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS8414334B2Holder-mounting structure

Publication Date: 2013.04.09 YAZAKI CORP

AI summary

A holder-mounting structure comprises a holder and a holder mounting portion into which the holder is slidably inserted. The holder includes a holder body for mounting of an electric component and a pair of plate portions extending from the holder body such that the electric component resides therebetween. The plate portions include a thick-walled portion continuing to the holder body and a thin-walled portion continuing to the thick-walled portion and provided at an end of the plate portion away from the holder body. The holder mounting portion includes an accommodating portion into which a connecting terminal connected to the electric component is accommodated. The thin-walled portion includes a complete-locking portion configured to be brought into locking engagement with the holder at a position where the electric component is connected to the connecting terminal with the holder slidably inserted into the accommodating portion.