Holding Member With Segmented Lock Projections
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cable connectors can only change the extending direction of cables by integer multiples of ninety degrees, which limits flexibility and degrades the ability to maintain a secure attached state.
Innovation Solution
A holding member design that allows for small-degree adjustments in the relative angle between a contact-holding member and a cable-holding member by using strategically placed stop portions and resiliently deformable support portions, simplifying the structure while maintaining strength and securing the combined state.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the connector uses lock projections and lock depressions arranged at fixed angular intervals (e.g., 90 degrees), then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the cable extending direction can only be changed by integer multiples of the fixed angle, limiting flexibility
Solution Approach 1:
The lock projection is divided into multiple segments along its length, with different segments engageable with different lock depressions. This segmentation allows the cable holder to be rotated to multiple angular positions (including small degrees not limited to 90-degree intervals) while maintaining a secure locked state, thereby improving cable extending direction flexibility without requiring a completely complex new structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The connector design allows dynamic adjustment of the cable holder's angular position relative to the housing. The resilient cable holder can be rotated to different angles and locked at each position using the segmented lock projection mechanism, enabling flexible adaptation to different cable routing requirements while maintaining structural integrity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the connector allows rotation of the cable holder to change cable extending direction, then adaptability is improved, but the ability to maintain a secure attached state is degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The lock projection is segmented into multiple engagement zones, each capable of locking with corresponding lock depressions. This ensures that regardless of the rotational position of the cable holder, the segmented lock projection can engage with appropriate lock depressions to maintain a secure attached state, preventing degradation of reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient cable holder incorporates elastic elements that provide pre-compression and cushioning forces. These resilient elements maintain constant contact pressure between mating surfaces, ensuring secure attachment even when the cable holder is rotated to different angular positions, thereby maintaining reliability throughout the range of motion.
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
Enables precise adjustment of the cable's extending direction by small degrees, enhancing the ability to maintain a secure combined state between the contact-holding and cable-holding members, improving flexibility and structural integrity.
Implementation Method 1
a cable-holding member (50) configured to hold the cable (70), wherein the cable-holding member (50) has one or more support portions (528) which are resiliently deformable and one or more second stop portions (530) each of which is supported by one of the support portions (528) to be movable in an intersecting direction intersecting with the front-rear direction in accordance with resilient deformation of the one of the support portions (528)
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
A first holding member (40) has first stop portions (426), and a second holding member (50) has one or more support portions (528) and one or more second stop portions (530). Each of the second stop portions is supported by one of the support portions to be movable in a direction intersecting with a front-rear direction in accordance with resilient deformation of the one of the support portions. When the first holding member and the second holding member are combined with each other, the first stop portions are grouped into a first group and a second group, each of the second stop portions faces one or more of the first stop portions of the first group in the front-rear direction, and each of the first stop portions of the second group faces none of the second stop portions in the front-rear direction.