Housingless Connector With Overlapping Sections For Lateral Stability
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing connectors without a housing lack strength, which is a concern for connectors used in lighting devices that need to maintain structural integrity even when subjected to forces from cable movement.
Innovation Solution
A connector design featuring a bottom portion with overlapping first and second sections, each with engagement portions that abut in a perpendicular direction, providing lateral stability and preventing deformation when forces are applied.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the connector is designed without a housing to reduce component count and assembly cost, then manufacturing simplicity and cost are improved, but structural strength and stability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The connector is divided into multiple sections (first section, second section, third section) with distinct functions. The first and second sections provide structural support and form engagement portions, while the third section houses the contact portion. This segmentation allows each part to be optimized for its specific function, maintaining strength where needed while simplifying the overall structure by eliminating the need for a separate housing.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing function is merged with the connection member itself. The first and second sections of the connection member extend laterally to form engagement portions that provide the structural support and guidance functions previously provided by a separate housing. This merging eliminates the need for additional components while maintaining the required structural integrity.
2Device complexity
If the connector structure is simplified by removing the housing, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability under lateral forces deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The connector is designed with resilient portions that can elastically deform in response to lateral forces. When a lateral force is applied, the resilient portion deforms to absorb the force, and the engagement portions move relative to each other to maintain connection stability. This dynamic response allows the simplified structure to reliably withstand lateral forces without permanent deformation or failure.
Solution Approach 2:
The connector utilizes a combination of rigid and resilient portions within the connection member. The rigid portions (first and second sections) provide structural support and form stable engagement portions, while the resilient portion provides flexibility and shock absorption. This composite structure maintains reliability under lateral forces while keeping the overall design simple and integrated.
Data Source
AI summary
A connector has an insertion opening for a cable at a front end of thereof in a front-rear direction. The connector has a bottom portion, a first section and a second section. The bottom portion has opposite ends in a lateral direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction. The first section and the second section extend from the opposite ends, respectively, of the bottom portion. The first section and the second section overlap with each other so that the first section, the second section and the bottom portion form the insertion opening. The first section is formed with a first engagement portion. The second section is formed with a second engagement portion. The first engagement portion and the second engagement portion face each other in a perpendicular direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction. Even if at least one of the first section and the second section receives a force forcing the first section and the second section to be away from each other in the lateral direction, the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion are brought into abutment with each other in the perpendicular direction.