Joint Connector Miniaturization via Offset Engaging Holes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing joint connectors require a press-fitting margin to accommodate terminal portions, which hinders miniaturization due to competing commercial demands for smaller connectors.
Innovation Solution
A joint connector design featuring a housing with offset engaging holes and resilient walls that deform to engage projections, eliminating the need for conventional press-fitting and allowing for miniaturization by utilizing feed holes as engaging holes, reducing material and labor requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a press-fitting portion is provided in the housing to fix the joint terminal, then the joint terminal is securely fixed in the housing, but the housing requires additional space (press-fitting margin) that prevents miniaturization
Solution Approach 1:
The resilient wall is designed to dynamically deform during the insertion process and then restore to its original shape to engage the engaging hole. This dynamic behavior eliminates the need for a static press-fitting portion, allowing the connector to be miniaturized while maintaining secure fixation.
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient wall automatically engages the engaging hole through its own elastic restoration force without requiring external pressing or additional fixing mechanisms. The joint terminal itself triggers the engagement process by being inserted into the housing, making the system self-servicing.
2Ease of operation
If engaging holes are positioned to align with terminal portions during insertion, then the joint terminal can be easily inserted, but the terminal portions slide in contact with engaging projections causing wear and potential misalignment
Solution Approach 1:
The engaging holes are deliberately positioned asymmetrically relative to the terminal portions, specifically offset from the centerline of the terminal portions. This asymmetric arrangement allows the terminal portions to pass by the engaging projections without sliding contact during insertion, preventing wear while maintaining ease of insertion.
Solution Approach 2:
The engaging holes are positioned in a different spatial dimension relative to the terminal portions - specifically, offset in the width direction rather than aligned in the insertion direction. This dimensional offset allows the terminal portions to pass through the insertion path without contacting the engaging projections.
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 enables the miniaturization of joint connectors without increasing material or labor, as the engaging projections enter the engaging holes to fix the terminal in place, eliminating the need for a press-fitting portion and preventing terminal portions from sliding into contact with engaging projections.
Implementation Method 1
The joint terminal is mounted into the housing in a mounting direction with the terminal portions in the lead. The strip-like base is formed with at least one engaging hole offset from the terminal portions, and at least one engaging projection projects from a resilient wall of the housing for engaging the respective engaging hole. The joint terminal is mounted into the housing in the mounting direction and deforms the resilient wall. The resilient wall resiliently restores when the joint terminal reaches a proper position and the engaging projections enter the engaging holes in the base to fix the joint terminal in the housing.
Data Source
AI summary
A joint connector has a housing (10) with cavities (11) capable of accommodating mating terminals (30) and a joint terminal (40) with a strip-like base (41) and terminal portions (42) projecting at specified intervals from the strip-like base (41). Insertion openings (18) are formed in a part of the housing (10) before the cavities (11) and communicate with the cavities (11). The joint terminal (40) is mounted into the housing (10) from the front with the terminal portions (42) in the lead. The strip-like base (41) has engaging holes (43) located between the terminal portions (42). Engaging projections (19A) project from a resilient wall (19) continuous with left and right side wall portions (12D) of the housing (10) and engage with the engaging holes (43).