Lever-Type Connector Resilient Latch Arm Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Lever-type electrical connectors face challenges in achieving easy mating while preventing oblique insertion and maintaining a low profile, as existing designs either compromise on rigidity or require excessive force due to the limitations in the placement and deformation of resilient latch arms.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates resilient latch arms on the slide member that elastically deform in the direction of the slide member's thickness, allowing for easy mating and preventing oblique insertion without compromising the housing's rigidity, by positioning latching projections further towards the interior of the cam grooves and forming them between slits extending from the cam groove's end towards its entrance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If resilient latch arms are provided on the housing to enable easy mating, then the mating force is reduced, but the rigidity of the housing is lowered and oblique insertion may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The resilient latch arm is segmented into multiple functional regions: a root portion integrated with the slide member, an intermediate portion with first and second slits creating elastic deformation zones, and a tip portion with the latching projection. This segmentation allows the latch arm to deform elastically during mating while the housing remains rigid.
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient latch arm utilizes the thickness dimension of the slide member for elastic deformation, rather than requiring the housing to deform. The first and second slits are positioned to enable bending in the thickness direction, transferring the compliance function from the housing to the slide member itself.
2Ease of operation
If resilient latch arms are made to deform with sufficient displacement for easy mating, then the mating becomes easier, but the height of the slide member must be increased
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic deformation is localized to specific regions created by the first and second slits in the resilient latch arm. These slits create concentrated flexibility zones that provide sufficient displacement for easy mating without requiring the entire slide member to be taller.
Solution Approach 2:
The position and dimensions of the first and second slits are optimized to achieve the required elastic displacement within a compact height. By adjusting the slit parameters (position, width, length), the latch arm provides adequate compliance while maintaining a low-profile slide member.
3Device complexity
If latching projections are positioned at the entrance of cam grooves, then the structure is simplified, but the latching projections may not effectively ride over drive projections
Solution Approach 1:
The resilient latch arm is pre-positioned with its latching projection at the tip portion, extending beyond the slide member's end surface. This preliminary positioning ensures that as the drive projection enters the cam groove, the latching projection is already in place to effectively ride over and latch onto the drive projection.
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
This configuration reduces the height of the slide member, allows for easier mating without excessive force, and enhances the durability of the connector by ensuring the latching projections ride over drive projections effectively, reducing the risk of damage and improving the perception of the mating state.
Implementation Method 1
a resilient latch arm having a latching projection that latches on the drive projection during temporary mating with the mating connector, wherein the resilient latch arm has a latching projection at the tip end thereof and is formed between a pair of slits respectively extending from specified points which are located in the end portion of the cam groove toward the entrance where the drive projection enters and on the side opposite from the side of the entry of the drive projection so as to elastically deform in the direction of thickness of the slide member
Data Source
AI summary
Slide members in the lever-type connector are respectively provided with resilient latch arms and respectively have latching projections that latch on the corresponding drive projections during the temporary mating with the mating connector. Each of the resilient latch arms is formed between a pair of slits respectively extending from specified points which are located in the end portion of one of the cam grooves toward the corresponding entrance where the corresponding drive projection enters and on the side opposite from the side of the entry of the corresponding drive projection so as to undergo elastic deformation in the direction of thickness of the slide member.