Lever Connector Rotation Stops for Stable Mating Operation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Lever-type connectors used in wiring harnesses can rotate unintentionally, disrupting the attachment or detachment process, leading to operational interruptions during connection and disconnection tasks.
Innovation Solution
A lever-type connector design featuring a tubular housing with rotating lever arm portions and restricting portions that prevent unintended rotation by interfering with each other, allowing easy attachment and detachment by rotating between two defined positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the lever is made rotatable for attachment and detachment operation, then the ease of operation is improved, but unintended rotation occurs disrupting the operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by providing restricting portions (protrusions and recesses) on the lever and housing that prevent unintended rotation before it can disrupt the operation. These restricting portions engage with each other to limit the lever's rotational movement to only the intended attachment and detachment positions, thereby counteracting the harmful unintended rotation in advance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies dynamics by making the lever rotatable between specific positions for attachment and detachment operations. The lever is designed to rotate dynamically between a first position (attached state) and a second position (detached state), allowing flexible operation while the restricting portions ensure this rotation remains controlled and intentional
2Ease of operation
If the lever rotation range is increased for easy attachment and detachment, then the ease of operation is improved, but the risk of unintended rotation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the lever's rotational movement into distinct segments or positions. The restricting portions create discrete allowed positions (first position for attachment, second position for detachment) rather than allowing continuous rotation. This segmentation ensures the lever only moves to intended positions, preventing unintended rotation while maintaining ease of operation
Data Source
AI summary
A lever-type connector according to one aspect of the present disclosure is provided with a housing including an opening and a lever. The housing includes a pair of side walls and a pair of coupling walls. The lever includes a pair of arm portions and an operating portion. The lever attaches and detaches the housing to and from a mating connector as being rotated between a first position where the lever is upright with respect to an axis of the housing and a second position where the lever is inclined away from the opening. The housing and the lever include first restricting portions for restricting rotation of the lever from the first position toward the opening by interfering with each other. The first restricting portions include the coupling wall facing the operating portion with the lever located at the first position.