Lever-Fitting Connector Guide Portion Insertion
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional lever-fitting type connectors require excessive time for mounting due to laterally or perpendicularly projecting lever bosses, making it difficult to position the lever relative to the housing, and existing mounting grooves fail to effectively guide the lever into the housing.
Innovation Solution
A lever-fitting type connector with a guide portion, such as a groove or notch, on the lever and a relief portion in the housing, where the distance between the guide and housing boss is smaller than between the lever boss and relief portion, allowing for smooth insertion by initiating guiding at the start of the process, preventing perpendicular movement and facilitating quicker mounting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If lever bosses project laterally or perpendicularly from the lever, then the lever can be retained on the mating connector, but much time is required for mounting the lever on the housing
Solution Approach 1:
The guide portion is formed in advance on the lever, extending from the engagement portion toward the peripheral edge. This preliminary structural feature enables automatic guidance during insertion, eliminating the need for manual positioning adjustments and reducing mounting time while maintaining the retaining function of the lever boss
2Ease of operation
If mounting grooves are formed in the lever, then the lever can be easily inserted into the housing, but the mounting grooves fail to effectively guide the lever after the lever bosses move into the housing
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of relying solely on mounting grooves (one-dimensional guidance), the invention adds a guide portion that extends from the engagement portion to the peripheral edge, creating a two-dimensional guidance system. This additional dimensional feature ensures proper positioning throughout the insertion process, not just at the initial stage
3Device complexity
If the lever is inserted without proper guidance, then the insertion process is simple, but it is difficult to position the lever relative to the housing
Solution Approach 1:
The guide portion acts as an intermediary element between the lever and housing during insertion. It mediates the positioning process by providing a physical guide surface that directs the lever into the correct position relative to the housing, simplifying the insertion process while ensuring accurate positioning
Data Source
AI summary
A housing 12 is connectable to a mating connector, and has inwardly-projecting housing bosses 41a and 41b. A lever 2 includes engagement portions 21a and 21b engageable respectively with the housing bosses 41a and 41b, and a lever boss 21e for retaining engagement with a retaining portion formed on the mating connector. Guide portions 21c and b 21d for guiding the insertion of the lever 2 into the housing 12 are formed at the lever 2, and a relief portion 41c for the passage of the lever boss 21e therethrough during the insertion is formed at the inside of the housing 12. At the time of starting the insertion of the lever 2 into the housing 12, the distance between each guide portion 21c, 21d and the corresponding housing boss 41a, 41b is smaller than the distance between the lever boss 21e and the relief portion 41c.