Pivotable Lever Locking Mechanism for Electrical Connector Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical connector assemblies face issues with secure and proper alignment during transportation or manipulation, leading to impaired connections due to the pivotable lever's movement relative to the carrier, which can result in incomplete mating between the carrier and mating connectors.
Innovation Solution
A locking system with a flexible leg on the pivotable lever that engages with a locking element on the carrier, allowing the lever to pivot from a pre-locked to a locked position, ensuring secure alignment and mating by meshing with complementary teeth portions on the mating connector, and a mechanism to prevent unlocking during handling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the pivotable lever is made movable with respect to the carrier during transportation or manipulation, then the lever can be positioned for proper mating operation, but the lever may move accidentally leading to impaired connection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by providing a pre-locked position where the flexible leg engages with the locking element before mating operation. This preliminary locking state ensures the lever remains fixed during transportation and manipulation, preventing accidental movement. When mating is required, the actuating component releases the flexible leg from the locking element, allowing the lever to pivot to the locked position for proper connection.
2Reliability
If the lever is locked in a fixed position on the carrier, then the connection reliability is improved, but the lever cannot pivot to assist mating movement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by creating a system that transitions between two locked states: a pre-locked position for transportation and a locked position for mating. The flexible leg engages with the locking element in the pre-locked position to prevent movement during handling. During mating, the actuating component releases the flexible leg, allowing the lever to pivot dynamically to the locked position where it assists the mating movement, thereby providing both reliability and operational flexibility.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the flexible leg is made flexible to allow pivoting, then the lever can move from pre-locked to locked position, but the flexible leg may deform or break under stress
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the principle of flexible shells and thin films by using a flexible leg made of elastomeric material that can elastically deform during pivoting. The flexible leg is designed with sufficient elasticity to allow the lever to transition from the pre-locked position to the locked position while maintaining structural integrity. The elastomeric material provides the necessary flexibility for movement while resisting deformation and breakage under normal operational stress.
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 ensures a firm and secure assembly of the carrier and mating connector, preventing accidental unlocking during transportation and facilitating proper interlocking, thereby enhancing the reliability of electrical connector assemblies.
Implementation Method 1
a flexible leg portion (5a) of the lever (4) lockably engageable with a locking element (8) on the carrier (2), wherein the flexible leg portion (5a) and the locking element (8) are adapted to lock the lever (4) in a pre-locked position, in which the rotation of the lever (4) with respect to the carrier (2) is prevented
Implementation Method 2
The actuating component portion on the side of the mating connector cooperates with the flexible leg of the pivotable lever and, upon the assembling movement, the actuating component deflects the flexible locking leg from the locking element and the pivotable lever is unlocked from the pre-locked position
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical connector assembly (1) comprising an electrical connector having a carrier (2) and a mating connector (3) comprising a mate assist system adapted to assist the mating of the electrical connector to the mating connector. The mate assist system has a lever (4) mounted to pivot on the carrier. The lever is adapted to pivot with respect to the carrier at a pivot connection between the pre-locked and a locked position supporting the connection between the carrier and the mating connector. The pivotable lever has a lever arm portion (4b) actuatable by a user, between the locked position corresponding to an upper boundary level of the lever arm portion, and the pre-locked position corresponding to a lower boundary level of the lever arm portion. A flexible leg (5) extending from the lever engages a locking element (8) located on the carrier in order to lock the lever in its pre-locked position.