Metallic Shell Elastic Portions Stabilize USB Connector Assembly
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional USB electrical connector assemblies have high manufacturing costs due to the need for precise plastic molding of contacts, which increases production expenses.
Innovation Solution
An electrical connector assembly with an insulative housing featuring protrusions and a metallic shell with elastic portions, which encloses the housing and provides stability through bent elastic portions adjacent to the protrusions, reducing the reliance on precise molding and lowering manufacturing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If contacts are molded in the insulative housing using precise plastic molding, then the precision and stability of the connector assembly is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connector assembly is divided into separate components: the insulative housing and the metallic shell with contacts are manufactured independently and then assembled together. This segmentation allows each component to be produced using less precise, lower-cost processes while maintaining overall assembly precision through the metallic shell's elastic portions that ensure proper contact positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The metallic shell acts as an intermediary component that bridges the insulative housing and the contacts. It provides a stable mounting structure for the contacts and ensures precise positioning through its elastic portions, eliminating the need for the insulative housing to provide precise molding for contact placement.
2Reliability
If the metallic shell includes elastic portions bent inwards adjacent to protrusions, then the stability and precision are maintained, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic portions of the metallic shell are designed to be self-positioning and self-aligning. When the metallic shell is assembled onto the insulative housing, the elastic portions naturally bend inwards and engage with the protrusions, automatically ensuring precise alignment and stable contact positioning without requiring additional adjustment mechanisms or complex assembly procedures.
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 proposed design reduces manufacturing costs while maintaining the necessary precision and stability for USB connector functionality, offering a cost-effective solution for USB connector assemblies.
Implementation Method 1
The metallic shell has a pair of elastic portions on lateral sides thereof, and the elastic portions are bent inwards and adjacent to corresponding back surfaces of the protrusions
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical connector assembly (100) comprises an insulative housing (1) having a pair of protrusions (102) on both sides thereof, a plurality of contacts (2) received in the insulative housing and a metallic shell (4) enclosing the insulative housing. The metallic shell has a pair of elastic portions (401) on lateral sides thereof, and the elastic portions are bent inwards and adjacent to corresponding back surfaces of the protrusions.