Multi-Direction Plug Connector with Fixed-Angle Contacts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing plug connector arrangements face challenges in accommodating manufacturing tolerances and ensuring robustness while maintaining flexibility for various applications, often resulting in fragile designs due to the need for multiple insertion directions.
Innovation Solution
A plug connector arrangement featuring an angle adapter with fixed angularly positioned contacts, allowing electrical contact from specific directions, enhancing robustness and flexibility by using knife contacts and a contact holder, with optional touch protection and a seal for increased durability and protection against moisture and dirt.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If contacts are arranged to accept mating from multiple insertion directions, then application flexibility is improved, but structural robustness deteriorates due to fragile designs
Solution Approach 1:
The connector is divided into a housing and a contact holder that can be independently positioned. The contact holder is separable from the housing, allowing the contacts to be arranged in different spatial configurations while maintaining a robust housing structure. This segmentation enables multiple insertion directions without compromising the overall structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from planar contact arrangement to three-dimensional spatial arrangement. Contacts are positioned at different heights and angles relative to the housing, enabling mating connectors to approach from multiple directions (front, side, top) while each contact maintains its fixed angular position, thus achieving versatility without fragility.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple insertion directions are supported, then connector versatility is improved, but tolerance compensation capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The contact holder is designed with degree-of-freedom movement capability relative to the housing. This dynamic adjustment mechanism allows the contact holder to automatically compensate for manufacturing tolerances and angular misalignments during insertion, ensuring reliable electrical contact while maintaining fixed angular positions of individual contacts. The system adapts to tolerance variations without requiring perfect manufacturing precision.
3Reliability
If contacts are fixed at predetermined angular positions, then contact robustness is improved, but assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the contact holder from the housing, the patent simplifies assembly. The contact holder with pre-positioned contacts can be manufactured and tested independently, then assembled to the housing as a unit. This segmentation reduces the complexity of assembling multiple individual contacts at precise angular positions directly into the housing structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The contact holder serves multiple functions: it holds multiple contacts at fixed angular positions, provides degree-of-freedom movement for tolerance compensation, and acts as a structural element connecting to the housing. This multi-functionality reduces the overall number of components and simplifies the assembly process while maintaining contact robustness.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1C
Figure 1D
Figure 2A~2D
AI summary
The invention relates to a plug connector part (1) for electrically connecting to a counter plug connector part (2; 2'), comprising a housing (10) and multiple contacts (11), which are arranged on the housing (10) in such a way that they can be electrically contacted from different plugging directions (A, B, C) by counter contacts (21) of the counter plug connector part (2; 2'). In addition, the angular position of the contacts (11) is fixed relative to the housing (10).