Offset Wire-Holding Connector Structure for Compact Housing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional connectors face challenges in miniaturization due to limitations in thinning the partition wall for size reduction while maintaining strength, making further size reduction difficult.
Innovation Solution
The connector design includes a housing with a first and second holding portion that form an electric wire holding portion by coupling at assembly, with offset electric wire insertion paths, where the first groove accommodates the wire and the second groove covers it, eliminating the need for a plate-like partition wall, allowing for reduced size in the orthogonal direction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the partition wall between adjacent grooves is thinned to reduce the connector size, then the size in the arrangement direction of electric wires is reduced, but the strength and structural integrity of the partition wall deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transitions from a conventional planar groove arrangement to a three-dimensional stacked groove structure. Multiple grooves are arranged in different layers (first groove in housing body, second groove in cover member), allowing electric wires to be held in multiple dimensions. This spatial reorganization reduces the need for thick partition walls between adjacent grooves in the same plane, enabling connector size reduction while maintaining structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The connector housing is divided into separate components (housing body and cover member) that are assembled together. The grooves are segmented across these components, with the first groove formed in the housing body and the second groove formed in the cover member. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and enables compact integration when assembled, reducing overall connector size without compromising strength.
2Volume of moving object
If the interval between adjacent electric wires is narrowed to downsize the connector, then the arrangement density of wires is improved, but the structural stability and wire holding reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention utilizes three-dimensional spatial arrangement by stacking grooves in different layers. Electric wires are held in grooves that are offset in both the arrangement direction and the stacking direction (orthogonal direction). This multi-dimensional positioning allows wires to be closely spaced while maintaining adequate structural support and wire holding reliability through the layered groove configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover member with the second groove is assembled onto the housing body with the first groove, creating a nested structure. The second groove covers and protects the first groove and the electric wire inserted therein. This nested arrangement provides enhanced wire holding reliability through dual-groove confinement while enabling compact wire spacing and reduced connector overall dimensions.
Data Source
AI summary
A connector includes a terminal fitting physically and electrically connected to a terminal of an electric wire to form a terminal-equipped electric wire; and a housing configured to accommodate a plurality of the terminal-equipped electric wires, hold two adjacent electric wires side by side in a direction orthogonal to an axial direction by an electric wire holding portion, and draw out each of the electric wires from the electric wire holding portion while keeping an arrangement state. The electric wire holding portion has an electric wire insertion path formed by a first and a second grooves joined in an assembly direction of the first holding portion and the second holding portion orthogonal to the axial direction. The two adjacent electric wire insertion paths are offset from each other in the direction orthogonal to the axial direction and the assembly direction, and are offset from each other in the assembling direction.