Pivotable Unlocking Element for Miniaturized Electrical Plug Connector
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical plug connections lack a user-friendly and secure locking mechanism that allows for easy one-handed operation and miniaturization while maintaining a secure connection.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a pivotable unlocking element with a manual actuation area and a protruding actuating lug that mechanically deflects the locking devices, enabling secure locking and easy release, along with a spring clamp connection for secure conductor fixation, allowing for compact and easy-to-use electrical plug connections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a locking mechanism is provided to securely fix the connector, then connection reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is divided into separate locking elements on the connector and corresponding locking recesses on the mating connector, allowing independent engagement of multiple locking points to enhance reliability without requiring a complex integrated system
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanism automatically engages when the connector is mated, with the locking elements and recesses self-aligning and self-locking without requiring additional actuators or complex control systems, thereby improving reliability while maintaining simplicity
2Ease of operation
If a manual actuation mechanism is added for unlocking, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of requiring a complex actuation mechanism to actively engage the locking elements, the design uses a simple actuating element that releases the locking by moving in the opposite direction, allowing the locking force itself to maintain engagement while release is achieved through a simple counteracting motion
Solution Approach 2:
The actuating function is extracted as a separate, simple element that can be manually operated independently from the main connector body, allowing ease of operation through direct manual manipulation without integrating complex actuation mechanisms into the connector structure
3Volume of moving object
If the connector is miniaturized to reduce installation space, then installation space is reduced, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The actuating element is designed to move in a direction perpendicular to the plug-in direction, utilizing a different spatial dimension for operation. This allows the actuator to be compact in the plug-in direction while providing sufficient leverage and grip area in the actuation direction, enabling easy one-handed operation despite miniaturization
Solution Approach 2:
The actuating element has an asymmetric design with a larger grip area on one side and a smaller profile on the other, allowing the user to easily grasp and manipulate the element with one hand while keeping the overall connector volume minimized through optimized spatial arrangement
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 provides a secure and easy-to-use electrical plug connection that can be miniaturized, allowing for one-handed operation and secure conductor fixation, while minimizing installation space and requiring no additional components for travel limitation.
Implementation Method 1
the unlocking element being attached to the plug connector or the mating connector so that it can pivot about a pivot axis
Implementation Method 2
the component of the connector and mating connector that has the unlocking element has at least one spring-loaded terminal connection for clamping an electrical conductor to a terminal point by means of spring force
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The invention relates to an electrical connector comprising a connector (1) and a mating connector (10) associated with the connector (1), wherein the connector (1) can be plugged together with the mating connector (10) in one plugging direction (S) to form an electrical connection, wherein the connector (1) has a first locking device (23) and the mating connector (10) has a second locking device (13), wherein the connector (1) can be fixed to the mating connector (10) by a positive locking connection of the first locking device (23) with the second locking device (13), and in an unlocking process this fixing can be released by manually actuating a release element (6) movably attached to the connector (1) or to the mating connector (10).by the unlocking element (6) mechanically acting on the first and/or the second locking device (23, 13) when manually actuated, wherein the unlocking element (6) is pivotably attached to the connector (1) or the mating connector (10) about a pivot axis, wherein the unlocking element (6) has on one side of the pivot axis a manual actuation area (60) which is configured for manually actuating the unlocking element (6), and on the other side of the pivot axis a projecting actuation lug (61) by which the first and/or the second locking device (23, 13) can be mechanically deflected during the unlocking process.