Plug-In Connector Housing With U-Shaped Touch-Safe Contact Retention

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electrical connector assemblies face challenges in ensuring finger safety without the cumbersome use of insulating caps, which complicate connections between male and female contact elements.

Innovation Solution

A plug-in housing with a U-shaped contact element and a chamber-shaped recess, designed to receive a male contact element, ensures touch safety by covering the male contact element's end face, allowing for easy and cost-effective connection without additional caps.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If insulating caps are placed on male contact elements to ensure finger safety, then touch safety is improved, but device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate due to cumbersome covering and connection procedures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetouch safetyVSAvoidprocedure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the protective function with the housing structure itself. The housing includes integrated contact element holders that receive and secure male contact elements, eliminating the need for separate insulating caps. The housing structure simultaneously provides mechanical support and protection against accidental contact, combining multiple functions into a single integrated component.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces contact element holders as intermediary components between the male contact elements and the external environment. These holders securely retain the contact elements within the housing, acting as a mediator that prevents direct access to live contacts while maintaining electrical functionality. The holders are integrated into the housing structure, providing both mechanical support and protective enclosure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If insulating caps are placed on male contact elements to ensure finger safety, then touch safety is improved, but ease of operation worsens due to difficulty in establishing electrical connections

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetouch safetyVSAvoidconnection ease

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the protective function with the housing structure itself. The housing includes integrated contact element holders that receive and secure male contact elements, eliminating the need for separate insulating caps. The housing structure simultaneously provides mechanical support and protection against accidental contact, combining multiple functions into a single integrated component.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces contact element holders as intermediary components between the male contact elements and the external environment. These holders securely retain the contact elements within the housing, acting as a mediator that prevents direct access to live contacts while maintaining electrical functionality. The holders are integrated into the housing structure, providing both mechanical support and protective enclosure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If male contact elements are left exposed for easy connection, then ease of operation is improved, but touch safety deteriorates due to risk of unintentional contact

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection easeVSAvoidaccidental contact risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the protective function with the housing structure itself. The housing includes integrated contact element holders that receive and secure male contact elements, eliminating the need for separate insulating caps. The housing structure simultaneously provides mechanical support and protection against accidental contact, combining multiple functions into a single integrated component.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces contact element holders as intermediary components between the male contact elements and the external environment. These holders securely retain the contact elements within the housing, acting as a mediator that prevents direct access to live contacts while maintaining electrical functionality. The holders are integrated into the housing structure, providing both mechanical support and protective enclosure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP2683036B2Connector housing for at least partially holding a plug-in housing component and electrical connector assembly for connecting a male contact element and a female contact element

Publication Date: 2026.01.21 PHOENIX CONTACT GMBH & CO KG

Figure 1a~1c
Figure 1d~1h
Figure 2a~2c

AI summary

The housing (12) has a base body including a passage opening (20), which is arranged in a bottom wall of a recess. The passage opening extends through the base body. A section (50) of a male contact element (28) is pluggable in the recess through the passage opening. A U-shaped contact element (30) is arranged adjacent to the passage opening in the recess, and projects into the recess such that the section of the male contact element is laid at a side of the U-shaped contact element, where the side points towards the passage opening. An independent claim is also included for an electrical plug connecting arrangement.