Retractable USB Connector Swinging Member Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing retractable USB connectors require customized components for different product sizes and shapes, leading to complex manufacturing processes and increased costs during mass production.
Innovation Solution
A retractable USB connector design featuring standardized components, including an outer housing case, inner housing case, first elastic member, swinging member, and second elastic member, where the swinging member and second elastic member work together to cyclically change the USB connector between hidden and protruded states, using a guiding column and positioning sliding-track to maintain relative positioning and reduce manufacturing complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If customized components are used for different product sizes and shapes, then the retractable USB connector can be adapted to various products, but the manufacturing complexity and cost increase during mass production
Solution Approach 1:
The retractable USB connector is divided into independent standardized modules: outer housing case, inner housing case, swinging member, first elastic member, and second elastic member. Each module can be manufactured separately using standardized processes, then assembled to create connectors adapted to different product sizes and shapes without requiring complete customization of all components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs universal standardized components that can serve multiple product configurations. The swinging member with positioning sliding-track and guiding column mechanism is designed as a universal assembly that maintains functional consistency across different product sizes, eliminating the need for customized components for each product variant and reducing manufacturing complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If customized components are used for different product sizes and shapes, then the retractable USB connector can be adapted to various products, but the manufacturing cost increases during mass production
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the connector into standardized modules, each module can be manufactured using optimized standardized processes rather than custom processes for each product. This enables economies of scale in manufacturing individual modules, reducing the overall cost while maintaining adaptability through different assembly configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The design allows standardized components to be reused across different product lines. The swinging member, elastic members, and housing cases can be recovered from one product application and reused in another, eliminating the need for expensive remanufacturing and redesign for each new product size or shape.
3Reliability
If the swinging spring and sliding-track are remanufactured and redesigned for each product, then sufficient positioning power can be achieved, but the manufacturing procedure becomes complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The standardized swinging member is pre-designed with an optimized positioning sliding-track geometry that provides sufficient positioning power through the guiding column mechanism. This preliminary design eliminates the need for remanufacturing and redesign for each product, as the standardized component already delivers the required positioning reliability while enabling efficient mass production.
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 design simplifies manufacturing by using standardized components, reducing production costs and enabling efficient cyclic operation between hidden and protruded states, while maintaining the USB connector's relative position, thus addressing the complexity and cost issues of existing designs.
Implementation Method 1
the first elastic member is deformed to provide a first elastic force to the inner housing case
Implementation Method 2
the second elastic member is deformed to provide a second elastic force to the swinging member
Data Source
AI summary
A retractable USB connector includes an outer housing case, an inner housing case, and a positioning assembly. The outer housing case has an opening. The inner housing case includes a USB connector disposed at a first end of the inner housing case, a press portion disposed at a second end of the inner housing case, and the inner housing case disposed in the outer housing case. The positioning assembly is disposed between the outer housing case and the inner housing case. The positioning assembly includes a swinging member defining a positioning sliding-track and a guiding column, disposed in the positioning sliding-track. When the guiding column is located at a positioning area of the positioning sliding-track, the positioning assembly fixes the relative position of the outer housing case with respect to the inner housing case, and the USB connector is protruded from the opening of the outer housing case.