Rotary Locking Connector for Quick-Release Flotation Cords
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flotation devices lack a quick and reliable mechanism for connecting and disconnecting connecting cords, leading to inefficiencies in assembly and disassembly.
Innovation Solution
A connector design featuring interlocking housings with engaging arms, protruding fingers, and limiting protrusions/recesses that allow for secure connection and disconnection through relative rotation, ensuring the connectors remain locked or unlocked along a specific axis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional connecting cords are used without a quick connection mechanism, then the structure is simple, but the time required for connection and disconnection is excessive
Solution Approach 1:
The connector is divided into two separate housings (first housing and second housing) that can be independently manipulated. Each housing contains engagement features (engaging arm with protruding finger, and engaging boss with curved wall) that work together to create a quick-connect mechanism. This segmentation allows users to quickly connect and disconnect floating devices by simply bringing the two housings together or pulling them apart, dramatically improving connection speed while keeping each housing relatively simple in structure.
2Productivity
If a quick connection mechanism is implemented, then connection speed improves, but the reliability of the connection may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The engaging arm with the protruding finger is designed to nest within or against the engaging boss structure when the two housings are connected. The protruding finger extends into a recess or against the curved wall of the engaging boss, creating a nested engagement relationship. This nested configuration ensures that the connection is not only quick to establish but also mechanically secure, preventing accidental disconnection while maintaining simple operation.
3Ease of operation
If the connector allows free rotation, then ease of operation improves, but the ability to prevent separation in the rotation axis is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The connector design incorporates dynamic engagement features that allow rotation during the connection process. The protruding finger and engaging boss are designed to guide and constrain rotation, enabling the user to easily align and connect the housings by rotating them into place. Once connected, the same dynamic features create mechanical interlocking that prevents separation along the rotation axis, thus providing both ease of operation and connection reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a connector and a floating device. The connector includes a first housing and a second housing abutted against each other, the first housing and the second housing defines an accommodating cavity for receiving a connecting cord between the first housing and the second housing. A first end of the connector is provided with a through hole in communication with the accommodating cavity and configured to allow the connecting cord to pass through. An end surface of a second end of the first housing is provided with an engaging arm projecting outward, and the engaging arm is provided with a protruding finger extending about a rotation axis of the connector. An outer peripheral wall of a second end of the second housing includes a curved wall provided with an engaging boss projecting outward. When two connectors are connected to each other, the second ends of the two connectors are abutted against each other, and the protruding finger of any one of the connectors is engaged with the engaging boss of the other of the connectors by a relative rotation of the two connectors, thereby preventing the two connectors from being separated from each other in the rotation axis.