Shielding Shell Arm-Limiting Means for Connector Housing Stability

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The existing electrical connector assemblies have a weak insulative housing that can distort inwardly when heated, and lack limitations on the arms, leading to structural instability.

Innovation Solution

An electrical connector assembly with a shielding shell that includes a top plate, bottom plate, and side plates surrounding the insulative housing, featuring arm-limiting means to prevent inward deformation, and holding pieces that protect the housing and prevent distortion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a pole-like insulative housing is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the strength and stability of the housing deteriorates, causing distortion when heated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehousing structureVSAvoidhousing strength

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a composite structure combining the insulative housing with a metallic shielding shell that has both shielding and structural support functions. The shell acts as a reinforcing exoskeleton that prevents housing distortion while maintaining electrical isolation, effectively combining materials with different properties to solve both shielding and structural strength requirements simultaneously

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Ease of manufacture

If the arms are left unlimited, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the stability of the composition deteriorates, allowing inward distortion when heated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvearm fabricationVSAvoidarm stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The shielding shell incorporates localized arm-limiting means at specific positions where the arms interact with the shell, while the rest of the housing remains simple and easy to manufacture. This localized reinforcement approach provides necessary structural constraints at critical points without complicating the overall manufacturing process of the entire housing structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of manufacture

If a simple insulative housing is used, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to lack of protection during mating

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehousing fabricationVSAvoidconnector reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The shielding shell is pre-assembled onto the insulative housing before the housing is inserted into the connector assembly. This preliminary assembly ensures that the housing is already protected and properly positioned, preventing potential distortion or misalignment during the mating process and thereby improving connection reliability without adding manufacturing complexity to the housing itself

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS8105111B2Electrical connector assembly having improved shielding shell

Publication Date: 2012.01.31 HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO LTD

AI summary

An electrical connector includes an insulative housing having a longitude base with a plurality of contacts retained therein in a first direction, a pair of opposite arms extending from ends of the longitude base in the first direction and a shielding shell includes a top plate and a bottom plate covering on the housing. A receiving space is enclosed with the top plate, the bottom plate of the shielding shell and the pair of arms of the insulative housing. An arm-limited means is unitarily formed on the shell to abut against inside face of the pair of arms.