Side-Access Connector Housing for Space-Constrained Contact Replacement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional connectors with socket-type electrical contacts are difficult to maintain and replace without detaching them from the attaching object, requiring additional space on the back side for workspace, which is often not available.
Innovation Solution
A connector design with a housing that allows contact insertion and removal from the side surface, featuring a through-hole and layout space for easy access and replacement without detaching from the attaching object, enabling space-saving device configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the socket-type electrical contact is mounted from the back side of the housing, then the contact can be fixed to the housing by engagement with a stepped portion, but it becomes difficult to replace the contact without detaching the connector from the attaching object and additional workspace on the back side is required
Solution Approach 1:
The contact structure is segmented into a first portion (socket portion) that remains in the housing and a second portion (connection object) that can be removed and replaced. This allows the contact to be functionally divided into a fixed mounting part and a replaceable connection part, enabling easy replacement without detaching the entire connector from the attaching object.
Solution Approach 2:
The contact replacement operation is moved from the back side of the housing to the side surface of the housing by creating a layout space that opens to the side surface. This dimensional change allows workspace to be provided on the side surface rather than requiring additional space on the back side, facilitating easier contact replacement.
2Reliability
If the socket-type electrical contact is mounted from the back side of the housing, then the contact can be secured by holding members, but it requires additional space on the back side for workspace which is often not available
Solution Approach 1:
The layout space is configured to open to the side surface of the housing rather than requiring access from the back side. This repositions the required workspace from the back side area to the side surface area, allowing contact replacement without requiring additional space on the back side while maintaining reliable contact fixation through the holding members.
3Ease of repair
If the connector is detached from the attaching object to replace the contact, then the contact can be replaced, but the device requires additional space for the connector and detachment operations
Solution Approach 1:
The contact is segmented into a fixed first portion and a removable second portion, allowing the replaceable part to be exchanged without detaching the entire connector from the attaching object. This enables contact replacement while keeping the connector mounted, reducing the space required for replacement operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The layout space opens to the side surface of the housing, allowing contact replacement operations to be performed on the side surface rather than requiring detachment of the connector from the attaching object. This reduces the volume required for replacement operations while maintaining ease of repair.
Data Source
AI summary
A connector includes a housing adapted to be fixed to an attaching object, and contacts. The housing has an attaching base portion, a fitting portion disposed more on the front side than the attaching base portion, through-holes formed through a bottom portion of the fitting portion, and layout spaces each communicating with the through-hole and each open to the outside on the side surface side of the housing. Each contact integrally has a first portion and a second portion continuous with the first portion. The through-hole and the layout space have sizes that can allow the contact to be disposed at a predetermined position in the housing by inserting the contact into the housing through the layout space from the side surface of the housing.