Spring Clip Orientation Mechanism for Connector Housing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electrical connectors positioned against devices, such as engine or bulkhead walls, lack a mechanism to ensure proper orientation and often require costly verification, with existing spring clips providing inadequate retention in challenging environments.
Innovation Solution
An electrical connector assembly featuring a retaining member with an orientation mechanism, including stop surfaces and latching members, ensures correct orientation and enhanced retention by preventing incorrect positioning through abutment and latching configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a spring clip is used to hold the connector to the device, then the connector is retained in place, but there is no mechanism to ensure proper orientation and retention may be inadequate in challenging environments
Solution Approach 1:
The retaining member is segmented into distinct functional elements: a U-shaped spring clip portion for retention, an orientation member with stop surfaces for orientation control, and a latching member for secure attachment. This segmentation allows each element to perform its specific function optimally while working together as an integrated system.
Solution Approach 2:
The orientation member introduces asymmetry through its stop surfaces that engage with corresponding features on the device. This asymmetric design ensures the connector can only be installed in the correct orientation, preventing incorrect installation while maintaining the spring-loaded retention mechanism.
2Manufacturing precision
If the connector is positioned within an aperture of the device, then the connector is held to the device, but it is costly to determine that the connector is not in the proper orientation
Solution Approach 1:
The orientation member with its stop surfaces performs the orientation verification action preliminarily, during the installation process itself. The stop surfaces physically prevent incorrect orientations from being installed, eliminating the need for post-installation verification and reducing both time and cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The retaining member is self-verifying through its orientation member design. The stop surfaces automatically detect and prevent incorrect orientations without requiring external verification tools or procedures, making the system self-checking and self-correcting.
3Reliability
If a simple spring clip is used, then the device complexity is low, but the retention between the connector and device is inadequate in challenging environments
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges three functions into a single retaining member: the U-shaped spring clip for retention, the orientation member for orientation control, and the latching member for secure attachment. This consolidation provides enhanced retention and orientation control without requiring multiple separate components, balancing reliability with reasonable complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The retaining member incorporates dynamic elements through its spring-loaded construction and latching mechanism. The spring portion provides flexible, resilient retention that adapts to installation variations, while the latching member provides a dynamic locking action that secures the connector firmly in place.
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 solution effectively prevents incorrect orientations and enhances retention between the connector and device, reducing costs associated with verifying proper orientation and improving reliability in various environments.
Implementation Method 1
The spring clip generally has a U-shaped configuration having legs that flank the connector and is curved such that it is spring loaded between the connector and the device to hold the connector in place.
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical connector assembly is shown which is profiled for mounting to a wall. The assembly is comprised of an insulative housing having an outer profile, at least one abutment portion, such as a flange, having an abutting surface outside of the outer profile, and a retaining surface spaced from the abutting surface. A retaining member is operably engageable with the retaining surface, and the retaining member has an orientation member preventing incorrect orientations between the retaining member and the housing.