Terminal Elastic Contact Gaps for Foreign Substance Repulsion
Solution Overview
Problem
In existing terminals, foreign substances between the elastic contact piece and the terminal cavity increase the repulsion force, making insertion and extraction of the counterpart terminal more difficult.
Innovation Solution
The terminal design includes gaps larger than the bending range of the elastic contact pieces between the inner walls of the terminal cavity and the contact pieces, allowing the elastic contact pieces to be bent without being affected by foreign substances, thus preventing them from being sandwiched and reducing repulsion force.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the elastic contact piece is disposed close to the side wall of the terminal container to improve contact reliability, then contact reliability is improved, but foreign substances are sandwiched between the elastic contact piece and the terminal cavity, increasing repulsion force and making insertion/extraction difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a gap dimension between the elastic contact piece and the side wall of the terminal container. This gap provides space for foreign substances to enter, preventing them from being sandwiched between the contact piece and the terminal cavity during insertion and extraction operations, thereby reducing repulsion force while maintaining contact reliability through proper gap sizing.
2Ease of manufacture
If the elastic contact piece is formed in a flat shape to simplify manufacturing, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but the contact piece cannot bend effectively when foreign substances are present, increasing repulsion force
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic contact piece is divided into multiple sections: a flat main body portion for manufacturing simplicity and a bent front end portion for effective contact. This segmentation allows the contact piece to maintain manufacturing simplicity while achieving the necessary bending capability to accommodate foreign substances and maintain reliable contact performance.
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
This design enables the elastic contact pieces to maintain effective contact with the counterpart terminal without being impacted by foreign substances, reducing the insertion and extraction force required.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic contact piece which comes into elastic contact with a counterpart terminal
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Provided is a terminal in which elastic contact pieces can be bent without being affected by foreign substances entered into a terminal container or a terminal cavity. In a terminal (1), elastic contact pieces (21) are provided as a pair on right and left lateral plates (2a, 2b) of a terminal container (2) and are used to clamp a counterpart terminal in the terminal container (2). The elastic contact pieces (21) include bent portions (211) bent and extending in the terminal container (2), clamping portions (212) extending in the terminal container along the lateral plates (2a, 2b), and contact portions (213) configured to make contact with a counterpart terminal. Gaps greater than bending ranges of the elastic contact pieces (21) are formed between inner walls (4a, 4b) of a terminal cavity (40) and the elastic contact pieces (21), and thus the elastic contact pieces (21) can be bent without being affected by a foreign substance (5) entered between the inner walls of the terminal cavity (40) and the elastic contact pieces (21).