Terminal Fitting Stabilizer Merging Walls for Rigidity

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing terminal fittings with deformable stabilizers lack sufficient locking force due to inadequate support, leading to instability and potential deformation when engaged by a locking lance.

Innovation Solution

A stabilizer is formed by folding a portion of the main portion's surrounding walls, with opposite sides being integral to adjacent walls, distributing forces and increasing rigidity, and a lock or engageable portion is provided to prevent deformation and enhance locking force.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If the stabilizer is formed by folding a portion of the main portion's surrounding walls with opposite sides being integral to adjacent walls, then the rigidity of the stabilizer is increased, but the device complexity is increased

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverigidity of the stabilizerVSAvoidstructure of the stabilizer

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The stabilizer is formed by folding a portion of the main portion's surrounding walls, merging the stabilizer with the main portion structure. This integration increases rigidity by distributing forces to adjacent walls while avoiding the need for separate stabilizer components, thus reducing overall device complexity despite the folded configuration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The stabilizer is created by folding the surrounding walls in a different spatial dimension, transforming a flat wall structure into a three-dimensional folded configuration. This dimensional change provides the necessary rigidity and stability without adding separate components, resolving the contradiction between strength and complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Device complexity

If the stabilizer is integral with only one wall, then the device complexity is reduced, but the rigidity of the stabilizer is insufficient leading to deformation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructure of the stabilizerVSAvoidrigidity of the stabilizer

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The stabilizer is formed by folding a portion of the main portion's surrounding walls, merging the stabilizer with the main portion structure. This integration increases rigidity by distributing forces to adjacent walls while avoiding the need for separate stabilizer components, thus reducing overall device complexity despite the folded configuration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS7670198B2Terminal fitting

Publication Date: 2010.03.02 SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS LTD

AI summary

A terminal fitting (1) has a rectangular tubular main portion (10) and a stabilizer (30) to guide the main portion (10) into a cavity formed in a connector housing. The stabilizer (30) is folded between two adjacent walls (13, 14) of the main portion (10) so that the stabilizer (30) is integral to each of the adjacent walls (13, 14).