Terminal Insulating Member Width Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional pin contact elements with integrally molded contact protection members face issues of increased width due to the coverage of both side edges, which complicates finger access and requires extensive resin extension, leading to increased dimensions and costs.
Innovation Solution
A terminal design featuring a separate insulating member mounted on a plate-like body portion, which covers the front end surfaces and includes inclined surfaces and grooves to suppress displacement and finger touch, allowing for a reduced width configuration without the need for extensive resin extension, enabling quick assembly and cost reduction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the contact protection member is molded integrally to the housing and covers both side edges of the contact member, then finger touch protection is improved, but the width of the terminal is enlarged
Solution Approach 1:
The insulating member is divided into a first insulating member and a second insulating member that are separately mounted on the housing, rather than using a single integral insulating member. This segmentation allows the insulating members to cover the contact member's side edges for finger protection while reducing the overall width of the terminal structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The insulating members extend in the thickness direction of the terminal to cover the side edges of the contact member, rather than extending in the width direction. This dimensional change provides finger protection without increasing the terminal's width.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the insulating member is extended to the resin portion of the housing via the body portion, then finger touch protection is improved, but the width and complexity of the terminal are increased
Solution Approach 1:
The insulating member is segmented into separate parts (first and second insulating members) that are independently mounted on the housing, eliminating the need for a complex integral structure that extends through the body portion to the resin housing.
Solution Approach 2:
The insulating member is extracted as a separate component from the housing and body portion, mounted independently on the housing to provide finger protection without requiring extension through the body portion or integration with the resin housing.
3Ease of manufacture
If the insulating member is made as a single integral piece, then manufacturing is simplified, but the width of the terminal increases
Solution Approach 1:
The insulating member is segmented into separate parts that are mounted on the housing, which reduces the width of the terminal while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through modular assembly.
4Reliability
If the contact protection member covers both side edges of the contact member, then insulation performance is improved, but the width of the terminal is enlarged
Solution Approach 1:
The insulating members extend in the thickness direction of the terminal to cover the side edges of the contact member, providing insulation protection without increasing the terminal's width.
Data Source
AI summary
A plate terminal 10 disclosed by this specification is provided with a plate-like body portion 12 made of metal and long in a front-rear direction, and a plate-like mounting portion 16 connected to the body portion 12 and projecting forward from a front end surface 14 of the body portion 12, a separate insulating member 18 being mounted on the mounting portion 16. The insulating member 18 is located forward of the front end surface 14 of the body portion 12 and covers at least parts of a front end surface 28 of the mounting portion 16 and the front end surface 14 of the body portion 12.