Plug connector with a locking device

Abstract

In order to equip a D-Sub plug connector (1, 1', 1") with a cost-effective and comfortable to operate push-pull locking device (3), it is proposed to arrange an elongated leaf spring (31, 31') and a longitudinally movable slider (32, 32') on each of its narrow sides (12, 12'). In order to lock together with a mating plug (7), the leaf spring (31, 31') has a locking portion (313) which can be unlocked by operating the slider (32, 32'). In addition, the leaf spring (31, 31') has a return portion (311) which exerts a return force on the operated slider (32, 32') in the direction of the insertion region (2) in order to automatically return the slider (32, 32') to its starting position after unlocking.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a plug connector.

[0002] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a mating system formed by a mating connector and a mating plug.

[0003] Such a plug connector has a manually operated unlocking and locking mechanism to connect and lock it with the mating plug, or to unlock and disconnect it from the mating plug. Background Technology

[0004] Document EP 1 345 293 A2 illustrates a D-Sub plug connector with a locking device. This locking device has at least one bolt assigned to one plug portion and a receiver for the bolt, disposed within a housing, assigned to the other plug portion. The bolt has a retaining groove that interacts with a locking element for locking, which is movably arranged laterally to the bolt. On each side of the housing are individually manually operable locking devices, each with a locking spring. Unlocking is achieved by compressing both locking springs perpendicular to the insertion direction.

[0005] The drawback of this prior art is that, for many types of plug connectors, especially the aforementioned D-Sub plug connectors, due to their given geometry, there is no locking device more convenient to operate than the aforementioned locking device. In particular, unlocking these plug connectors is correspondingly less comfortable compared to many other types of plug connectors. Summary of the Invention

[0006] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a locking device that is particularly comfortable to operate and can also be used in confined space conditions, such as when connected to a D-Sub plug connector.

[0007] The plug connector has an insertion area for mating with a mating plug and an opposite cable connection area. Both the insertion area and the cable connection area are located on an insertion axis extending along the insertion direction.

[0008] The plug connector has a housing that, viewed from the direction of the insertion axis, has a basic rectangular shape in cross-section, the basic shape having two narrow sides facing each other and two wide sides facing each other at right angles to the narrow sides.

[0009] In addition, the plug connector has a locking device for locking together with the mating plug on the insertion side in the inserted state.

[0010] The locking device has two leaf springs, each of which is arranged on one of the two narrow sides of the housing.

[0011] Each of the two leaf springs has a fastening portion through which the leaf spring is fastened to the housing.

[0012] On the insertion side of the fastening portion, each locking spring has a locking portion with a locking element.

[0013] According to the invention, the locking device has a separate slider on each of the two narrow sides, movable and held thereon in the insertion direction, for unlocking the plug connector from the mating plug. The slider is in a starting position on the housing in the inserted and locked state. The slider can be moved along the respective narrow side in the direction of the cable connection area, and can be operated to unlock.

[0014] Additionally, each of the two leaf springs has a reset portion on the cable connection side of the fastening portion, which is used to automatically reset the corresponding operated slider to its starting position.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment, the plug connector is a D-Sub plug connector.

[0016] This invention enables, for the first time, the D-Sub plug connector to be advantageously designed as a so-called "push-pull" plug connector. This type of plug connector, in its application, is characterized by making the unlocking process between the plug connector and the mating plug extremely comfortable, while still preventing accidental unlocking, such as due to unintentional pulling of the cable. Here, the unlocking process is typically performed by manually pulling an unlocking sleeve, which is movable in the insertion direction and held on the housing, in the direction of the cable connection area of ​​the plug connector, so that the plug connector can be simultaneously unlocked and removed from the mating plug by a single, unidirectional hand movement.

[0017] Therefore, a particularly significant advantage of this invention is that it is now possible to equip previously impossible types of connectors, such as D-Sub connectors, with a locking device that allows for particularly comfortable unlocking. Finally, the locking device can also be used in very confined spaces, and is therefore especially useful when connected to D-Sub connectors.

[0018] Therefore, a particular advantage of the present invention is that it enables the unlocking of a large number of such plug-in connectors, as can be done on various devices or distribution panels, in a particularly fast and comfortable manner.

[0019] A particular advantage of this invention is that, in addition, due to the small number of components used, this plug connector can also be manufactured simply and inexpensively.

[0020] What is particularly advantageous about this is that the same leaf spring not only serves the locking function relative to the mating plug but also the reset function of the slider. Furthermore, it can be easily and in a single assembly step installed on the corresponding narrow side of the housing.

[0021] Therefore, another added advantage is that this type of plug connector can be designed and assembled very cheaply.

[0022] In one advantageous implementation, the two sliders can be designed separately. Therefore, they are two separate, single components.

[0023] One advantage of this design is that, because the slider is much smaller than the unlocking ring used in conventional push-pull connectors, it saves a significant amount of space compared to conventional push-pull connectors.

[0024] This design therefore has an additional advantage: the locking device is very space-saving due to the use of sliders on both sides. As a result, a particularly large number of plug connectors can be inserted and unlocked, which are adjacent to each other, especially along their wide sides, and thus arranged particularly close to each other on the available surface.

[0025] The wide sides are the first and second wide sides, wherein the first wide side can be formed by the bottom surface, and the second wide side can be formed by the cover of the housing. The narrow sides can be integrally designed with the bottom surface and arranged at right angles on two opposing edges of the bottom surface, thus forming two opposing side parts of the housing that extend parallel to each other, particularly in the insertion direction.

[0026] The wide side of the housing is much wider than the narrow side. The width of the wide side is preferably at least twice, particularly at least three times, and especially preferably at least four times the width of the narrow side.

[0027] The length of the leaf spring is measured along the insertion direction. This length preferably exceeds the maximum width perpendicular to its measurement, i.e., the width at its widest point. In particular, the length of the leaf spring is greater than twice its maximum width, more preferably greater than two and a half times its maximum width, and very particularly preferably greater than three times its maximum width.

[0028] Each of the two individual sliders is preferably manufactured as a single piece and can, for example, be designed as a single plastic component. This advantageously enables particularly inexpensive and low-cost manufacturing. In case of any damage, the individual sliders can also be replaced separately, which could mean further cost advantages.

[0029] Thus, the sliders can also move separately from each other on the housing, although this does not correspond to the usual application, but can be used for measurement, analysis, repair and / or maintenance purposes when necessary, and is therefore another additional advantage.

[0030] In an alternative implementation, the two sliders can be designed as a single unit.

[0031] These two sliders can be a common component of the unlocking sleeve, which is held onto the housing in a manner that allows it to move in the insertion direction. The unlocking sleeve can then be designed integrally with the sliders, and particularly as a one-piece design. The unlocking sleeve can be designed to open on both the insertion side and the cable connection side. The unlocking sleeve can form a circumferential frame around the housing through its sides.

[0032] In particular, in addition to the unlocking sleeve, the plug connector may also have a locking element that is held on the housing, thereby allowing rotation about a rotation axis extending in the insertion direction. The locking element may preferably have a locking portion that, depending on the rotational position of the locking portion, prevents or allows the unlocking sleeve to shift on the housing.

[0033] The locking element may in particular be a locking ring, on the outer periphery of which locking protrusions are formed in the radial direction as a locking portion.

[0034] However, in typical applications, two sliders arranged opposite each other on the narrow side of the housing are manually operated, and the plug connector is unlocked from the mating plug by manually and substantially simultaneously pulling the two sliders away from it, i.e., pulling in the direction of the cable connection area of ​​the plug connector. If this manual movement continues in the same direction without interruption after unlocking, the plug connector is eventually removed from the mating plug according to the push-pull concept described above.

[0035] The return mechanism of the corresponding leaf spring can apply a force to the corresponding slider in the direction of the insertion area, causing the slider to automatically move back to its starting position on the housing without external force, i.e., as close as possible to the insertion area within its specified range of motion on the housing, provided it is not already there. If the slider is in the starting position, it is elastically held there by the spring force without external force.

[0036] The two leaf springs are preferably designed to be identical. This prevents the locking force and the restoring force from acting symmetrically and reduces manufacturing costs.

[0037] In a preferred design, the fastening and resetting portions of the leaf spring can be separately constructed as substantially flat. The locking portion can be at least largely flat. This advantageously simplifies the manufacture and assembly of the leaf spring.

[0038] The locking part may have an unlocking bend at its independent end on the insertion side. Through this unlocking bend, its independent end on the insertion side points away from the housing in the assembled state, that is, outwards, so as to serve as a contact surface for unlocking the slider.

[0039] The locking and reset portions of a leaf spring can be slightly angled to the corresponding fastening portions on either side in the initial position. Leaf springs can be stamped and bent from spring-elastic steel sheets and bent in multiple areas. Specifically, they can be slightly bent at least in the transition area between their fastening and locking portions and additionally in the transition area between their fastening and reset portions. Manufacturing leaf springs from spring-elastic metal sheets, especially stainless steel sheets, ensures good mass productionability, mechanical stability, and high temperature resistance.

[0040] The terms "slightly angled" or "slightly bent" should be understood here as meaning that, when the corresponding slider is in its initial position, the plane of the locking portion and the plane of the reset portion of each leaf spring form a certain angle with the plane of the fastening portion. This angle can be greater than 3°, particularly greater than 5°, and especially preferably greater than 7°, and can be less than 20°, particularly less than 15°, and especially preferably less than 13°. This is particularly applicable to the assembled state of plug connectors when the slider is in its initial position.

[0041] Unlocking can be achieved by manually moving the slider along the insertion axis in the direction of the cable connection area. This allows the slider to pull the locking portions of the two leaf springs apart, particularly for unlocking the mating locking mechanism of the mating plug. Specifically, the slider may have at least one, preferably multiple, particularly two unlocking hooks on the insertion side, which, when the respective slider is operated, unlock the locking portions of the leaf springs apart, particularly by acting on their unlocking bends.

[0042] It is particularly advantageous to arrange two unlocking hooks on each slider, with an engaging recess between the two hooks to guide the corresponding narrow mating locking device through the mating plug. That is, the connector can be locked with the mating plug in this manner without having to move the slider. Thus, when the connector is plugged in with the mating plug, the outer surface of the slider can also be used as a manual operating surface. In particular, the outer surface of the slider can be designed, for example, as a groove, or have any other tactilely advantageous structure that facilitates manual gripping and implicitly suggests the prescribed operation to the user.

[0043] Meanwhile, during the operation of the slider, the reset portion of the leaf spring can work together with the reset ramp of the corresponding slider to establish a reset force on the corresponding slider, so that the slider can be automatically returned to its starting position after the manual operation is performed.

[0044] In another preferred design, to allow for the movement of the slider in the insertion direction, the housing may have at least one, preferably two, guide rails on each of its two narrow sides. Furthermore, each of the two sliders has at least one, preferably two tabs that engage in the guide rails to movably hold the slider on the housing in the insertion direction.

[0045] A plug connector system is formed by a plug connector of the type described above and a mating plug, wherein the mating plug has the mating locking device described above, which locks in a locked state to lock together with the locking device of the locking portion.

[0046] For example, the locking part may have a locking window as a locking element, which, in the locked state, is locked together with a mating locking device of a mating plug configured as a locking hook. By operating the corresponding slider, as described above, the lock is then released, and the plug connection is unlocked.

[0047] In other words, the leaf spring and slider are arranged on the housing of the plug connector and configured to separate the locking device of the plug connector from the mating locking device of the mating plug by moving the two sliders in the direction of the cable connection area of ​​the plug connector, thereby unlocking the plug connector from the mating plug.

[0048] Therefore, the plug connector can be unlocked and removed from the mating plug in a single manual movement performed in only one direction. Simultaneously, the leaf spring establishes a restoring force on the slider via its return portion, which returns the slider to its initial position after operation on the housing and makes it usable for the next plugging process with this mating plug.

[0049] When the connector is re-plugged into the mating plug or another such mating plug, the locking device can be re-locked in place using the mating locking device, without requiring movement of the slider or any operation on the slider. For this purpose, it is particularly advantageous that the mating locking device is narrow enough to be guided through the engaging recess between the preferred two unlocking hooks of the slider. Thus, even when plugged into the mating plug, the connector can be manually held on the slider provided for this purpose. Attached Figure Description

[0050] Embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which are explained in more detail below. The drawings show: Figure 1a An exploded view shows a plug connector with a housing and locking mechanism; Figure 1b A portion of the plug connector is shown, featuring a slider that is shown separately. Figure 2a , 2b The base of the housing with two leaf springs mounted thereon is shown; Figures 3a-3c The layout shown is from the aforementioned illustration with two sliders; Figures 4a-4d The unlocking process of the plug connector is shown in multiple stages; Figure 5a , 5b The plug connection is shown in both the open and closed states, with mating plugs mounted on the front side; exist Figure 6a , 6b The plug connection is shown in both the open and closed states, with a mating plug installed at the rear; Figure 7a , 7b Another plug connection is shown in both the open and closed states; Figure 8a , 8b Figure 8c shows the plug-in connection in an alternative implementation viewed from three different angles; Figure 9a An exploded view of the mating plug in an alternative embodiment is shown; Figure 9b An exploded view of the plug connector in an alternative embodiment is shown.

[0051] These figures contain partially simplified schematic diagrams. Partially, the same reference numerals are used for the same, but not necessarily different, elements. Different views of the same element may be scaled to different proportions. Detailed Implementation

[0052] Figure 1a The plug connector 1 is shown in an exploded view. The plug connector 1 has an insertion region 2 and a cable connection region 4, which are located on an insertion axis (not shown) extending along the insertion direction. Furthermore, the plug connector has locking devices 3 arranged on both sides of its housing 10.

[0053] Insertion area 2 has an insertion insert 20 with a contact support in which an electrical plug contact is arranged, and a mounting flange surrounding the contact support. Additionally, insertion area 2 has a coding frame 27 to ensure correct orientation when plugged into a mating plug.

[0054] The cable connection area 4 has multiple cable inlets 40, which are arranged in the cable connection side of the housing 10 (not shown in detail). In addition, multiple cable outlets 41 are provided, which can be inserted into the cable inlets 40 in a form-fitting manner. Cables with electrical conductors (not shown) can be inserted into the housing 10 through these cable outlets 41. The electrical conductors can be electrically connected to the terminals of electrical contacts.

[0055] Viewed from the insertion direction, the housing 10 has a rectangular cross-section with two wide sides 11, 11' (i.e., the first wide side 11 and the second wide side 11') and two narrow sides 12, 12'. The housing 10 has an integrally designed base with the first wide side 11 as a base surface, and two narrow sides 12, 12' that are opposite each other, connected at right angles to the wide sides and extending parallel to each other in the insertion direction as side members, and a rear cable connection side with two cable inlets 40.

[0056] On the insertion side, the base is designed to be open, so that the insertion insert 20 can be mounted thereon via its flange and can be fastened, for example, to the narrow side 12, 12'.

[0057] The second wide side 11' is designed as a cover that can be screwed onto the base, thus forming a complete, essentially closed shell.

[0058] In addition, the plug connector 1 has the aforementioned locking device 3.

[0059] The locking device 3 includes two sliders 32 and 32'.

[0060] On their inner sides, sliders 32 and 32' each have two unlocking hooks 324 and 324', forming an engagement recess (not shown in detail) between them. Furthermore, each of the two sliders 32 and 32' has a reset ramp 321, which, in this illustration, is only visible for perspective. Figure 1a The reset ramp 321 and unlock hooks 324, 324' of slider 32 are shown in the middle and further back.

[0061] Each of the two sliders 32 and 32' has two longitudinally extending tabs 326 in the insertion direction, which in Figure 1b It is marked in the middle.

[0062] On each of the two narrow sides 12, 12', the housing 10 has two guide rails 136 extending along the insertion direction, which are integral to both the housing 10 and the locking device 3. The two guide rails 136 are oriented relative to each other. Slider blocks 32, 32' can be mounted on the narrow sides 12, 12' in a movable manner in the insertion direction, for example, by engaging with the associated guide rails 136 from the direction of the insertion region 2.

[0063] Between the two guide rails 136, each of the two narrow sides 12, 12' has a fastening molded part, which is not shown in detail for clarity. The corresponding leaf springs 31, 31' are fixed to the fastening molded part by their fastening portion 312.

[0064] This is from a perspective directed at an open substrate. Figure 2a and 2b It can also be seen very clearly that the substrate has leaf springs 31, 31' fixed to it from the side.

[0065] Leaf springs 31 and 31' each have a reset part 311, a fastening part 312, and a locking part 313.

[0066] Leaf springs 31 and 31' are mounted on fastening molded parts of their respective narrow sides 12 and 12' with their fastening portions 312. The fastening portions 312 are oriented parallel to the respective narrow sides 12 and 12'.

[0067] On the cable connection side of the fastening part 312, the reset part 311 is slightly away from the housing 10 and points at an angle to the fastening part 312.

[0068] On the insertion side of the fastening portion 312, the locking portion 313 is slightly angled to the fastening portion 312 in the direction of the housing 10, wherein the locking portion 313 has an unlocking bend 3134 at its independent end, which points away from the housing 10.

[0069] Adjacent to the unlocking bend 3134, the locking portion 313 has a locking window 3130 as a locking element.

[0070] Figures 3a-3c The layout described above is shown, supplemented by two sliders 32, 32', which are located at their starting positions on the housing 10.

[0071] At this initial position, through the combined action of the reset portion 311 and the reset ramp 321 of the sliders 32 and 32', as in Figure 3b and 3cAs can be seen particularly clearly in the enlarged view, sliders 32 and 32' are positioned downwards in the figure, i.e., within their range of free movement, on the insertion area 2. In this case, unlocking hooks 324 and 324' contact the unlocking bends 31 and 34 of leaf springs 31 and 31'.

[0072] Figures 4a-4d The process of unlocking the mating connector 1 from the mating plug 7 is shown in several stages.

[0073] Figure 4a The plug connector 1 and mating plug 7 are shown in their inserted and locked states. Here, the locking hook 731 of the locking pin 73 engages in the locking window 3130 as a mating locking device.

[0074] exist Figure 4b In the figure, slider 32' is moved in the direction of cable connection area 4, that is, it is moved upward. Unlock hooks 324, 324' engage from the inside with unlock bend 3134 and unlock the portion away from the housing. Locking hook 731 is no longer engaged in locking window 3130.

[0075] exist Figure 4c In this configuration, the plug connection has been separated, meaning that the plug connector 1 has been removed from the mating plug 7. The slider 32' remains in its unlocked position, i.e., the operated position. In this state, the increased reset force of the reset portion 311 of the leaf spring 31' acts on the reset ramp 321 of the sliders 32 and 32' along the direction of the insertion area 2, i.e., downwards in the figure.

[0076] exist Figure 4d In the middle, the plug connection remains in its separated state. However, due to the restoring force of the leaf spring 31', the slider 32' has been springed back to its initial position. It is conceivable that when the plug connector 1 is plugged back into the mating plug 7, locking occurs without the need for manual operation of the slider 32'. However, from this perspective, it is not clearly identifiable whether, through this insertion process, the slider 32' does not need to move further in the direction of the cable connection area 4, i.e., upward in the figure, due to the mechanical contact between its unlocking hooks 324, 324' and the locking hook 731 of the mating plug 7. This could be extremely disadvantageous, as the slider 32' should ultimately still serve as a manual contact surface during locking. The ultimately identifiable grooved outer surface of the slider 32' is also used for this purpose in a tactilely advantageous and self-evident manner.

[0077] from Figure 5a , 5b The solution to this problem can be derived from 6a and 6b.

[0078] The mating plug 7 installed on the mounting wall 5 has a mating plug housing 70 and two locking pins 73, each of which has a locking hook 731 as a mating locking device.

[0079] Measured perpendicular to the insertion direction, i.e., upwards in the figure, the locking hook 731 of the mating plug 7 is designed to be narrow enough to engage in the engagement recess between the two unlocking hooks 324, 324' of the corresponding sliders 32, 32', for example in... Figure 1a It can be clearly seen in the middle.

[0080] This allows for locking of the plug-in connection without moving the sliders 32 and 32' manually or automatically. That is, the sliders 32 and 32' can also be used as manual operating surfaces during the plug-in process.

[0081] Finally, from Figure 5a , 5b As seen in 6a and 6b, the mating plug 7 can be mounted on the mounting wall 5 not only on the front side but also on the rear side via its mating plug housing 70 and two locking pins 73, without affecting the locking process. Here, the thickness of the mounting wall 5, designed to a reasonable order of magnitude, only affects the insertion depth of the mating connection.

[0082] Figure 7a , 7b Another plug-in connection (i.e., a plug system) is shown in both the open and closed states. This plug system includes a plug connector 1' and a mating plug 7. The main difference between this plug connector 1' and the aforementioned plug connector 1 is that it has a cable outlet 41'. In this embodiment, the plug connector 1' is a D-Sub-9 plug connector; however, other plug connectors, such as other D-Sub plug connectors, can certainly be used in other embodiments.

[0083] Figure 8a , Figure 8b and Figure 8c An alternative embodiment of the plugging system is shown. In the alternative embodiment, plugging connector 1'' and mating plug 7' are shown respectively.

[0084] The plug connector 1'' has an unlocking sleeve 328 that is held on the housing 10' and can move in the insertion direction. The unlocking sleeve 328 is designed to open on both the plug side and the cable connection side. The unlocking sleeve 328 has four sidewalls, namely two wide sidewalls 3281 and two narrow sidewalls 3282, which form a circumferential frame around the housing 10'. The unlocking sleeve 328 has sliders 32, 32', which are not shown in detail and therefore not visible in this figure, on the inner side of its narrow sidewalls. These sliders are integrally and one-piece designed with the unlocking sleeve 328 and modified accordingly. The locking and unlocking mechanism operates in the same manner as in the embodiment described above.

[0085] The unlocking sleeve 328 remains on the housing 10', allowing it to move in the insertion direction.

[0086] In an alternative embodiment, on the cable connection side, housing 10' has a cable outlet 41''. This cable outlet 41'' is essentially designed in the shape of a hollow cylinder and has external threads on the outside for a cable connector 48.

[0087] A locking ring 329 is configured as a locking element, which is held on the cable outlet 41'' such that it can rotate about a rotation axis extending in the insertion direction. A locking protrusion 3291 is formed radially on the outer periphery of the locking ring 329 as a locking portion.

[0088] exist Figure 8a The image shows the locking ring 329 in its released position. If it is in this released position, the unlocking sleeve 328 can be manually pulled along the cable connection side to unlock the inserted mating connector.

[0089] However, in Figure 8b and Figure 8c The image shows the locking ring 329 in its locked position. It can be readily seen that the locking ring 329 can be moved from the released position to its locked position by rotating about its axis of rotation. In the locked position, it prevents the unlocking sleeve 328 from moving on the housing 10' in the direction of the cable connection side and thus unlocks the inserted plug-in connection.

[0090] As already explained, the plug connector 1'' can also be plugged into the mating plug 7' without the unlocking sleeve 328, therefore the sliders 32, 32', which are designed as a single unit for this purpose, must be displaced. And the unlocking sleeve 328 must be actuated to unlock.

[0091] Figure 9a The mating plug 7' and mounting wall 5 are shown in an exploded view, with fastening screws and seals not shown in detail.

[0092] Figure 9bThe plug connector 1'' is shown in an exploded view, having an insert 20, an unlocking sleeve 328, a generally rectangular sealing ring 14, a stress reliever in the form of a cable clamp 47, a housing 10', a locking ring 329 with its locking protrusion 3291, a cable seal (not shown in detail), and a cable connector 48.

[0093] Although various aspects or features of the invention are shown in combination in the accompanying drawings, it will be clear to those skilled in the art, unless otherwise stated, that the combinations shown and discussed are not the only possible combinations. In particular, corresponding units or feature complexes from different embodiments can be interchanged with each other.

[0094] List of reference numerals 1, 1', 1'' plug connector 10, 10' shell 11. 11' wide side (bottom plate, cover) 12, 12' narrow side 136 guide rail 14 Sealing ring 2 Insertion area 20 Inserts 27 Coding Framework 3. Locking device 31 leaf spring 311 Reset Section 312 Fastening Parts 313 Locked Part 3130 Locking Window (Locking Device) 3134 Unlock the bend 32, 32' slider 321 Reset Angled 324, 324' Unlock Hook 326 splicing 328 Unlock Sleeve 3281 Wide sidewall 3282 narrow side wall 329 Locking elements, locking rings 3291 Locking Protrusion 4. Cable connection area 40 cable entry 41, 41', 41'' cable outlets 47 Stress Relief Components / Cable Clamps 48 Cable connector 5. Installation wall 7' 7' mating plug 70 mating plug housing 73 Locking Pin 731 locking hook (pairing locking device).

Claims

1. A plug connector (1, 1', 1''), having - An insertion area (2) for insertion with mating plugs (7, 7') and an opposite cable connection area (4), the insertion area and the cable connection area being located on an insertion axis extending along the insertion direction, wherein, - The plug connector (1, 1', 1'') has a housing (10, 10'), which, viewed from the direction of the insertion axis, has a basic shape with a rectangular cross-section. This basic shape has two narrow sides (12, 12') facing each other and two wide sides (11, 11') facing each other at right angles to the narrow sides. - The plug connectors (1, 1', 1'') have a locking device (3) for locking together with the mating plug (7) on the insertion side in the inserted state, wherein, - The locking device (3) has two leaf springs (31, 31'), wherein each leaf spring is respectively arranged at one of the two narrow sides (12, 12') of the housing (10, 10'). -Each of the two leaf springs (31, 31') has a fastening portion (312) by which the leaf spring is fastened to the housing (10, 10'), wherein, - Each leaf spring (31, 31') has a locking portion (313) with a locking device (3130) on the insertion side of the fastening portion (312), characterized in that, - The locking device (3) has a separate slider (32, 32') on each of the two narrow sides (12, 12'), which is movably held on the narrow side in the insertion direction to unlock the plug connector (1, 1', 1'') from the mating plug (7). The slider is in the initial position on the housing (10, 10') in the insertion and locking state, and can be operated to unlock by being movable along the respective narrow side (12, 12') in the direction of the cable connection area (4). - Each of the two leaf springs (31, 31') has a reset portion (311) on the cable connection side of the fastening portion (312), which is used to automatically reset the corresponding operated slider (32, 32') to its starting position. The increased reset force of the reset portion (311) of the leaf spring (31, 31') acts on the reset ramp (321) of the slider (32, 32') along the direction of the insertion region (2).

2. The plug connector (1, 1', 1'') according to claim 1, wherein, The length of the leaf spring (31, 31') measured along the insertion direction exceeds its maximum width.

3. The plug connector (1, 1', 1'') according to claim 2, wherein, The length of the leaf spring is greater than twice its maximum width.

4. The plug connector (1, 1', 1'') according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The reset portion (311) of the corresponding leaf spring (31, 31') is configured to apply a force acting in the direction of the insertion region (2) on the slider (32, 32') at least when the slider (32, 32') is operated, so that the corresponding slider (32, 32') automatically resides in its initial position or moves toward the initial position on the housing (10, 10') without the action of an external force.

5. The plug connector (1, 1', 1'') according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The locking portion (313) and the resetting portion (311) are respectively slightly angled to the fastening portion (312) of the corresponding leaf spring (31, 31').

6. The plug connector (1, 1', 1'') according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The leaf springs (31, 31') are stamped and bent, which are made of spring-elastic steel plates and are slightly bent not only in the transition area from their fastening portion (312) to the locking portion (313) but also in the transition area from their fastening portion (312) to the resetting portion (311).

7. The plug connector (1, 1', 1'') according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, Both the fastening portion (312) and the resetting portion (311) are designed to be flat, and the locking portion (313) is mostly designed to be flat.

8. The plug connector (1, 1', 1'') according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The locking portion (313) has an unlocking bend (3134) at its independent end.

9. The plug connector (1, 1', 1'') according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The sliders (32, 32') can be operated by being manually moved along the insertion axis in the direction of the cable connection area (4), wherein the sliders unlock the locking portions (313) of the two leaf springs (31, 31') and pull them apart from each other, while at the same time the reset portions (311) of the leaf springs (31, 31') together with the reset ramps (321) of the corresponding sliders (32, 32') establish a reset force on the corresponding sliders (32, 32') in the direction of the insertion area (2).

10. The plug connector (1, 1', 1'') according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The two sliders (32, 32') each have at least one unlocking hook (324, 324') on the insertion side, wherein these unlocking hooks (324, 324') act from the inside towards the locking portion (313) of the leaf springs (31, 31') in the direction of the cable connection area (4) and unlock the locking portions (313) of the two leaf springs (31, 31') by pulling them apart when the two sliders (32, 32') are operated simultaneously.

11. The plug connector (1, 1', 1'') according to claim 8, wherein, After being operated, the sliders (32, 32') automatically spring back to their initial positions by the restoring force of the leaf springs (31, 31') without the action of any external force.

12. The plug connector (1, 1', 1'') according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The locking portion (313) has a locking window that serves as a locking device (3130).

13. The plug connector (1, 1', 1'') according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The housing (10, 10') has at least one guide rail (136) on each of its two narrow sides (12, 12'), and each of the two sliders (32, 32') has at least one tab (326), wherein each tab (326) engages in one of the guide rails (136) to hold the slider (32, 32') movably on the housing (10, 10') in the insertion direction.

14. The plug connector (1'') according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The two sliders (32, 32') are designed separately.

15. The plug connector (1'') according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The two sliders (32, 32') are designed as a single unit.

16. The plug connector (1'') according to claim 15, wherein, The two sliders (32, 32') are a common component of the unlocking sleeve (328), which is held on the housing (10') so as to be displaced in the insertion direction.

17. The plug connector (1'') according to claim 16, wherein, The unlocking sleeve (328) is designed as a one-piece unit.

18. The plug connector according to claim 16, wherein, The plug connector (1'') has a locking element (329) in addition to the unlocking sleeve (328). The locking element (329) is held on the housing (10') in a manner that allows rotation about a rotation axis extending in the insertion direction and has a locking portion (3291). By means of the locking portion (3291), displacement of the unlocking sleeve (328) on the housing (10') can be prevented or allowed depending on the rotational position of the locking portion (3291).

19. A mating system comprising a mating connector (1, 1', 1'') according to any one of the preceding claims and a mating plug (7, 7'), wherein, The mating plug has a mating locking device (731) that is locked in a closed state to lock together with the locking device (3130) of the locking part (313).

20. The plug-in system according to claim 19, wherein, The leaf springs (31, 31') and the sliders (32, 32') are arranged on the housing (10, 10') and configured to separate the locking device (3130) from the mating locking device (731) by operating the sliders (32, 32') in the direction of the cable connection area (4), thereby unlocking the plug connector (1) from the mating plug (7, 7').

21. The plug-in system according to any one of claims 19 to 20, wherein, When the plug connectors (1, 1', 1'') are plugged into the mating plugs (7, 7'), the locking device (3130) can be locked into the mating locking device (731) without moving the sliders (32, 32').

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