Electric contact component

Abstract

The present invention relates to an electrical contact component (10) having a box-shaped base body (12) forming a receiving space (14) for inserting a mating contact in an insertion direction (A), at least one elastic element (16) which is arranged on at least one flat side of the base body (12) and projects at least partially into the receiving space to exert an elastic force, and at least one material recess (18) which is provided on at least one narrower side of the base body (12) that is narrower than the flat side.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an electrical contact component. The electrical contact component is suitable for plug-in connections, for example. The present invention also relates to a manufacturing method of such an electrical contact component and the use of such a contact component. In particular, the electrical plug contact is suitable for vehicles, such as motor vehicles and the like. Background Art

[0002] Electrical contact components have many applications. For example, in automotive engineering, they can be used as plug connectors and the like. As examples, mention may be made of plug contacts or sockets that can be used to accommodate mating contacts, and the mating contacts are, for example, plug-in fuses and the like. Generally, for plug-in connections, it is desired that they have a high contact force relative to the mating contact, while having a low insertion force and / or extraction force of the mating contact. In some applications, this conflict of objectives is to be achieved within a relatively small installation space.

[0003] It has been shown that the conflict of the above objectives particularly leads to high stresses in the involved contacts and even to plastic deformation of the involved contacts. This can cause the contact force to decrease during the entire service life of the involved contacts, especially in the presence of high electrical loads and / or thermal loads. Therefore, it is desirable to achieve an electrical contact component that can properly handle this conflict of objectives. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Therefore, the technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an electrical contact component that causes at least relatively small plug-in connection stresses in a structurally as simple manner as possible.

[0005] The present invention proposes an electrical contact component having a box-shaped base body that forms a receiving space for inserting a mating contact in an insertion direction. In addition, the electrical contact component has at least one elastic element that is arranged on at least one flat side of the base body and at least partially extends into the receiving space to exert an elastic force. In addition, the contact component has at least one material notch that is arranged on at least one narrower side of the base body that is narrower than the flat side.

[0006] The material notch allows springback, springback together with the mating contact, deflection, or generally, at least elastic deformation of the base body during insertion and / or extraction of the mating contact when a force is exerted by the mating contact. In this way, the stresses that may occur when the contact component and the mating contact are plugged together can be reduced or avoided. In addition, plastic deformation of the contact component and / or the mating contact can be reduced or avoided. This arrangement achieves as uniform a stress distribution as possible in the contact component and / or the mating contact, and a relatively high contact force in the case of low insertion and extraction forces.

[0007] The box-shaped base body can also be described, for example, as a cuboid shape that is at least partially hollow. Additionally, the box-shaped base body can be described by two mutually parallel, flat or larger sides and two mutually parallel, narrower or smaller sides. The flat sides and the narrower sides can form an angle with each other, for example, an angle of 90° ± 5°. The elastic element is arranged and / or formed on at least one of the flat sides. The material notch is arranged and / or formed on at least one of the narrower sides. The base body can be made, for example, of a conductive sheet material. For this purpose, the sheet material can be stamped, bent, or stamped and bent. The insertion direction or the insertion axis corresponding to the insertion direction can correspond to the longitudinal axis of the plug contact.

[0008] In at least some exemplary embodiments, the contact component itself can be designed to be inserted into a carrier, such as a bus bar or a printed circuit board, for example, by means of contact pins. The contact pins can also be suitable for soldering, that is, the contact component is a solder contact suitable for, for example, a circuit board or a bus bar. As an alternative to this, the contact component can also be arranged to be pressed into the carrier, and additional soldering may not be required if necessary.

[0009] For example, the mating contact can be a planar contact. In some applications, the mating contact can be a plug-in fuse or its contact pins, which makes the contact component suitable for motor vehicles and the like.

[0010] In one embodiment, the material notch can cut through at least one circumferentially surrounding edge of the base body that should be at the end side in the insertion direction of the mating contact in a part of the narrower side, and / or cut off the material of the base body. The corresponding end face can preferably correspond to the insertion side of the mating contact, that is to say, it can be the first end face in the insertion direction of the mating contact. It should be noted that the insertion side preferably also represents the withdrawal side of the mating contact. Thereby, during the insertion and / or withdrawal of the mating contact, the receiving space or the base body can retreat, spring back, etc., so that at least stress reduction occurs.

[0011] According to an exemplary embodiment, the material notch can have the shape of a slot, where the material notch extends a length along the insertion direction from the edge of the base body that is at the end side in the insertion direction of the mating contact. In other words, the base body can be partially slotted, and the slot extends from the end face where the mating contact is introduced. Thereby, during the insertion and / or withdrawal of the mating contact, the receiving space or the base body can retreat, spring back, etc., so that at least stress reduction occurs.

[0012] In one embodiment, at least two material recesses may be arranged on a common narrow side, wherein a first material recess penetrates and cuts off an end-side edge of a first end face and a second material recess penetrates and cuts off a second edge of a second end face and / or cuts off material of the base body, wherein the first end face and the second end face are spaced apart from each other in the insertion direction of the mating contact. In other words, the base body may have at least one material recess on the end face where the mating contact is inserted and on the opposite end face, for example a slot. Thereby, an elastic seesaw is formed, which can generate a particularly uniform stress distribution.

[0013] According to one embodiment, the first material recess may extend a first length in the insertion direction of the mating contact, and the second material recess extends a second length, wherein the first length may be greater than the second length. On the end face where the mating contact is inserted, higher stresses may occur than on the opposite end face. This embodiment variant takes into account this stress distribution.

[0014] In one embodiment, correspondingly, at least one material recess is arranged on a first narrow side and at least one material recess is arranged on a second narrow side opposite the first narrow side. In other words, when observed in the insertion direction of the mating contact or along the longitudinal axis of the contact component, the base body has at least one material recess on both sides. Thereby, a more uniform stress distribution can be achieved.

[0015] According to an improvement, the elastic element may have a wavy shape. Thereby, a high contact force and a long service life can be achieved.

[0016] In a further improvement, the elastic element may be hinged to the base body at its two longitudinal ends and project into the receiving space between the two longitudinal ends. The elastic element may be cut from the material of the base body in a strip or tongue shape, for example by stamping, wherein the elastic element remains connected to the material of the base body at its two longitudinal ends. Thereby, a high contact force and a long service life can be achieved.

[0017] According to a further improvement, the elastic element may be integrally formed with the base body. Thereby, the contact component can be manufactured particularly easily and has a stable design.

[0018] In a further improvement, the base body may have a locking mechanism for connecting a first end and a second end of its expansion member to each other, wherein the locking mechanism may be arranged adjacent to at least one material recess on the narrow side. If two material recesses are arranged on the same side, the locking mechanism may be arranged between the material recesses when observed in the insertion direction or along the longitudinal axis. This enables simple production and high robustness.

[0019] A method for manufacturing an electrical contact component is also proposed, and the steps are as follows:

[0020] Provide a sheet material,

[0021] Form at least one elastic element in the sheet material.

[0022] Form at least one material recess in the sheet material.

[0023] Bend the sheet material into a box-shaped base body having an internal receiving space such that at least one elastic element is arranged on a flat side of the base body and at least partially projects into the receiving space for exerting an elastic force and such that at least one material recess is arranged on at least one side of the base body that is narrower than the flat side.

[0024] The steps of the method do not necessarily have to be carried out in the order of the mentioned technical features. Furthermore, the method can be modified to manufacture contact components in one or more of the above-described embodiment variants. In addition, the use of the electrical contact component is described in one or more design variants. This use provides that a mating contact is inserted into the contact component in the insertion direction, the elastic element exerts a contact force and / or a clamping force on the mating contact, and the base body of the contact component can be deformed in the receiving space formed by the base body by means of at least one material recess arranged on the base body, at least during the insertion and / or removal of the mating contact.

[0025] This use can give the contact component and / or the mating contact a particularly long service life.

[0026] Further features, advantages and possible applications of the present invention result from the following description of the advantageous embodiments and the drawings. Description of the Drawings

[0027] The following explains advantageous exemplary embodiments of the present invention with reference to the drawings. In the drawings:

[0028] Figure 1 is a perspective view of an electrical contact component according to an embodiment.

[0029] Figure 2 is a perspective view of an electrical contact component according to an embodiment.

[0030] Figure 3 is a perspective view of an electrical contact component according to an embodiment.

[0031] Figure 4 is a perspective view of an electrical contact component according to an embodiment.

[0032] Figure 5 A method for manufacturing an electrical contact component according to an embodiment is shown in a flow chart.

[0033] The drawings are merely schematic representations and are only used to explain the present invention. Elements that are the same or have the same effect have the same reference numerals throughout. Detailed Description

[0034] Figure 1 FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of an electrical contact component 10 according to an embodiment. The contact component 10 is particularly suitable for plug-in connections, in which it can accommodate mating contacts (not shown). Such plug-in connections can be used, for example, in motor vehicles and the like.

[0035] The contact component 10 has a box-shaped base body 12, which forms a receiving space 14 for inserting a mating contact in an insertion direction A, which insertion direction A here at the same time corresponds to the longitudinal axis of the contact component 10 or its base body 12. The box shape is similar to or corresponds to a tall cuboid. Furthermore, the base body 12 has an insertion opening on a first end face and a plurality of contact feet on a second end face opposite the first end face. The contact feet are used, for example, for fixing to a carrier (not shown) and / or for electrical connection to a carrier (not shown), such as a bus bar, a printed circuit board, etc.

[0036] The contact component 10 also has at least one elastic element 16, which is arranged on at least one flat side of the base body and projects at least partially into the receiving space 14 to exert an elastic force. According to Figure 1 , the contact component can also be described as a rather flat and / or wide box, so that the arrangement of the elastic element 16 on at least one flat side of the box can be described.

[0037] According to Figure 1 , the elastic element 16 has a wave shape. Furthermore, the contact component 10 can have two elastic elements 16 arranged opposite one another and acting in opposite directions in the direction of action of the respective elastic force.

[0038] Furthermore, according to Figure 1 , the elastic element 16 is hinged to the base body 12 at its two longitudinal ends and projects into the receiving space 14 between the two longitudinal ends. According to Figure 1 , the elastic element 16 and the base body 12 are designed as one piece.

[0039] Furthermore, the contact component 10 has at least one material recess 18, which is arranged on at least one narrower side of the base body 12 that is narrower than the flat side. According to Figure 1 , the contact component can also be described as a rather flat and / or wide box, so that the arrangement of the material recess can be described as being arranged on at least one narrow side of the box, or if the box is observed lying down, the arrangement of the material recess can be described as a transverse arrangement.

[0040] According to Figure 1 , the material recess 18 is designed such that it cuts through at least one edge that should be circumferentially surrounding and is on the end side in the insertion direction A of the mating contact and / or cuts off material of the base body 12 in a part of the narrower side. According to Figure 1, the mating contact is inserted into the base body 12 or the receiving space 14 from above, so that the material notch 18 preferably cuts through the edge here, as Figure 2 shown.

[0041] In addition, according to Figure 1 , the material notch 18 has a slot shape, wherein the material notch 18 extends a length along the insertion direction from the edge at the end side of the base body 12 in the insertion direction A of the mating contact. Therefore, the material notch 18 extends as a slot from the end face along the longitudinal axis of the base body 12. Preferably, the material notch 18 is arranged approximately or precisely centered in the thickness direction of the base body 12, and the thickness direction extends perpendicular to the insertion direction.

[0042] According to Figure 1 , the contact part 10 has at least two material notches 18, which are arranged on a common narrower side, wherein the first material notch cuts through the edge of the first end face and the second material notch cuts through the second edge of the second end face and / or cuts off the material of the base body 12 here, and wherein the first end face and the second end face are spaced apart from each other in the insertion direction A of the mating contact. Refer to Figure 1 , the base body 12 is provided with corresponding material notches 18 at the end faces at the top and bottom. This forms a seesaw, especially an elastic seesaw, which can be retracted, deflected, rebound together, etc. accordingly when the mating contact is inserted and / or pulled out. According to Figure 1 , the first material notch 18 extends a first length in the insertion direction of the mating contact and the second material notch extends a second length, wherein the first length is greater than the second length. Accordingly, the material notches 18 do not necessarily have to be designed symmetrically (with respect to the transverse axis of the base body 12), but can be designed to have different lengths and possibly also different widths.

[0043] In addition, Figure 1 shows that at least one material notch 18 is correspondingly arranged on the first narrower side and at least one material notch is arranged on the second narrower side opposite to the first narrower side. In other words, if observed in a lying-down manner, the base body can have one material notch 18 or two material notches 18 on each side in the horizontal direction, that is, a total of four material notches 18.

[0044] According to Figure 1 , the base body has a locking mechanism 20 for connecting the first end and the second end of its expansion member to each other, wherein the locking mechanism 20 is arranged adjacent to at least one material notch 18 on the narrower side. In accordance with Figure 1In the exemplary embodiment shown, two material recesses 18 are formed on a common narrow side, where the locking mechanism 20 is then preferably arranged between the two material recesses 18. If desired, the locking mechanism 20 can act in a form-fitting manner, as in a jigsaw puzzle here, and / or act in a material-fitting manner via additional solder joints.

[0045] Figure 2 Shown from the other side (rotated approximately 180° about the longitudinal axis) is Figure 1 the contact member 10. Accordingly, it can be seen that in at least some embodiments, at least two elastic elements 16 and / or at least two material recesses 18 are provided. However, according to Figure 2 , a total of four material recesses 18 are provided as an example.

[0046] Figure 3 Another embodiment of the contact member 10 is shown. Different from the above embodiment, the contact member 10 according to Figure 3 has two elastic elements 16 on a common flat side of the base body 12. The elastic elements 16 are spaced apart from each other along the transverse axis of the base body 12 and a connecting piece is formed between them. In the case of a symmetric design, the contact member 10 accordingly has a total of at least four elastic elements 16, since each flat side of the base body 12 can also be provided with more than two elastic elements.

[0047] Figure 4 Shown from the other side (rotated approximately 180° about the longitudinal axis) is the contact member 10 from Figure 3 . Accordingly, it can be seen that in at least some embodiments, at least four elastic elements 16 and / or at least four material recesses 18 are provided. However, according to Figure 2 , a total of four material recesses 18 and a total of four elastic elements 16 are provided as an example.

[0048] Figure 5 A method for manufacturing the contact member 10 is shown in a flowchart.

[0049] In step S1, a sheet is provided. In step S2, at least one elastic element 16 is integrally formed from the sheet, for example by stamping and / or bending. In step S3, at least one material recess 18 is formed in the sheet. It should be noted that steps S2 and S3 do not necessarily have to be carried out in sequence, can also be carried out simultaneously, and can be carried out in the reverse order. In step S4, the sheet is bent to achieve the configuration of the above contact member 10.

[0050] List of reference numerals

[0051] 10 Electrical contact member

[0052] 12 Base body

[0053] 14 Accommodating space

[0054] 16 Elastic element

[0055] 18 Material notch

[0056] 20 Locking mechanism

[0057] A Insertion direction / Longitudinal axis

Claims

1. An electrical contact component (10), the electrical contact component comprising a box-shaped base body (12) which forms a receiving space (14) for inserting a mating contact in an insertion direction (A), at least one elastic element (16), which is arranged on at least one flat side of the base body (12) and projects at least partially into the receiving space (14) for exerting an elastic force, and at least two material notches (18), the material notches (18) comprising a first material notch and a second material notch arranged on a common narrower side of the base body (12) that is narrower than the flat side, Among them, the first material notch penetrates and cuts off a circumferentially surrounding end-side edge of a first end face of the base body (12) in the insertion direction of the mating contact and cuts off the material of the base body (12), and the second material notch penetrates and cuts off a circumferentially surrounding second edge of a second end face of the base body that is opposite to the first end face in the insertion direction of the mating contact and cuts off the material of the base body (12), and the base body (12) forms an elastic seesaw due to the first material notch and the second material notch respectively provided on the first end face and the second end face.

2. The electrical contact component (10) according to claim 1, wherein, The material notches have a slot shape, and the material notches (18) extend along the insertion direction (A) for a length from an edge on the end side of the base body (12) in the insertion direction (A) of the mating contact.

3. The electrical contact component (10) according to claim 1, wherein, In the insertion direction (A) of the mating contact, the first material notch extends a first length, the second material notch extends a second length, and the first length is greater than the second length.

4. The electrical contact component (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, At least one material notch (18) is arranged on a first narrower side respectively, and at least one material notch (18) is arranged on a second narrower side opposite to the position of the first narrower side.

5. The electrical contact component (10) according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 3, wherein, The elastic element (16) has a wavy shape.

6. The electrical contact component (10) according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 3, wherein, The elastic element is hinged to the base body (12) at two longitudinal ends of the elastic element and projects into the receiving space (14) between the two longitudinal ends.

7. The electrical contact component (10) according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 3, wherein, The elastic element (16) is integrally formed with the base body (12).

8. The electrical contact component (10) according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 3, wherein, The base body has a locking mechanism (20) for connecting a first end and a second end of its unfolded part to each other, and the locking mechanism (20) is arranged adjacent to at least one material notch (18) on the narrower side.

9. A manufacturing method of an electrical contact component (10), comprising the following steps: Step one (S1): Providing a sheet material, Step two (S2): Forming at least one elastic element in the sheet material, Step three (S3): Forming at least two material notches in the sheet material, Step four (S4): Bending the sheet material to form a box-shaped base body (12) having an internal receiving space (14) for inserting a mating contact in an insertion direction (A), wherein the elastic element is arranged on at least one flat side of the base body (12) and projects at least partially into the receiving space (14) for exerting an elastic force, such that: Wherein, the material recess (18) includes a first material recess and a second material recess arranged on a common narrower side of the base body (12) that is narrower than the flat side. Wherein, the first material recess penetrates and cuts off the circumferentially surrounding end-side edge of the first end face of the base body (12) in the insertion direction of the mating contact in the narrower side and cuts off the material of the base body (12), and the second material recess penetrates and cuts off the circumferentially surrounding second edge of the second end face of the base body that is opposite to the first end face in the insertion direction of the mating contact and cuts off the material of the base body (12), and the base body (12) forms an elastic seesaw due to the first material recess and the second material recess respectively provided on the first end face and the second end face.

10. Use of an electrical contact component (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein, The mating contact is inserted into the electrical contact component (10) in the insertion direction (A), the elastic element (16) applies a clamping force to the mating contact, and the base body (12) of the electrical contact component (10) can be deformed by at least one material recess (18) provided on the base body (12) at least during the insertion of the mating contact.

Images