Electrical plug connector device and separation assist device

Abstract

The invention relates to an electrical plug connector arrangement comprising a plug connector and a mating plug connector, each of which has electrical plug contact elements associated with one another and which are configured to be plugged together and to electrically contact the associated plug contact elements in the plugged-together state, wherein at least one separation aid is provided on the plug connector, having an actuating mechanism to be manually actuated, which has a first actuating section immovably provided on the plug connector and a second actuating section movably formed relative to the first actuating section, the second actuating section has a free end of the actuating mechanism, and by manually actuating the actuating mechanism, a mating plug connector plugged on the plug connector can be pressed away from the plug connector by means of a pressure applied to the mating plug connector via the second actuating section. The invention also relates to a separation aid for mounting on a plug connector of such a plug connector arrangement.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an electrical plug connector device, the electrical plug connector device having a plug connector and a mating plug connector, the plug connector and the mating plug connector respectively having electrical plug contact elements associated with each other and configured to be plugged together and to make electrical contact with the associated plug contact elements in the plugged together state, wherein at least one separation auxiliary device is arranged at the plug connector, the separation auxiliary device having an operating mechanism to be manually operated, the operating mechanism having a first operating section arranged immovably at the plug connector and a second operating section configured to be movable relative to the first operating section, the second operating section having a free end of the operating mechanism, wherein by manually operating the operating mechanism, the mating plug connector plugged at the plug connector can be pressed away from the plug connector by means of pressure applied to the mating plug connector by the second operating section. The present invention also relates to a separation auxiliary device for being arranged at a plug connector of such a plug connector device. Background Art

[0002] The invention generally relates to the field of electrical plug connections. A plug connector forms an electrical plug connection with a mating plug connector at least in the plugged together state. A plug connector with a disconnection aid is known, for example, from DE 20 2005 003654 U1. Summary of the invention

[0003] The invention is based on the object of specifying further improved auxiliary measures for separating an electrical plug connection formed by a plug connector and a mating plug connector.

[0004] The object is achieved in the case of an electrical plug connector arrangement of the type mentioned at the outset in that the disconnection aid has at least one frame part, by which at least a portion of the second actuating section is overlapped. Accordingly, the disconnection aid is configured so that at least a portion of that region which is pressed away from the mating plug connector by means of pressure is overlapped by at least one frame part and is thus at least slightly shielded from the environment. In this way, the second actuating section is protected from damage.

[0005] The at least one frame part forms a kind of bridge, for example, over at least a part of the second actuating section and, if necessary, a corresponding free space surrounding the second actuating section. The separation aid is also mechanically more robust by the at least one frame part. The frame parts can be designed in such a way that they absorb the forces that occur in the event of a collision with other contours and divert them away from the actuating mechanism.

[0006] Therefore, the second operating section is protected by at least one frame part, so that the risk of unintentional wrong operation and intentional manipulation is reduced. In addition, the second operating section is prevented from sliding off the mating plug connector by at least one frame part.

[0007] The first actuation section can be formed by the first end of the actuation mechanism. The second actuation section can be formed by the second end of the actuation mechanism. The second actuation section is arranged closer to the mating plug connector than the first actuation section.

[0008] According to an advantageous embodiment, a force absorption element is present on the mating plug connector, in particular on the housing of the mating plug connector, which is configured to absorb the pressure exerted by the second actuating section when the actuating mechanism is manually actuated. The force absorption element can be formed relatively simply, for example by an edge of the housing of the mating plug connector, or can be formed as another protruding protrusion suitable for absorbing the pressure from the second actuating section, etc. In this case, the force absorption element can be formed in one piece with the housing of the mating plug connector.

[0009] At least one auxiliary disconnection device can be arranged, for example, on the housing side of the plug connector. In an advantageous embodiment, two auxiliary disconnection devices can be arranged on the plug connector, for example, on housing sides of the housing of the plug connector facing away from each other. In this way, a symmetrical force load can be applied to the mating plug connector by means of pressure, and correspondingly, a force balance can be achieved when the mating plug connector is released from the connector. In this case, at least one force absorption element is present on the mating plug connector for each auxiliary disconnection device.

[0010] According to an advantageous design, the force absorption element has at least one hold-down device, by which the second actuating section is engaged in a form-fitting manner, at least when the force absorption element absorbs the pressure exerted by the second actuating section when the actuating mechanism is manually actuated. The second actuating section is thereby fixed to the force absorption element, in particular to prevent it from slipping off the force absorption element. For example, the hold-down device can be designed as a flange that protrudes from the force absorption element toward the second actuating section.

[0011] The separation auxiliary device can be fixedly connected with the housing of the plug connector, in particular the plug connector, for example by forming the separation auxiliary device and the housing of the plug connector completely or partially in one piece. In the case, the separation auxiliary device is always arranged at the plug connector.

[0012] According to an advantageous design, the separation aid is designed as a structural unit separate from the plug connector, which can be fixed to the housing of the plug connector via a fastening element. This has the following advantages: the separation aid can be manufactured separately, which simplifies the manufacturing steps of the plug connector and the separation aid and makes it more cost-effective. In addition, the plug connector does not have to be equipped with the separation aid all the time. For example, the separation aid is fastened to the plug connector only when necessary by means of the fastening element of the separation aid. The separation aid can, for example, have a fastening element for fastening to the plug connector, which allows a form-fitting fastening to the housing of the plug connector. For example, the separation aid can be connected to the housing of the plug connector via a dovetail connection.

[0013] According to an advantageous design, the auxiliary device for disconnection has a base plate, on which the first actuating section of the actuating mechanism is integrally molded. As a result, the auxiliary device for disconnection can be constructed relatively simply and can be manufactured accordingly with little effort and cost, for example as a plastic injection-molded component. The base plate can have other functions, for example for arranging a fastening element for fastening the auxiliary device for disconnection to the housing of the plug connector. The auxiliary device for disconnection can be arranged on the housing of the plug connector, for example, by means of the base plate. The actuating mechanism can then, for example, extend from the base plate in a direction facing away from the plug connector.

[0014] According to an advantageous design, the frame part is connected to the base plate in the region of the second operating section or is formed integrally with the base plate. This is also beneficial for manufacturing the separation auxiliary device simply and cost-effectively as a separate structural unit. In particular, it is not necessary to assemble the individual components of the separation auxiliary device.

[0015] According to an advantageous design, the base plate and the frame part together surround a through opening of the auxiliary separation device, into which the second operating section projects, or through which the second operating section passes. Thus, when the operating mechanism is operated, the second operating section can be pushed through the through opening below the frame part. Furthermore, the second operating section is guided in the longitudinal direction through an edge region of the through opening, which edge region is bounded by the frame part and / or the base plate.

[0016] According to an advantageous embodiment, the separation aid has at least one supporting element, for example, at least one supporting element extending into the through-opening, on which the second operating section can be supported at least when the operating mechanism is manually operated. In this way, the separation aid can be protected from damage, in particular when the separation aid is not yet connected to the plug connector. The operating mechanism is protected from excessive deflections by at least one supporting component. At least one supporting element also forms a mating stop for the second operating section in order to lift the second operating section over an obstacle when the plug connector is plugged together with a mating plug connector. For example, the separation aid can have supporting elements on opposite sides of the through-opening.

[0017] According to an advantageous design, the separation aid has at least one auxiliary contour in the region of the second operating section, which is arranged on the side of the second operating section facing away from the frame part. The auxiliary contour can, for example, support the plug-in connection of the plug connector with the mating plug connector.

[0018] According to an advantageous embodiment, at least one auxiliary contour is formed integrally with the base plate. Additionally, at least one auxiliary contour can be formed integrally with at least one supporting element, for example in that at least one auxiliary contour then transitions toward the through-opening into at least one supporting element.

[0019] According to an advantageous embodiment, at least one auxiliary contour projects from the base plate on the side of the base plate facing away from the actuating mechanism. This results in a certain projection on the base plate, by which, for example, the fixing of the plug connector to the mating plug connector can be improved. Furthermore, when the plug connector is plugged together with the mating plug connector, the free end of the actuating tab can be lifted over obstacles on the mating plug connector.

[0020] According to an advantageous embodiment, the pressure for pressing the mating plug connector away from the plug connector can be generated by means of an actuating mechanism by a manual actuating force applied laterally to the actuating mechanism, by which at least a part of the actuating mechanism can be displaced toward the plug connector. This allows the user to actuate the separation aid in a simple, intuitive and ergonomically comfortable manner. In addition, relatively large actuating forces can be generated manually.

[0021] According to an advantageous design, the operating mechanism has a manual operating surface for applying a manual operating force between the first operating section and the second operating section. The manual operating surface can be formed, for example, by a surface of the operating mechanism facing away from the base plate.

[0022] According to an advantageous design, the disconnection aid has a toggle mechanism for moving the second actuating section relative to the first actuating section when a manual actuating force acts on the actuating mechanism perpendicularly to the plugging direction, or is designed as such a toggle mechanism. The toggle mechanism allows the plug connector arrangement to be disconnected by applying a large pressure during simple manual actuation.

[0023] According to an advantageous design, the first operating section and the second operating section of the operating mechanism are integrally formed as sections of an elastic spring web. Due to the elastic properties of the spring web, the spring web automatically springs back into the initial position when the manual operation is terminated. The operating mechanism can advantageously be formed as a spring-elastically deflectable curved and / or annular operating web.

[0024] According to an advantageous embodiment, the actuating tab is curved in the same curvature direction over its entire extension from the first actuating section to the second actuating section. This allows a reliable function when applying pressure to the mating plug connector and carrying out a corresponding separation process, with a simple and cost-effective design of the disconnection aid.

[0025] The objects mentioned at the outset are also achieved by a disconnection aid for placement at a plug connector of a plug connector arrangement of the type described above, wherein the disconnection aid has a fastening element by means of which the disconnection aid can be fixed to a housing of the plug connector, wherein the disconnection aid has an actuating mechanism to be manually actuated, the actuating mechanism having a first actuating section to be immovably arranged at the plug connector and a second actuating section configured to be movable relative to the first actuating section, the second actuating section having a free end of the actuating mechanism, wherein by manually actuating the actuating mechanism, a mating plug connector plugged at the plug connector can be pressed away from the plug connector by means of a pressure applied to the mating plug connector by the second actuating section, wherein the disconnection aid has at least one frame part by which at least a part of the second actuating section is overlapped. The advantages described above can also be achieved thereby. The disconnection aid can also be advantageously combined with other features of the disconnection aid described above and below.

[0026] The fastening element of the disconnection aid can be configured, for example, for mounting on a universal receptacle at the plug connector. For example, one universal receptacle at the plug connector can have an undercut in order to prevent the disconnection aid from falling out of the plug connector. The other universal receptacle can be formed without an undercut and then serve to absorb the pressure forces transmitted from the disconnection aid to the mating plug connector.

[0027] In the sense of the present invention, the indefinite article "a" is not to be understood as a numeral. That is, when, for example, one component is mentioned, it is to be interpreted in the sense of "at least one component". Whenever an angle is specified in degrees, it relates to the size of a circle of 360 degrees (360°). BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] The present invention will be explained in detail below based on exemplary embodiments using the accompanying drawings.

[0029] The accompanying drawings show:

[0030] Figure 1 The separation aid is shown in a perspective view,

[0031] Figure 2 In another perspective view, the Figure 1 Separation auxiliary equipment,

[0032] Figure 3 In the side view, the Figure 1 Separation auxiliary equipment,

[0033] Figure 4 A plug connector arrangement with a plug connector and a mating plug connector is shown in a perspective view,

[0034] Figure 5 The side view shows the base before plugging together. Figure 4 A plug connector and a mating plug connector,

[0035] Figure 6 Shows the connection during insertion Figure 5 A plug connector and a mating plug connector,

[0036] Figure 7 Shown in the fully plugged-in state Figure 5 A plug connector and a mating plug connector. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] exist Figures 1 to 3The separation auxiliary device 1 shown in FIG. 1 has a base plate 2 on which an operating mechanism 3 is arranged. The operating mechanism 3 has a first operating section 31 at one end and a second operating section 32 at the other end opposite, which is also the free end of the operating mechanism 3. The operating mechanism 3 has a manual operating surface 33 between the first operating section 31 and the second operating section 32, on which the user can manually apply an operating force. The operating mechanism 3 is configured as an elastically deflectable curved annular operating strip. The operating mechanism 3 is connected to the base plate 2 in the region of the first operating section 31 and cannot move relative to the base plate 2 accordingly, for example, in that the operating mechanism is formed integrally with the base plate 2 there. In contrast, the second operating section 32 is configured to be movable relative to the first operating section 31 and thus also relative to the base plate 2.

[0038] In the region of the second operating section 32 of the base plate 2, there is a frame part 4, which in an advantageous embodiment can also be formed integrally with the base plate 2. It can be seen that the separation aid 1 has a through-opening 5 in the region of the second operating section 32, which is bounded by parts of the base plate 2 and the frame part 4. For example, when the operating mechanism 3 is manually operated, the second operating section 32 of the operating mechanism 3 extends into the through-opening 5 or can also extend through the through-opening 5. It can be seen that the second operating section 32 is at least partially overlapped by the frame part 4 and is accordingly protected from damage by the frame part 4.

[0039] The base plate 2 has, on the side facing away from the actuating mechanism 3 , a fastening element 8 , by means of which the auxiliary disconnecting device 1 can be fastened to the housing of the plug connector, for example by latching it there.

[0040] It can also be seen that on the base plate 2, also on the side facing away from the actuating mechanism 3, respectively, an auxiliary contour 6 is provided on the left and right of the through-opening 5, which is also integrally formed with the base plate 2 and projects slightly from the base plate 2. The auxiliary contour 6 can, for example, have a chamfer on one or both sides in the plugging direction of the plug connector, for example by a rounded or ramped contour. It can also be seen that a support element 7 projects from the base plate 2 or respectively from the auxiliary contour 6 into the through-opening 5. The support element 7 serves to support the second actuating section 32 and protect it from excessive deflections. In addition, the support element 7 serves to lift the second actuating section over possible obstacles, such as the housing edge of the mating plug connector, when the plug connector is plugged together with the mating plug connector.

[0041] Figure 4A plug connector 10 is shown with a housing 11, on which a disconnection aid 1 is mounted. The housing 11 has a fastening contour 12, for example in the form of a universal receptacle, on one housing side or on two housing sides facing away from each other, to which the disconnection aid 1 can be fastened in a form-fitting manner by means of its fastening elements 8. The disconnection aid 1 is fastened to the plug connector 10 in this case so that the side with the frame part 4 is oriented toward the plug-in surface and correspondingly toward the mating plug connector, i.e. in the plug-in direction S.

[0042] exist Figure 4 2, which is a counterpart to the plug connector and has its own housing 21. A force absorbing element 22 is integrally formed on the housing 21 and cooperates with the disconnection aid 1 in the plugged-in state of the plug connector 10 and the counterpart plug connector 20. The plug connector 10 can be plugged together with the counterpart plug connector 20 in the plugging direction S in order to form an electrical plug connection.

[0043] The mating connector 20 has a receiving groove 28 recessed relative to the edge 25 behind the edge 25 on the plug-in surface side at the narrow side. When the plug connector 10 and the mating connector 20 are plugged together, the auxiliary contour 6 sinks into the receiving groove 28 as long as it slides over the edge 25.

[0044] Optionally, a latching projection 27 can be present on the plug-in connector 10 , which latching projection 27 can sink into a latching receptacle, for example in the form of a latching recess 26 , on the mating plug-in connector 20 in the inserted state.

[0045] Figure 5 The top view shows the plug connector 10 and the mating plug connector 20 shortly before they are plugged together. In particular, it can be seen that the force absorption element 22 has a force absorption surface 23 facing the plug connector 10 or the auxiliary disconnection device 1, at which the auxiliary disconnection device 1 can exert pressure via the second actuation section 32 to disconnect the plug connection. The force absorption surface 23 is delimited upward by a hold-down device 24, which can be designed, for example, as a flange that protrudes from the force absorption surface 23 toward the plug connector 10. The hold-down device 24 ensures that the second actuation section 32 does not slip off the force absorption element 22 when pressure is applied.

[0046] Figure 6The process of plugging the plug connector 10 together with the mating plug connector 20 is shown. It can be seen that the disconnection aid 1 first comes into mechanical contact with the housing 21 of the mating plug connector 20 by means of the auxiliary contour 6 and / or the support element 7 and is slightly deflected due to the inclined contour. The deflection is transmitted to the base plate 2, which is slightly deformed during the plugging process.

[0047] Figure 7 The plug connector 10 and the mating plug connector 20 are shown in a completely plugged together state. Figure 6 The deformation that occurred in the example is now eliminated again, because the auxiliary contour 6 is sunk into the Figure 4 The auxiliary separating device 1 is now arranged with the second actuating section 32 in the immediate vicinity of the force absorbing element 22 . It can also be seen that the hold-down device 24 overlaps the second fastening section 32 .

[0048] If the plug connection established in this way is to be disconnected again, i.e. the mating plug connector 20 is to be separated from the plug connector 10, an actuation force B, i.e. a pressure, can be applied to the actuation mechanism 3 at the manual actuation surface 33. The actuation mechanism 3 thus generates a pressure F in the region of the second actuation section 32, which is transmitted to the force absorption element 22 and causes the mating plug connector 20 to be pressed away from the connector 10 at a corresponding force intensity.

[0049] Reference numerals list

[0050] 1 Separation auxiliary equipment

[0051] 2 substrate

[0052] 3. Control mechanism

[0053] 4 Frame components

[0054] 5 Through opening

[0055] 6 Auxiliary contours

[0056] 7 Support elements

[0057] 8 Fastening elements

[0058] 10 Plug connector

[0059] 11 Housing of the plug connector

[0060] 12 Fastening profile

[0061] 20 Mating connectors

[0062] 21 Housing of the mating connector

[0063] 22 Force absorbing element

[0064] 23 Force absorbing surface

[0065] 24 Clamping device

[0066] 25 Edge

[0067] 26 Locking recess

[0068] 27 Locking protrusion

[0069] 28 Accommodating groove

[0070] 31 First operating section

[0071] 32 Second operating section

[0072] 33 Manual control surfaces

[0073] B. Control force

[0074] F Pressure

Claims

1. An electrical plug connector device, comprising a plug connector (10) and a mating plug connector (20), wherein the plug connector and the mating plug connector respectively have electrical plug contact elements associated with each other and are configured to be plugged together and to electrically contact the associated electrical plug contact elements in the plugged together state, wherein at least one separation auxiliary device (1) is arranged on the plug connector (10), the separation auxiliary device having an operating mechanism (3) to be manually operated, the operating mechanism having a non-movably arranged A first operating section (31) on the plug connector (10) and a second operating section (32) which is movably configured relative to the first operating section (31), the second operating section having a free end of the operating mechanism (3), wherein by manually operating the operating mechanism (3), a mating plug connector (20) plugged into the plug connector (10) can be pressed away from the plug connector (10) by means of a pressure (F) applied to the mating plug connector (20) via the second operating section (32), characterized in that: The at least one separating aid (1) has at least one frame part (4), by which at least a portion of the second actuating section (32) is overlapped.

2. The plug connector device according to claim 1, characterized in that A force absorption element (22) is present on the mating plug connector (20), in particular on the housing (21) of the mating plug connector (20), which is configured to absorb the pressure (F) applied by the second actuating section (32) when the actuating mechanism (3) is manually actuated.

3. The plug connector device according to claim 2, characterized in that The force absorption element (22) has at least one pressing device (24), and the second operating section (32) is overlapped by the pressing device in a form-fitting manner at least when the force absorption element (22) absorbs the pressure (F) applied by the second operating section (32) when the operating mechanism (3) is manually operated.

4. The plug connector device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The disconnection aid (1) is designed as a structural unit separate from the plug connector (10), which can be fixed to a housing (11) of the plug connector (10) via a fastening element (8).

5. The plug connector device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The separating aid (1) has a base plate (2) on which the actuating mechanism (3) is integrally formed with its first actuating section (31).

6. The plug connector device according to claim 5, characterized in that The frame part (4) is connected to the base plate (2) in the region of the second actuation section (32) or is integrally formed with the base plate (2).

7. The plug connector device according to any one of claims 5 to 6, characterized in that The base plate (2) and the frame part (4) together surround a through-opening (5) of the auxiliary separating device (1), and the second operating section (32) protrudes into the through-opening or the second operating section (32) passes through the through-opening.

8. The plug connector device according to claim 7, characterized in that The auxiliary separating device (1) has at least one supporting element (7), on which the second actuating section (32) can be supported at least when the actuating mechanism (3) is manually actuated.

9. The plug connector device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The separating aid (1) has at least one auxiliary contour (6) in the region of the second operating section (32), the at least one auxiliary contour being arranged on a side of the second operating section (32) facing away from the frame part (4).

10. The plug connector device according to claim 9, characterized in that The at least one auxiliary contour (6) is formed integrally with the base plate (2).

11. The plug connector device according to any one of claims 9 to 10, characterized in that The at least one auxiliary contour (6) projects from the base plate (2) on a side of the base plate (2) facing away from the actuating device (3).

12. The plug connector device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The pressure (F) for pressing the mating plug connector (20) away from the plug connector (10) can be generated by means of the operating mechanism (3) through a manual operating force (B) applied laterally to the operating mechanism (3), and at least a part of the operating mechanism (3) can be displaced toward the plug connector (10) by the manual operating force.

13. The plug connector device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The operating mechanism (3) has a manual operating surface (33) for applying a manual operating force (B) between the first operating section (31) and the second operating section (32).

14. The plug connector device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The auxiliary separation device (1) has a toggle mechanism for moving the second actuating section (32) relative to the first actuating section (31) when a manual actuating force (B) acts on the actuating mechanism (3) perpendicularly to the plug-in direction, or the auxiliary separation device is designed as such a toggle mechanism.

15. The plug connector device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The first actuating section (31) and the second actuating section (32) of the actuating device (3) are designed integrally as sections of an elastic spring web.

16. The plug connector device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The actuating device (3) is designed as an elastically deflectable curved and / or annular actuating web.

17. The plug connector device according to claim 16, characterized in that The actuating web is designed to be curved in the same curvature direction over its entire extension from the first actuating section (31) toward the second actuating section (32).

18. A disconnection aid (1) for attachment to a plug connector (10) of a plug connector arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The auxiliary separation device (1) has a fastening element (8), by means of which the auxiliary separation device (1) can be fixed to a housing (11) of the plug-in connector (10), wherein the auxiliary separation device (1) has an operating mechanism (3) to be manually operated, the operating mechanism having a first operating section (31) to be immovably arranged on the plug-in connector (10) and a second operating section (32) which is movably designed relative to the first operating section (31), the second operating section having a free end of the operating mechanism (3), wherein by manually operating the operating mechanism (3), a mating plug-in connector (20) plugged into the plug-in connector (10) can be pressed away from the plug-in connector (10) by means of a pressure (F) applied to the mating plug-in connector (20) by means of the second operating section (32), wherein the auxiliary separation device (1) has at least one frame part (4), at least a part of the second operating section (32) being overlapped by the frame part.

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