Housing assembly for an electrical or electronic component

Abstract

The invention relates to a housing assembly comprising housings which are arranged next to one another in an arrangement mounting direction and are connected to one another, each housing having a receiving space in which an electrical and / or electronic component is arranged, the respective housings are each designed in the form of a disc and have two aligned mounting walls and a plurality of narrow sides, and the adjacent housings of the housing assembly are connected to one another by means of latching connections, the latching connections of at least the intermediate housing of the housing assembly each having a latching arm, the latching arm extends from the connection region of the latching arm to the respective housing, at one of the narrow sides, initially parallel to the narrow sides in the arm region, the latching arm further has a projection extending in the arrangement direction, the projection at least partially overlapping the adjacent housing in the arrangement direction, and the projection has a first latching means, and the second locking device is used for being locked at the corresponding second locking device of the adjacent shell arranged and installed.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a housing assembly according to the preamble of claim 1 and a (circuit board) plug-in connector or a terminal arrangement having such a housing assembly. Background Art

[0002] Such housing assemblies consisting of alignable housings are known in various embodiments. For many of these housings, the installation space available in the housing, which is particularly narrow and small in the aligning direction, is not always sufficient to produce a sufficiently load-bearing and practically manipulable latching connection for the fixed connection of the housing in the case of conventional latching hook connections. In this regard, further optimization of the housing is desirable. Summary of the invention

[0003] The solution of this problem is the object of the present invention.

[0004] This object is achieved with a housing assembly according to claim 1 .

[0005] According to the features of claim 1, the housing assembly comprises at least two or more housings arranged next to each other in the arrangement and installation direction and connected to each other, the housings each comprising at least one receiving space in which one or more electrical and / or electronic components are arranged, wherein the respective housings are each designed in the form of a disk and have two arrangement and installation walls and a plurality of narrow sides, and the adjacent housings of the housing assembly are connected to each other by means of at least one or more latching connections. In this case, the respective latching connections of at least the intermediate housings of the housing assembly each comprise at least one latching arm, which extends from the connection region in which it is connected to the respective housing at one of the narrow sides initially in the arm region parallel to the narrow side, and the arm region further comprises a projection extending in the arrangement and installation direction, the projection at least partially overlapping the adjacent housing in the arrangement and installation direction, and the projection comprises a first latching device for latching to a corresponding second latching device of the adjacent arranged housing.

[0006] It is particularly advantageous that the latching arm can be designed so that it is longer than if it or the other deflectable latching hook only extends in the alignment direction. It is possible to deflect the latching arm relatively far during latching, which simplifies latching. In addition, despite this design, a relatively high holding force of the latching connection is achieved without requiring a particularly large amount of installation space in the corresponding housing in the alignment direction. Accordingly, despite the high holding force, a housing that is narrow in the alignment direction can be achieved.

[0007] In particular, the latch arm is designed to be longer than the width of the housing in the arrangement installation direction from the connection area to the latch opening. In this way, the latch arm can be lifted far enough to reliably act on the relatively high latch hook of the corresponding adjacent housing from behind.

[0008] According to a particularly advantageous design, it can be provided that the projection as the first latching means has a latching opening, in particular a latching opening which is designed in the form of a window, so that the latching opening completely passes through the projection. It can then be further advantageously provided that the second latching means of the corresponding adjacent housing is designed as a protruding latching hook which is designed immovably on the narrow side of the housing, on which a latching arm is also designed in each case. In a latching means design of this type, the long length of the latching arm acts particularly advantageously.

[0009] According to another design solution, it can be optionally arranged that the corresponding latching hook has an inclined portion and a latching edge, wherein the inclined portion is used to lift the latching arm of the corresponding adjacent housing when the housings are pushed together, and the latching opening can be latched at the latching edge. In this way, the housings can be manually latched to each other simply by pushing or plugging together, without the need for a latching tool. Optionally or alternatively, the protrusion can also have a lateral inclined portion, which makes it easier to lift the protrusion when it hits the latching hook of the adjacent housing.

[0010] According to a particularly advantageous and in this case particularly vibration-resistant embodiment, it can further be provided that the respective latching arm, starting from the connection region to the latching opening, is designed to be longer than a grid width of the housing in the row installation direction.

[0011] Optionally, it can be further configured that the housing assembly has one or more additional differently constructed latching hook connections between adjacent housings, and / or that the housing assembly has one or more pin connections between housings arranged next to each other that preferably serve a centering function and preferably also a clamping function.

[0012] In particular, it is possible in this way to have a plug connector or a terminal block respectively with a housing component according to one of the preceding claims.

[0013] Further advantageous embodiments of the invention can be gathered from the remaining dependent claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] In the following, the present invention is described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the accompanying drawings:

[0015] Figure 1a to Figure 1b:exist Figure 1a , a spatial view of a plug-in connection is shown, the plug-in connection having a first plug-in connector and a corresponding second plug-in connector, the first plug-in connector having an exemplary housing assembly, the housing assembly consisting of at least two or more, here four, housings arranged next to each other in the arrangement and installation direction and connected to each other, the housings being closed toward one side by a cover plate, the first plug-in connector being plugged together with the second plug-in connector, and Figure 1b Shown in Figure 1a A top view of the housing assembly in FIG.

[0016] Figure 2a to Figure 2h :exist Figure 2a Before the shells are combined into a composite structure Figure 1a A three-dimensional view of the two individual intermediate housings of the housing assembly of the first plug connector, Figure 2b Shown in Figure 2a A top view of the components in Figure 2c The diagram corresponds to the plane perpendicular to the paper and perpendicular to Figure 2b The line FF in the plane Figure 2a The view of the component in , and in Figure 2d Shown in Figure 2c A partial enlargement of region D in Figure 2e , Figure 2f , Figure 2g and Figure 2h Shown in Figure 2a , Figure 2b , Figure 2c and Figure 2d The corresponding figures, however, show the state in which the two housings are completely connected to one another, Figure 2e This shows Figure 2g The enlarged detail in E; and

[0017] Figure 3a to Figure 3l :exist Figure 3a Before being combined into a composite structure Figure 1a A spatial view of a housing and a cover plate of a housing assembly of a first plug connector in; and the housing and the cover plate are further spaced apart from each other and do not contact each other; Figure 3b Shown in Figure 3a A top view of the components in Figure 3c Shown in Figure 3a A side view of the components in Figure 3d , Figure 3e and Figure 3f Shown in Figure 3a , Figure 3b and Figure 3cThe corresponding figures, however, show a state in which the housing and the cover plate are already in contact with each other but are not yet completely connected to each other. Figure 3g , Figure 3h and Figure 3i Shown in Figure 3a , Figure 3b and Figure 3c The corresponding figures, however, show the state in which the housing and the cover plate are already completely connected to one another; Figure 3j Shown in Figure 3f A local enlargement of area A in Figure 3k Shown in Figure 3i A partial enlargement of region B in Figure 3l A perspective view of the region of the cover plate on the right side is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] The terms used hereinafter, such as "upper", "lower", "right", "left", "horizontal" or "vertical", refer to the representation of the corresponding drawings. Figure 1a The coordinate systems in are used for further orientation. In case of other orientations in space, the coordinate systems move together.

[0019] FIG1 shows a plug connection 100 having a first plug connector 101 and a second plug connector 102. The first plug connector 101 can have, for example, a connection contact 103 for connection to a printed circuit board (which is designed here as a 90° soldering pin by way of example). The second plug connector 102 can have, for example, one or more connection contacts for connecting conductor ends (not visible here).

[0020] The two plug connectors 101, 102 have corresponding plug face portions with corresponding plug contacts that can be plugged together. Such a plug connection 100 is known per se from its basic function and therefore does not need to be further explained or shown here.

[0021] Of particular interest is the disk-shaped structure of the second plug connector 102 .

[0022] The second plug connector 102 has a housing assembly 1, which is composed of a plurality of housings 2a-2d arranged next to each other and an optional cover plate 2e. The housing assembly 1 here exemplarily has four housings 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d and a cover plate 2e. The housing assembly 1 can also be composed of other numbers of housings 2. It preferably has at least two housings 2. The housing 2 is preferably made of insulating plastic.

[0023] The housings 2a to 2d can be designed as housings 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d for receiving electrical and / or electronic components. The lateral, here right-hand, cover plate 2e has no such components and serves only as a lateral cover for the housing 2d.

[0024] The housing 2 b has a first side wall (which is a first array mounting wall 21 in the intermediate housing) and a second side wall (which may be a second array mounting wall 22 ).

[0025] In the aligned installation state, the first aligned installation walls 21 are respectively in contact with the opposite aligned installation walls 22 of the adjacent housing 2c.

[0026] The second array mounting walls 22 may respectively have housing openings 221 ( Figure 3a , Figure 3b In this respect, the first arrangement installation wall 21 of the housing 2b to be arranged and installed, preferably the more closed arrangement installation wall, also acts as a cover part of the housing opening 221 of the adjacent, already arranged housing 2a. Thus, a closed receiving space can be formed by two adjacent housings 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d arranged next to each other (see also Figure 2b , Figure 2d , Figure 2f ).

[0027] In the housing assembly 1 of the housings 2a and 2b installed in an arranged manner, the last housing 2d installed in an arranged manner (see Figure 3a ) can be covered by a covering plate 2e.

[0028] Due to this structural mode of the housings 2a, 2b, ..., a narrow structural mode of the individual housings 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d with a grid width d is produced ( Figure 1b ), so that in FIG. 1 , in the arrangement and installation direction X relative to the coordinate system X, Y, Z, relatively more shells 2a, 2b, ... can be arranged and installed "per unit length".

[0029] As shown, the housings 2a, 2b, ... can be implemented as plug-in connector housings for plug-in connectors 102 that are plugged together in a disk-like or modular manner. However, for example, they can also be implemented as terminal housings. It is advantageous for the corresponding housings 2a, 2b, ... to be arranged and installed to form a composite structure of housings 2a, 2b, ... that are at least connected to each other in a latching manner. The housings 2a, 2b, ... can also be connected to each other in a clamping manner.

[0030] In addition to the main housing side walls 21 and 22 , the housing 2 a - 2 d also has one or more—here four—narrow sides 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 .

[0031] If the housing 2a, 2b, 2c, ... is constructed as a plug connector housing, the housing can have at least one or more conductor connection contacts (not shown in detail here) on one narrow side 23 and preferably at least one or more plug contacts (also not shown in detail here) on the opposite narrow side 25, which can be conductively connected to each other in the corresponding housing.

[0032] In order to connect the housings 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d in the aligned installation state to each other to form the housing assembly 1, corresponding connecting means are provided on the housings 2b, 2c, 2d in any case, and the connecting means have at least one first latching connection, and the first latching connection has corresponding latching means. These corresponding latching means can together form the first latching hook connection 3.

[0033] In order to realize the first latch hook connection 3, the corresponding housing 2c can have at least one spring-elastically deflectable latch arm 31 with a latch opening 314 as a first latch device, and the other housing 2b installed next to it can have at least one fixed protrusion-shaped latch hook 32 as a corresponding second latch device on the same narrow side 24 as the latch arm 31, and the latch hook corresponds to the latch arm 31 with the latch opening 314 ( Figure 2a , Figure 3a ).

[0034] The corresponding latching hook 32 may have an inclined portion 321 and a latching edge 322 .

[0035] The first housing 2a and the cover plate 2e of the housing assembly can also each have only one of these latching means. Thus, the first housing 2a of the housing assembly 1 can have only a latching hook 32, and the last housing 2e can have only one latching arm 31', wherein the latching arm 31' is designed differently from the other latching arms 31.

[0036] The spring-elastically deflectable latching arm 31 of the housing 2 b , 2 c , 2 d is formed on one of the narrow sides 23 - 26 of the housing 2 b , 2 c , 2 d , 2 e .

[0037] The spring-elastically deflectable latching arms 31 of the housing 2 b , 2 c , 2 d can preferably be formed on one of the two narrow sides 24 , 26 , on which no conductor connections and plug contacts are formed.

[0038] The spring-elastically deflectable latching arms 31 of the housing 2 b , 2 c , 2 d are preferably formed on the upper narrow side 24 of the housing 2 b , 2 c , 2 d in FIG. 1 .

[0039] The latching arm 31 can be connected in one piece to the rest of the housing in the connecting region 311 .

[0040] Starting from this connection region 311, the latching arm 31 first extends in a first arm region 312, at least in the intermediate housing 2b, 2c, 2d, parallel to the narrow side 24 and above it in a direction perpendicular to the alignment direction X. The latching arm 31 then has a projection 313 (as a second arm region) extending substantially in the alignment direction or counter to the alignment direction, in which a latching opening 314 is formed.

[0041] The spring-elastically deflectable latch arm 31 has a relatively large length perpendicular to the arrangement and installation direction X from its connection area 311 to the end of the projection 312, and can therefore be deflected relatively far in the Z direction "upward" or away from the housing 2b, 2c, ... When the adjacent housings (e.g. 2b, 2c) of the housing assembly are plugged together, when it hits the latch hook 32, it can be deflected relatively far by sliding along the inclined portion 321 of the latch hook 32 with its lateral edge until it finally slides onto the latch hook 32 with the latch opening 314 and is securely latched on the latch hook.

[0042] It is particularly advantageous that the latching arm 31 can be designed to be longer than in the case where it extends only in the alignment direction or other deflectable latching hooks 31 extend only in the alignment direction. In particular, it is possible that the latching arm 31 is designed to be longer from the connection area 311 to the latching opening 314 than the grid width d of the housing 2 in the alignment direction (see Figure 1b , Figure 2c and Figure 2g ).

[0043] The projection 313 can extend in the arrangement installation direction x approximately over half the width of the narrow side 24 of the housing. In this regard, the latch arm 31 preferably has a recess 315 (see Figure 1a ), when the housings 2 arranged next to each other are arranged next to each other and plugged together, the protrusions 313 of the correspondingly arranged and installed housings 2 can respectively engage in the recessed portions. In the corresponding other half of the housing narrow side 24, the corresponding latching hook 32 at the narrow side 24 can be constructed as a protrusion.

[0044] One or more optional further—also differently designed—detent hook connections 4 can support the fixing of adjacent housings 2 a , 2 b .

[0045] Furthermore, optionally, one or more pin connections 5 (see for example) which preferably have a centering effect and preferably also a clamping effect can be provided between the housings 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d arranged adjacent to each other. Figure 2f ).

[0046] In order to realize another locking hook connection part 4, the corresponding first arrangement mounting wall 21 of the corresponding shell 2b can have at least one locking hook 41 extending from the first arrangement mounting wall as a first locking device, and the second arrangement mounting wall 22 of the corresponding next shell 2c can have at least one locking opening 42 corresponding to the locking hook 12 as a corresponding second locking device, and the locking opening has a locking side recess.

[0047] And in order to realize the clamping connection 5, the corresponding first array mounting wall 21 of the corresponding housing 2b can have at least one clamping pin 51 extending from the first array mounting wall as a first clamping device, and the second array mounting wall 22 of the corresponding next housing 2c can have at least one clamping opening 52 corresponding to the clamping pin 51 as a corresponding second clamping device (see Figure 2a , Figure 2e , Figure 3a ).

[0048] The latching arms 31' of the optional cover plate 2e can transition from the base plate region 2e via a 180° bend and a connecting region 311' into a projection 313 in which a further latching opening 314 is provided. The 180° bend makes it possible in a simple manner to ensure that the latching hook 31 still has a sufficient length so that it can easily latch onto the latching hook 32 of the corresponding adjacent housing 2d (see Figure 3a to Figure 3l ).

[0049] It can also be provided that the housing 2 of the housing assembly 1 has one of the latching connections 3 on the opposite narrow sides. Figure 2a and Figure 3a . In this way, the housings 2 of the housing assembly 1 are particularly reliably connected to one another. The first housing 2a, the "middle" housings 2b to 2d and the lateral cover plates 2e then preferably have "identical" latching arms 31, 31' and latching hooks 32 at the top and bottom of the narrow sides 24 and 26, preferably quasi-symmetrically to the center plane. In this regard, one or more or all of the features of the "upper" latching connection 3 at the housing 2 can also be implemented in addition at the lower narrow side 26 of the housing 2.

[0050] FIGS. 1 to 3 provide a housing assembly 1 in which at least one latching hook connection 3 of the housings 2a, 2b arranged next to each other is designed to be particularly easy to latch and still very reliable. It should be noted that not all features in the figures must be implemented in every embodiment. Thus, the cover plate 2e is optional and the latching arm 31 and the latching hook 32 can also be designed geometrically differently than shown. Thus, the inclined edge 316 can be omitted. Other geometric changes can be implemented without leaving the scope of protection of the claims.

[0051] Reference numerals list

[0052] 1 Shell assembly

[0053] 100 plug-in connector

[0054] 101 first plug connector

[0055] 102 second plug connector

[0056] 2. 2a-d housing

[0057] 2e Cover Plate

[0058] 21 rows of mounting wall

[0059] 22 rows of mounting wall

[0060] 221 Shell opening

[0061] 23-26 narrow side

[0062] 3-Card lock hook connection

[0063] 31, 31' locking arm

[0064] 311, 311 connection area

[0065] 312 Arm Area

[0066] 313 protrusion

[0067] 314 card lock opening

[0068] 315 blank space

[0069] 316 Edge

[0070] 32 card lock hook

[0071] 321 inclined part

[0072] 322 card lock edge

[0073] 4-Card lock hook connection

[0074] 41 card lock hook

[0075] 42 card lock opening

[0076] 5 Clamping connection

[0077] 51 Clamping pin

[0078] 52 Clamping space

[0079] dGrid width

Claims

1. A housing assembly (1), comprising at least two or more housings (2) arranged adjacent to each other in an arrangement and installation direction (x) and connected to each other, each of the housings having at least one receiving space, in which one or more electrical and / or electronic components are arranged, wherein: The corresponding housings (2) are respectively designed in a disc shape and have two arrangement installation walls (4, 5) and multiple narrow sides, and the adjacent housings (2) of the housing assembly (1) are connected to each other using at least one or more latching connections (3), characterized in that the corresponding latching connections (3) of at least the middle housing of the housing assembly (1) respectively have at least one latching arm (31), and the latching arm extends from a connection area (311) where it is connected to the corresponding housing (2) at one of the narrow sides (24, 26) in an arm area (312) initially parallel to the narrow sides (24, 26), wherein the latching arm (31) also has a protrusion (313) extending in the arrangement installation direction (x), the protrusion at least partially overlapping the adjacent housing in the arrangement installation direction (x), and the protrusion has a first latching device, which is used to latch at a corresponding second latching device of the adjacent arranged housing (2).

2. The housing assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: The protrusion (313) as the first locking device has a locking opening (314).

3. The housing assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that: The latching opening (314) is designed in a window-like manner, so that it completely passes through the projection (313).

4. A housing assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that The second latching means of the respective latching connection (3) is designed as a projection-shaped and immovable latching hook (32) formed on the housing (2) on narrow sides (24, 26), on which latching arms (31) are also formed in each case.

5. The housing assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that: The corresponding latching hook (32) has an inclined portion (321) and a latching edge (322), wherein the inclined portion is used to lift the latching arm (31) of the corresponding adjacent housing when the housings (2) are pushed together, and the latching opening (314) can be latched at the latching edge.

6. The housing assembly according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that: The protrusion (313) has a lateral inclined portion, which facilitates lifting of the protrusion (313) when adjacent housings (2) of the housing assembly (1) are pushed together.

7. The housing assembly according to any one of the preceding claims 3 to 6, characterized in that The latching arm (31) is designed to be longer from the connection area (311) to the latching opening (314) than a grid width (d) of the housing (2) of the housing assembly (1) in the arrangement installation direction.

8. A housing assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that At least the intermediate housing (2) of the housing assembly has one of the latching connections (3) on opposite narrow sides (24, 26).

9. A housing assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that The housing component is closed toward one side by a cover plate (2e), on which a latching hook (31') is formed, which can be latched to one of the projection-shaped latching hooks (32) of a housing (2d) on which the cover plate (2e) is attached.

10. A housing assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that The first housing (2a) of the housing assembly does not have a latching arm (31), but has one of the projection-shaped latching hooks (32).

11. A housing assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that The housing assembly has one or more further differently constructed latching hook connections (4) between adjacent housings (2) and / or the housing assembly has one or more preferably centering and preferably also clamping pin connections (5) between housings (2) arranged next to one another. 12 . A plug connector having a housing assembly according to claim 1 .

13. An array terminal having a housing assembly according to any one of the preceding claims.

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