Circular plug connector with a reception for a data plug connector

Abstract

The invention relates to a system consisting of a circular plug connector and a data plug connector (6), the circular plug connector having an insulating body (1, 1 '), in which an opening (10) for receiving a contact element and at least one receiving region (13) for the data plug connector (6) or a data plug connector receptacle (15) are provided.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention is based on a system of the type according to independent claim 1, the system comprising a circular plug connector and a data plug connector.

[0002] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a circular mating connector of the type according to independent claim 9.

[0003] Circular mating connectors are used particularly in equipment connection technology. They enable the transmission of both energy and signals to machines. Background Technology

[0004] DE 203 18 593 U1 illustrates a circular plug connector in which the individual conductors of a multi-core cable are electrically contacted or connected via an insulating displacement connector.

[0005] For data transmission, delicate contact elements with small cross-sections are typically used, while for energy transmission, solid contact elements with larger cross-sections are used.

[0006] Because different contact elements are installed in the plug connector, the contact elements are limited in their application areas.

[0007] The German Patent and Trademark Office found the following prior art in the priority applications of this application: US 6,175,078B1, US 6,257,923 B1 and EP 1 830 437 A2. Summary of the Invention

[0008] The object of this invention is to provide a circular plug connector that can be flexibly and advantageously manufactured.

[0009] The objective is achieved through the subject matter of the independent claims.

[0010] Advantageous designs of the invention are described in the dependent claims and the following description.

[0011] The system according to the invention comprises a circular plug connector and a data plug connector. The circular plug connector has an insulator with an opening in the insulator for receiving a contact element. The opening is also referred to as a contact element receiving portion.

[0012] Furthermore, the insulator has at least one receiving area configured to receive a data connector or data connector socket. This means that the data connector or data connector socket can be inserted into or pushed into the receiving area and preferably locked therein.

[0013] The data connector according to the invention and the data connector socket according to the invention each have locking arms. The locking arms are adapted (and preferably originally provided for) reversibly locking the data connector according to the invention and the data connector socket according to the invention to each other in the plugged-in state. However, in the present invention, the locking arms are used to reversibly lock the data connector or the data connector socket into an insulator. Therefore, the locking arms no longer fulfill their originally intended function, namely, locking the plugged-in connection between the data connector and the data connector socket.

[0014] The locking of the mating connection between the circular plug connector and its corresponding mating plug connector is achieved by a locking clamp on the housing of the circular plug connector. Thus, the locking clamp also functions as the locking arm originally provided for this purpose in the data plug connection section.

[0015] Preferably, in the pushed-in or fixed state, the data connector is flush with the insulator on the mating side. This, in particular, ensures good guidance during mating with the mating connector.

[0016] Advantageously, in the pushed-in state, the data connector socket protrudes axially from the insulator on the mating side. This creates an introduction area for the mating connector.

[0017] Preferably, the receiving area of ​​the insulator has at least one locking edge, at which the locking arm of the data connector or the data connector socket locks. The locking edge is preferably compatible with the locking arm of a commercially available data connector.

[0018] Preferably, the insulator is substantially cylindrical and has a substantially circular cross-section.

[0019] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the data connector is an RJ45 connector, and the data connector socket is an RJ45 connector socket.

[0020] Advantageously, this invention relates to commercially available RJ45 connectors and / or commercially available data connector sockets. "Commercially available" in this context means that such connectors are well-known and available from various manufacturers. The RJ45 connectors and RJ45 connector sockets are compatible and have the same locking mechanism. Thus, the invention allows the use of data connectors from different manufacturers and optionally their combination with each other.

[0021] Preferably, the insulator is constructed in one piece. Thus, the insulator can be cost-effectively made of plastic in an injection molding process.

[0022] Furthermore, it is advantageous that the receiving area of ​​the insulator has at least one push-in edge, which limits the insertion depth of the data connector or data connector socket into the insulator. This simplifies the assembly of the data connector into the insulator.

[0023] Preferably, the locking arm of the data connector is made of plastic and directly molded onto the data connector. Advantageously, the locking arm in the data connector socket is formed of a metal plate that bends outward from a stamped and bent part surrounding the data connector socket. Both of these locking arm variations are available in commercially available data connectors, eliminating the need for special configurations.

[0024] Regardless of the system described above, the circular plug connector according to the invention has an insulator that has an opening for receiving a contact element and exactly one receiving area for a data plug connector. The data plug connector can be implemented as described above. The insulator according to the invention can also have a receiving area for a data plug connector, as implemented in the system described above. Attached Figure Description

[0025] Embodiments of the present invention are shown in the accompanying drawings and will be described in detail below. The drawings show:

[0026] Figure 1 A perspective view of a commercially available RJ45 connector is shown.

[0027] Figure 2 A perspective view of an insulator according to the invention is shown, the insulator having a receiving area for a data connector socket.

[0028] Figure 3 A perspective view of an insulator according to the invention is shown, the insulator having a receiving area for a data connector socket.

[0029] Figure 4 A perspective view showing the RJ45 connector socket with insulator and locking mechanism inside, and

[0030] Figure 5 A perspective view of an RJ45 type plug connector with an insulator and a locking mechanism is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0031] The accompanying drawings contain some simplified, schematic illustrations. Partially, the same reference numerals are used for the same, but possibly not identical, elements. Different views of the same elements can be scaled differently. Directional designations such as "left," "right," "up," and "down" should be understood with reference to the corresponding drawings and can be changed relative to the objects shown in the various illustrations.

[0032] Figure 1 A commercially available data connector 6 is shown, which in this embodiment is generally referred to as an RJ45 connector. The RJ45 connector has contact elements for data transmission. These contact elements connect to the individual wires of the multi-core cable 19. This RJ45 connector is particularly used for data transmission in computer networks.

[0033] The RJ45 connector has a locking arm 7, which allows it to lock into a commercially available RJ45 connector socket. The RJ45 connector also has an unlocking lever 11, through which the locking arm 7 is disengaged from its locking connection, allowing the RJ45 connector to be pulled out of the RJ45 connector socket. The unlocking lever 11 partially covers the locking arm 7. Pressing the locking arm 7 downwards with the unlocking lever 11 disengages the locking connection between the RJ45 connector and the RJ45 connector socket.

[0034] exist Figure 2 A three-dimensional view of insulator 1 can be seen, and the RJ45 connector socket 15 can be locked into the insulator. The RJ45 connector socket 15 is pushed into insulator 1 along the pushing direction E. In the locked state, Figure 4 The system can be seen as consisting of insulator 1 and RJ45 type plug connector socket 15.

[0035] exist Figure 3 A three-dimensional view of insulator 1' can be seen, and RJ45 connector 6 can be locked into the insulator. RJ45 connector 6 is pushed into insulator 1' along the pushing direction E. In the locked state, Figure 5 The system can be seen as consisting of insulator 1' and RJ45 type plug connector 6.

[0036] In the sense of the invention, the unlocking lever 11 can be used to disengage the RJ45 connector 6 or the RJ45 connector socket from its locking with the insulators 1, 1'.

[0037] Insulators 1 and 1' have openings 10 in which contact elements (not shown) for energy transfer are disposed. A circular plug connector for energy and data transfer can be used by combining the contact elements for energy transfer with a commercially available data plug connector 6 or data plug connector socket 15.

[0038] Insulators 1 and 1' have receiving areas 13 into which a commercially available RJ45 connector 6 or a commercially available RJ45 connector socket 15 can be pushed in the pushing direction E. The pushing depth is limited by a pushing edge 14 provided on the plugging side. When the RJ45 connector or RJ45 connector socket collides with the pushing edge 14, the locking arm 7 of the RJ45 connector locks into the locking edge 12 or locking opening 16 of the insulators 1 and 1'.

[0039] The RJ45 type plug connector socket 15 has a housing manufactured by a stamping and bending method. The housing also has a locking arm 7' that engages in a corresponding locking opening 16 of the insulator 1.

[0040] An insulator 1 for accommodating an RJ45 connector socket 15 has an outer groove 2, which allows the insulator to be secured in the connector housing (not shown). An outer tab 3 serves as a guide for pushing the insulator 1, 1' into the connector housing.

[0041] Even though different aspects or features of the invention are shown in combination in the accompanying drawings, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art (unless otherwise stated) that the shown and discussed combinations are not the only feasible combinations. In particular, corresponding sets of units or features in different embodiments can be interchanged with each other.

[0042] List of reference numerals

[0043] 1 Insulator

[0044] 2 slots

[0045] 3-piece splicing

[0046] 4-

[0047] 5-

[0048] 6 Data Connector

[0049] 7-card locking arm

[0050] 8-

[0051] 9-

[0052] 10 openings

[0053] 11 Unlock lever

[0054] 12-card locking edge

[0055] 13 Accommodation Area

[0056] 14. Push into the edge

[0057] 15 Data Connector Ports

[0058] 16-card lock opening

[0059] 17-

[0060] 18-

[0061] 19 cable

[0062] E Push-in Direction

Claims

1. A system comprising a circular plug connector and a data plug connector (6), The circular plug connector has an insulator (1, 1') in which an opening (10) for receiving a contact element and at least one receiving area (13) for a data plug connector (6) or a data plug connector socket (15) are provided.

2. The system according to claim 1, Its features are, The data connector (6) and the data connector socket (15) each have locking arms (7, 7'), and the data connector (6) or the data connector socket (15) can be reversibly locked in the receiving area of ​​the insulator (1, 1') by means of the locking arms.

3. The system according to the preceding claim, Its features are, At least one locking edge (12) is provided in the receiving area (13) of the insulator (1'), and the locking arm (7) of the data plug connector (6) locks at the locking edge.

4. The system according to claim 2, Its features are, A locking opening (16) is provided in the receiving area (13) of the insulator (1), and the locking arm (7') of the data plug connector socket (15) locks at the locking opening.

5. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, Its features are, In the inserted state, the data connector (6) is flush with the insulator (1') on the insertion side.

6. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, Its features are, In the inserted state, the data connector socket (15) protrudes axially from the insulator (1) on the insertion side.

7. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, Its features are, The data connector (6) is an RJ45 connector, and / or the data connector socket (15) is an RJ45 connector socket.

8. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, Its features are, The data connector (6) is a commercially available RJ45 connector, and / or the data connector socket (15) is a commercially available RJ45 connector socket.

9. A circular plug connector having an insulator (1, 1') having an opening (10) for receiving a contact element and exactly one receiving area (13) for a data plug connector (6).

10. The circular plug connector according to claim 9. Its features are, The data connector (6) is an RJ45 connector.

11. The circular plug connector according to claim 9, Its features are, The data connector socket (15) is an RJ45 type connector socket.

12. The circular plug connector according to any one of the preceding three claims, Its features are, The insulator (1, 1') is substantially cylindrical in shape and has a substantially circular cross-section.

13. The circular plug connector according to any one of the preceding four claims, Its features are, The insulator (1, 1') is constructed as a single piece.

14. The circular plug connector according to any one of the preceding four claims, Its features are, At least one push-in edge (14) is provided in the receiving area (13) of the insulator (1, 1'), the push-in edge defining the push-in depth of the data connector (6) or the data connector socket (15).

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