Arrangement of a functional component on a connector housing and method for connecting a functional component to a connector housing

Abstract

Arrangement of a functional component (9, 13, 15) on a plug connector housing (1) for electrical or light-conducting contact elements, wherein a receiving component (2) which fixes the functional component (9, 13, 15) in a form-fitting manner is fastened to the plug connector housing (1) in a material-to-material manner, characterized in that the receiving component (2) has a receiving opening (8) for the form-fitting reception of the functional component (9, 13, 15), wherein the functional component (9, 13, 15) is designed as a chip, shielding plate or strain relief, wherein the receiving component (2) is designed in at least two parts, wherein the functional component (13, 15) is held in a form-fitting manner between a first component element (3) and a second component element (4), wherein the first component element (3) of the receiving component (2) has fastening pins (10) which pass through a recess (14) in the functional component (13, 15) into the second component element (4).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an arrangement of a functional component on a connector housing according to the preamble of claim 1 and to a method for connecting a functional component to a connector housing according to the preamble of claim 9.

[0002] In order to secure functional components such as a shielding plate or strain relief or the like, it is known from the prior art to mold corresponding connecting elements such as clamping parts, locking parts or the like onto the connector housing for these functional components. On the one hand, this requires the formation of special adapter elements for attaching different functional components to the connector housing, as is known, for example, from EP 1 059 694 A2 or GB 2479419 A. Secondly, the attachment of the functional components to the connector housing is generally associated with a tensile or compressive load on the connector housing or with a deformation of at least part of the connector housing, so that there is a risk that contact elements attached to or plugged into the connector housing could become loose during assembly of the functional component and thus impair the functionality of the component.

[0003] From DE 200 20 371 U1, a cable harness connector with a housing and a translucent cover covering a portion of the housing for covering a sensor element installed in the housing is known, in which the cover is friction-welded to the housing to replace a seal and thus to protect the sensor element installed underneath in the housing.

[0004] Against this background, it is the object of the present invention to provide an arrangement of a functional component in a connector housing and a method for connecting a functional component to a connector housing, with which a plurality of different functional components can be attached to the connector housing in a simple manner without endangering the functionality of the component.

[0005] This object is achieved by an arrangement of a functional component on a connector housing having the features of claim 1 and by a method having the features of claim 9.

[0006] The arrangement according to the invention of a functional component on a connector housing for electrical or light-conducting contact elements has a receiving component that fixes the functional component in a form-fitting manner and is fastened to the connector housing in a material-locking manner and is characterized in that the receiving component has a receiving opening for the form-fitting reception of the functional component.

[0007] This makes it possible, as is also claimed in the method according to the invention, that before the functional component is bonded to the connector housing, the functional component is first fixed in a receiving opening of a receiving component which receives the functional component in a form-fitting manner and then the receiving component with the functional component fixed thereto is fastened to the connector housing in a materially bonded manner.

[0008] In addition, such an arrangement also allows a simple and uniform design of a connector housing without having to provide corresponding connection recesses or clamping parts by means of which the functional component could be fixed to the connector housing.

[0009] The receiving opening which receives the functional component in a form-fitting manner enables a simple possibility of securing the functional component to the receiving component, so that, for example, a functional component in the form of a chip, for example an RFID chip, can be inserted into a receiving opening provided for this purpose and designed as a recess, so that after the chip has been inserted into the recess, the receiving component can then be secured to the connector housing in a materially bonded manner, for example by gluing or welding, in particular ultrasonic welding.

[0010] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the subclaims.

[0011] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the receiving component is formed in at least two parts, wherein the functional component, for example in the form of a shielding plate or a strain relief, is held in a form-fitting manner between the first component element and the second component element.

[0012] The positive holding is carried out in particular by means of fastening pins which are formed on the first component element of the receiving component and which protrude through corresponding recesses, in particular bores in the functional component, into corresponding recesses in the second component element, so that during assembly the functional component is first inserted between the component elements and then the receiving component is fastened to the connector housing in a material-to-material manner.

[0013] Particularly preferably, the fastening pins extend through the second component element and, when assembled, touch the connector housing with their free ends. These ends of the fastening pins are then particularly preferably connected to the connector housing by adhesive bonding or welding, in particular ultrasonic welding.

[0014] Preferred embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0015] They show: Fig. 1 a perspective exploded view of a connector housing and a receiving component accommodating a functional component prior to assembly, Fig. 2 a side sectional view through the arrangement according to Fig. 1, Fig. 3 one of the Fig. 1 corresponding perspective exploded view of the arrangement with the functional component inserted into the receiving component, Fig. 4 one of the Fig. 2 corresponding side section view, Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the receiving component of the arrangement prior to assembly and Fig. 6a to d perspective views of the arrangement to illustrate the individual process steps for connecting the components to one another.

[0016] In the following description of the figures, terms such as top, bottom, left, right, front, rear, etc., refer exclusively to the exemplary representation and position of the connector housing, functional component, receiving component, fastening pins, and the like chosen in the respective figures. These terms are not to be understood as limiting; i.e., these references may change due to different operating positions or the mirror-symmetrical design, etc.

[0017] In the Fig. 1 shows a connector housing 1, as well as a receiving component 2, preferably consisting of a first component element 3 and a second component element 4, which serves to receive a functional component 9, 13, 15 and which, after receiving or fixing the functional component 9, 13, 15, is firmly attached to the connector housing 1.

[0018] In the Fig. 1 to 4, the functional component 9, for example a chip, for example an RFID chip, is inserted into a receiving opening 8, into which the functional component 9 is inserted from a top side, ie the side of the second component element 4, which is placed against the underside of the connector housing 1. The receiving opening 8 is designed as a pocket, as is also shown in the sectional view in Fig. 2 can be seen.

[0019] This second component element 4 further comprises a plurality of recesses 7, here in the form of cylindrical bores, through which corresponding fastening pins 10 of the first component element 3 can be inserted. The first component element 3 essentially consists of a base plate 11 from which a plurality of fastening pins 10 protrude vertically.

[0020] The length of these fastening pins 10 is preferably dimensioned such that the free ends 12 of the fastening pins 10 protrude through the second component element 4. After assembling the first component element 3 and the second component element 4 and placing the functional component 9 in the second component element 4, the free ends 12 of the fastening pins 10 are firmly attached to the underside of the connector housing 1, for example by gluing or welding, in particular by ultrasonic welding, so that the functional component 9, with the aid of the receiving component 2, together with the connector housing form a firmly connected arrangement.

[0021] The connector housing 1 is preferably made of a plastic. The side of the connector housing 1 referred to here as the underside refers only to the orientation shown here according to the Fig. 1 to 6.

[0022] This underside of the connector housing 1 can be flat, preferably these undersides of the connector housing and the upper side of the second component element opposite thereto have respective surface sections 5, 6 which are provided with respective contours, so that the surface sections 5, 6 form a positive connection at least in one direction x when the components 1, 2 are in contact with one another.

[0023] It is also conceivable to form the receiving component 2 in one piece with a receiving opening 8 designed here as a pocket, so that the receiving component 2 is simply pressed onto the corresponding side of the connector housing 1 after the functional component 9 has been inserted and, for example, glued.

[0024] In the Fig. 3 and Fig. 4, the receiving opening 8 in the second component element 4 is designed as a through opening, as shown in Fig. 4 can be seen. When assembling the arrangement, the first component element 3 is first connected to the second component element 4, here plugged in. Subsequently, the functional component 9 is inserted into the receiving opening 8, and finally, the assembled receiving component 2 is firmly attached to the connector housing 1.

[0025] In the Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 shows an alternative embodiment of an arrangement according to the invention. The receiving component 2 is again formed in two parts, comprising a first component element 3 and a second component element 4, as well as fastening pins 10 that protrude vertically from the base plate 11 of the first component element. The functional component 13 or 15 ( Fig. 6a to d) is a flat component such as a strain relief ( Fig. 5) or a shielding plate ( Fig. 6a to 6d) are provided for strain relief of cable connections plugged into the connector housing 1. The cables leading from the connector are bundled and secured to the strain relief using cable ties, for example.

[0026] This functional component 13, 15 has recesses 14 corresponding to the arrangement of the fastening pins 10 on the base plate 11 of the first component element 3. When assembling the arrangement, as shown by way of example in the Fig. 6a to d, first the functional component 13, 15 is placed on the first component element 3, whereby the fastening pins 10 protrude through the recesses 14 ( Fig. 6b).

[0027] Subsequently, the second component element 4 is placed on the fastening pins 10 until the functional component 13, 15 is clamped between the component elements 3, 4 and the free ends 12 of the fastening pins 10 protrude from the side of the second component element 4 facing the connector housing 1, as shown in Fig. 6c is shown.

[0028] Finally, the connector housing 1 is placed on the already assembled arrangement of receiving component and functional component 13, 15 and then glued or preferably welded, in particular ultrasonically welded, thus creating a firm connection between the functional component 13, 15 and the connector housing 1.

[0029] In the arrangement variant according to Fig. 1 to 4, the receiving opening 8 is preferably provided in an area between the fastening pins 10.

[0030] It is also conceivable, however, to provide several receiving openings on the surface of the second component element 4, which are arranged between or next to the recesses 7. It is of course also conceivable, provided that the function of the functional component is not impaired thereby, to provide a receiving opening 8 in the region of a recess 7, wherein then at least one of the fastening pins 10 again projects through the functional component, as is the case, for example, with the functional components 13, 15 according to the Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 is possible.

[0031] The Fig.The functional component 15 shown in Figures 6a to d is designed as a shielding plate, in which a plug-in device 16, here consisting of contact springs and their counter-bearings, is shown on a clamping surface of the functional component 15 which is covered outside by the component elements 3 and 4, which contact a tab on a metallic housing front plate when the shielding plate is plugged in, in order to thereby produce a shielding effect in the sense of an earthed metal housing. List of reference symbols 1 connector housing 2 mounting component 3 first component element 4 second component element 5 Surface section 6 Surface section 7 Recess 8 Receiving opening 9 Functional component 10 fixing pins 11 Base plate 12 free ends 13 Functional component 14 Recess 15 Functional component 16 plug-in device x Form-lock direction

Claims

[1] Arrangement of a functional component (9, 13, 15) on a connector housing (1) for electrical or light-conducting contact elements, wherein a receiving component (2) which fixes the functional component (9, 13, 15) in a form-fitting manner is fastened to the connector housing (1) in a materially bonded manner, characterized by in that the receiving component (2) has a receiving opening (8) for the positively locking reception of the functional component (9, 13, 15), wherein the functional component (9, 13, 15) is designed as a chip, shielding plate or strain relief, wherein the receiving component (2) is designed in at least two parts, wherein the functional component (13, 15) is held in a positively locking manner between a first component element (3) and a second component element (4), wherein the first component element (3) of the receiving component (2) has fastening pins (10) which protrude through a recess (14) in the functional component (13, 15) into the second component element (4). [2] Arrangement according to claim 1, characterized by in that a contour of a surface section (6) of the receiving component (2) is adapted to a contour of a surface section (5) of the connector housing (1), wherein the surface sections (5, 6) form a positive connection at least in one direction (x) when the components are in contact with one another. [3] Arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the fastening pins (10) protrude through the second component element (4) and, in the assembled state, touch the connector housing (1) with their free ends (12). [4] Arrangement according to claim 3, characterized by that the ends (12) of the fastening pins (10) facing the connector housing (1) are fixed in a materially bonded manner to the surface section (5) of the connector housing (1) facing the receiving component (2). [5] Arrangement according to claim 4, characterized bythat the ends (12) of the fastening pins (10) facing the connector housing (1) are glued or welded to the connector housing (1). [6] Method for connecting a connector housing (1) to a functional component (9, 13, 15), characterized by following procedural steps: a) fixing the functional component (9, 13, 15) designed as a chip, shielding plate or strain relief in a receiving opening (8) of a receiving component (2) which receives the functional component (9, 13, 15) in a form-fitting manner, b) Materially fastening the receiving component (2) to the connector housing (1), wherein in step a) the functional component (13, 15) is held in a form-fitting and clamping manner between a plurality of component elements (3, 4) of the multi-part receiving component (2) and a first component element (3) remote from the connector housing (1) has fastening pins (10) onto which the functional component (13, 15) and a second component element (4) close to the connector housing (1) are plugged. [7] Method according to claim 6, characterized by that the material-to-material fastening is carried out by gluing. [8] Method according to claim 6, characterized by that the material-to-material fastening is carried out by welding. [9] Method according to one of claims 6 to 8, characterized bythat the free ends (12) of the fastening pins (10) are inserted through the functional component (13, 15) close to the connector housing (1) until they protrude therefrom, wherein the free ends (12) of the fastening pins (10) are then glued or welded to the connector housing (1) in step b).

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