Housing arrangement for electrical or electronic components

Abstract

A housing arrangement (1) comprising at least two or more housings (2a, b) arranged in a direction (x) and connected to one another, each housing having at least one receiving space in which one or more electrical and / or electronic components are arranged, wherein the respective housings (2a, b) are each disc-shaped and have two mounting walls (21, 22) and several narrow sides, and wherein adjacent housings of the housing arrangement are connected to one another by at least one or more snap-fit ​​connections (3), is characterized in that the respective snap-fit ​​connection of at least the middle housings of the housing arrangement has at least one snap-fit ​​arm (31) which extends from a connection area (311) in which it is connected to the respective housing (2) on one of the narrow sides (24, 26) initially in an arm area (312) parallel to this narrow side,wherein the locking arm (31) further comprises a projection extending in the alignment direction (x) which overlaps an adjacent housing at least partially in the alignment direction (x) and which has a first locking element for locking onto a corresponding second locking element of the adjacent aligned housing (2).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a housing arrangement according to the preamble of claim 1 and a (printed circuit board) connector or a terminal block with such a housing arrangement.

[0002] Such housing arrangements consisting of stackable housings are known in a wide variety of designs. In many of these housings, the available installation space is not always sufficient, especially for housings that are particularly narrow and compact when stacked, to create sufficiently robust and practically manageable snap-fit ​​connections for a secure connection of the housings using conventional snap-hook connections. Therefore, further optimization of the housings is desirable.

[0003] The solution to this problem is the purpose of the invention.

[0004] This problem is solved with a housing arrangement according to claim 1.

[0005] According to the characterizing feature of claim 1, the housing arrangement comprises at least two or more housings arranged in a direction of assembly and connected to one another, each housing having 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 a disc-like manner and have two assembling walls and several narrow sides, wherein adjacent housings of the housing arrangement are connected to one another by at least one or more snap connections.The respective locking connection of at least the middle housings of the housing arrangement each has at least one locking arm which extends from a connection area in which it is connected to the respective housing on one of the narrow sides in an arm area parallel to this narrow side, and the arm area further has a projection extending in the direction of assembly which overlaps an adjacent housing at least partially in the direction of assembly and has a first locking means for locking onto a corresponding second locking means of the adjacent lined housing.

[0006] A particular advantage is that the locking arm can be designed to be longer than if it, or a deflectable locking hook, extended only in the alignment direction. This allows the locking arm to be deflected relatively far during engagement, simplifying the locking process. Furthermore, despite this design, relatively high holding forces of the locking connection are achieved without requiring significantly more installation space in the housing in the alignment direction. Consequently, a housing with a narrow profile in the alignment direction can be realized despite high holding forces.

[0007] It is particularly possible for the locking arm, extending from the connection area to the locking opening, to be longer than the width of the housings in the direction of assembly. This allows the locking arm to be raised significantly to securely engage a relatively high locking hook of the adjacent housing.

[0008] In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the first locking element of the housing may have a locking opening, in particular one that is window-like and extends completely through the housing. It may then be further advantageously provided that the second locking element of the respective adjacent housing is designed as a projecting locking hook, fixed to the narrow side of the housing where the locking arm is also formed. With this type of locking element design, the considerable length of the locking arm proves particularly advantageous.

[0009] In a further embodiment, the locking hook can optionally be provided with a chamfer for lifting the locking arm of the adjacent housing when the housings are pushed together, and a locking edge against which the locking opening can engage. In this way, the housings can be easily locked together manually by simply pushing or inserting them together, without the need for a tool. Optionally or alternatively, the projection can also have a lateral chamfer that facilitates lifting the projection as it engages the locking hook of the adjacent housing.

[0010] According to a particularly advantageous design, which is particularly vibration-resistant, it can further be provided that the respective locking arm, starting from the connection area up to the locking opening, is designed to be longer than the grid width of the housings in the alignment direction.

[0011] Optionally, the housing arrangement may further include one or more differently designed snap-lock connections between the adjacent housings and / or one or more preferably centering and preferably also clamping pin connections between the housings arranged in a row.

[0012] In particular, connectors or terminal blocks can be implemented in this way, each having a housing arrangement according to one of the preceding claims.

[0013] Further advantageous embodiments of the invention can be found in the remaining dependent claims.

[0014] The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the drawings. The drawings show: Fig. 1a-b: in Fig. 1a) a spatial view of a plug connection with a first connector with an exemplary housing arrangement of at least two or more, here four, housings arranged in a series direction and connected to each other, which is closed off on one side by a cover plate, and with a second corresponding connector with which the first connector is plugged together, and in Fig. 1b a top view of the housing arrangement from Fig. 1a); Fig. 2a-h: in Fig. 2a) a spatial view of two individual, central housings of the housing arrangement of the first connector of the Fig. 1a) before joining the housings to form a unit, in Fig. 2b) a top view of the arrangement made of Fig. 2a), in Fig. 2c) a view of the arrangement from Fig. 2a) corresponding to a plane perpendicular to the plane of the sheet and to line FF from Fig. 2b), and in Fig. 2d) a close-up of section D from Fig. 2c), and in Fig. 2e), Fig. 2f), Fig. 2g) and Fig. 2h) Images that relate to Fig. 2a), Fig. 2b), Fig. 2c) and Fig. 2d) correspond, but show a state in which the two housings have been completely connected to each other, Fig. 2e) shows an enlarged detail E from Fig. 2g); and Fig. 3a-l: in Fig. 3a) a spatial view of a housing and a cover plate of the housing arrangement of the first connector made of Fig. 1a) before being joined to form a composite; and wherein the housing and the cover plate are further spaced apart and do not touch each other; in Fig. 3b) a top view of the arrangement made of Fig. 3a), and in Fig. 3c) a side view of the arrangement Fig. 3a); in Fig. 3d), Fig. 3e) and Fig. 3f) Images that relate to Fig. 3a), Fig. 3b), and Fig. 3c) correspond, but show a state in which the housing and the cover plate are already touching but have not yet been fully joined together, in Fig. 3g), Fig. 3h) and Fig. 3i) Images that relate to Fig. 3a), Fig. 3b) and Fig. 3c) correspond, but show a state in which the housing and the cover plate have been completely joined together; in Fig. 3j) a close-up of section A from Fig. 3f); in Fig. 3k) a close-up of area B from Fig. 3i) and in Fig. 31) a perspective view of an area of ​​the right side cover plate.

[0015] The terms used below, such as "top", "bottom", "right", "left", "horizontal" or "vertical", refer to the representation of the respective figure. A coordinate system in Fig. 1 a) serves as a further orientation. This coordinate system moves with the orientation in space.

[0016] In Fig. Figure 1 shows a connector 100 with a first connector 101 and a second connector 102. The first connector 101 can have connection contacts 103 (which are shown here as 90° solder pins) for example, for connection to a printed circuit board. The second connector 102 can, for example, have one or more connection contacts for connecting conductor ends (not shown here).

[0017] The two connectors 101 and 102 have corresponding mating faces with mating corresponding contacts. The basic function of such connectors 100 is well known and therefore does not need to be explained or illustrated further here.

[0018] Of particular interest is the disc-like structure of the second connector 102.

[0019] The second connector 102 has a housing arrangement 1 consisting of several housings 2a-2d connected in series and an optional cover plate 2e. This housing arrangement 1, by way of example, has four housings 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d and one cover plate 2e. The housing arrangement 1 could also consist of a different number of housings 2. It preferably has at least two housings 2. The housings 2 are preferably made of an insulating plastic.

[0020] Housings 2a to 2d can be configured as housings 2a, b, c, d for accommodating electrical and / or electronic components. The side cover plate 2e – here the right one – does not contain any such components and serves merely as a side cover for housing 2d.

[0021] The housing 2b has a first side wall - which in the case of the medium housings is a first baying wall 21 - and a second side wall - which can be a second baying wall 22.

[0022] In the aligned state, the first aligning wall 21 rests against the opposite aligning wall 22 of an adjacent housing 2c.

[0023] The second baying wall 22 can each have a housing opening 221 ( Fig. 3a, Fig. 3b) In this respect, the first, preferably more closed, mounting wall 21 of the housing 2b to be mounted also acts as a cover for the housing opening 221 of the adjacent, already mounted housing 2a. This allows a closed receiving space to be formed by two adjacent, mounted housings 2a, b, c, d (see also Fig. 2b, Fig. 2d, Fig. 2f) will be.

[0024] The cover of the housing opening 221 of the last housing 2d in series (see Fig. 3a) in the housing arrangement 1 of interconnected housings 2a, b can be done by means of the cover plate 2e.

[0025] This design of the housing 2a, b, ... results in a narrow design of the individual housing 2a, b, c, d with a grid width d ( Fig. 1b), so that relatively many housings 2a, b, ... “per unit length” in the alignment direction X with respect to the coordinate system X, Y, Z in Fig. 1 can be lined up.

[0026] The housings 2a, b, ... can be configured as shown as connector housings for a disc-shaped or modularly assembled connector 102. They can also be configured, for example, as terminal blocks. An advantage of each housing 2a, b, ... is its ability to be connected in series to form a group of housings 2a, 2b, ... that are at least snap-fit ​​together. The housings 2a, b, ... can also be additionally clamped together.

[0027] The housings 2a - 2d have, in addition to the main housing side walls 21 and 22, one or more narrow sides 23, 24, 25, 26 - shown here in front.

[0028] The housings 2a, 2b, 2c, ... can - if they are designed as connector housings - have at least one or more conductor connection contacts on one narrow side 23 (not shown in detail here) and preferably at least one or more plug contacts on an opposite narrow side 25 (also not shown in detail here), which can be conductively connected to each other in the respective housing.

[0029] To connect the housings 2a, b, 2c and 2d in the aligned state to form the housing arrangement 1, corresponding connecting means are provided on the housings 2b, 2c, 2d, which have at least one first snap-fit ​​connection having corresponding locking elements. These corresponding locking elements can together form a first snap-fit ​​hook connection 3.

[0030] To realize the first locking hook connection 3, the respective housing 2c can have as a first locking means at least one spring-loaded locking arm 31 with a locking opening 314, and the further housing 2b attached to it can have on the same narrow side 24 as the locking arm 31 at least one fixed, projecting locking hook 32 corresponding to the locking arm 31 with the locking opening 314 as a second corresponding locking means. Fig. 2a, Fig. 3a).

[0031] The respective locking hook 32 can have a chamfer 321 and a locking edge 322.

[0032] The first housing 2a and the cover plate 2e of the housing arrangement can each have only one of these locking means. Thus, the first housing 2a of the housing arrangement 1 can only have the locking hook 32, and the last housing 2e can only have one locking arm 31', whereby this locking arm 31' is designed differently from the other locking arms 31.

[0033] The spring-loaded deflectable locking arm 31 of the housings 2b, c, d, is formed on one of the narrow sides 23 - 26 of these housings 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e.

[0034] The spring-loaded detent arm 31 of the housings 2b, c, d can preferably be formed on one of the two narrow sides 24, 26, on which no conductor connection and no plug contact are formed.

[0035] The spring-loaded deflectable locking arm 31 of the housings 2b, c, d, is preferably attached to the in Fig. 1 upper narrow side 24 of the housings 2b, 2c, 2d formed.

[0036] The locking arm 31 can be integrally connected to the rest of the housing in a connection area 311.

[0037] Starting from this connection area 311, the locking arm 31 extends, at least in the case of the middle housings 2b, 2c, 2d, first in a first arm section 312 parallel to the narrow side 24 above it in a direction perpendicular to the alignment direction X. The locking arm 31 then has a projection 313 (as a second arm section) extending substantially in or against the alignment direction, in which the locking opening 314 is formed.

[0038] The spring-loaded locking arm 31 has a relatively long length perpendicular to the assembly direction X, extending from its connection point 311 to the end of the extension 312, and is therefore deflectable relatively far in the Z-direction "upwards" or away from the housing 2b, c, ... When adjacent housings – e.g., 2b, 2c – of the housing assembly are joined, it can be deflected relatively far by sliding along the chamfer 321 of the locking hook 32 when it encounters the locking hook 32, until it finally slides over the locking hook 32 with the locking opening 314 and is securely locked onto it.

[0039] It is particularly advantageous that the locking arm 31 can be designed to be longer than if it, or a deflectable locking hook 31, were to extend only in the alignment direction. In particular, it is possible for the locking arm 31, extending from the connection area 311 to the locking opening 314, to be longer than the grid width d of the housings 2 in the alignment direction (see Figure 1). Fig. 1b, Fig. 2c and Fig. 2g).

[0040] The projection 313 can extend in the alignment direction x over approximately half the width of the housing's narrow side 24. The locking arm 31 therefore preferably has a kind of recess 315 (see Fig. 1a) into which, when the housings 2 are lined up and joined together, the projection 313 of each housing 2 can engage. In the corresponding other half of the narrow side 24 of the housing, the respective locking hook 32 can then be designed as a kind of projection on the narrow side 24.

[0041] One or more optional additional locking hook connections 4 – also of a different design – can support the fixing of the adjacent housings 2a, b.

[0042] In addition, optionally one or more preferably centering and preferably also clamping pin connections 5 can be provided between the housings 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d arranged in series (see, for example, Figure 1). Fig. 2f).

[0043] To realize the further locking hook connections 4, the first mounting wall 21 of a respective housing 2b can have at least one locking hook 41 projecting from it as a first locking means, and the second mounting wall 22 of the respective next housing 2c can have at least one locking opening 42 corresponding to the locking hook 12 with a locking undercut as a second corresponding locking means.

[0044] And to realize the clamping connections 5, the first mounting wall 21 of each housing 2b can have at least one clamping pin 51 projecting from it as the first clamping means, and the second mounting wall 22 of each next housing 2c can have at least one clamping opening 52 corresponding to the clamping pin 51 as the second corresponding clamping means (see Fig. 2a, Fig. 2e, Fig. 3a).

[0045] The locking arm 31' of the optional cover plate 2e can transition from a base plate area 2e via a 180° bend and connection area 311' into a projection 313 in which a further locking opening 314 is provided. The 180° bend area makes it easy to give this locking hook 31 sufficient length so that it can be easily locked onto a locking hook 32 of the corresponding adjacent housing 2d (see Fig. 3a - I).

[0046] It can also be provided that the housings 2 of the housing arrangement 1 each have one of the snap-fit ​​connections 3 on opposite narrow sides. This is readily apparent from Fig. 2a and Fig. 3a. In this way, the housings 2 of the housing arrangement 1 are connected to each other particularly securely. The first housing 2a, the "middle" housings 2b to 2d, and the side cover plate 2e then preferably have "identical" locking arms 31, 31' and locking hooks 32 on the narrow sides 24 and 26, arranged almost symmetrically about a central plane at the top and bottom. In this respect, one or more or all of the features of the aforementioned "upper" locking connections 3 on the housings 2 can additionally be implemented on the lower narrow sides 26 of the housings 2.

[0047] The Fig.Figures 1 to 3 provide a housing arrangement 1 in which at least one latching hook connection 3 of the respective interconnected housings 2a, b is designed to be particularly easy to latch yet very secure. It should be noted that not all features of the figures need to be implemented in every embodiment. For example, the cover plate 2e is optional, and the latching arms 31 and latching hooks 32 can also be designed geometrically differently than shown. For instance, angled edges 316 can be omitted. Further geometric modifications are possible as long as the scope of the claims is not exceeded. Reference symbol list 1 Housing arrangement 100 plug connectors 101 First connector 102 Second connector 2, 2a-d Housing 2e Cover plate 21 baying wall 22 baying wall 221 Case opening 23-26 Narrow side 3 Snap Hook Connection 31, 31' Rastarm 311, 311 connection area 312 Arm area 313 Approach 314 Rest opening 315 Exclusion 316 edge 32 locking hooks 321 Bevel 322 Detent edge 4 Snap Hook Connection 41 locking hooks 42 Locking opening 5 clamp connection 51 clamping pins 52 clamping recess d grid width

Claims

[1] Housing arrangement (1) comprising at least two or more housings (2) arranged in a row in a row direction (x) and connected to one another, each housing having at least one receiving space in which one or more electrical and / or electronic components are arranged, wherein the respective housings (2) are each designed in the form of a disc and have two row walls (4, 5) and a plurality of narrow sides, and wherein adjacent housings (2) of the housing arrangement (1) are connected to one another by at least one or more snap-in connections (3), characterized byin that the respective latching connection (3) of at least the middle housings of the housing arrangement (1) each has at least one latching arm (31) which, starting from a connection region (311) in which it is connected to the respective housing (2), extends on one of the narrow sides (24, 26) initially in an arm region (312) parallel to this narrow side (24, 26), wherein the latching arm (31) further has a projection (313) extending in the alignment direction (x), which at least partially overlaps an adjacent housing in the alignment direction (x) and which has a first latching means for latching to a corresponding second latching means of the adjacent aligned housing (2). [2] Housing arrangement according to claim 1, characterized by that the projection (313) has a locking opening (314) as the first locking means. [3] Housing arrangement according to claim 2, characterized bythat the locking opening (314) is window-like, so that it completely penetrates the projection (313). [4] Housing arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the second locking means of the respective locking connection (3) is designed as a projection-like and immovable locking hook (32) formed on the housing (2) on the narrow side (24, 26), on which the locking arm (31) is also formed. [5] Housing arrangement according to claim 4, characterized by that the respective locking hook (32) has a bevel (321) for lifting the locking arm (31) of the respective adjacent housing when the housings (2) are pushed together and a locking edge (322) on which the locking opening (314) can be locked. [6] Housing arrangement according to claim 4 or 5, characterized bythat the projection (313) has a lateral bevel which facilitates the lifting of the projection (313) when the adjacent housings (2) of the housing arrangement (1) are pushed together. [7] Housing arrangement according to one of the preceding claims 3 to 6, characterized by that the locking arm (31), starting from the connecting region (311) up to the locking opening (314), is designed to be longer than the grid width (d) of the housings (2) of the housing arrangement (1) in the row direction. [8] Housing arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that at least the middle housings (2) of the housing arrangement each have one of the locking connections (3) on the opposite narrow sides (24, 26). [9] Housing arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat it is closed off on one side by a cover plate (2e) on which a locking hook (31') is formed, which can be locked onto one of the projection-like locking hooks (32) of the housing (2d) to which the cover plate (2e) is attached. [10] Housing arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that a first housing (2a) of the housing arrangement does not have a locking arm (31) but does have one of the projection-like locking hooks (32). [11] Housing arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that it has one or more further differently designed latching hook connections (4) between the adjacent housings (2) and / or that it has one or more preferably centering and preferably also clamping pin connections (5) between the housings (2) arranged in a row. [12] A connector comprising a housing assembly according to any preceding claim. [13] Terminal block comprising a housing arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims.

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