Connector for a motor vehicle and system comprising a connector and an article

Abstract

The invention relates to a plug device (2) for a motor vehicle, comprising at least one plug unit (4) which comprises a plug body (10) extending along a joining direction (6), which comprises at least one recess (12) extending transversely to the joining direction (6) and passing through the plug body (10), in particular a groove- or slot-like recess (12), which comprises at least one rear gripping means (14) which is fixed within the plug body (10) and movable relative to the plug body (10), which extends through the recess (12) in the plug body (10) and projects beyond the plug body (10) transversely to the joining direction (6), and which comprises at least one clamping means (16) which pre-tensions the rear gripping means (14) into a non-deflected basic position, and at least one plug receptacle (8) which is fixed in or on a vehicle component and which has a cavity (18) which is accessible from the outside via an opening (20),which comprises a slotted guide (24) arranged on an inner wall adjacent to the cavity (18), which slotted guide has a displacement section (26) by which the engaging means (14) is displaced from the basic position transversely or obliquely to the joining direction (6) during joining, and which comprises a locking section (28) extending transversely or obliquely to the joining direction (6), in which locking section the engaging means (14) can be arranged engaging behind the slotted guide (24) counter to the joining direction (6) when the plug unit (4) reaches a joined end position.

Description

The invention relates to a plug-in device for a motor vehicle and to a system comprising a plug-in device and an object.Plug-in devices for motor vehicles are known from the prior art, which are designed, for example, as cigarette lighters. These can comprise a receptacle on which an electrical load can be arranged and supplied with electrical energy of the motor vehicle.It has proven disadvantageous here that the articles which are arranged on the plug-in devices comprise a high weight and cannot be held by the plug-in device against movement through the vehicle interior upon an impact of the vehicle.An object of an exemplary embodiment of the invention is to propose a plug-in device for a motor vehicle and a system comprising a plug-in device and an object, by means of which or by means of which higher weight forces can be absorbed.This object is achieved by a plug-in device for a motor vehicle having at least one plug unit which comprises a plug body which extends along a joining direction and which comprises at least one cutout which extends transversely with respect to the joining direction and is continuous through the plug body, in particular in the manner of a groove or slot, and which comprises at least one rear engagement means which is fixed within the plug body and can be moved relative to the plug body and which extends through the cutout in the plug body and projects beyond the plug body transversely with respect to the joining direction, and which comprises at least one clamping means which prestresses the rear engagement means into an unbended basic position, and having at least one plug receptacle which is fixed in or on a vehicle component which comprises a cavity which is accessible from the outside via an opening and which comprises a slotted guide which is arranged on an inner wall adjoining the cavity and which comprises a displacement portion, by means of which the rear engagement means is displaced transversely or obliquely to the joining direction from the initial position during joining, and which comprises a locking portion which extends transversely or obliquely to the joining direction and in which the rear engagement means can be arranged so as to engage behind the link guide counter to the joining direction when a joined end position of the plug unit is reached.Because the plug unit comprises a rear engagement means which can be moved relative to the plug body and is displaced by the slotted guide during the joining of the plug unit to the plug receptacle by the slotted guide and, when a joined end position is reached, engages behind the slotted guide counter to the joining direction, the plug unit is fixed against removal counter to the joining direction.As a result, high forces can be absorbed by the plug-in device and an object arranged on the plug-in device can be held even in the event of an impact of the motor vehicle and fixed against movement within the vehicle interior.The slotted guide can comprise a region of the inner wall projecting in the direction of the plug body or a portion inside the inner wall which is recessed with respect to the plug body. In the latter case, the slotted guide can be designed in the manner of a groove.The locking section extending transversely or obliquely to the joining direction can extend at the height of the joined end position counter to the displacement direction of the displacement section.For simplified joining of the plug unit into the plug receptacle, it proves to be advantageous if the plug receptacle comprises an anti-rotation device by which the inserted plug body is held during the joining along the joining direction against rotation about an axis of rotation running parallel to the joining direction, in particular wherein the anti-rotation device is formed by a rotationally asymmetrical cross section of the cavity of the plug receptacle transversely to the joining direction, in particular comprising at least one corner, and by an in particular complementary rotationally asymmetrical cross section of the plug body transversely to the joining direction, corresponding to the cross section of the cavity, in particular wherein the rotationally asymmetrical cross section of the cavity and the rotationally asymmetrical cross section of the plug body comprise at least one rectilinear section.Because an anti-rotation means is formed between the plug unit and the plug receptacle, the plug unit can be joined to the plug body in a simple manner along the joining direction and the rear engagement means can be automatically displaced and, when the joined end position is reached, can be automatically moved back in the direction of the non-articulated base position.The anti-rotation means can in principle be formed in any desired manner provided it follows the technical function that the plug body of the plug unit remains substantially untwisted with respect to the joining direction during joining along the joining direction, in particular during insertion into the cavity of the plug receptacle.Because both the plug body and the plug receptacle comprise a rotationally asymmetrical cross section, it is easily prevented that the plug body is rotatable about an axis of rotation extending parallel to the joining direction.In principle, it is conceivable for the plug unit to be arranged exclusively from the plug body in or on the plug receptacle. In one embodiment of the plug-in device, it is provided that the plug unit comprises a plug head which is arranged on the plug body and which, in the joined end position, is accessible from the outside and / or that the plug receptacle comprises a cover element which is prestressed by a return means into a closed functional position in which the cover element closes the opening of the cavity in whole or at least in sections, and which can be displaced, in particular during the joining of the plug body, into an open functional position in which the cover element is arranged out of engagement with respect to the opening.The plug head and plug body can comprise two separate or separable components. In addition, it is conceivable that the plug head forms a common, one-piece component together with the plug body in its entirety or at least in regions.If the plug device comprises a cover element in the plug receptacle, ingress of dirt or moisture into the cavity of the plug receptacle can be prevented if no plug unit is arranged in the plug receptacle.The return means can comprise, for example, a spring, in particular a torsion spring, by means of which the cover element is prestressed into the closed functional position. The cover element is displaced by the plug body when the plug unit is introduced in this way and is held in the open functional position as long as the plug body is arranged in the cavity of the plug receptacle.In a development of the last-mentioned embodiment, it proves to be advantageous if the plug head of the plug unit comprises a cross section transversely to the joining direction which is greater than the cross section of the opening of the plug receptacle transversely to the joining direction and / or if the plug head, in the joined end position, is arranged so as to abut, in particular touching, an edge of the plug receptacle surrounding the opening.If the plug head of the plug unit comprises a larger cross section than the cross section of the opening, it is possible to prevent the plug unit from being moved too deeply into the cavity of the plug receptacle. This can prevent unintentional damage to the plug unit and the plug receptacle. The plug head in such a case forms a stop which defines the joined end position by limiting the joining movement.In order to arrange an object on the plug-in device, it proves to be advantageous if the plug unit has at least one receptacle for an object, in particular comprising an electrical consumer or an electronic component, in which receptacle the object can be detachably or non-detachably fixed, wherein at least one of the at least one receptacle is arranged on the plug head, in particular on a side of the plug head facing away from the plug body, and / or wherein at least one of the at least one receptacle is arranged on the plug body, in particular on a side of the plug body facing away from the rear engagement means.By means of the receptacle, an object can be fixed or fixed detachably or non-detachably on the plug unit. If the object comprises an electrical load or an electronic component, the object can hereby establish a conductive connection with the plug-in device via the arrangement on the receptacle.The receptacle can be arranged either on the plug head or on the plug body.It has proven to be advantageous if the recess in the plug body and the undercut means are arranged at an end section of the plug body opposite the opening in the joined end position and / or if the plug device comprises a transmission element which is arranged within the plug body and extends in the joining direction, which is fixed to the undercut means in a rotationally fixed manner, which is rotatable about an axis of rotation extending parallel to the joining direction and which extends at least from the undercut means to the free end of the plug body which is remote from the undercut means.When the recess in the plug body and the engaging behind means are arranged in the joined end position opposite an end section of the plug body located in the opening, the slotted guide on the inner wall of the plug receptacle has a maximum possible displacement path for the engaging behind means. This reduces the risk of jamming or jamming during the joining of the plug unit in the plug receptacle.If the plug device comprises a transmission element which is connected to the rear engagement means in a rotationally fixed manner and which, in the joined end position, opens at the level of the free end of the plug body, the rear engagement means can be released again from the rear engagement position by manual actuation, in particular rotation, of the transmission element. In this way, the rear engagement means can be controlled in a simple manner for releasing from the rear engagement position.In a development of the last-mentioned embodiment, the release of the rear engagement means from the rear engagement position can be improved if the plug unit comprises at least one manually actuatable release means arranged on the plug head, which is connected to the transmission element in a rotationally fixed manner and which can be transferred, in particular rotated, about the axis of rotation from an untwisted basic position into a release position rotated about the axis of rotation, in which the rear engagement means is moved, in particular rotated, from the rear engagement position with the locking portion.The manually actuatable solvent can comprise, for example, a rotating ring which can be actuated manually on a circumferential surface of the plug head running parallel to the axis of rotation.In particular, it has proven to be advantageous in such a case that a maximum torque can be produced between the release means and the rear engagement means, whereby the rear engagement means pretensioned by the tensioning means into the basic position can be released from the rear engagement position by the application of a low muscle force.Furthermore, embodiments of the plug-in device prove to be advantageous in which the plug unit and the plug receptacle form an electrical and / or electronic plug-in device, by means of which an object arranged on the plug unit in the receptacle can be coupled electrically and / or electronically to the motor vehicle, wherein the plug unit or the plug receptacle comprises at least one pin-like, electrically and / or electronically active projection, which in the joined end position is arranged in or on an electrically and / or electronically active receiving section on the plug receptacle or the plug unit so as to produce an electrical and / or electronic connection, and / or in which the plug unit or the plug receptacle comprise at least one spring means, by means of which the pin-like, electrically and / or electronically active projection arranged thereon can be tensioned in the direction of the plug receptacle.If the plug-in device is designed as an electrical and / or electronic plug-in device, the plug-in device can serve to supply an electrical and / or electronic object with electrical energy, in particular to charge it or to transmit data between the electrical and / or electronic object and the motor vehicle.The word "or" is used here with its word origin. In the present case, this means not "or", but "and in the other case".If the electrically and / or electronically active projection can be tensioned by a spring means in the direction of the plug receptacle, the electrically and / or electronically active projection can be flexibly displaced. This makes it possible to reduce the risk of damage to the projection.In order to facilitate arranging the plug unit in the plug receptacle and in order to facilitate releasing the plug unit from the plug receptacle, it has proven advantageous if the plug unit and the plug receptacle comprise a joining aid which comprises a first display element on the plug head or on the plug body and a second display element on the plug receptacle, wherein the plug unit can be introduced into the plug receptacle without a collision if the first display element and the second display element are arranged on the same side, and / or if the manually actuatable release means comprises a third display element, by means of which a direction of rotation for transferring into the release position can be visually detected.The first display element and / or the second display element may be visually detectable. By providing the joining aid, which is formed by the first display element and by the second display element, it is possible to display to a user how to position the plug unit, in particular the plug body, with respect to the plug receptacle in order to arrange the plug unit in the plug receptacle.By providing a third display element, it is possible to make a user of the motor vehicle visually detectable in which direction the manually actuatable solvent must be rotated in order to release the plug unit from the plug receptacle.In addition, the object is achieved by a system comprising a plug-in device having at least one of the aforementioned features and an object, in particular an electrical load or an electronic component, which is arranged in a releasable or non-releasable manner in or on the receptacle of the plug unit of the plug-in device and which can be arranged by the plug body of the plug unit in a plug receptacle arranged in or on a vehicle component.Further features, details and advantages of the invention are evident from the appended patent claims, from the drawing and the following description of a preferred embodiment of the plug-in device.The drawing shows: FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of the plug unit and the plug receptacle; FIG. 2 shows a sectional view through the plug unit according to FIG. 1 ; FIG. 3 is a sectional view through the plug receptacle according to FIG. 1.The figures show an exemplary embodiment of a plug-in device for a motor vehicle, which is provided overall with the reference numeral 2.The plug-in device 2 comprises a plug unit 4, which can be joined to a plug receptacle 8 along a joining direction 6. The plug unit 4 comprises a plug body 10 extending along the joining direction 6, in which two recesses 12 extending transversely to the joining direction 6 and continuous through the plug body 10 are arranged in the exemplary embodiments shown in the figures. Inside the plug body 10 a rear engagement means 14 is fixed which is movable, in particular rotatable, relative to the plug body 10 and which is arranged so as to extend through the recess 12. The rear engagement means 14 projects outwards beyond the plug body 10 transversely to the joining direction 6. In addition, the plug unit 4 comprises a clamping means 16, by means of which the rear engagement means 14 is prestressed into an unbended basic position.The plug receptacle 8 is fixed to a vehicle component, such as, for example, a center console, side wall and / or vehicle fitting. The plug receptacle 8 comprises a cavity 18 which is accessible from the outside via an opening 20. In addition, the plug receptacle 8 comprises a rotation prevention means 22, by means of which the inserted plug body 10 is held against rotation about an axis of rotation running parallel to the direction of joining 6 during the joining along the direction of joining 6. In the exemplary embodiment shown in the figures, the anti-rotation device 22 is formed by a rotationally asymmetrical cross section of the cavity 18 and of the plug body 10. For this purpose, plug body 10 and cavity 18 comprise a rectilinear section within the rotationally asymmetrical cross section of the two components.In addition, the plug receptacle 8 comprises a slotted guide 24, which is formed on an inner wall adjoining the cavity 18 and which comprises a displacement section 26, by means of which the rear engagement means 14 of the plug unit 4 is displaced transversely or obliquely to the joining direction 6 during the joining along the joining direction 6. In addition, the slotted guide 24 comprises a locking section 28 which extends transversely or obliquely with respect to the joining direction 6 and in which the rear engagement means 14 can be arranged so as to engage behind the slotted guide 24 counter to the joining direction 6 when a joined end position of the plug unit 4 is reached.In the exemplary embodiment of the plug device 2 shown in the figures, the plug unit 4 comprises a plug head 30, which is arranged on the plug body 10.The plug head 30 is accessible from the outside in the joined end position and abuts from the outside against an edge 32 surrounding the opening 20 of the plug receptacle 8. In the plug head 30, receptacles 34 are furthermore arranged in which an object, in particular an electrical consumer or an electronic component, can be detachably or non-detachably fixed. Furthermore, at the height of the plug head 30, a transmission element 36 opens out, which is connected to the rear engagement means 14 in a rotationally fixed manner and which extends as far as the free end of the plug body 10, which is remote from the rear engagement means 14.The transmission element 36 is actuatable by a manually actuatable release 40. In the exemplary embodiment shown in the figures, the manually actuatable release 40 is formed by a rotating ring which is connected to the transmission element 36 in a rotationally fixed manner and can be transferred, in particular rotated, into a release position about an axis of rotation 42 running parallel to the joining direction 6. By rotating the manually actuatable release means 40 about the axis of rotation 42, the rear engagement means 14 is released from the position behind which the locking portion 28 engages, whereby the plug unit 4 can be removed from the plug receptacle 8 by moving counter to the joining direction 6.In order to clarify a user in which direction the release means 40 must be moved, the plug unit 4 comprises a third display element 38, by means of which the direction of rotation for transferring into the release position can be visually detected.In order to at least reduce the penetration of dirt or moisture into the cavity 18, the plug receptacle 8 comprises a cover element 44, which is prestressed into a closed functional position (FIG. 1 ) by a return means 46. In a closed functional position, the cover element 44 in the exemplary embodiment shown in the figures closes the opening 20 of the plug receptacle 8 in its entirety. The cover element 44 can be displaced and disengaged with respect to the opening 20 when the plug unit 4 is inserted into the plug receptacle 8 by the plug body 10 when moving along the joining direction 6.In order to enable a user to optimally align and position the plug unit 4 with respect to the plug receptacle 8 for joining the plug unit 4 to the plug receptacle 8, the plug-in device 2 comprises a joining aid 48 which comprises a first display element 50 on the plug head 30 and a second display element 52 on the plug receptacle 8. If both the first indicator element 50 and the second indicator element 52 are arranged on the same side, the plug unit 4 can be inserted into the plug receptacle 8 without a collision.FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of the plug device 2, in which the plug unit 4 is arranged separately from the plug receptacle 8.FIG. 2 shows a section through the plug unit 4 according to the illustration of FIG. 1 In the sectional view according to FIG. 2, it can be seen that the plug unit 4 comprises two pin-like, electrically and / or electronically active projections 54, which in the joined end position can be arranged in or on an electrically and / or electronically active receiving section 56 on the plug receptacle 8 so as to produce an electrically and / or electronic connection (see FIG. 3 ). The pin-like projections 54 can be tensioned by a spring means 58 in the direction of the plug receptacle 8.The pin-like, electrically or electronically active projections 54 and the electrically and / or electronically active receiving section 56 make it possible for the plug-in device 2 to form an electrical and / or electronic plug-in device 2. An object which is arranged on the plug-in device 2, for example by being inserted into the receptacle 34, can thereby be electrically charged by an electrical energy source of the motor vehicle or data on the part of the object in the direction of the motor vehicle or data on the part of the motor vehicle in the direction of the object can be electronically transmitted.The features of the invention disclosed in the above description, in the claims and in the drawing can be essential both individually and in any combination in the realisation of the invention in its various embodiments within the scope of the following claims.List of reference characters2 Plug-in device 4 Plug unit 6 Joining direction 8 Plug receptacle 10 Plug body 12 Cutout 14 Rear engagement means 16 Clamping means 18 Cavity 20 Opening 22 Anti-rotation means 24 Slide guide 26 Displacement section 28 Locking section 30 Plug head 32 Edge 34 Receptacle 36 Transmission element 38 Third display element 40 Release means 42 Rotational axis 44 Cover element 46 Return means 48 Joining aid 50 First display element 52 Second display element 54 Projection 56 Receptacle section 58 Spring means

Claims

Plug-in device (2) for a motor vehicle, having at least one plug unit (4) which comprises a plug body (10) which extends along a joining direction (6) and which comprises at least one cutout (12) which extends transversely with respect to the joining direction (6) and which passes through the plug body (10), in particular in the manner of a groove or slot, which cutout comprises at least one rear engagement means (14) which is fixed within the plug body (10) and can be moved relative to the plug body (10) and which extends through the cutout (12) in the plug body (10) and projects beyond the plug body (10) transversely with respect to the joining direction (6), and which comprises at least one clamping means (16) which prestresses the rear engagement means (14) into an unbended basic position, and having at least one plug receptacle (8) which is fixed in or on a vehicle component and which has a cavity (18), the slide guide is accessible from the outside via an opening (20) and comprises a slide guide (24) arranged on an inner wall adjoining the cavity (18), which slide guide comprises a displacement section (26), by which the rear engagement means (14) is displaced during joining from the basic position transversely or obliquely to the joining direction (6), and which comprises a locking section (28) extending transversely or obliquely to the joining direction (6), in which the rear engagement means (14) can be arranged so as to engage behind the slide guide (24) counter to the joining direction (6) when a joined end position of the plug unit (4) is reached.Plug-in device (2) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the plug receptacle (8) comprises an anti-rotation device (22), by means of which the inserted plug body (10) is held during the joining along the joining direction (6) against rotation about an axis of rotation running parallel to the joining direction (6), in particular wherein the anti-rotation device (22) is formed by a rotationally asymmetrical cross section, in particular comprising at least one corner, of the cavity (18) of the plug receptacle (8) transversely to the joining direction (6) and by an in particular complementary, rotationally asymmetrical cross section of the plug body (10) corresponding to the cross section of the cavity (18) transversely to the joining direction (6), in particular wherein the rotationally asymmetrical cross section of the cavity (18) and the rotationally asymmetrical cross section of the plug body (10) comprise at least one rectilinear section.Plug-in device (2) according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the plug unit (4) comprises a plug head (30) which is arranged on the plug body (10) and which, in the joined end position, is accessible from the outside, and / or in that the plug receptacle (8) comprises a cover element (44) which is prestressed by a return means (46) into a closed functional position in which the cover element (44) closes the opening (20) of the cavity (18) in its entirety or at least in sections, and which can be displaced, in particular when the plug body (10) is joined, into an open functional position in which the cover element (44) is arranged out of engagement with respect to the opening (20).Plug-in device (2) according to Claim 3, characterized in that the plug head (30) of the plug unit (4) transversely with respect to the joining direction (6) comprises a cross section which is greater than the cross section of the opening (20) of the plug receptacle (8) transversely with respect to the joining direction (6) and / or in that the plug head (30), in the joined end position, is arranged so as to bear, in particular in contact, against an edge (32) of the plug receptacle (8) surrounding the opening (20).Plug-in device (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the plug unit (4) has at least one receptacle (34) for an object, in particular comprising an electrical consumer or an electronic component, in which receptacle the object can be fixed in a releasable or non-releasable manner, wherein at least one of the at least one receptacle (34) is arranged on the plug head (30), in particular on a side of the plug head (30) facing away from the plug body (10), and / or wherein at least one of the at least one receptacle (34) is arranged on the plug body (10), in particular on a side of the plug body (10) facing away from the rear engagement means (14).Plug-in device (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cutout (12) in the plug body (10) and the rear engagement means (14) in the joined end position are arranged on an end section of the plug body (10) opposite the opening (20), and / or in that the plug device comprises a transmission element (36) which is arranged within the plug body (10) and extends in the joining direction (6), which is fixed on the rear engagement means (14) in a rotationally fixed manner, which is rotatable about an axis of rotation (42) extending parallel to the joining direction (6), and which extends at least from the rear engagement means (14) to the free end of the plug body (10) which is remote from the rear engagement means (14).Plug-in device (2) according to Claim 6, characterized in that the plug unit (4) comprises at least one manually actuatable release means (40) which is arranged on the plug head (30) and is connected to the transmission element (36) in a rotationally fixed manner and which can be transferred, in particular rotated, about the axis of rotation (42) from an untwisted basic position into a release position rotated about the axis of rotation (42), in which the engagement means (14) is moved, in particular rotated, from the engagement position behind with the locking portion (28).Plug-in device (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the plug unit (4) and the plug receptacle (8) form an electrical and / or electronic plug-in device (2), by means of which an object arranged on the plug unit (4) in the receptacle (34) can be coupled electrically and / or electronically to the motor vehicle, wherein the plug unit (4) or the plug receptacle (8) comprises at least one pin-like, electrically and / or electronically active projection (54), which in the joined end position is arranged in or on an electrically and / or electronically active receptacle section (56) on the plug receptacle (8), or the plug unit (4) so as to produce an electrical and / or electronic connection, and / or in that the plug unit (4) or the plug receptacle (8) comprise at least one spring means (58), by means of which the pin-like, arranged thereon, is arranged in or on an electrically and / or electronically active receptacle section (56) on the plug receptacle (8), respectively, so as to produce an electrical and / or electronic connection, and in that the plug unit (4) or the plug receptacle (8) comprises at least one spring means (58), The projection (54), which is electrically and / or electronically effective, can be tensioned in the direction of the plug receptacle (8).Plug-in device (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the plug unit (4) and the plug receptacle (8) comprise a joining aid (48) which comprises a first display element (50) on the plug head (30) or on the plug body (10) and a second display element (52) on the plug receptacle (8), wherein the plug unit (4) can be introduced into the plug receptacle (8) without a collision if the first display element (50) and the second display element (52) are arranged on the same side, and / or in that the manually actuatable release means (40) comprises a third display element (38), by means of which a direction of rotation for transferring into the release position can be visually detected.System comprising a plug-in device (2) according to one of Claims 1 to 9 and an object, in particular an electrical load or an electronic component, which is arranged in a releasable or non-releasable manner in or on the receptacle (34) of the plug unit (4) of the plug-in device (2) and which can be arranged by the plug body (10) of the plug unit (4) in a plug receptacle (8) arranged in or on a vehicle component.

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