Mounting plate and the set and device formed with it

Abstract

The invention relates to a mounting plate with a main body in the form of a flat plate, having a first main surface and a second main surface facing away from it, wherein these main surfaces are the surface sides of the main body with the largest area, and with at least one first locking element on which an electrical connector, having at least one second locking element, can be secured by its at least one second locking element through positive engagement of the first locking element with the second locking element. The invention further relates to a set comprising a mounting plate and a connector, as well as a device comprising a mounting plate, a connector, and a further item.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a mounting plate with a main body in the form of a flat plate, having a first main surface and a second main surface facing away from it, wherein these main surfaces are the surface sides of the main body with the largest area, and with at least one first locking element on which an electrical connector, having at least one second locking element, can be secured by its at least one second locking element through positive engagement of the first locking element with the second locking element. The invention further relates to a set comprising a mounting plate and a connector, as well as a device comprising a mounting plate, a connector, and a further item.

[0002] A mounting plate of this type is known from DE 20 2017 104 144 U1.

[0003] The invention is based on the objective of providing an improved mounting plate and arrangements formed therewith.

[0004] This problem is solved in a mounting plate of the type mentioned above by providing the mounting plate with at least one first locking tab that projects from the main body and is elastically deflectable relative to the main body. The at least one first locking element is arranged on the first locking tab, and the locking connection between the first locking element and the second locking element of the connector can be released by elastically deflecting the first locking tab. Such a design allows the mounting plate to be easily attached to the connector and equally easily released by elastically deflecting the first locking tab. In particular, the locking connection can be released without tools and without damage. In an advantageous embodiment, the first locking tab can be spring-loaded, so that in the deflected state it has the property of springing back to its original position.The first locking element allows the connector to be locked to the mounting plate in an end position of assembly.

[0005] The mounting plate can be produced particularly efficiently and cost-effectively by manufacturing it as a plastic component, for example, using an injection molding process. As mentioned, the first and second main surfaces are the sides of the plate with the largest surface area; therefore, these are not the narrow sides of the plate. The flat plate can be designed as a flat plate or as a plate that is at least partially curved.

[0006] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the first locking tab has a manual release section at which an actuating force is applied to the first locking tab in order to deflect it elastically. The manual release section is located further from the main body than the first locking element arranged on the first locking tab. In this way, a defined manual actuating element is provided for manually actuating the first locking tab. Advantageously, the manual release section can be positioned so that it can be easily grasped by the user, even when the mounting plate is attached to the connector. For example, in this mounted state, the manual release section can project slightly beyond the edge of the connector housing.

[0007] The mounting plate can have a substantially constant material thickness in the area of ​​the main body, the first locking tab, and / or the manual release section. It is also possible for the first locking tab to have an integrated hinge connecting it to the main body, further improving its deflection. This hinge can be formed, for example, by a material-fit connection between the first locking tab and the main body, where the material thickness and / or width of the first locking tab may be reduced in the area of ​​the hinge.

[0008] The mounting plate is primarily used to attach the connector to another object, such as a mounting adapter, a housing part of an electrical device, a connecting cable attached to the connector, or any other object. The mounting plate can be designed to rest on this other object on the side facing away from the first main surface. For example, the second main surface can serve as a support surface for the other object. Furthermore, parts of the surfaces of the first locking tab located on the side of the second support surface can also serve, at least partially, as a support surface.

[0009] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the manual release section is arranged in a region of the mounting plate where the mounting plate, on the side facing away from the first main surface, is positioned to rest on a further object to which the connector is to be fixed by means of the mounting plate. Because the manual release section is arranged in this support region, deflection of the first locking tab is prevented or at least made more difficult when the mounting plate is attached to the further object, since the deflection is then blocked by the support on the further object. This allows for additional securing of the connector to the mounting plate in a simple manner.

[0010] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the mounting plate has a second locking tab that projects from the main body at a distance from the first locking tab and is elastically deflectable relative to the main body. A further first locking element is arranged on the second locking tab, and the locking connection between this further first locking element and a further second locking element of the connector can be released by elastically deflecting the second locking tab. Such a second locking tab further improves the security of the connector's locking to the mounting plate. In particular, it ensures a secure fit on the connector. The second locking tab can be designed similarly to the first locking tab with respect to one or more of the aforementioned features of the first locking tab. For example, the second locking tab can be...protrude parallel to the first locking tab from the main body, whereby a gap may be formed between the first and the second locking tab.

[0011] The second locking tab can have a manual release section where an actuating force is applied to the second locking tab in order to deflect the second locking tab elastically, the manual release section being further away from the main body than the further first locking element arranged on the second locking tab.

[0012] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the first locking tab is connected to the second locking tab via at least one connecting web, the connecting web being spaced apart from the main body. This makes the mounting plate even more robust and user-friendly. Additionally, the connecting web can serve as a pivot point and, together with parts of the connector, provide a counter-torque to leverage forces acting on the connector. This is particularly advantageous when using connectors that are actuated via an operating lever to actuate a spring-loaded clamping connection located therein. The connecting web enables improved absorption of the leverage force on the connector by means of an additional contact surface formed by the connecting web on the other component.

[0013] The connecting bridge can, for example, link the manual release sections of the first and second locking tabs together. This has the advantage that only one actuation is required to release both locking tabs from the connector; this actuation can be applied to the connecting bridge.

[0014] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the mounting plate has at least one elongated, rail-like first fixing element on its first main surface. The connector can be positively locked to this first fixing element by sliding the first and second fixing elements into one another in an insertion direction parallel to the first main surface. The rail-like first fixing element allows for a kind of pre-fixation of the connector to the mounting plate, for example, such that the connection between the first and second fixing elements secures the connector to the mounting plate in two spatial directions. Final fixing in the third spatial direction is then achieved by snapping the connector onto the first and / or second locking tab.

[0015] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the at least one first locking element is arranged behind the first fixing element in the insertion direction. This facilitates easy handling of the mounting plate and easy assembly of the connector with the mounting plate.

[0016] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, one, several, or all of the first locking elements are designed as locking elements projecting from the first main surface. The second locking element on the connector can then, for example, be designed as a locking recess. This allows for simple, ergonomic, and reliable locking of the connector to the first main surface. The projecting locking element(s) can, for example, be designed as locking hooks and / or locking elements of a tongue-and-groove connection, for example, with a dovetail profile. Alternatively, one, several, or all of the first locking elements can also be designed as locking elements that do not project from the first main surface, for example, as a locking recess.

[0017] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the mounting plate has a retaining element on its second main surface, with which the mounting plate can be positively locked to another object. This allows for simple and quick attachment of the mounting plate to the other object. For example, the mounting plate can be snapped or clipped onto the other object via the retaining element.

[0018] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the mounting plate has at least one cable fixing area where electrical conductors connected to electrical connectors fixed to the mounting plate can be secured. This has the advantage that the conductors connected to the connector, which is snapped to the mounting plate, can be easily fixed to the mounting plate in the immediate vicinity of the connector. In this way, the mounting plate provides an integrated strain relief device for the electrical conductors. The mounting plate can, for example, have several through-holes in the cable fixing area through which cable fixing devices, such as cable ties, can be passed. The cable fixing area can be formed integrally with the flat plate on which the first snap-in elements are arranged.

[0019] The first locking element can, for example, be aligned with the second locking element of the connector in such a way that the connector can only be attached to the mounting plate in one orientation with its mating face facing the mounting plate. Accordingly, the connector, once attached to the mounting plate, is automatically oriented with its cable exit side facing the manual release section and / or the first locking element of the mounting plate.

[0020] The aforementioned task is also solved by a set consisting of a mounting plate of the type previously described and a connector that has at least one second locking element. The second locking element of the connector is aligned with the first locking element of the mounting plate, thus enabling easy locking of the connector to the mounting plate.

[0021] The aforementioned problem is also solved by a device comprising a mounting plate of the type described above, a connector having at least one second locking element which is locked to the at least one first locking element of the mounting plate by means of the second locking element, and a further object to which the mounting plate is fixed via its retaining element. The advantages described above can also be realized in this way.

[0022] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the further element provides that at least one manual release section is blocked against deflection of the first locking tab. This provides a simple additional means of securing the locking of the connector to the mounting plate.

[0023] A connector can be, for example, a plug or socket part used to establish an electrical connection. The connector can be designed to connect to a mating connector. The connector or mating connector can be, for example, a pin header or a socket header. The connector or mating connector can have, for example, pin contacts or socket contacts.

[0024] For the purposes of the present invention, the indefinite term "a" is not to be understood as a numeral. Therefore, when, for example, a component is mentioned, this is to be interpreted as "at least one component". Where angles are specified in degrees, these refer to a circle of 360 degrees (360°).

[0025] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to exemplary embodiments and drawings.

[0026] They show Fig. 1. A mounting plate in perspective view, Fig. 2 the mounting plate according to Fig. 1 in side view, Fig. 3 the mounting plate according to Fig. 1 in top view, Fig. 4 a connector with two mounting plates attached to it in perspective view, Fig. 5 the order according to Fig. 4 in side view, Fig. 6 the order according to Fig. 5 when attached to another object.

[0027] In the Fig. Figures 1 to 3 show a mounting plate 9, which has a main body 10 in the form of a flat plate. It can be seen that the main body 10 is designed as a relatively flat, planar plate whose thickness is considerably less than its length and width. The thickness of the main body 10 can, for example, be less than 1 / 10 of its largest dimensions (length and width).

[0028] This plate-shaped main body 10 has a first main surface 16 on one side and a second main surface 17 on the opposite side, which are the surfaces of the main body 10 with the largest surface area. A first locking tab 11 and, essentially parallel to and at a certain distance from the first locking tab 11, a second locking tab 12 project from the main body 10 on one narrow side. A first locking element 1 is formed on both the first locking tab 11 and the second locking tab 12, for example, in the form of a projection extending from the first main surface 16. Viewed from the main body 10, the first locking tab 11 has a manual release section 13 behind the first locking element 1. Similarly, the second locking tab 12 has a manual release section 14 behind the first locking element 1. The manual release sections 13 and 14 are connected to each other transversely by a connecting web 15.The connecting web 15 is spaced away from the main body 10, i.e. there is a gap between the connecting web 15 and the main body 10.

[0029] As can be seen, the mounting plate 9 can have at least one or, as shown, two parallel, elongated, rail-like first fixing elements 4 on the first main surface 16. A connector with a second fixing element designed as a counterpart can be positively inserted onto these rail-like first fixing elements 4 in an insertion direction E. In the insertion direction E, the first fixing elements 4 initially have a guide section 40, which serves to guide the connector in a defined manner during the insertion movement. In the insertion direction E, a fixing section 41 adjoins the guide section 40, which can, for example, have a contour with an undercut, e.g., a T-shaped contour in cross-section. An end stop 42 adjoins the fixing section 41, which limits the insertion movement of the connector to a final value.Upon reaching the respective end stop 42 or shortly before it, a second locking element on the connector engages with the respective first locking element 1 on the mounting plate 9.

[0030] It is also apparent that the mounting plate 9 has a retaining element 3 on the second main surface 17, which projects from the second main surface 17. The retaining element 3 is formed by a support arm 31 extending from the second main surface 17 and two spring-elastic locking legs 30. The spring-elastic locking legs 30 extend from the end of the support arm 31 facing away from the second main surface 17 back towards the second main surface 17.

[0031] The Fig. Figure 4 shows a connector 5 having a housing 50. The housing 50 has a mating face 51 on one side. A mating connector designed as a counterpart can be plugged into the connector 5 on the side of the mating face 51 to form an electrical connection.

[0032] On one side of the housing 50, several secondary locking elements 2 are formed, e.g., in the form of recesses into which a respective first locking element 1 can snap and thus lock. Additionally, elongated secondary fixing elements 52 are provided, which, with regard to their shape, are designed as receptacles for the first fixing elements 4 of the mounting plate 9.

[0033] As can be seen, one or more mounting plates 9 can be attached and locked to the connector 5 by means of the first fixing elements 4 and the first locking elements 1. This unit consisting of the connector 5 and the mounting plates 9 can then be attached to another object via the mounting elements 3. It is also conceivable that the several mounting plates 9 shown are combined into one mounting plate with several mounting elements 3 and several first and second locking tabs 11, 12. Accordingly, there may only be one connecting web 15.

[0034] The Fig. 5 shows the arrangement according to Fig. 4 in side view. It can be seen that the mounting plate 9 protrudes slightly beyond the housing 50 of the connector 5 in the area of ​​the connecting web 15 or the manual release sections 13, 14, so that in this state the locking of the mounting plate 9 on the connector 5 can easily be effected by deflecting the first and the second locking tab 11, 12.

[0035] Is the order in accordance Fig. 5 then attached to another object 8, such as the Fig. Figure 6 shows that the mounting plate 10 rests with its second main surface 17 against this further object 8. The deflection of the first and second locking tabs 11, 12 can then be blocked by the further object 8. Reference symbol list 1 first locking element 2 second locking element 3 Mounting element 4 first fixing element 5 connectors 8 other items 9 Mounting plate 10 main bodies 11 first rest tab 12 second rest tab 13 manual solution section 14 manual solution section 15 Connecting bridge 16 first main surface 17 second main surface 40 Guided Section 41 Fixing section 42 End stop 50 cases 51 Steckgesicht 52 second fixing element E Insertion direction QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 20 2017 104 144 U1

[0002]

Claims

[1] Mounting plate (9) with a main body (10) in the form of a flat plate having a first main surface (16) and a second main surface (17) facing away from it, wherein these main surfaces (16, 17) are the surface sides of the main body (10) with the largest area, and with at least one first locking element (1) on which an electrical connector (5) having at least one second locking element (2) can be fixed by its at least one second locking element (2) by positive interlocking of the first locking element (1) with the second locking element (2), characterized by, that the mounting plate (9) has at least one first locking tab (11) which projects from the main body (10) and is elastically deflectable relative to the main body (10), wherein the at least one first locking element (1) is arranged on the first locking tab (11), wherein the locking between the first locking element (1) and the second locking element (2) of the connector (5) can be released by elastically deflecting the first locking tab (11). [2] Mounting plate (9) according to claim 1, characterized by , that the first locking tab (11) has a manual release section (13) at which the first locking tab (11) is subjected to an actuating force in order to deflect the first locking tab (11) elastically, wherein the manual release section (13) is further away from the main body (10) than the first locking element (1) arranged on the first locking tab (11). [3] Mounting plate (9) according to claim 2, characterized by, that the manual release section (13) is arranged in an area of ​​the mounting plate (9) where the mounting plate (9) is arranged on the side facing away from the first main surface (16) to rest on a further object (8) on which the connector (5) is to be fixed by means of the mounting plate (9). [4] Mounting plate (9) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the mounting plate (9) has a second locking tab (12) which projects from the main body (10) at a distance from the first locking tab (11) and is elastically deflectable relative to the main body (10), wherein a further first locking element (1) is arranged on the second locking tab (12), wherein the locking between the further first locking element (1) and a further second locking element (2) of the connector (5) can be released by elastically deflecting the second locking tab (12). [5] Mounting plate (9) according to claim 4, characterized by, that the first locking tab (11) is connected to the second locking tab (12) via at least one connecting web (15), wherein the connecting web (15) is spaced apart from the main body (10). [6] Mounting plate (9) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the mounting plate (9) has at least one elongated, rail-like first fixing element (4) on the first main surface (16), to which the connector (5) can be positively attached with a second fixing element (52) designed as a counterpart on the connector, by sliding the first and the second fixing element (4, 52) into one another in an insertion direction (E) parallel to the first main surface (16). [7] Mounting plate (9) according to claim 6, characterized by , that at least one first locking element (1) is arranged behind the first fixing element (4) in the insertion direction (E). [8] Mounting plate (9) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by, that one, several or all of the first locking elements (1) are designed as locking elements projecting towards the first main surface (16). [9] Mounting plate (9) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the mounting plate (9) has a retaining element (3) on the second main surface (17) with which the mounting plate (9) can be positively fixed to another object (8). [10] Set comprising a mounting plate (9) according to one of the preceding claims and a connector (5) having at least one second locking element (2). [11] Device comprising a mounting plate (9) according to claim 9, a connector (5) having at least one second locking element (2) and being locked to the at least one first locking element (1) of the mounting plate (9) by means of the second locking element (2), and a further object (8) to which the mounting plate (9) is fixed via its retaining element (3). [12] Device according to claim 11, characterized by , that the further object (8) blocks at least one manual release section (13) against deflection of the first locking tab (11).

Images