Electrical connector

Abstract

Electrical connector with a plug (1) and a corresponding mating plug (2), wherein the plug (1) has a plug housing (10) with at least one contact element (11) arranged therein and the mating plug (2) has a mating plug housing (20) with at least one mating contact element (21) arranged therein, wherein the plug (1) has a plug face (12) and the mating plug (2) has a corresponding mating plug face (22) such that the plug (1) and the mating plug (2) can be plugged together, and wherein a detachable locking connection with at least one locking element (3) and at least one counter-locking element (4) is formed between the plug housing (10) and the mating plug housing (20), characterized by that the at least one locking element (3) is located in the area of ​​the plug face (12) and the at least one counter-locking element (4) is located in the area of ​​the mating plug face (22).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an electrical connector with a plug and a corresponding mating plug, wherein the plug has a plug housing with at least one contact element arranged therein, and the mating plug has a mating plug housing with at least one mating contact element arranged therein. The plug has a plug face and the mating plug has a corresponding mating plug face, so that the plug and the mating plug can be mated together. Furthermore, a releasable snap-fit ​​connection with at least one snap-fit ​​element and at least one mating snap-fit ​​element is formed between the plug housing and the mating plug housing.

[0002] Electrical connectors, consisting of a plug and a corresponding mating plug, have been known in various designs for many decades. These connectors serve to detachably connect a single- or multi-core electrical cable to an electrical assembly or to a second single- or multi-core electrical cable. The plug and mating plug have corresponding contact elements, such as a pin contact on the one hand and a corresponding socket contact on the other. Depending on the application, different types and shapes of connectors are available.

[0003] To prevent the plug from unintentionally detaching from its mating connector, different fastening mechanisms are provided depending on the connector type. For example, circular connectors typically have a screw connection between the plug and the mating connector. For this purpose, either the plug or the mating connector has a sleeve with an internal thread, and correspondingly, either the mating connector or the plug has a sleeve with an external thread. Other types of connectors have locking mechanisms on at least one outer surface of the plug housing and the mating connector housing, which allow the plug and mating connector to be locked together during connection. Such a locking mechanism can sometimes be easily released with a screwdriver or a release element located on the connector.

[0004] An electrical connector is known from DE 10 2006 054 647 B4, in which a locking lug is arranged on a first narrow side of the connector housing and a pivotable locking tongue with a recess is arranged on the corresponding narrow side of the mating connector housing. When the connector and mating connector are mated, the locking lug engages in the recess in the locking tongue, so that the connector and mating connector are locked together. To release the locking, a release element is slidably arranged on the first narrow side of the connector housing. If the release element is manually moved into its release position, the locking tongue is pivoted outwards so that the locking lug and the recess of the locking tongue are no longer engaged. The connector and mating connector can then be easily separated from each other.

[0005] A disadvantage of this design, however, is that the width of the plug increases due to the placement of the release element on one of the narrow sides of the plug housing. Furthermore, operating the release element requires that a user can move it with at least one finger, which necessitates access to the narrow side of the plug housing – something that cannot always be guaranteed.

[0006] The present invention is therefore based on the objective of providing a connector in which unintentional separation of plug and mating plug can be prevented without the need for special tools or release elements.

[0007] This problem is solved in the connector described above with the features of claim 1. The connector according to the invention is characterized in that both the at least one locking element and the at least one counter-locking element are arranged in the area of ​​the mating connector face. By arranging the corresponding elements of the locking connection within the respective connector face, it is unnecessary to arrange a locking element or a counter-locking element on the sides of the connector housing or the mating connector housing, so that the width of the connector and the mating connector is not increased by providing the locking connection. Furthermore, the risk of the locking connection being unintentionally unlocked by a user accidentally deflecting the locking element or the counter-locking element and thereby causing the locking connection to unlock is reduced.

[0008] In the electrical connector, the at least one locking element preferably has a locking projection with a locking surface, and the at least one mating locking element has a corresponding rear grip with a mating locking surface. When the plug and mating plug are locked together, the locking surface of the locking projection and the mating locking surface of the mating grip are engaged. For this to occur, the locking projection of the locking element engages with its locking surface against the mating locking surface of the mating grip of the mating locking element.

[0009] According to an advantageous embodiment, which is independent of the specific design of the locking element and the counter-locking element, the at least one locking element and the at least one counter-locking element are designed such that the locking surface and the counter-locking surface are engaged with each other before the plug and the mating plug are fully connected. Such a design, in particular the dimensioning of the locking element and the counter-locking element, ensures that the desired locking action occurs even with tolerance-related deviations in the dimensions of the plug housing and the mating plug housing when the plug and the mating plug are connected.

[0010] The at least one locking element and the at least one counter-locking element are preferably designed, and in particular dimensioned, such that the locking surface and the counter-locking surface are still engaged before the plug and the mating plug are separated to such an extent that the at least one contact element of the plug and the at least one mating contact element of the mating plug are no longer electrically connected. This dimensioning and design of the locking element and the counter-locking element ensures that the locking connection between the plug and the mating plug is still effective before the contact element and the mating contact element are no longer engaged. This ensures that an accidental pulling on the plug or the mating plug does not lead to an interruption of the electrical connection established via the electrical connectors.

[0011] There are various possibilities regarding the design of the at least one locking element and the at least one counter-locking element. According to a first preferred embodiment, the at least one locking element is designed as a locking arm with a locking lug as a locking projection. The at least one counter-locking element is then preferably designed as a pin-shaped or cylindrical section with a recess as a rear grip, behind which the locking lug of the locking arm engages in the locked state. Alternatively, the pin- or cylindrical section can also have a groove as a rear grip, into which the locking lug engages in the locked state. Preferably, at least two locking arms are provided, arranged opposite each other and at least partially concentrically surrounding the pin- or cylindrical counter-locking element.

[0012] In this embodiment of the locking element and the counter-locking element, the locking surface of the locking lug preferably has an angle α ≥ 90° to the longitudinal axis of the connector. Likewise, the counter-locking surface of the recess or groove also preferably has an angle b ≥ 90° to the longitudinal axis of the mating connector. By ensuring that the angle α of the locking surface and the angle b of the counter-locking surface are each > 90°, it is ensured that when a sufficiently large force acts on the connector housing or the mating connector housing in the opposite direction of insertion, the releasable locking connection opens automatically. One of the two angles α or b can also be 90° if the other angle is > 90°. Preferably, however, both the locking surface and the counter-locking surface each have an angle α or b > 90°. According to a preferred embodiment, the angle α and / or the angle b can be up to 160°.The locking surface of the locking lug can, for example, have an angle α of approximately 130° to 160° to the longitudinal axis of the connector, whereby the longitudinal axis of the connector, like the longitudinal axis of the mating connector, runs parallel to the insertion direction of the connector and mating connector. Similarly, the counter-locking surface of the recess or groove can have an angle β of approximately 130° to 160° to the longitudinal axis of the mating connector.

[0013] To facilitate the connection of the plug and mating plug, the locking lug of the at least one locking element preferably has an insertion chamfer. This ensures that, when the plug and mating plug are connected, the locking arm is deflected automatically and without requiring much force as the locking lug with its insertion chamfer is guided past the mating locking element.

[0014] According to a second advantageous embodiment of the electrical connector according to the invention, the at least one locking element and the at least one counter-locking element are each designed as a cylindrical section, wherein the two cylindrical sections are arranged concentrically to each other, so that the cylindrical section of the locking element can be inserted into the cylindrical section of the counter-locking element. The cylindrical section of the locking element has a rib or projection at least partially circumferential as a locking projection, which interacts with a rear grip on the inner circumference of the cylindrical section of the counter-locking element. For this purpose, the cylindrical section of the counter-locking element has an inwardly tapered section and an adjoining widening section on its inner circumference.When the plug and mating plug are connected, the widening section interacts with the circumferential rib of the locking element, with the widening section acting as the rear grip. The outer diameter D1 of the rib or projection is larger than the minimum inner diameter D2 of the tapered section of the locking element.

[0015] When the plug and mating plug are connected, the rib formed on the cylindrical section of the locking element slides along the inner circumference of the cylindrical section of the mating locking element until the rib encounters the tapered section of the mating locking element. As the cylindrical section of the plug is further inserted into the cylindrical section of the mating plug, the cylindrical section of the mating locking element expands elastically and / or the partially circumferential rib is elastically compressed. If the cylindrical section of the locking element with the rib is inserted further into the cylindrical section of the mating locking element, the rib enters the expanding section of the mating locking element, thereby creating the locking connection between the plug and mating plug or between the locking element and the mating locking element.

[0016] In this embodiment of the electrical connector, the locking surface of the locking element's rib preferably has an angle c ≥ 90° to the longitudinal axis of the connector, and the opposing locking surface of the widening section of the opposing locking element has an angle d ≥ 90° to the longitudinal axis of the mating connector. Here too, both angles c and d preferably each have a value greater than 90°, so that the locking connection can open automatically when a sufficiently large force acting against the insertion direction is applied to the connector or the mating connector. If one of the two angles c or d is 90°, the other angle must be greater than 90° to allow the locking connection to open automatically.

[0017] In this embodiment of the electrical connector, the at least partially circumferential rib of the locking element can have an insertion chamfer or rounding to facilitate insertion of the locking element into the mating locking element. For this purpose, the inwardly tapered section of the mating locking element preferably also has an angle e ≥ 90° to the longitudinal axis of the mating connector, so that the rib can slide along the tapered section when the locking element is inserted into the mating locking element without requiring excessive force.

[0018] The angle e of the inwardly tapering section is preferably larger than the angle d of the widening section of the counter-locking element. This results in the force required to insert the locking element into the cylindrical section of the counter-locking element being less than the force required to pull the cylindrical locking element out of the cylindrical counter-locking element, thus releasing the locking connection.

[0019] In both previously described embodiments, the at least one locking element is preferably formed integrally with the connector housing, and the at least one counter-locking element is formed integrally with the mating connector housing. If the connector housing and the mating connector housing are made of plastic, the at least one locking element and the at least one counter-locking element can be manufactured directly during the production of the connector housing and the mating connector housing, respectively, so that the formation of the locking connection does not require an additional manufacturing step.

[0020] According to an alternative embodiment, the at least one locking element and the at least one counter-locking element can also be designed as separate components that are attached, in particular locked, in the connector housing and the mating connector housing in the area of ​​the connector face and the mating connector face, respectively. The locking element can preferably be designed as a locking arm with a locking lug as a locking projection, while the counter-locking element is preferably pin- or cylinder-shaped and has a recess or groove as a rear grip. The design of the locking element and the counter-locking element can therefore be essentially as described previously in connection with the first preferred embodiment.If the locking element and the counter-locking element are designed as separate components, they can be made of either plastic, as is usually the case with the plug housing and the mating plug housing, or of a metallic material.

[0021] In detail, there are several ways to design and further develop the connector according to the invention. Reference is made to both the individual claims and the following description of two preferred embodiments in conjunction with the drawing. The drawing shows: Fig. 1. A perspective view of a plug and mating plug of an electrical connector, in the unconnected state. Fig. 2 a sectional view of the plug and the mating plug according to Fig. 1, in the unassembled state, Fig. 3 a sectional view of the plug and the mating plug according to Fig. 2, in the assembled state, Fig. 4 an enlarged detail view of the plug from Fig. 2, Fig. 5 an enlarged detail view of the mating connector from Fig. 2, Fig. 6 An enlarged detail view of the plug and mating plug in the connected state according to Fig. 3, Fig. 7 A perspective view of a plug and mating plug of a second embodiment of an electrical connector, in the unplugged state, Fig. 8 a sectional view of the plug and the mating plug according to Fig. 7, in the unassembled state, Fig. 9 a sectional view of the plug and mating plug according to Fig. 8, when assembled, Fig. 10 an enlarged detail view of the plug made of Fig. 8, Fig. 11 an enlarged detail view of the mating connector from Fig. 8, Fig. 12 an enlarged detail view of the plug and mating plug, in the connected state, according to Fig. 9, and Fig. 13 a sectional view of a variant of the plug and mating plug according to Fig. 8, in the unassembled state.

[0022] The Fig. Figures 1 to 6 and 7 to 12 show two different embodiments of an electrical connector according to the invention, which consists of a plug 1 and a corresponding mating plug 2. Fig. 1 and Fig. Figure 7 shows a plug 1 and a mating plug 2 of a connector in perspective view, in the unconnected state, with the plug 1 and the mating plug 2 arranged next to each other. Fig. 2 and Fig. Figure 8 shows a cross-sectional view of plug 1 and mating plug 2 arranged one above the other, but not yet plugged together, as shown in the Fig. 3 and Fig. 9 is shown.

[0023] The plug 1 has a plug housing 10 with several contact elements 11 arranged therein. Correspondingly, the mating plug 2 has a mating plug housing 20, also with several mating contact elements 21 arranged therein, wherein the number of contact elements 11 corresponds to the number of mating contact elements 21. Of course, the number of contact elements 11 and the number of mating contact elements 21 are not limited to the exemplary number shown in the figures. In the illustrated embodiment, the contact elements 11 are designed as socket contacts and the mating contact elements 21 as pin contacts, although other types of contact elements or mating contact elements are also possible in principle.

[0024] The connector 1 has a connector face 12, for which a corresponding mating connector face 22 is formed on the mating connector 2, so that the connector 1 and the mating connector 2 can be plugged together with the connector face 12 and the mating connector face 22, respectively. In the electrical connector according to the invention, a detachable locking connection is formed between the connector 1 or the connector housing 10 and the mating connector 2 or the mating connector housing 20, which consists of at least one locking element 3 and at least one counter-locking element 4, wherein the at least one locking element 3 is arranged in the region of the connector face 12 and the at least one counter-locking element 4 is arranged in the region of the mating connector face 22. The locking element 3 has a locking projection with a locking surface 13, for which a corresponding rear grip with a counter-locking surface 23 is formed on the counter-locking element 4.

[0025] In the Fig. In the first embodiment shown in figures 1 to 6, two locking elements 3 are provided, each designed as a locking arm 14, wherein the two locking arms 14 each have a locking lug 15 at their free ends, which are made in particular of Fig. 4 is evident. In this embodiment, the counter-locking element 4 is designed as a pin-shaped section 24 which has a recess 25 that serves as a rear grip for the locking lugs 15 of the two locking arms 14. A preferred form of the pin-shaped section 24 is, in particular, made of Fig. 5 is evident. The pin-shaped section 24 has a free end 26, the diameter D4 of which is larger than the distance A between the two opposing locking lugs 15 of the two locking arms 14.

[0026] As can be seen from a synthesis of the Fig. 2 and Fig. As can be seen in Figure 3, when plug 1 and mating plug 2 are connected, the plug housing 10 with its plug face 12 engages with the mating plug face 22 of the mating plug housing 20, so that the two locking arms 14 are initially pushed apart by the free end 26 of the pin-shaped section 24. If plug 1 is inserted further into mating plug 2 in the insertion direction S, the two locking arms 14 spring back as soon as the locking lugs 15 have passed the free end 26 of the pin-shaped section 24. The locking surfaces 13 of the locking lugs 15 then engage with the counter-locking surface 23 of the retraction 25, so that plug 1 and mating plug 2 can no longer be unintentionally separated from each other by the locking connection that is now in effect.To separate plug 1 and mating plug 2, a certain force must be applied in the opposite direction of insertion S. This force not only pulls plug 1 and mating plug 2 apart, but also first releases the locking connection between the locking lugs 15 and the return recess 25.

[0027] The force required to intentionally release the locking connection can be determined by selecting the stiffness of the two locking arms 14 and, in particular, by the inclination of the locking surface 13 and the mating locking surface 23. To enable automatic opening of the locking connection, the locking surface 13 of the two locking lugs 15 has an angle a ≥ 90° to the longitudinal axis L of the connector 1, and the mating locking surface 23 of the recess 25 has an angle b ≥ 90°. Ideally, only one of the two angles a, b should be 90°, as otherwise, automatic opening of the locking connection by pulling on the connector 1 or the mating connector 2 against the insertion direction S is not possible. The smaller the two angles a, b, the more force is required to release the locking connection. In the illustrated embodiment, the angle a of the locking surface 13 of the locking lugs 15 is approximately 100° to 120° and the angle b of the counter locking surface 23 is approximately 100° to 115°.However, both angles a and b can also be chosen to be larger, for example 130° to 160°.

[0028] To ensure that the force required to connect plug 1 and mating plug 2 is not too great due to the design of the locking connection, the locking lugs 15 of the two locking arms 14 each have an insertion chamfer 16. Furthermore, the free end 26 of the pin-shaped section 24 is preferably slightly rounded on the side facing away from the recess 25 or also has corresponding insertion chamfers, so that the two locking arms 14 are more easily deflected by the free end 26 of the pin-shaped section 24 when the plug housing 10 and the mating plug housing 20 are connected.

[0029] The Fig. Figures 7 to 12 show a second embodiment of an electrical connector according to the invention, which differs from the first embodiment in particular by a different design of the locking element 3 and the mating locking element 4. In this embodiment, the locking element 3 is designed as a cylindrical section 17, which has a rib 18 that is at least partially circumferential and serves as a locking projection. Correspondingly, the mating connector housing 20 has a similarly cylindrical section 27 as a mating locking element 4 in the area of ​​the mating connector face 22, into which the cylindrical section 17 of the connector housing 10 is inserted when the connector 1 and mating connector 2 are plugged together.The cylindrical section 27 of the mating connector 2 has an inwardly tapered section 28 on an inner circumference and a widening section 29 adjoining it in the longitudinal axis L of the mating connector 2 as a rear grip, as shown in the sectional view according to . Fig. 8 and Fig. 9 and the enlarged illustration according to Fig. 11 is evident.

[0030] From the Fig. As can be seen in Figures 10 to 12, the outer diameter D1 of the rib 18 is slightly larger than the minimum inner diameter D2 of the tapered section 28. Furthermore, the diameter D3 at the end of the widening section 29 essentially corresponds to the outer diameter D1 of the rib 18 or is preferably slightly larger than the outer diameter D1, so that the cylindrical section 27 is not widened by the rib 18 when the rib is located behind the widening section 29 in the insertion direction S, as shown in Figure 10 to 12. Fig. 12 is shown.

[0031] In this embodiment of the electrical connector, the force required to release the locking connection can also be determined by the stiffness of the locking element 3 and the mating locking element 4, and in particular by the inclinations of the corresponding locking surfaces 13, 23. The locking surface 13 of the rib 18 has an angle c ≥ 90° to the longitudinal axis L of the connector 1, and the mating locking surface 23 of the widening section 29 has an angle d ≥ 90°. Preferably, both the angle c and the angle d are between 130° and 160°, so that the force required to release the locking connection is not too great.

[0032] Apart from the angle c of the locking surface 13 and the angle d of the counter-locking surface 23, the force required to release the locking connection in the second embodiment also depends in particular on the difference between the outer diameter D1 of the rib 18 and the minimum inner diameter D2 of the tapered section 28 of the counter-locking element 4, since when plugging together the connector housing 10 and the mating connector housing 20, the cylindrical section 27 in the mating connector face 22 must be elastically expanded when the rib 18 passes the tapered section 28.

[0033] To facilitate the insertion of the cylindrical section 17 into the cylindrical section 27, the inwardly tapered section 28 has an angle e ≥ 90°, in particular > 130°, with respect to the longitudinal axis L of the mating connector 2. The angle e of the inwardly tapered section 28 is preferably larger than the angle d of the widening section 29, so that less force is required to connect the connector 1 and mating connector 2 than to release the locking connection.

[0034] Fig. Figure 13 shows a variant of the second embodiment of the connector. A comparison with the sectional view according to Fig. 8 and Fig.Figure 9 shows that in this variant, a contact element 11 and a mating contact element 21 are also arranged in the area of ​​the locking connection. The bushing-shaped contact element 11 is located within the cylindrical section 17, set back from the rib 18. The pin-shaped contact element 21 extends through the cylindrical section 27 and has a radial distance to the tapered section 28. Reference sign 1. Plug 2. Counter plug 3. Locking element 4. Counter-locking element 10. Connector housing 11. Contact element 12. Plug face 13. Rest area 14. Locking arm 15. Rastnase 16. Lead-in chamfer 17. cylindrical section 18th rib 20. Mating connector housing 21. Counter contact element 22. Counter-plug face 23. Counter-resting surface 24. pin-shaped section 25. Jump back 26. Free ending 27. cylindrical section 28th rejuvenating section 29. widening section S Plug direction L Longitudinal axis 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 10 2006 054 647 B4

[0004]

Claims

[1] Electrical connector comprising a plug (1) and a corresponding mating plug (2), wherein the plug (1) has a plug housing (10) with at least one contact element (11) arranged therein and the mating plug (2) has a mating plug housing (20) with at least one mating contact element (21) arranged therein, wherein the plug (1) has a plug face (12) and the mating plug (2) has a corresponding mating plug face (22) such that the plug (1) and the mating plug (2) can be plugged together, and wherein a detachable locking connection with at least one locking element (3) and at least one counter-locking element (4) is formed between the plug housing (10) and the mating plug housing (20), characterized by , that the at least one locking element (3) is located in the area of ​​the plug face (12) and the at least one counter-locking element (4) is located in the area of ​​the mating plug face (22). [2] Electrical connector according to claim 1, characterized by , that the at least one locking element (3) has a locking projection with a locking surface (13) and the at least one counter-locking element (4) has a corresponding rear grip with a counter-locking surface (23). [3] Electrical connector according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by , that the at least one locking element (3) and the at least one counter-locking element (4) are designed such that the locking surface (13) and the counter-locking surface (23) are engaged with each other before the plug (1) and the mating plug (2) are fully plugged together. [4] Electrical connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by, that the at least one locking element (3) and the at least one counter-locking element (4) are designed such that the locking surface (13) and the counter-locking surface (23) are still engaged with each other before the plug (1) and the mating plug (2) are separated from each other to such an extent that the at least one contact element (11) and the at least one counter-contact element (21) are no longer electrically connected to each other. [5] Electrical connector according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by , that the at least one locking element (3) is designed as a locking arm (14) which has a locking nose (15) as a locking projection, and that the at least one counter-locking element (4) is designed as a pin-shaped or cylindrical section (24) which has a recess (25) or a groove as a rear grip. [6] Electrical connector according to claim 5, characterized by, that the locking surface (13) of the locking lug (15) to the longitudinal axis (L) of the plug (1) has an angle a ≥ 90° and the counter locking surface (23) of the recess (25) or the groove to the longitudinal axis (L) of the mating plug (2) has an angle b ≥ 90°, wherein only either the angle a = 90° or the angle b = 90°. [7] Electrical connector according to claim 5 or 6, characterized by , that the locking lug (15) of the at least one locking element (3) has an insertion ramp (16). [8] Electrical connector according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by, that the at least one locking element (3) is designed as a cylindrical section (17) which has an at least partially circumferential rib (18) as a locking projection, and that the at least one counter-locking element (4) is designed as a cylindrical section (27) which has on its inner circumference an inwardly tapered section (28) and an adjoining widening section (29) as a rear grip, wherein the outer diameter D1 of the rib (18) is larger than the minimum inner diameter D2 of the tapered section (28) of the counter-locking element (4). [9] Electrical connector according to claim 8, characterized by, that the locking surface (13) of the rib (18) of the locking element (3) to the longitudinal axis (L) of the plug (1) has an angle c ≥ 90° and the counter locking surface (23) of the widening section (29) of the counter locking element (4) to the longitudinal axis (L) of the mating plug (2) has an angle d ≥ 90°, wherein only either the angle c = 90° or the angle d = 90°. [10] Electrical connector according to claim 8 or 9, characterized by , that the inwardly tapered section (28) of the counter-locking element (4) has an angle e ≥ 90° to the longitudinal axis (L) of the mating plug (2). [11] Electrical connector according to any one of claims 8 to 10, characterized by , that the angle e of the inwardly tapering section (29) is preferably larger than the angle d of the widening section (28) of the counter-locking element (4). [12] Electrical connector according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized by, that the at least one locking element (3) is formed integrally with the connector housing (10) and the at least one counter-locking element (4) is formed integrally with the mating connector housing (20).

Images