Connector housing for a connector

Abstract

Connector housing (1) for a connector, comprising a base body (2) which is designed to house the connector at least in sections, and a fastening element (3) with which the base body (2) can be fastened to a component, where the fastening element (3) has a connecting side (4) on which the fastening element (3) is connected to an outer side (5) of the base body (2), an orientation of the fastening element (3) in relation to the base body (2) is defined by a positioning element (6) which is arranged between the connecting side (4) and the outer side (5) in a receiving element (7), a plurality of receiving elements (7) is provided and the orientation of the fastening element (3) in relation to the base body (2) is different if the positioning element (6) is arranged in different receiving elements (7).

Description

Technical area

[0001] The invention relates to a connector housing for a connector that can be attached to components. State of the art

[0002] Connectors are generally used to connect, particularly detachably connect, signal lines that transmit signals, and in particular data, electrically or optically. However, in certain applications, such as motor vehicles, additional requirements are placed on connectors. For example, connectors must be positioned as precisely as possible within the vehicle, while remaining in their original position during normal use of the vehicle. This makes it possible to quickly locate existing connections via connectors, for example to disconnect them or replace a cable. Furthermore, connectors must be prevented from generating noise due to vibrations that occur during vehicle use.To ensure this, connectors are often equipped with retaining devices that allow the connector to be attached to surrounding components, such as a body component. These retaining devices are often formed integrally with the connector housing and allow either direct attachment to a component or the attachment of devices, such as a retaining clip, that enable connection to the component.

[0003] The disadvantage of these holding devices, which are formed in one piece with the connector housing, is that they are only suitable for a few installation or connection scenarios, since it is not possible to adapt the holding device to more specific conditions. Description of the invention

[0004] It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a possibility for fastening a connector to another component which overcomes the disadvantage mentioned in the prior art and in particular has a greater degree of flexibility with regard to different installation or connection scenarios.

[0005] The object of the invention is achieved by a connector housing having the features of the independent claims; further advantageous embodiments of the invention can be found in the subclaims, the description and the drawings.

[0006] A connector housing according to the invention for a connector has a base body and a fastening element. The base body is designed to house the connector at least in sections. For this purpose, the base body can have a contact channel into which the connector can be inserted. The base body preferably has a plug-in side to which the connector housing can be connected to a mating connector. Furthermore, the base body preferably has a rear side via which the connector can be inserted into the base body. The rear side and plug-in side can be arranged opposite one another. The contact channel particularly preferably extends from the rear side to the plug-in side and is particularly preferably accessible from both of these sides. The base body can be fastened to a component, for example a body component, using the fastening element.The fastening element has a connecting side at which the fastening element is connected to an outer side of the base body. The outer side preferably extends between the rear side and the plug-in side. The connecting side is preferably arranged parallel to the outer side and particularly preferably rests against the outer side. An orientation of the fastening element in relation to the base body is defined by a positioning element which is arranged between the connecting side and the outer side in a receiving element. A plurality of receiving elements is provided. The orientation of the fastening element in relation to the base body differs if the positioning element is arranged in different receiving elements. The positioning element can be arranged both on the fastening element, in particular on the connecting side, and on the base body, in particular the outer side.The receiving elements are arranged complementarily to the positioning element. In this context, "complementary" can be understood to mean that the receiving elements are arranged on the component on which the positioning element is not arranged. Thus, if the positioning element is arranged on the base body, in particular on the outer side, the receiving elements are arranged on the fastening element, in particular on the connecting side. If, however, the positioning element is arranged on the fastening element, in particular on the connecting side, the receiving elements are arranged on the base body, in particular on the outer side.

[0007] In this context, alignment can be understood as an angle that the longest side of the fastening element encloses with a plug-in axis of the base body.

[0008] The connector housing according to the invention allows the fastening element to be adjusted in its orientation relative to the base body and thus adapted to different application scenarios without requiring multiple variants of the base body and / or fastening element. Instead, identical parts can be used that can be adapted to the respective circumstances.

[0009] The base body and the fastening element can be connected to one another, in particular detachably, by means of a connecting element. The connecting element can be arranged both on the fastening element and on the base body. Preferably, the respective component that does not have the connecting element has a counter-element that can be connected to the connecting element. The connecting element not only makes it easy to connect the base body to the fastening element, but also allows for adjustment of the alignment, since after the connection has been released, it is possible to reconnect it in a different orientation.

[0010] It is particularly preferred that the connecting element be designed as a locking hook. This allows for a particularly simple connection between the fastening element and the base body. In this case, the counter element is preferably designed as a locking receptacle.

[0011] The plurality of receiving elements can be arranged, in particular symmetrically, around the connecting element. Depending on the number, the receiving elements can be arranged mirror-symmetrically or rotationally symmetrically around the connecting element. In this way, a change in orientation corresponds to a rotation of the fastening element relative to the base body in defined angular segments around the connecting element.

[0012] Particularly preferably, the receiving elements are arranged at an angular spacing of 90 degrees, more preferably 45 degrees, around the connecting element. This allows for a particularly high number of orientation options for the fastening element in relation to the base body.

[0013] The connecting element can be arranged between at least two receiving elements. In this way, the fastening element can also be arranged in an orientation that is opposite to at least one other orientation. Particularly with a circular arrangement of the receiving elements around the connecting element, it can be advantageous for the connecting element to always be arranged between two receiving elements. This allows an opposite orientation to be represented for each orientation.

[0014] The number of positioning elements can correspond to the number of receiving elements. Preferably, each positioning element is arranged in a receiving element. In this way, the positioning elements not only serve to align the fastener, but also ensure that it maintains this alignment under higher loads. This is primarily due to the fact that acting forces can be diverted across multiple positioning elements.

[0015] The positioning element can be designed as a web or a cam. Preferably, the receiving elements have a contour that corresponds to the complementary contour of the web or cam, so that the positioning elements can be received by the receiving elements.

[0016] The positioning element can be formed integrally with the fastening element or the base body. Particularly preferably, the positioning element is formed of the same material, in particular plastic, as the fastening element or the base body. This allows for particularly simple production.

[0017] The outer side can be adjacent to a plug-in side and / or a connection side. Preferably, the outer side connects the plug-in side to the connection side. Furthermore, the outer side is arranged perpendicular to the plug-in side and / or the connection side.

[0018] The fastening element can be designed as a fastening clip or a retaining rail. This offers the advantage that no additional components are required to connect the fastening element to the other component.

[0019] Furthermore, further advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments. The features described there and above can be implemented individually or in combination, provided the features do not contradict each other. The following description of the preferred embodiments is made with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings: Fig. 1 a three-dimensional view of a first embodiment of a connector housing according to the invention; Fig. 2 shows a further three-dimensional view of the first embodiment of a connector housing according to the invention; Fig. 3 is a three-dimensional exploded view of the first embodiment of the connector housing according to the invention; Fig. 4 is a three-dimensional exploded view of a second embodiment of the connector housing according to the invention; and Fig. 5 a three-dimensional exploded view of a third embodiment of the connector housing according to the invention.

[0020] Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of a connector housing 1 according to the invention in a three-dimensional view. The connector housing 1 comprises a base body 2 and a fastening element 3. The base body 2 has a plug-in side 9 and a rear side 10. Furthermore, the base body 2 has a contact channel 12 which extends from the rear side 10 to the plug-in side 9 and is accessible from both sides. The contact channel 12 serves to accommodate a connector (not shown). The fastening element 3 is arranged in a first orientation relative to the base body 2. The orientation is perpendicular to a plug-in axis y. The fastening element is designed as a fastening rail so that a fastening clip can be arranged on the fastening element.

[0021] Fig. Figure 2 shows the first embodiment of the connector housing 1 according to the invention in a further three-dimensional view. The fastening element 3 has an orientation in relation to the base body that differs from the orientation shown in Fig. 1 is shown.

[0022] Fig. 3 shows the first embodiment of the connector housing 1 according to the invention in a three-dimensional exploded view. The fastening element 3 has a connecting side 4, with which the fastening element 3 is connected to an outer side 5 of the base body 2. In the present embodiment, the connection is made via a connecting element 8 on the connecting side 4 of the fastening element 3, which is connected to a counter-element 11 on the outer side 5 of the base body 2. The connecting element 8 is designed as a latching hook, while the counter-element 11 is designed as a latching receptacle. The fastening element 3 further has a positioning element 6 on its connecting side 3, which protrudes from the connecting side 5. The positioning element 6 is formed integrally with the fastening element 3 and has the shape of a web.The base body 2 has two receiving elements 7 on its outer side, which have the complementary shape of the positioning element 6. The positioning element 6 can be arranged in both receiving elements 7, whereby the orientation of the fastening element 3 in relation to the base body depends on the receiving element 7 in which the positioning element 6 is arranged.

[0023] Fig. 4 shows a three-dimensional exploded view of a second embodiment of the connector housing according to the invention. The positioning element 6 is designed as a cam that protrudes from the connection side 4. Three receiving elements 7 in the form of round recesses are arranged on the base side 5. One receiving element 7 is enclosed by the two remaining receiving elements 7, wherein the enclosed receiving element 7 forms an angle of 90 degrees with the adjacent receiving elements 7, the connecting element 8 and the counter element 11, respectively. The fastening element 3 can thus be arranged in three different orientations on the base body, two of which are opposite to each other.

[0024] Fig.5 shows a three-dimensional exploded view of a third embodiment of the connector housing 1 according to the invention. The fastening element 3 has eight positioning elements 6 on its connection side 4, which are arranged radially around the connecting element 8. Two adjacent positioning elements 6 form an angle of 45 degrees. The connecting element 8 is arranged between two positioning elements 6. The base body 2 has eight receiving elements 7 on its outer side 5, in which the positioning elements 6 are arranged. Each positioning element 6 can be positioned in each receiving element 7, with all positioning elements 6 always being arranged in a receiving element 7. The fastening element 3 can thus be arranged in eight orientations on the base body 2. LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS 1 connector housing 2 basic bodies 3 Fastening element 4 Connection side 5 Outside 6 Positioning element 7 Recording element 8 Connecting element 9 Plug-in side 10 Connection side 11 Counter element 12 contact channel

Claims

[1] Connector housing (1) for a connector, comprising a base body (2) which is designed to house the connector at least in sections, and a fastening element (3) with which the base body (2) can be fastened to a component, where the fastening element (3) has a connecting side (4) on which the fastening element (3) is connected to an outer side (5) of the base body (2), an orientation of the fastening element (3) in relation to the base body (2) is defined by a positioning element (6) which is arranged between the connecting side (4) and the outer side (5) in a receiving element (7), a plurality of receiving elements (7) is provided and the orientation of the fastening element (3) in relation to the base body (2) is different if the positioning element (6) is arranged in different receiving elements (7). [2] Connector housing (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the base body (2) and the fastening element (3) are connected to one another by means of a connecting element (8), in particular detachably. [3] Connector housing (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the connecting element (8) is designed as a latching hook. [4] Connector housing (1) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the plurality of receiving elements (7) are arranged, in particular symmetrically, around the connecting element (8). [5] Connector housing (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the receiving elements (7) are arranged at an angular distance of 90 degrees, more preferably 45 degrees, around the connecting element (8). [6] Connector housing (1) according to one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the connecting element (8) is arranged, in particular centrally, at least between two receiving elements (7). [7] Connector housing (1) according to one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the number of positioning elements (6) corresponds to the number of receiving elements (7). [8] Connector housing (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the positioning element (6) is designed as a web or as a cam. [9] Connector housing (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the positioning element (6) is formed integrally with the fastening element (3) or the base body (2). [10] Connector housing (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the outer side (5) adjoins a plug-in side (9) and / or a connection side (10) of the base body (2). [11] Connector housing (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the fastening element (3) is designed as a fastening clip or as a holding rail.

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