Connector assembly with locking unit

Abstract

Connector arrangement (1) with a connector (2) comprising a housing (3), a locking unit (4) and a locking arm (5) and a mating connector (6) which has a plug chamber (7) into which the connector (2) can be inserted into a connection position, where the housing (3) has a plug-in side (8), a back (9) and a base (10) connecting the plug-in side (8) and the back (9), in the connection position the locking arm (5) is in a rest position in engagement with a locking receptacle (11) of the mating connector (6), the locking unit (4) is movably arranged on the base side (10) between a locking position, in which the locking unit (4) locks the locking arm (5) in the rest position and a release position, in which the locking arm (5) can be moved from its rest position, the fuse unit (4) has a base part (12) and a fuse arm (13) extending away from the base part (12) towards the plug-in side (8), the locking arm (13) has a stop element (14) which, in the release position outside the connection position, abuts a stop element (15) arranged on the housing (3), so that movement of the locking unit (4) into the locking position is blocked, the locking unit (4) is rotatable in the release position about a rotation axis (16) perpendicular to the base side (10), the safety arm (13) has a deflection structure (17) at an end facing away from the base part (12), the mating connector (6) has a counter stop element (18), the counter-stop element (18) is designed such that, when moving into the connection position, the counter-stop element (18) strikes the deflection structure (17) and rotates the locking unit (4) about the axis of rotation (16), so that the stop element (14) is arranged offset from the stop element (15) and In the connected position, the locking unit (4) can be moved into the locking position.

Description

Technical field

[0001] The invention relates to a connector arrangement comprising a connector, a fuse unit and a mating connector, in particular for connecting at least one cable to another electrical component. State of the art

[0002] Connector systems are typically used for the detachable connection of cables to electrical components. Connectors usually have contact parts that connect to the conductive parts of the cable or component to establish an electrical connection between the cable and the component being connected. Furthermore, a connector typically has a housing part for each mating part. The housing part is mechanically connected either to the component or the cable, or to the contact parts. Additionally, the housing parts of the mating parts can be detachably connected to each other to create an extra connection. This extra connection protects the conductive connection of the contact parts and makes the connection between the mating parts more stable and resistant to external influences.If the connection of the housing parts is achieved using a positive locking mechanism, for example via snap connections, a so-called connector position lock may be necessary to prevent the snap connection from unintentionally or accidentally releasing. Such connector position locks are known, for example, from US 9,054,458 B1, US 10,355,414 B1 and DE 10 2020 122 660 A1.

[0003] However, the known plug-in systems with position locks have the disadvantage that high mechanical stresses can occur, especially when moving the position lock, which can reduce the service life of the position lock. Description of the invention

[0004] It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a plug-in system with position locking that enables actuation of the position locking mechanism and reduces or avoids high mechanical stresses acting on the position locking mechanism.

[0005] The problem according to the invention is solved by a connector arrangement with the features of the independent claim. Further advantageous embodiments of the invention can be found in the dependent claims, the description, and the drawings.

[0006] A connector assembly according to the invention comprises a connector and a mating connector. The connector has a housing, a locking element, and a locking arm. The locking arm can be formed integrally with the housing and made of the same material. The mating connector has a mating chamber into which the connector can be inserted into a mating position. The housing has a mating side, a rear side, and a base connecting the mating side and the rear side. Preferably, the locking arm is connected to the housing in the region of the mating side. Furthermore, the locking arm can extend from the mating side towards the rear side, parallel to the base side and spaced apart from the base side. In the mating position, the locking arm is engaged in a locking receptacle of the mating connector in a rest position. The locking element is movably attached to the base side between a locking position and a release position.In the locked position, the locking unit locks the locking arm in its rest position, preventing it from leaving this position. In the released position, the locking unit releases the locking arm, allowing it to move from its rest position. The locking unit comprises a base and a locking arm extending from the base towards the mating side. The locking arm has a stop element that, in the released position, abuts a stop element located on the housing when the arm is outside the mating position. This contact of the stop element with the stop element blocks movement of the locking unit into the locked position. In the released position, the locking unit is rotatable about an axis of rotation perpendicular to the base. This axis of rotation preferably runs perpendicular to the base. The locking arm has a deflection structure at one end, opposite the base.The mating connector has a counter-stop element. This counter-stop element is designed such that, when moved into the connection position, it abuts the deflection structure, deflects, and rotates the locking unit around its axis of rotation. This rotation of the locking unit displaces the stop element relative to the locking element, allowing the locking unit to be moved into the locked position when connected.

[0007] Due to the design of the connector arrangement according to the invention, the locking unit is arranged on the housing without tension in both the release and locking positions. By rotating the locking unit about the axis of rotation, the entire locking unit can be moved to offset the locking arm, and thus the stop element, relative to the stop element. Elastic deformation of the swivel arm or the base part, such as bending, which would lead to mechanical stresses in the locking unit, can be avoided.

[0008] Both the base and the locking arm can rotate together around the axis of rotation. This ensures, with exceptional reliability, that no mechanical stresses occur during the use of the locking unit. Furthermore, the base and the locking arm can be made of the same material and manufactured as a single piece.

[0009] The locking unit can have a smaller distance to the rear in the release position than in the locking position. This makes it easy to visually determine the position of the locking unit.

[0010] The locking unit can be moved between the locking position and the release position parallel to a plug axis. This simplifies the handling and assembly of the connector assembly. After the plugging process, i.e., once the connector and mating connector are in the mating position, the locking unit can be moved from the release position to the locking position by a simple additional movement of the installer's hand.

[0011] The safety unit can include a guide element that directs its movement around the axis of rotation. A guide element, in particular, enables reliable, uniform, and repeatable rotation of the safety unit.

[0012] The guide element can extend in an arc from the base part or the locking arm. Furthermore, the guide element can be formed integrally with the base part or the locking arm and made of the same material. Preferably, the arc shape of the guide element defines the rotational movement of the locking unit.

[0013] The guide element can rest against a first housing wall in the release position. The first housing wall preferably extends perpendicular to the base and parallel to the plug axis. By resting the guide element against the first housing wall in the release position, a defined position of the locking unit in the release position can be created.

[0014] The first housing wall can have a first through-opening in which the guide element is at least partially arranged in the locking position. The through-opening preferably extends perpendicular to the first housing wall and parallel to the base. By arranging the guide element in the first through-opening in the locking position, the guide element can be used to define the position of the locking position.

[0015] The locking unit may have a fastening element on a side facing away from the guide element, which holds the locking unit in the release position and / or the locking position. The fastening element may be made of the same material and be integral with the locking unit. The locking unit may be fixed in the release position and / or the locking position by the fastening element and / or the guide element.

[0016] The fastening element can rest against a second housing wall in the release position. The second housing wall is preferably arranged parallel to the first housing wall. Furthermore, it is preferred that the base is positioned between the first housing wall and the second housing wall.

[0017] The second housing wall can have a second through-opening, and the fastening element can be located at least partially within this second through-opening when in the locked position. The second through-opening is preferably offset from the first through-opening.

[0018] The second housing wall may have a third through-opening, wherein the locking unit may have a mounting arm extending parallel to the locking arm from the base part. The fastening element may be arranged at one end of the mounting arm facing away from the base part. The mounting arm may be positioned within the third through-opening in the release position. The mounting arm, the fastening element, and the locking unit may be manufactured as a single piece from a single material. The mounting arm may additionally secure the locking unit in the release position by being positioned within the third through-opening.

[0019] In the locked position, the mounting arm can rest against a section of the second housing wall that separates the second through-opening from the third through-opening. This allows the locking unit to be held in the locked position perpendicular to the plug axis.

[0020] Furthermore, additional 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 that the features do not contradict each other. The following description of the preferred embodiments is given with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0021] This shows: Fig. 1 a three-dimensional exploded view of a first embodiment of a connector arrangement according to the invention; Fig. 2 a sectional view of the first embodiment of the connector arrangement according to the invention outside a connection position; Fig. 3 a further sectional view of the first embodiment of the connector arrangement according to the invention, in the connection position, wherein the locking unit is arranged in a release position, Fig. 4 a further sectional view of the first embodiment of the connector arrangement according to the invention, in the connection position, wherein the locking unit is arranged in a locking position, Fig. 5 an alternative sectional view of the first embodiment in the area of ​​the base side, wherein the locking unit is arranged in the release position and Fig. 6 another alternative sectional view of the first embodiment in the area of ​​the base side, wherein the locking unit is arranged in the locking position.

[0022] Fig. Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of a connector arrangement 1 according to the invention in a perspective exploded view. The connector arrangement 1 comprises a connector 2, a mating connector 6, and a locking unit 4. The mating connector 6 has a mating chamber 7 into which the connector 2 can be inserted, so that the connector 2 and the mating connector 6 are arranged in a connected position. The connector 2 has a housing 3. The housing 3 has a mating side 8 and a rear side 9 opposite the mating side 8. A base 10 extends from the mating side 8 to the rear side 9 parallel to a mating axis 19. A locking arm 5 is integrally and uniformly connected to the housing at the mating side 8. The locking arm 5 extends from the mating side 8 parallel to the mating axis 19 and at a distance from the base 10 towards the rear side 9.The locking arm 5 can be connected in the connection position to a locking receptacle 11 in the mating connector 6, so that a positive-locking connection is created between the connector 2 and the mating connector 6 by the locking arm 5 and the locking receptacle 11. The locking unit 4 is arranged on the base side 10 between a first housing wall 21 and a second housing wall 24. The first and second housing walls 21 and 24 are arranged parallel to each other and perpendicular to the base side 10. The locking unit is movable between a release position and a locking position. The locking unit has a base part 12 and a locking arm 13 extending away from the base part 12 towards the mating side 9.

[0023] Fig. Figure 2 shows a sectional view of the connector arrangement 1 according to the invention in the first embodiment. The section plane runs parallel to the base 10, with the base 10 facing the viewer. The connector 2 and the mating connector 6 are arranged outside the connection position. The locking unit 4 is arranged in the release position on the base 10. The locking unit 4 has a stop element 14 that abuts a stop element 15 on the housing 3. In the present embodiment, the stop element 15 is also part of the first housing wall 21. By abutting the stop element 14 against the stop element 15, movement of the locking unit 4 from the release position to the locked position is blocked.The locking unit 4 has an arc-shaped guide element 20 and a fastening element 23, the fastening element 23 being connected to the base part via a fastening arm 27. The fastening arm 27, or the fastening element 23, is arranged on a side of the base part 12 opposite the side on which the guide element 20 is arranged. The guide element 20 rests against the first housing wall 21 without tension, while the fastening element rests against the second housing wall 24 without tension. The fastening arm 27 is arranged in a third through-opening 26 in the second housing wall 24 and prevents movement of the locking unit towards the rear 9. The locking arm has a deflection structure 17 at one end facing away from the base part 12, which in the present embodiment is designed as an inclined plane.The mating connector 6 has a counter-stop element 18 adjacent to the plug chamber 7, which is also designed as an inclined plane, wherein the counter-stop element 18 is designed complementary to the deflection structure 17.

[0024] When connector 2 and mating connector 6 are moved into the connection position, the deflection structure 17 abuts the counter-stop element 18. If the movement into the connection position continues, the force resulting from the movement on the deflection structure 17 causes the locking unit 4 to rotate about a rotation axis 16.

[0025] Fig. Figure 3 shows the connector assembly 1 in the connected position after the locking unit 4 has been rotated about the axis of rotation 16, in the same sectional view. The arc shape of the guide element 20 allows the locking unit 4 to rotate about the axis of rotation 16 while the guide element 20 remains in contact with the first housing wall 21. The fastening element 23 also remains in contact with the second housing wall 24. Due to the rotation, the fastening element 24, or rather the fastening arm 27, is biased against the second housing wall 24. This bias would cause the locking unit 4 to rotate back to its initial position if the connector 2 and the mating connector 6 were moved out of the connected position.Rotating the locking unit 4 displaces the stop element 14 relative to the stop element 15, allowing the locking unit 4 to move into the locked position. The locking unit 4 moves into the locked position in the direction of the pivot axis 19.

[0026] Fig. Figure 4 shows, in the same sectional view, the connector arrangement according to the invention in the first embodiment, wherein the locking unit 4 is arranged in the locked position. The guide element 20 is arranged without tension in a first through-opening 22, which has the first housing wall 21, while the fastening element 23 is arranged without tension in a second through-opening 25, which has the second housing wall 24. This arrangement holds the locking unit 4 in the locked position. A housing wall section 28 separates the second through-opening 25 from the third through-opening 26. The housing wall section 28 rests against the fastening arm 27.

[0027] Fig. Figure 5 shows a further sectional view of the first embodiment of the connector arrangement 1 according to the invention in the region of the base 10. The section plane runs parallel to the plug axis 19 and perpendicular to the base 10. The locking unit 4 is arranged in the release position, with the connector 2 and the mating connector 6 in the connection position. The locking arm 5 and the locking receptacle 11 are positively connected to each other. The locking arm 5 is arranged in a rest position. However, the locking arm 5 can be released from the positive connection by deflecting it from its rest position towards the base 10.

[0028] Fig. Figure 6 shows another sectional view of the first embodiment. In contrast to the sectional view according to Fig.5, the locking unit 4 is arranged in the locking position. In the locking position, the locking unit 4 is arranged between the locking arm 5 and the base 10, so that deflection of the locking arm 5 from the rest position is prevented and the locking arm 5 is locked in the rest position. REFERENCE MARK LIST 1 connector arrangement 2 connectors 3 cases 4 fuse unit 5 locking arm 6 mating connectors 7 plug chamber 8 plug-in side 9 Back 10 Basic page 11 Rest shot 12 Basic part 13 safety arm 14 Stop element 15 stopper element 16 axis of rotation 17 Deflection structure 18 Counterstop element 19 thru axle 20 guide element 21 First case wall 22 First passageway 23 Fastening element 24 Second case wall 25 Second passageway 26 Third passageway 27 Mounting arm 28 Housing wall section 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] US 9,054,458 B1

[0002] US 10,355,414 B1

[0002] DE 10 2020 122 660 A1

[0002]

Claims

[1] Connector arrangement (1) with a connector (2) comprising a housing (3), a locking unit (4) and a locking arm (5) and a mating connector (6) which has a plug chamber (7) into which the connector (2) can be inserted into a connection position, where the housing (3) has a plug-in side (8), a back (9) and a base (10) connecting the plug-in side (8) and the back (9), in the connection position the locking arm (5) is in a rest position in engagement with a locking receptacle (11) of the mating connector (6), the locking unit (4) is movably arranged on the base side (10) between a locking position, in which the locking unit (4) locks the locking arm (5) in the rest position and a release position, in which the locking arm (5) can be moved from its rest position, the fuse unit (4) has a base part (12) and a fuse arm (13) extending away from the base part (12) towards the plug-in side (8), the locking arm (13) has a stop element (14) which, in the release position outside the connection position, abuts a stop element (15) arranged on the housing (3), so that movement of the locking unit (4) into the locking position is blocked, the locking unit (4) is rotatable in the release position about a rotation axis (16) perpendicular to the base side (10), the safety arm (13) has a deflection structure (17) at an end facing away from the base part (12), the mating connector (6) has a counter stop element (18), the counter-stop element (18) is designed such that, when moving into the connection position, the counter-stop element (18) strikes the deflection structure (17) and rotates the locking unit (4) about the axis of rotation (16), so that the stop element (14) is arranged offset from the stop element (15) and In the connected position, the locking unit (4) can be moved into the locking position. [2] Connector arrangement (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein both the base part (12) and the locking arm (13) are rotatable together about the axis of rotation (16). [3] Connector arrangement (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the locking unit (4) has a smaller distance to the rear (9) in the release position than in the locking position [4] Connector arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the locking unit (4) is movable between the locking position and the release position parallel to a plug axis (19). [5] Connector arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the locking unit (4) has a guide element (20) which guides a movement of the locking unit (4) about the axis of rotation (16). [6] Connector arrangement (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the guide element (20) extends in an arc shape away from the base part (12) or the locking arm (13). [7] Connector arrangement (1) according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the guide element (20) rests against a first housing wall (21) in the release position. [8] Connector arrangement (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the first housing wall (21) has a first through-opening (22) in which the guide element (20) is at least partially arranged in the locking position. [9] Connector arrangement (1) according to any one of claims 5 to 8, wherein the locking unit (4) has a fastening element (23) on a side of the locking unit (4) facing away from the guide element (20), which holds the locking unit (4) fixed in the release position and / or in the locking position. [10] Connector arrangement (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the fastening element (23) rests against a second housing wall (24) in the release position. [11] Connector arrangement (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the second housing wall (24) has a second through-opening (25) and the fastening element (23) is arranged at least partially inside the second through-opening (25) in the locking position. [12] Connector arrangement (1) according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the second housing wall (24) has a third through-opening (26), the locking unit (4) has a fastening arm (27) which extends parallel to the locking arm (13) away from the base part (12) and the fastening element (23) is arranged at an end of the fastening arm (27) facing away from the base part (12) and the fastening arm (27) is arranged in the release position within the third through-opening (26). [13] Connector arrangement (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the fastening arm (27) in the locking position rests against a housing wall section (28) of the second housing wall (24) that separates the second through-opening (25) from the third through-opening (26).

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