Self-closing locking bar

Description

[0001] The invention is based on a system comprising a mounting housing with a locking bracket and a matching connector according to the preamble of independent claim 1.

[0002] Locking levers are used in such systems for the reversible locking of two mated connectors or connector housings. One of these connector housings can also be a so-called bulkhead housing. A bulkhead housing equipped with contacts is also called a flange. State of the art

[0003] DE 29 15 574 A1 discloses a locking bracket for reversibly locking a first connector housing to a second connector housing. The locking bracket is made of a spring-elastic wire.

[0004] DE 10 2004 061 046 B4 shows a locking bracket that is punched out of a piece of sheet metal and provides a spring-loaded locking between two connector housings.

[0005] CN 102 709 747 A shows an electrical connector with a separation reinforcement mechanism and its components. A spring locking mechanism is arranged on the connector to prevent the electrical connection between the connector and the socket from being easily separated, especially in the event of vibration.

[0006] The locking brackets mentioned above are pivotally mounted on a connector housing. The locking brackets have a locking receptacle that engages over a locking pin of a second connector housing, whereby the first connector housing and the second connector housing are resiliently pressed against each other. The two connector housings are then locked together. During the locking process, the connector housings and the locking pins are subject to significant wear, as the locking brackets rub against the connector housing, and in particular against its bearing pin, during the pivoting process. Therefore, after a certain number of locking cycles, the reliability of the locking mechanism decreases.

[0007] In many cases, plug connectors are connected without using the locking clips provided for reversible locking of the connector. This can easily lead to the connectors being accidentally disconnected. This can pose significant risks, especially when supplying power from batteries.

[0008] The German Patent and Trademark Office has searched the following prior art in the priority application for the present application: DE 20 2010 002 396 U1, JP 2004- 111115 A, US 8,403,697 B2, DE 11 2012 002 791 T5 and US 2009 / 0 311 893 A1. Task

[0009] The object of the invention is to propose a locking bracket that is easy to use and at the same time reliable.

[0010] The problem is solved by the subject matter of independent claim 1.

[0011] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the subclaims.

[0012] The locking bracket according to the invention is intended for locking two plugged-together connector housings or a bulkhead housing with a connector housing. The locking bracket essentially consists of a rear wall and side parts molded thereon, the locking bracket having a U-shaped cross-section. The side parts each have a bearing receptacle. Typically, the bearing receptacle is designed as a circular opening. The bearing receptacle engages over a matching bearing pin of a connector housing or bulkhead housing. The bearing receptacle allows the locking bracket to be pivotably mounted on the connector housing. The side parts of the locking bracket each have a locking receptacle that engages over a locking pin of the mating connector housing, whereby (in this state) the bulkhead housing and the mating connector are reversibly locked to one another.

[0013] According to the invention, the locking receptacles each have a V-shaped groove. The V-shaped groove automatically guides the locking bar into its final locking position when the locking pin is inserted into the locking receptacles, i.e., without the need for human intervention. This occurs mechanically, utilizing the kinetic energy of the insertion process.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the locking pins of the connector housing have a cylindrical basic shape with a contour molded onto them. The contour is shaped such that it precisely engages the V-shaped groove of the locking bracket, entraining the locking bracket during the mating process, and thereby guiding the locking receptacles completely over the locking pins, so that the locking bracket reaches its final or locking position, ensuring the locking of the connector connection. The locking bracket does not need to be actively operated. This automatic locking of the locking bracket therefore prevents the connector connection from being accidentally forgotten.

[0015] The locking bracket consists of a rear panel with molded-in side panels. The locking bracket has a U-shaped cross-section. The side panels have bearing receptacles through which the locking bracket is pivotally mounted on a bulkhead housing. The side panels have locking receptacles that can engage over locking pins on a connector housing.

[0016] The locking bracket is preferably designed as a one-piece component. The locking bracket is advantageously made of an elastic material and can be manufactured, for example, using a stamping and bending process. The locking bracket is preferably made of plastic. If the locking bracket is made of plastic, it can be manufactured using an injection molding process. Such manufacturing methods are particularly cost-effective.

[0017] The locking bracket is typically used in a system consisting of a bulkhead housing and a connector or mating connector. The locking bracket is pivotably attached to the bulkhead housing via bearing pins. In a single pivoting action, the locking bracket can be pivoted over or secured to locking pins molded onto the connector housing. This allows the bulkhead housing and the connector housing to be reversibly locked together.

[0018] The essence of the invention is that the locking bracket automatically moves into the locking position when the connector housing is brought together with the mounting housing or when a connector is inserted into the mounting flange.

[0019] Advantageously, the panel-mounted housing and the connector housing are made of plastic. Such housings can be manufactured very cost-effectively.

[0020] The aforementioned bearing pins and / or locking pins preferably have a cylindrical basic shape. A contour is molded onto the connector housing, which engages with the V-shaped groove of the locking bracket's locking receptacle. Such a contour can easily be incorporated into the locking bracket's manufacturing process, preferably in an injection molding process. This eliminates any additional effort or costs in the manufacturing process.

[0021] Preferably, the bearing pins and locking pins, and any contours molded onto them, protrude perpendicularly from the respective connector housing along their symmetry axis. The bearing pins and locking pins are each longer than the respective contours. Example

[0022] An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawings and explained in more detail below. They show: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the mounting flange with a locking bracket according to the invention pivotally attached thereto, Fig. 2 is a section of a connector in the area of ​​its locking receptacles, and Fig. 3 is a schematic view of a mounting housing and a connector plugged into it.

[0023] Some of the figures contain simplified, schematic representations. Identical reference symbols are used for similar, but possibly not identical, elements. Different views of the same elements may be scaled differently. Directional references such as "left," "right," "top," and "bottom" are to be understood with reference to the respective figure and may vary in the individual illustrations relative to the object depicted.

[0024] The Figure 1shows a perspective view of a mounting housing 6 on which a locking bracket 1 according to the invention is pivotally mounted. The mounting housing 6 has an external thread 15 on the mounting side, with which it can be fixed to a device (not shown) or to its device wall 16.

[0025] The locking bracket 1 consists of a rear wall 2 and two side parts 3, 3' formed thereon. The locking bracket 1 has a substantially U-shaped cross-section. An opening is provided in the lower region of each of the side parts 3, 3', each serving as a bearing receptacle 4, 4'. In the upper region, the side parts 3, 3' each have a recess that functions as a locking receptacle 5, 5'. An actuating means 11, bent back from the rear wall 2, is formed in the upper region of the rear wall 2. This actuating means 11 can be used by a user to apply force during the pivoting process, in particular to release the lock.

[0026] In Figure 2 The locking area of ​​the connector housing 7 is shown enlarged. The outline contour 12 of the locking area 12 of the locking bracket 1 is shown in Figure 2drawn to illustrate the final position of the locked state. The bearing receptacles 4, 4' of the locking bracket 1 extend over the bearing pins 8 of the bulkhead housing 6. This allows the locking bracket 1 to be pivoted on the bulkhead housing 6. Locking pins 9 are formed on the narrow sides of the connector housing 7. In the locked state, the locking receptacles 5 of the locking bracket 1 extend over the locking pins 9 of the connector housing 7. This reversibly locks the bulkhead housing 6 and the connector housing 7 together.

[0027] A contour 10 is molded onto the locking pin 9 of the connector housing 7. The contour 10 has a substantially triangular cross-section, with the area of ​​the contour 10 that is molded onto the locking pin 9 having a corresponding circular recess. The locking pins 9 are longer than the contour 10. This means that the locking pins 9 protrude further vertically from the connector housing 7 than the respective contour 10.

[0028] In Figure 3 The housing 6 screwed into a device wall 16 and a connector housing 7 plugged into it are shown schematically. The locking bracket 1 is not shown for illustrative reasons.

[0029] The basic position of the locking bracket 1 in the unplugged state is approximately as shown in Figure 1shown. The connector housing 7 is guided in the direction of arrow 13 towards the add-on housing 6. The contour 10 formed on the locking pin 9 engages in the V-shaped groove 14 of the corresponding locking receptacle 5 of the locking bracket 1. During this plugging process, the locking receptacle 5 is automatically guided over the locking pin 9 of the connector 1, whereby the connector housing 7 is fixed to the add-on housing 6. The locking pins 9 can be removed from the access area of ​​the locking receptacles 5 via the actuating means 11, so that the connector housing 7 can be released from the add-on housing 6 again. The actuating means 11 is therefore only used when releasing the plug connection.

[0030] In the locking bracket 1 according to the invention, the side parts 3, 3' can have play in the area between the locking receptacle 5, 5' and the associated locking pin 9, so that the locking receptacle 5, 5' does not rub against the surface of the locking pin 9 in the locked state.

[0031] Although various aspects or features of the invention are shown in combination in the figures, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art—unless otherwise stated—that the illustrated and discussed combinations are not the only possible ones. In particular, corresponding units or feature complexes from different embodiments can be interchanged. List of reference symbols

[0032] 1Locking bracket 2Rear panel 3Side panel 4Bearing mount 5Locking mount 6Panel housing 7Connector housing 8Bearing pin 9Locking pin 10Contour 11Actuating element 12Border contour of the locking area of ​​the locking bracket 13Arrow 14V-shaped groove 15External thread 16Device wall

Claims

1. System made up of an attachment housing (6) having a locking clip (1) and of a plug-connector housing (7), wherein the locking clip (1) is intended for reversibly locking the attachment housing (6) to the plug-connector housing (7), wherein the locking clip (1) has a rear wall (2), side parts (3), which are formed on the rear wall, and a U-shaped cross section, wherein the side parts (3) each have a bearing mount (4), by means of which the locking clip (1) is mounted in a pivotable manner on the attachment housing (6), and wherein the side parts (3, 3') each have an arresting mount (5), which can be engaged in each case over an arresting pin (9) of the plug-connector housing (7), wherein the plug-connector housing (7) has arresting pins (9) with a contour (10) formed thereon, characterized in that the arresting mounts (5) each have a V-shaped groove (14), and the contour (10) engages in a precisely fitting manner in the V-shaped groove (14) of the locking clip (1) during the locking operation, as a result of which the arresting mounts (5) are fully guided via the arresting pins (9) during the plug-fit operation such that an end position or locking position of the locking clip (1) is reached and locking of the plug-fit connection is ensured.

2. System according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the arresting pins (9) have a cylindrical basic shape with a contour (10) formed thereon.

3. System according to either of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contour (10) has an essentially triangular cross section with an at least partially circular cutout.

4. System according to one of the three preceding claims, characterized in that the contour (10) of the arresting pins (9) is formed in a precisely fitting manner in relation to the V-shaped groove (14) of the locking clip (1).

5. System according to one of the four preceding claims, characterized in that the arresting pins (9) and the contours (10) formed thereon project perpendicularly, along their axis of symmetry, from the plug-connector housing (7), and in that the arresting pins (9) protrude beyond the associated contours (10).

6. Locking clip according to Claim 1, characterized in that the locking clip (1) consists of plastic material.

7. Locking clip according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking clip (1) is made in one piece.