Knife-edge base body for an electrical connector

Description

State of the art

[0001] The present invention relates to a male connector base body for an electrical plug connection, in particular for a control unit of a motor vehicle.

[0002] Male connectors, plug connectors, or pin connectors for electrical connectors are known from the prior art. They consist, for example, of a male connector base body, a plug connector base body, or a pin connector base body, which is usually designed as an insulator into which electrically conductive blades, pins, or general contact elements (usually so-called "male contact elements") are pierced or shot. For example, DE 10 2019 216 354 A1 shows a male connector, a pin connector, or a plug connector for simplified printed circuit board assembly. Due to variable geometric elements of the male connector, shrinkage and / or warping can occur during the injection molding of the male connector base body, particularly in multi-pin male connectors for motor vehicle control units. However, the male connector base bodies must meet particularly high dimensional requirements.Contact between pins on a circuit board and sealing with the housing must be guaranteed towards a control unit. Contact, locking and sealing with the mating connector must be ensured towards a wiring harness. Due to the size and asymmetrical design, the male connector often suffers from significant warping and bending. To solve this problem, isotropic shrinkage plastics with glass beads are used as reinforcement elements. However, their strength is not sufficient for the requirements of a male connector in a motor vehicle. Male connectors can also be manufactured using a two-component injection molding process. Although this can reduce warping, it leads to complex tooling and, in particular, to longer production times for the male connector.

[0003] EP 3 540 867 A1 discloses a male connector base body comprising a plurality of plug-in receptacles which are open on one side and which are arranged in an extension direction of the male connector base body and which are designed to receive plug-in elements, wherein between adjacent plug-in receptacles, in particular between all adjacent plug-in receptacles, wherein the plug-in receptacles protrude in a first direction starting from a plane in which the base plates lie and the connecting pockets protrude from the plane in a second direction opposite to the first direction. Disclosure of the invention

[0004] The male connector base body or male connector base body according to the invention with the features of claim 1 has the advantage that warping and / or shrinkage and / or bending of the male connector base body can be avoided or significantly reduced. Thus, the male connector base body has particularly high dimensional accuracy. This allows the high requirements for male connectors used in vehicles in conjunction with control units or the like to be met. The male connector base body can be manufactured simply, for example, by injection molding. In such an exemplary case, it is particularly simple and cost-effective to manufacture and, in particular, suitable for mass production. Advantageously, not only isotropically shrinking materials are available for production, which advantageously enables a significantly wider selection of materials for production.Another advantage is that inserts can be omitted, e.g. along a base plate.

[0005] This is achieved according to the invention in that the male connector base body has a plurality of plug receptacles which are open on one side and are arranged in a direction of extension of the male connector base body and which are designed to receive plug-in elements, e.g. of a cable harness. Each plug receptacle has its own base plate. A connection pocket which is open on one side and connects these adjacent plug receptacles to one another is arranged between adjacent plug receptacles. In this case, it can be provided, for example, that a connection pocket which is open on one side is arranged between all adjacent plug receptacles. The plug receptacles protrude in a first direction Z1 starting from a plane E in which the base plates of the plug receptacles lie, and the connection pockets protrude from the plane E in a second direction Z2 opposite to the first direction Z1.Furthermore, one open side of the connecting pockets and one open side of the plug-in receptacles are essentially oriented in the same direction. Thus, the two open sides are essentially parallel to each other.

[0006] The expression "essentially in a same direction" is to be understood as meaning that the directions can form an angle of up to 40° relative to each other. Preferably, the angle is a maximum of 30°, more preferably a maximum of 20°, more preferably 10°, and even more preferably ≤ 3°.

[0007] The so-called male connector base can be used synonymously with the term plug connector base or pin connector base. It is understood that contact elements (e.g., male contact elements) are arranged in the male connector base, the plug connector base, or the pin connector base. These contact elements can have a square, rectangular, oval, or even round cross-section. The individual contact elements are then usually contacted by a mating contact element (e.g., a female mating contact element) arranged in a mating connector element.

[0008] It goes without saying that the plug receptacles are open on at least one side. For example, a plug receptacle can have a circumferential collar extending from the base plate, which is open on the side facing away from the base plate, so that a plug can be inserted into the plug receptacle. However, it is also conceivable for such a collar, serving as a mechanical guide element, to have lateral slots, for example, to maintain a certain degree of flexibility. In this case, the collar, and thus also the plug receptacle, is at least partially open on or at more than one side.

[0009] Likewise, the connecting pocket is designed to be open on at least one side. This means that the connecting pocket can, for example, be designed such that it is also at least partially open on at least one other side, e.g., on a side that is perpendicular to the first direction.

[0010] At least one connection pocket is provided in the male connector base body. This at least one connection pocket is arranged between two adjacent plug receptacles. Thus, even with a male connector base body having, for example, three, four, or more plug receptacles, it may be sufficient if only a single connection pocket is provided. Of course, multiple connection pockets can also be provided. A preferred, exemplary embodiment provides a connection pocket between every two adjacent plug receptacles. Of course, multiple connection pockets can also be arranged in the area between adjacent plug receptacles.

[0011] Thus, by providing open connection pockets which are open essentially in the same direction as the plug-in receptacles, warping and, in particular in the case of very long base bodies of, for example, more than 80 mm in length and / or base bodies with at least two plug-in receptacles, longitudinal deflection can be avoided or at least limited to a value of at most 0.5 mm, preferably to a value of at most 0.3 mm, during or after manufacture of the male connector base body, and the latter can be prevented or at least limited to a value of at most 0.5 mm, preferably to a value of at most 0.3 mm. The connection pockets can, in particular, prevent angular distortion in the plug-in receptacles. Thus, warping in male connector base bodies can be minimized without only using isotropically shrinking materials or requiring two-component injection molding or other complex measures to prevent warping in male connector base bodies, such as reinforcing elements which have to be provided separately.

[0012] In particular, the plug receptacles which are open on one side can have different geometries and can also be designed for different plug-in elements. The plug receptacles which are open on one side are preferably cup-shaped with only one open side and are in particular substantially square, preferably with rounded corners. More preferably, the height of the plug receptacles of the base body which are open on one side is the same. A plug-in element (mating connector) of the plug receptacle is preferably received completely in the plug receptacle. Electrical contact with the plug-in elements is established inside the plug receptacles. For this purpose, a plurality of contacting elements such as contact pins or flat blades or the like can be arranged in the plug receptacles. These contacting elements can, for example, be shot into the finished male connector base body or be or have been introduced in some other way.The plug receptacles can have different geometric dimensions and, in particular, preferably also have additional guide elements and / or elements (so-called coding elements) for proper insertion of the plug elements in the correct position. The plug elements have, for example, socket contacts that can establish electrical contact with the contacting elements.

[0013] Further preferably, the first direction Z1, in which the plug-in receptacle protrudes from the plane E of the base plate, and the second direction Z2, in which the connecting pockets protrude from the plane E, are perpendicular to the plane E.

[0014] The subclaims show preferred developments of the invention.

[0015] Preferably, the base plate of the plug-in receptacles has a first wall thickness D1 and the side walls of the plug-in receptacles have a second wall thickness D2. The inequality 0.3 x D1 < D2 < 0.65 x D1 is satisfied here. In particular, D2 = 0.5 x D1. In this way, particularly good stability of the male connector base body can be ensured, in particular along the direction of extension or along plane E. At the same time, material can be saved, since the second wall thickness D2 of the side walls primarily has a guiding and positioning function for the plug-in elements and therefore does not require the same stability as the base plate. Furthermore, the plug-in receptacles can be positioned closer to one another, which saves valuable space. Furthermore, such a design advantageously promotes a particularly low-distortion design of the male connector base body, since relatively little volume protrudes from plane E.

[0016] In a further development, the second wall thickness D2 of the side walls of the plug-in receptacles that protrude from the base plate is equal to a third wall thickness D3 of the pocket side walls of the connecting pocket. This ensures a uniform distribution of the injection molding material, particularly during an injection molding process. However, particularly simple production is also achieved with other manufacturing methods (e.g., milling from solid material or 3D printing, etc.). It is understood that the above-mentioned inequality does not necessarily have to be fulfilled for the proposed development.

[0017] In a further development, a fourth wall thickness D4 of a base plate of the connecting pockets is equal to the third wall thickness D3 of the pocket side walls of the connecting pockets. This advantageously simplifies the manufacturing process. Quality control in the form of a thickness measurement is also significantly simplified. It is understood that the proposed development can be implemented independently of the two previously proposed developments. It can therefore be used as an alternative or in addition to them.

[0018] According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the plane E is a center plane of the base plate, wherein the side walls of the plug-in receptacles have a first length L1 starting from the center plane of the base plates, and wherein the pocket side walls of the connecting pockets have a second length L2 starting from an inner base of the base plate of the connecting pockets up to the center plane of the base plate, wherein the first length L1 is at least twice as long as the second length L2. This advantageously creates a particularly simple and cost-effectively manufactured male connector base body, since hollowing out such pocket depths (given by the second length L2) or demolding such pocket depths is still possible with justifiable effort and without requiring complex rework. The tools required for such pocket depths can be manufactured and maintained cost-effectively.Another advantage is that connection pockets with this type of pocket depth require relatively little space on the side of the male connector base body facing away from the side of the plug receptacles. Electronic components, such as a control unit, can be arranged on the side of the connection pockets. The space available on this side is usually extremely limited. Thus, a pocket depth of this type can create a reasonable compromise between additional space requirements and a reduction in warpage of the male connector base body. Furthermore, pocket depths of this type can advantageously be used to provide a male connector base body with particularly low warpage. In other words, this ensures that the second length L2 of the pocket side walls is sufficiently large to prevent warpage of the male connector base body. In principle, other pocket depths are also conceivable depending on the application.The center plane of the base plate of the plug-in receptacles is located in the middle of the base plate, so that one thickness of the base plate is divided into two equal sections. It is understood that the proposed development can be implemented independently of the other proposed developments. It can therefore be used as an alternative or in addition to them.

[0019] More preferably, the inequality 0.15 x L1 < L2 < 0.5 x L1 is satisfied and in particular the inequality 0.2 x L1 < L2 < 0.38 x L1 is satisfied and particularly preferably L2 = 0.33 x L1. This brings about the advantages described above. In particular, the proposed relationships can bring about a particularly advantageous compromise between available space below the plane E (i.e. on the side of the plane E facing away from the side of the plug-in receptacles) and low distortion. Furthermore, for these relationships, the tools for manufacturing the male connector base body can be manufactured particularly easily and, with 3D printing or milling from solid material, etc., the manufacturing process can still be implemented cost-effectively. Finally, with such relationships, quality control, e.g. in the form of measuring dimensions and / or material thicknesses, can be implemented very cost-effectively.

[0020] Further preferably, an open side of the connecting pockets ends at the level of an inner base of the base plate of the plug-in receptacle, or an open side of the connecting pockets is located at the level of an inner base of the base plate of the plug-in receptacle. This advantageously provides a particularly simple geometry for the connecting pocket. This enables particularly simple and cost-effective production and quality control.

[0021] A particularly simple and cost-effective construction of the male connector base body is achieved if at least one side wall of the plug-in receptacle and one pocket side wall of the connecting pocket lie in a common wall plane W. Preferably, several or even all side walls of the plug-in receptacle and pocket side walls of the connecting pocket, which run, for example, perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to an extension direction of the male connector base body, lie in a common wall plane W.

[0022] Particularly preferably, all side walls of the plug receptacles along the first direction Z1 are perpendicular to the direction of extension of the male connector base body and each lie in a common wall plane W with one of the pocket side walls of the connection pockets. Arranging the first direction perpendicular to the direction of extension of the male connector base body advantageously enables particularly simple manufacture of the male connector, since in this case the mating connectors are also inserted into the plug receptacles perpendicular to the plane of extension. Consequently, the contacting elements can be introduced into the male connector base body particularly easily.

[0023] To further improve the rigidity of the male connector base body and to enable cost-effective production, the male connector base body is an injection-molded part. A fiber-reinforced plastic, for example, can be used as the material. The fiber-reinforced plastic increases rigidity, while the male connector base body can still be manufactured easily and cost-effectively using injection molding.

[0024] According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the fibers in the side walls of the plug-in receptacle and the pocket side walls of the connecting pockets are aligned substantially perpendicular (± 20° to the perpendicular direction, preferably ± 10° to the perpendicular direction) to the base plate of the plug-in receptacles. In particular, a proportion of 75% to 100% of the fibers is aligned substantially perpendicular to the base plate of the plug-in receptacles. Particularly preferably, the proportion of fibers aligned perpendicular to the base plate of the plug-in receptacles is in a range of 85% to 95% and is in particular 90%. This advantageously ensures particularly high rigidity and robustness of the side walls of the plug-in receptacles, so that they are protected against damage even during frequent plug-in processes and / or during plug-in processes that require the application of high force.At the same time, this allows the wall thickness of the side walls to be reduced, saving material and allowing the plug-in receptacles to be placed closer together, thus saving valuable space. For the connecting pockets, which serve as a type of compensation element against anisotropic shrinkage, it is advantageous to use the same fiber orientation. It should be understood that the longitudinal direction of the fibers, i.e., their longest extension, serves as the reference point for determining the angle to the base plate.

[0025] The fibers used in the fiber-reinforced plastic are preferably glass fibers, with the plastic more preferably being polyamide or polybutylene terephthalate. This advantageously creates a particularly cost-effective and easy-to-manufacture male connector base body. Furthermore, such a male connector base body is particularly stable with relatively low material usage. It also advantageously exhibits sufficiently high heat resistance (e.g., up to at least 80°C) and can withstand even low temperatures (e.g., -40°C) without damage.

[0026] The glass fibers preferably comprise a proportion of the material of the male connector base body in the range of 20 to 40 vol.%, and in particular 30 vol.%. This advantageously allows for particularly high stability with minimal material usage.

[0027] The preferred material for the male connector base body is PA66 GF30 or PBT GF30. This allows for the creation of a particularly cost-effective male connector base body that is easy to manufacture, offers high stability with minimal material usage, and offers very high resistance over a wide temperature range (e.g., -40°C to 80°C). It is also highly resistant to aggressive media (e.g., against aggressive media such as salt water, brake fluid, etc.).

[0028] Particularly preferably, a first width B1 of the plug-in receptacles is greater than or equal to a second width B2 of the connecting pockets. The first width B1 of the plug-in receptacles and the second width B2 of the connecting pockets can be determined, for example, in plane E. They preferably extend substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the male connector base body. This advantageously allows the connecting pockets to occupy particularly little valuable space below plane E, and material can be saved. The male connector base body is thus more compact and lightweight.

[0029] Furthermore, the present invention relates to an electrical plug connection comprising a male connector base body or plug connector base body according to the invention.

[0030] The invention also relates to a control device for a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, with an electrical plug connection with a male connector base body according to the invention. drawing

[0031] Preferred embodiments of the invention are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawing: Figure 1 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of a male connector base body according to a preferred first embodiment of the invention, Figure 2 is a schematic plan view of the male connector base body of Figure 1 , Figure 3 a schematic, perspective view of the male connector base body of Figure 1 and a plurality of contacting elements in the form of pins to be mounted on the male connector base body for electrical contacting, Figure 4 a schematic, enlarged partial sectional view of the male connector base body of Figure 1, Figure 5 shows a schematic partial sectional view of a male connector base body according to a second embodiment of the invention, and Figure 6 shows a schematic partial sectional view of an alternative male connector base body. Preferred embodiments of the invention

[0032] The following is based on the Figures 1 to 4 a male connector base body 1 or plug connector base body or pin connector base body according to a first preferred embodiment of the invention is described in detail.

[0033] As from Figure 1 and 2As can be seen, the male connector base body 1 comprises a plurality of plug receptacles 3 that are open on one side. The plug receptacles 3 are arranged in a row in an extension direction 8 of the male connector base body 1. In this exemplary embodiment, the plug receptacles or plug receptacles 3 are merely exemplary cuboid-shaped with rounded corners and exactly one open side 30. They can also have other basic shapes (e.g., trapezoidal, round, triangular, etc.) and, for example, be slotted or perforated on the sides.

[0034] As is particularly evident from Figure 2 As can be seen, the plug receptacles 3 have different sizes. The plug receptacles 3 are designed to accommodate plug elements not shown, for example, plugs of a cable harness or the like.

[0035] How to continue Figure 2As can be seen, the plug receptacles 3 here only have an identical first width B1, by way of example. The first width B1 defines the width perpendicular to the direction of extension 8 of the male connector base body 1.

[0036] The male connector base body 1 is part of a male connector 10 or plug connector or pin connector, which, as shown in Figure 3 schematically shown in an exploded view, has a plurality of (flat) blades or (flat or round) pins 2 (generally: contact elements with any cross-section) for electrical contact. As can be seen from Figure 2As can be seen, the pins are designed differently (here: square and rectangular cross sections) and enter in a finished or assembled state through the male connector base body into an inner area of ​​the open plug-in receptacles 3. They can, for example, be shot or pierced into the male connector base body 1 in an initially unbent state and are, for example, subsequently inserted into the Figure 3 bent into the shape shown.

[0037] The male connector 10, shown here merely as an example, is therefore a multi-pin male connector, which is designed, for example, for electrically contacting a control unit of a motor vehicle. The male connector 10 must meet the highest dimensional requirements in order to ensure precise contacting of the pins 2 on a printed circuit board or the like and precise contacting with contacts in a plug-in element (not shown here) plugged into a plug-in receptacle 3. Furthermore, a secure sealing of the plugged connection between the plug-in receptacles and the plug-in elements must also be enabled. Finally, media tightness must be ensured from the top side of the male connector 10 (the side of the plug-in receptacles) to the underside of the male connector 10.

[0038] In this embodiment, the male connector base body 3 is merely an example of an injection-molded component, with a fiber-reinforced plastic preferably being used as the material for the injection molding. After the male connector base body 3 has been injection-molded, in this exemplary embodiment the pins 2 are pierced or shot through from one side of the male connector base body 1 through base plates 4, which form the base of each plug receptacle 3. It is understood that other manufacturing methods are also possible, e.g. milling from solid or 3D printing, etc. It is also understood that other materials can be used, e.g. a plastic that contains no filler material or that contains spherical fillers, for example. In principle, ceramics, etc. can also be used.

[0039] As further stated in particular Figure 1As can be seen, a connecting pocket 5, open on one side, is arranged between each adjacent plug-in receptacle 3. The connecting pocket 5 connects the adjacent plug-in receptacles 3 to one another. It is understood that a connecting pocket 5 does not necessarily have to be arranged between each of the adjacent plug-in receptacles 3.

[0040] A plane E, in which the base plates 4 of the plug-in receptacles 3 are located, divides the male connector base body 1 into an upper part in which the plug-in receptacles 3 are arranged and a lower part on or in which the connection pockets 5 are arranged.

[0041] The plug-in receptacles 3 thus protrude from the plane E, perpendicular in this exemplary embodiment, in a first direction Z1, and the connecting pockets 5 protrude from the plane E, perpendicular in this exemplary embodiment, in a second direction Z2, opposite to the first direction Z1. The connecting pockets 5 here also each have, for example, only one open side 50, wherein the open side 50 of the connecting pockets 5 and an open side 30 of the plug-in receptacles are directed, for example, in the same direction, namely the first direction Z1.

[0042] As can be seen from the top view of Figure 2As can be seen, the connecting pockets 5 have a second width B2, which is defined perpendicular to the direction of extension 8. The second width B2 is smaller than the first width B1 of the open plug-in receptacles 3. The second width B2 lies in a range of 75% to 90% of the first width B1 (0.75 x B1 to 0.9 x B1).

[0043] Top view ( Figure 2 )The connecting pockets 5 here, for example, also have a substantially rectangular shape, but they are significantly narrower in the direction of extension 8 than the plug-in receptacles 3. For example, the length along the direction of extension 8 is approximately 5% to 20% of the length of the adjacent plug-in receptacles 3 along the direction of extension 8. For example, the connecting pocket 5 has a length of at least 0.5 mm, preferably of at least 1 mm, along the direction of extension 8. In this way, the connecting pocket 5 can be manufactured particularly easily. It can then counteract warping particularly well. The length of a connecting pocket 5 along the direction of extension can, for example, preferably be in a range between 0.5 mm and 7 mm, preferably in a range between 1 mm and 5 mm. In this way, the connecting pocket 5 can be manufactured easily.On the one hand, it can apply enough counter-tension to minimize distortion, while at the same time counteracting any weakening or instability of the male connector base body 1.

[0044] As can be seen from the Figures 1 and 2As can be seen, a separate connecting pocket 5 is formed between each of the adjacent plug-in receptacles 3. Since the connecting pockets 5, starting from the plane E, are located on the other side of the plane E (lower part) compared to the plug-in receptacles 3 (upper part), dimensional inaccuracies and in particular warping, which can occur during the injection molding process (or during 3D printing, etc.) of the male connector base body 1, can be compensated for. In this case, the choice of material is no longer important, i.e. dimensional accuracy is achieved with materials such as filler-free plastics, plastics with, for example, spherical filler, and plastics with fibrous filler. This allows a very free choice of material with the highest dimensional accuracy without special manufacturing techniques (2-component injection molding) and without special inserts to minimize warping.At the same time, this goal can be achieved with only minimal additional space required in the lower part. By selecting the geometric parameters of the connecting pocket 5, a targeted influence on warpage during the injection molding process can be achieved using very simple and cost-effective means and with very little additional space and material required.

[0045] In this embodiment, the connecting pockets 5 also have a cuboid structure with exactly one open side 50, whereby other sides can also be designed to be at least partially open.

[0046] Figure 4 shows a sectional view through the male connector base body 1 from Figure 1 .The connecting pockets 5 have a base plate 51 and four pocket side walls 52. The base plate 51, which is furthest away from the plane E, has an effect corresponding to a tension rod in the extension direction 8. This makes it possible, in particular, to avoid angular distortion at the plug-in receptacles 3, which can occur on side walls 31 of the plug-in receptacle due to the expansion of the plug-in receptacles 3 in the first direction Z1.

[0047] Figure 4 shows in detail two adjacent plug-in receptacles 3 with different geometries, in particular different (length) extensions in the direction of extension 8.

[0048] How to continue Figure 4 As can be seen, the base plate 4 of the plug-in receptacles 3 has a first wall thickness D1, and the side walls 31 of the plug-in receptacles 3 have a second wall thickness D2. The first wall thickness D1 is twice as large as the second wall thickness D2.

[0049] Furthermore, the connecting pockets 5 have a third wall thickness D3 of pocket side walls 52 of the connecting pocket 5. A fourth wall thickness D4 of the base plate 51 of the connecting pockets 5 is equal to the third wall thickness D3. Thus, in this exemplary embodiment, the first wall thickness D1 is twice as large as the second wall thickness D2. The second wall thickness D2, the third wall thickness D3, and the fourth wall thickness D4 of the plug-in receptacles 3 and the connecting pockets 5 are the same. Other ratios are also conceivable.

[0050] Furthermore, the side walls 31 of the plug-in receptacles 3, which are perpendicular to the extension direction 8, lie in a common wall plane W with the pocket side walls 52 of the connecting pockets 5. Thus, the wall planes W intersect the plane E at a right angle. The wall planes W are all parallel to one another.

[0051] How to continue Figure 4As can be seen, the side walls 31 of the plug receptacles 3 have a first length L1, starting from the plane E, which forms a center plane of the base plates 4, and the pocket side walls 52 of the connection pockets 5 have a second length L2, starting from an inner base 53 of the base plate 51 to the center plane of the base plate 4. In this exemplary embodiment, the following has been chosen for illustration purposes: L2 is approximately 33% of L1. Thus, the second length L2 of the connection pockets 5 is only approximately one third of the first length L1 of the plug receptacles 3. In this way, the second length L2 does not protrude unnecessarily far into the lower part, in which, for example, a circuit board of a control unit can be arranged. For example, the second length L2 of a connection pocket 5 can be in a range between 6 mm and 15 mm, preferably in a range between 8 mm and 12 mm.

[0052] Furthermore, an open side 50 of the connecting pockets 5, as shown in detail in Figure 4 can be seen, at the level of the inner base 40 of the plug-in receptacle 3. In this exemplary embodiment, the connecting pocket 5 therefore has no walls of its own which, for example, protrude beyond the inner base 40 into the upper part of the male connector base body 1.

[0053] How further from the Figures 1 to 3 As can be seen, the male connector 10 further comprises a peripheral edge region 7, which runs completely around the arrangement of the plug receptacles 3. The peripheral edge region 7 is located, as can be seen from Figure 1 can be seen, at the level of the base plates 4 of the plug-in receptacles 3. The surrounding edge area 7 provides additional stiffening of the male connector 10.

[0054] How further from the Figures 1 and 3As can be seen, in this embodiment, the male connector 10 further comprises, by way of example, a circumferential stiffening edge 6. The circumferential stiffening edge 6 protrudes at an angle of approximately 90° from the circumferential edge region 7 in the direction of the second direction Z2, in this embodiment in the manner of a collar. The circumferential stiffening edge 6 further comprises a stiffening rib 60. The stiffening rib 60 protrudes towards the outside of the circumferential stiffening edge 6 (radially outwards). As can be seen from Figure 1 As can be seen, the stiffening rib 60 is arranged somewhat closer to plane E than the inner bottom 53 of the connecting pockets 5 to plane E.

[0055] Thus, by providing the connection pockets 5, whose open side 50 is directed essentially in the same direction as the open side 30 of the plug-in receptacles 3, namely in the direction of the first direction Z1, warping of the male connector 10 can be avoided. This makes it possible to achieve excellent dimensional accuracy of the male connector 10 during injection molding, but also during 3D printing, etc. In this exemplary embodiment, a glass fiber-reinforced plastic, in particular polyamide or polybutylene terephthalate, is preferably used as the material for the male connector base body 1. The glass fibers preferably make up a proportion of the material of the male connector base body 1 in a range of approximately 30 vol.%. At least 90% of the glass fibers are oriented in the same direction, essentially perpendicular (90° ± 20°) to plane E.

[0056] The male connector base body can, for example, be easily manufactured as a mass component using the injection molding process, whereby freedom from distortion can also be achieved with other manufacturing processes and the use of other materials.

[0057] The male connector 10 particularly preferably has five or six plug receptacles 3 arranged in series. Preferably, up to a maximum of 336 poles in the form of pins 2 are provided here, although the invention also functions with a higher number of contacting elements. Preferably, a connection pocket 5 is provided between each adjacent plug receptacle 3. If n plug receptacles 3 are provided, this preferably results in n-1 connection pockets. The connection pockets 5 only marginally increase the weight of the male connectors of the male connector base body 1, since the connection pockets 5 are open on one side and do not protrude too far into the lower part. The only additional weight of the connection pockets is therefore the weight of the pocket side walls 52, since the male connector 10 according to the invention no longer has a continuous plate.

[0058] Figure 5shows a male connector base body 1 according to a second embodiment of the invention. Identical or functionally identical parts are designated by the same reference numerals as in the first embodiment.

[0059] In contrast to the first embodiment, in the second embodiment, a second length L2 of the connection pockets 5 perpendicular to the plane E is designed differently. In the second embodiment, the second length L2 of the pocket side walls 52 from the inner base 53 of the connection pockets to the plane E is only approximately 20% of the first length L1 from the plane E to the open side 30 of the plug-in receptacles 3. Thus, the connection pockets 5 are somewhat shorter in the direction of the second direction Z2 than in the first embodiment. This saves valuable space in the lower part of the male connector base body 1 and, for example, allows a printed circuit board to be placed closer to the male connector base body 1. Nevertheless, a distortion of the male connector base body 1 can be achieved by the effect of the inner base 53 of the connection pockets 5 as a tension rod. In contrast to the embodiment from Figure 4 applies to the embodiment of the Figure 5The following applies: the first wall thickness D1, the second wall thickness D2, the third wall thickness D3, and the fourth wall thickness D4 of the plug-in receptacles 3 and the connecting pockets 5 are all essentially the same size, thus approximately D1 = D2 = D3 = D4. Otherwise, this embodiment corresponds to the previous embodiment, so reference can be made to the description given there.

[0060] With regard to the two exemplary embodiments, it should be noted that by providing the open connecting pockets 5, which are open in the same direction as the open plug-in receptacles 3, a balance is achieved between stresses above and below the plane E, which lies in the middle of the first wall thickness D1 of the base plates 4. The connecting pockets 5, which are open on one side, can achieve a solution to the warpage problem in injection-molded parts for the base bodies of male connectors that is surprisingly simple even for a person skilled in the art. It should be noted that for the effect of the invention it is sufficient if the adjacent plug-in receptacles 3 and the connecting pocket 5 located therebetween have open sides 30, 50 that are essentially directed in the same direction. The directions of the open sides 30, 50 can enclose an angle of, for example, up to 40° with respect to one another, preferably of up to 20°.

[0061] As in Figure 6As shown, a reduction in warpage of the male connector base body 1 is even fundamentally achieved if the direction of the open sides 30 of the plug receptacles 3 is approximately 90° to the direction of the open side 50 of the connecting pocket 5 located therebetween. A male connector base body 1 is then provided which has a plurality of plug receptacles 3 which are open on one side and are arranged in an extension direction 8 of the male connector base body and which are designed to receive plug-in elements. Each plug receptacle 3 has its own base plate 4. Between adjacent plug receptacles 3, in particular between all adjacent plug receptacles 3, a connecting pocket 5 which is open on one side is arranged in each case, which connects these adjacent plug receptacles 3 to one another.The plug-in receptacles 3 protrude in a first direction Z1 from the plane E in which the base plates 4 lie, and the connecting pockets 5 protrude in a second direction Z2 from the plane E, opposite to the first direction Z1. It is then provided that an open side 50 of the connecting pockets 5 and an open side 30 of the plug-in receptacles 3 are directed towards each other essentially by 90° ± 40°, in particular ± 30°, further in particular ± 20°, further in particular ± 10° and further in particular ± 3°. This can be achieved, for example, by one of the pocket side walls 52 or the base plate 51 being at least partially open, for example, at least over 20% of its area, preferably over at least 30% of its area. A seal to the upper side of the male connector base body 1 can then be achieved, for example, by a sealing element 9 or the formation of a very thin injection-molded skin or a sealing base with, for example,a maximum of 30% of the second thickness D2 or a maximum of 15% of the first thickness D2. It is understood that the further developments and embodiments specified above in the description and those specified in the subclaims apply analogously to this arrangement and refer back to this arrangement (this applies, for example, to the wall thicknesses and the relationships between wall thicknesses, to the lengths of side walls and their relationships to one another, the geometric arrangement of walls, floors and pockets, the method of manufacture, the materials, etc.). In the embodiments of the . Figures 1 to 4 and 5 In this embodiment, an opening would be formed, for example, in the right or left side wall 52 of the connecting pockets 5. Alternating openings (left / right) are also conceivable.

Claims

1. Male multipoint connector main body, comprising - a plurality of plug-in receptacles (3) which are open on one side, are arranged in an extension direction (8) of the male multipoint connector main body and are designed to receive plug-in elements, - wherein each plug-in receptacle (3) has a dedicated bottom plate (4), - wherein a connection pocket (5) which is open on one side is arranged between adjacent plug-in receptacles (3), in particular between all adjacent plug-in receptacles (3), the connection pocket connecting these mutually adjacent plug-in receptacles (3) to each other, - wherein the plug-in receptacles (3), starting from a plane (E) in which the bottom plates (4) lie, protrude in a first direction (Z1) and the connection pockets (5), starting from the plane (E), protrude in a second direction (Z2) opposite to the first direction (Z1), and - wherein an open side (50) of the connection pockets (5) and an open side (30) of the plug-in receptacles (3) are directed substantially in the same direction.

2. Male multipoint connector main body according to Claim 1, wherein the bottom plate (4) of the plug-in receptacles (3) has a first wall thickness D1 and the side walls (31) of the plug-in receptacles (3) have a second wall thickness D2, wherein the inequality 0.3 x D1 < D2 < 0.65 x D1 is satisfied and in particular D2 = 0.5 x D1.

3. Male multipoint connector main body according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the second wall thickness D2 of side walls (31) of the plug-in receptacles (3), which protrude from the bottom plate (4), is equal to a third wall thickness D3 of pocket side walls (52) of the connection pocket (5).

4. Male multipoint connector main body according to any of the preceding claims, wherein a fourth wall thickness D4 of a base plate (51) of the connection pockets (5) is equal to the third wall thickness D3 of the pocket side walls (52) of the connection pockets (5).

5. Male multipoint connector main body according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the plane (E) is a central plane of the bottom plate (4), wherein the side walls (31) of the plug-in receptacles (3) have a first length L1 starting from the central plane of the bottom plates (4), wherein the pocket side walls (52) of the connection pockets (5) have a second length L2 starting from an internal floor (53) of the base plate (51) as far as the central plane of the bottom plate (4), wherein the first length L1 is at least twice as large as the second length L2.

6. Male multipoint connector main body according to Claim 5, wherein the inequality 0.15 x L1 < L2 < 0.5 x L1 is satisfied and in particular the inequality 0.2 x L1 < L2 < 0.38 x L1 is satisfied and further in particular L2 = 0.33 x L1.

7. Male multipoint connector main body according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the open side (50) of the connection pockets (5) lies at the level of an internal floor (40) of the bottom plate (4) of the plug-in receptacles (3).

8. Male multipoint connector main body according to any of the preceding claims, wherein at least one side wall (31) of the plug-in receptacle (3) and one pocket side wall (52) of the connection pocket (5) lie in a common wall plane (W).

9. Male multipoint connector main body according to Claim 8, wherein all side walls (31) of the plug-in receptacles (3) lie along the first direction (Z1) perpendicular to the extension direction (8) of the male multipoint connector main body and each lie in a common wall plane (W) with one of the pocket side walls (52) of the connection pockets (5).

10. Male multipoint connector main body according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the male multipoint connector main body (1) is an injection-moulded part and in particular a fibre-reinforced plastic is used as a material.

11. Male multipoint connector main body according to Claim 10, wherein the fibres in the side walls (31) of the plug-in receptacles (3) and the pocket side walls (52) of the connection pockets (5) are oriented substantially perpendicularly to the bottom plate (4) of the plug-in receptacles (3).

12. Male multipoint connector main body according to Claim 10 or 11, wherein the fibres are glass fibres, wherein the plastic is polyamide or polybutylene terephthalate.

13. Male multipoint connector main body according to Claim 12, wherein the glass fibre content in the material of the male multipoint connector main body (1) is in the range of 20-40% by volume.

14. Male multipoint connector main body according to Claim 12 or 13, wherein the material is PA66 GF30 or PBT GF30.