ELECTRICAL DEVICE WITH A COVER CAP WITH INTEGRATED MAGNETIC CONTACTING METHOD

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an electrical device according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] Electromechanical and magneto-electrical or magnetic contacting means, or in short magnetic contacting means or connector systems, are known for establishing an electrical contact, for example for the purpose of transmitting data or supplying power, between the electrical conductors of a cable and the corresponding conductors within an electrical or electronic device, hereinafter referred to as electrical device.

[0003] The former comprise a male part with contact pins protruding over a reference surface and a compatible female part with appropriately arranged and sized inward-facing contact openings. A female connector permanently installed in a housing is usually called a socket, and a permanently installed male connector is called a panel-mount plug. A male connector attached to a cable end is called a plug. The contact pins and contact openings of the plug or socket are connected to the corresponding conductors of the cable or electrical device to which they belong.

[0004] The contact pins, which are inserted into the contact openings of the socket by friction, are capable of absorbing a certain mechanical load, both axially (i.e., along the longitudinal axis of the connector or connection direction) and laterally (i.e., perpendicular to the longitudinal axis). However, this load is usually not high, and there is a risk of deformation or breakage of the typically thin contact pins. A more mechanically stable connection between plug and socket is achieved by providing additional mechanical connecting elements for load bearing. For example, plugs often include a skirt surrounding the contact pins, which can engage in a complementary opening in the socket that completely surrounds the contact openings. The skirt can also be part of the socket itself. Frequently, in addition to its mechanical connecting function, it also serves as a ground contact.

[0005] Electromechanical contact devices have the advantage of being able to withstand relatively large mechanical forces, depending on their design, without interrupting the electrical connection(s). However, a disadvantage is that under the influence of large mechanical forces, especially if these act laterally, damage can occur in the form of plastic deformation or even breakage of the plug and / or socket, or at least individual contacts.

[0006] Furthermore, after a certain number of insertions and removals, especially if these are often handled roughly, fatigue fractures can occur in the electrical contact pins of the plug. Even if only a single contact pin breaks, the entire plug then needs to be replaced.

[0007] Furthermore, due to the mutual friction that occurs each time, both the contact pins and the contact openings wear out over time, i.e., they wear down with an increasing number of insertion and removal cycles, so that the frictional connection weakens until at some point both the mechanical hold and the electrical contact are no longer guaranteed (loose contact formation).

[0008] These problems are largely avoided with magnetic contact devices. These are plugs and matching sockets where the mechanical connection is achieved not, or not exclusively, by friction between mechanical connecting elements, but by the mutual magnetic attraction of magnetic elements in the plug and socket. Among the magnetic elements is at least one magnet, usually a permanent magnet, which can be located in the plug or socket. The corresponding magnetic element in the socket or plug can also be a magnet oriented appropriately to achieve attraction, such as a permanent magnet or an electromagnet, or a piece of magnetizable material can be used, in which case correct orientation is not required.

[0009] These magnetic elements are typically positioned behind the reference surface of the plug and socket, so that when inserted they lie close together and exert a strong magnetic attraction on each other. For this purpose, the magnetization direction of the magnetic elements is aligned perpendicular to the reference surface. The electrical contacts are pressed together by the magnetic attraction between the plug and socket, thus ensuring a reliable connection.

[0010] The attractive force between the magnet(s) and the counterpart creates a connection that, up to certain axial and lateral load limits, ensures reliable electrical contact between the plug and socket contacts. If these load limits are exceeded, the connection breaks without causing damage.

[0011] Disadvantages of magnetic contact devices, i.e. magnetic plugs and sockets, are their higher complexity and somewhat higher weight and volume compared to an electromechanical plug with the same number of electrical contacts.

[0012] Unless otherwise specified, the terms "mechanical" and "electromechanical" or "magnetic" and "magneto-electrical" contacting means or magnetic contacting means are used synonymously below. Likewise, unless otherwise specified, no distinction is made between a socket and a plug. In the following, the element located in the electrical device is referred to as a socket, and the element located at the cable end of the cable to be connected is referred to as a plug.

[0013] Electrical and electronic devices such as tablets, smartphones, and many other rechargeable and / or mobile devices like flashlights and measuring tools now use small connectors, such as Mini-USB, USB Type-C, Micro-USB, or Lightning. These often have a protective cover which, when closed, protects against the ingress of solid foreign objects, including dust, and / or liquids, especially water. Unfortunately, these covers are not always closed for convenience. While these protective covers often have a locking mechanism, if this is damaged, the cover can be lost. Some users even remove the cover intentionally.

[0014] If the cover is not used, failure of the socket due to the ingress of solid foreign objects and / or water is quite likely, especially in dirtier environments.

[0015] At the same time, the aim is often to accommodate all required or desired components in the smallest possible volume, while still providing the greatest possible versatility with regard to contact means, i.e., the types of connectors that can be used.

[0016] US patent 10,700,483 B1 discloses a cover cap for the data connector of a tablet, which has a magnetic contact element on one front side and an electromechanical contact element on the other. The cover cap can be inserted into a recess provided for this purpose, surrounding the data connector, such that the electromechanical contact element is connected to the data connector and the cover cap is flush with the housing. A recess is provided in the tablet housing adjacent to the recess, which facilitates manual removal of the cover cap.

[0017] The published patent application US 2018 / 0115128 A1 discloses an adapter for a mobile device that can be inserted into a recess in the mobile device housing surrounding a connector socket. In some versions, the adapter has a locking pin with a thickened end, which is inserted into a corresponding pin receptacle in the housing and thus secures it to the mobile device.

[0018] Against this background, the objective of the present invention is to overcome the problems described above in a compact electrical device and to provide an additional contacting option which does not require its own protective cover and, ideally, can even be retrofitted.

[0019] This is solved by an electrical device according to claim 1.

[0020] The electrical device according to the invention has at least one electromechanical contacting means in the form of a socket or a plug, which can be closed by the cover cap according to the invention, which is captive and connected to the housing of the electrical device. According to the invention, a magnetic contacting means in the form of a magnetic plug or a magnetic socket is integrated into the cover cap. This is preferably arranged in the top of the cover cap, but in any case such that even when the cover cap is closed, i.e., when it closes the electromechanical contacting means, a complementary magnetic contacting means counterpart, i.e., a magnetic plug, can be connected.

[0021] The cover cap has a projection or ledge extending beyond its side surfaces, which improves grip for opening and closing the cover cap. This projection can preferably be located on a side surface of the cover cap that differs from the top and bottom surfaces.

[0022] Both the electromechanical and the magnetic contacting means represent an interface of the electrical device, through which it can be supplied with power or data transmission can take place.

[0023] The magnetic contact element can either function independently of the electromechanical contact element concealed by the cover cap, providing a separate interface for powering the electrical device or for data transmission to other electrical devices or a communication network. In this case, it would be conceivable to use both interfaces or contact elements simultaneously by opening the cap to access the underlying electromechanical contact element. With a suitable design of the cap and arrangement of the integrated magnetic contact element, which is readily apparent to a person skilled in the art, an electromechanical contact element counterpart and a magnetic contact element counterpart can then be connected to the respective contact element of the electrical device simultaneously.

[0024] In alternative embodiments of an electrical device according to the invention with a magnetic contacting means integrated into a cover cap of an electromechanical contacting means, however, an electrical connection can exist between part or all of the electrical contacts of the magnetic contacting means with the contacts of the electromechanical contacting means, so that both form a combined interface which can be connected to both electromechanical and magnetic contacting means counterparts.

[0025] In a preferred embodiment of such a combined interface, a counterpart to the electromechanical contacting means that can be closed by the cap is provided on the underside, i.e., the side facing the housing, of the cover cap. This counterpart is positioned such that it is coupled to the electromechanical contacting means when the cover cap is closed. The electrical contacts of the counterpart on the underside of the cap and the electrical contacts of the magnetic contacting means, which is preferably arranged on the top side of the cap, i.e., the side opposite the underside of the cap, are partially or all electrically connected, so that when a counterpart is connected to the magnetic contacting means when the cap is closed, a connection is effectively established between this counterpart and the electromechanical interface closed by the cap.

[0026] The design of the magnetic contact element is, in principle, arbitrary within the scope of the present invention. If basic compatibility with the electromechanical contacting element is desired, it is only necessary to ensure that the magnetic contact element has electrical contacts with a sufficient number for the intended purpose (data transmission and / or power supply) and with a cross-sectional dimension adequate for the flowing currents. If the interface is intended for the transmission of high-frequency signals, especially at higher currents, aspects of electromagnetic compatibility must also be considered.

[0027] The electrical device according to the invention can be any electrical or electronic device that can operate wired or wirelessly, i.e., completely without cables for power supply or data transmission. In addition to the components described above that are directly relevant to the invention, it can include any further assemblies and components, such as a power supply, transmitters and receivers for wireless data reception, a data display, audio input and / or output devices, switches, input devices such as a keyboard, a keypad and / or a touch-sensitive display, data acquisition devices such as temperature, pressure, acceleration or radiation sensors or cameras, as well as one or more central control assemblies for linking and coordinating the functions of these peripheral components.

[0028] The electromechanical and magnetic contacting means according to the invention are part of interfaces through which the electrical device communicates with other electrical devices or a data network and / or is supplied with an operating voltage. A dual function of data communication and operating voltage supply is realized, for example, by a USB interface.

[0029] The preferred electrical device is a mobile electrical device such as a flashlight or a mobile data processing and / or communication device such as a laptop PC, a tablet or a smartphone.

[0030] The invention provides a space-saving connection option for both electromechanical and magnetic contact elements, thereby improving the versatility and usability of the device. Either two interfaces are accommodated essentially within the volume of a single interface according to the prior art, or the user is enabled to connect an interface, as desired or as available, to cables that have an electromechanical or magnetic contact element counterpart. This combines the advantages of both types of contact elements in a single interface without significantly increasing the installation space required.

[0031] Furthermore, simple retrofitting is possible by creating a mounting point for a cover cap according to the invention on the electrical device, if one is not already present, and then attaching the cap to it. For example, an opening for inserting a locking pin of the cover cap can be drilled in the area of ​​the electromechanical contact element to be sealed, and the locking pin can then be inserted, thus securing the cap to the housing in a cap-proof manner, thereby creating an electrical device according to the invention.

[0032] Further advantageous embodiments of the present invention, which can be implemented individually or in combination, provided they do not obviously exclude each other, will be briefly presented below.

[0033] The magnetic contacting means, which according to the invention is integrated into the cover cap of an electromechanical contacting means, preferably has an approximately annular contact, which serves in particular as a ground contact. Furthermore, at least one contact pin enclosed by the annular contact is provided, which serves in particular as a power contact. In further preferred embodiments, more than one contact pin, for example two, three, four, or six contact pins, can also be provided. These can be biased by a common spring with a preload force, which ensures sufficient electrical contact when inserted. Alternatively, subgroups of contact pins can also have their own preload springs. In the extreme case, each contact pin has its own preload spring.Such a design is the most complex to manufacture, but promises the highest contact reliability and can also tolerate somewhat lower manufacturing tolerances, as these are compensated to a certain extent by the spring travel, which is automatically adjusted individually for each contact pin.

[0034] In preferred variants of those embodiments of the invention in which a contacting means counterpart suitable for the electromechanical contacting means is provided on the underside of the cover cap facing the electromechanical contacting means, which is connected to the electromechanical contacting means in the closed state of the cap, i.e., is inserted into it, the magnetic contacting means, which is particularly preferably integrated in a top side opposite the underside, and the contacting means counterpart on the underside are arranged relative to each other in such a way that the length of the conductors required for the electrical connection of the contacts of the magnetic contacting means and the counterpart is minimal.

[0035] In some designs, the fastening element that securely connects the cover cap to the housing of the electrical device consists of a pin protruding from the underside, which passes through an opening in the housing whose cross-section is complementary to that of the pin. To prevent accidental removal from the opening and thus achieve a secure connection, the pin has a thickened section located inside the housing, i.e., a section with a larger cross-section than the intervening part of the pin. This can be, for example, a spherical thickening or a conical thickening.

[0036] When the cover cap is closed, the pin is pushed into the opening until the section near the underside of the cap is inside the housing opening. To open the cover cap, it is lifted, which pulls the pin further out of the opening. This is possible until the thickened section of the pin prevents it from being pulled out any further.

[0037] The length of the pin, or the distance between the underside of the cover cap and the cross-sectional enlargement, is sufficiently chosen to allow the cover cap to be pivoted out of the area of ​​the electromechanical contacting device located underneath.

[0038] In preferred embodiments, the electromechanical contacting element is located within a recess or cavity embedded in the housing wall, for example, rectangular or oval in shape, which corresponds to the shape and size of the cover cap. The recess thus forms a seat for the cover cap, which, with suitable material and geometry (for which many suitable options are apparent to those skilled in the art), can effectively seal the contacting element against the ingress of even small solid foreign bodies or liquids, preferably providing dust and / or splash water protection or even waterproofing in the sense of the IP classification known to those skilled in the art. In these embodiments, the length of the pin is preferably somewhat greater, at least approximately 10% greater, than the depth of the recess. Particularly preferably, the pin is 10-30% longer than this depth.

[0039] The pen can be made of the same material as the cap. Preferably, the pen material has a certain degree of elasticity, such as soft plastic or firm rubber, so that the cap remains flexible when open.

[0040] An alternative method for securing the cover cap involves a pair of aligned pins protruding from opposite side walls, connecting the top and bottom surfaces. These pins are guided in notches on opposite sides of the recess or housing recess that forms a seat for the cover cap. The notches extend almost to, but not quite to, the top of the recess, ensuring that each pin cannot slip out of its notch and thus provides a secure, captive fastening.

[0041] The cap can be opened by lifting it in a straight line, moving the pins upwards in the notches until they reach their upper end. A pivoting motion around the axis defined by the pins then removes the cap from the area above the electromechanical contact element, allowing the insertion of a mating contact.

[0042] Particularly preferably, the electromechanical interface together with the cover cap and the recess forming a seat for it are located within a further, larger recess or cavity which has an angled side surface, so that the cover cap is easier to grip when closed.

[0043] Particularly preferred are two or more prongs arranged in pairs as a gripping aid on opposite side surfaces of the cover cap, with the prongs of a pair being aligned with each other.

[0044] The preferred electromechanical interface is a socket for a jack plug, barrel plug, Lightning plug, USB-C plug or Micro-USB plug.

[0045] Further details, advantages, and features of the present invention will become apparent from the exemplary embodiment explained in more detail below with reference to the figures. This is intended merely to illustrate the invention and in no way to limit its generality.

[0046] They show: Figure 1: In two partial figures, perspective views of a preferred embodiment of a cover cap according to the invention with an integrated magnetic contact means in conjunction with an electromechanical connector. Figure 2: In two partial figures, perspective views of the embodiment from Figure 1 However, here it is used in conjunction with a magnetic contact connector.

[0047] The figures illustrate a preferred embodiment of a cover cap for an electromechanical contacting element in the form of a micro-USB connector socket in an electrical device with an integrated magnetic contacting element. Since the electrical device in which this is used is entirely arbitrary, it, or rather its housing, is only partially shown in the figures.

[0048] The sub-characters of Figure 1 The figures show, in an exaggerated perspective view, the interaction of the electrical device according to the invention with an electromechanical contact counterpart in the form of a micro-USB plug.

[0049] Figure A shows the state before the micro-USB connector 4 is inserted into the socket 20. The cover cap 3 has been lifted out of its seat in the recess 27 and rotated 180 degrees about the axis formed by the locking pin 34 of the fastening element 23, so that there is sufficient space for the housing 41 of the connector 4 to allow the coupling part 46 of the connector 4 to be inserted into the coupling opening 24 of the socket 20, thus connecting the connector 4 and socket 20. The resulting state is illustrated in Figure B.

[0050] The recess 27 lies within a larger recess which has two opposing chamfered sides 25. This makes the cover cap easier to grasp by hand when it is in the closed position in the recess 27, thus sealing the coupling opening 24 of the socket 20 dust- and / or watertight. To further improve grip, the cover cap 3 also has two projections 31 as gripping aids, which are aligned with each other on opposite side surfaces of the cover cap 3.

[0051] According to the invention, a magnetic contact element 38 is integrated into the cover cap 3 on its upper surface, and a micro-USB coupling element 36 is located on the opposite, housing-facing underside, next to the pin 34. When the cover cap is closed, i.e., when it is inserted into its seat in the recess 27 and closes the socket 20, this micro-USB coupling element 36 is inserted into the coupling opening 24. Since the electrical contacts of the coupling element 36 and those of the magnetic contact element 38 are connected via electrical conductors in the cover cap 3, an effective connection is thus created between the socket 20 and the magnetic contact element 38, so that the socket 20 can be contacted with a corresponding magnetic contact element counterpart.

[0052] Such an interaction of this cover cap according to the invention with a magnetic contacting counterpart in the form of a magnetic contact plug shows Figure 2 in two partial figures, also in an exaggerated perspective view.

[0053] Part A again shows the state before connection. The cover cap 3 is not yet inserted into its seat in the recess 27, but is already correctly aligned for this purpose. Next, in a linear movement along the perpendicular to the surface of the housing 2, the cover cap 3 can be inserted into the recess 27, and simultaneously the micro-USB coupling part 36 protruding from the underside of the cover cap can be inserted into the coupling opening 24. The coupling counterpart 52 of the magnetic contact connector 5 can then be connected to the magnetic contacting element 38.

[0054] However, it is also possible to perform these two steps in reverse order, i.e., first connecting the magnetic contact plug 5 to the contacting element 38 and only then inserting the cover cap 3 into the recess 27. In both cases, an electrical coupling between the magnetic contact plug 5 and the socket is now achieved via the cover cap 3 and the interconnected magnetic and electromechanical contacting elements contained therein.

[0055] The pin 34 of the cover cap fastening 23 passes through the opening 26, which lies within the recess 20 in the housing 2 and has a clear width that is slightly larger than the diameter of the pin 34. At the lower end of the pin 34, as shown in Figure 2B can be seen a cone-shaped thickened section 341, which has a larger diameter than the opening 26, and thus forms the locking mechanism for the pin. Reference symbol list

[0056] 1 Electrical device (cutout) 2 Housing 20 Micro-USB socket 23 Fastening element from 3 to 2 24 Coupling opening of 20 25 Chamfer 26 Opening for 34 27 Recess, forms seat for 3 3 Cover cap 31 Protrusion 34 Anti-loss pin 341 Thickened end of 34 36 Micro-USB plug coupling part 38 Magnetic contacting element 4 Micro-USB plug 41 Housing of 4 46 Coupling part of 4 5 Magnetic plug 51 Housing of 5 52 Contacting counterpart of 38

Claims

1. Electrical device, comprising • a housing (2), • at least one electromechanical contacting means (20) integrated into the housing (2), particularly a female connector (20) of a certain connector type, for connecting of an electromechanical contacting means counterpart (4), particularly a male connector (4), • a covering cap (3) capable of covering the contacting means (20) at least partially and in that state protect it against the intrusion of solid foreign matter, in particular dust, and / or liquids, in particular water, and wherein a magnet contacting means (38) for connecting with a magnet contacting means counterpart (5), particularly a magnet contact plug (5), for establishing an electrically conductive connection between contacts of the magnet contacting means (38) and the magnet contacting means counterpart (5), whereby in the connected state a magnetic attraction is present, is integrated in the covering cap (3), wherein the magnet contacting means (38) is contactable also in the closed state of the covering cap (3), and wherein a coupling opening (24) for receiving a coupling member (46) of a mechanical contacting means counterpart (4) is positioned in a recess (27) in a side of the housing (2) having an oblique side face (25), wherein the recess (27) serves as seat for the covering cap (3) which is formed and dimensioned accordingly, and the electromechanical contacting means (20) lies in the recess (27), characterized in that the covering cap (3) can be gripped in the closed state, wherein the covering cap has (3) has as gripping aid two aligned protrustions (31) positioned on opposite sides and wherein the covering cap (3) is attached to the housing (2) in a loss-proof manner by means of a fastener (23).

2. Electrical device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it has further electromechanical and / or magnetic contacting means, which are covered by the covering cap (3).

3. Electrical device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in and underside of the covering cap (3) facing the housing there is a coupling counterpart (36) for the electromechanical contacting means (20), which - in the closed state of the covering cap (3) is coupled with the electromechanical contacting means (20), in particular inserted into a coupling opening (24) of the contacting means (20), and - the electrical contacts of the coupling counterpart (36) are connected via electrical connections to the corresponding electrical contacts of the magnet contacting means (38) of the covering cap (3), - such that upon connecting of a magnet contacting means counterpart (5) with the magnet contacting means (38) an electrical connection between the magnet contacting means counterpart (5) and the electromechanical contacting means (20) is established.

4. Electrical device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the electromechanical contacting means is a socket (20) with a coupling opening (24) of a particular connector type and the coupling counterpart a matching plug coupling member (36) and the plug coupling member (36) is inserted into the coupling opening (24) in the closed state of the covering cap (3), such that electrical contacts of the plug coupling member (36) contact the corresponding contacts in the coupling opening (24) of the socket (20).

5. Electrical device according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that the magnet contacting means (38) is positioned in the covering cap (3) such that the electrical connections between it and the mechanical coupling counterpart, in particular plug coupling member (36), have a minimal length.

6. Electrical device according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that the magnet contacting means (38) has an annular contact with or without one or several cutouts, which in particular serves as mass contact, and at least one contact pin surrounded by the annular contact, which inparticular serves as power contact.

7. Electrical device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fastener (23) of the covering cap (3) consists in a pin (34) protruding from ist underside (34), which passes through an opening (26) that is formed complementary to a cross section of the pin (34), wherein the pin has an enlarged section (341) insided the housing that secures it against inadvertent extraction from the opening (26).

8. Electrical device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electromechanical contacting means is a socket (20) matching a plug of the type phone jack, barrel connector, lightning connector, USB-C-connector or Micro-USB-connector.