CONTACTING SYSTEM CONNECTION ELEMENT

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a signaling device with a connection element for the electrical connection of the signaling device, in particular an optical device, with a functional module adjacent to the connection element, such as a light module, an acoustic module for signaling one or more different operating states of a technical device such as a machine, a system, a vehicle or the like, or a radio module for establishing a radio connection of the signaling device, according to the preamble of claim 1. State of the art

[0002] Optical signaling devices, or signal towers, have been in use for many years in a wide variety of configurations. The "classic" signal tower with three interchangeable modules, usually red, yellow, and green, is frequently used. Since signal towers are generally modular, additional modules in blue or white, etc., can be added, and individual modules can be removed to adapt to changing operating conditions or applications. Often, acoustic signaling devices such as piezoelectric discs, multi-tone generators, or horns are integrated into the unit, allowing for both visual and acoustic signaling, particularly through the use of these interchangeable modules.

[0003] Modular signaling devices, especially optical ones, include so-called "pre-configured" devices, which have a fixed, unchangeable structure of modules that are permanently connected, for example in the colors red, yellow, green.

[0004] More common are the tool-free, temporarily connectable interchangeable modules found in so-called "non-preconfigured" devices or signal towers. Here, the individual modules, especially lighting and / or acoustic modules, can be combined as desired and also exchanged or replaced without tools at a later time. This achieves a particularly high degree of flexibility in application possibilities with standardized interchangeable modules. For example, a "blue" step or interchangeable module can be added later, and / or a damaged or broken lighting / interchangeable module can be replaced with a new, intact one without much effort.

[0005] This is particularly advantageous for modern lighting modules with long-lasting LEDs or circuit boards, since, compared to the incandescent bulbs that were widely used in the past, not only the light source (i.e., the bulb) but also, in the event of damage or destruction of the light source and / or the circuit boards, repair is usually not an option nowadays for economic reasons, but the entire replacement module / lighting module is replaced.

[0006] Especially in modular signal towers with interchangeable modules, the "loop-through" of the power supply to the individual modules using wires has been common practice for many years. For example, DE 100 41 202 A1 describes a signal tower with up to five stages / light modules, in which, in addition to the five separate power supply lines / wires, a negative terminal / neutral conductor / wire is also present in each module and is "looped through" from stage to stage. This means that, until now, each interchangeable module / light module has typically had six wires on the inside of its housing, so that all interchangeable modules of a signal tower with up to five stages are identical and can be freely interchanged.

[0007] Especially with signal towers featuring interchangeable modules, high demands are placed on these contact points and on the contacting during replacement, i.e., the assembly and / or disassembly of one of the modules / interchangeable modules. Thus, signal towers sometimes experience very frequent replacement of such modules or interchangeable modules over their service life, whereby reliable contact and therefore the security of the power supply between the tool-free interchangeable modules must be guaranteed under all circumstances.

[0008] From EP 1 467 140 B1, a signal tower is known in which a circuit board or printed circuit board is used, which is aligned longitudinally with the signal tower. The circuit board is permanently contacted by wires during operation or use. These wires extend radially outwards to the inside of the dome, where, on the inside of the dome, the contact points for disassembling the respective module are located between two adjacent or between two detachably connected interchangeable modules. Thus, the contact between the individual interchangeable modules / light modules, which has been common for many years, is also implemented here using wires.

[0009] German patent application DE 10 2015 120 280 A1 discloses a further developed signaling device in which, to improve the contacting of the interchangeable modules in the direction of the longitudinal axis, at least two electrical contact surfaces of the contact, which can be detachably connected to each other, are arranged transversely to a longitudinal axis of the signal tower. One contact surface is located on the end face of a printed circuit board in conjunction with a conductor track, and the other contact surface is designed as a surface of a contact spring, which serves as an electrical conductor and extends transversely to the longitudinal axis of the signal tower.

[0010] This signal tower features a connection module for connecting external electrical lines to a terminal block within the connection module. The terminal block is mounted on a circuit board. The connection module, in turn, is connected to a base module, which serves for the mechanical mounting of the signal tower. The electrical connection between the terminal block on the circuit board and the functional module adjacent to the connection module is not described in detail. Object of the invention

[0011] The object of the invention is to enable a simple and reliable electrical connection of such a signaling device with the external electrical lines.

[0012] This problem is solved starting from a signaling device according to the preamble of claim 1 by its characterizing features.

[0013] Accordingly, a connection element of the signal device according to the invention is characterized in that the electrical conductor having the contact surface for the connection of an adjacent functional module extends for the electrical connection of the contact surface with a cable core of an electrical cable up to a cable connection terminal of the connection element.

[0014] This design eliminates the need for intermediate components such as wires, circuit boards, or the like, and both connections of the connecting element—that is, both the connection to the adjacent functional element via the associated contact surface and the connection to an external cable—can be made in a single step during the assembly of such an electrical conductor. This significantly reduces both the number of parts required and the assembly effort. According to the invention, the electrical conductor is designed as a one-piece spring element that comprises, on the one hand, the contact surface for connecting the functional module and, on the other hand, a cable clamping spring of the cable terminal.

[0015] This design simplifies connecting the attached terminal to an external cable, which in this case is accomplished by simply inserting a wire ferrule or the end of a conductor. This type of terminal is also known as a "push-in" terminal. In this case, the connection can be made without tools.

[0016] A special type of such a clamp is one in which the cable clamp spring has a passage for inserting a wire end of a cable. This provides a more secure clamping and reliable connection to the wire end. Such clamps are also known as cage clamps.

[0017] A further development of the invention offers particular advantages in which a device for releasing the cable clamp spring is provided. In this case, disconnecting the connection element or an associated signaling device from the external cable is possible in a simple manner.

[0018] The release of the cable clamp spring can be achieved, for example, by providing access for a separate tool such as a screwdriver to press the cable clamp spring or a permanently present release element, such as a movable lever or pressure stamp to press the cable clamp spring.

[0019] It is also advantageous if the contact surface for the adjacent functional module is a contact spring that extends transversely to the contact surface and acts in the direction of a longitudinal axis of the connecting element. Such a contact spring has already proven effective in designs where the circuit board, running parallel to the longitudinal axis of the corresponding functional module, has the mating contacts on its end face, so that contact is established by pressing an end-face contact against the contact spring. The design as a contact spring allows for tolerance compensation when connecting multiple parallel contacts by enabling different spring deflections. The resilient contact surface can be flat or have inclined sliding surfaces or ramps at its ends to allow the mating contacts of a corresponding circuit board to slide.

[0020] If the contact spring for the adjacent functional module is electrically connected to the cable clamping spring, then connecting the external cable to the cable clamping spring directly via the contact surface of the contact spring for the adjacent functional module results in a connection available for the adjacent functional module.

[0021] According to the invention, the electrical connection between the contact surface of the contact spring for the adjacent functional module and the cable clamp spring is achieved by a single spring element comprising both the contact surface for connecting the functional module and the cable clamp spring of the cable terminal. Such a spring element performs a dual function by facilitating both the connection to the external cable and to the adjacent functional module. This dual function is combined with a further reduction in the number of parts and assembly steps required.

[0022] The electrical connection of two or more electrical conductors of the adjacent functional module is made possible by providing two or more identically shaped spring elements as electrical conductors with contact surfaces for the adjacent functional module, wherein the contact surfaces are arranged side by side and pointing in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the connection element.

[0023] By arranging the contact surfaces for the adjacent functional module in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the connection element, the invention can also be applied in signal towers in which the connection of such an adjacent functional module is effected by end-face contact of a circuit board extending in the longitudinal direction of the connection element or of the functional module to be connected to it with one or more such contact surfaces.

[0024] In a further development of this design, the contact surfaces of the electrical conductors are strip-shaped and lie parallel to each other. In this design, the connection of several adjacent contact surfaces can be achieved in a single movement, for example by pushing them on and / or by a rotational movement.

[0025] The electrical conductors, designed as a single-piece spring element with the cable clamp spring and the contact surface, can be identical in shape but arranged at a twist relative to each other, with the contact surfaces still pointing in the direction of the longitudinal axis. If the single-piece spring elements designed as electrical conductors, with the cable clamp spring and the contact surface for adjacent functional elements or modules, are arranged alternately rotated by 180 degrees, the contact surfaces can not only point in the same direction along the longitudinal axis but can also be arranged parallel to each other in a strip-like configuration. This alternating arrangement can offer better space allocation for tool access to the cable clamp spring.

[0026] The twisted arrangement can also be provided in block form, i.e., in groups of identically arranged spring elements and not alternating, or in block form, i.e., in alternating groups.

[0027] By using a cable terminal block that has two or more parallel terminals, each electrically connected to one of the conductors of the same shape, the corresponding advantages of connecting two or more electrical conductors with a cable terminal block can be achieved.

[0028] A connection element of a signaling device according to the invention can comprise a housing for mechanical connection to an adjacent functional element or module and an electrical contact element for electrical connection. In a particular embodiment, the electrical contact element includes two or more spring elements as electrical conductors with contact surfaces for the adjacent functional module and a cable terminal for two or more cable conductors. Such a contact element can enable the parallel connection of several cable conductors to several contact surfaces for an adjacent functional element. For example, several functional elements or modules arranged in series can thus be electrically connected and controlled.

[0029] The cable connection terminals of the electrical contact element are designed as cable clamping springs and are equipped with two or more cable clamping springs for two or more cable conductors. Thus, by inserting the cable ends into the cable clamping spring, the electrical connection can be established via the required electrical conductors to the contact surfaces for the adjacent functional module(s).

[0030] The two or more electrical conductors are designed as one-piece spring elements, each featuring a contact surface for the adjacent functional module and a cable clamping spring. A one-piece design simplifies manufacturing by reducing the number of parts and assembly steps. The contact element preferably incorporates an electrically insulating material between the various cable clamping springs, thus preventing unwanted contact between different conductors.

[0031] The contact element can be integrated with the housing of the terminal element or designed as an insert for insertion into the terminal element's housing. For example, the insulating part of the contact element can be injection-molded into the housing during the plastic housing manufacturing process. As an insert, the contact element can also be manufactured by injection molding the insulation. In both cases, the electrical conductors can be inserted subsequently or injection-molded simultaneously. In the case of an integrated design, fewer manufacturing steps are required; in the case of the insert design, the same contact element can be used for different housing variants.

[0032] As already mentioned above, the connection element according to the invention is used in a signaling device with interchangeable function modules, such as in a signal tower. In this case, an additional advantage can be achieved by having one or more function modules have a contact element that is identical in design to the contact element of the connection element. This allows the same contact elements to be used not only between the connection element and the adjacent function module or element, but also between the function modules or elements themselves.

[0033] This can be achieved by having the contact element have both a cable clamp for the cable ends and connection contacts for a functional module or element, for example for a printed circuit board of a functional module.

[0034] In a particularly advantageous embodiment, however, the cable terminal of the connection element is designed in such a way that it optionally allows the connection of cable conductors or conductor tracks of a printed circuit board to establish an electrical connection, thus eliminating the need for separate connection contacts for a printed circuit board.

[0035] For example, the cable terminal block can have one or more openings for inserting a printed circuit board or for inserting protrusions of a printed circuit board, wherein the cable clamping springs are accessible through the opening(s) for the printed circuit board in order to optionally establish contact with the conductor tracks of the printed circuit board or with a cable conductor or a ferrule of a cable conductor via the cable clamping springs. Examples of implementation

[0036] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawing and are explained in more detail below with reference to the figures.

[0037] In detail, they show Fig. 1 a side view of a connecting element according to the invention, Fig. 2 a sectional view of a connection element according to the invention, Fig. 3 a close-up from Fig. 2 with a first version of a spring element, Fig. 4 a second version of a spring element, Fig. 5 a section of a contact element with another version of a spring element, Fig. 6 a section of a contact element with another version of a spring element, Fig. 7 a section of a contact element with another version of a spring element, Fig. 8 a section of a contact element with another version of a spring element, Fig. 9 a section of a contact element with another version of a spring element, Fig. 10 a special design of a spring element, Fig. 11a section of a perspective view of a functional module and its contact surfaces in contact with the circuit board of an adjacent functional module, Fig. 12 a cross-section through another version of a connection element, Fig. 13 A top view from below of a connection element with cable terminal block Fig. 14 a side view of a signal tower with connection element and function modules, Fig. 15 an opened representation of a signal tower according to Fig. 14 and Fig. 16 An open representation of a functional module with a printed circuit board and the connection contacts to other functional modules or a connection element.

[0038] Specifically, the connecting element 1 comprises Fig. 1 and Fig. 2A housing 2 with a knurled surface 3 and projections 4 of a bayonet fitting 5 for a functional module to be attached to and thus adjacent to it. The cover 6 of the connection module 1 contains a contact element 7, which can be formed integrally with the housing 1 or the cover 6, or connected to the cover 6 as an insert element.

[0039] In the enlarged section after Fig. 3 The contact element 7 is more clearly visible. The contact element comprises an electrically insulating receptacle 8, e.g., made of plastic, into which a spring element 9 is inserted as an electrical conductor. The spring element has a contact surface 10 on its upper side for the electrical connection of an adjacent functional element. The spring element is supported in the receptacle 8 by two side plates 11 and anchored in a manner not shown in detail, for example, by means of barbs, locking elements, or the like.

[0040] On its underside, the spring element 9 comprises a cable clamping spring 12 which, in the deflected position 12' (shown with dashed lines), presses a wire end ferrule 13 of a connecting cable against a counter bearing 14. The angled design of the cable clamping spring 12 clamps the wire end ferrule 13 against being pulled out. The counter bearing 14 can be made of insulating material, e.g., plastic, or a conductive material, e.g., metal.

[0041] A cable terminal 15 for the wire end ferrule 13 is thus formed by the receptacle 8, the cable clamping spring 12, and the counter bearing 14. In the illustrated embodiment, the electrical conductor according to the claim, in the form of the spring element 9, therefore extends not only from the contact surface 10 to the cable terminal 15, but, due to the one-piece design of the spring element 9 with the cable clamping spring 12, it is also part of the cable terminal 15.

[0042] A slot 16 in the receptacle 8 allows the insertion of a tool 17 (shown with dashed lines), e.g., a screwdriver, to push the cable clamping spring 12 away from the wire end ferrule 13 and thereby release it. This makes the cable terminal 15 detachable.

[0043] Due to the open shape of the spring element 9, it is also spring-like in the area of ​​the contact surface 10, i.e. it forms a contact spring 18 on the top of the contact element 7 for contact with a functional module to be connected to it.

[0044] Fig. 4 Figure 1 shows a different embodiment of the spring element 9 of the cable clamping spring 12 with a modified counter bearing 14. Although a wire end sleeve is shown in the illustration to demonstrate the inclined insertion direction, the cable clamping spring is in the un-displaced position, which corresponds to the position without a wire end sleeve.

[0045] Fig. 5shows the variant of contact element 7 according to Fig. 1 The illustration shows only part of the opening 8. Tool 17 is only indicated and is, of course, significantly larger in reality. This illustration shows that wire ferrules of different cross-sections can be used. The wire ferrule shown is considerably narrower than the corresponding opening 19 in the opening 8, allowing for an angled insertion position. However, it is also evident from this illustration that a wire ferrule 13 or even the end of a cable with a larger cross-section could be used.

[0046] Fig. 6 shows a similar variant to Fig. 4 In both cases, the counter bearing 14 is designed as an additional part, which is manufactured separately and inserted into the receptacle 8.

[0047] Fig. 7Figure 1 shows an embodiment in which the counter bearing 14 is formed integrally with the spring element 9. Here, the counter bearing 14 is formed as a flange from a side face 11 of the spring element. The counter bearing can also be designed as an elastic clamping spring or as a dimensionally stable counter bearing.

[0048] Fig. 8 Figure 1 shows a variant in which the end of the spring element 9 forming the cable clamping spring is shaped to form a clamping cage 19 and a counter bearing 20. The wire end sleeve is inserted through an opening 21 of the clamping cage 19 and, upon rebounding in the direction Z, is clamped between the clamping cage 19 and the counter bearing 20. Using the tool 17, the clamping cage can be pressed against the spring direction Z, thus releasing the clamping of the wire end sleeve 13.

[0049] The execution according Fig. 9 essentially corresponds to the version according to Fig. 8, where the clamping cage 19 is formed separately from the spring element 9 and is thus inserted into the receptacle 8 as an insert during assembly.

[0050] Fig. 10 Figure 1 shows a particular embodiment of the design of the spring element 9. The spring element 9 is only partially shown here to illustrate the cross-sections. In this design, the spring element is bent from a wire 21 with a round cross-section and flattened in the area of ​​the cable clamp spring by an embossing 22. A comparable embossing or flattening can also be provided in the area of ​​the contact surface 10.

[0051] Fig. 11Figure 1 shows the arrangement of six contact surfaces 10, which are arranged in a strip and parallel to each other. The contact surfaces 10 protrude from the cover 6 of the terminal element 1, into which the contact element 7 is integrated, as indicated by the dashed lines. A printed circuit board 24 is in electrical contact with the contact surfaces 10 of the contact element 7 of the terminal element via end-face contacts 25. 1. The circuit board 24 belongs to an adjacent functional module (not shown) which is connected to and via the connection element 1.

[0052] This representation not only shows the function of the contact surfaces 10, but also illustrates that the contact surfaces 10 can be formed not only as a planar shape as shown above, but also as curved surfaces or as several planar surfaces arranged at an angle to each other, thereby forming ramps 26 for counter-contacts of a functional module to be connected, along which these can slide.

[0053] Fig. 12 Figure 1 shows an embodiment of a contact element 7 in which the tool is guided parallel to the wire end sleeve 13 into the slot 16 to release the cable clamping spring 12, which, as in previous examples, is separated from the receiving opening 27 for the wire end sleeve 13 by a partition 28.

[0054] In Fig. 13It can be seen from the receiving openings 27 for the wire end ferrules 13 and the slots 16 for the tool 17 for releasing the cable clamp springs 12 that the respective spring elements 9 are arranged alternately rotated by 180 degrees. The receiving openings 27 and slots 16 are numbered for this purpose, so that it is evident that the spring elements 9 belonging to receiving openings 27.0, 27.2 and 27.4 and slots 16.0, 16.2 and 16.4 are arranged in an alternating rotation with respect to the spring elements 9 belonging to receiving openings 27.1, 27.3 and 27.5 and slots 16.1, 16.3 and 16.5.

[0055] In the Figs. 14 and 15A signal tower is shown, comprising various functional modules 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, which can be configured, for example, as lighting modules, acoustic modules, or radio modules. The connection element 1, not shown in detail in these figures, is designed according to the invention and serves to connect the functional modules 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34 by means of cable conductors not shown. In the cutaway view according to Fig. 15 24 circuit boards are identifiable.

[0056] In Fig. 16The connection of a functional module, for example functional module 30 or 31 to 33, is recognizable. The circuit board 35 is provided on its lower end face with end-face contacts 36 in the form of electrically conductive contact surfaces, which are clearly oriented transversely to the longitudinal axis A of the signal tower 28, the functional modules 29 to 34, and the circuit board 35. These end-face contacts 36 form mating contacts with the contact surfaces 10 of the contact springs 18 in the contact element 7 of an underlying functional module 31 or a underlying connection element 1, which are also oriented transversely to the longitudinal axis A.

[0057] On the upper side of the functional module 30 or 31 to 33, the contact element 37 belonging to the illustrated functional module can be seen, which is constructed in the same way as the contact element 7. The circuit board 35 is inserted into the contact element from below. For this purpose, the circuit board 35 is designed so that it can optionally be inserted into the receiving openings 27 in place of wire end ferrules 13 and thereby makes contact with the spring elements 9 via conductor tracks. Thus, a circuit board 38 of an upper or adjacent functional module is contacted in the same way as the circuit board 35 is contacted on its underside. Reference symbol list:

[0058] 1 Connection element 2 Housing 3 Grooving 4 Projection 5 Bayonet lock 6 Cover 7 Contact element 8 Receptacle 9 Spring element / electrical conductor 10 Contact surface 11 Side wall 12 Cable clamping spring 13 Ferrule 14 Counter bearing 15 Cable connection terminal 16 Slot 17 Tool 18 Cable clamping spring 19 Clamping cage 20 Counter bearing 21 Opening 22 Wire 23 Embossing 24 Circuit board 25 End contact 26 Ramp 27 Receptacle opening 28 Signal tower 29 Function module 30 Function module 31 Function module 32 Function module 33 Function module 34 Function module 35 Circuit board 36 End contacts 37 Contact element 38 Circuit board A Longitudinal axis

Claims

1. Signal device, in particular signal tower (28) having detachably provided functional modules (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34) and having a connecting element (1) for the electrical connection of the signal device to the functional module adjacent to the connecting element (1) such as a lighting module for signalling one or more different operating states of an industrial device such as a machine, a plant, a vehicle or the like, or a radio module for producing a radio connection of the signal device, wherein the connecting element (1) for the electrical connection of the functional module has a housing (2) for the mechanical connection and an electric contact element (7) for the electrical connection to at least one electric contact surface (10) of at least one electric conductor (9), wherein at least the functional module (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34) has the contact element (7), which is formed in the same way as the contact element (7) of the connecting element (1), wherein the functional module (29, 30, 31, 32, 33) has at least one printed circuit board (24, 35) aligned substantially in the direction of a longitudinal axis (A) of the signal device (28), which has one or more end-face contacts (25, 30, 36) extending transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis (A), which are conductively connected to a conductor track of the printed circuit board and are in contact with contact surfaces (10) of the contact element (7) of the adjacent functional module or of the connecting element, wherein two or more spring elements (9) have the same shape as electric conductors with contact surfaces (10) for the adjacent functional module, wherein the contact surfaces (10) are located beside each other and point in the direction of the longitudinal axis (A) of the connecting element (1) and / or wherein the contact surfaces (10) of the equally shaped electric conductors are strip-like and located parallel to each other, characterized in that the conductor track of the printed circuit board in the end region of the printed circuit board that is opposite the contact surface or surfaces (10) is contacted by a cable clamping spring (12) of the contact element (7) of the functional module (29, 30, 31, 32, 33) which is formed in the same way as the contact element (7) of a connecting element (1), in that the electric conductor (9) having the contact surface (10) extends as far as a cable connecting clamp (15) of the connecting element (1) for the connection to at least one cable core (13) of an electric cable, in that the electric conductor (9) is formed as a one-piece spring element, which comprises the contact surface (10) for the connection of the functional module and a cable clamping spring (12) of the cable connecting clamp (15), in that the two or more spring elements (9) are provided as electric conductors having contact surfaces (10) for the adjacent functional module and a cable connecting clamp (15) for two or more cable cores (13), and in that the contact element (7) is provided with two or more spring elements (9) as electric conductors having the contact surfaces (10) for the adjacent functional module and with the cable connecting clamp (15) for two or more cable cores (13), wherein the cable connecting clamp (15) of the contact element (7) is provided with two or more cable clamping springs (12) for two or more cable cores (13).

2. Signal device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a passage for the insertion of a core end (13) of the cable is provided in the cable clamping spring (12).

3. Signal device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a device for releasing the cable clamping spring (12) is provided.

4. Signal device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an access is provided for a separate tool (17) such as a screwdriver for pressing on the cable clamping spring (12) or a permanently present releasing element, such as a movable lever or pressure plunger for pressing on the cable clamping spring.

5. Signal device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contact surface (10) for the adjacent functional module is a surface of a contact spring (18) springing transversely with respect to the contact surface (10) and acting in the direction of a longitudinal axis (A) of the connecting element (1).

6. Signal device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contact spring (18) is electrically connected to the contact surface (10) for the adjacent functional module by way of the cable clamping spring (12).

7. Signal device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contact element (7) has an electrically insulating material between the different spring elements (9) provided as electric conductors.

8. Signal device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cable connecting clamp (15) of the connecting element (1) optionally permits the connection of cable cores (13) or conductor tracks of a printed circuit board to produce an electrical connection.

9. Signal device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cable connecting clamp (15) has one or more openings for the insertion of a printed circuit board or for the insertion of projections of a printed circuit board, wherein the cable clamping springs (12) are accessible through the opening or openings for the conductor tracks of the printed circuit board, in order to optionally produce the contact with the conductor tracks of the printed circuit board or a cable core via the cable clamping springs (12).

10. Signal device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contact element (7) is formed in one piece with the housing (2) of the connecting element (1) or as an insert element for insertion into the housing (2) of the connecting element (1).