Contact for a flat connector and flat connector for a flat connector system

Abstract

The present invention relates to a contact (70) for a flat plug connector (50) and a flat plug connector (50) for a flat plug connector system (1), wherein the flat plug connector (50) has at least one contact (70) according to the contact (70) for a flat plug connector, and - wherein the contact (70) has a connection section (71) for electrically conductive connection to an electronic component; - wherein the contact (70) has a fixing section (73) for fixing in a connector housing (51); - wherein the contact (70) has a contact section for electrically conductive contacting of a complementary contact (34), - wherein the contact section is connected to the fixing section (73) by means of a bent section (74) of the contact (70), - wherein the contact section has a bent contact region (76) for electrically conductive contacting of a complementary contact (34),-- wherein the contact section has a first section (75) which is arranged between the bent contact region (76) and the fixing section (73), wherein the first section (75) and the fixing section (73) form an acute angle, and -- wherein the contact section has a second section (77) which is arranged opposite the first section (75) relative to the bent contact region (76), and wherein the second section (77) has a support section (78) which is designed to be supported by the support section (78) on the fixing section (73) when the contact section is deflected towards the fixing section (73).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a contact for a flat plug connector and a connector for a flat plug connector system.

[0002] Various contacts and contact shapes in connectors, such as flat connectors, are known from the prior art to provide an electrically conductive connection with a conductor element of a complementary connector. Furthermore, it is particularly known to use gold-plated contacts, for example, to ensure good long-term electrical conductivity of a connector.

[0003] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a contact for a flat plug connector and a flat plug connector with at least one contact, which enable a reliable electrically conductive connection.

[0004] In other words, it is a particular object of the present invention to provide an improved contact for a flat plug connector for reliable electrically conductive contacting of a complementary flat plug connector, as well as to provide a flat plug connector with at least one such contact.

[0005] This problem is solved by the independent patent claims. Specific embodiments are set forth in the dependent patent claims.

[0006] One aspect of the invention relates to a contact for a flat plug connector, wherein the contact has a connection section for electrically conductive connection to an electronic component, in particular a printed circuit board; wherein the contact has a fixing section for fixing in a connector housing; wherein the contact has a contact section for electrically conductive contacting of a complementary contact, -- wherein the contact section is connected to the fixing section by means of a bent section of the contact, -- wherein the contact section has a bent contact region for electrically conductive contacting of a complementary contact orConductor element, -- wherein the contact section has a first section which is arranged between the bent contact region and the fixing section, wherein the first section and the fixing section enclose an acute angle, and -- wherein the contact section has a second section which is arranged opposite the first section relative to the bent contact region, and wherein the second section has a support section which is designed to be supported by the support section on the fixing section when the contact section is deflected towards the fixing section.

[0007] The support section, which is supported upon deflection of the contact section, advantageously ensures a reliable provision of a predetermined and, in particular, substantially constant contact force. This, in turn, advantageously provides an improved contact that reliably ensures electrically conductive contact, in particular over a predetermined service life.

[0008] This also allows, for example, the contact to be ungold-plated, or in particular, to contain no gold. This allows the contact, which provides reliable electrical conduction, to be manufactured cost-effectively.

[0009] In exemplary embodiments, the connection section of the contact can, without being limited thereto, extend substantially in the plug-in direction. The plug-in direction corresponds in particular to a plug-in direction of the flat plug connector on which the contact can be arranged to provide an electrically conductive contact by plugging into a complementary flat plug connector for a flat plug connector system.

[0010] In other exemplary embodiments, the connection section may not have an extension that substantially corresponds to the plugging direction, but rather may have an application-specific extension, in particular in order to connect the connection section in an electrically conductive manner and optionally additionally mechanically.

[0011] In exemplary embodiments, at least the connection section of the contact can be designed to be solderable, in particular reflow solderable.

[0012] The connection section is particularly designed to be or become electrically conductively connected to a circuit board and / or an electrical device or component. In exemplary embodiments, the connection section can additionally be designed to be or become mechanically connected to a circuit board and / or an electrical device or component, for example by means of soldering, screwing, clamping, crimping, and / or in another way.

[0013] The connection section can be arranged or formed, in particular, at a first end of the contact. The support section can be arranged or formed, in particular, at a second end of the contact.

[0014] The following sections may be arranged or formed on the contact, in particular in this order, starting from the terminal section: fixing section, bent section, bent contact area, support section.

[0015] The first section can, in particular, be arranged or formed substantially between the bent section and the bent contact region. The second section can, in particular, be arranged or formed substantially between the bent contact region and the support section.

[0016] The sequence given above does not correspond to a specific spatial direction, but rather follows a direction of extension of the contact.

[0017] The securing section can be designed, in particular, for positive, frictional, and / or materially bonded securing or fixing to or in the connector housing. For example, the securing section can have a contour, coating, surface, width, and / or thickness that distinguishes it, in particular, from the contour, coating, surface, width, and / or thickness of one or more adjacent sections and / or the entire remaining contact.

[0018] The fixing section therefore advantageously enables reliable fixing or fastening on or in the connector housing.

[0019] The fixing section can in particular extend substantially in the longitudinal direction, wherein the longitudinal direction can be substantially parallel to a plugging direction of the flat plug connector to which the contact can be fixed, and / or wherein the longitudinal direction can in particular be substantially parallel to a mounting direction of the contact for fixing to the connector housing of the flat plug connector.

[0020] The contact is particularly designed to be resilient. In particular, the contact section of the contact can be designed to be resilient.

[0021] The contact section, and in particular its curved contact region, can in particular be designed to be or become elastically resiliently deflected upon electrically conductive contact with a complementary contact or with a complementary conductor element.

[0022] This advantageously makes it possible to ensure a substantially constant contact force, particularly over a comparatively long service life of the contact, by means of the elastically restoring force of the contact section and, in addition, by means of the support section being supported on the fixing section.

[0023] The contact force refers in particular to a force with which the contact section presses against a complementary contact or against a complementary conductor element, in particular in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the plugging direction. The contact force acts in particular in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the contact surface forming between the contact section and the complementary contact or conductor element. The contact force describes in particular a force substantially perpendicular to the plugging direction of the flat plug connector. The contact force can in particular be substantially parallel to a height direction described herein.

[0024] In particular, the curved contact area can enclose a larger angle than the curved section.

[0025] The curved contact region can, in particular, enclose a substantially obtuse angle, i.e., in particular, an angle greater than 90°. The obtuse angle enclosed by the curved contact region can, in particular, be arranged or formed on a side of the curved contact region facing the fixing section. In particular, the obtuse angle enclosed by the curved contact region can be arranged or formed on a lower side of the curved contact region in the vertical direction.

[0026] The curved contact area advantageously enables soft, or in other words, gentle, contact with a complementary conductor element. In particular, at least one of the curved contact area and the complementary conductor element can advantageously slide resiliently against the other upon mutual contact or upon mutual contact.

[0027] The contact is particularly designed to come into contact, in particular prestressed contact, with a complementary conductor element in an electrically conductive manner.

[0028] Contact with the complementary conductor element by the contact, in particular by means of a relative movement of the contact relative to the complementary conductor element, can in particular cause a deflection of the contact section or its bent contact area. The relative movement can in particular be substantially parallel to the plugging direction. Upon contact by means of the relative movement, in particular substantially in the plugging direction, at least one of the contact section and the complementary conductor element can be designed to slide resiliently, in particular elastically resiliently, against the other.

[0029] The curved contact area, which is arranged on the contact in particular with elastic recovery capability, can therefore advantageously ensure a low-damage electrically conductive contact. At the same time, the elastic recovery force, particularly in combination with the support provided by the support section, can ensure a predetermined and, in particular, substantially constant contact force for electrically conductive contacting of the contact or its curved contact area.

[0030] The bent portion may in particular be arranged or formed substantially between the bent contact area and the fixing portion of the contact.

[0031] The bent section can be arranged or formed in particular on a frontmost section of the contact in the plugging direction and / or in the mounting direction.

[0032] Additionally or alternatively, the bent portion can be arranged or formed, in particular, at an end of the contact opposite the connection portion in the longitudinal direction, in the mounting direction, and / or in the plugging direction. In this case, the bent portion does not form a physical end of the contact. However, the connection portion can form a physical end of the contact.

[0033] This allows the contact to be easily attached to a circuit board and / or an electrical device. On the other hand, the contact can be protectively accommodated in a connector housing, while its resilient deflectability ensures a soft, or in other words, gentle, contact with a complementary conductor element.

[0034] The acute angle of the bent section can, in particular in an undeflected position of the bent contact region or the contact section, i.e. in a non-coupled state of the contact with a complementary conductor element, for example, enclose an angle in the range of approximately 10° to approximately 30°, in particular an angle in the range of approximately 13° to approximately 27°.

[0035] The acute angle of the bent section can, in particular in a deflected position of the bent contact region or the contact section, i.e. in a coupled state of the contact with a complementary conductor element, for example, enclose an angle in the range of approximately 5° to approximately 25°, in particular an angle in the range of approximately 8° to approximately 22°.

[0036] Since the bent section forms an acute angle, this advantageously improves soft, or in other words, gentle, contact with a complementary conductor element. Since the bent section already has an acute angle in the undeflected position, further deflection that reduces the acute angle advantageously has only a minor impact on the contact's space requirements, due to the support section being supported on the fixing section, opposite to the insertion direction.

[0037] In the present case, therefore, an improved contact is advantageously provided which makes it possible, in particular, to reliably ensure electrically conductive contact, in particular over a predetermined service life.

[0038] In the following, various terms are used repeatedly, the understanding of which is intended to be facilitated by the following definitions.

[0039] The secured state of the flat plug connector system describes, in particular, a state in which the coupling section and the complementary coupling section, or the flat plug connector and the complementary flat plug connector, are not detachably coupled to one another, in particular, are not detachably coupled to one another in a non-damage-free or non-destructive manner. In other words, the secured state is a state in which the flat plug connector and the complementary flat plug connector are non-detachably coupled to one another, in particular, are not detachably coupled to one another in a non-damage-free or non-destructive manner, without prior removal of the securing element from the securing position.

[0040] The unsecured state of the flat plug connector system, which is also described here as an unsecured state, describes in particular a state in which the coupling section and the complementary coupling section or the flat plug connector and the complementary flat plug connector are detachably coupled to one another, in particular are detachably coupled to one another without damage or destruction, for example are reversibly detachably coupled to one another.

[0041] The coupled state of the flat plug connector system describes, in particular, a state in which the coupling section and the complementary coupling section, or the flat plug connector and the complementary flat plug connector, are coupled to one another, in particular are coupled to one another in a form-fitting manner. In exemplary embodiments, the coupling section and the complementary coupling section, or the flat plug connector and the complementary flat plug connector, can additionally or alternatively be coupled to one another in a frictionally engaged and / or materially engaged manner in the coupled state. In the coupled state of the flat plug connector system, the coupling section and the complementary coupling section, or the flat plug connector and the complementary flat plug connector, can in particular touch (mutually) at least in sections, in particular touch (mutually) with a prestress.

[0042] In the coupled state, the flat plug connector and the complementary flat plug connector can be connected to each other in an electrically conductive manner.

[0043] In the coupled state of the flat plug connector system, the flat plug connector system can in particular have the secured state or the unsecured state.

[0044] The decoupled state of the flat plug connector system, which is also described here as the uncoupled state, describes in particular a state in which the coupling section and the complementary coupling section or the flat plug connector and the complementary flat plug connector are not coupled to one another, in particular are not positively coupled to one another. In exemplary embodiments, the coupling section and the complementary coupling section or the flat plug connector and the complementary flat plug connector can be coupled to one another neither positively nor frictionally and / or materially in the decoupled state. In the decoupled state of the flat plug connector system, the coupling section and the complementary coupling section or the flat plug connector and the complementary flat plug connector in particular do not touch one another, or touch one another without (mutual) prestress.

[0045] In the decoupled state of the flat plug connector system, the coupling section and the complementary coupling section or the flat plug connector and the complementary flat plug connector may alternatively or additionally be connected to each other in a non-electrically conductive manner.

[0046] In an exemplary decoupled state, the coupling section and the complementary coupling section or the flat plug connector and the complementary flat plug connector can be opposite one another or arranged opposite one another in the plugging direction.

[0047] Plug-in direction: The plug-in direction describes in particular a direction in which the coupling section and the complementary coupling section or the flat plug connector and the complementary flat plug connector are movable relative to one another in order to be transferred into the coupled state and / or into the uncoupled state.

[0048] The plug-in direction of the flat plug connector can be substantially parallel to the plug-in direction of the complementary flat plug connector. Additionally or alternatively, the plug-in direction of the flat plug connector can be substantially opposite to the plug-in direction of the complementary flat plug connector.

[0049] It is understood that the plug-in direction during assembly may deviate from the plug-in direction defined here, as long as it leads to a coupling, in particular a damage-free coupling, of the flat plug connector with the complementary flat plug connector.

[0050] Height direction or thickness direction: The height direction, which is also referred to here as the thickness direction, describes in particular a direction in which the flat plug connector system, or the flat plug connector, or the complementary flat plug connector, is usually referred to as flat. The height direction or thickness direction refers to the flat plug connector system, or the flat plug connector, or the complementary flat plug connector, in a typical usage position of the flat plug connector system, or the flat plug connector, or the complementary flat plug connector.

[0051] The height direction or thickness direction can, in particular, be substantially perpendicular or perpendicular to the plug-in direction. The use position of the flat plug connector system, for example, when mounted in a motor vehicle, can be in various spatial directions relative to the vehicle, so that the height direction, as used here, does not have to correspond to the height direction of a vehicle.

[0052] Width direction: The width direction can, in particular, correspond to a main extension direction of the flat plug connector and / or the complementary flat plug connector. The width direction can, in particular, substantially correspond to a direction in which a plurality of contacts and / or conductor elements of the flat plug connector and / or the complementary flat plug connector are arranged adjacent to one another, in particular in order to make electrically conductive contact with the contacts or conductor elements of the respective other of the flat plug connector and the complementary flat plug connector. The width direction can, in particular, be substantially perpendicular or perpendicular to the thickness direction.

[0053] Longitudinal direction: The longitudinal direction can, in particular, correspond to a main extension direction of a flat strip and / or a flexible printed circuit board, which is connected to at least one of the flat plug connectors and / or the complementary flat plug connector. It is understood that the flat strip and / or the flexible printed circuit board need not have a flat contour in a position of use, for example in a vehicle, but can, for example, be corrugated, stepped, or extend in accordance with other conditions. The longitudinal direction of the flat strip and / or the flexible printed circuit board can, in particular, correspond to a manufacturing state of the flat strip and / or the flexible printed circuit board, with a substantially elongated extension.

[0054] The longitudinal direction can, in particular, essentially correspond to a direction in which a plurality of contacts and / or conductor elements of the flat plug connector and / or the complementary flat plug connector extend at least in sections, in particular in order to come into electrically conductive contact with the contacts or conductor elements of the other of the flat plug connector and the complementary flat plug connector. The longitudinal direction can be essentially parallel to the plugging direction. The longitudinal direction can, in particular, point essentially in the same direction as the plugging direction.

[0055] Furthermore, the longitudinal direction may in particular be substantially perpendicular or perpendicular to the thickness direction and / or the width direction.

[0056] The thickness or height direction, the width direction and the length direction can together form a right-hand system.

[0057] The insertion direction can be substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction. Alternatively or additionally, the insertion direction can be substantially perpendicular to the width direction and / or the height or thickness direction.

[0058] Flat ribbon: A flat ribbon as used here describes a multi-core cable in which the cores are arranged and / or routed essentially parallel to one another, in particular arranged and / or routed essentially in the width direction. The flat ribbon cable can have, for example, up to 96 cores. The spacing between immediately adjacent cores can be, for example, approximately 0.5 mm to approximately 2.54 mm, whereby the spacing of the cores does not have to be constant across the width of the flat ribbon, but can in particular be essentially constant.

[0059] Multi-core ribbon cables offer the advantage that large numbers of cores can be connected to a pin header, solder adapter, or other connector with minimal effort using insulation displacement technology, instead of having to strip and solder them individually. In particular, signal crosstalk in ribbon cables is advantageously lower than in round cables and can be better controlled by properly arranging the signals and using ground lines between critical signals.

[0060] The ribbon may, for example, have a shield, such as an aluminum or copper foil wrapped around the ribbon.

[0061] Flexible printed circuit board (FPC): Flexible printed circuit boards are flexible and, in particular, comparatively thin printed circuit boards. Flexible printed circuit boards can, for example, include or consist of conductive foils, and in particular, polyimide foils. While assemblies constructed with these are more expensive, they enable high data transmission in a space-saving manner. However, flexible printed circuit boards typically have a higher manufacturing tolerance than ribbon cables.

[0062] Both the flat strip and the flexible printed circuit board advantageously have a significantly smaller extension in the thickness direction than in the width direction and / or in the longitudinal direction. In particular, the flat strip and / or the flexible printed circuit board can have an extension in the thickness direction that is approximately or at least one order of magnitude smaller than in the width direction and / or in the longitudinal direction.

[0063] The flat ribbon and, above all, the flexible printed circuit board advantageously enable a space-saving arrangement and conduction of electrical signals in a motor vehicle, such as a car, in particular for conducting high-frequency electrical signals to or from a multimedia unit of a motor vehicle, such as a car.

[0064] If a direction or an angle is described with the addition "essentially" or "approximately" or "approximately", this addition shall mean or be understood to mean, in particular, a deviation from the direction or angle in question in the range from 0° to 5°.

[0065] If a spatial measure, a spatial ratio or any other ratio is described with the addition "essentially" or "approximately" or "approximately", this addition shall mean or be understood to mean, in particular, a deviation from the measure or ratio in question in the range of 0% to 10%.

[0066] In preferred embodiments of the contact, the support portion can limit the deflection of the contact portion such that a predetermined contact force is achieved.

[0067] In other words, the deflection of the contact section or the bent contact area, for example by the support section interacting with the fixing section, can be limited or restricted in particular such that a predetermined contact force is achieved.

[0068] For example, the support section and the fixing section can interact in such a way that the support section is supported on the fixing section at a substantially predetermined support area or a substantially predetermined support position, in particular with an elastically resilient deflection of the contact section.

[0069] By means of the predetermined support and preferably additionally by means of the elastic restoring force, in particular by means of the reduced angle which the bent section has in the deflected position, it is advantageously possible to ensure a substantially constant contact force which is provided or carried in particular by two separate locations.

[0070] The essentially constant contact force can be essentially constant, in particular even for different deflections of the contact section relative to the fixing section.

[0071] This is made possible in particular by the acute angle of the bent section, in particular in cooperation with the support section which is supported on the fixing section and which is particularly designed to limit deflection.

[0072] In particular, the support portion and / or the fixing portion may comprise mutually complementary means which define a predetermined support position or a predetermined support position range in order to limit or restrict the deflection of the contact portion.

[0073] The mutually complementary means of the support section and / or the fixing section for fixing a support position and / or a support area can comprise, for example, means influencing a friction force, in particular means increasing a friction force, one or more projections and / or recesses, in particular for mutual locking, and / or other means.

[0074] The means influencing and in particular increasing the frictional force may, for example, comprise coatings, in particular rubberized coatings.

[0075] The fixing section can have, in particular on a side facing the support section, one or more projections and / or recesses into which the support section can engage or snap into place, for example at least in sections.

[0076] In exemplary embodiments, the securing section can have one or more ramps, at least in sections, on a side facing the support section. In other words, the securing section can be designed, for example, in a sawtooth shape on a side facing the support section, in particular in such a sawtooth shape that, in sections, with increasing deflection of the contact section toward the securing section, the support section performs a movement counter to the plugging direction and in particular upwards, i.e., a movement facing the complementary conductor element.

[0077] This advantageously not only limits the deflection but also ensures a substantially constant contact force even with increasing deflection.

[0078] In preferred embodiments of the contact, the predetermined contact force may be in the range of about 0.5 N to about 2.0 N, in particular in the range of about 0.8 N to about 1.6 N.

[0079] This advantageously provides a secure electrically conductive contact to a complementary contact or conductor element.

[0080] In preferred embodiments of the contact, the curved contact area may be exposed relative to the first portion and the second portion.

[0081] In other words, the contact section can have a local maximum between the first section and the second section, wherein the bent contact region comprises the local maximum, in particular such that the bent contact region electrically conductively contacts a complementary conductor element in a use position of the contact.

[0082] In other words, the bent contact region can protrude relative to the first and second portions in a use position of the contact for electrically conductive contacting of a complementary conductor element, in particular in a direction which is substantially perpendicular to the plugging direction, longitudinal direction, and / or mounting direction, for example in the height direction.

[0083] Due to the arrangement of the bent contact area, which is exposed in particular perpendicular to the plugging direction, longitudinal direction and / or mounting direction, i.e. in particular in the vertical direction, the bent contact area can advantageously be designed or predetermined for physical and electrically conductive contact with a complementary conductor element.

[0084] For example, the curved contact area or a portion of the contact adjacent to the curved contact area may have a stiffener.

[0085] This allows the deflection of the contact section or the bent contact area to be advantageously accommodated essentially by reducing the acute angle of the bent section. At the same time, the service life of the bent contact area, and subsequently the service life of the contact, can be advantageously improved.

[0086] In preferred embodiments, in particular in the longitudinal direction and / or in the plugging direction of the flat plug connector system, a distance between the support section and the bent section can be greater than a distance between the bent contact area and the bent section.

[0087] This allows the contact force introduced at the curved contact area to be advantageously distributed and dissipated across the curved section and the support section. This can also advantageously improve the service life of the contact.

[0088] In preferred embodiments of the contact, a ratio of a distance between the support portion and the fixing portion relative to the distance between the bent contact area and the fixing portion may be in the range of about 3% to about 40%, in particular in the range of about 4% to about 30%, further in particular in the range of about 5% to about 20%.

[0089] In exemplary embodiments of the contact, a distance between the bent contact region and the fixing section can be in the range of approximately 1.1 mm to approximately 2.0 mm, in particular in the range of approximately 1.3 mm to approximately 1.8 mm. The distance refers in particular to the exposed position of the bent region, for example, to a greatest distance in the vertical direction. The distance refers in particular to a non-deflected position or a non-deflected state of the contact.

[0090] Alternatively or additionally, a distance between the support section and the fixing section can be in the range of approximately 0.03 mm to approximately 0.2 mm, in particular in the range of approximately 0.07 mm to approximately 0.14 mm, for example approximately 0.1 mm. The distance refers in particular to the position of the support section closest to the fixing section, i.e., for example, to a smallest distance in the vertical direction. The distance refers in particular to a non-deflected position or to a non-deflected state of the contact.

[0091] The described spacings and ratios advantageously ensure suitable and reliable support or cushioning by the support section, while at the same time advantageously allowing the contact to be designed with a low overall height. This also makes the contact advantageously suitable for a particularly flat flat plug connector.

[0092] In preferred embodiments of the contact, the contact between the terminal portion and the fixing portion may comprise a thickness build-up portion, wherein the thickness build-up portion may extend such that the terminal portion and the fixing portion are spaced apart in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plugging direction, longitudinal direction, and / or mounting direction of the flat plug connector.

[0093] In particular, the thickness build-up section can extend such that the connecting section is spaced substantially in the height direction from the fixing section.

[0094] This advantageously allows the connection section to be mounted at a specific height or perpendicular to the plugging direction, mounting direction, and / or longitudinal direction. At the same time, the fixing section and other sections of the contact can advantageously be accommodated in a protective manner within the connector housing of the flat connector. In particular, the contact can be enclosed from below by a lower wall of the connector housing of the flat connector.

[0095] In exemplary embodiments, the thickness-building section may have an extension such that the lower wall of the connector housing of the flat connector, in a coupled state of the flat connector, is bounded downwards in the height direction by a lower wall of a connector housing of a complementary flat connector.

[0096] The thickness build-up section therefore ensures application-specific connection of the contact. It also allows the contact to be protected within the connector housing of the flat connector prior to assembly. Furthermore, the contact is protected, especially during assembly or when mated with a complementary flat connector.

[0097] Furthermore, the flat plug connector can advantageously be coupled to a complementary flat plug connector, in particular without impairing the level at which the contact is connected. This can advantageously improve the assembly of the flat plug connector or the flat plug connector system formed thereby.

[0098] In particular, it is advantageously possible for the contact or a plurality of adjacent contacts to be arranged in the connector housing with protection at least on both sides in the vertical direction. On the other hand, a conductor element complementary to the contact, or a plurality of such elements, can be arranged in a connector housing of a complementary flat connector with protection at least on both sides in the vertical direction.

[0099] An assembly or an electrically conductive contact, i.e. a coupling of the flat plug connector with the complementary flat plug connector, can in particular be carried out in such a way that in the coupled state an upper vertically protective wall of one of the flat plug connectors and the complementary flat plug connector is arranged between an upper and lower vertically protective wall of the other of the flat plug connectors and the complementary flat plug connector, and a lower vertically protective wall of the other of the flat plug connectors and the complementary flat plug connector is arranged between an upper and lower vertically protective wall of one of the flat plug connectors and the complementary flat plug connector.

[0100] In other words, the contact or a plurality of contacts, as well as a conductor element complementary to the contact or a plurality thereof, can be arranged, in particular, in a connector housing that is at least partially "U"-shaped. The legs of the "U" represent an upper and lower vertically protective wall. The respective "U"-shaped connector housings can further be coupled to one another, in particular in the plugging direction, such that one leg of the "U" of one of the two connector housings protrudes into the opening of the "U" of the other of the two connector housings.

[0101] This allows the contact to be protected simply by its location on the connector housing of the flat connector. Furthermore, the contact is also protected during assembly, and especially after assembly.

[0102] This also advantageously makes it possible to ensure a reliable electrically conductive connection over a long service life, and in particular to safely protect the contact or a large number of contacts during assembly, disassembly, transport, and in a coupled state.

[0103] In preferred embodiments of the contact, at least one of the first portion of the resilient contact portion and the second portion of the resilient contact portion may extend substantially rectilinearly; and / or The resilient contact section may have a bend between the first section and the bent contact area, wherein the bend may include an obtuse angle, particularly on a side facing away from the fixing section; and / or the support section of the second section may have a bend.

[0104] The linear extension of the first section and / or the second section advantageously enables direct force transmission to the curved contact area. This advantageously ensures sufficient contact force for an electrically conductive connection, and the contact force can be precisely predetermined.

[0105] In particular, the substantially rectilinear extension of the second portion, which is arranged or formed between the curved contact region and the support portion, enables advantageously direct support to ensure a sufficient, predetermined contact force.

[0106] The bend is arranged or formed, in particular, between the curved contact area and the curved section. The bend can, in particular, enclose an obtuse angle. The obtuse angle can, in particular, be formed on a side of the bend or contact section that is at the top in the vertical direction. In other words, the obtuse angle of the bend can, in particular, be formed on a side of the bend facing away from the fastening section.

[0107] The bend can in particular be arranged or formed directly adjacent to the bent contact area.

[0108] The bend advantageously allows for stiffening of the curved contact area. This allows the deflection of the curved contact area toward the fixing section to be advantageously accommodated in a predeterminable manner, essentially by reducing the acute angle enclosed by the curved section.

[0109] When the support section touches the fixing section during the deflection of the curved contact area toward the fixing section, the curved contact area is advantageously supported by two separate support points. This advantageously ensures a substantially constant contact force over a long service life.

[0110] The bending of the support section, in other words, the design of the support section as a curved support section, advantageously enables low-wear but targeted cushioning at the fastening section. This also advantageously enables the provision of a substantially constant contact force over a long service life.

[0111] In preferred embodiments of the contact, the fixing section may have one or more projections for frictionally and / or positively fixing the contact to the connector housing.

[0112] For example, a contact receptacle of the connector housing of the flat connector can have a contour corresponding to the fixing section in order to fix the fixing section, in particular with the one or more projections, in the contact receptacle in a frictionally engaged and / or positively engaged manner.

[0113] The one or more projections of the contact can be designed to engage in the connector housing during assembly of the contact in the assembly direction, and in particular to clamp or wedge themselves in the connector housing.

[0114] A contact receptacle of the connector housing is limited, particularly in the width direction, by a pair of opposing support walls. The contact receptacle therefore represents, in particular, a cavity formed at least partially between two support walls.

[0115] The one or more projections of the fixing section can in particular protrude from the contact substantially perpendicular to the mounting direction of the contact, in particular substantially in the width direction.

[0116] When mounting the contact on or in the connector housing, the fixing section can advantageously clamp to the connector housing.

[0117] Additionally or alternatively, the fixing portion may have a greater extension in the width direction than adjacent or remaining portions of the contact.

[0118] As a result, the fixing section can be fixed to the connector housing in a form-fitting and / or frictional manner, particularly in the vertical direction, and in a form-fitting and / or frictional manner in the assembly direction.

[0119] Furthermore, the contact can advantageously be fixed at a predetermined height or at a predetermined level in the height direction on the connector housing, whereby the contact force can advantageously be predetermined.

[0120] In preferred embodiments of the contact, the contact can be tinned at least in sections.

[0121] In other words, the contact may, in particular, have a tin coating. In particular, at least the bent contact area of ​​the contact may be tinned.

[0122] In particular, the contact may not be gold-plated or may not contain any gold.

[0123] The tinned contact advantageously enables cost-effective production of a particularly conductive contact that is protected against corrosion, while at the same time ensuring a predetermined contact force.

[0124] In preferred embodiments of the contact, the contact may be formed in one piece, and in particular may be a bent part.

[0125] The contact is particularly advantageous in that it is cost-effective and can be produced with repeatable accuracy.

[0126] The contact can, in particular, be configured to lie essentially in one plane. In other words, at least the fixing section, the bent section, the contact section, and the support section can be configured to lie essentially in a single plane. In further exemplary embodiments, in particular, the entire contact can be configured to lie essentially in one plane.

[0127] This advantageously allows the contact force of the contact to be precisely predetermined. In particular, with multiple contacts, a substantially equal contact force can be ensured for each contact.

[0128] This makes the contact advantageously simple and cost-effective to manufacture, while at the same time ensuring a predetermined contact force for reliable electrically conductive contact with a complementary conductor element.

[0129] A further aspect of the present invention relates to a flat plug connector for a flat plug connection system, wherein the flat plug connector comprises a connector housing, and wherein at least one contact according to the aspect relating to the contact is arranged on the connector housing.

[0130] This advantageously allows for the provision of a flat connector. Furthermore, the flat connector is advantageously suitable for vehicles, particularly for use in motor vehicles such as cars, where installation space or clearance in height is very limited. For example, the flat connector advantageously allows air ducts, such as those for air conditioning systems, to be mounted above and / or below the flat connector system, while simultaneously ensuring a predetermined level of connection reliability for the electrically conductive connection of the flat connector system.

[0131] Exemplary, preferred and alternative embodiments of the aspect relating to the contact, as well as their effects, can in particular correspond to those explained for the aspect relating to the flat plug connector, and vice versa.

[0132] In preferred embodiments of the flat plug connector, the connector housing can have a plurality of contact receptacles for a corresponding plurality of contacts, wherein each contact receptacle can accommodate a fixing section of a contact, and wherein each contact receptacle can be designed to laterally guide a support section of a contact and / or a contact section of a contact, in particular on both sides.

[0133] The contact receptacle can, in particular, accommodate a fixing section of a contact in a fixed manner. The fixation can, for example, comprise a positive and / or frictional fixation, in particular substantially parallel to the mounting direction of the contact and / or substantially parallel to the width direction. Alternatively or additionally, the fixation can comprise a material-to-material fixation, for example, by means of an adhesive.

[0134] The contact receptacle can, in particular, be delimited at least in sections by two support walls adjacent in the width direction. In other words, two support walls can, in particular, delimit an intermediate contact receptacle. The support walls can advantageously support or laterally guide the support section and / or the contact section of one contact of the plurality of contacts, in particular during a deflection of the contact, for example, when contacting a complementary conductor element.

[0135] Two support walls which define a contact between them can, for example, have a distance in the width direction in the range of approximately 0.2 mm to approximately 0.4 mm, in particular in the range of approximately 0.3 mm to approximately 0.35 mm.

[0136] The contact may, in particular apart from the fixing portion, have a width in the width direction in the range of about 0.24 mm to about 0.32 mm, for example about 0.28 mm.

[0137] The contact receptacle may in particular have a width which is slightly larger than a width of the contact, in particular apart from the fixing section of the contact.

[0138] This allows the contact to be advantageously guided and supported during the contact receptacle, for example, during a particularly compressive deflection of the contact. This, in turn, allows the contact force of each contact received in a contact receptacle to be advantageously predeterminable, in particular, to be predeterminable with repeatable accuracy across a multitude of contacting or coupling processes.

[0139] At a lower end of the contact receptacle in the vertical direction, the contact receptacle can have a groove for securing the fixing section of one of the plurality of contacts. In particular, the contact receptacle can have a groove complementary to the fixing section, which groove can have a different dimension and / or contour, particularly in the width direction, than the remaining contact receptacles.

[0140] In preferred embodiments, the groove at the lower end of the contact receptacle can be tapered in the mounting direction. In other words, the groove at the lower end of the contact receptacle can have a decreasing width following the mounting direction of the contact.

[0141] The contact receptacle and, in particular, the groove thus enable simple mounting of a contact on the connector housing, guided mounting of a contact on the connector housing along the groove, and simple frictional and / or positive locking of the securing portion to the connector housing. In particular, the tapered contour of the groove at the lower end of the contact receptacle ensures a predetermined pull-out force based on an assembly force for inserting the securing portion into the connector housing, preventing the contact from becoming detached from the contact receptacle.

[0142] This also advantageously ensures repeatable, electrically conductive contact.

[0143] In preferred embodiments of the flat plug connector, the connector housing, and in particular its contact receptacles, can be shaped such that it surrounds the contact section of the contact in a direction perpendicular to the plugging direction of the flat plug connector, in particular on both sides, and in particular additionally partially surrounds the contact section, specifically on a side facing a complementary flat plug connector in the plugging direction of the flat plug connector, i.e. at the front in the plugging direction.

[0144] The connector housing can, in particular, have an upper wall and / or a lower wall that surrounds the contact portion of the contact perpendicular to the plugging direction and, in particular, in the vertical direction, in particular on both sides. The lower wall can, in particular, be formed or arranged directly adjacent to a lower end of the contact receptacles or directly adjacent to a lower end of the support walls. The lower wall can therefore, in particular, be formed to provide support for the fixing portion of a contact in the vertical direction.

[0145] At a front end of the lower wall in the plugging direction, the connector housing can in particular have a front wall.

[0146] The front wall, in particular, has a height extension that is smaller than the height extension of the contact. In other words, the front wall can, in particular, be configured to extend in the height direction at most to adjacent to the bent contact area. In other words, the front wall, in particular together with the upper wall, can form an opening configured to allow insertion of an electrically conductively contactable conductor section, in particular with an adjacent upper wall of a complementary flat plug connector, into the opening.

[0147] The front wall can in particular form a front end of the supporting walls in the insertion direction and can in particular be designed to connect the supporting walls to one another in the width direction.

[0148] This advantageously protects the contact, while simultaneously enabling a predetermined contact with a complementary flat plug connector. In particular, the contact can be advantageously protected both before mating with the complementary flat plug connector and during mating with the complementary flat plug connector.

[0149] In preferred embodiments of the flat plug connector, a plurality of contacts can be arranged next to one another on the connector housing, wherein the plurality of contacts may be divided into at least two groups, wherein the contacts of a first group of contacts are substantially equally spaced from one another, wherein the contacts of a second group of contacts are substantially equally spaced from one another, and wherein the groups are spaced from one another by a distance which is greater than the contact spacing of the first group and greater than the contact spacing of the second group.

[0150] The contact pitch is, in particular, the distance between two directly adjacent contacts of a respective group. A contact pitch can, for example, be in the range of approximately 0.5 mm to approximately 1.0 mm.

[0151] The distance between two groups can, for example, be in the range of about 4 mm to about 10 mm.

[0152] The spacing advantageously enables the arrangement of a coupling section for coupling with a complementary coupling section of the complementary flat plug connector between the groups of contacts. This advantageously allows the flat plug connector to be designed to be thin or flat. For example, the flat plug connector can have a height of less than approximately 8 mm, in particular less than approximately 7 mm, in particular less than approximately 6.5 mm, for example approximately 6 mm.

[0153] This advantageously allows the flat plug connector to be designed in a space-saving manner. Furthermore, the spacing allows contact pairs with high potential differences to be separated from each other. Furthermore, it advantageously ensures a reliable, predetermined connection security of an electrically conductive connection.

[0154] Embodiments of the invention are described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying figures. It is understood that the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and that individual features of the embodiments can be combined to form further embodiments within the scope of the appended claims.

[0155] In particular, the flat plug connector previously referred to as a flat plug connector may be referred to below as a complementary flat plug connector. Accordingly, the flat plug connector previously referred to as a complementary flat plug connector may be referred to below as a flat plug connector.

[0156] It shows: Figure 1 shows an oblique view of a flat plug connector system according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2a shows an oblique view of a flat plug connector system according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figures 2b shows an oblique view of a flat plug connector system according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figures 3a and 3b each show an oblique view of a flat plug connector system according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4a shows an oblique view of a connector housing part according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4b shows an oblique view of a connector housing part of a flat plug connector with a conductor section according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5a shows an oblique view from above of a connector housing part of a flat plug connector according to an embodiment of the present invention;Figure 5b shows an oblique view from below of a connector housing part of a flat plug connector, according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 6a shows an oblique view from above of a flat plug connector system, according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figures 6b shows an oblique view from below of a flat plug connector system, according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figures 7a and 7b each show an oblique view of a complementary flat plug connector, according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figures 8a and 8b each show a sectional view of a complementary flat plug connector, according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figures 9a to 10a each show a sectional view of a flat plug connector system, according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 10b shows a top view of a sectional view of a flat plug connector system, according to an embodiment of the present invention;Figures 11a to 14b each show a sectional view of a flat plug connector system according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 15a shows a securing element according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figures 15b and 15c each show a contact for a flat plug connector according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 16 shows an oblique view of a flat plug connector system according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 17a shows an oblique view of a flat plug connector system according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 17b shows an oblique view of a flat plug connector system according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figures 18a and 18b each show an oblique view of a flat plug connector system according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 19a shows an oblique view of a connector housing part according to an embodiment of the present invention;Figure 19b shows an oblique view of a connector housing part of a flat plug connector with a conductor section, according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 20a shows an oblique view from above of a connector housing part of a flat plug connector, according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 20b shows an oblique view from below of a connector housing part of a flat plug connector, according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 21a shows an oblique view from above of a flat plug connector system, according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 21b shows an oblique view from below of a flat plug connector system, according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figures 22a and 22b each show an oblique view of a complementary flat plug connector, according to an embodiment of the present invention;Figures 23a and 23b each show a sectional view of a complementary flat plug connector according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figures 24a to 25a each show a sectional view of a flat plug connector system according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 25b is a plan view of a sectional view of a flat plug connector system according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figures 26a to 29 each show a sectional view of a flat plug connector system according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figures 30a and 30b show a securing element according to an embodiment of the present invention, from above and from below; Figure 30c shows a contact for a flat plug connector according to an embodiment of the present invention;Figure 31 is a flowchart of a method for securing a positive coupling between a flat plug connector and a complementary flat plug connector, according to the present invention; and Figure 32 is a flowchart of a method for manufacturing a flat plug connector, according to the present invention.

[0157] The Figures 1 , 2a , 2b , 3a , 3b , 4a , 4b , 5a , 5b , 6a , 6b , 7a , 7b , 8a , 8b , 9a , 9b , 10a , 10b , 11a , 11b , 12a , 12b , 13a , 13b , 14a , 14b and 15a relate in particular to a first embodiment of a flat plug connector system 1.

[0158] The Figures 16 , 17a , 17b , 18a , 18b , 19a ,19b , 20a , 20b , 21a , 21b , 22a , 22b , 23a , 23b , 24a , 24b , 25a , 25b , 26a , 26b , 27a , 27b , 28a , 28b , 29 , 30a and 30b relate in particular to a second embodiment of a flat plug connector system 1. The second embodiment of the flat plug connector system 1 has, in particular, a different coupling section 14 and a different complementary coupling section 54 than the first embodiment of the flat plug connector system 1. The second embodiment thus advantageously enables a lower overall height of the flat plug connector system 1, while at the same time, in particular, secure assembly and securing of a coupled state can be ensured.

[0159] The flat plug connector system 1 of the first and second embodiments can, in particular in the secured state and / or in the unsecured state, for example, have a height in the height direction H of less than approximately 7.5 mm, in particular of less than approximately 6.5 mm, preferably of less than approximately 6.0 mm, more preferably of less than approximately 5.0 mm, particularly preferably of less than approximately 4.5 mm.

[0160] In particular, the flat plug connector system 1 of the second embodiment is made possible by the arrangement or design of the coupling section 14 and the complementary coupling section 54 essentially in the width direction B between two groups of contacts 70 and between two sections of the conductor section 30, as shown by way of example in Fig. 18b shown, a height in the height direction H of less than 4.5 mm.

[0161] Unless explicitly emphasized otherwise, elements, their functions, relationships and method steps, which are explained with reference to the first embodiment of the flat plug connector system 1, refer equally to the second embodiment of the flat plug connector system 1, and vice versa.

[0162] The Figures 15b and 15c relate in particular to a first embodiment of a contact 70. The contact 70, as shown in the Figures 15b and 15c shown, can be used both in the first embodiment of the flat connector system 1 and in the second embodiment of the flat connector system 1, but is preferably used in the first embodiment of the flat connector system 1.

[0163] The Figure 30c relates in particular to a second embodiment of a contact 70. The contact 70, as in the Figure 30cshown, can be used both in the first embodiment of the flat connector system 1 and in the second embodiment of the flat connector system 1, but is preferably used in the second embodiment of the flat connector system 1.

[0164] The flowcharts of the Figures 31 and 32 refer to all the embodiments of the present flat plug connector systems 1.

[0165] The Figures 1 , 13a , 13b , 14a , 14b , 16 , 27b , 28a , 28b and 29 relate in particular to a coupled state of the flat plug connector system 1, wherein the securing element 5 is arranged in the securing position.

[0166] The Figures 2a , 10b , 11a, 11b , 12a, 12b , 17a , 25b , 26a, 26b and 27arelate in particular to a coupled state of the flat plug connector system 1, wherein the securing element 5 is arranged in the non-securing position.

[0167] The Figures 3a, 3b , 6a, 6b , 9a, 9b , 10a , 18a, 18b , 21a, 21b , 24a, 24b and 25a relate in particular to a non-coupled or decoupled state of the flat plug connector system 1, wherein the securing element 5 is arranged in the non-securing position.

[0168] The coupled state of the flat plug connector system 1, as shown in particular in the Figures 1 , 9a , 9b , 10a , 13a, 13b , 14a, 14b , 16 , 18a , 18b , 21a , 24a, 24b , 25a , 27b , 28a, 28b and 29shown, refers to a state in which the coupling section 14 of the flat plug connector 10 is engaged, in particular positively engaged, with the complementary coupling section 54 of the complementary flat plug connector 50. The positive connection can in particular be designed substantially parallel to the plugging direction S, S', in particular substantially parallel opposite to the plugging direction. In other words, the positive connection can in particular block a movement substantially parallel to the plugging direction S, S'. Alternatively or additionally, the positive connection can be designed substantially in the height direction H.

[0169] As a result, even a coupling not secured by the securing element 5 can advantageously define a predetermined release force to release the coupling between the flat plug connector 10 and the complementary flat plug connector 50, or between the coupling section 14 and the complementary coupling section 54. In the non-secured coupling, the securing element 5 is not arranged in the securing position. For example, the securing element 5 can be arranged in the non-securing position.

[0170] The non-locking position of the locking element 5, as shown for example in the Figures 2a , 3a , 3b , 6a , 9a, 9b , 10a, 10b , 11a, 11b , 12a, 12b , 17a , 18a , 18b , 21a , 24a, 24b , 25a, 25b , 26a, 26b and 27ashown is in particular a position in which the securing element 5 is arranged at least in sections on the receptacle 12.

[0171] In the non-locking position, an actuating section 84 of the locking element 5 can protrude from the receptacle 12, in particular opposite to the plug-in direction S (see in particular Figures 3a, 3b , 9a, 9b and 10a for the first embodiment of the flat plug connector system 1).

[0172] In the non-securing position, a front side of the actuating section 84 of the securing element 5 in the plugging direction S cannot, in particular, rest against or directly adjoin an upper wall 44 of the flat plug connector 10.

[0173] It is understood that the non-securing position of the securing element 5 can also be a position of the securing element 5 remote from the receptacle 12, in which the securing element 5 does not secure the coupling between the flat plug connector 10 and the complementary flat plug connector 50.

[0174] In the coupled state, one or more engaging sections 8 can be engaged, in particular in a form-fitting manner, with one or more resiliently engaging elements 7. The form-fitting arrangement can be configured substantially parallel to the plug-in direction S, S', in particular substantially parallel opposite to the plug-in direction. Alternatively or additionally, the form-fitting arrangement can be configured substantially in the vertical direction H.

[0175] The coupled state of the flat plug connector system 1 is, in particular, a state in which the coupling section 14 and the complementary coupling section 54 are coupled or engage with one another, or in other words, engage behind one another, and both the coupling section 14 and the complementary coupling section 54 exhibit essentially no or no elastic deformation. Possible elastic deformations resulting from contact with the securing element 5, which lead in particular to elastic deformation in the securing element 5, are disregarded here. For this purpose, the coupling section 14 and / or the complementary coupling section 54 can be designed to be comparatively rigid relative to the one or more resilient, in particular elastically resilient, prongs 85, 86 of the securing element 5.

[0176] As particularly demonstrated by the Figures 2b , 3a , 3b , 17b , 18a and 18b As shown, the connector housing 11 of the flat connector 10 and the connector housing 51 of the complementary flat connector 50 can be designed in particular in a poka-yoke shape to one another.

[0177] In particular, the connector housing 11 of the flat connector 10 and the connector housing 51 of the complementary flat connector 50 can be designed to be complementary to one another in such a way that coupling of the flat connector 10 with the complementary flat connector 50 is blocked or, in other words, not possible when one of the two connector housings 11, 51 is rotated about the plugging direction S, S', in particular by 180°.

[0178] As shown by the figures of the first and second embodiments of the flat plug connector system 1 with respect to the coupled state, one of the coupling section 14 and the complementary coupling section 54 can have one or more engaging sections 8, and the other of the coupling section 14 and the complementary coupling section 54 can have one or more resiliently engaging elements 7. A resiliently engaging element 7 can be designed, in particular, to engage behind one or more engaging sections 8 in the coupled state. A engaging section 8 can be designed, in particular, to be engaged behind by one or more resiliently engaging elements 7 in the coupled state.A rear-engaging section 8 of the one or more rear-engaging sections 8 can be designed to be comparatively rigid, in particular compared to a resiliently engaging element 7 of the one or more resiliently engaging elements 7.

[0179] The engagement between the coupling section 14 and the complementary coupling section 54 comprises in particular an engagement substantially perpendicular to the plugging direction S, S'.

[0180] As shown in the figures of the first and second embodiment of the flat plug connector system 1 with respect to the coupled state, and therein in particular in the Figures 11a , 13a , 26a and 27b As illustrated, the engaging section 8 and / or the resiliently engaging element 7 can extend at least in sections substantially in the height direction.

[0181] This advantageously ensures a reliable and secure positive coupling relative to the plugging direction S, S'.

[0182] If the securing element 5 is arranged on the receptacle 12, for example by a step of arranging the securing element 5 on the receptacle 12, which can be carried out in particular as part of a pre-assembly of the flat plug connector system 1, the securing element 5 can either be arranged in the securing position or in the non-securing position.

[0183] If the securing element 5 is arranged on the receptacle 12 and the flat plug connector system 1 is in the coupled state, as for example in the Figures 1 , 2a , 13a, 13b , 14a, 14b , 16 , 18a , 18b , 21a , 24a, 24b , 25a , 27b , 28a, 28b and 29As shown, the securing element 5 can be transferred, in particular non-destructively, between the securing position and the non-securing position.

[0184] If the securing element 5 is arranged on the receptacle 12 and the flat plug connector system 1 is in the decoupled or non-coupled state, as for example in the Figures 3a, 3b , 6a, 6b , 9a, 9b , 10a , 18a, 18b , 21a, 21b , 24a, 24b and 25aAs shown, the securing element 5 is fixed, in particular, in the non-locking position. The non-locking position can be characterized, in particular, by one or more positive locking elements parallel to the insertion direction S, S'. In exemplary embodiments, the one or more positive locking elements, in particular of the securing element 5 relative to the receptacle 12, can, in particular, define a position or arrangement into or from which the securing element 5 cannot be transferred into the locking position without causing damage.

[0185] This advantageously provides a simple assembly of the flat plug connector system 1, in which the securing element 5 can be pre-assembled, for example, on the receptacle 12, without the securing element 5 impairing the coupling between the flat plug connector 10 and the complementary flat plug connector 50.

[0186] As shown in the figures of the first and second embodiment of the flat plug connector system 1, the flat plug connector system 1 has in particular a first flat plug connector 10 and a second flat plug connector 50 complementary to the first flat plug connector 10.

[0187] The flat plug connector 10 and the complementary flat plug connector 50 can be coupled to one another. The flat plug connector 10 and the complementary flat plug connector 50 can be connected to one another, in particular, in an electrically conductive manner.

[0188] For example, one of the flat plug connector 10 and the complementary flat plug connector 50 can have one or more electrically conductive conductor sections 30, and the other of the flat plug connector 10 and the complementary flat plug connector 50 can have one or more electrically conductive contacts 70. The one or more electrically conductive conductor sections 30 can, in particular, be electrically conductively connected to one or more electrically conductive contacts 70.

[0189] In exemplary embodiments, a contact 70 of the one or more electrically conductive contacts 70 can be designed to be resilient, in particular elastically resilient, in order to be able to contact the one or more conductor sections 30, in particular with a prestress.

[0190] In exemplary embodiments, a contact 70 of the one or more electrically conductive contacts 70 can contact the one or more conductor sections 30 when the flat connector system 10 is in the coupled state, in particular exclusively when the flat connector system 10 is in the coupled state.

[0191] This advantageously ensures a reliable electrically conductive contact between the flat plug connectors 10, 50.

[0192] A contact 70 of the one or more contacts 70 can be connected, in particular by means of a connection section 71, to an electronic component (not shown in the figures), such as a printed circuit board, in particular a PCB. A contact 70 can be connected to the electrical component, for example, by soldering, in particular by reflow soldering. The contact 70 can be designed to be solderable, in particular reflow solderable. Alternatively or additionally, a connector housing 51 of the complementary flat connector 50 can be designed to be solderable, in particular reflow solderable.

[0193] The connector housing 51, as shown particularly in the Figures 7a, 7b , 22a and 22bshown by way of example, can in particular be an injection-molded component. In particular, the connector housing 51 can comprise or consist of a polymer material. For example, but not limited to, the connector housing 51 can comprise or consist of polyamide (PA), partially aromatic polyamide, for example PA66, PA6t, and / or PA9T, polyphenylsulfone (PPSE), polyethersulfone (PES), polyetherimide (PEI), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), liquid crystal polymers (LCP), polyethylene (PE), polyetheretherketone (PEEK), and / or polypropylene (PP).

[0194] The connector housing 51 preferably comprises a polymer material that is reflow-solderable, i.e., designed to withstand, in particular, the temperatures that occur during reflow soldering while maintaining its shape. The connector housing 51 can therefore preferably comprise or consist of polyamide (PA) and / or PEEK.

[0195] In exemplary embodiments, the connector housing 51 may in particular be formed in one piece.

[0196] In alternative embodiments, the connector housing 51 can be formed in several pieces. For example, the connector housing 51 can be a multi-component injection-molded component.

[0197] As a result, the connector housing 51 can advantageously be designed to be cost-effective, repeatable, dimensionally stable, and electrically insulating.

[0198] The complementary flat plug connector 50 or its connector housing 51 has, in particular, a contact holder 60 on which the plurality of contacts 70 are arranged. The contact holder 60 can have a plurality of contact receptacles 56.

[0199] The connector housing 51 has, in particular, a number of contact receptacles 56 corresponding to the number of contacts 70 to be accommodated. The connector housing 51 can, in particular, be designed to accommodate 24, 32, 64, or 96 contacts 70 or more. The contact receptacles 56 can, in particular, be designed as hollow sections, in particular as hollow sections that are each substantially separated from one another in the width direction B.

[0200] The connector housing 51 can have openings, in particular on a rear side in the plug-in direction S', i.e. on a side facing away from the flat plug connector 10 during coupling, which openings open in particular into the contact receptacles 56. The rear side of the connector housing 51 can be closed, in particular apart from the openings and apart from receptacles, which are designed in particular to receive elements of the flat plug connector 10. The openings can in particular have a width in the width direction B that essentially corresponds to the width in the width direction B of the contacts 70. The contacts 70 can be fixable to the connector housing 51, in particular from the rear side of the connector housing 51 in the mounting direction M', in particular through the openings opening into the contact receptacles 56.The mounting direction M' of the contacts 70 on the connector housing 51 of the complementary flat connector 50 can essentially correspond to the plugging direction S' of the complementary flat connector 50.

[0201] The contact receptacles 56 can be separated from one another in the width direction B, in particular by supporting walls 63. In other words, the contact receptacles 56 can be delimited, in particular, substantially in the width direction B by supporting walls 63.

[0202] The support walls 63 can have an extension which is in particular substantially parallel to the height direction H and / or substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction L.

[0203] The support walls 63 can in particular have an extension which is shorter, i.e. in particular protrudes less far (upwards) in the height direction H, than an extension of the contacts 70 arranged between the support walls 63. For example, the support walls 63 can have an extension such that at least or exclusively the curved contact regions 76 of the contacts 70 arranged between the support walls 63 are exposed, i.e. are not delimited by the support walls 63 in the width direction B.

[0204] The support walls 63 advantageously enable the contacts 70 to be guided into the connector housing 51 during assembly. In particular, the contacts 70 can be advantageously guided into the predetermined contact receptacles 56 by the support walls 63, even when mounted deviating from the assembly direction M'. Furthermore, the support walls 63 advantageously enable the contacts 70 to be guided, in particular when the contacts 70 are resiliently deformed, for example when coupled to the flat plug connector 10. Due to the extension of the support walls 63, in particular in the vertical direction H, the contacts 70 can be advantageously protected, while at the same time contacting with contacts 34 or conductor elements 34 complementary to the contacts 70 can be ensured with a predetermined contact force. This advantageously ensures reliable electrically conductive contacting and, at the same time, a long service life of the contacts 70.

[0205] The connector housing 51 of the complementary flat connector 50 can, in particular, have a bottom wall 52, a front wall 61, a top wall 65, and / or one or more side walls 67. The one or more walls 52, 61, 65, 67 can advantageously provide protection for the contacts 70, in particular both before coupling with the flat connector 10 and during coupling with the flat connector 10.

[0206] The front wall 61 delimits the contact receptacles 56, in particular to the front in the plug-in direction S' of the complementary flat plug connector 50. The front wall 61 can in particular be formed integrally with the support walls 63, in particular such that the front wall 61 forms a front section of the support walls 63 in the plug-in direction S'.

[0207] The front wall 61 can have an extension which is shorter, i.e. in particular protrudes less far (upwards) in the height direction H, than an extension of the contacts 70 arranged between the support walls 63 or in the contact receptacles 56. For example, the front wall 61 can have an extension such that at least or exclusively the curved contact regions 76 of the contacts 70 arranged between the support walls 63 are exposed, i.e. are not delimited by the front support wall 61 along the plug-in direction S'. The front wall 61 can in particular have an extension such that at least the curved sections 74 of the contacts 76 are or will be delimited by the front wall 61 along the extension direction S', as is exemplified by the Figures 8b , 10a , 11a, 11b , 12a, 12b , 14a, 14b , 23b and 29 clarified.

[0208] The front wall 61 can have in particular a chamfer or insertion bevel at an upper end in the height direction H and / or at a lower end in the height direction H.

[0209] The front wall 61 advantageously allows the contacts 70 to be protected both before and during coupling, particularly in the direction of insertion S, S', or in the longitudinal direction L, and also facilitates the coupling. This advantageously facilitates assembly and improves the service life of the contacts 70 and the flat connector system 1.

[0210] The connector housing 51 of the complementary flat connector 50 can, in particular, have a lower wall 52. The lower wall 52 can, in particular, be formed integrally with the support walls 63 and / or the front wall 61, in particular such that the front wall 61 forms a front section of the lower wall 52 in the plugging direction S'.

[0211] The lower wall 52 can, in particular, form a support for the contacts 70. In other exemplary embodiments, the contacts 70, in particular with the fixing section 73, can be guided in grooves, which can, in particular, be arranged in the support walls 63.

[0212] The lower wall 52 advantageously allows the contacts 70 to be protected both before and during coupling, particularly in the vertical direction. Furthermore, the lower wall 52 advantageously provides reliable counter-support for the securing sections 73 of the contacts 70, with a resilient contacting of the contacts 70 by the conductor elements 34, wherein the support section 78 of the contact 70 rests against the securing section 73. This, in turn, advantageously ensures a predetermined contact force, and accordingly, a secure electrically conductive contact, with repeatable accuracy.

[0213] The connector housing 51 of the complementary flat plug connector 50 can, in particular, have an upper wall 65. The upper wall 65 can, in particular, be formed integrally with the support walls 63, the front wall 61, and / or the lower wall. The upper wall 65 can be spaced apart from the lower wall 52 and / or the front wall 61, in particular in the vertical direction H, in order to enable insertion and / or reception of a conductor section 30 of the flat plug connector 10 in the plugging direction S, S'.

[0214] An opening of the connector housing 51 to the front in the plugging direction S', between the upper wall 65 and the front wall 61, or between the upper wall 65 and the support walls 63, in particular substantially in the height direction H, is in particular less than approximately 2 mm, in particular less than approximately 1.8 mm, in particular approximately 1.5 mm.

[0215] The contact holder 60 can, in particular, comprise or consist of the support walls 63, the bottom wall 52, and / or the front wall 61. In other words, the contact holder 60 comprises or consists, in particular, of those sections of the connector housing 51 which, in the operating state of the complementary connector 50, directly adjoin the contacts 70, or, in further words, are designed to support or hold the contacts 70 in the operating state.

[0216] The contact holder 60 is particularly designed to be (completely) received between the lower connector housing part 20 and the upper connector housing part 40, in particular in a coupled state of the flat connector system 1, or to be received when, in particular, the flat connector 10 is coupled to the complementary flat connector 50.

[0217] This can advantageously provide efficient contact protection.

[0218] The upper wall 65 can have, in particular, a chamfer or insertion slope at an upper end in the vertical direction H and / or at a lower end in the vertical direction H of the front end of the upper wall 65 in the plug-in direction S'. The upper wall can, in particular, extend further in the plug-in direction S' or counter to the longitudinal direction L than the contacts 70 accommodated thereunder.

[0219] The upper wall 65 advantageously makes it possible to protect the contacts 70 both before and during coupling, in particular in the height direction H.

[0220] The connector housing 51 of the complementary flat connector 50 can in particular comprise one or more side walls 67, in particular a pair of side walls 67 substantially opposite one another in the width direction B. The one or more side walls can in particular be formed integrally with the upper wall 65, the support walls 63, the front wall 61, and / or the lower wall.

[0221] The one or more side walls 67 advantageously make it possible to protect the contacts 70 both before and during coupling, in particular in the width direction B.

[0222] The connector housing 51 of the complementary flat connector 50 can have openings and receptacles through the walls, in particular exclusively open in the plugging direction S, S'.

[0223] In particular, a coupling section 54 can be arranged on the connector housing 51. The coupling section 54 can in particular be formed integrally with the connector housing 51.

[0224] The coupling section 54 can, without being limited thereto, and as shown by way of example with reference to the figures of the first embodiment of the flat plug connector system 1, be arranged, for example, at a front end of the upper wall 65 in the plugging direction S'. The coupling section 54 can, for example, extend substantially in the plugging direction S' or substantially counter to the longitudinal direction L from the connector housing 51, in particular toward the flat plug connector 10 to be coupled. The coupling section 54 can, in particular, extend further in the plugging direction S' or further counter to the longitudinal direction L than the rest of the connector housing 51.

[0225] As further shown by way of example with reference to the figures of the second embodiment of the flat plug connector system 1, the coupling section 54 can be arranged, without being limited thereto, on the lower wall 52, for example arranged centrally on the lower wall 52 in the longitudinal direction L.

[0226] In particular, a release element 55 can be arranged on the connector housing 51. The release element 55 can in particular be formed integrally with the connector housing 51.

[0227] The release element 55 can, without being limited thereto, and as shown by way of example with reference to the figures of the first embodiment of the flat plug connector system 1, be arranged, for example, at a front end of the upper wall 65 in the plugging direction S'. The release element 55 can, for example, extend substantially in the plugging direction S' or substantially counter to the longitudinal direction L from the connector housing 51, in particular toward the flat plug connector 10 to be coupled. The release element 55 can, in particular, extend further in the plugging direction S' or further counter to the longitudinal direction L than the rest of the connector housing 51. In exemplary embodiments, the release element 55 can extend approximately as far from the connector housing 51 as the coupling section 54.

[0228] As further shown by way of example with reference to the figures of the second embodiment of the flat plug connector system 1, the release element 55 can be arranged, without being limited thereto, on the upper wall 65, for example arranged centrally on the upper wall 65 in the longitudinal direction L.

[0229] The connector housing 51 of the complementary flat plug connector 50 can, as shown by way of example with reference to the figures of the first embodiment of the flat plug connector system 1, be designed to accommodate all contacts 70 with a substantially constant spacing of the contacts 70 from one another in the width direction B. This advantageously makes it possible to provide a complementary flat plug connector 50 that is not only flat, but also narrow, particularly in the width direction B.

[0230] As further shown by way of example with reference to the figures of the second embodiment of the flat plug connector system 1, the connector housing 51 of the complementary flat plug connector 50 can be designed to accommodate two or more groups of contacts 70, wherein the contacts 70 of the respective group have a different distance from one another in the width direction B than the groups from one another.

[0231] In other words, in exemplary embodiments, the connector housing 51 can have, in the width direction B, a first group of contact receptacles 56, the coupling section 54, and a second group of contact receptacles 56, in this order. In particular, the contacts 70 can be arranged in the respective contact receptacles 56.

[0232] In other words, and as shown by way of example with reference to the figures of the second embodiment of the flat plug connector system 1, the coupling section 54 of the complementary flat plug connector 50 can be arranged in particular substantially in the width direction B between a first group of contacts 70 or a first group of contact receptacles 56 and a second group of contacts 70 or a second group of contact receptacles 56.

[0233] As a result, the complementary flat connector 50 and the flat connector system 1 can advantageously be designed to be particularly flat. This, in turn, advantageously improves the integration of the flat connector system 1 into systems with limited installation space, in particular with limited installation space in the vertical direction H, such as in motor vehicles, such as cars.

[0234] In exemplary embodiments, the connector housing 51 of the complementary flat connector 50 can have one or more fixing sections 58. The one or more fixing sections 58 can be designed, for example, to receive one or more fixing means 59, in particular, to positively receive one or more fixing means 59. The one or more fixing sections 58 can be arranged on an outer side of the connector housing 51 in the width direction B, in particular, arranged in pairs on the connector housing 51, substantially opposite one another in the width direction B.

[0235] The fixing sections 58 can advantageously improve the integration of the complementary flat plug connector 50 and the flat plug connector system 1, and furthermore in particular the pre-assembly capability of the complementary flat plug connector 50.

[0236] As shown by the figures relating to the first and second embodiments of the flat plug connector system 1, and in particular by the Figures 4a, 4b , 5a, 5b , 19a, 19b , 20a and 20b As illustrated, the flat plug connector 10, which has the conductor section 30, can in particular be designed in multiple pieces, at least in two pieces. In other words, the connector housing 11 of the flat plug connector 10, which has the conductor section 30, can in particular be designed in multiple pieces, in particular at least in two parts or two pieces. The connector housing 11 is therefore designed in particular as a two-part connector housing 11.

[0237] The flat plug connector 10, and in particular its connector housing 11, can in particular comprise or consist of a lower connector housing part 20 and an upper connector housing part 40.

[0238] The lower and upper connector housing parts 20, 40 can comprise, at least in sections, a parting line or a parting plane which extends substantially flatly, in particular complementarily to the conductor section 30.

[0239] As a result, the conductor section 30 can advantageously be and / or become arranged between the lower connector housing part 20 and the upper connector housing part 40. For example, the conductor section 30 can be and / or become arranged at least partially in a sandwich-like manner between the lower connector housing part 20 and the upper connector housing part 40.

[0240] The flat connector 10 can be manufactured, in particular, by stepwise stacking. First, the conductor portion 30 can be arranged, or in other words, placed, on or in one of the lower connector housing part 20 and the upper connector housing part 40. Subsequently, the other of the lower connector housing part 20 and the upper connector housing part 40 can be arranged, or placed, on or in the one of the lower connector housing part 20 and the upper connector housing part 40 on which the conductor portion 30 is arranged. Thereafter, the lower connector housing part 20 and the upper connector housing part 40 can be fastened relative to one another.

[0241] The arranging or laying of the step-by-step stacking described above can in particular take place substantially parallel to the height direction H. In exemplary embodiments, the arranging or laying of the step-by-step stacking described above can in particular take place substantially in the assembly direction M. The assembly direction M shown in the figures describes, by way of example, the sequence according to which the upper connector housing part 40 is arranged, or in other words placed, on or in the lower connector housing part 20. It is understood that the flat connector 10 can also be produced using an assembly direction which is substantially opposite to the assembly direction M shown in the figures, according to which the lower connector housing part 20 is arranged, or in other words placed, on or in the upper connector housing part 40.

[0242] By arranging or laying substantially parallel to the height direction H, buckling or deformation of the conductor section 30 and / or the flexible flat conductor 110, which is connected to the conductor section 30, can advantageously be avoided.

[0243] Conventionally, the conductor section and / or the flexible flat conductor connected to the conductor section is inserted into a connector housing, for example, longitudinally, and then fixed to the connector housing using fixing sections that protrude in the width direction, for example, by soldering, welding, screwing, or clamping. While this allows the conductor section with the flexible flat conductor to be securely mounted on the connector housing, a portion of the conductor section and / or a portion of the flexible flat conductor typically bends upon insertion, which can lead, in particular, to damage to the conductor section and / or the flexible flat conductor, which is not readily visible and often only becomes noticeable in a comparatively short service life of the flat connector system.

[0244] In the present production of the flat plug connector 10, arranging or laying the conductor section 30 and the flexible flat conductor 110 can be avoided, in particular, by arranging or laying them substantially parallel to the vertical direction H. This, in turn, can advantageously improve the service life of the conductor section 30 and / or the flexible flat conductor 110, as well as the flat plug connector system 1.

[0245] The conductor section 30 can, in particular, comprise one or more conductor elements 34 and / or a section supporting the one or more conductor elements 34. The conductor elements 34 are, in particular, electrically conductive. The conductor elements 34 can comprise or consist of exposed conductor elements 34 of the flexible, flat conductor 110.

[0246] The flexible flat conductor 110 may in particular comprise or consist of a flat ribbon or a flexible printed circuit board.

[0247] In preferred embodiments, the distance from a center of the outermost conductor element 34 in the width direction B to the edge of the conductor section 30 adjacent in the width direction B can be in the range of approximately 0.7 mm to approximately 1.2 mm. In particular, the distance from a center of the outermost conductor element 34 in the width direction B to the edge of the conductor section 30 adjacent in the width direction B can be at least approximately 0.9 mm or at least approximately 1.0 mm, in particular approximately 1 mm.

[0248] As a result, the conductor section 30 is advantageously designed to be compatible with both a flat ribbon and a flexible printed circuit board, and further advantageously enables a modular production of the flat plug connector system 1.

[0249] The lower connector housing part 20 has, in particular, a main body 23. The main body 23 has a main extension which is substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction L and the width direction B.

[0250] As a result, the main body 23 can advantageously be or be brought into contact with the conductor section 30 and / or with the flat flexible conductor 110.

[0251] As particularly demonstrated by the Figures 4a, 4b , 19a and 19b As illustrated in the first and second embodiments of the flat plug connector system 1, the main body 23 can extend in particular in steps. The main body 23 can in particular have an upper step in the height direction H and at least one lower step in the height direction H, or, for example, can have only the upper step and the lower step.

[0252] The upper step in the height direction H has in particular a main extension which is substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction L and the width direction B.

[0253] Additionally or alternatively, the at least one or the only further lower step in the height direction H can have a main extension that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction and the width direction. The upper and lower steps can, in particular, be substantially parallel to one another.

[0254] The upper step of the main body 23 in the vertical direction H can, in particular, be a step of the main body 23 facing the conductor section 30 and / or the flexible flat conductor 110. The upper step of the main body 23 in the vertical direction H can, in particular in the assembled state of the flat plug connector 10 or already during the manufacture of the flat plug connector 10, provide a support for the conductor section 30 and / or the flexible flat conductor 110.

[0255] The lower step of the main body 23 in the vertical direction H can, in particular, be a step of the main body 23 facing away from the conductor section 30 and / or the flexible flat conductor 110. The lower step of the main body 23 in the vertical direction H can, in particular in the assembled state of the flat plug connector 10 or already during the manufacture of the flat plug connector 10, provide a spacing from the conductor section 30 and / or the flexible flat conductor 110, in particular a spacing substantially in the vertical direction H.

[0256] The lower step in the height direction H can in particular comprise or consist of a lower wall 24 of the lower connector housing part 20.

[0257] In the assembled state of the flat plug connector 10, the lower wall 24 extends in particular with a spacing in the height direction H relative to the conductor section 30 and / or the flexible flat conductor 110.

[0258] The lower wall 24 has, in particular, a main extension which is parallel to the longitudinal direction L and the width direction B. The lower wall 24 can, in particular, extend at a lower end of the lower connector housing part 20 in the height direction H, or in other words, be arranged thereon.

[0259] The lower wall 24 can, in particular, extend further in the longitudinal direction L or in the plug-in direction S than the conductor elements 34 arranged on the flat plug connector 10.

[0260] The lower wall 24 advantageously provides protection for the conductor section 30 and / or the flexible flat conductor 110, in particular in the height direction H.

[0261] The lower wall 24 can have a chamfer or insertion bevel, in particular at a distal end, or in other words at a front end in the plugging direction S of the flat plug connector 10. The chamfer or insertion bevel can be formed, in particular, on an upper side of the lower wall 24 in the height direction H.

[0262] As a result, the lower wall 24 of the lower connector housing part 20 can advantageously be easily mounted in the plugging direction S, S' with the connector housing 51 of the complementary flat connector 50, and in particular easily adjacent to the lower wall 52 of the complementary flat connector 50.

[0263] The lower connector housing part 20 has, in particular, one or more fastening means 26 for fastening the lower connector housing part 20 to the upper connector housing part 40. The upper connector housing part 40 can have one or more fastening means 46 for fastening the lower connector housing part 20 to the upper connector housing part 40, which are, in particular, complementary to the one or more fastening means 26 of the lower connector housing part 20.

[0264] As exemplified in particular in the Figures 4a, 4b , 19a and 19b As shown, the fastening means 26 of the lower connector housing part 26 has, for example, a projection, in particular an arm with a projection. The fastening means 26 can comprise or consist of a resilient, in particular elastically resilient clip. As shown, for example, in particular in the Figures 5a, 5b , 20a and 20bAs shown, the fastening means 46 of the upper connector housing part 40 has or can consist of a fastening receptacle 46. In further exemplary embodiments, the fastening means 46 of the upper connector housing part 40 can comprise or consist of a projection and in particular a clip, and the fastening means 26 of the lower connector housing part 20 can comprise or consist of a receptacle. In still further exemplary embodiments, both the lower and the upper connector housing part 20, 40 can comprise both a projection and in particular a clip, and a receptacle as a fastening means.

[0265] It is understood that in other exemplary embodiments, other fastening means than those shown in the figures may be used, in particular to connect the lower connector housing part 20 to the upper connector housing part 40. Further exemplary fastening means of the lower connector housing part 20 and / or the upper connector housing part 40 may include, for example, but are not limited to, pins, locating pins, openings, locating openings, grooves, sliding blocks, Christmas tree-shaped clips, and / or screws.

[0266] For example, the lower connector housing part 20 can have fastening means 26 that are substantially opposite one another in the width direction B. The fastening means 26 can in particular be arranged or formed at one end in the width direction B of the lower connector housing part 20.

[0267] The fastening means 26 can in particular comprise an elastically resilient clip arm which extends substantially in the height direction H. The clip arm can have a projection which can in particular project substantially in the width direction B from the clip arm. On a side of the clip arm opposite the projection, the clip arm can in particular have one or more grooves which can preferably extend substantially along the height direction H. In a cross-section of the clip arm, with a sectional plane which extends substantially in the longitudinal direction and in the width direction, the clip arm can be approximately W-shaped, at least in sections.

[0268] This advantageously stiffens the clip arm in the width direction B. Furthermore, by avoiding material accumulation in the cross-section of the clip arm, the clip arm can advantageously be formed precisely and, in particular, essentially without distortion, for example, by injection molding. The clip arm of the fastening means 26 can, in particular, be manufactured integrally with the lower connector housing part 20, for example, by injection molding.

[0269] This advantageously ensures a repeatable assembly of the flat plug connector 10 and, in particular, simplifies the assembly of the multi-piece flat plug connector 10.

[0270] In preferred embodiments, the lower connector housing part 20 may have a recess 22 adjacent to the fastening means 26. As exemplified by the Figures 4a, 4b , 19a and 19bAs shown, the recess 22 can be adjacent to the fastening means 26 in particular from the direction in which the projection of the clip arm extends from the clip arm. In other words, as shown by the Figures 4a, 4b , 19a and 19b shown, the recess 22 is adjacent to the fastening means 26 in particular in the direction in which the projection of the clip arm extends from the clip arm.

[0271] In the figures, the clip arm is shown by way of example with a projection which extends substantially parallel to the width direction B inwards of the connector housing part 20, so that the recess 22 is arranged or formed on the connector housing part 20 in particular parallel to the width direction B and inwards of the connector housing part 20.

[0272] The recess 22 can have approximately the same extension in the longitudinal direction L as the fastening means 26, or preferably be larger than the extension of the fastening means 26 in the longitudinal direction L.

[0273] This advantageously improves the flexibility of the fastening means 26 of the lower connector housing part 20. Furthermore, fatigue or damage at a root of the fastening means 26, in other words at a proximal end of the fastening means 26, can be advantageously prevented or reduced, which in turn advantageously improves the service life of the flat connector 10 and the flat connector system 1.

[0274] The one or more fastening means 26 can be arranged or formed in particular on the upper step of the lower connector housing 20 in the height direction H.

[0275] This advantageously provides a particularly firm attachment of the lower connector housing 20 to the upper connector housing 40 in a region in which the conductor section 30 and / or the flat, flexible conductor 110 is arranged between the lower and upper connector housings 20, 40. Furthermore, this provides a particularly firm and secure clamping, in particular a frictional clamping, of the conductor section 30 and / or the flat, flexible conductor 110 between the lower and upper connector housings 20, 40, which in turn advantageously ensures good connection reliability for an electrically conductive connection of the flat connector system 1.

[0276] Additionally or alternatively, the one or more fastening means 26, which are arranged or formed in particular on the upper step of the lower connector housing in the height direction H, can advantageously provide a positive connection substantially counter to the plugging direction S with a fixing section 32 of the conductor section 30 and / or the flat flexible conductor 110.

[0277] This further advantageously provides a secure, in particular captive, fastening of the conductor section 30 and / or the flat flexible conductor 110 to the lower connector housing 20, as well as, for example, between the lower and the upper connector housing 20, 40.

[0278] As exemplified in the Figures 4a and 19aAs shown, the step of the connector housing 11, i.e. the upper connector housing part 40 or the lower connector housing part 20, which is spaced from the conductor section 30, and in particular on a side facing the conductor section 30, can have one or more first stiffening ribs 25.

[0279] In particular, the lower connector housing part 20, in particular on its lower wall 24, can have one or more first stiffening ribs 25.

[0280] The one or more first stiffening ribs 25 may have a main extension which is substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction L and the height direction H.

[0281] The one or more first stiffening ribs 25 can be arranged, in particular, at an interface, or in other words, at a transition, between the upper step in the height direction H and the lower step in the height direction H of the lower connector housing part 20. The one or more first stiffening ribs 25 can extend, in particular, on an upper side of the lower step or the lower wall 24 in the height direction H.

[0282] The one or more first stiffening ribs 25 can, in particular, extend only along a portion of the lower wall 24 of the lower connector housing part 20. In other words, the one or more first stiffening ribs 25 can, adjacent to or extending from the upper step in the height direction H, in particular only partially extend in the longitudinal direction L along the lower wall 24.

[0283] The first stiffening ribs 25 advantageously prevent material accumulation in the lower connector housing part 20. Furthermore, in particular, a stiffener supporting the lower wall 24 can be provided, which improves the protection of the conductor section 30 and / or the flat, flexible conductor 110, in particular from below in the vertical direction H, while a coupling with the lower wall 52 of the complementary flat plug 50 is not impaired.

[0284] Alternatively or additionally, and as exemplified in the Figures 6b and 21b As shown, the lower connector housing part 20 may have one or more second stiffening ribs 27. The one or more second stiffening ribs 27 may have a main extension that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction L and the height direction H.

[0285] The one or more second stiffening ribs 27 can be arranged in particular at an interface, or in other words at a transition, between the upper step in the height direction H and the lower step in the height direction H of the lower connector housing part 20, but in particular substantially opposite to the first one or more stiffening ribs 25. The one or more second stiffening ribs 27 can extend in particular on a lower side of the upper step in the height direction H.

[0286] The one or more second stiffening ribs 27 can extend, in particular, along the lower side in the height direction H of the upper step of the lower connector housing part 20. In particular, the one or more second stiffening ribs 27 can extend substantially completely in the longitudinal direction L along the upper step in the height direction.

[0287] The second stiffening ribs 27 advantageously prevent material accumulation in the lower connector housing part 20. Furthermore, a stiffening element supporting the lower wall 24 and the upper step in the vertical direction H can be provided, which improves the protection of the conductor section 30 and / or the flat, flexible conductor 110, in particular from below in the vertical direction H.

[0288] As can be seen by comparing the Figure 4a concerning the first embodiment of the flat plug connector system 1 with the Figure 19a As illustrated in the second embodiment of the flat plug connector system 1, the lower connector housing 20 can be designed differently depending on the embodiment.

[0289] As shown by way of example with reference to the figures of the first embodiment of the flat plug connector system 1, the lower plug connector housing 20 can in particular be designed with a substantially continuous upper step in the height direction H.

[0290] This advantageously enables simple assembly with the conductor section 30 and / or the flat flexible conductor 110, and in particular provides a flat supporting support for the conductor section 30 and / or the flat flexible conductor 110.

[0291] As shown by way of example with reference to the figures of the second embodiment of the flat plug connector system 1, the lower connector housing 20 can in particular be designed with an upper step that is substantially non-continuous in the height direction H. For example, the upper step in the height direction H can have at least a first section and a second section, which are at least partially interrupted along the extension of the lower connector housing 20 along the width direction B. For example, the first and second sections of the upper step in the height direction H can be at least partially interrupted by a lower step in the height direction H. The lower step in the height direction H can in particular be the lower step that is (approximately) at the same level in the height direction H as the lower wall 24 of the lower connector housing part 20.

[0292] In other words, the upper step of the lower connector housing part 20 in the height direction H can, along the extension of the connector housing part 20 in the width direction B, in particular comprise an interruption in the height direction H. The interruption in the height direction H can, in particular, comprise a lower level in the height direction than the upper step in the height direction H. The interruption in the height direction H can, in particular, be arranged or formed centrally in the width direction B on the upper step in the height direction H.

[0293] As further shown in the figures of the second embodiment of the flat plug connector system 1, the lower plug connector housing 20 can be designed in particular with a lower step that is at least partially interrupted in the height direction H or with a lower wall 24 that is at least partially interrupted. For example, the lower wall 24 can have at least a first section and a second section that are at least partially interrupted along the extension of the lower plug connector housing 20 along the width direction B. For example, the first and the second section of the lower wall 24 can be at least partially interrupted, for example by an opening. The opening or interruption in the lower wall 24 can be arranged or formed in particular at a front end of the lower plug connector housing 20 in the plugging direction S of the flat plug connector 10. The opening orInterruption of the lower wall 24 can be arranged or formed in particular centrally in the width direction B on the lower wall 24.

[0294] The lower connector housing part 20, as shown by way of example in the figures of the second embodiment of the flat connector system 1, and as particularly shown by the Figures 19a , 24a , 24b and 25a As illustrated, the upper step formed in sections in the width direction B and in the height direction H, and / or the lower wall 24 formed in sections, advantageously makes it possible to accommodate at least in sections the coupling section 14, which is arranged or formed on the upper connector housing part 40.

[0295] The lower connector housing part 20 can in particular be formed in one piece.

[0296] This advantageously makes it possible to provide a particularly flat and space-saving flat plug connector system 1, which can be produced in a particularly dimensionally stable and repeatable manner, and is particularly suitable for use in motor vehicles, such as cars.

[0297] The upper connector housing part 40 of the flat connector 10, as shown particularly in the Figures 5a, 5b , 20a and 20b shown has in particular a coupling section 14 which is designed for coupling with a complementary coupling section 54 of the complementary flat plug connector 50 of the plug connector system 1, as shown in the further figures.

[0298] The positive connection of the coupling section 14 with the complementary coupling section 54, which is in principle designed to be particularly releasable, can be designed as a non-releasable, in particular non-destructively releasable, positive connection, in particular by a securing position of the securing element 5.

[0299] Furthermore, the positive connection of the coupling section 14 with the complementary coupling section 54, which is designed in particular to be releasable, can be designed as a releasable, in particular non-destructively releasable, positive connection, in particular by a non-securing position of the securing element 5.

[0300] One of the coupling section 14 and the complementary coupling section 54 can be configured to be substantially rigid with respect to the coupling part. The other of the coupling section 14 and the complementary coupling section 54 can be configured to be substantially resilient, in particular elastically resilient, with respect to the part complementary to the coupling part. In other words, the coupling section 14 and the complementary coupling section 54 can be configured in particular such that, upon coupling, substantially only one of the coupling section 14 and the complementary coupling section 54 is or will be resiliently deformed.

[0301] At least one of the coupling section 14 and the complementary coupling section 54 can have one or more engaging sections 8. Furthermore, at least one of the coupling section 14 and the complementary coupling section 54 can have one or more resiliently engaging elements 7, in particular one or more elastically resiliently engaging elements 7. A resiliently engaging element 7 of the one or more resiliently engaging elements 7 is in particular designed to be complementary to one or more of the one or more engaging sections 8. For example, a resiliently engaging element 7 and a complementary engaging section 8 each have a projection in order to form a positive connection, in particular in the plug-in direction S, S', when the flat plug connector system 1 is coupled.

[0302] As shown by way of example in the figures of the first embodiment of the flat plug connector system 1, the flat plug connector 10 can, for example, have one or more substantially rigid engaging sections 8, and the complementary flat plug connector 50 can correspondingly have one or more substantially elastically resilient engaging elements 7, which can be coupled to the engaging section(s) 8.

[0303] As shown by way of example in the figures of the second embodiment of the flat plug connector system 1, the flat plug connector 10 can, for example, have one or more substantially elastically resilient engaging elements 7, and the complementary flat plug connector 50 can correspondingly have one or more substantially rigid engaging sections 8 which can be coupled to the resilient engaging element(s) 7.

[0304] This makes it possible to ensure a repeatable assembly process.

[0305] At least one of the flat plug connector 10 and the complementary flat plug connector 50 can have a receptacle 12 for the securing element 5 for securing the coupled state of the flat plug connector system 1.

[0306] As shown by way of example in the figures of the first and second embodiments of the flat plug connector system 1, the receptacle 12 for the securing element 5 can be arranged in particular in the region of the coupling section 14 or on the coupling section 14.

[0307] The receptacle 12 is formed, in particular, by a region of the upper connector housing 40, and in particular by a region of the coupling section 14. The receptacle 12 has, in particular, a guide for moving the securing element 5 between a non-securing position and a securing position. The guide for movement can, in particular, be a translational guide, i.e., a guide that essentially only allows a translational movement of the securing element 5 between the securing position and the non-securing position. For this purpose, the guide can, for example, form a positive connection transverse to the translational direction of movement of the securing element 5.

[0308] The receptacle 12 can in particular be formed integrally with the upper connector housing part 40.

[0309] The receptacle 12 has in particular one or more catches 45 which, in a non-coupled state of the flat plug connector system 1, i.e. in a state in which the coupling section 14 and the complementary coupling section 54 are not coupled to one another, can engage, in particular engage in a form-fitting manner, with one or more catch projections 82 of the securing element 5.

[0310] The receptacle 12 can be rigid. In particular, the receptacle 12 can be rigid in such a way that the receptacle 12: when the securing element 5 is arranged on the receptacle 12, when the flat plug connector 10 is coupled to the complementary flat plug connector 50, in particular in a state in which the securing element 5 is arranged on the receptacle 12, and / or when the securing element 5 is transferred into the securing state, i.e. when the flat plug connector 10 and the complementary flat plug connector 50 are in particular already coupled to one another, not deformed.

[0311] As a result, the flat plug connector 10 and the complementary flat plug connector 50 can advantageously be designed to be rigid and durable, while, for example, the securing element 5 can be designed as an easily replaceable element.

[0312] The one or more latches 45 can in particular be designed as openings or attachments which extend substantially in the width direction B and / or in the height direction H. The one or more latches 45 can thus provide an engagement or attachment for one or more latch projections 82 of the securing element 5, which in particular extend substantially in the width direction B and / or in the height direction H.

[0313] In the coupled state of the flat plug connector system 1, i.e. in a state in which the coupling section 14 and the complementary coupling section 54 are coupled to one another, in particular are positively coupled to one another, one or more of the release elements 55 are designed to extend towards the one or more latches 45 in such a way that the one or more latch projections 82 do not engage with the one or more latches 45.

[0314] A release element 55 of the one or more release elements 55 is arranged or formed in particular on that of the coupling section 14 and the complementary coupling section 54 which does not have the receptacle 12.

[0315] The one or more release elements 55 may, for example, extend toward the one or more traps 45 in such a way that the one or more trap projections 82 are prevented from entering the one or more traps 45 and / or in such a way that the engagement of the one or more trap projections 82 with the one or more traps 45 is released.

[0316] Additionally or alternatively, the one or more release elements 55 can extend toward the one or more latches 45 in such a way that the securing element 5, which is fixed in the non-locking position, is or becomes resiliently deformed. In particular, a portion of the securing element 5 on which one or more of the latch projections 82 are arranged can be or become resiliently deformed, in particular elastically resiliently.

[0317] In exemplary embodiments, the one or more release elements 55 may be configured in the coupled state to elastically resiliently deform a prong 86 of the securing element 5 to be arranged between a portion of the receptacle 12 and a portion of the prong 86.

[0318] In the coupled state of the flat plug connector system 1, in particular by means of the arrangement of the one or more release elements 55 in the coupled state, the securing element 5 is designed to be transferable from a non-securing position to a securing position. In particular, the securing element 5 is designed, in the coupled state and by means of the arrangement of the one or more release elements 55, to be transferable between a non-securing position and the securing position of the securing element 5, in particular to be transferable non-destructively and reversibly between a non-securing position and the securing position of the securing element 5. In other words, the securing element 5 is, in particular, no longer fixed in the non-securing position in the coupled state.

[0319] Due to the complementary design of the securing element 5 and the coupling sections 14, 54 of the flat plug connector 10 and the complementary flat plug connector 50, it can advantageously be ensured that the securing element 5 is fixed in the non-securing position in the uncoupled state and can only be transferred into the securing position in the coupled state.

[0320] The receptacle 12 may have one or more retaining devices 48. A retaining device 48 of the one or more retaining devices 48 is particularly designed to engage with a retainer 88 of one or more retainers 88 of the securing element 5. As can be seen in particular from Fig. 5a As illustrated in Figure 1, the abutment systems 48 can be designed, for example, as webs or columns of the receptacle 12, which, for example, extend at least in sections substantially in the height direction H. As can be seen in particular from Fig. 20aAs illustrated, the abutment systems 48 can be designed, for example, as projections of the receptacle 12, which, for example, extend at least in sections substantially in the width direction B. The one or more abutment systems 48 can, for example, have a front end or a recess against or in which one or more abutments 88 of the securing element 5 can rest or engage. The front end can, for example, extend substantially parallel to the height direction H and / or in the width direction. The recess can, in particular, be a recess substantially in the height direction H or in the width direction B.

[0321] A counter-hold 88 of the one or more counter-holds 88 of the securing element 5 can, in particular, be designed as a projection that protrudes from the securing element 5 substantially in the height direction H and / or in the width direction B. The counter-hold 88 can, in particular, protrude in a direction that does not correspond to the direction in which the one or more latch projections 45 protrude.

[0322] A retaining device 48 of the one or more retaining devices 48 can form a positive connection, for example a stop or an engagement, with one or more of the one or more retainers 88, which prevents the securing element 5 from being released from the receptacle 12, in particular substantially counter to the insertion direction S. The retaining devices 48 can be designed, for example, as webs or columns of the receptacle 12.

[0323] The one or more retaining devices 48, in cooperation with the retainer(s) 88, together with the one or more latches 45, in cooperation with the latch projection(s) 82, can advantageously ensure that the securing element 5 is secured to the receptacle in the non-locking position. This advantageously allows the securing element 5 to be pre-assembled to the receptacle 12, and the assembly of the flat plug connector system 1 can be simplified.

[0324] The receptacle 12 can advantageously provide a positive-locking receptacle for the securing element 5, to which the securing element 5 is positively secured, in particular in the uncoupled state of the flat plug connector system 1. The securing element 5 can, in particular, be positively received and secured in the receptacle 12, at least in sections, in a positive-locking manner, in particular in the non-locking position.

[0325] The upper connector housing part 40 has fastening receptacles 46 that are complementary to the fastening means 26 of the lower connector housing part 20. The fastening receptacles 46 can, as shown in the Figures 5a, 5b , 20a and 20b As illustrated by way of example, the fastening receptacles 46 can be formed in particular as a groove or recess on the upper connector housing part 40, for example as a groove or recess having a recess. The fastening receptacles 46 can be arranged on the upper connector housing part 40, in particular, substantially opposite one another in the width direction B. The fastening receptacles 46 can be arranged or formed in particular at ends of the upper connector housing part 40 that are substantially opposite one another in the width direction B.

[0326] The fastening receptacles 46 can be arranged or formed in particular on a rear section of the upper connector housing part 40 in the plugging direction S.

[0327] This advantageously provides a fastening of the lower connector housing part 20 to the upper connector housing part 40, which does not impair the coupling of the flat connector 10 to the complementary flat connector 50 and, in particular, does not come loose when a load is applied that is directed in or against the plugging direction S, in particular comes loose without causing any damage.

[0328] The fastening receptacles 46 enable, in particular in cooperation with the fastening means 26, which can also be arranged or formed on the other of the lower and upper connector housing parts 20, 40, an advantageously secure, simple and protective sandwich-like reception of the conductor section 30 and / or the flexible flat conductor 110 between the lower and upper connector housing parts 20, 40. In particular, clamping can advantageously be improved in an area in which the lower connector housing part 20, the conductor section 30 and / or the flexible flat conductor 110, and the upper connector housing part 40, in the assembled state of the flat connector 10, directly adjoin one another.In particular, the above-mentioned elements can be sandwiched together in the following order: lower connector housing part 20, conductor section 30 and / or flexible flat conductor 110, and upper connector housing part 40.

[0329] The conductor section 30 and / or the flexible flat conductor 110 can be received at least in a form-fitting manner between the lower and upper connector housing parts 20, 40, in particular in such a way that withdrawal of the conductor section 30 and / or the flexible flat conductor 110 substantially in and / or counter to the longitudinal direction or substantially in and / or counter to the plugging direction S of the flat connector 10 is prevented.

[0330] Alternatively or additionally, the conductor section 30 and / or the flexible flat conductor 110 can be integrally connected to the lower and / or upper connector housing part 20, 40, for example by means of an adhesive.

[0331] Further alternatively or additionally, the conductor section 30 and / or the flexible flat conductor 110 can be frictionally connected to the lower and / or the upper connector housing part 20, 40, for example by clamping the conductor section 30 and / or the flexible flat conductor 110 between the lower connector housing part 20 and the upper connector housing part 40.

[0332] In exemplary embodiments, the fastening means 26 with the fastening receptacles 46 can provide a fastening prestressed in the height direction H.

[0333] This can advantageously improve a particularly frictional connection of the conductor section 30 and / or the flexible flat conductor 110 with the lower and upper connector housing part 20, 40. or the recess of the abutment 48 can The engagement between as are particularly designed with The abutments and / or the abutment 48 can be designed, for example, as webs or columns of the receptacle 12

[0334] As particularly demonstrated by the Figures 4a to 6band 19a to 21b, the upper connector housing part 40 can have a side wall 42, in particular an angled side wall 42, in particular at opposite ends in the width direction B. The respective side wall 42 is in particular designed such that it provides outward protection in the width direction B for the conductor section 30 and / or the flexible flat conductor 110. The respective angled side wall 42 is in particular angled such that it is angled inwards in the width direction B at a front end of the side wall 42 in the longitudinal direction L or in the plugging direction S.

[0335] The side wall 42 can, in particular, extend downwards from an upper wall 44 of the connector housing 11 substantially along the height direction H. The side wall 42 can, in particular, be designed to delimit the lower connector housing part 20 outwardly, at least in sections, in the width direction B.

[0336] The side wall 42 advantageously improves protection of the conductor section 30 and / or the flexible flat conductor 110 in the width direction B. Furthermore, the side wall 42 advantageously enables, in particular due to the angled section, a positive reception of the conductor section 30 and / or the flexible flat conductor 110 on the connector housing 11 to be improved, as well as to protect the conductor section 30 and / or the flexible flat conductor 110 from the front in the plug-in direction S or in the longitudinal direction L. Furthermore, the side wall 42, in particular due to the angled section, enables assembly with the lower connector housing part 20 to be facilitated, for example by the side wall 42 providing a guide for placing the upper connector housing part 40 on the lower connector housing part 20, and vice versa.

[0337] The upper connector housing 40 can in particular have one or more guide elements 43, in particular one or more elastically resilient guide elements 43.

[0338] The connector housing 40 can have at least one guide element 43, in particular at opposite ends in the width direction B.

[0339] A guide element 43 of the one or more guide elements 43 can in particular have a main extension substantially in the longitudinal direction L or in the insertion direction S. A guide element 43 of the one or more guide elements 43 can in particular have a projection at a front end in the longitudinal direction L or in the insertion direction S, which projection in particular projects substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L or to the insertion direction S.

[0340] The one or more guide elements 43 are designed in particular to touch the complementary flat plug connector 50 when coupling the flat plug connector 10 with the complementary flat plug connector 50, in particular to touch it with an elastically resilient deformation of the one or more guide elements 43.

[0341] The complementary flat plug connector 50 or the connector housing 51 of the complementary flat plug connector 50 can, for example, each have a contact, in particular a contact groove and / or a guide receptacle 53 for at least one of the one or more guide elements 43. The contact, in particular the contact groove and / or guide receptacle 53 of the complementary flat plug connector 50, can be arranged or formed outside the contact receptacles 56, in particular in the width direction B.

[0342] The system or the system groove and / or the guide receptacle 53 can be as shown in the Figures 7b ,22a and 25b shown by way of example, in particular have a projection and / or recess with which a guide element 43 of the one or more guide elements 43 can engage, in particular can engage in a form-fitting manner.

[0343] The one or more contact grooves and / or guide receptacles 53 of the connector housing 51 of the complementary flat connector 50, together with the one or more guide elements 43, can in particular form a first prestressing contact of the flat connector 10 with the complementary flat connector 50 during plugging or coupling along the plugging direction S, S'. This first prestressing contact naturally refers to a mutually complementary orientation of the flat connector 10 relative to the complementary flat connector 50, in which the flat connector 10 and the complementary flat connector 50 can be plugged or coupled to provide an electrically conductive connection, in the sense of a usual usage state of a flat connector system 1.

[0344] The one or more guide elements 43 can each be arranged or formed in particular at a front end of the side wall 42 in the longitudinal direction L or in the insertion direction S.

[0345] The guide elements 43 thus advantageously simplify the assembly of the flat plug connector system 1. Furthermore, the guide elements 43, in particular integrally, additionally provide protection for the conductor section 30 and / or the flexible flat conductor 110 in the width direction B, in particular on both sides in the width direction B.

[0346] As particularly demonstrated by the Figures 5b and 20bAs illustrated by way of example, the upper connector housing part 40 can have one or more collars 49, in particular on an underside of the upper wall 44 in the height direction H. The collar 49 of the one or more collars 49 projects downwards, in particular on an underside of the upper wall 44, substantially along the height direction H. A collar 49 of the one or more collars 49 can be arranged or formed, in particular, at a position corresponding to the fastening receptacle 46. In other words, the collar 49 can, in particular, provide or form an extension of the fastening receptacle 46 along the height direction H, beyond an underside of the upper wall 44.

[0347] The projection or extension beyond the underside of the upper wall 44, which the collar 49 forms, can, in exemplary embodiments, be smaller than a thickness of the conductor section 30 and / or the flexible flat conductor 110 in the height direction H. This can advantageously ensure a predetermined clamping force that frictionally connects the conductor section 30 and / or the flexible flat conductor 110 to the connector housing 11.

[0348] In other exemplary embodiments, the collar 49 can form a projection or an extension beyond the underside of the upper wall 44, which essentially corresponds to the thickness of the conductor section 30 and / or the flexible flat conductor 110, or which is greater than a thickness of the conductor section 30 and / or the flexible flat conductor 110. This advantageously prevents a clamping force that could potentially deform or damage the conductors of the conductor section 30 and / or the flexible flat conductor 110. Furthermore, a defined stop between the lower and upper connector housing parts 20, 40 can advantageously be ensured. This, in turn, makes it possible to ensure a predetermined overall height of the flat connector 10, for example, for coupling with the complementary flat connector 50.

[0349] The collar 49 is particularly designed to provide an edge for the fixing section 32 of the conductor section 30 and / or the flexible flat conductor 110, in particular opposite to the plugging direction S or opposite to the longitudinal direction L.

[0350] The collar 49 therefore advantageously makes it possible, in particular together with the side wall 42, to provide a positive arrangement or reception of the conductor section 30 and / or the flexible flat conductor 110, in particular of the fixing section 32, in particular both in the plug-in direction S or in the longitudinal direction L, as well as opposite to the plug-in direction S or the longitudinal direction L.

[0351] The collar 49 therefore advantageously improves the assembly of the flat plug connector 10, for example by making it easier to place the upper plug connector housing part 40 on the conductor section 30 and / or the flexible flat conductor or vice versa. In order to place the upper plug connector housing part 40 on the conductor section 30 and / or the flexible flat conductor 110, or vice versa, the conductor section 30 and / or the flexible flat conductor 110 can already be placed on or in the lower plug connector housing part 20. In further exemplary embodiments, however, the conductor section 30 and / or the flexible flat conductor 110 can also first be placed on or in the upper plug connector housing part 40, and then, in particular immediately thereafter, the lower plug connector housing part 20 can be placed on or in the upper plug connector housing part 40.be placed in the upper connector housing part 40 to sandwich the conductor section 30 and / or the flexible flat conductor 110.

[0352] As particularly evident from the Figures 5a, 5b , 20a and 20b As illustrated, the upper wall 44 can be contoured on its upper side in the height direction H, for example be designed to be stepped at least in sections, and / or be substantially planar on its underside in the height direction H, in particular apart from the ends in the width direction B.

[0353] This advantageously provides, on the one hand, good protection and good contact of the conductor section 30 and / or the flexible flat conductor 110 from above in the height direction H, and, on the other hand, improves the rigidity of the upper connector housing part 40.

[0354] As particularly evident from the Figures 5a and 5bAs shown, in the first embodiment of the flat plug connector system 1, the upper wall 44 can be formed in particular continuously, without a separation of the contact surface for the conductor section 30 and / or the flexible flat conductor 110 in the width direction B. This advantageously makes it possible to provide a flat plug connector system 1 with a comparatively small overall width in the width direction B, which also allows for easy assembly of the conductor section 30 and / or the flexible flat conductor 110

[0355] In contrast, in particular through the Figures 20a and 20bAs shown, in the second embodiment of the flat plug connector system 1, the upper wall 44 can be formed in particular in sections, with at least one separation of the contact surfaces for the conductor section 30 and / or the flexible flat conductor 110 in the width direction B. As a result, a coupling section 14 can advantageously be provided in the region of the separation of the contact surfaces for the conductor section 30 and / or the flexible flat conductor 110, whereby a flat plug connector system 1 with a particularly low overall height in the height direction H can be provided.

[0356] The upper wall 44 and the lower wall 24 of the connector housing 11 of the flat connector 10 advantageously provide protection for the conductor section 30 and / or the flexible flat conductor 110 in the height direction H. An opening formed on a front side in the plugging direction S between the upper wall 44 and the lower wall 24 can in particular have a height of less than approximately 5 mm, in particular in the range from approximately 2.5 mm to approximately 4.5 mm, for example approximately 4 mm.

[0357] This advantageously provides efficient contact protection for the conductor section 30 and its conductor elements 34.

[0358] The upper connector housing part 40 can, in particular, be formed in one piece. The connector housing 11 of the flat connector 10 can be formed in multiple pieces, in particular in two pieces, i.e., from the lower connector housing part 20 and the upper connector housing part 40. This advantageously ensures simple manufacture and assembly of the connector housing 11.

[0359] As soon as the conductor section 30 and / or the flexible flat conductor 110 is applied or inserted onto or into the lower connector housing part 20 or onto the upper connector housing part 40, the conductor section 30 and / or the flexible flat conductor 110 is advantageously supported by the respective adjacent lower or upper connector housing part 20, 40 and protected at least on one side in the vertical direction H. This further advantageously also enables assembly with the lower or upper connector housing part 20, 40 not yet in contact.

[0360] As soon as the conductor section 30 and / or the flexible flat conductor 110 is arranged or inserted at least in sections between the lower and upper connector housing parts 20, 40, the conductor section 30 and / or the flexible flat conductor 110 can advantageously be supported and protected at least on both sides in the height direction H.

[0361] If the lower and upper connector housing parts 20, 40 are fastened to one another, and in particular the conductor section 30 and / or the flexible flat conductor 110 is arranged therebetween, the flat connector 10 is in particular in an assembled state.

[0362] In the assembled state of the flat plug connector 10, the conductor section 30 and / or the flexible flat conductor 110 lies in particular flush with a lower side of the upper wall 44 in the height direction H.

[0363] Additionally or alternatively, the conductor section 30 and / or the flexible flat conductor 110, in the assembled state of the flat plug connector 10, lies particularly flush with the main body 23 of the lower connector housing part 20, in particular on an upper side of the upper step of the connector housing part 20 in the height direction H.

[0364] Further additionally or alternatively, the conductor section 30 and / or the flexible flat conductor 110 is / are spaced apart in the assembled state of the flat plug connector 10, in particular from the lower wall 24 of the connector housing 11 of the flat plug connector 10, in particular spaced apart substantially in the height direction H.

[0365] By arranging the conductor section 30 and / or the flexible flat conductor 110 on the flat plug connector 10, as described herein, the conductor section 30 and / or the flexible flat conductor 110 can be advantageously protected at least on both sides in the height direction H. Furthermore, in particular the conductor section 30 and its conductor elements 34 can be supported upon contact with the contacts 70 of the complementary flat plug connector 50, wherein the contacts 70 are in particular elastically resiliently deformed at least in sections, in particular elastically resiliently deformed substantially in the height direction H.

[0366] In the Figures 2b and 15a as well as in the Figures 17b , 30a and 30b An exemplary securing element 5 is shown in each case. The Figures 2b and 15a The securing element 5 shown as an example is designed in particular for the first embodiment of the connector system 1. The Figures 17b , 30a and 30b The securing element 5 shown as an example is designed in particular for the second embodiment of the connector system 1.

[0367] As particularly demonstrated by the Figures 2b , 15a , 17b , 30a and 30b, as well as the other figures in which the securing element 5 is shown at least in section, the securing element 5 can in particular have one or more catch projections 82 which are designed to engage or stop with one or more catches 45 of the flat plug connector 10 on which the receptacle 12 is formed. As a result, the securing element 5 can be fixed to the receptacle 12, in particular in the non-securing position. In particular, the securing element 5 can be fixed to the receptacle 12 essentially in the plug-in direction S or in the longitudinal direction L when the flat plug connector system 1 is in the uncoupled or uncoupled state.Additionally or alternatively, the securing element 5 can in particular have one or more abutments 88, which are designed to engage or abut against one or more abutment systems 48 of the flat plug connector 10, on which the receptacle 12 is formed. As a result, the securing element 5 can be secured to the receptacle, particularly in the non-securing position. In particular, the securing element 5 can be secured to the receptacle 12 substantially counter to the plugging direction S or the longitudinal direction L, in particular regardless of whether the flat plug connector system 1 is in the coupled or uncoupled state.

[0368] The latch projection(s) 82 and / or the abutment(s) 88 can each be designed in particular as a projection, in particular as a projection which projects from a prong 86 of the securing element 5 extending substantially in the plugging direction S or in the longitudinal direction L.

[0369] A latch projection 82 of the one or more latch projections 82 can, in particular, protrude in a different direction than a counter-hold 88 of the one or more counter-holds 88. The latch projection(s) 82 can, for example, protrude substantially in the height direction H. The counter-hold(s) 88 can, for example, protrude substantially in the width direction B.

[0370] In alternative embodiments, the latch projections 82 may, for example, protrude substantially in the width direction B, and / or the abutments 88 may, for example, protrude substantially in the height direction H.

[0371] Due to the latch projections 82 and retainers 88, which extend in particular in various directions, the securing element 5 can be advantageously secured to the receptacle 12, in particular on both sides along the insertion direction S or the longitudinal direction L. Furthermore, the respective fixings in a predetermined direction, which each secure the securing element 5 with a predetermined fixing force, can advantageously be defined independently of one another.

[0372] The securing element 5 has, in particular, a plurality of prongs 85, 86, wherein each of the prongs 85, 86 can, in particular, have a main extension substantially in the insertion direction S or in the longitudinal direction L. The prongs 85, 86 each extend from the same main body of the securing element 5 and can accordingly be formed, in particular, integrally with the other prongs 85, 86. The prongs 85, 86 are separated from one another, in particular, substantially in the width direction B, or in other words, are spaced apart from one another substantially in the width direction B.

[0373] As a result, the securing element 5 advantageously ensures a functional separation of the prongs 85, 86 from one another, which in turn advantageously prevents undesirable fatigue and / or damage to the securing element 5 and its prongs 85, 86. This further advantageously ensures a reversible and, in particular, repeatable transfer of the securing element 5 into the various positions and states, such as, in particular, the securing position and the non-securing position.

[0374] A securing prong 85 can be arranged or formed between a first prong 86 of the securing element 5 and a second prong 86 of the securing element 5, on each of which a latch projection 45 and a counter-hold 88 can be arranged or formed.

[0375] The securing prong 85 has, in particular, a projection 87 that can engage with a securing projection 47, 57 of the flat plug connector 10 or the complementary flat plug connector 50. The projection 87 of the securing prong 85 can, without being limited thereto, protrude in particular substantially in the height direction H from the securing prong 85.

[0376] The projection 87 can cooperate with the securing projection 47, 57, as exemplified by the Figures 12b , 14b , 26a and 27b clarified, in particular define a securing force for transferring the securing element 5 from the non-securing position to the securing position, and / or a release force for transferring the securing element 5 from the securing position to the non-securing position.

[0377] The projection 87 of the securing prong 85 of the securing element 5 can be formed, in particular, along the plug-in direction S or along the longitudinal direction L, with a section-wise contour, in particular with a section-wise different contour facing the complementary securing projection 47, 57.

[0378] As exemplified in particular by the Figures 15a , 30a and 30b As illustrated, the projection 87 can, without being limited thereto, be particularly arcuate or semicircular, wherein the arcuate or semicircular shape extends at least partially constant in the width direction B along the securing prong 85. In alternative embodiments, the projection 87 can, for example, be spherically shaped, or, for example, be shaped with a partial ramp shape or chamfer.

[0379] The section-wise contour of the projection 87, in cooperation with the securing projection 47, 57, advantageously allows to define a securing force and a release force which are independent of each other.

[0380] If the projection 87, as in particular in the Figures 15a , 30a and 30b If, as shown by way of example, the securing element 5 has a first contour section with increasing extension in the vertical direction H, counter to the insertion direction S or counter to the longitudinal direction L, a transfer into the securing position can advantageously be defined with an increasing securing force and with a maximum securing force. This can further advantageously make it difficult or impossible for the securing element 5 to be transferred into the securing position.

[0381] If the projection 87, as in particular in the Figures 15a , 30a and 30bAs shown by way of example, in particular following the first contour section opposite the insertion direction S or opposite the longitudinal direction L, a second contour section with a decreasing extension in the height direction H can advantageously be defined as a transfer into the securing position with a decreasing securing force once the maximum securing force is exceeded. The decreasing securing force can, for example, also be a securing force that is less than zero, so that the securing element 5 passively moves into the securing position after the maximum securing force is overcome.

[0382] By means of the securing process described herein, in particular with a section-wise contour of the projection 87, a haptic feedback can advantageously be improved when transferring the securing element 5 into the securing position as well as into the non-securing position.

[0383] Alternatively or additionally, the securing projection 47, 57 of the flat plug connector 10 or the complementary flat plug connector 50, as shown by way of example in the Figures 12a, 12b , 14a, 14b , 23a , 24a , 26a and 27b shown, have a first contour section which has an increasing extension along the height direction H in the plugging direction S or in the longitudinal direction L.

[0384] Further alternatively or additionally, the securing projection 47, 57 of the flat plug connector 10 or the complementary flat plug connector 50, as shown by way of example in the Figures 12a, 12b , 14a, 14b , 23a , 24a , 26a and 27b shown, have a second contour section which has a decreasing extension along the height direction H in the plugging direction S or in the longitudinal direction L, in particular following the first contour section.

[0385] The first contour section of the securing projection 47, 57 advantageously enables a predetermined, in particular elastically resilient deformation to be applied to the securing element 5, in particular the elastically resilient securing prong 85 of the securing element 5. The second contour section of the securing projection 47, 57 advantageously enables the resilient deformation to be reduced in a predetermined manner, in particular such that the securing element 5 moves into the securing position passively, without further application of a force to the securing element 5, essentially in the insertion direction S.

[0386] As a result, haptic and / or optical feedback can be improved when transferring the securing element 5 into the securing position and / or back into the non-securing position.

[0387] As particularly shown by Fig. 27bAs illustrated, in the second embodiment of the flat plug connector system 1, wherein the securing projection 57 is arranged or formed on the complementary flat plug connector 50, an increasing preload can advantageously be applied to the securing element 5 upon a releasing relative movement of the flat plug connector 10 and the complementary flat plug connector 50, in particular counter to the plugging direction S, S'. The securing element 5 is designed, by bearing against the resiliently engaging element 7, to hold the resiliently engaging element in engagement with the engaging section 8 with a correspondingly increasing preload.

[0388] This advantageously provides an increasing passive force directed against release from the secured state, which in turn advantageously ensures a high level of connection security.

[0389] The securing element 5 can have, in particular, an actuating section 84 at a rear end in the longitudinal direction L or in the plug-in direction S. The actuating section 84 can be designed, in particular, as a projection that is rearward in the longitudinal direction L or in the plug-in direction S and that projects substantially in the vertical direction H. The actuating section 84 can have, in particular, a chamfer on a front side in the longitudinal direction L or in the plug-in direction S, and / or can have, in particular, a flat stop on a rear side in the longitudinal direction L or in the plug-in direction S.

[0390] The actuating section 84 advantageously enables a simple actuation of the securing element 5, that is to say in particular a simple application of a force to the securing element 5 in the plug-in direction S, as well as a simple gripping of the securing element 5 in order to move it counter to the plug-in direction S.

[0391] The securing element 5 can have a groove 83, in particular on each prong 86, on which at least one of the latch projection 45 and the abutment 88 is also arranged.

[0392] The groove 83 can in particular be designed to engage with one or more release elements 55 of the complementary flat plug connector 50 in a securing position of the securing element 5, as is shown by way of example in particular in the Figures 14a and 28a shown.

[0393] In this way, a particularly elastically resilient deformation of the tines 86 can be advantageously reduced.

[0394] In exemplary embodiments, the groove 83 can have a section-wise contour along the longitudinal direction L or along the insertion direction S. The one or more grooves 83 can in particular interact with the one or more release elements 55, in particular by a section-wise contour, as described analogously to the projection 87 and the complementary securing projection 47, 57.

[0395] The securing element 5 has in particular one or more securing surfaces 81, wherein the securing surfaces 81 are each designed, in the securing position, to bear against a resiliently engaging element 7 in such a way that a resilient deformation of the resiliently engaging element 7 is made difficult or blocked.

[0396] The securing element 5 ensures, by means of the securing surfaces 81, in particular a non-releasable securing of a coupling between the coupling section 14 and the complementary coupling section 54, in particular a securing which cannot be released without destruction.

[0397] As a result, the flat plug connector system 1 can advantageously be securely secured against loosening, while at the same time advantageously facilitating assembly of the flat plug connector system 1.

[0398] As particularly shown by Fig. 15aAs illustrated, the securing surface 81 can in particular have a main extension substantially in the plug-in direction S or substantially in the longitudinal direction L, for example with an inclination relative to the plug-in direction S or the longitudinal direction L. The inclination can, for example, be in the range from approximately 5° to approximately 30°, in particular in the range from approximately 5° to approximately 20°. The inclination is in particular the angle which the securing surface 81 encloses with an imaginary line which extends substantially in the longitudinal direction L or in the plug-in direction S, when viewed along the width direction B or in a sectional plane perpendicular to the width direction.

[0399] The inclination of the securing surface 81 advantageously enables, as exemplified by Figure 13aclarifies that when attempting to detach the coupling section 14 and the complementary coupling section 54 from each other when the securing element 5 is in the securing position, a load distribution parallel to the height direction H and the longitudinal direction L is ensured. As a result, a load can be advantageously distributed in a predetermined manner during detachment attempts in the secured state and, in particular, an improved service life of the flat plug connector system 1 can be ensured.

[0400] As particularly shown by Fig. 30b As illustrated, the securing surface 81 can in particular have a main extension substantially in the plugging direction S or substantially in the longitudinal direction L, and in particular can be arranged or formed as a projection extending substantially parallel to the height direction H on a lower side of the securing element 5 in the height direction H.

[0401] The securing surface 81 thus advantageously enables a rail-like guided transfer, in particular a translational transfer, between the non-securing and the securing position of the securing element 5. Integrally, the securing surface 81 enables protection against resilient deformation of the resiliently engaging element 7.

[0402] In the Figures 15b and 15c as well as in Fig. 30c An exemplary contact 70 is shown in each case. The contact 70 shown in the Figures 15b and 15c The contact 70 shown as an example is designed in particular for the first embodiment of the connector system 1.

[0403] The Fig. 15b The contact 70 shown in particular represents a contact 70 in an undeflected position or in an undeflected state. Fig. 15b The contact 70 shown can therefore be particularly similar to the contact 70 shown in Fig. 8b The contact 70, as shown in Fig. 15bshown, can also correspond in particular to the respective contact 70, as in the further figures for the first embodiment of the flat plug connector system 1, in particular the figures which show a non-coupled state of the flat plug connector system 1.

[0404] The Fig. 15c The contact 70 shown in particular represents a contact 70 in a deflected position or in a deflected state. Fig. 15c The contact 70 shown can therefore be particularly similar to the contact 70 shown in Fig. 14b The contact 70, as shown in Fig. 15c shown, can also correspond in particular to the respective contact 70, as in the further figures for the first embodiment of the flat plug connector system 1, in particular the figures which show a coupled state of the flat plug connector system 1.

[0405] The Fig. 15cThe contact 70 shown in particular indicates a deflected state 70 of the Fig. 15b shown contact 70 again.

[0406] The Fig. 30c The contact 70 shown as an example is designed in particular for the second embodiment of the connector system 1. The Fig. 30c The contact 70 shown is shown in particular in the undeflected position or in the undeflected state. Fig. 30c The contact 70 shown can therefore be particularly similar to the contact 70 shown in Fig. 23b The contact 70, as shown in Fig. 30c shown, can also correspond in particular to the respective contact 70, as in the further figures for the second embodiment of the flat plug connector system 1, in particular the figures which show a non-coupled state of the flat plug connector system 1.

[0407] Even if the contact 70 in the figures for the second embodiment of the flat plug connector system 1 is not shown deflected or compressed in the height direction H in the coupled state of the flat plug connector system 1, it is understood that the contact 70 can in particular have a restoring deflection, in particular substantially analogous to the contact 70 of the first embodiment of the flat plug connector system 1.

[0408] As exemplified in particular by the Figures 3b , 8b , 14b , 15b , 15c , 18b , 23b , 29 and 30c , as well as the other figures in which the contact 70 is shown at least in part, the contact 70 has in particular a connection section 71.

[0409] In the assembled state of the complementary flat plug connector 50, the connection section 71 can extend in particular away from the connector housing 51 of the complementary flat plug connector 50, for example, substantially in the longitudinal direction L and / or in the vertical direction H. The connection section 71 can in particular be a solderable section. The connection section 71 is in particular designed to form an electrically conductive connection to a printed circuit board (not shown) and / or to an electrical component (not shown).

[0410] The connection section 71 can, for example, have an extension in the range of approximately 0.5 mm to approximately 1.5 mm. The connection section 71 can, in particular, form a first end of the contact 70.

[0411] The contact 70 can furthermore have, in particular, a securing portion 73, which is designed, for example, for positively locking, frictionally locking, and / or materially locking to a contact receptacle 56 of the connector housing 51. The securing portion 73 can, for example, have one or more projections, which, for example, protrude from the contact 70 substantially in the width direction B and / or in the height direction H.

[0412] The securing portion 73 can, for example, be pressed, or in other words, pressed, into the contact receptacle 56. In other words, in exemplary embodiments, the securing portion 73 and the contact receptacle 56 can form a press fit or an interference fit.

[0413] Alternatively or additionally, the contact receptacle 56 may have one or more recesses complementary to the projections of the fixing section 73.

[0414] The fixing section 73 can, in particular, have an increased width in the width direction B and / or an increased thickness in the height direction H compared to the rest of the contact 70. The fixing section 73 can, for example, at least in sections, have a width in the width direction B in the range from approximately 0.35 mm to approximately 0.7 mm, in particular at least in sections, have a width in the width direction B in the range from approximately 0.5 mm to approximately 0.6 mm. In contrast, in exemplary embodiments, the contact 70 can, for example, have a width in the width direction B in the range from approximately 0.2 mm to approximately 0.3 mm. The contact 70 can, in particular, have a thickness in the range from approximately 0.1 mm to approximately 0.2 mm.

[0415] A contact receptacle 56 of the plurality of contact receptacles 56 of the connector housing 51 can, for example, substantially have a width in the width direction B in the range from approximately 0.25 mm to approximately 0.4 mm, in particular in the range from approximately 0.3 mm to approximately 0.35 mm.

[0416] The fixing section 73 can in particular have a main extension which is substantially parallel to the plugging direction S' of the complementary flat plug connector 50.

[0417] The fixing section 73 advantageously enables a firm fixing to the connector housing 51 of the complementary flat connector 50, and in particular to a contact receptacle 56 of the connector housing 51.

[0418] At a front end of the contact 70 in the plugging direction S' of the complementary flat plug connector 50 or at an end of the contact 70 opposite to the longitudinal direction L, the contact 70 has in particular a bent section 74.

[0419] The bent section 74 extends in particular between the fixing section 73 and a bent contact region 76 of the contact 70, wherein the bent contact region 76 is in particular designed to make electrically conductive contact with a conductor element 34 of the conductor section 30, in particular in the coupled state of the flat plug connector system 1.

[0420] The angles of the respective sections of the contact 70 described herein and in particular below are shown by way of example by the dashed lines in the Figures 8b , 14b 15b, 15c , 23b , 29 and 30c which, in curved form, represent the respective angle of the respective section of the contact 70, and, in straight form, represent the edges of the contact 70 adjacent to the respective angle.

[0421] The bent section 74 particularly encloses an acute angle, i.e., an angle of less than 90°. The bent section 74 can particularly form a frontmost section of the contact 70 in the plugging direction S'. As a result, the contact 70 can advantageously be designed to be elastically resilient, wherein, upon electrically conductive contact with a conductor element 34, the bent section 74 in particular deforms to a smaller angle, i.e., an even more acute angle, than in a non-coupled state of the flat plug connector system 1. The bent section 74 can, particularly on a side facing away from the plugging direction S', enclose a smaller angle in a deflected position than in a non-deflected position.

[0422] In an undeflected position, i.e. in a non-coupled state of the flat plug connector system 1, the bent section 74 can, for example, enclose an angle in the range of approximately 10° to approximately 30°, in particular an angle in the range of approximately 13° to approximately 27°.

[0423] The bent section 74 can, in a deflected position, i.e. in a coupled state of the flat plug connector system 1, for example, enclose an angle in the range of approximately 5° to approximately 25°, in particular an angle in the range of approximately 8° to approximately 22°.

[0424] The curved contact region 76 can, in particular, form an uppermost section of the contact 70 in the vertical direction H. The curved contact region 76 can, in particular, be a section of the contact 70 that is exposed in the vertical direction H. The curved contact region 76 can, in particular, be exposed upwards in the vertical direction H relative to a first section 75 that borders the front in the plug-in direction S', and / or relative to a second section 77 that borders the curved contact region 76 at the rear in the plug-in direction S'.

[0425] The curved contact area 76 can advantageously reliably ensure electrically conductive contact with a conductor element 34, wherein the contact is made in particular in a soft, resilient manner. This, in turn, can advantageously improve the service life of the conductor elements 34 and the contacts 70.

[0426] The curved contact region 76 can have an obtuse angle, i.e., an angle of more than 90°, particularly on a side facing the fixing section 73 of the contact 70. The curved contact region 76 can, particularly on a side facing the fixing section 73, enclose a larger angle in a deflected position than in a non-deflected position.

[0427] In an undeflected position, i.e. in a non-coupled state of the flat plug connector system 1, the bent contact region 76 can, for example, enclose an angle in the range of approximately 95° to approximately 135°, in particular an angle in the range of approximately 100° to approximately 130°.

[0428] The bent contact region 76 can, in a deflected position, i.e. in a coupled state of the flat plug connector system 1, for example, enclose an angle in the range of approximately 110° to approximately 145°, in particular an angle in the range of approximately 115° to approximately 140°.

[0429] The curved contact area 76 advantageously enables a secure and at the same time gentle electrically conductive contacting of both the contact 70 and the conductor element 34, thereby advantageously improving the respective service life as well as that of the flat plug connector system 1.

[0430] On one side of the curved contact area 76, which faces away from the curved section 74, the contact 70 has in particular a support section 78.

[0431] The support section 78 can be arranged or formed at a substantially second end of the contact 70. The support section 78 can, in particular, be curved, in particular such that the support section 78 is substantially concave on a side facing the fixing section 73 in the height direction H.

[0432] In an undeflected position, i.e. in a non-coupled state of the flat plug connector system 1, the support section 78 can, for example, have a distance, in particular substantially in the height direction H, from the fixing section 73, which is, for example, in the range from approximately 0.05 mm to approximately 0.15 mm, in particular in the range from approximately 0.08 mm to approximately 0.12 mm, in particular a distance of approximately 0.1 mm.

[0433] The support section 78 can have a greater distance from the bent section 74, in particular in the longitudinal direction L and / or in the plugging direction S of the flat plug connector system 1, than the bent contact area 76 has from the bent section 74.

[0434] In a deflected position, i.e. in a coupled state of the flat plug connector system 1, the support section 78 can in particular be designed to contact the fixing section 73, or in other words to be supported on the fixing section 73.

[0435] The support section 78 advantageously makes it possible to ensure a predetermined contact force between the bent contact area 76 and the conductor element 34.

[0436] In conventional flat plug connectors, the contacts are made of gold or gold-plated, which ensures sufficient electrically conductive contact even with low contact forces.

[0437] In contrast, the present contact 70 advantageously enables a predetermined contact force between the bent contact region 76 and the conductor element 34 to be ensured by the elastically resilient deformation of the contact 70, wherein the support section 78 adjacent to the bent contact region 76 is supported against the fixing section 73.

[0438] This further allows, for example, that contact 70 can be tinned, i.e., in particular, unplated or formed without gold, without compromising the electrically conductive contact. This allows contact 70 to be manufactured both cost-effectively and advantageously designed to be easily connected to a circuit board and / or an electrical device, for example, by soldering.

[0439] As exemplified in the Figures 15b, 15c and 30cAs shown, a substantially rectilinearly extending or linearly extending second section 77 can be formed between the curved contact region 76 and the support section 78.

[0440] As a result, a support of the curved contact area 76 by the support section 78 can be advantageously stiffened, whereby a predetermined contact force can advantageously be ensured.

[0441] Alternatively or additionally, a substantially rectilinear first section 75 can be formed between the curved contact region 76 and the curved section 74. The first section 75 can in particular have a kink 79, wherein the tip of the kink 79 points in the height direction H towards the fixing section 73. In other words, the first section 75 can in particular have a kink 79 formed on a lower side of the first section 75 in the height direction H. The kink 79 can in particular enclose an obtuse angle, i.e. an angle of more than 90°, on an upper side in the height direction H. The kink 79 can in particular enclose an angle of more than approximately 100°, for example a value of approximately 105°, or in particular a value of more than approximately 105°, for example a value of approximately 108°.

[0442] The bend 79 can preferably be adjacent to the curved contact area 76.

[0443] The bend 79 advantageously allows the curved contact area 76 and its bend to be stiffened. This advantageously allows a deflection of the contact 70 to be concentrated on the curved section 74.

[0444] As a result, a support of the curved contact area 76 by the support section 78 can be advantageously stiffened, whereby a predetermined contact force can advantageously be ensured.

[0445] In particular, the curved contact region 76, the first section 75, and the second section 77 can form a contact section of the contact 70 or be encompassed thereby. The contact section is, in particular, resiliently deflectable. In the coupled state, the contact section, and in particular its curved contact region 76, is in electrically conductive contact with the conductor section 30, in particular with a conductor element 34 of the conductor section 30, and optionally also in direct physical contact.

[0446] In exemplary embodiments, the contact 70 may have a thickness-increasing portion 72, particularly between the connecting portion 71 and the fixing portion 73. The thickness-increasing portion 72 may, in particular, have a main extension that is substantially parallel to the height direction H.

[0447] The thickness-enhancing section 72, in particular, allows the connection section 71 to be formed at a level that essentially corresponds to the lowest level of the flat plug connector system 1 in the vertical direction H. This advantageously relieves the load on the connection section 71 of the contact 70 when attached to a printed circuit board and / or an electrical device. This, in turn, advantageously improves the service life of the contacts 70 and, accordingly, the service life of the flat plug connector system 1.

[0448] A contact 70 can, in particular, be formed in one piece, for example, as a bent part. This advantageously allows the contact 70 to be manufactured cost-effectively.

[0449] The contact 70 may, for example, comprise or consist of, but is not limited to, copper, a copper alloy, in particular bronze, nickel, gold-plated nickel, gold-flash-coated phosphor nickel, silver-coated nickel, tin-coated nickel, steel, or another conductive material. Additionally or alternatively, the contact 70 may, in particular, be tin-plated. Further additionally or alternatively, the contact 70 may, in particular, not be gold-plated or may not contain any gold.

[0450] The connector housing 51 of the complementary flat connector 50 can, for example, comprise or consist of a polymer, in particular comprise or consist of a reflow-solderable polymer. For example, the connector housing 51 can comprise or consist of polyetheretherketone (PEEK) and / or polyamide (PA). As a result, the connector housing 51 can advantageously be manufactured with a true-to-shape design, and the complementary flat connector 50 equipped with the assembled contacts 70 can be connected, in particular, in a simple and reliable manner to a printed circuit board and / or an electrical device.

[0451] Starting from the non-coupled state, such as the Figures 9a, 9b , 10a , 24a, 24b and 25aAs illustrated, the one or more latch projections 82 are engaged with or abut against the one or more latches 45. Furthermore, in particular, the one or more abutments 88 can be engaged with the abutment systems 48 or can be limited in movement opposite to the insertion direction S.

[0452] During the coupling process, in which the coupling section 14 and the complementary coupling section 54 come into mutual engagement, as shown by the Figures 11a, 11b , 12a, 12b , 26a, 26b and 27a As illustrated, the securing element 5 is deformed at least in sections, in particular in such a way that the one or more latch projections 82 are no longer in engagement with the one or more latches 45 or abut against them.

[0453] In particular, the one or more release elements 55 of the complementary flat plug connector 50 deflect at least one of the receptacle 12 and the securing element 5 accordingly, in particular in an elastically resilient manner.

[0454] Further, as shown by the Figures 12b and 26a illustrated, in particular, a first contour section of the projection 87 of the securing element 5 with a first contour section of the securing projection 47, 57 in contact, or in an adjacent position.

[0455] When securing, i.e. when transferring the securing element 5 into the securing position, whereby the Figures 14a, 14b , 27b , 28a, 28b and 29 in particular reflect the secured state, i.e. the securing position of the securing element 5, the elastic recovery of the securing element 5 is at least partially or completely reduced.

[0456] In particular, the securing element 5 is elastically resiliently deformed in the region of the projection 87 when the first contour sections of the projection 87 and the securing projection 47, 57 slide against each other upon application of the securing force. After overcoming a maximum deflection of the securing element 5 in the region of the projection 87 and / or of the respective connector housing 11, 51 in the region of the securing projection 47, 57, further movement into the securing position can occur essentially passively, in particular through the recovery of the elastic deformations of the securing element 5.

[0457] In the secured state of the flat plug connector system 1, in particular, the second contour section of the securing projection 47, 57 and the second contour section of the projection 87 of the securing element 5 face each other or are adjacent to each other. Additionally or alternatively, the one or more release elements 55 can be accommodated, in particular at least in sections, in the grooves 83 of the securing element 5 such that the securing element 5 exhibits no or only slight elastic deformation in the secured state.

[0458] As exemplified in the Figures 13b and 28bAs shown, in the secured state, the one or more latch projections 82 can be arranged on a side of the receptacle 12 or the upper wall 44 facing away from the one or more latches 45. The surfaces of the latch projections 82 and the receptacle 12 or the upper wall 44 facing each other in the secured state can, for example, together with the securing projection 47, 57 and the projection 87 of the securing element 5, define a release force in order to transfer the securing element 5 from the securing position to the non-securing position.

[0459] This further advantageously allows a securing force to be separated, or in other words made independent, from a release or unrelease force.

[0460] The flowchart in Fig. 31depicts an exemplary method for securing a positive coupling between a flat plug connector 10 and a complementary flat plug connector 50. The method relates in particular to a flat plug connector 10 and / or a complementary flat plug connector 50, and in particular to a flat plug connector system 1, as shown in the other figures and described herein.

[0461] The flowchart in Fig. 31 describes in particular a method for securing a positive coupling between a flat plug connector 10 and a complementary flat plug connector 50, wherein the flat plug connector 10 has a coupling section 14 and the complementary flat plug connector 50 has a complementary coupling section 54 which can be positively coupled to the coupling section 14.

[0462] The method includes, but is not limited to, the following steps, in particular in this order: S10 Arranging a securing element 5 on a receptacle 12 of one of the coupling section 5 and the complementary coupling section 54; and S20 Transferring the securing element 5 from a non-securing position to a securing position on the receptacle 12, wherein the securing element 5 is designed to provide a secured state of the coupling between the coupling section 14 and the complementary coupling section 54 in the securing position, in which a release of the positive coupling between the coupling section 14 and the complementary coupling section 54 is prevented, wherein the coupling section 14, the complementary coupling section 54 and the securing element 5 are designed to be complementary to one another in such a way that in a decoupled state in which the coupling section 14 and the complementary coupling section 54 are not coupled to one another, the securing element 5 is fixed in the non-securing position.

[0463] The step S20 of transferring the securing element 5 into the securing position may in particular comprise applying a predetermined securing force, for example in order to transfer the securing element 5 into the securing position.

[0464] In exemplary embodiments, the receptacle 12 may comprise one or more latches 45 and / or the securing element 5 may comprise one or more latch projections 82 complementary to the one or more latches 45. The one or more latches 45 may, in particular, interact with the one or more latch projections 82 in such a way that: if a step of positively coupling the coupling section 14 to the complementary coupling section 54 is carried out before the securing element 5 is moved into the securing position, the securing element 5 can be moved into the securing position, and if a step of positively coupling the coupling section 14 to the complementary coupling section 54 is not carried out before the securing element 5 is moved into the securing position, the one or more latch projections 82 are engaged or engage with the one or more latches 45 in such a way that the securing element 5 is or becomes fixed in the non-securing position.

[0465] In exemplary embodiments, step S20 of transferring the securing element 5 into the securing position may comprise moving the securing element 5 substantially in the plugging direction S.

[0466] In further exemplary embodiments, one of the coupling section 14 and the complementary coupling section 54 may comprise a securing projection 47, 57, and the securing element 5 may comprise a projection 87 complementary to the securing projection 47, 57, wherein the securing projection 47, 57 and the complementary projection 87 of the securing element 5 in the secured state define a predetermined release force which is to be applied in order to transfer the securing element 5 from the securing position to a non-securing position.

[0467] The flowchart in Fig. 32 depicts an exemplary method for manufacturing a flat plug connector 10. The method relates in particular to a flat plug connector 10, and in particular to a flat plug connector system 1, as shown in the further figures and described herein.

[0468] The flowchart in Fig. 32describes in particular a method for producing a flat plug connector 10.

[0469] The method includes, but is not limited to, the following steps, in particular in this order: S110 Providing a first upper connector housing part 40; S120 Providing a second lower connector housing part 20; S130 Arranging a conductor section 30 with flexible flat conductor 110 on or in the second lower connector housing part 20; S140 Arranging the first upper connector housing part 40 on the conductor section 30, which is arranged on or in the second lower connector housing part 20; and S150 Fixing the first upper connector housing part 40 and the second upper connector housing part 20 to each other.

[0470] The method for producing a flat plug connector 10 may further comprise, in particular, a step of providing a conductor section 30 with a flexible flat conductor 110. This step can be carried out, in particular, before step S130, S130'.

[0471] In particular, steps S130, S140 and S150 can be carried out in exactly this order.

[0472] In further exemplary embodiments, the method may comprise the following steps, in particular in this order, in particular after steps S110 and S120: S130' Arranging a conductor section 30 with flexible flat conductor 110 on or in one of the first upper connector housing part 40 and the second lower connector housing part 20; S140' Arranging the other of the first upper connector housing part 40 and the second lower connector housing part 20 on the conductor portion 30 arranged on or in the one of the first connector housing part 40 and the second lower connector housing part 20; and S150 Fixing the first upper connector housing part 40 and the second upper connector housing part 20 to each other.

[0473] It is understood that the elements referred to above as complementary may also be referred to without the term complementary, and in particular the element not referred to as complementary may be the complementary element thereto. List of reference symbols

[0474] 1Flat connector system 5Securing element 7Resilient engaging element 8Interlocking section 10Flat connector 11Connector housing 12Receptacle 14Coupling section 20Lower connector housing part 22Recess 23Main body 24Lower wall 25First stiffening ribs 26Fastening means 27Second stiffening ribs 30Conductor section 32Fixing section 34Conductor element 40Upper connector housing part 42Side wall 43Guide element 44Upper wall 45Trap 46Fastening receptacle 47Securing projection 48Retention device 49Collar 50Complementary flat connector 51Connector housing 52Lower wall 53Guide receptacle 54Complementary coupling section 55Release element 56Contact receptacle 57Securing projection 58Fixing section 59Fixing means 60Contact holder 61Front wall 63Support wall 65Top wall 67Side wall 70Contact 71Connection section 72Thickness build-up section 73Fixing section 74Curved section 75First section 76Curved contact area 77SecondSection 78 Support section 79 Bend 81 Securing surface 82 Latch projection 83 Groove 84 Actuating section 85 Securing prong 86 Prong 87 Projection 88 Resistance 110 Flexible flat conductor BBidth direction HHeight direction LLongitudinal direction M, M'Mounting direction S, S'Plug-in direction S10 to S20 Steps of a method for positive coupling S110 to S150 Steps of a method for manufacturing a flat plug connector

Claims

1. Contact (70) for a flat plug connector (50), - wherein the contact (70) has a connection section (71) for electrically conductive connection to an electronic component, in particular a printed circuit board; - wherein the contact (70) has a fixing section (73) for fixing in a connector housing (51); - wherein the contact (70) has a contact section for electrically conductive contacting of a complementary contact (34), -- wherein the contact section is connected to the fixing section (73) by means of a bent section (74) of the contact (70), -- wherein the contact section has a bent contact region (76) for electrically conductive contacting of a complementary contact (34), -- wherein the contact section has a first section (75) which is arranged between the bent contact region (76) and the fixing section (73),wherein the first section (75) and the fixing section (73) form an acute angle, and -- wherein the contact section has a second section (77) which is arranged opposite the first section (75) relative to the bent contact region (76), and wherein the second section (77) has a support section (78) which is designed to be supported by the support section (78) on the fixing section (73) when the contact section is deflected towards the fixing section (73).

2. Contact (70) according to claim 1, wherein the support portion (73) limits the deflection of the contact portion such that a predetermined contact force is achieved.

3. Contact (70) according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined contact force is in the range of about 0.5 N to about 2.0 N, in particular in the range of about 0.8 N to about 1.6 N.

4. Contact (70) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the curved contact area (76) is exposed relative to the first section (75) and the second section (77).

5. Contact (70) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a distance between the support portion (78) and the bent portion (74) is greater than a distance between the bent contact region (76) and the bent portion (74).

6. Contact (70) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a ratio of a distance between the support portion (78) and the fixing portion (73) relative to the distance between the bent contact area (76) and the fixing portion (73) is in the range of about 3% to about 40%, in particular in the range of about 4% to about 30%, further in particular in the range of about 5% to about 20%.

7. Contact (70) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the contact (70) comprises a thickness build-up section (72) between the terminal section (71) and the fixing section (73), wherein the thickness build-up section (72) extends such that the terminal section (71) and the fixing section (73) are spaced apart in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plugging direction (S') of the flat plug connector (50).

8. Contact (70) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the first section (75) of the resilient contact section and the second section (77) of the resilient contact section extend substantially rectilinearly; and / or wherein the resilient contact section has a bend (79) between the first section (75) and the curved contact region (76), wherein the bend encloses an obtuse angle on a side facing away from the fixing section (73); and / or wherein the support section (78) of the second section (77) has a bend.

9. Contact (70) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the fixing section (73) has one or more projections for frictionally and / or positively fixing the contact (70) on the connector housing (51).

10. Contact (70) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the contact (70) is tinned at least in sections.

11. Contact (70) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the contact (70) is formed in one piece, and in particular is a bent part.

12. Flat plug connector (50) for a flat plug connection system (1), - wherein the flat plug connector (50) comprises a connector housing (51), and - wherein at least one contact (70) according to one of claims 1 to 10 is arranged on the connector housing (51).

13. Flat plug connector (50) according to claim 12, wherein the connector housing (51) has a plurality of contact receptacles (56) for a corresponding plurality of contacts (70), wherein each contact receptacle (56) receives a fixing portion (73) of a contact (70), and wherein each contact receptacle (56) is configured to laterally guide a support portion (73) of a contact (70) and / or a contact portion of a contact (70).

14. Flat plug connector (50) according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the connector housing (51) is shaped such that it surrounds the contact portion of the contact (70) in a direction perpendicular to the plugging direction (S') of the flat plug connector (50), and in particular additionally partially surrounds the contact portion on a side facing a complementary flat plug connector (10) in the plugging direction (S') of the flat plug connector (10).

15. Flat plug connector (50) according to one of claims 12 to 14, wherein a plurality of contacts (70) are arranged next to one another on the connector housing (51), wherein the plurality of contacts (70) is divided into at least two groups, wherein the contacts of a first group of contacts (70) are substantially evenly spaced from one another, wherein the contacts of a second group of contacts (70) are substantially evenly spaced from one another, and wherein the groups are spaced from one another by a distance which is greater than the contact spacing of the first group and greater than the contact spacing of the second group.

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