Support plate and device formed using the same

Abstract

To provide an improved support plate and a device formed using the same.SOLUTION: The present invention relates to a support plate in the form of a flat plate. The support plate has a first main surface and a second main surface on a side opposite to the first main surface, each of the main surfaces being on a surface side of the plate having the maximum area, and includes a first locking element. An electric plug connector having a second locking element can be fixed to the first locking element by form-fitting engagement between the first locking element and the second locking element. The present invention further relates to a device including one such support plate and at least two electric plug connectors each having the second locking element. The present invention further relates to a device including: two such support plates; and one plug connector and one mating plug connector each of which includes the second locking element.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The invention relates to a support plate in the form of a flat plate having a first main surface and an opposite second main surface, the main surface being the side surface of the plate having the largest area and provided with a first locking element, on which an electrical plug connector having a second locking element can be fixed by form-fit interlocking of the first and second locking elements. The invention further relates to a device comprising one such support plate and at least two electrical plug connectors, each with a second locking element. The invention further relates to a device comprising two such support plates and one plug connector and one counter plug connector, each with a second locking element. [Background technology]

[0002] A generic support plate is known from DE 202017104144 U1. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] DE202017104144U1 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The object of the present invention is to provide an improved support plate for this and an arrangement formed therewith. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] This problem is solved in a support plate of the type mentioned at the beginning, in that the support plate has a first locking element on each of the first and second main surfaces, and at least one electrical plug connector can be fixed on the first main surface by its second locking element and at least one further electrical plug connector can be fixed on the second main surface by its second locking element, by form-fit interlocking of the first and second locking elements. This makes it possible to provide a support plate that is simple to manufacture and has an expanded range of applications compared to known support plates. Advantageously, the electrical plug connectors can be locked on this support plate on both sides, i.e. on the first and second main surfaces of the support plate, which is made possible by the first locking elements present on both sides as assembly means. In addition, the support plate according to the invention inherently makes it possible to additionally generate a coding of the plug connector arrangement.

[0006] The plug connector may be, for example, a plug part or a socket part for establishing an electrical connection. The plug connector may be adapted to connect with a mating plug connector. The plug connector or the mating plug connector may be, for example, a pin header or a socket board. The plug connector or the mating plug connector may have, for example, pin plug contacts or socket plug contacts.

[0007] The support plate can be provided particularly rationally and inexpensively by being manufactured as a plastic part, for example in an injection moulding process. The first and second main surfaces are, as mentioned, the surfaces of the plate with the largest surface area and therefore are not elongated sides of the plate. The flat plate can be formed as a planar plate or as an at least partially cambered plate. In an advantageous embodiment, the first locking elements of the first main surface can be arranged with a certain degree of lateral offset with respect to the first locking elements of the second main surface, for example by the first locking elements being arranged with an offset relative to one another as viewed in the plug-in direction.

[0008] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that at the first and / or second main surface one, several or all of the locking elements are formed as locking elements protruding relative to the surface. This allows a simple, ergonomic and secure locking of the plug connector at the respective main surface. The protruding locking elements can be formed, for example, as locking hooks and / or as locking elements with a tongue and groove, for example dovetail-shaped profile. Alternatively, one, several or all of the locking elements can also be formed as locking elements that do not protrude relative to the surface, for example as locking recesses.

[0009] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the support plate has at least one cable fastening area, which can be fastened to an electric conductor connected to an electric plug connector fastened to the support plate. This has the advantage that the conductor connected to the plug connector fastened to the support plate can be fastened to the support plate simply in the immediate vicinity of the plug connector. In this way, the support plate provides an integrated strain relief mechanism for the electric conductor. The support plate can have, for example, a number of through-holes in the cable fastening area, through which cable fastening means, for example cable ties, can pass. The cable fastening area can be molded integrally with the flat plate in which the first fastening element is arranged.

[0010] The first locking element can be adapted to the second locking element of the plug connector, for example, so that the plug connector can be fixed to the support plate with its plug-in surface only in one alignment, i.e., toward the plug-in surface side of the support plate, so that a plug connector fixed to the support plate automatically has its cable output side aligned in the direction of the cable fastening area of ​​the support plate.

[0011] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the first locking element is arranged on the outer first and / or second main surface of the cable fastening area. This may mean that in the cable fastening area, the first and second main surfaces are formed without a first locking element. The cable fastening area is thus only used for fastening electrical conductors. An electrical plug connector cannot be locked therein.

[0012] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that a plurality of electrical plug-in connectors can be fixed side by side on the first and / or second main surface, respectively, by form-fit interlocking of the first and second locking elements. In this way, the flexible applicability of the support plate is expanded. The electrical plug-in connectors can be locked on the first and / or second main surface in different configurations according to the user's choice. This further facilitates additional coding possibilities.

[0013] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the electrical plug-in connector can be selectively fixed in different positions relative to the support plate on the first and / or second main surface, in particular perpendicular to the plug-in direction of the electrical plug-in connector, the plug-in direction being the direction in which a counter plug-in connector can be plugged into the plug-in connector. In particular, the electrical plug-in connector can be fixed to the support plate by means of a locking element in different, separate positions according to the user's choice. This further facilitates the possibility of coding the plug-in connector by selection of a suitable position of the plug-in connector on the support plate.

[0014] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the number and type of electrical plug-in connectors that can be fixed to the respective main surface can be variable with respect to the first and / or second main surface, which also further facilitates flexible use of the support plate and the possibility of additional coding by attachment of plug-in connectors.

[0015] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the support plate has a coding element, whereby, for example, the position or orientation of the plug connector on the support plate, the position or orientation of the support plate relative to the plug connector or the counter plug connector, or the position or orientation of the plug connector and the counter plug connector fixed to the support plate relative to each other, can be made clear or forced visually, for example, by a predetermined geometric coding shape. The coding element can, for example, point in the same spatial direction as the plug-in surface of the plug connector fixed to the support plate, or can be provided on the periphery or edge of the support plate closest to the plug-in surface of the plug connector fixed to the support plate. The coding element can, for example, be a visual marking, for example a color marking, or a coding shape, for example a material projection or material recess on the periphery of the support plate. The periphery of the support plate corresponds to the surface of the support plate between the main surfaces of the support plate. Two support plates with one plug connector and one counter plug connector that are defined to be plugged into each other can have a coding shape that corresponds to one another, for example one support plate with a material projection and the other with a material recess that matches geometrically thereto. Misfits can be avoided, for example, in the case of embodiments in which plug connectors with the same or similar plug surfaces are arranged on the first and second main surfaces of the support plates. The coding element allows the double-row plug connectors or the counter plug connectors formed by the support plates to be plugged in only in certain positions and orientations.

[0016] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the support plate has an additional coding element arranged on an edge of the support plate opposite the first-mentioned coding element. For example, the additional coding element can be arranged on the opposite side of the support plate from the coding element. This can provide additional security for the device formed with the support plate when plugging it into the printed circuit board, in particular to prevent mis-fitting between the printed circuit board and the plug connector to be attached thereto.

[0017] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the coding element and / or the additional coding element are arranged laterally offset relative to the central axis of the support plate, i.e. that the respective coding element is arranged eccentrically.

[0018] The problem set out at the outset is further solved by a device comprising a support plate of the above-described type and at least two electrical plug connectors, each having a second locking element, where at least one electrical plug connector is fixed to a first main surface by its second locking element and another electrical plug connector is fixed to a second main surface by its second locking element, by form-fit interlocking of the first and second locking elements, whereby the advantages described above can also be realised, in particular in that the support plate can thus form an intermediate layer between the electrical plug connectors arranged on the opposing main surfaces.

[0019] The plug-in faces of the electrical plug connectors fixed to the two main surfaces are exposed so that a mating plug connector assigned as a counterpart can be plugged into the respective plug-in face, in which case the plug-in faces of the plug connectors can protrude beyond the front edge of the support plate when viewed in the plug-in direction.

[0020] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the electrical plug connectors fixed to the first and second main surfaces are aligned with their plug faces in the same direction, which allows for easy plugging-in of the mating plug connectors assigned to the plug connectors.

[0021] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the at least one electrical plug-in connector fixed to the first main surface is offset with respect to the at least one electrical plug-in connector fixed to the second main surface and / or has a different number of plug-in contacts, whereby an additional coding of the plug-in connections for the entire device consisting of the support plate and the electrical plug-in connectors can be provided.

[0022] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that a different number of electrical plug connectors are fixed to the first main surface than to the second main surface, which also allows for an additional coding of the plug connections to be provided.

[0023] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that at the first and / or second main surface, an additional part which is not an electrical plug connector and has at least one second locking element is fixed by form-fitting interlocking of at least one of the first locking elements with at least one second locking element of the additional part. This further promotes flexible applicability of the support plate. Such an additional part can be, for example, a latch-lock device for latch-locking the plug connector with the counter plug connector and / or a fixing flange for fixing the device to another part or to the counter plug connector. Such a fixing flange can have, for example, a through hole through which a fixing element, for example a screw or a rivet, can be at least partially passed. Such an additional part can have, for example, electrical and / or electronic components, such as a memory element and / or a control element, by means of which an electrical coding with the counter plug connector can be provided. The additional part can be formed as or include a sensor, for example a temperature sensor.

[0024] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the cable fastening area of ​​the support plate protrudes beyond the plug connector fixed to the support plate, so that an electrical conductor connected to the electrical plug connector fixed to the support plate can be fastened to the cable fastening area, which allows for a precise and simple mechanical fastening of the electrical conductor to the support plate.

[0025] The coupling of the electrical plug-in connectors on both sides to the support plate allows for additional coding possibilities, since the plug-in connectors can be arranged on the support plate, for example offset from one another. In this way, various plug-in surfaces of the entire device can be formed in terms of coding of the plug-in surfaces. Furthermore, plug-in connectors with different numbers of poles can be arranged on the support plate in order to code the plug-in surfaces. The type and number of plug-in connectors on each main surface of the support plate can be varied according to the user's preferences, thus providing also further coding possibilities.

[0026] The problem set out at the outset is further solved by an apparatus comprising a support plate according to one of the aforementioned features and at least one plug connector fixed thereto, as well as at least one further support plate according to one of the aforementioned features and at least one counter plug connector fixed thereto, adapted to be connected to the plug connector, where the plug connector and / or the counter plug connector have a second locking element and can be fixed to the respective support plate by form-fitting interlocking of the first and second locking elements, in which at least one support plate has a coding element which identifies the plug-in position and / or plug-in orientation of the plug connector and the counter plug connector relative to one another. The apparatus may in particular have a plurality of plug connectors or counter plug connectors fixed to the first and / or second main surface of the support plate. For example, the counter plug connector can be a pin header and the plug connector a socket board, which are provided for connection to one another. The support plate of the plug connector can have, for example, a coding projection which points in the same spatial direction as the plug-in surface of the plug connector and can be received in a corresponding coding recess in the support plate of the counter plug connector. Such an arrangement is also conceivable in the reverse manner, i.e. with a socket board as the counter plug connector and a pin header as the plug connector. Such an arrangement with a plug connector, a counter plug connector and at least one support plate with a coding element can be advantageous in particular if plug connectors or counter plug connectors with the same or confusable plug-in surfaces are fixed on both main surfaces of the support plate.

[0027] With the support plate according to the invention, a single row of plug connectors can be expanded to a double row plug connector system by mounting it on both sides. The individual plug connectors do not have to be redesigned for this. This also results in a considerable streamlining effect in the production of the individual components. With the support plate according to the invention as a basis, by combining existing components, i.e. plug connectors and possibly additional parts, a wide variety of plug connector embodiments can be produced according to the user's choice.

[0028] In the sense of the present invention, the indefinite concept "one" should not be understood as a numeral, i.e., when referring to, for example, one part, this should be interpreted as meaning "at least one part". When angle indications are made in degrees, these angle indications are relative to the scale of a circle of 360 degrees (360°).

[0029] In the following, the invention is explained in more detail on the basis of exemplary embodiments using the drawings. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0030] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a support plate according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a front view of the support plate according to FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an electrical plug-in connector. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a side view of a device with one support plate and two electrical plug-in connectors. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a front view of the device with one support plate and elements fixed thereto. [Figure 6A] FIG. 6A is a front view of an arrangement of a support plate and plug connector similar to that of FIG. 6B. [Figure 6B] FIG. 6B is a front view of an arrangement of support plate and plug connector similar to that of FIG. 6A. [Figure 7A] FIG. 7A is a front view of an arrangement of a support plate and plug connector of an alternative type to those of FIGS. 7B and 8. FIG. [Figure 7B]FIG. 7B is a front view of an arrangement of a support plate and plug connector of an alternative type to those of FIGS. 7A and 8. FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 7C is a front view of an arrangement of a support plate and a plug connector of a type different from that of FIGS. 7A and 7B. [Figure 9] FIG. 13 is a front view of the support plate and plug connector arrangement with shielding sheet. [Figure 10] FIG. 13 is a side view of a support plate and plug connector arrangement with a shielding sheet. [Figure 11] FIG. 13 is a side view of a support plate and plug connector arrangement with a shielding sheet. [Figure 12] FIG. 13 is a side view of a support plate and plug connector arrangement with a shielding sheet. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a support plate according to a further embodiment; [Figure 14] FIG. 13 is a plan view of a support plate according to a further embodiment. [Figure 15] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a support plate according to a further embodiment. [Figure 16] FIG. 13 is a side view of a support plate according to a further embodiment. [Figure 17] FIG. 1 is a front view of the device with the support plate and pin headers. [Figure 18] FIG. 1 is a side cross-sectional view of an apparatus with a support plate and pin headers. [Figure 19] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the device with a support plate and pin headers. [Figure 20] FIG. 2 shows a front view of the device with a mating plug connector and a support plate with coding elements. [Figure 21] FIG. 2 shows a side view of the device with a mating plug connector and a support plate with coding elements. [Figure 22] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the support plate separated. [Figure 23] FIG. 2 shows a side view of the device with a plug-in connector and a support plate with a coding element. [Figure 24]FIG. 2 shows a front view of the device with a plug-in connector and a support plate with coding elements. [Diagram 25] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the support plate separated. [Figure 26] 1 shows a side view of a device with a mating plug connector and a support plate with a coding element, and a device with a plug connector and a support plate with a coding element. [Figure 27] 27 is a cross-sectional view of the support plate of the device according to FIG. 26 taken along the section plane AA depicted in FIG. 26. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0031] Here, the plug-in side of an electrical insertion (or plug) connector is considered the front side. The support plate 9 according to the first embodiment, which can be seen in figures 1 and 2, is made in the form of a flat plate 5 having a first main surface 1 and an opposite second main surface 2, i.e. two opposite main surfaces 1, 2. In the area of ​​the support plate 9 which is used for fastening the electrical plug-in connectors 10, the support plate 9 has first locking elements 3 on both main surfaces 1, 2, i.e. on both sides. The electrical plug-in connectors 10 can be fastened by being locked into one or more of the first locking elements 3 on the main surfaces 1, 2.

[0032] Outside this fastening area for the electrical plug connector 10, i.e. in the area where there are no first locking elements 3, the support plate 9 has a cable fastening area 4 in which an electrical conductor 12 which is connected to the electrical plug connector 10 fastened to the support plate 9 can be fastened and thus provided with strain relief. For this purpose, the cable fastening area 4 can have a number of through-holes 6 through which cable fastening means 13, for example cable ties, can pass.

[0033] It will be appreciated that the support plate 9 is formed as a relatively flat, planar plate 5 having a thickness that is significantly less than its length and width. The thickness of the support plate 9 may be, for example, less than 1 / 10 of the maximum length and width dimensions.

[0034] 3 shows by way of example a plug connector 10 embodied as a socket board with a plug-in surface 11 and a second locking element 17. The second locking element 17 is embodied in the shown exemplary embodiment as a locking opening into which the first locking element 3, for example embodied as a locking projection as shown in FIG. 1, can snap in order to lock the plug connector 10 to the support plate 9. For this purpose, the second locking element 17 is adapted to one another and positioned on the plug connector 10 in such a way that it corresponds in position and orientation to the first locking element 3 of the support plate 9 and in such a way that the first locking element 3 can be locked in a fully snap-in manner on the second locking element 17.

[0035] 4 shows an arrangement with a support plate 9 and two electrical plug connectors 10, each with a second locking element 17. Here, each electrical plug connector 10 is connected by locking with a first locking element 3 on one of the main surfaces 1, 2 by means of its second locking element 17. The support plate 9 is thus fitted with electrical plug connectors 10 on both sides. The electrical plug connectors 10 are fixed to the support plate 9 in such a way that their plug-in faces 11, i.e. the sides onto which a counter plug connector can be plugged, point in the same direction, in particular away from the cable fastening area 4.

[0036] 5 shows a device with a support plate 9 and two electrical plug-in connectors 10 fixed to the first main surface 1 as well as an additional part 7, e.g. a fixing flange, additionally attached to the first main surface 1 by locking with one of the first locking elements 3. In the illustrated example, the additional part 7 is between the two plug-in connectors 10. Other arrangements are also conceivable. Of course, the support plate 9 can also be fitted with one or more plug-in connectors 10 and / or one or more additional parts 7 on the second main surface 2.

[0037] It should further be noted that when the plug connectors 10 are mounted on the main surfaces 1, 2 of the support plate 9, the plug connectors 10 do not necessarily have to be the same type of plug connectors 10, but rather plug connectors 10 of different structural types and / or pole numbers may be mounted on the main surfaces 1, 2.

[0038] 6A and 6B make clear how, by means of the support plate 9 according to the invention, different kinds of double-row plug connections can be produced when using the same type (in other words kind or model) of plug connectors 10, the resulting plug connections having different plug faces 11 and thus allowing the coding of different plug faces for the same number of poles. This can be achieved by appropriately laterally offset or eccentrically fixing the plug connectors 10 on the support plate 9.

[0039] Figures 7A and 7B clarify the configuration of a double-row plug-in connection with different plug-in faces 11 on both main surfaces 1, 2, i.e. when the total number of poles of both rows of the double-row plug-in connection is equal. In the example shown in Figure 7A there are three 2-pole plug-in connectors 10 on the first main surface 1, and in the example shown in Figure 7B there is one 2-pole plug-in connector 10 and one 4-pole plug-in connector 10 on the first main surface 1. On the second main surface 2 there is in each case one 8-pole plug-in connector 10.

[0040] 8 makes it clear that the support plate 9 can also be used to form hybrid plug-in connectors, i.e. different types of plug-in connectors 10 can be fixed to one main surface 1, 2 or to the opposite main surface 1, 2. In addition to this, the plug-in connectors 10 can be attached to the support plate 9 differently with regard to their lateral positioning, i.e. with different offsets, which offers further coding possibilities.

[0041] 9 to 12 make it clear that the support plate 9 may also be used in combination with a shielding sheet 16. Such a shielding sheet 16 may for example be arranged on only one main surface 1, 2 of the support plate 9 or on both main surfaces 1, 2. The shielding sheet 16 may be fixedly connected to the support plate 9 or may be arranged as an independent part between the support plate 9 and the plug connector 10 connected thereto.

[0042] 10 and 11 additionally show how an electrical conductor 12 connected to the plug connector 10 can be fixed in the cable fixing area 4 by means of a cable fixing means 13.

[0043] On the side facing the plug-in face 11, the shielding sheet 16 can be shaped into or combined with a shielding plug-in contact 14. This makes it possible, when plugging the device into a mating plug connector, to simultaneously establish an electrical connection to an external shielding terminal 15, which can be plugged into a shielding plug-in contact 14 shaped in the form of a fork contact, for example a blade contact or a pin contact.

[0044] 13 to 16 show a support plate 9 according to a further embodiment, in which the first locking elements 3 on both main surfaces 1, 2 protrude from the main surfaces 1, 2 adjacent to a border edge 20 of the support plate 9. The first locking elements 3 have a T-shaped cross section in the shown exemplary embodiment. On the support plate 9 according to this further embodiment, for example, a counter plug connector 19 can be arranged, in order to be able to produce a counter plug device for an apparatus with the plug connector 10 and the support plate 9. Thereby, a mutually compatible device consisting of the plug connector 10 and the counter plug connector 19 can be provided with the support plate 9.

[0045] Figures 17 to 19 show a support plate 9 with a pin header according to a further embodiment, which can be a mating plug connector 19, for example for a plug connector 10 formed as a socket board as shown in the further figures, which is arranged on both main surfaces 1, 2 of the support plate 9 and is fixed to both main surfaces 1, 2 by first locking elements 3.

[0046] 20 to 22 show a device according to a further embodiment with a support plate 9 and a mating plug connector 19 embodied as a pin header of the same shape and number of poles fixed thereto. FIGS. 23 to 25 show corresponding devices according to a further embodiment with a support plate 9 and a plug connector 10 embodied as a socket board of the same shape and number of poles fixed thereto. In these devices, it is initially difficult to bring the plug connector 10 and the mating plug connector 19 together (in other words to mate) since they can be plugged into each other in two different orientations due to the same shape and number of poles on both sides of the support plate 9. The devices according to FIGS. 20 to 22 therefore have a support plate 9 with a coding (in other words to code or encode) element 18 embodied as a material recess. The devices according to FIGS. 23 to 25 have a support plate 9 with a coding element 18 embodied as a material protrusion. The coding element 18 thus determines an unambiguous plug-in position and plug-in direction of the plug connector 10 and the counter plug connector 19. In the assembled state, the coding element 18 embodied as a material projection fits into the coding element 18 embodied as a material recess. Fig. 21 shows a side view in section of an apparatus with a support plate 9 according to a further embodiment and a counter plug connector 19 fixed thereto. Fig. 23 shows a side view of an apparatus with a support plate 9 according to the first embodiment and a plug connector 10 fixed thereto.

[0047] By coding with the coding elements 18 arranged on the two support plates 9 and assigned to one another as counterparts, a protection against misalignment between the plug connector 10, for example a female multi-connector, and the counter plug connector 19, for example a pin header, is achieved. It is prevented that the female multi-connector and the pin header can be plugged in backwards.

[0048] In the case of the device shown in Fig. 26, the unit consisting of two plug connectors 10 and a support plate 9 shown on the right corresponds, for example, to the device according to Fig. 23. The support plate 9 of the device with the plug connectors 10 has the coding element 18 as mentioned above. The device shown on the left has two counter plug connectors 19 with a counterformed coding element 18, i.e. a support plate 3 with the coding element 18 embodied as a material recess. In this respect, it corresponds to the representation in Fig. 21.

[0049] In addition, FIG. 26 and the cross-sectional view of FIG. 27 show that the support plate 9 on which the counter plug connector 19 is fixed can have a further coding element 21, for example as a material projection as shown, or even as a material recess. This further coding element 21 can be arranged on the support plate 9, in particular on the side opposite the coding element 18. This further coding element 21 makes it possible to prevent incorrect mating of the device with the counter plug connector 19 with a printed circuit board to which the counter plug connector 19 is to be soldered, for example. The further coding element 21 prevents that the counter plug connector 19, for example in the embodiment as a pin header, can be plugged in the printed circuit board backwards. For this purpose, it is advantageous for the printed circuit board to be embodied with a coding formed as a counterpart to the further coding element 21, i.e. as a material projection or as a material recess. In this regard, it is advantageous if the coding element 18 and / or the further coding element 21 can be arranged eccentrically with respect to the central axis M of the support plate 9 passing through the centre of the respective support plate 9, parallel to the plug-in direction of the plug-in connector 10 or the counter plug-in connector 19. [Explanation of symbols]

[0050] 1 First main surface 2 Second main surface 3 First locking element 4 Cable fixing area 5. Flat board 6 Through hole 7 Additional parts 9 Support plate 10 Electrical plug connector 11 Insertion surface 12 Electrical Conductors 13 Cable fixing means 14 Shielded plug contacts 15 External shield terminal 16 Shielding sheet 17 Second locking element 18 Coding Elements 19 Mating connector 20 Borderline 21 Additional coding elements M center axis

Claims

1. A support plate (9) in the form of a flat plate (5) having a first main surface (1) and a second main surface (2) opposite to the first main surface (1), wherein the main surfaces (1, 2) are the side surfaces of the plate (5) having the largest area and are equipped with a first locking element (3), and an electrical plug connector (10) having a second locking element (17) can be fixed to the first locking element (1) by the second locking element (17) through a shape-fitting interlock between the first locking element (3) and the second locking element (17). The support plate (9) is characterized in that it has a first locking element (3) on each of the first main surface (1) and the second main surface (2), thereby allowing at least one electrical plug connector (10) to be fixed to the first main surface (1) by its second locking element (17), and allowing at least one other electrical plug connector (10) to be fixed to the second main surface (2) by its second locking element (17) through a shape-fitting interlock between the first locking element (3) and the second locking element (17).

2. The support plate (9) according to claim 1, characterized in that one, a plurality of, or all of the locking elements (3) on the first main surface (1) and / or the second main surface (2) are formed as locking elements (3) that protrude from the surface.

3. The support plate (9) according to claim 1, characterized in that the support plate (9) has at least one cable fixing area (4), and an electrical wire (12) connected to an electrical plug-in connector (10) fixed to the support plate (9) can be fixed to the cable fixing area (4).

4. The support plate (9) according to claim 3, characterized in that the first locking element (3) is located outside the cable fixing area (4) and on the first and / or second main surfaces (1, 2).

5. The support plate (9) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that a plurality of electrical connectors (10) are adjacent to each other on the first main surface (1) and / or the second main surface (2), and can be fixed by the shape-fitting interlocking of the first locking element (3) and the second locking element (17).

6. The support plate (9) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the electrical connector (10) can be selectively fixed to the first main surface (1) and / or the second main surface (2) at different positions relative to the support plate (9), particularly at different positions perpendicular to the insertion direction of the electrical connector (10).

7. The support plate (9) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the number and type of electrical plug-in connectors (10) that can be fixed to specific main surfaces (1, 2) are variable for each of the first main surface (1) and / or the second main surface (2).

8. The support plate (9) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the support plate (9) has at least one coding element (18).

9. The support plate (9) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the first locking element (3) is arranged on the main surface (1, 2) adjacent to the boundary edge (20) of the support plate (9).

10. An apparatus comprising a support plate (9) according to any one of claims 1 to 4 and at least two electrical plug connectors (10), wherein each of the at least two electrical plug connectors (10) has a second locking element (17), The apparatus is characterized in that at least one electrical plug-in connector (10) is fixed to the first main surface (1) by its second locking element (17), and another electrical plug-in connector (10) is fixed to the second main surface (2) by its second locking element (17), by a shape-fitting interlock between the first locking element (3) and the second locking element (17).

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that the electrical plug-in connectors (10) fixed to the first and second main surfaces (1, 2) are aligned in the same direction by their plug-in surfaces (11).

12. The apparatus according to 10, characterized in that the at least one electrical plug connector (10) fixed to the first main surface (1, 2) is offset from the at least one electrical plug connector (10) fixed to the second main surface (1, 2) and / or has a different number of plug contacts.

13. The apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that a different number of electrical connectors (10) than those on the second main surface (1, 2) are fixed to the first main surface (1, 2).

14. The apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that an additional component (7), which is not an electrical plug-in connector (10) and has at least one second locking element (17), is fixed to the first main surface (1) and / or the second main surface (2) by a shape-fitting interlock between at least one of the first locking elements (3) and the at least one second locking element (17) of the additional component (7).

15. The apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that the cable fixing area (4) of the support plate (9) protrudes from the plug-in connector (10) fixed to the support plate (9), thereby enabling the electrical conductor (12) connected to the electrical plug-in connector (10) fixed to the support plate (9) to be fixed to the cable fixing area (4).

16. An apparatus comprising a support plate (9) according to any one of claims 1 to 4 and at least one plug-in connector (10) fixed thereto, further comprising at least one other support plate (9) according to any one of claims 1 to 4 and at least one mating plug-in connector (19) fixed thereto, configured to connect to the plug-in connector (10), The device is characterized in that the plug-in connector (10) and / or the mating plug-in connector (19) each have a second locking element (17), and can be fixed to each of the support plates (9) by a shape-fitting interlock between the first locking element (3) and the second locking element (17), and at least one of the support plates (9) has a coding element (18), the coding element specifying the insertion position and / or insertion direction of the plug-in connector (10) and the mating plug-in connector (19) relative to each other.

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