Set of conductor connecting element and fixing element

Abstract

To provide a set consisting of a conductor connecting element and a fixing element.SOLUTION: In a set consisting of a conductor connecting element and a fixing element for fixing the conductor connecting element to another component, the conductor connecting element includes an insulating housing with a conductor insertion opening for inserting an electrical conductor in the conductor insertion direction, the fixing element has a connecting device, and in the set in which the fixing element can be matably fixed to the conductor connection element by the connecting device, and the connecting device is allowed to fix the fixing element to the conductor connecting element with several different individual spatial orientations relative to the conductor insertion direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a set consisting of a conductor connecting element and a fixing element for fixing the conductor connecting element to another component, wherein the conductor connecting element has an insulating material housing with a conductor insertion opening for inserting an electrical conductor in a conductor plugging direction, and the fixing element has a connecting device by means of which the fixing element can be matingly fixed to the conductor connecting element. [Background technology]

[0002] In general, the present invention relates to fastening a conductor connection element to another component, for example, an electrical circuit board, a housing, or another area of ​​an electrical device. The conductor connection element can be essentially any conductor connection element capable of connecting at least one electrical conductor, such as an electrical connector or a conductor connection terminal. From U.S. Pat. No. 5,401,189, a connector is known that can be fastened to, for example, a circuit board by means of a fastening element that can be pressed laterally into a flange of the connector. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] U.S. Patent No. 5,401,189 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The present invention is based on the object of providing a more efficient means of fastening a conductor connecting element to another component. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] This object is achieved by configuring a connection device that, for a combination of a conductor connecting element and a fastening element as described in the introduction, allows the fastening element to be fastened to the conductor connecting element in a number of different, distinct spatial orientations relative to the conductor insertion direction. Such fastening elements provide a versatile means of fastening the conductor connecting element to another component. The fastening element can be configured, for example, in the form of a flange, and therefore, due to its versatile fastening means, the fastening element can also be called a universal flange. In addition to its function of fastening the conductor connecting element to another component, the fastening element can have further functions, such as that of a spacer element and / or a threaded flange.

[0006] Thus, the fixing element can fix the conductor connecting element to another component in different spatial orientations, which is made possible by the fact that the fixing element itself can be fixed to the conductor connecting element in different spatial orientations by its connection device, whereby the fixing element can be made particularly user-friendly, such that, for example, a user can attach the fixing element to the conductor connecting element and thereby fix (via the fixing element) the conductor connecting element to another component.

[0007] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the connection device is designed to allow the fixing element to be fixed to the conductor connecting element in two, three or four different spatial orientations relative to the conductor plugging direction, so that a single fixing element can provide multiple means of fixing the conductor connecting element to another component.

[0008] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the connecting device can be adapted to fix the fixing elements to the conductor connecting elements in different angular positions offset from each other by 90° and / or 180° relative to the conductor insertion direction. It is contemplated that the conductor connecting element may be configured to enable such a fastening to another component in such orientations that are 90 degrees or 180 degrees different from each other. If the conductor connecting element is, for example, a plug and socket connector, the fastening element may fasten the connector to an electric circuit board in a plug-in direction that is parallel to the plane of the circuit board or in a plug-in direction that is perpendicular to the plane of the circuit board.

[0009] The connecting device of the fastening element can be formed in various ways and in particular can support various methods of fastening the fastening element to the conductor connecting element, for example by plug, clip, screw or snap fastening.

[0010] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the connecting device is configured to fix the fixing element to the conductor connecting element by linear displacement of the fixing element relative to the conductor connecting element, which allows for easy fixing of the fixing element to the conductor connecting element in a manner that is pleasant to the user. The direction of the linear displacement movement can in particular be aligned parallel to the surface of the conductor connecting element to which the fixing element is to be fixed by the connecting device.

[0011] The fastening element can be formed with one or more different types of coupling elements that allow the fastening element to be coupled to another component. For example, the fastening element can have a through opening through which a screw, bolt, rivet, or similar elongated fastening means can be passed to fasten the fastening element to another component. The fastening element can also have one or more latching legs, fastening bolts, fastening screws, or similar coupling means as coupling elements.

[0012] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the fixing element has a through opening configured to fasten the fixing element to another component by means of a screw, elongated bolt, rivet or similar elongated fastening means insertable through the through opening, which allows the fixing element to be easily fastened to another component using commercially available fastening means.

[0013] According to an advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the fastening element has a screw element or a receiving space for the screw element, by means of which the fastening element can be fastened to another component by screw fastening. The screw element can be arranged, for example, in the region of the through-opening of the fastening element. This further simplifies fastening of the fastening element to another component for the user. In particular, the screw element can be held non-rotatably relative to the fastening element, so that the user does not need to separately fasten the screw element with a wrench, for example, when screwing in the fastening element.

[0014] According to an advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the connecting device has at least one first connecting element, or at least one first connecting element and at least one second connecting element. The term connecting device is therefore generally used to refer to a single such connecting element or to a plurality of such connecting elements. These connecting elements can be arranged in various ways on the body of the fixing element, in particular on the outer surface of the body.

[0015] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that at least one first connection element is arranged on a first outer surface of the fixing element and at least one second connection element is arranged on the first outer surface or on a different second outer surface of the fixing element, in this way a particularly versatile means of fastening the conductor connection elements to the fixing element can be provided, even if the configuration of the first and second connection elements is relatively simple.

[0016] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that at least one first connecting element is arranged on the first outer surface in an off-center manner, which includes the provision of a fixing element on the conductor connecting element. Advantageously, depending on the orientation, the fixing element provides different spatial options and therefore also functions as a variable spacer element and can be used at different distances that are user selectable at least in discrete values.

[0017] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that at least one second connection element is arranged in the center of the first or second outer surface, thus providing the option of a symmetrically distributed distance when attaching the fixing element to the conductor connection element.

[0018] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the second outer surface is an outer surface of the fixing element facing away from the first outer surface. According to an advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the second connecting element is configured to allow the fixing element to be fixed to the conductor connecting element in an angular position offset by 90° from the angular position in which the first connecting element allows the fixing element to be fixed to the conductor connecting element. Thus, the individual connecting elements (first and second connecting elements) can be formed relatively simply. Here, the combination of the first connecting element and the second connecting element can provide the possibility of fixing the fixing element to the conductor connecting element in different spatial orientations.

[0019] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the first and / or second connecting element has a fastening contour configured as a dovetail shape or the like. This allows for a particularly secure fastening of the fastening element to the conductor connecting element. The conductor connecting element is then provided with a corresponding shape associated as a mating member, which shape can couple with the fastening contour of the first and / or second connecting element configured as a dovetail shape. The first and / or second connecting element can then optionally be configured as a groove configured as a dovetail shape or as a tongue configured as a dovetail shape (in the form of a groove-tongue connection).

[0020] The fastening contours of the first and / or second connecting elements can preferably be formed completely continuously. This means that the shaped fastening contours are provided on all four longitudinal sides of the rectangularly formed first and / or second connecting elements. Alternatively, the fastening contours of the first and / or second connecting elements can be provided only on two mutually opposite sides in the longitudinal direction of the connecting elements and therefore do not have to be formed completely continuously. The rectangular configuration of the first and / or second connecting elements can preferably be formed in a square shape.

[0021] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the fixing element has an essentially rectangular parallelepiped body, in which the connecting devices are arranged on one or distributed over several rectangular parallelepiped outer surfaces of the body. This allows for easy handling of the fixing element. The rectangular parallelepiped shape provides a sufficient number of outer surfaces on which, for example, the first and second connecting elements can be arranged and which can also provide, for example, through-openings.

[0022] An advantageous embodiment of the invention relates to a combination of a conductor connecting element in the form of a plug socket connector and a mating connector associated with the plug socket connector as a mating element, in which at least one fastening element of the type described above is fastened to the plug socket connector and / or the mating connector via a connecting device of the fastening element with a first mating connecting element of the plug socket connector and / or the mating connector, which advantageously allows the plug socket connector to be fastened via the fastening element in different spatial orientations selectable by the user.

[0023] The above-mentioned object is further achieved by a data medium comprising CAD design data for designing a set of fastening elements of the above-mentioned type, whereby the above-mentioned advantages are also realized. This can be done.

[0024] The fastening element can be provided, for example, as a plastic part, for example as an injection-molded part. Furthermore, the aforementioned data medium makes it easily possible to manufacture the fastening element from plastic material, for example by a 3D printing process.

[0025] The fastening element provides an attachment that combines multiple functions. In this way, the variety of components required to fasten a conductor connecting element to another component is significantly reduced, since the same fastening element can be used substantially all the time. In this way, manufacturing and storage are facilitated for both manufacturers and users.

[0026] In the context of the present invention, "one" should not be understood as a numerical value. Thus, for example, when referring to "one" component, this should be interpreted as meaning "at least one component." To the extent angles are given in degrees, they are based on a 360-degree (360°) circle.

[0027] The invention is explained in more detail below on the basis of exemplary embodiments and with reference to the drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0028] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the fixing element of the first embodiment. [Figure 2] 4 is a side cross-sectional view of the fixing element according to FIG. 1, corresponding to the section line AA in FIG. 3; [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a side view of the fixing element according to FIG. 1; [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a fixation element. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a fixation element. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a fixation element according to a third embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a side view of the fixing element according to FIG. 6; [Figure 8] FIG. 7 is a side view of the fixing element according to FIG. 6; [Figure 9]1A and 1B show an embodiment of a set of a conductor connecting element and a fixing element. [Figure 10] 1A and 1B show an embodiment of a set of a conductor connecting element and a fixing element. [Figure 11] 1A and 1B show an embodiment of a set of a conductor connecting element and a fixing element. [Figure 12] 1A and 1B show an embodiment of a set of a conductor connecting element and a fixing element. [Figure 13] 1A and 1B show an embodiment of a set of a conductor connecting element and a fixing element. [Figure 14] 1A and 1B show an embodiment of a set of a conductor connecting element and a fixing element. [Figure 15] 1A and 1B show an embodiment of a set of a conductor connecting element and a fixing element. [Figure 16] 1A and 1B show an embodiment of a set of a conductor connecting element and a fixing element. [Figure 17] FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the set according to FIG. 14 including an additional fastening strap. [Figure 18] FIG. 18 is a side view of the arrangement according to FIG. 17. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0029] The fixing element 2 shown in Figures 1 to 3 has a body 20 which is essentially a rectangular parallelepiped and therefore has six outer surfaces, of which a first outer surface 21 and a second outer surface 22 are designated by reference numerals. The fixing element 2 has a connecting device 3 by means of which the fixing element 2 can be matingly fixed to a conductor connecting element.

[0030] In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the connection device 3 is formed by a first connection element 31 arranged on the first outer surface 21 of the body 21. The first connection element 31 has circumferentially continuous fastening contours 30, for example in the form of a dovetail profile. The full circumferential configuration of these fastening contours 30 allows the fastening elements 2 to be inserted in correspondingly shaped grooves in various spatial orientations, as will be explained below with respect to the connection with the conductor connection elements.

[0031] The fixing element 2 has a through-opening 29 extending longitudinally through the body 20. A fastening means, such as an elongated bolt or a screw, can be passed through the through-opening 29, and in this way the fixing element 2 can be fixed to a further component. To simplify this fixing, the fixing element 2 has receiving spaces 23 for a screw element, such as a nut, in the area of ​​the through-opening 29. The receiving spaces 23 are delimited in the direction of the through-opening 29 by walls 25, at which the through-opening 29 transitions into a smaller cross-section. To facilitate the fastening of the screw element in the receiving space 23, the receiving space 23 can be provided with, for example, a shaping 24, which is configured as a mating piece for the outer contour of the screw element, such as a hexagonal nut.

[0032] Figures 4 and 5 show an embodiment of the fastening element 2, which differs from the embodiment of Figures 1-3 in that the connecting device 3 is formed by a first connecting element 31 and a second connecting element 32. The first connecting element 31 is arranged on the first outer surface 21, and the second connecting element 32 is arranged on the second outer surface 22. In this exemplary embodiment, the first outer surface 21 and the second outer surface 22 are arranged on opposite sides or surfaces of the rectangular parallelepiped body 20. The first connecting element 31 and the second connecting element 32 each have multiple fastening contours 30, which do not extend around the entire circumference but each extend in one spatial direction. Here, the fastening contours 30 of the first and second connecting elements 31, 32 have mutually orthogonal spatial directions. It can also be seen that the first connecting element 31 is arranged off-center on the first outer surface 21. The second connecting element 32 is arranged in the center of the second outer surface 22.

[0033] 6 to 8 show an embodiment of a fastening element in which, instead of through-openings 29 for attaching the fastening element to a further component as in FIGS. 1 to 5, there are hooking legs (in other words, snap-fit ​​mounting legs) 26, which protrude from the outer surface of the fastening element 2 or the main body 20. The hooking legs 26 can, for example, be formed as one piece in the main body 20. The hooking legs 26 have support arms 28 fixed to the main body 20, from which one or more hooking arms (in other words, snap-fit ​​arms) 27 protrude laterally. In this case, the connecting device 3 is configured similarly to the one in FIGS. 1 to 3. It is clear that the connecting device 3 can also be configured differently, for example according to FIGS. 4 and 5.

[0034] Figures 9, 11, 13, and 15 each show a side view of the illustrated combination (in other words, set) of the conductor connecting element 1 and the fixing element 2, and Figures 10, 12, 14, and 16 each show a perspective view of the illustrated combination of the conductor connecting element 1 and the fixing element 2. Figures 9 and 10 show a first variant of the combination of the conductor connecting element 1 and the fixing element 2, Figures 11 and 12 show a second variant, Figures 13 and 14 show a third variant, and Figures 15 and 16 show a fourth variant.

[0035] As can be seen in Figures 9 and 10, the set comprises a conductor connecting element 1 having a body 10. One or more retaining contours 11 can be arranged on the body 10, each formed as a mating piece for the connecting device 3 of the fixing element 2, i.e., for example, for the first connecting element 31 or the second connecting element 32. In this exemplary embodiment, the connecting elements 31, 32 are pressed into the retaining contour 11 by a linear movement, for example, by their fastening contours 30. The first connecting element 31 and the second connecting element 32 on the one hand and the retaining contour 11 on the other hand can have corresponding latching or stopping elements, so that the fixing element 2 can be fixed in a predetermined position relative to the body 10 of the conductor connecting element 1. Furthermore, the conductor connecting element 1 has an electrical contact area 12, in which the conductor connecting element is formed, for example, like a connector.

[0036] 9 and 10 show that in the body 10 of the conductor connecting element 1, respective fixing elements 2 can be matingly fixed on two opposite sides of the body 10 via their connecting devices 3. The connecting means for connecting the fixing element 2 to a further component, in this case the latching legs 26, point towards the contact areas 12 in the variant of FIGS.

[0037] Figures 11 and 12 show the same set as in Figures 9 and 10, where the fixing element 2 is fixed to the conductor connecting element 1 in the opposite orientation. In this exemplary embodiment, the coupling means formed as latching legs 36 face towards the side of the body 10 on which the conductor insertion openings 13 for connecting the electrical conductors are present.

[0038] It is also possible to fix the fixing element 2, or at least one of the fixing elements 2, to the conductor connecting element 1 in an orientation rotated by 90 degrees, for example so that the coupling means are facing downwards or upwards, i.e. perpendicular to the conductor insertion direction L for the electrical conductor.

[0039] Figures 13 and 14 show the conductor connecting element 1 already shown in Figures 9 to 12 with the fixing element 2 of the embodiment of Figures 1 to 3 fixed thereto. The receiving space 23 for the screw element and the through-opening 29 can be seen in the fixing element 2, respectively. In Figures 13 and 14, the fixing element 2 is connected to the conductor connecting element 1 so that the through-opening 29 extends perpendicular to the longitudinal extension of the conductor connecting element 1, which in this case is in the same direction as the conductor insertion direction. Figures 15 and 16 show the same set as Figures 13 and 14, but here the fixing element 2 is fixed to the conductor connecting element 1 in a different orientation, rotated by 90 degrees. Here, the through-opening 29 is aligned horizontally or in the longitudinal extension of the conductor connecting element.

[0040] It is also conceivable that the fixing element 2 according to the exemplary embodiment of Figures 1 to 3 and 13 to 16 does not have a receiving space 23 for a screw element, but has, for example, only a through-opening 29 for accommodating and passing through a screw, which in the fixed state engages with a screw arranged on a further component.

[0041] 17 shows the set already shown in FIG. 14 as an example for extending the set by a fixing plate 4 that can be fixed to the conductor connecting element 1 and / or the fixing element 2. The fixing plate 4 has a body 40 with a fixing opening 41. For example, the fixing plate 4 can be screwed to another object through the fixing opening 41. Furthermore, for example, if the fixing plate 4 is used as a strain relief tab, this can provide strain relief for the electrical conductor by fixing the electrical conductor to the strain relief tab, for example, by a cable tie passed through the fixing opening 41.

[0042] Figure 18 shows in side view the arrangement according to figure 17. It can be seen that the fixing tab 4 is coupled to the conductor connecting element 1 via the area 42. The reference numerals used in the figures are assigned as follows: [Explanation of symbols]

[0043] 1 Conductor connection element 2 Fixed elements 3 Connecting Devices 4 Fixed tab 10. Body of conductor connecting element 11 Retention Contour 12 Contact area 13 Conductor insertion opening 20 Main body of the fixing element 21 First Outer Surface 22 Second outer surface 23 Reception Space 24 Molding section 25 Wall 26 Latching leg 27 Latching arm 28 Support Arm 29 Through opening 30 Fixing Contours 31 first connecting element 32 Second connecting element 40 Fixing tab body 41 Fixed opening 42 Fixed tab area L Conductor insertion direction

Claims

1. A set consisting of a conductor connection element (1) and a fixing element (2) for fixing the conductor connection element (1) to another component, The conductor connection element (1) comprises an insulating material housing (10) having a conductor insertion opening (13) for inserting an electric conductor in a conductor insertion direction (L), The fixing element (2) has a connecting device (3) by which the fixing element (2) can be matingly fixed to the conductor connecting element (1). In the group, The connection device (3) is configured to enable the fixing element (2) to be fixed to the conductor connecting element (1) in a plurality of different individual spatial orientations relative to the conductor plugging direction (L).

2. 2. The set according to claim 1, characterized in that the connection device (3) is configured to allow the fixing element (2) to be fixed to the conductor connecting element (1) in two, three or four different spatial orientations relative to the conductor plugging direction (L).

3. 3. The set according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the connection device (3) is configured to allow the fixing element (2) to be fixed to the conductor connecting element (1) in different angular positions offset from each other by 90° and / or 180° relative to the conductor plugging direction (L).

4. 4. The set according to claim 1, wherein the connecting device (3) is configured to fix the fixing element (2) to the conductor connecting element (1) by linear movement of the fixing element (2) relative to the conductor connecting element (1).

5. 5. The set according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the fixing element (2) has a through opening (29) configured to fix the fixing element (2) to the further component by means of a screw, elongated bolt, rivet or similar elongated fixing means insertable through the through opening (29).

6. 6. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the fixing element (2) has a screw element or a receiving space (23) for a screw element, by means of which the fixing element (2) can be fixed to the further component by screw fixing.

7. 7. The set according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the connecting device (3) has at least one first connecting element (31), or at least one first connecting element (31) and at least one second connecting element (32).

8. 8. The set according to claim 7, characterized in that the at least one first connecting element (31) is arranged on a first outer surface (21) of the fixing element (2) and the at least one second connecting element (32) is arranged on the first outer surface (21) or another second outer surface (22) of the fixing element (2).

9. 9. A set according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that said at least one first connecting element (31) is arranged off-center on said first outer surface (21).

10. 10. The set according to any one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that said at least one second connecting element (32) is arranged centrally on said first or second outer surface (21, 22).

11. The second outer surface (22) of the fixing element faces in the opposite direction to the first outer surface (21).

11. The set according to any one of claims 7 to 10, characterized in that it is the outer surface of the element (2).

12. 12. The set according to any one of claims 7 to 11, characterized in that the second connecting element (32) is configured to enable the fixing element (2) to be fixed to the conductor connecting element (1) in an angular position offset by 90° from the angular position in which the first connecting element (31) enables the fixing element (2) to be fixed to the conductor connecting element (1).

13. 13. The set according to any one of claims 7 to 12, characterized in that the first and / or second connecting element (31, 32) has a fixing contour (30) configured as a dovetail shape or the like.

14. 14. The set according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the fixing element (2) has an essentially rectangular parallelepiped body (20) in which the connection devices (3) are arranged on one or distributed over several rectangular parallelepiped outer faces of the body (20).

15. A set consisting of a conductor connecting element (1) in the form of a plug socket connector and a mating connector associated with said plug socket connector as a mating element, wherein at least one fastening element (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 14 is fastened to said plug socket connector and / or said mating connector via a connecting device (3) of said fastening element (2).

16. A data medium comprising CAD design data for designing a set of fastening elements (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 15.

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