Movable connector housing, housing assembly, contact assembly, and plug connector

Abstract

To provide an electrical plug connector or its components that perform tolerance compensation. [Solution] The device comprises a first housing portion 2a and a second housing portion 2b, and a receptacle 4 extending from a first access opening to a second access opening, wherein at least one bus bar 8 and / or contact structure 66 can be at least partially housed in the receptacle 4, the first access opening being located in the first housing portion 2a, the second access opening being located in the second housing portion 2b, and the first housing portion 2a being movable relative to the second housing portion 2b.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a connector housing, a housing assembly comprising such a connector housing, and a contact assembly comprising such a contact device. The present invention also relates to a plug connection comprising such a contact assembly.

Background Art

[0002] Electrical plug connections often have conductors such as busbars that can be electrically connected to each other via a contact structure. In particular, for example, in application fields where the busbar is moved due to vibration or a change in position, the contact structure may need to compensate for a large tolerance between the busbars. Also, the plug connection usually needs to be protected from energized components by a housing. The housing needs to not prevent the movement for compensating the tolerances of the contact structure and the busbar.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0003] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an electrical plug connection or a component thereof that performs tolerance compensation.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0004] This object is achieved by a first housing part and a second housing part, and a receptacle extending from a first access opening to a second access opening, wherein at least one busbar and / or contact structure can be at least partially accommodated in the receptacle, the receptacle and comprising [[ID=​​​This is resolved by the connector housing.

[0005] The first and second housing portions of the connector housing are movable relative to each other. This means that elements connected to or positioned in the first housing portion are also movable relative to elements connected to or positioned in the second housing portion. Therefore, the connector housing is suitable for accommodating elements that are movable relative to each other for tolerance compensation. For example, one element may correspond to a busbar and the other to a contact structure. The mobility of the housing portions of the connector housing allows for tolerance compensation movement of these elements relative to each other.

[0006] The above inventions can be further improved by the following features, each of which is advantageous in itself and can be combined with one another as needed.

[0007] The first housing portion may be movable relative to the second housing portion in a translational and / or rotational direction. In particular, the first housing portion may be movable relative to the second housing portion along the first axis and / or the second axis and / or the third axis in a translational direction. , in particular, it may be displaceable. The first axis, the second axis, and the third axis may each extend perpendicular to each other. Alternatively or cumulatively, the first housing portion may be rotatable, in particular pivotable, with respect to the second housing portion about the first axis and / or the second axis and / or the third axis.

[0008] In one embodiment, the relative translational mobility and rotational mobility between the first housing portion and the second housing portion may be combined.

[0009] The first housing portion and the second housing portion can form a joint, such as a hinge or a ball joint. To this end, the first housing portion and the second housing portion may each have at least one joint portion, in particular a joint surface, and the joint portion or joint surface is designed to be complementary to one another.

[0010] To ensure low wear and mobility, the first and second housing portions can be integrated to form a bearing, such as a roller bearing or a sliding bearing. For this purpose, the first and second housing portions may each have bearing portions, such as bearing surfaces, that are designed to be complementary to each other.

[0011] The connector housing may be accessible through a first access opening and / or a second access opening by a busbar and / or contact structure.

[0012] To securely and releasably connect the first housing portion to the second housing portion, the connector housing may have a shape-fit assembly, and the first housing portion and the second housing portion can be connected by shape fitting using the shape-fit assembly. The first housing portion and the second housing portion may each have at least one shape-fit element, and at least one shape-fit element of the first housing portion can be connected to at least one shape-fit element of the second housing portion.

[0013] At least one shape-fitting element may be designed as a locking means, and the first housing portion is lockable to or locked to the second housing portion by the locking means. Preferably, the lock is releaseable and reattachable.

[0014] The first housing portion may have at least one locking projection, and the second housing portion may have at least one recess that is complementary to the at least one locking projection, and the at least one locking projection can be connected to the at least one recess by shape fitting. For example, a locking hook may be provided as the locking projection, and a groove may be provided as the recess.

[0015] To make the connector housing flexible and particularly suitable for use with a contact structure that provides tolerance compensation, the connector housing may have at least one portion made of a material that is more flexible than the rest of the connector housing. In other words, the connector housing may be made of a partially flexible material. For example, rubber material may be considered as the flexible material.

[0016] In one embodiment, the first housing portion and / or the second housing portion may each be made entirely of a flexible material, or the first housing portion and / or the second housing portion may only have a portion made of a flexible material.

[0017] To fix the position of the connector housing at least with respect to the busbar, the first housing portion may be configured to be fixed to the busbar. Alternatively or cumulatively, the housing portion may be configured to be fixed to the contact structure. Fixed connection can be understood as meaning that, when connected to the busbar and / or contact structure, at least the portion of the connector housing connected to the busbar and / or contact structure is immovable, in particular rigid, and / or connected to the busbar or contact structure in a manner that transmits movement.

[0018] The connector housing may have a collar that at least partially surrounds the busbar and / or is adapted to connect to the busbar by force fitting, material fixing, and / or shape fitting. In particular, the collar may firmly grip the busbar.

[0019] To prevent misinsertion and subsequent damage to the connector housing, the connector housing may have at least one alignment element located in a second access opening, the at least one alignment element protruding away from the receptacle. The alignment element may be designed to align the connector housing with another connector housing. The at least one alignment element may be designed to engage with at least one alignment element of the other connector housing, which is designed to complement this at least one alignment element.

[0020] In a simple design, at least one alignment element may have the shape of a fin, rib, or plate. Similarly, at least one alignment element may have a guide groove or guide slot designed complementary to the fin, rib, or plate. At least one alignment element may have a guide funnel opening into the guide groove or guide slot. The funnel may have at least one insertion bevel.

[0021] To make at least a second housing portion of the connector housing touch-protected, in particular to prevent access by human fingers or test fingers, the second housing portion may have a non-conductive touch protection profile that divides the second access opening into a plurality of adjacently arranged slots. The slots may collectively form the second access opening.

[0022] The touch protection profile is designed such that the receptacle is inaccessible via the slot by a human finger or a UL test finger or a VDE test finger, but is accessible by contact of the contact structure. This prevents a human finger or the aforementioned test fingers from contacting the energized components of the receptacle, while the bus bar can be in electrical contact by contact of the contact structure.

[0023] In a structurally simple and robust design, the touch protection profile can have a plurality of touch protection ribs arranged adjacent to each other, and each of the slots is formed between adjacent touch protection ribs.

[0024] Preferably, the touch protection ribs and / or the slots are arranged parallel to each other, particularly at equal distances. The touch protection ribs and / or the slots may be arranged in a comb-like pattern.

[0025] The central plane defined by the touch protection ribs may be arranged in a direction orthogonal to the central plane defined by the receptacle. The central plane of the receptacle may be parallel to the flat surface of the receptacle and / or extend along the longitudinal axis of the receptacle.

[0026] The width of the slot may be, for example, about 2 mm, and the width of the touch protection rib may be about 1 mm. The width of the slot or the width of the touch protection rib may be measured along the stacking direction in which the slots and / or the touch protection ribs are arranged parallel to each other. The stacking direction may extend, for example, along a first axis.

[0027] The slot height and / or touch protection rib height may correspond to the height specified by the UL test finger or VDE test finger. In a further embodiment, the slot height and / or touch protection rib height may exceed the height specified by the UL test finger or VDE test finger by about 2 mm. For example, the touch protection rib height may be between about 5 mm and about 9 mm. The height may be measured along a direction perpendicular to the center plane of the connector housing receptacle.

[0028] To simplify insertion of the connector housing into other components, such as another connector housing, the touch protection profile may have at least one insertion bevel facing away from the receptacle. Preferably, the connector housing has two insertion bevels that taper toward the center plane of the receptacle.

[0029] According to one embodiment, at least one, preferably all, of the touch protection ribs may be tapered away from the receptacle. For this purpose, at least one tapered touch protection rib may have at least one, preferably two or more tapered chamfers on at least one side facing away from the receptacle.

[0030] At least one insertion bevel of the touch protection profile may be formed by a bevel of the touch protection rib. The bevels of the touch protection rib may be located in a common plane, or in particular, may be molded identically.

[0031] At least one alignment element may protrude further from the receptacle than the touch protection rib. At least one portion of the at least one alignment element may be formed by or integrated with one of the touch protection ribs. The at least one alignment element may accommodate a touch protection rib design without a bevel.

[0032] To prevent a person's finger from entering the receptacle through the second access opening, multiple inwardly projecting touch protection bars may be positioned at least around the second access opening. Preferably, the touch protection bars are arranged parallel to each other, and particularly equidistant from one another.

[0033] The touch protection bar may form or surround a busbar opening from which a busbar can protrude. A gap formed between two adjacent touch protection bars may open into the receptacle.

[0034] The touch protection bar is designed to prevent the receptacle from being accessed by a human finger or UL test finger and / or VDE test finger through the second access opening.

[0035] In one embodiment, the upper and lower sides of the connector housing may each have rows of touch protection bars. Preferably, each touch protection bar on the upper side faces a touch protection bar on the lower side. The number of touch protection bars on the upper side may correspond to the number of touch protection bars on the lower side. The upper and lower touch protection bars facing each other may be aligned.

[0036] The upper touch protection bar may protrude downwards, and the lower touch protection bar may protrude upwards. Preferably, the upper touch protection bar and / or the lower touch protection bar are of equal length or protrude inward by an equal distance.

[0037] To simplify the insertion of other components into the connector housing, the touch protection bar may be tapered away from the first access opening on the side facing away from the first access opening. Each touch protection bar may have at least one chamfer facing away from the first access opening, particularly in the direction normal thereto. Preferably, each touch protection bar has at least two chamfers that are tapered away from the first access opening.

[0038] In a further embodiment, to ensure that the insertion of other components into the connector housing is not hindered by the contact structure, the connector housing may have positioning elements arranged parallel to each other and designed to align the contacts of the contact structure with respect to the touch protection bar. Alternatively or cumulatively, the positioning elements may be designed to align the bus bar with respect to the touch protection bar.

[0039] Positioning elements may be designed to align the contacts of the contact structure at a predetermined distance. Positioning elements may be arranged parallel to each other, and in particular at equal distances.

[0040] The pitch of adjacent touch protection bars, which separates them from each other, can correspond to the pitch of adjacent positioning elements, which separates them from each other.

[0041] The positioning element can align the contacts of the contact structure so that they overlap with the touch protection bar, particularly along the longitudinal direction of the receptacle of the connector housing, and especially so that they are perfectly aligned. The positioning element can extend along the longitudinal direction of the receptacle and / or along the longitudinal direction of the first housing portion and / or along the longitudinal direction of the second housing portion.

[0042] According to one embodiment, the positioning element may be located in the second housing portion.

[0043] The positioning element may be tapered on the side facing the second access opening, along the direction from the first access opening to the second access opening. The positioning element may have at least one, preferably two, chamfered portions extending toward each other. In these designs, the insertion of the positioning element between the contacts of the contact structure, or the insertion of the contacts of the contact structure between the positioning element, is simplified, in particular by preventing the positioning element from becoming entangled with the contacts.

[0044] The objective is further solved by a housing assembly comprising a first connector housing according to the present invention and a second connector housing according to the present invention that is connectable to the first connector housing, wherein the touch protection bar of the second connector housing is at least partially insertable into a slot of the touch protection profile of the first connector housing.

[0045] Since the first connector housing and the second connector housing each have a movable housing portion, and the first connector housing is movable, and in particular pivotable, relative to the second connector housing, the housing assembly is suitable for plug connections that perform tolerance compensation.

[0046] In this embodiment, the first connector housing may have a touch protection profile, and the second connector housing may be provided with a touch protection bar.

[0047] Preferably, just one touch protection bar of the second connector housing is at least partially received in each slot of the touch protection profile of the first connector housing.

[0048] In one embodiment, the touch protection profile may comprise a plurality of adjacent touch protection ribs, and the touch protection ribs of the touch protection profile may be arranged in a comb-like manner together with touch protection bars. The touch protection ribs and touch protection bars may always be arranged alternately next to each other.

[0049] The object is further solved by a touch-protective contact assembly comprising a housing assembly according to the present invention and a contact structure at least partially received in the receptacle of a second connector housing, the contact structure being mountable on a first busbar and a second busbar, movable relative to the first busbar and / or the second busbar, and configured to electrically connect the first busbar to the second busbar. The contact structure is designed to compensate for positional tolerances between the first busbar and the second busbar. The housing assembly is suitable for compensating for positional tolerances due to the mobility of the housing portions of both connector housings relative to each other, and the relative mobility of the two connector housings relative to each other. At the same time, it prevents human fingers from coming into contact with electrically conductive components located in the housing assembly.

[0050] The contact structure may have at least one contact, but preferably more than one.

[0051] There are virtually no restrictions on the design of the contact structure. For example, the contacts of the contact structure can be designed as cables, contact bridges, or terminals. Furthermore, the contact structure may have at least one electrical connector that can be connected to a first busbar and / or a second busbar.

[0052] Further examples of possible contact structures are disclosed in German patent application DE102024136289.8.

[0053] The object is also resolved by a touch protection plug connector comprising a contact assembly according to the present invention, a first busbar at least partially inserted into the receptacle of a first connector housing, and a second busbar at least partially inserted into the receptacle of a second connector housing, wherein the contact structure is mounted on the first and second busbars and electrically connects the first and second busbars, and the touch protection bar of the second connector housing is at least partially positioned in the slots of the touch protection profile of the first connector housing, and at least one contact of the contact structure electrically contacts the first busbar through the slots of the touch protection profile.

[0054] The plug connection can compensate for tolerances between the first and second busbars. The mobility of the connector housings relative to each other, and the mobility of the housing portions of each connector housing relative to each other, allows the housing assembly to enable tolerance-compensating movement.

[0055] To position the busbars relative to at least each first housing portion and to securely fasten the busbars to each connector housing, the first housing portion of the first connector housing is fixable to the first busbar, and / or the first housing portion of the second connector housing is fixable to the second busbar. The first housing portion can be fixed immovably or firmly to each busbar. Fixing can be, for example, shape-locking (positive) fixing using a latching element, and / or, for example, friction fixing by pressing, and / or, for example, material-locking fixing by bonding or welding.

[0056] Preferably, only the second housing portion of the first connector housing is movable relative to the first busbar, and / or only the second housing portion of the second connector housing is movable relative to the second busbar.

[0057] The present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Individual features present in the following embodiments may be omitted if the technical effects associated with those features are not relevant to the above embodiments. Conversely, features described above but not present in the following exemplary embodiments may be added if the technical effects associated with those features are important for a particular application.

[0058] In the following, the same reference numeral is used for elements that correspond to each other in terms of structure and / or function. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0059] [Figure 1] This is a schematic perspective view of a connector housing according to one possible embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the connector housing. [Figure 3] This is a schematic cross-sectional view of a connector housing according to another possible embodiment. [Figure 4] This is a schematic perspective view of a connector housing according to another possible embodiment. [Figure 5] This is a schematic perspective view of a plug connector according to one possible embodiment. [Figure 6] Figure 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the plug connection section. [Figure 7] This is a schematic perspective view of the plug connection portion of the second connector housing, with the second housing portion removed. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0060] In the following, a connector housing according to one possible embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 3 as merely an example.

[0061] The connector housing 1 has a first housing portion 2a and a second housing portion 2b. As can be clearly seen in Figure 2, the connector housing 1 includes a receptacle 4 extending from a first access opening 6a to a second access opening 6b. The first access opening 6a is located in the first housing portion 2a, and the second access opening 6b is located in the second housing portion 2b. In the embodiments shown in Figures 1 and 2, a busbar 8 is inserted into the connector housing 1 as an example. The busbar 8 is housed in the receptacle 4 of the connector housing 1 and can protrude from the connector housing 1 at the first access opening 6a.

[0062] The first housing portion 2a is movable relative to the second housing portion 2b. In the embodiments shown in Figures 1 and 2, the first housing portion 2a is movable relative to the second housing portion 2b along the first axis 10a. In other embodiments, alternatively or cumulatively, the first housing portion 2a can be made movable relative to the second housing portion 2b along the second axis 10b and / or the third axis 10c, with the first axis 10a, the second axis 10b, and the third axis 10c each being oriented perpendicular to one another. In yet another embodiment, the first housing portion 2a can be made rotatable, in particular pivotable, relative to the second housing portion 2b about the first axis 10a and / or the second axis 10b and / or the third axis 10c, either alternatively or cumulatively.

[0063] In the embodiments shown in Figures 1 and 2, the displacement of the first housing portion 2a relative to the second housing portion 2b along the first axis 10a can be achieved by a shape-fit assembly 12. In the embodiments shown in Figures 1 and 2, the shape-fit assembly 12 may include shape-fit elements 14, at least one of which may be positioned in each of the first housing portion 2a and the second housing portion 2b. In the embodiments shown in Figures 1 and 2, the shape-fit element 14 of the first housing portion 2a can be designed as a projection 16, and the shape-fit element 14 of the second housing portion 2b can be designed as a groove 18 complementary to the projection 16. The shape-fit assembly 12 makes it possible to connect the first housing portion 2a to the second housing portion 2b. Naturally, the shape-fit assembly 12 can also be designed in different ways, for example, by designing at least one of the shape-fit elements 14 as a latching mechanism.

[0064] In the designs shown in Figures 1 and 2, the first housing portion 2a can be fixed to the busbar 8. Fixing can be understood as meaning that the first housing portion 2a is firmly connected to the busbar 8 and immovable relative to the busbar 8. Fixing of the first housing portion 2a to the busbar 8 can be achieved by shape fitting, force fitting, material fitting, or a combination of at least two of these connection types. In the embodiments shown in Figures 1 and 2, the first housing portion 2a is fixedly connected to the busbar 8, but is displaceably mounted relative to the second housing portion 2b, so that the second housing portion 2b is alignable relative to the busbar 8. In the embodiments shown in Figures 1 and 2, the second housing portion 2b may have a non-conductive touch protection profile 20 that prevents the second access opening 6 from being left open.

[0065] In the embodiments shown in Figures 1 and 2, the second housing portion 2b may have a non-conductive touch protection profile 20 that divides the second access opening 6b into a plurality of adjacent slots 22. Thus, in this embodiment, the second access opening 6b can be formed by or correspond to a plurality of slots 22. The touch protection profile 20 may have a plurality of adjacent touch protection ribs 24, with one of the slots 22 formed between each adjacent touch protection rib 24. The touch protection ribs 24 are positioned very close to each other, and the slots 22 are very narrow, so that a person's finger cannot enter the receptacle 4 or come into contact with the busbar 8 or other conductive components inserted into the receptacle 4.

[0066] As shown in the embodiments in Figures 1 and 2, the touch protection ribs 24 can be arranged parallel to each other, and in particular equidistant from each other. As can be seen in the schematic cross-sectional view of the touch protection profile 20 in a further embodiment in Figure 3, each touch protection rib 24 may have a height 26 measured along a direction perpendicular to the center plane 28 of the receptacle 4 of the connector housing 1. The height 26 of the touch protection rib 24 may be, for example, between about 5 mm and about 9 mm. Again as can be seen in Figure 3, each touch protection rib 24 may have a width 30 which can be measured along the center plane 28 of the receptacle 4 and along a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction 32 of the receptacle 4. The width 30 of the touch protection rib 24 may be, for example, about 1 mm. The width 34 of the slot 22 (which can similarly be measured along the central plane 28 of the receptacle 4 and perpendicular to the longitudinal direction 32 of the receptacle 4) may be, for example, about 2 mm. Also, the width 36 of the receptacle 4 may be greater than the width 38 of the bus bar 8 in order to displace the second housing portion 2a relative to the bus bar 4 along the first axis 10a.

[0067] Figures 1 and 2 further illustrate that the connector housing 1 may have at least one insertion bevel 40 facing away from the receptacle 4. In this embodiment, the connector housing 1 may have two insertion bevels 40, and the two insertion bevels 40 may converge toward each other. The insertion bevels 40 may be formed by bevels 42 of individual touch protection ribs 24 that converge toward each other. Chamfers 44 facing away from the receptacle 4 are not necessarily provided in addition to the individual bevels 42.

[0068] The connector housing 1 may also have at least one alignment element 46, the at least one alignment element 46 which may be located in the second access opening 6b and may protrude away from the receptacle 4. In the embodiments shown in Figures 1 and 2, two alignment elements are provided as mere examples, each of the two alignment elements 46 may be formed in one of the touch protection ribs 24 or may open into one of the touch protection ribs 24. In the embodiments shown in Figures 1 and 2, the alignment element 46 may correspond to a touch protection rib 24 that does not have a bevel 42 in particular. Of course, in other embodiments, the alignment element 46 may be located elsewhere in the second housing portion 2b, in particular in locations other than the touch protection ribs 24.

[0069] The alignment element 46 of connector housing 1 may be designed to align connector housing 1 with another connector housing 1. For this purpose, the other connector housing 1 may also have at least one alignment element 46 that can be designed complementary to the alignment element 46 of connector housing 1. As shown in Figure 4, the other connector housing 1 may have, for example, an insertion funnel 50 that opens into an insertion slot 48, and the alignment element 46 of connector housing 1 shown in Figures 1 and 2, designed as a fin 52, can be fitted into this insertion funnel 50. Naturally, there are substantially no limitations on the design of the alignment element 46.

[0070] Figure 4 shows a connector housing 1 according to a further advantageous embodiment. The connector housing 1 comprises a first housing portion 2a having a first access opening 6a and a second housing portion 2b having a second access opening 6b, with the receptacle 4 extending between the first access opening 6a and the second access opening 6b. The first housing portion 6a is movable relative to the second housing portion 6b. In the embodiment shown in Figure 4, the first housing portion 6a can be rotatable or pivotable relative to the second housing portion 6b, particularly about a first axis 10a. Naturally, as already explained above, the first housing portions 2a and 2b can be displaced relative to the second housing portions 2a and 2b along the first axis 10a and / or the second axis 10b and / or the third axis 10c, and / or rotatable about the first axis 10a and / or the second axis 10b and / or the third axis 10c, and in particular pivotable about the first axis 10a and / or the second axis 10b and / or the third axis 10c. Naturally, a combination of translational and rotational movement of the first housing portion 2a relative to the second housing portion 2b is also possible.

[0071] The connector housing 1 shown in Figure 4 may have a shape-fit assembly 12, and the first housing portion 2a and the second housing portion 2b are connectable by shape-fit assembly 12, or in this case, are connected. The shape-fit connection portion may preferably be removable and reattachable. The shape-fit assembly 12 may include a shape-fit element 14 (shown in the form of a projection 54 in Figure 4 as merely an example) located on the second housing portion 2b and a shape-fit element 14 (shown in the form of a recess 56 in Figure 4 as an example). The projection 54 may be provided with a chamfered portion 58 to facilitate the placement or attachment of the first housing portion 2a to the second housing portion 2b. In the embodiment shown in Figure 4, the first housing portion 2a can be fixed to the busbar 8. For this purpose, the first housing portion 2a may have a collar 60 that surrounds the busbar 8 and particularly grips the busbar 8 firmly.

[0072] The connector housing 1 may have at least one portion 62 made of a material that is more flexible than the rest of the connector housing 1. In the embodiment shown in Figure 4, the entire first housing portion 2a may be made of such a flexible material, or it may correspond to a portion 62 made of the flexible material. This can further improve the mobility of the first housing portion 2a relative to the second housing portion 2b. Of course, in other embodiments, the second housing portion 2b may have a portion 62 made of the flexible material, or it may correspond entirely to this portion 62, either alternatively or cumulatively. Similarly, only a portion of the first housing portion 2a and / or only a portion of the second housing portion 2b may be made of the flexible material. Elastic materials such as rubber are particularly suitable as the flexible material.

[0073] As can be seen in Figure 4, the arrangement of multiple inwardly protruding touch protection bars 64 in the second access opening 6b of the second housing portion 2b prevents human fingers or other foreign objects from entering the receptacle 4. In particular, it can prevent human fingers from coming into contact with the contact structure 66 or bus bar 8 housed in the receptacle 4.

[0074] In this embodiment, as merely an example, rows of touch protection bars 64 are arranged on the upper 68a and lower 68b of the second housing portion 2b. The touch protection bars 64 on the upper 68a may protrude toward the touch protection bars 64 on the lower 68b, and the touch protection bars 64 on the lower 68b may protrude toward the touch protection bars 64 on the upper 68a. The touch protection bars 64 on the upper 68a do not need to be opposite the touch protection bars 64 on the lower 68b, as in the embodiment shown in Figure 4, and do not need to be aligned with the touch protection bars 64 on the lower 68b. For example, the touch protection bars 64 on the lower 68b and the touch protection bars 64 on the upper 68a may be offset along the stacking direction 70, where the touch protection bars 64 may be located adjacent to each other.

[0075] The touch protection bar 64 may be tapered away from the first access opening 6a on the side 72 facing away from the first access opening 6a. The touch protection bar 64 may have at least one chamfered portion 74, preferably multiple chamfered portions 74. The tapered or chamfered touch protection bar 64 may facilitate the insertion of other elements into the connector housing 1. As can be seen in Figure 5, such elements may correspond to, for example, further connector housings 1, particularly the connector housings 1 shown in Figures 1 and 2.

[0076] In the following section, the touch protection plug connector 76 will be described with reference to Figures 5 to 7 as a simple example.

[0077] The plug connection section 76 may include a housing assembly 78 having a first connector housing 1, 1a and a second connector housing 1, 1b. The first connector housing 1, 1a may correspond to, for example, the connector housing 1 shown in Figures 1 and 2, and the second connector housing 1, 1b may correspond to the connector housing 1 shown in Figure 4. Naturally, as an alternative, the first connector housing 1, 1a and the second connector housing 1, 1b may correspond to other designs of the connector housing 1. In the embodiments shown in Figures 5 to 7, the first connector housings 1, 1a and the second connector housings 1, 1b are plugged together, and the touch protection bars 64 of the second connector housings 1, 1b are at least partially inserted into one of the slots 22 of the touch protection profile 20 of the first connector housing 1, 1a. Thus, both the receptacle 4 of the second housing portion 2b of the second connector housing 1, 1b and the receptacle 4 of the second housing portion 2b of the first connector housing 1a are protected from human fingers entering the housing assembly 78 from the outside.

[0078] As shown in Figure 6, the plug connection portion 76 may include a touch protection contact assembly 80 having a housing assembly 78. The contact assembly 80 is at least partially received by the receptacle 4 of the second connector housing 1, 1b and, in the embodiments shown in Figures 6 and 7, may include a contact structure 66 having a plurality of contacts 82 arranged parallel to each other, as just one example. The contact 82 may be designed, for example, as a flattened contact bridge. In the embodiment shown in Figure 6, the contact 82 of the contact structure 66 may be mounted on a first bus bar 8a which is at least partially inserted into the receptacle 4 of the first connector housing 1, 1b 1a, and on a second bus bar 8b which is at least partially inserted into the receptacle 4 of the second connector housing 1, 1b. In this way, the contact structure 66 can electrically connect the first bus bars 8, 8a and the second bus bars 8, 8b to each other.

[0079] The contact structure 66 may be movable relative to the first busbars 8, 8a and / or the second busbars 8, 8b in order to compensate for tolerances or relative movement between the first busbars 8, 8a and the second busbars 8, 8b. In this way, the contact structure 66 can compensate, for example, for relative translational movement along the first axis 10a and / or the second axis 10b and / or the third axis 10c. Similarly, rotational movement of the first busbars 8, 8a and / or the second busbars 8, 8b about the first axis 10a and / or the second axis 10b and / or the third axis 10c can be compensated by the contact structure 66.

[0080] The design of the contact structure 66 is not limited to the design of the contact structure 66 shown in Figures 6 and 7. In principle, any contact structure 66 is envisioned that electrically connects the first busbars 8, 8a and the second busbars 8, 8b and is movable relative to the first busbars 8, 8a and / or the second busbars 8, 8b. For example, in other designs, the contact 82 of the contact structure 66 may be designed as a cable with a connection terminal that can be connected to the first or second busbar. In yet another design, the contact 82 may be designed as a tab, terminal, or electrical plug. Of course, depending on the design, the contact structure 80 may have only a single contact 82.

[0081] In the plug connection section 76 shown in Figures 5 to 7, the touch protection bar 64 of the second connector housings 1, 1b can be at least partially positioned in the slots 22 of the touch protection profile 20 of the first connector housings 1, 1a. As can be seen particularly clearly in Figure 6, the contacts 82 of the contact structure 66 can contact the first bus bars 8, 8a via the slots 22 of the touch protection profile 20 of the first connector housings 1, 1a. Figure 7 shows that each contact 82 is preferably positioned in the slots 22 of the touch protection profile 20 so that the contacts 82 and the touch protection ribs 24 of the touch protection profile 20 are always positioned alternately next to each other. In particular, the contacts 82 and the touch protection ribs 24 can be combined with each other. In other embodiments, it is naturally conceivable that two or more contacts 82 of the contact structure 66 are arranged in each slot 22 and contact the first contact bridges 8, 8a through these slots 22. Nevertheless, it is also naturally possible that some of the slots 22 do not accommodate any contacts 82 at all.

[0082] To align the contacts 82 of the contact structure 66 with respect to the touch protection bar 64, the second connector housings 1, 1b may preferably have positioning elements 84 arranged parallel to each other. In the embodiments shown in Figures 5 to 7, the positioning elements 84 may be located on the first housing portion 2a of the second connector housings 1, 1b. As can be clearly seen in Figure 7, the positioning elements 84 can align the contacts so that when the first bus bars 8, 8a comprising the first connector housings 1, 1a are inserted, each touch protection rib 24 of the touch protection profile 20 can enter the contact structure 66, in particular between adjacent contacts 82 of the contact structure 66. Similarly, each contact 82 of the contact structure 66 fits into a slot 22 of the touch protection profile 20 and can contact the first bus bars 8, 8a through this slot. The pitch 86 of the positioning elements 84, which separates adjacent positioning elements 84 from each other, can preferably correspond to the pitch 88 of the touch protection bars 64 (see Figure 4), which separates adjacent touch protection bars 64 from each other.

[0083] Since the first housing portions 2a and 2b of the first connector housings 1 and 1a are movable relative to the second housing portions 2a and 2b, the first bus bars 8 and 8a can still move relative to the second bus bars 8 and 8b even when the touch protection profile 20 is inserted into the receptacle 4 of the second connector housings 1 and 1b. [Explanation of symbols]

[0084] 1 Connector Housing 1a First connector housing 1b Second connector housing 2a First housing section 2b Second Housing Section 4 Receptacles 6a First access opening 6b Second access opening 8 Bus Bar 8a First bus bar 8b Second bus bar 10a First axis 10b Second axis 10c Third Axis 12 Shape Fitting Assemblies 14 Shape-fitting elements 16 protrusions 18 groove 20 Touch Protection Profiles 22 slots 24 Touch Protection Ribs 26 Height of touch protection ribs 28. Central plane of the receptacle 30 Touch protection rib width 32 Longitudinal direction of the receptacle 34 slot width 36 Receptacle width 38 Busbar width 40 Insertion slope 42 Slopes 44 Chamfered section 46 Alignment Elements 48 insertion slots 50 Insertion Funnels 52 fins 54 Protrusion of the second housing 56 Recessed portion of the first housing 58 Chamfered portion of the projection 60 Colors 62 Flexible part 64 Touch Protection Bar 66 Contact Structure 68a Upper side 68b lower side 70 Lamination direction 72 The side of the touch protection bar that faces away from the first access opening. 74. Chamfered part of the touch protection bar 76 Plug connection 78 Housing Assembly 80 Contact Assembly 82 Contact structure 84 Positioning elements 86 Pitch of positioning element 88 Touch protection bar pitch

Claims

1. A first housing section (2a) and a second housing section (2b), A receptacle (4) extending from a first access opening (6a) to a second access opening (6b), wherein at least one bus bar (8, 8a, 8b) and / or contact structure (66) can be at least partially accommodated in the receptacle (4) and Equipped with, The first access opening (6a) is located in the first housing portion (2a), and the second access opening (6b) is located in the second housing portion (2b). The first housing portion (2a) is movable relative to the second housing portion (2b). Connector housing (1, 1a, 1b).

2. The connector housing (1, 1a, 1b) according to claim 1, wherein the connector housing (1, 1a, 1b) has a shape-fitting assembly (12), and the first housing portion (2a) and the second housing portion (2b) can be connected by shape-fitting using the shape-fitting assembly (12).

3. The connector housing (1, 1a, 1b) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the connector housing (1, 1a, 1b) has at least one portion (62) made of a material that is more flexible than the material of the rest of the connector housing (1, 1a, 1b).

4. The connector housing (1, 1a, 1b) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first housing portion (2a) is configured to be fixed to the bus bars (8, 8a, 8b).

5. The connector housing (1, 1a, 1b) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the connector housing (1, 1a, 1b) has at least one alignment element (46) positioned in the second access opening (6b), and the at least one alignment element (46) protrudes away from the receptacle (4).

6. The connector housing (1, 1a, 1b) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the second housing portion (2b) has a non-conductive touch protection profile (20) that divides the second access opening (6b) into a plurality of adjacent slots (22).

7. The connector housing (1, 1a, 1b) according to claim 6, wherein the touch protection profile (20) has a plurality of adjacent touch protection ribs (24), and each of the slots (22) is formed between adjacent touch protection ribs (24).

8. The connector housing (1, 1a, 1b) according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the touch protection profile (20) has at least one insertion slope (40) facing away from the receptacle (4).

9. The connector housing (1, 1a, 1b) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a plurality of inwardly projecting touch protection bars (64) are arranged in at least the second access opening (6b).

10. The connector housing (1, 1a, 1b) according to claim 9, wherein the touch protection bar (64) is tapered in the direction away from the first access opening (6a) on the side (72) facing away from the first access opening (6a).

11. The connector housing (1, 1a, 1b) according to claim 9 or 10, comprising positioning elements (84) arranged parallel to each other and designed to align the contacts (82) of the contact structure (66) with respect to the touch protection bar (64).

12. A first connector housing (1, 1a) according to any one of claims 6 to 8, A second connector housing (1, 1b) according to any one of claims 9 to 11, which is connectable to the first connector housing (1, 1a) and Equipped with, The touch protection bar (64) of the second connector housing (1, 1b) is at least partially insertable into the slot (22) of the touch protection profile (20) of the first connector housing (1, 1a). Housing assembly (78).

13. The housing assembly (78) according to claim 12, A contact structure (66) at least partially received by the receptacle (4) of the second connector housing (1, 1b), wherein the contact structure (66) is mountable on the first busbar (8, 8a) and the second busbar (8, 8b), movable relative to the first busbar (8, 8a) and / or the second busbar (8, 8b), and configured to electrically connect the first busbar (8, 8a) to the second busbar (8, 8b), and A touch-protective contact assembly (80) is provided.

14. The contact assembly (80) according to claim 13, The first busbar (8, 8a) is at least partially inserted into the receptacle (4) of the first connector housing (1, 1a), The second busbar (8, 8b) is at least partially inserted into the receptacle (4) of the second connector housing (1, 1b) and Equipped with, The contact structure (66) is attached to the first bus bar (8, 8a) and the second bus bar (8, 8b), and electrically connects the first bus bar (8, 8a) and the second bus bar (8a, 8b). The touch protection bar (64) of the second connector housing (1, 1b) is at least partially positioned in the slot (22) of the touch protection profile (20) of the first connector housing (1, 1a). At least one contact (82) of the contact structure (66) electrically contacts the first busbar (8, 8a) through the slot (22) of the touch protection profile (20). Touch protection plug connector (76).

15. The plug connection portion (76) according to claim 14, wherein the first housing portion (2a) of the first connector housing (1, 1a) is fixed to the first bus bar (8, 8a), and / or the first housing portion (2a) of the second connector housing (1, 1b) is fixed to the second bus bar (8, 8b).

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