Electric plug connector

Abstract

The invention relates to an electric plug connector having a plug (1) and a corresponding mating plug (2), wherein the plug (1) has a plug housing (10) with at least one contact element (11) arranged therein and the mating plug (2) has a mating plug housing (20) with at least one mating contact element (21) arranged therein, wherein the plug (1) has a plug face (12) and the mating plug (2) has a corresponding mating plug face (22) such that the plug (1) and the mating plug (2) can be plugged together, and wherein a releasable detent connection having at least one detent element (3) and at least one mating detent element (4) is formed between the plug housing (10) and the mating plug housing (20). In the plug connector according to the invention, accidental disconnection of plug (1) and mating plug (2) is prevented in that at least one detent element (3) is arranged in the region of the plug face (12) and at least one mating detent element (4) is arranged in the region of the mating plug face (22).

Description

[0001] Electrical connector

[0002] The invention relates to an electrical connector with a plug and a corresponding mating plug, wherein the plug has a plug housing with at least one contact element arranged therein, and the mating plug has a mating plug housing with at least one mating contact element arranged therein, wherein the plug has a plug face and the mating plug has a corresponding mating plug face, so that the plug and the mating plug can be plugged together. Furthermore, a releasable locking connection with at least one locking element and at least one counter-locking element is formed between the plug housing and the mating plug housing.

[0003] Electrical connectors, consisting of a plug and a corresponding mating connector, have been known in various designs for many decades. These electrical connectors are used to detachably connect a single- or multi-core electrical cable to an electrical assembly or a second single- or multi-core electrical cable. The plug and mating connector have corresponding contact elements, such as a pin contact on the one hand and a corresponding socket contact on the other. Different types and shapes of connectors are available depending on the application.

[0004] To prevent the plug from accidentally becoming detached from the mating connector, different fastening devices are provided depending on the connector type. In circular connectors, for example, a screw connection is usually formed between the plug and the mating connector. For this purpose, the plug or the mating connector has a sleeve with an internal thread and the mating connector or plug has a corresponding sleeve with an external thread. In other types of connectors, locking devices are provided on at least one outer surface of the plug housing and the mating connector housing, through which the plug and the mating connector can be locked together during connection. Such rust can sometimes be easily removed using a screwdriver or a release element arranged on the connector.For example, DE 10 2006 054 647 B4 discloses an electrical connector in which a locking lug is arranged on a first narrow side of the plug housing and a pivoting locking tongue with a recess is arranged on the corresponding narrow side of the mating plug housing. When the plug and mating plug are plugged together, the locking lug engages in the recess in the locking tongue, so that the plug and mating plug are locked together. To remove the corrosion, a release element is slidably arranged on the first narrow side of the plug housing. If the release element is manually moved into its release position, the locking tongue is pivoted outwards so far that the locking lug and the recess in the locking tongue are no longer engaged. The plug and mating plug can then be easily separated from one another.

[0005] The disadvantage, however, is that the width of the plug is increased by locating the release element on a narrow side of the plug housing. Furthermore, operating the release element requires that the user can move it at least with a finger, which requires access to the plug housing on the narrow side, which cannot always be guaranteed.

[0006] The present invention is therefore based on the object of providing a connector in which an unintentional separation of the plug and mating plug can be prevented without the need for special tools or release elements.

[0007] This object is achieved in the plug connector described above with the features of patent claim 1. The plug connector according to the invention is characterized in that both the at least one locking element is arranged in the region of the plug face and the at least one counter-locking element is arranged in the region of the mating plug face. By arranging the mutually corresponding elements of the locking connection within the respective plug face, the arrangement of a locking element or a counter-locking element on the sides of the plug housing or the mating plug housing can be omitted, so that the width of the plug and the mating plug is not increased by the provision of the locking connection. Furthermore, the risk is reduced that the rust on the locking connection will be unintentionally released if a user inadvertently deflects the locking element or the counter-locking element and thereby causes the locking connection to be unlocked.

[0008] In the electrical connector, the at least one locking element preferably has a locking projection with a locking surface, and the at least one counter-locking element has a rear grip corresponding to the locking projection and with a counter-locking surface. When the plug and counter-connector are locked together, the locking surface of the locking projection and the counter-locking surface of the rear grip engage with each other. For this purpose, the locking projection of the locking element engages with its locking surface on the counter-locking surface of the rear grip of the counter-locking element.

[0009] According to an advantageous embodiment, which is independent of the specific design of the locking element and the counter-locking element, the at least one locking element and the at least one counter-locking element are designed such that the locking surface and the counter-locking surface engage with one another before the plug and the counter-connector are fully plugged together. Such a design, in particular the dimensioning of the locking element and the counter-locking element, ensures that even in the event of tolerance-related deviations in the dimensions of the plug housing and the counter-connector housing, the intended locking is achieved by the locking connection when the plug and the counter-connector are plugged together.

[0010] The at least one locking element and the at least one counter-locking element are also preferably designed, in particular dimensioned, such that the locking surface and the counter-locking surface are still in engagement with one another before the plug and the mating plug are separated from one another to such an extent that the at least one contact element of the plug and the at least one mating contact element of the mating plug are no longer electrically connected to one another. This dimensioning or design of the locking element and the counter-locking element ensures that the locking connection between the plug and the mating plug is still effective before the contact element and the mating contact element are no longer in engagement with one another. This ensures that accidental pulling on the plug or the mating plug does not lead to an interruption of the electrical connection established via the electrical plug connectors.There are various options regarding the structural design of the at least one locking element and the at least one counter-locking element. According to a first preferred embodiment, the at least one locking element is designed as a locking arm having a locking lug as a locking projection. The at least one counter-locking element is then preferably designed as a pin-shaped or cylindrical section having a recess as a rear grip, behind which the locking lug of the locking arm engages when rusted. Alternatively, the pin-shaped or cylindrical section can also have a groove as a rear grip, into which the locking lug engages when rusted. Preferably, at least two locking arms are provided, which are arranged opposite one another and at least partially concentrically surround the pin-shaped or cylindrical counter-locking element.

[0011] In this embodiment of the locking element and the counter-locking element, the locking surface of the locking lug preferably has an angle a > 90° to the longitudinal axis of the plug. Likewise, the counter-locking surface of the recess or groove preferably has an angle b > 90° to the longitudinal axis of the mating plug. By designing the angle a of the locking surface and the angle b of the counter-locking surface each > 90°, it is ensured that if a sufficiently large force acts on the plug housing or the mating connector housing against the plug-in direction of the plug and mating plug, the releasable locking connection opens automatically. One of the two angles a or b can also be 90° if the other angle is > 90°. Preferably, however, both the locking surface and the counter-locking surface each have an angle a or b > 90°. According to a preferred embodiment, the angle a and / or the angle b can be up to 160°.The locking surface of the locking lug can, for example, have an angle a of approximately 130° to 160° to the longitudinal axis of the plug, with the longitudinal axis of the plug and the longitudinal axis of the mating connector running parallel to the plug-in direction of the plug and mating connector. Likewise, the mating locking surface of the recess or groove can have an angle b of approximately 130° to 160° to the longitudinal axis of the mating connector.

[0012] To facilitate the mating of the plug and mating connector, the locking lug of at least one locking element preferably has a beveled insertion. This ensures that when the plug and mating connector are mated together, the locking arm is deflected automatically and without the need for significant force when the locking lug with its beveled insertion is guided past the mating element.

[0013] According to a second advantageous embodiment of the electrical connector according to the invention, the at least one locking element and the at least one counter-locking element are each designed as a cylindrical section, wherein the two cylindrical sections are arranged concentrically to one another, such that the cylindrical section of the locking element can be inserted into the cylindrical section of the counter-locking element. The cylindrical section of the locking element has an at least partially circumferential rib or elevation as a locking projection, which interacts with a rear grip on the inner circumference of the cylindrical section of the counter-locking element. For this purpose, the cylindrical section of the counter-locking element has an inwardly tapering section and an adjoining widening section on its inner circumference.When the plug and mating plug are mated together, the widened section interacts with the circumferential rib of the counter-locking element, with the widened section assuming the function of the rear grip. The outer diameter D1 of the rib or protrusion is larger than the minimum inner diameter D2 of the tapered section of the counter-locking element.

[0014] When the plug and mating plug are plugged together, the rib formed on the cylindrical section of the locking element slides along the inner circumference of the cylindrical section of the counter-locking element until the rib meets the tapered section of the counter-locking element. When the cylindrical section of the plug is further inserted into the cylindrical section of the mating plug, the cylindrical section of the counter-locking element is then elastically expanded and / or the partially circumferential rib is elastically compressed. If the cylindrical section of the locking element with the rib is further inserted into the cylindrical section of the counter-locking element, the rib moves into the widening section of the counter-locking element, thereby locking the plug and mating plug or the locking element and the counter-locking element.

[0015] In this design of the electrical connector, the locking surface of the rib of the locking element preferably has an angle c > 90° to the longitudinal axis of the plug, and the counter-locking surface of the widening section of the counter-locking element has an angle d > 90° to the longitudinal axis of the mating plug. Here, too, both angles c and d are preferably each > 90°, so that the locking connection can be opened automatically if a sufficiently large force is applied to the plug or the mating plug, directed opposite to the plugging direction. If one of the two angles c or d is 90°, the other angle must be > 90° to enable the locking connection to open automatically.

[0016] In this embodiment of the electrical connector, the at least partially circumferential rib of the locking element can have an insertion bevel or rounded portion to facilitate insertion of the locking element into the mating locking element. For this purpose, the inwardly tapered portion of the mating locking element preferably has an angle e > 90° to the longitudinal axis of the mating connector, so that the rib can slide along the tapered portion when inserting the locking element into the mating locking element without requiring excessive force.

[0017] The angle e of the inwardly tapered section is preferably greater than the angle d of the widening section of the counter-locking element. This results in the force required to insert the locking element into the cylindrical section of the counter-locking element being lower than the force required to pull the cylindrical locking element out of the cylindrical counter-locking element, thus releasing the locking connection.

[0018] In both of the previously described embodiments, the at least one locking element is preferably formed integrally with the connector housing, and the at least one counter-locking element is formed integrally with the mating connector housing. If the connector housing and the mating connector housing are made of plastic, the at least one locking element and the at least one counter-locking element can be manufactured directly during the manufacture of the connector housing and the mating connector housing, respectively, so that the formation of the locking connection does not involve an additional manufacturing step.

[0019] According to an alternative embodiment, the at least one locking element and the at least one counter-locking element can also be designed as separate components that are fastened, in particular locked, in the connector housing or in the mating connector housing in the region of the plug face or the mating connector face. The locking element can preferably be designed as a locking arm that has a locking lug as a locking projection, while the counter-locking element is preferably pin-shaped or cylindrical and has a recess or a groove as a rear grip. The design of the locking element and the counter-locking element can thus be designed essentially as previously described in connection with the first preferred embodiment.If the locking element and the counter-locking element are designed as separate components, they can be made either of plastic, as is usually the case with the plug housing and the counter-plug housing, or of a metallic material.

[0020] In detail, there are several possibilities for designing and developing the connector according to the invention. Reference is made to the individual patent claims as well as to the following description of two preferred embodiments in conjunction with the drawings. The drawings show:

[0021] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a plug and a mating plug of an electrical connector, in the unmated state,

[0022] Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the plug and the mating plug according to Fig. 1, in the unplugged state,

[0023] Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the plug and the mating plug according to Fig. 2, in the connected state,

[0024] Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view of the plug from Fig. 2,

[0025] Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view of the mating connector from Fig. 2,

[0026] Fig. 6 is an enlarged detailed view of the plug and the mating plug, in the assembled state according to Fig. 3,

[0027] Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a plug and a mating plug of a second embodiment of an electrical connector, in the unplugged state,

[0028] Fig. 8 is a sectional view of the plug and the mating plug according to Fig. 7, in the unplugged state, Fig. 9 is a sectional view of the plug and the mating plug according to Fig. 8, in the plugged state,

[0029] Fig. 10 is an enlarged detail view of the plug from Fig. 8,

[0030] Fig. 11 is an enlarged detail view of the mating connector from Fig. 8,

[0031] Fig. 12 is an enlarged detailed view of the plug and the mating plug, in the connected state, according to Fig. 9, and

[0032] Fig. 13 is a sectional view of a variant of the plug and the mating plug according to Fig. 8, in the unplugged state.

[0033] Figures 1 to 6 and 7 to 12 show two different embodiments of an electrical connector according to the invention, which consists of a plug 1 and a corresponding mating plug 2. Figures 1 and 7 each show a perspective view of a plug 1 and a mating plug 2 of a connector in the unmated state, with the plug 1 and the mating plug 2 arranged side by side. Figures 2 and 8 each show a sectional view of the plug 1 and the mating plug 2 arranged one above the other, but not yet mated together, as shown in Figures 3 and 9.

[0034] The plug 1 has a plug housing 10 with a plurality of contact elements 11 arranged therein. Correspondingly, the mating plug 2 has a mating plug housing 20 with a plurality of mating contact elements 21 arranged therein, wherein the number of contact elements 11 corresponds to the number of mating contact elements 21. Of course, however, the number of contact elements 11 and the number of mating contact elements 21 are not limited to the exemplary number shown in the figures. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the contact elements 11 are designed as socket contacts and the mating contact elements 21 as pin contacts, although other types of contact elements or mating contact elements are also possible in principle.

[0035] The plug 1 has a plug face 12, to which a corresponding mating plug face 22 is formed on the mating plug 2, so that the plug 1 and the mating plug 2 can be plugged together with the plug face 12 or the mating plug face 22. In the electrical plug connector according to the invention, a releasable latching connection is formed between the plug 1 or the plug housing 10 and the mating plug 2 or the mating plug housing 20, which consists of at least one latching element 3 and at least one counter-latching element 4, wherein the at least one latching element 3 is arranged in the region of the plug face 12 and the at least one counter-latching element 4 is arranged in the region of the mating plug face 22. The latching element 3 has a latching projection with a latching surface 13, to which a corresponding rear grip with a counter-latching surface 23 is formed on the counter-latching element 4.

[0036] In the first exemplary embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 6, two locking elements 3 are provided, each designed as a locking arm 14, wherein the two locking arms 14 each have a locking lug 15 at their free ends, which is particularly evident in Figure 4. In this exemplary embodiment, the counter-locking element 4 is designed as a pin-shaped section 24 having a recess 25 that serves as a rear grip for the locking lugs 15 of the two locking arms 14. A preferred shape of the pin-shaped section 24 is particularly evident in Figure 5. The pin-shaped section 24 has a free end 26 whose diameter D4 is greater than the distance A between the two opposing locking lugs 15 of the two locking arms 14.

[0037] 2 and 3, when plugging together plug 1 and mating plug 2, plug housing 10 engages with its plug face 12 into mating plug face 22 of mating plug housing 20, so that the two locking arms 14 are initially pushed apart by the free end 26 of the pin-shaped section 24. If plug 1 is inserted further in plugging direction S into mating plug 2, the two locking arms 14 spring back as soon as the locking lugs 15 have passed the free end 26 of the pin-shaped section 24. The locking surfaces 13 of the locking lugs 15 then interact with the counter-locking surface 23 of the recess 25, so that plug 1 and mating plug 2 can no longer be accidentally separated from one another due to the locking connection then acting.In order to separate the plug 1 and the mating plug 2 from each other again, it is necessary to apply a certain force counter to the plug-in direction S, which not only pulls the plug 1 and the mating plug 2 apart, but first releases the locking connection between the locking lugs 15 and the recess 25. The force required to intentionally release the locking connection can be determined by choosing the rigidity of the two locking arms 14 and in particular by the inclination of the locking surface 13 and the counter-locking surface 23. To enable automatic opening of the locking connection, the locking surface 13 of the two locking lugs 15 has an angle a > 90° to the longitudinal axis L of the plug 1 and the counter-locking surface 23 of the recess 25 has an angle b > 90°. At most one of the two angles a, b should be 90°, since otherwise automatic opening of the locking connection by pulling on the plug 1 oron the mating connector 2 opposite to the plugging direction S is not possible. The smaller the two angles a, b are, the more force must be applied to release the locking connection. In the illustrated embodiment, the angle a of the locking surface 13 of the locking lugs 15 is approximately 100° to 120°, and the angle b of the counter-locking surface 23 is approximately 100° to 115°. However, both angles a and b can also be selected larger, for example, 130° to 160°.

[0038] To ensure that the force required to plug together plug 1 and mating plug 2 is not excessive due to the design of the snap-in connection, the locking lugs 15 of the two locking arms 14 each have an insertion bevel 16. Furthermore, the free end 26 of the pin-shaped portion 24 on the side facing away from the recess 25 is preferably slightly rounded or also has corresponding insertion bevels, so that the two locking arms 14 are more easily deflected by the free end 26 of the pin-shaped portion 24 when the plug housing 10 and the mating plug housing 20 are plugged together.

[0039] Figures 7 to 12 show a second embodiment of an electrical connector according to the invention, which differs from the first embodiment in particular by a different design of the locking element 3 and the counter-locking element 4. In this embodiment, the locking element 3 is designed as a cylindrical section 17, which has an at least partially circumferential rib 18 as a locking projection. Correspondingly, the mating connector housing 20 has, in the region of the mating connector face 22, a likewise cylindrical section 27 as a counter-locking element 4, into which the cylindrical section 17 of the connector housing 10 is inserted when the connector 1 and the mating connector 2 are plugged together.The cylindrical section 27 of the mating connector 2 has an inwardly tapering section 28 on an inner circumference and a widening section 29 adjoining it in the longitudinal axis L of the mating connector 2 as a rear grip, as can be seen from the sectional view according to Figures 8 and 9 and the enlarged view according to Figure 11.

[0040] From Figures 10 to 12 it can be seen that the outer diameter D1 of the rib 18 is slightly larger than the minimum inner diameter D2 of the tapered section 28. In addition, the diameter D3 at the end of the widening section 29 essentially corresponds to the outer diameter D1 of the rib 18 or is preferably slightly larger than the outer diameter D1, so that the cylindrical section 27 is not widened by the rib 18 when the rib is located behind the widening section 29 in the plug-in direction S, as shown in Fig. 12.

[0041] In this embodiment of the electrical connector, the force that must be applied to release the locking connection can also be determined by the rigidity of the locking element 3 and the counter-locking element 4, and in particular by the inclinations of the corresponding locking surfaces 13, 23. The locking surface 13 of the rib 18 has an angle c > 90° to the longitudinal axis L of the connector 1, and the counter-locking surface 23 of the widening section 29 has an angle d > 90°. Preferably, both the angle c and the angle d are between 130° and 160°, so that the force that must be applied to release the locking connection is not too great.

[0042] In addition to the angle c of the locking surface 13 and the angle d of the counter-locking surface 23, the force for releasing the locking connection in the second exemplary embodiment also depends in particular on the size of the difference between the outer diameter D1 of the rib 18 and the minimum inner diameter D2 of the tapered section 28 of the counter-locking element 4, since when the plug housing 10 and the counter-connector housing 20 are plugged together, the cylindrical section 27 in the counter-connector face 22 must be elastically expanded when the rib 18 passes the tapered section 28.

[0043] To facilitate insertion of the cylindrical section 17 into the cylindrical section 27, the inwardly tapered section 28 has an angle e > 90°, in particular > 130°, to the longitudinal axis L of the mating connector 2. The angle e of the inwardly tapered section 28 is preferably greater than the angle d of the widening section 29, so that less force is required to plug together the connector 1 and the mating connector 2 than to release the snap-in connection.

[0044] Fig. 13 shows a variant of the second embodiment of the connector. A comparison with the sectional view according to Figs. 8 and 9 reveals that in this variant, a contact element 11 and a mating contact element 21 are also arranged in the area of ​​the locking connection. The socket-shaped contact element 11 is located within the cylindrical section 17, set back from the rib 18. The pin-shaped contact element 21 extends through the cylindrical section 27 and is radially spaced from the tapered section 28.

[0045] Reference symbol

[0046] 1. Plug

[0047] 2. Mating connector

[0048] 3. Locking element

[0049] 4. Counter-locking element

[0050] 10. Connector housing

[0051] 11. Contact element

[0052] 12. Connector face

[0053] 13. Rest area

[0054] 14. Locking arm

[0055] 15. Locking lug

[0056] 16. Insertion bevel

[0057] 17. cylindrical section

[0058] 18th rib

[0059] 20. Mating connector housing

[0060] 21. Counter contact element

[0061] 22. Mating connector face

[0062] 23. Counter-locking surface

[0063] 24. pin-shaped section

[0064] 25. Jump back

[0065] 26. free end

[0066] 27. cylindrical section

[0067] 28. tapered section

[0068] 29. widening section

[0069] S Plug direction

[0070] L Longitudinal axis

Claims

Patent claims 1. An electrical plug connector with a plug (1) and a corresponding mating plug (2), wherein the plug (1) has a plug housing (10) with at least one contact element (11) arranged therein and the mating plug (2) has a mating plug housing (20) with at least one mating contact element (21) arranged therein, wherein the plug (1) has a plug face (12) and the mating plug (2) has a corresponding mating plug face (22) so that the plug (1) and the mating plug (2) can be plugged together, and wherein a releasable latching connection with at least one latching element (3) and at least one counter-latching element (4) is formed between the plug housing (10) and the mating plug housing (20), characterized in that the at least one latching element (3) is arranged in the region of the plug face (12) and the at least one counter-latching element (4) is arranged in the region of the mating plug face (22).

2. Electrical connector according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one locking element (3) has a locking projection with a locking surface (13) and the at least one counter-locking element (4) has a corresponding rear grip with a counter-locking surface (23).

3. Electrical connector according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the at least one locking element (3) and the at least one counter-locking element (4) are designed such that the locking surface (13) and the counter-locking surface (23) are in engagement with one another before the plug (1) and the counter-plug (2) are completely plugged together.

4. Electrical connector according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the at least one locking element (3) and the at least one counter-locking element (4) are designed such that the locking surface (13) and the counter-locking surface (23) are still in engagement with one another before the plug (1) and the counter-plug (2) are separated from one another to such an extent that the at least one contact element (11) and the at least one counter-contact element (21) are no longer electrically connected to one another.

5. Electrical connector according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the at least one locking element (3) is designed as a locking arm (14) which has a locking lug (15) as a locking projection, and in that the at least one counter-locking element (4) is designed as a pin-shaped or cylindrical section (24) which has a recess (25) or a groove as a rear grip.

6. Electrical connector according to claim 5, characterized in that the locking surface (13) of the locking lug (15) has an angle a > 90° to the longitudinal axis (L) of the plug (1) and the counter-locking surface (23) of the recess (25) or the groove has an angle b > 90° to the longitudinal axis (L) of the mating plug (2), wherein only either the angle a = 90° or the angle b = 90°.

7. Electrical connector according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the locking lug (15) of the at least one locking element (3) has an insertion bevel (16).

8. Electrical connector according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the at least one locking element (3) is designed as a cylindrical section (17) which has an at least partially circumferential rib (18) as a locking projection, and in that the at least one counter-locking element (4) is designed as a cylindrical section (27) which has on its inner circumference an inwardly tapering section (28) and an adjoining widening section (29) as a rear grip, wherein the outer diameter D1 of the rib (18) is greater than the minimum inner diameter D2 of the tapered section (28) of the counter-locking element (4).

9. Electrical connector according to claim 8, characterized in that the locking surface (13) of the rib (18) of the locking element (3) has an angle c > 90° to the longitudinal axis (L) of the plug (1) and the counter-locking surface (23) of the widening section (29) of the counter-locking element (4) has an angle d > 90° to the longitudinal axis (L) of the mating plug (2), wherein only either the angle c = 90° or the angle d = 90°.

10. Electrical connector according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the inwardly tapering portion (28) of the counter- locking element (4) to the longitudinal axis (L) of the mating connector (2) has an angle e > 90°.

11. Electrical connector according to one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the angle e of the inwardly tapering section (29) is preferably greater than the angle d of the widening Section (28) of the counter-locking element (4).

12. Electrical connector according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the at least one locking element (3) is formed integrally with the plug housing (10) and the at least one counter-locking element (4) is formed integrally with the mating plug housing (20).

Images