Arrangement having an element and a counter-element, with a bevel surrounding an opening of the element

Abstract

The invention relates to an arrangement having an element and a counter-element which are plugged together, wherein the element has at least one opening, and the counter-element has at least one component and a respective component of the counter-element is inserted into a respective opening, characterised in that a bevel surrounding the opening of the element is provided, wherein the bevel has a larger widening in its end regions than in its centre region.

Description

[0001] ARRANGEMENT WITH AN ELEMENT AND A COUNTERELEMENT, WITH AN OPENING OF THE ELEMENT

[0002] Circumferential bevel

[0003] Description

[0004] The invention relates to an arrangement comprising an element and a counter-element which are plugged together, wherein the element has at least one opening and a component of the counter-element is plugged into this opening, according to the features of the preamble of patent claim 1.

[0005] For example, the element is a contact carrier of a plug connector and the counter element is a mating connector, wherein a contact, in particular a contact socket, is arranged in the contact carrier and wherein a corresponding contact, in particular a rectangular contact pin (also called a blade), is arranged in the mating connector, wherein the contact pin is to be inserted into the contact socket by plugging the plug connector and the mating connector together.

[0006] The insertion process takes place in the axial direction of the contacts. One such embodiment is shown, for example, in the series of five illustrations in Figure 1. There, it can be seen that the element, in particular the contact carrier, has an opening into which a component, in particular an elongated contact, of the mating connector (not shown here) is to be inserted. Shown is a correct alignment of the mating element with its component in relation to the opening of the element, so that the component of the mating element can be easily inserted into the opening of the element, around which a collecting funnel (circumferential straight bevels) is arranged.

[0007] In practice, it can happen that the mating connector is not always correctly aligned with the plug connector for insertion. For example, it may be positioned at an angle or slightly twisted, making it difficult or even impossible to insert the contact pin of the mating connector into the corresponding opening in the contact carrier, in which the contact socket is located. This often results in damage to the front of the contact carrier around the opening for inserting the contact pin. Twisting of the component of the mating element (contact pin of the mating connector) relative to the opening in the element (contact carrier of the plug connector) is shown in the two illustrations in Figure 2.

[0008] Further possibilities for twisting and the resulting damage to the collecting funnel in the element are shown in the six illustrations in Figure 3. On the left, the opening with a collecting funnel (circumferential bevel) in the element (contact carrier) is shown. The second, third and fourth illustrations from the left when viewed in Figure 3 show an incorrect insertion process of the component of the mating element (flat contact pin of the mating connector) into the opening in the element (contact carrier of the connector). This causes damage to the surface either on the front side of the element or - as can be seen in the last two illustrations from the left in Figure 3 (top left and bottom right broken away material of the bevel) - in areas of the bevel of the element when the front side of the component of the mating element meets the circumferential bevel.Depending on the incorrect alignment, the insertion process may even be blocked.

[0009] The invention is therefore based on the object of improving the insertion process of a component of a mating element into an opening of an element such that the insertion process proceeds smoothly and damage to the elements is avoided. In particular, it is about inserting a contact pin of a mating connector into an opening of a contact carrier in which a contact socket corresponding to the contact pin is arranged, without causing damage to the contact carrier of the connector or the contact pin of the mating connector.

[0010] This problem is solved by the features of patent claim 1.

[0011] According to the invention, a circumferential bevel is provided around the opening of the element, wherein the bevel has a greater widening in its end regions than in its central region. This forms a type of collecting funnel, which is preferably elongated and has a greater widening in its end regions than its widening in the central region. Due to the greater widening in its end regions, the collecting funnel enables a twisted component of the mating element, in particular a slightly twisted contact pin of the mating connector, to be guided in a targeted manner by the bevel of the collecting funnel and directed into the opening of the element, in particular of the contact carrier, and thus guided into its intended orientation.

[0012] The use of the constricted catch funnel according to the invention is particularly advantageous for connectors that are plugged into a mating connector to form a plug-in connection when mated together, since in practice it very often happens that the connector is not placed and plugged in 100% axially, i.e. at an angle or tilt, on its mating connector. The invention compensates for this initially axial offset of the contact partner of the connector to its corresponding contact partner or the geometry of the associated contact carrier of the mating connector, and the connector is aligned starting with the placement on its mating connector and then plugged into the mating connector in a guided manner. This effectively prevents damage, especially to the contact partners or the areas surrounding them on the respective contact carrier.

[0013] The prior art and an embodiment according to the invention are described below and explained with reference to the figures.

[0014] They show:

[0015] Figures 1 to 3: State-of-the-art designs and

[0016] Figures 4 to 6: Embodiments according to the invention.

[0017] The statements on the prior art according to Figures 1 to 3 can be found in the introduction to the description above.

[0018] The five illustrations in Figure 4 show the design of the inventive catch funnel, which can also be referred to as a constricted insertion bevel, in the element, in particular the contact carrier of the connector. The series of illustrations in Figure 4 shows that the elongated contact pin is correctly aligned with respect to the opening in the contact carrier and can therefore be inserted without difficulty without the need for the catch funnel. The two illustrations in Figure 5 show that the elongated contact pin is initially not correctly aligned with respect to the opening in the contact carrier at the beginning of the insertion process, and is therefore slightly twisted.This inherently incorrect alignment is remedied by aligning the contact pin's face with the beveled end of the flared catching funnel. This brings the contact pin into its correct position relative to the contact carrier's opening during the subsequent insertion process. This effectively prevents damage to the contact carrier's face or its catching funnel, allowing the insertion process to proceed smoothly and without interruption.

[0019] Further detailed views of the collecting funnel according to the invention and its mode of operation when inserting the elongated contact pin into the opening of the contact carrier can be seen in the individual eight representations of Figure 6.

[0020] While the figures show, by way of example, a plug connector with its contact carrier, which has at least one contact chamber for receiving a contact, in particular a contact socket, and a mating connector with its contact, the invention can also be modified in such a way that the collecting funnel with constriction is also provided on a circumferential housing of the mating element, in particular of the mating connector, so that the circumferential edges of the element, in particular of the contact carrier of the plug connector, are inserted into this collecting funnel and, for example, the contact carrier is correctly aligned and inserted further when the element, in particular the plug connector, is plugged into the mating element, in particular the mating connector. Such a collecting funnel on the housing of the mating element can be provided in addition to or alternatively to the collecting funnel around the opening of the element.

[0021] The constricted insertion bevel in the element, especially the contact carrier, also works with round contacts, which also result in an improved insertion situation, because even round contacts can have a certain amount of wobble, depending on the plug-in system.

[0022] The contact shown in the figures has a length-to-width ratio of approximately 5:1 in cross-section. This is only an example. Contacts with other ratios, up to a ratio of 1:1 (i.e., a square cross-section), can also be used, so that wobble can be compensated not only for elongated, particularly elongated flat contacts (so-called blades), but also for contacts with a nearly square or exactly square cross-section.

[0023] The figures show a contact carrier with a single opening for accommodating a contact, illustrating the basic concept of the constricted catching funnel. Of course, the concept is also applicable to connectors with multiple adjacent contact sections and, if necessary, even to connectors with two or more rows.

[0024] Likewise, the at least one contact socket can alternatively be arranged in the mating connector, and accordingly the at least one contact pin can be arranged in the contact carrier of the connector. The contact carrier forms the connector or it can also be arranged in a housing.

Claims

Patent claims 1. Arrangement with an element and a counter-element which are plugged together, wherein the element has at least one opening and the counter-element has at least one component and a respective component of the counter-element is plugged into a respective opening, characterized in that a circumferential bevel is provided around the opening of the element, wherein the bevel has a greater widening in its end regions than in its central region.

2. Arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the element is a plug-in connector and the counter-element is a mating connector which can be plugged together with the plug-in connector.

3. Arrangement according to claim 2, characterized in that a contact, in particular all contacts, in a contact carrier of the connector has a length-width ratio of approximately 5:1 up to a ratio of up to 1:1.

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