Plug connector assembly with two plug housing parts which can be displaced relative to one another for a two-stage plugging operation

Abstract

The invention relates to a plug connector assembly (1) for transmitting data signals. Said assembly comprises: a plug housing (3) and a mating plug housing (5), which can be connected to one another in a mechanically reversible manner, by being pushed together in a plugging direction (7), from a separated initial configuration via a plugging configuration to a coupling configuration, a first signal conductor element (9) which is held in the plug housing, and a second signal conductor element (11) which is held in the mating plug housing. The plug housing is designed in two parts, with a first plug housing part (13) and a second plug housing part (15). The plug housing parts are held on one another and can be displaced relative to one another in the plugging direction between a pulled-back configuration and a pushed-forward configuration. The first signal conductor element is fastened to the first plug housing part in such a manner that it can be displaced together with the first plug housing part relative to the second plug housing part. The plug housing has a locking mechanism (17) which is configured such that, in a locking configuration, it blocks a displacing of the two plug housing parts relative to one another from the pulled-back to the pushed-forward configuration as long as the plug housing and the mating plug housing are in the separated initial configuration, and that it permits the corresponding displacing of the two plug housing parts relative to one another, by way of a transition into an unlocking configuration, only if the plug housing and the mating plug housing are pushed together at least as far as the plugging configuration.

Description

[0001] Connector arrangement with two relatively movable plug housing parts for a two-stage mating process

[0002] Field of the invention

[0003] The present invention relates to a connector arrangement in which a first signal conductor element held in a connector housing can be coupled to a second signal conductor element held in a mating connector housing for transmitting data signals.

[0004] Background of the invention

[0005] There are a wide variety of different applications, for example in the automotive sector, in which data needs to be transmitted between devices in the form of changing data signals at very high frequencies. For example, devices that act as information sources or transmitters can generate such data signals. Such devices can be sensors, for example. Particularly in automotive applications, such devices can be lidar sensors, radar sensors, cameras, or similar, and generate very large amounts of data or data at very high frequencies. Other devices in the form of data receivers, which are used for information processing or information conversion and which act as receivers, can further process received data signals or control actions based on them. Such devices can be, for example, control units or actuators.The data signals can be transmitted, for example, via signal conductor elements in the form of data lines. Data lines can be coupled at coupling points to other data lines and / or to information sources and / or to data receivers using connector arrangements to transmit data or signals.

[0006] As applications become increasingly complex, the need for signal transmission and the resulting data transmission bandwidth can increase significantly. For example, automotive applications are increasingly demanding high-frequency data signal transmission. To meet this demand, data is increasingly being transmitted not as electrical signals over electrically conductive data lines, but as optical data over signal conductor elements, such as fiber optics.

[0007] However, coupling signal conductor elements, such as optical fibers, using connector assemblies is typically very challenging. In particular, it is important to prevent such signal conductor elements from degrading in their data transmission capacity due to, for example, contamination and / or damage. This can be particularly important in automotive applications, where repair or maintenance measures, such as connecting or disconnecting connector assemblies, are often carried out in dirty environments and / or other harsh working and environmental conditions.

[0008] In this context, it is typically necessary to ensure in connector assemblies that the signal conductor elements to be connected via them are exposed in a state in which a connector housing and a mating connector housing of the connector assembly are not connected to each other, so that they can easily be damaged or contaminated.

[0009] For this purpose, signal conductor elements in conventional connector arrangements are often surrounded by projections, for example in the form of protective collars, which are formed on the connector housing or the mating connector housing.

[0010] However, the provision of such a protective collar can be disadvantageous, at least in some applications. For example, in some cases, due to space constraints or geometry, the protective collar may not be large enough to reliably protect the signal conductor elements it surrounds. Conversely, the overall length of an entire connector assembly increases significantly due to a long protective collar. Furthermore, problems can arise due to the so-called wobble play between the plug-in components of a connector assembly.

[0011] Summary of the invention and advantageous embodiments

[0012] There may therefore be a need for a connector assembly for transmitting high-frequency data signals, with which signal conductor elements can be easily and reliably connected, for example, to different devices and / or to other signal conductor elements in various configurations, both mechanically and for data transmission. The signal conductor elements should be protected from damage, contamination, or similar. Furthermore, the connector assembly should preferably be as compact as possible and / or be easy and reliable to plug and unplug.

[0013] This need can be met by the subject matter of the independent claim. Advantageous embodiments are set forth in the dependent claims, the following description, and the accompanying figures.

[0014] According to one aspect of the invention, a connector assembly for transmitting data signals is described. The connector assembly comprises:

[0015] - a connector housing and a mating connector housing, which can be mechanically reversibly connected to one another from a separate initial configuration by pushing them together in one plug-in direction via a plug-in configuration to a coupling configuration,

[0016] - a first signal conductor element which is held in the connector housing, and

[0017] - a second signal conductor element which is held in the mating connector housing.

[0018] The connector housing is formed in two parts, comprising a first connector housing part and a second connector housing part. The first and second connector housing parts are held together and can be displaced relative to one another in the plugging direction between a retracted configuration and an advanced configuration. The first signal conductor element is attached to the first connector housing part in such a way that it can be displaced together with the first connector housing part relative to the second connector housing part.The connector housing has a locking mechanism which is configured such that, in a locking configuration, it blocks a displacement of the first and second connector housing parts relative to one another from the retracted to the advanced configuration as long as the connector housing and the mating connector housing are in the separated initial configuration, and that it releases the displacement of the first and second connector housing parts relative to one another from the retracted to the advanced configuration only by transitioning to an unlocking configuration when the connector housing and the mating connector housing are pushed together at least to the plug-in configuration.

[0019] By way of introduction, a basic idea for embodiments of the invention described herein will be briefly explained, whereby this explanation is to be interpreted as merely a rough summary and not as limiting the invention:

[0020] In conventional connector assemblies used to interconnect signal conductor elements, such as optical fibers, the signal conductor elements are typically each accommodated in one of two housing parts. A first signal conductor element is firmly held to a plug housing, whereas a second signal conductor element is firmly held to a mating plug housing. Free ends of the signal conductor elements are often surrounded by a protective collar on the respective housing part to protect them from damage. In addition, in some connector assemblies the free ends are covered by covers to provide additional protection against damage and dirt. The covers then have to be folded away when the housing parts are plugged together in order to be able to connect the free ends of the signal conductor elements in both housing parts.However, such conventional connector assemblies are usually very long due to the long protective collar and possibly the cover, making them unsuitable for installations with limited space. Furthermore, tolerances for wobble play, which occurs when mating the housing parts of conventional connector assemblies, often have to be kept relatively large, since a relatively short guide depth between the two housing parts at the beginning of a mating process still allows for a certain inclination between the housing parts to be mated.

[0021] In the connector assembly proposed here, the connector housing is designed in a special two-part manner. A first and a second connector housing part are mechanically connected to each other, but can be displaced relative to each other in the plugging direction.

[0022] The first signal conductor element held on the connector housing is fixedly attached to the first connector housing part, so that it can be displaced together with the first connector housing part relative to the second connector housing part when the first connector housing part is pushed into an advanced configuration relative to the second connector housing part in the plugging direction or when the first connector housing part is pulled into a retracted configuration relative to the second connector housing part, counter to the plugging direction. In other words, the first signal conductor element can be pushed back and forth relative to the second connector housing part in the plugging direction by displacing the first and second connector housing parts relative to one another.

[0023] This allows the free end of the first signal conductor element to be protected inside the connector housing when the two connector housing parts are in the retracted configuration. Alternatively, when the two connector housing parts are in the advanced configuration, the free end of the first signal conductor element can protrude from the connector housing in the plugging direction, for example, to be coupled to the free end of the second signal conductor element in the mating connector housing.

[0024] However, it was recognized that with such a two-part connector housing, it was important to prevent the two connector housing parts from shifting relative to each other in an uncoordinated manner. In particular, it was important to prevent the two connector housing parts from shifting into the advanced configuration while the connector housing is still separated from the mating connector housing, since in such a situation, the free end of the first signal conductor element that might protrude from the connector housing would be unprotected.

[0025] It is therefore provided to equip the connector housing with a special locking mechanism. This locking mechanism can obtain its properties through a special geometric design of both the first and second connector housing parts of the connector housing and a matching special geometric design of the mating connector housing. The locking mechanism is configured to prevent a relative displacement of the first and second connector housing parts from the retracted to the advanced configuration at least as long as the connector housing and the mating connector housing are not yet at least partially pushed together but are separated from one another. This state of the locking mechanism is referred to herein as the locking configuration.In other words, the locking mechanism ensures that the first and second connector housing parts of the connector housing remain in the retracted configuration as long as the connector housing is not inserted into the mating connector housing, so that in this separated initial configuration the first signal conductor element remains protected inside the connector housing.

[0026] The locking mechanism is further configured to permit displacement of the first and second connector housing parts from the retracted configuration into the advanced configuration if and only if the connector housing and the mating connector housing are already at least partially pushed together. This state is referred to herein as the unlocking configuration. In other words, in its unlocking configuration, the locking mechanism permits the first and second connector housing parts to be displaced relative to one another into the advanced configuration, and in the process, the first signal conductor element is pushed out with its free end, for example, from an opening on a front flank of the connector housing.Since the locking mechanism can only be moved into the unlocking configuration when the connector housing and the mating connector housing are already at least partially pushed together, there is no risk of the free end of the first signal conductor element being exposed. The locking mechanism is designed in such a way that the transition of the locking mechanism from the locking configuration to the unlocking configuration is automatically achieved when the connector housing and the mating connector housing are pushed together.In other words, the locking mechanism, solely due to its own design on the plug housing and the way in which it interacts with the mating plug housing when pushed together, releases an originally blocked displacement of the first and second plug housing parts into the advanced configuration as soon as the plug housing and the mating plug housing have been pushed together sufficiently far into a mating configuration.

[0027] Due to the special design of the locking mechanism, the connector housing can thus, for example, only be gripped at its first connector housing part when plugging together the connector assembly and can be moved towards the mating connector housing, wherein the second connector housing part is initially held rigidly in the retracted configuration relative to the first connector housing part and can be pushed into the mating connector housing up to the plug-in configuration, before the locking mechanism then changes over to the unlocking configuration and the first connector housing part can be displaced into the advanced configuration relative to the second connector housing part, and as a result the first signal conductor element held thereon can be pushed from the connector housing towards the mating connector housing.

[0028] This entire complex process can be accomplished simply by inserting the connector housing into the mating connector housing in the mating direction. No further manual action or intervention is required on the connector assembly. In particular, the locking mechanism does not need to be unlocked by separate actions while the housing parts are pushed together; rather, such unlocking occurs automatically due to the way in which components of the connector housing that form the locking mechanism interact, particularly with the mating connector housing, during the mating process.

[0029] In a similar way, as described in more detail below, the two housing parts can also be separated by simply pulling them apart, whereby it is also ensured here that the free end of the first signal conductor element is first countersunk into the connector housing by moving the two connector housing parts into the retracted configuration and is thus protected from damage, before the connector housing can then be pulled out of the mating connector housing.

[0030] Possible configurations and advantages of embodiments of the connector arrangement are described in more detail below.

[0031] The connector assembly described herein can be suitably configured to transmit data signals at high frequencies of, for example, more than 1 MHz, preferably more than 1 GHz or even more than 10 GHz. Signal transmission can be achieved, in particular, optically.

[0032] Optical fibers, in particular glass fibers, can be used as the first and / or second signal guide elements. Such optical fibers can transmit optical signals over long distances and at very high frequencies. The signal guide elements can be configured as fiber optic cables for this purpose. However, the signal guide elements can also be used to transmit signals, in particular optical signals, only over short distances, for example, within a device, for example to a component located in the device, such as a processor, an actuator, or the like.

[0033] The connector assembly has two housing parts in the form of a plug housing and a mating plug housing. One housing part can be designed as a plug and the other housing part as a socket. The housing parts can be designed to be suitable complementary to one another in order to be able to be mechanically reversibly connected to one another by pushing them together in a plug-in direction and to be able to be separated again by pulling them apart against the plug-in direction. The two housing parts preferably have geometries or faces which ensure a force-fitting and / or form-fitting hold of the two housing parts when pushed together. The housing parts can be designed as plastic components. In particular, the housing parts can be made in one piece or composed of a few components. For example, the housing parts can be designed as injection-molded components or with injection-molded components.

[0034] A receiving chamber is provided in each of the housing parts. A first signal conductor element is received in a first receiving chamber in the plug housing, and a second signal conductor element is received in a second receiving chamber in the mating plug housing. The signal conductor elements are typically elongated and surrounded on their lateral sides by walls of the respective receiving chamber. A signal conductor element can be held in the associated receiving chamber in a force-fitting and / or form-fitting manner. During assembly of the plug connector arrangement, the signal conductor element can preferably be pushed longitudinally into the associated receiving chamber and, for example, locked therein. Each of the signal conductor elements is received and arranged in the associated receiving chamber in such a way that it is positioned with a free end orcan be displaced so that, when the two housing parts are pushed together, it can be coupled to the free end of the respective other signal conductor element in the other housing part. The signal conductor elements are preferably arranged with their longitudinal direction parallel to the plug-in direction. At least one of the signal conductor elements can be cable-like and thus significantly longer than the housing part containing it, and can therefore be led out of the associated receiving chamber in the housing part.

[0035] The connector housing is constructed in two parts. A first connector housing part is held to a second connector housing part, but can be displaced relative to the second connector housing part in the plugging direction. In a retracted configuration, a center of the first connector housing part is as far away as possible from a center of the second connector housing part, although edge regions of both connector housing parts can still overlap. In a pushed-together configuration, the two centers of the first and second connector housing parts are arranged as close to each other as possible, and the two connector housing parts typically overlap each other significantly more than in the retracted configuration.Between the pushed-together configuration and the retracted configuration, the first and second connector housing parts can be displaced over a distance of typically several millimeters, for example, between 5 mm and 30 mm, preferably between 10 mm and 20 mm. The first and second connector housing parts can each be formed as individual or one-piece components, in particular as injection-molded components. Guide contours, for example in the form of guide grooves, guide projections, etc., can be provided on the two connector housing parts, so that the first and second connector housing parts can be guided and moved along one another in the plugging direction.

[0036] The first signal conductor element is preferably fixedly connected to the first connector housing part and can accordingly be displaced together with the first connector housing part relative to the second connector housing part. The first connector housing part can have a so-called internal contact carrier unit, by means of which the first signal conductor element is held to the first connector housing part. Accordingly, the first signal conductor element can be displaced relative to the second connector housing part by the distance between the retracted configuration and the advanced configuration.

[0037] According to one embodiment, the connector housing is designed in such a way and the first signal conductor element is fastened to the first connector housing part in such a way that in the retracted configuration a free end of the first signal conductor element is received within the connector housing and in the advanced configuration the free end of the first signal conductor element projects beyond the connector housing towards the mating connector housing.

[0038] In other words, the connector housing with its two connector housing parts and the first signal conductor element held thereon can be designed such that, when the connector housing is in the retracted configuration, the free end of the first signal conductor element is received inside the connector housing and thus protected from damaging external influences, whereas, when the connector housing is in the advanced configuration, the free end of the first signal conductor element is pushed out of the interior of the connector housing and protrudes beyond the connector housing, for example on a front flank of the connector housing, so that it can be pushed into the mating connector housing and coupled there with the second signal conductor element. The connector housing is designed with a special locking mechanism.This is designed so that it can be reconfigured between a locking configuration and an unlocking configuration. In the locking configuration, the locking mechanism prevents relative displacement between the first and second connector housing parts, so that they are locked in the retracted configuration and cannot be moved into the advanced configuration. In the unlocking configuration, such relative displacement is permitted.

[0039] The locking mechanism is designed such that, as the connector housing is pushed together with the mating connector housing to at least a plug-in configuration, the locking mechanism is automatically reconfigured from the locking configuration to the unlocking configuration. The plug-in configuration corresponds to an intermediate state between the separated initial configuration and the final coupling configuration, in which the connector housing with its second connector housing part is at least partially or even completely pushed together with the mating connector housing, but the first connector housing part has not yet been displaced into the advanced configuration relative to the second connector housing part.

[0040] Due to the specially designed locking mechanism, the connector housing can be pushed together with the mating connector housing in such a way that the two connector housing parts initially remain in the retracted configuration, allowing the first signal conductor element to be protected, for example, within the connector housing. Only when the second connector housing part has been at least partially pushed together with the mating connector housing does the locking mechanism transition to its unlocking configuration, allowing the first connector housing part to be moved relative to the second connector housing part into the advanced configuration, thereby enabling the first signal conductor element to be pushed out of the connector housing and into the mating connector housing.

[0041] According to one embodiment, the locking mechanism on the plug housing and the mating plug housing are configured such that, in the course of pushing the plug housing and the mating plug housing together, due to a force exerted on the first plug housing part and acting in the plugging direction, when the plug configuration is reached, the initially blocked displacement of the first and second plug housing parts relative to one another is released due to an action of the mating plug housing on the locking mechanism.

[0042] In other words, the connector housing with its locking mechanism is designed in such a way, in particular geometrically designed in such a way that when pushed together with the mating connector housing, due to a correspondingly matching design, in particular correspondingly matching geometric design, of the mating connector housing, the locking mechanism is automatically reconfigured from the locking configuration to the unlocking configuration.

[0043] It is therefore sufficient to push the connector housing with its second connector housing part together with the mating connector housing until the mating configuration is reached, thereby releasing the locking mechanism, and then, by further pushing on the first connector housing part, displacing it relative to the second connector housing part into the advanced configuration. A separate actuation of the locking mechanism, such as manual unlocking, is therefore not necessary.

[0044] This simplifies the mating of the connector housing and mating connector housing. It also ensures that the locking mechanism is not unlocked at an inappropriate time, for example, while the connector housing is still separated from the mating connector housing.

[0045] According to one embodiment, the locking mechanism has at least one elongated spring arm tab, which is formed on the first connector housing part and which projects with a free end in a direction along the plugging direction towards the second connector housing part. The locking mechanism further has at least one stop surface, which is formed on the second connector housing part and which is oriented in a direction orthogonal to the plugging direction towards the first connector housing part. The spring arm tab and the stop surface are designed and arranged such that the free end of the spring arm tab is supported on the stop surface in such a way that the displacement of the first and second connector housing parts relative to one another from the retracted to the advanced configuration is blocked at least as long as the connector housing and the mating connector housing are in the separated initial configuration.

[0046] According to a specific embodiment, the spring arm tab and the stop surface as well as the mating connector housing are designed and arranged in such a way that due to the pushing together of the connector housing and the mating connector housing, the free end of the spring arm tab is moved out of the support on the stop surface in order to thereby release the displacement of the first and the second connector housing part relative to one another from the retracted to the advanced configuration.

[0047] Furthermore, according to a further specific embodiment, the spring arm tab is arranged and configured such that, when supported on the stop surface, it protrudes beyond the stop surface with at least a projection area outward in a radial direction transverse to the plugging direction. The mating connector housing is arranged and configured such that, as the plug housing and the mating connector housing are pushed together, it pushes the projection area of ​​the spring arm tab inward, counter to the radial direction.

[0048] Possible details of the locking mechanism and a design of the spring arm tab and the stop surface are explained further below with reference to the embodiments shown in the figures.

[0049] According to a further embodiment, the locking mechanism on the plug housing and the mating plug housing are configured such that, in the course of pushing the plug housing and the mating plug housing apart counter to the plugging direction from the coupling configuration to the separated initial configuration, due to a force exerted on the first plug housing part and acting counter to the plugging direction, first the first and the second plug housing part are displaced from the advanced configuration to the retracted configuration and only then is the second plug housing part displaced counter to the plugging direction away from the mating plug housing.

[0050] In other words, the connector housing with its locking mechanism is designed in such a way, in particular geometrically designed in such a way that, upon sliding apart from the mating connector housing, due to a correspondingly matching design, in particular a correspondingly matching geometric design, of the mating connector housing, initially only the first and second connector housing parts are displaced relative to one another into the retracted configuration, thus leading to the first signal conductor element being drawn with its free end into the interior of the connector housing. This preferably also results in an automatic reconfiguration of the locking mechanism from the unlocking configuration to the locking configuration.Only then should the tensile force still exerted on the first connector housing part have the effect of transferring a tensile force to the second connector housing part, thereby pulling it out of engagement with the mating connector housing.

[0051] In order to separate the plug connector arrangement, it may therefore be sufficient to pull the plug housing away from the mating plug housing at its first plug housing part. Due to the special design of the locking mechanism, the exerted pulling force then initially causes the plug housing to be moved into its retracted configuration, and in the process, the first signal conductor element is retracted into the interior of the plug housing. Only when the above-mentioned plug configuration has been achieved, for example, is the second plug housing part pulled out of the mating plug housing by further pulling on the first plug housing part. A separate actuation of the locking mechanism, such as manual locking or unlocking of the same, is preferably not necessary.

[0052] This simplifies the separation of the connector housing and the mating connector housing. It also ensures that the free end of the first signal conductor element is always pulled into the interior of the connector housing first, and the locking mechanism is preferably automatically locked in a suitable manner before the connector housing is separated from the mating connector housing.

[0053] In a specific embodiment, the second connector housing part has at least one locking hook that is elastically displaceable in a radial direction transverse to the plugging direction, and the mating connector housing has at least one recess. The locking hook and the recess are arranged and configured such that, when the connector housing and the mating connector housing are in the coupling configuration, the locking hook engages in the recess.

[0054] In a further specific embodiment, the first connector housing part is arranged and designed in such a way that, in the course of pushing apart the connector housing and the mating connector housing against the plug-in direction from the coupling configuration to the separated initial configuration, it initially blocks a displacement of the locking hook out of engagement with the recess and only releases it when the plug-in configuration is reached.

[0055] According to one embodiment, the first housing part can have at least one elongated spring arm tab which is arranged and designed such that it supports the locking hook in the radial direction when the first and the second plug housing part are in the advanced configuration and that it does not support the locking hook in the radial direction when the first and the second plug housing part are in the retracted configuration.

[0056] Furthermore, according to one embodiment, the locking hook can have at least one flank running obliquely to the plugging direction.

[0057] Possible details of the locking mechanism and its possible functional design with regard to an advantageous separation of the plug housing from the mating plug housing are explained further below with reference to the embodiments shown in the figures.

[0058] It should be noted that possible features and advantages of various embodiments of the invention are described herein with reference to a connector assembly designed according to the invention. A person skilled in the art will recognize that the features described for individual embodiments can be suitably transferred, adapted, and / or exchanged in an analogous manner to other embodiments in order to achieve further embodiments of the invention and possibly synergistic effects.

[0059] Short description of the drawings

[0060] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are further explained below with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein neither the drawings nor the explanations are to be interpreted as limiting the invention in any way.

[0061] Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a connector arrangement according to the invention in a separated initial configuration.

[0062] Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of a first connector housing part together with a first signal conductor element of the connector assembly of Fig. 1.

[0063] Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of a second connector housing part of the connector assembly of Fig. 1.

[0064] Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of a mating connector housing of the connector assembly of Fig. 1.

[0065] Fig. 5 shows a perspective view of the connector assembly of Fig. 1 in a plug-in configuration.

[0066] Fig. 6 shows a perspective view of the connector assembly of Fig. 5 in an alternative perspective.

[0067] Fig. 7 shows a side view of the connector assembly from Fig. 5 without the mating connector housing. Fig. 8 shows a perspective view of the connector assembly from Fig. 5 without the mating connector housing.

[0068] Fig. 9 shows a longitudinal sectional view in an xy plane through the connector arrangement of Fig. 5 without mating connector housing.

[0069] Fig. 10 shows a perspective detailed view of an area marked “A” in Fig. 9

[0070] Fig. 11 shows a longitudinal sectional view in an xy plane through the connector arrangement of Fig. 5.

[0071] Fig. 12 shows a perspective view of the connector assembly of Fig. 1 in a mating configuration.

[0072] Fig. 13 shows a perspective view of the connector assembly from Fig.

[0073] 12 without mating connector housing.

[0074] Fig. 14 shows a longitudinal sectional view through the connector arrangement of Fig. 12 in an xz plane.

[0075] Fig. 15 shows a longitudinal sectional view through the connector arrangement of Fig. 12 in an xy plane.

[0076] The figures are merely schematic and not to scale. The same reference numerals designate the same or equivalent features in the various drawings.

[0077] Description of advantageous embodiments

[0078] Figure 1 shows a connector assembly 1 in which a connector housing 3 and a mating connector housing 5 can be mechanically reversibly connected to one another from an initially separate starting position by pushing the two housing parts together in a plug-in direction 7. In the example shown, a first signal conductor element 9 in the form of an optical fiber 39 is held in the connector housing 3. This first signal conductor element 9 is to be coupled, with the aid of the connector assembly 1, to a second signal conductor element 11 (see Figure 14) received in the mating connector housing 5 in order to be able to exchange data signals between the two signal conductor elements 9, 11. In the example shown, the connector assembly 1 has an approximately rectangular cross-section with rounded edges on both the connector housing 3 and the mating connector housing 5.

[0079] The connector housing 3 is constructed in two parts and has a first connector housing part 13 and a second connector housing part 15. The first and second connector housing parts 13, 15 are designed such that they mechanically interact in such a way that, in the assembled state of the connector housing 3, they are, on the one hand, reliably held together and, on the other hand, can be displaced relative to one another along the plug-in direction 7.

[0080] In the example shown, the first connector housing part 13, at least in part, encompasses the second connector housing part 15 in a sleeve-like manner. In other words, the first connector housing part 13 has a central through-opening 43 in its longitudinal direction, through which the second connector housing part 15 extends. Accordingly, the first connector housing part 13 can be displaced back and forth relative to the second connector housing part 15 along its longitudinal direction, which corresponds to the plug-in direction 7, between a retracted configuration, as shown, for example, in Fig. 1 and Figs. 5-11, and an advanced configuration, as shown, for example, in Figs. 12-15. This displacement between the retracted configuration and the advanced configuration can be blocked or released using a locking mechanism 17.

[0081] In Figures 2, 3 and 4, the first connector housing part 13 with the first signal conductor element 9 attached thereto, the second connector housing part 15 and the mating connector housing 5 are each shown individually in perspective.

[0082] As can be seen in Fig. 2, the first connector housing part 13 has a frame-like region 41, which has an approximately rectangular cross-section with rounded edges and which encloses a through-opening 43. Two spring arm tabs 21 extend from this frame-like region 41. Each of the spring arm tabs 21 has a flat, elongated geometry and, in the assembled state of the connector assembly 1, runs parallel to the plug-in direction 7 in a direction toward the second connector housing part 15 or the mating connector housing 5. The two spring arm tabs 21 run on opposite sides of the first connector housing part 13 and essentially parallel to one another. Each of the spring arm tabs 21 has a rear partial region 45 and a front partial region 47, as well as a free end 23.The rear partial region 45 directly adjoins the frame-like region 41 and extends in a plane parallel to the plug-in direction 7. The front partial region 47 adjoins the rear partial region 45 and extends in a plane slightly obliquely (i.e., for example, at an angle of less than 20°, preferably less than 10°, but more than 2°, preferably more than 5°) to the plug-in direction 7. In other words, the front partial region 47 extends slightly spreading out from the rear partial region 45, so that a distance between the free ends 23 of the spring arm tabs 21 is at least slightly greater than a distance between their rear partial regions 45.

[0083] The first connector housing part 13 further comprises a locking device 49, by means of which the first connector housing part 13 and ultimately the entire connector housing 3 can be locked to the mating connector housing 5 when they have been pushed together into a mating configuration. The locking device 49 operates essentially independently of other components of the connector assembly, such as its locking mechanism 17, and is not described in detail herein.

[0084] The first signal conductor element 9 is fixedly attached to the first connector housing part 13. The first signal conductor element 9 is elongated and, with its portion held on the connector housing part 13, runs in a longitudinal direction parallel to the plugging direction 7. In the example shown, the signal conductor element 9 has two light guides 39 in the form of glass fibers, which are accommodated over large parts in a protective sheath 51. These light guides 39 are only exposed at the free ends 19 of the first signal conductor element 9. The frame-like region 41, the spring arm tabs 21, and the locking device 49 of the first connector housing part 13 can be designed as a one-piece component, for example as an injection-molded component. The signal conductor element 9 with its sheath 51 can be fixed to this component, for example in a locking manner, and can thus be easily mounted on the first connector housing part 13.

[0085] Fig. 3 illustrates the second connector housing part 15. The second connector housing part 15 has, at least in sections, an outer contour which is substantially complementary to an inner contour of the through-opening 43 on the first connector housing part 13, so that the second connector housing part 15 can extend with corresponding sections through the through-opening 43. In addition, the second connector housing part 15 has suitably designed guide surfaces 53, guide grooves 55 and / or guide projections 57, with which contours designed to match this on the first connector housing part 13 can suitably interact in order to guide the first and second connector housing parts 13, 15 in their relative movement to one another and parallel to the plug-in direction 7 and / or to guide the second connector housing part 15 when pushed together with the mating connector housing 5.

[0086] In addition, a stop contour 59 is formed on the second connector housing part 15, which, with a side facing the first connector housing part 13, is intended to limit relative movement between the first connector housing part 13 and the second connector housing part 15 when they have been pushed together into the advanced configuration. An opposite side of the stop contour 59, facing the mating connector housing 5, comes into contact with a corresponding counter-surface on the mating connector housing 5 when the second connector housing part 15 is plugged together, thus limiting the pushing together of both components until the plug-in configuration is reached.

[0087] Furthermore, bridge-like hold-down structures 61 are formed on the second connector housing part 15. Each of these hold-down structures 61 serves in particular to engage over the associated spring arm tab 21 of the first connector housing part 13 when it is received in one of the guide grooves 55, referred to herein as the spring arm guide groove 63. The hold-down structure 61 spans the spring arm tab 21 and can thus prevent the spring arm tab 21 from spreading excessively in a radial direction 29 away from the second connector housing part 15.

[0088] A locking hook 33 is also formed on the second connector housing part 15. The locking hook 33 protrudes laterally in the radial direction 29 beyond an adjacent outer surface of the second connector housing part 15. The locking hook 33 has at least one inclined flank 37, preferably two oppositely inclined inclined flanks 37. The locking hook 33 is connected to an adjacent region of the second connector housing part 15 via a spring arm 65, so that the locking hook 33 can be pressed elastically inward, i.e., opposite to the radial direction 29.

[0089] An elongated recess 67 extends inside the second connector housing part 15. When the connector housing 3 is in the assembled state, the first signal conductor element 9 extends through this recess 67. The first signal conductor element 9 can be moved back and forth within the recess 67, parallel to the plug-in direction 7, together with the first connector housing part 13, relative to the second connector housing part 15. In the retracted configuration, the free ends 19 of the first signal conductor element 9 are retracted behind an end face 69 of the second connector housing part 15 and are thus received in a protected manner inside the recess 67. In the advanced configuration, the free ends 19 of the first signal conductor element 9 are pushed out of an end opening 71 on the end face 69 and thus protrude beyond this end face 69 in the plug-in direction 7.

[0090] Fig. 4 illustrates the mating connector housing 5. In the example shown, the mating connector housing 5 is designed in the manner of a socket and has contours on a receiving opening 73 which can interact in a substantially complementary manner with contours such as some of the guide surfaces 53, guide grooves 55 and / or guide projections 57 on the second connector housing part 15 when the latter is plugged into the mating connector housing 5.

[0091] In one of its side walls, the mating connector housing 5 has

[0092] Recesses 35, which are designed and arranged in such a way that one of the locking hooks 33 can engage therein when the second connector housing part 15 has been completely inserted into its plug-in configuration into the mating connector housing 5.

[0093] In addition, a locking recess 75 is provided on the mating connector housing 5, into which the locking device 49 can engage in a locking manner when the entire connector housing 3 has been completely pushed into the mating connector housing 5 up to its coupling configuration and has been displaced into its advanced configuration.

[0094] The second signal conductor element 11 can be received or held on the mating connector housing 5 in a region 77 opposite the receiving opening 73. Furthermore, this region 77 is designed to be connected to a printed circuit board 79 by means of plug-in pins 81 (see Figs. 12 and 14).

[0095] With reference to Figures 5 to 11, a first stage of a two-stage process is initially explained, with which the plug connector assembly 1 described herein is pushed together, starting with a separate initial configuration in which the plug housing 3 and the mating plug housing 5 are separated from one another, via a plug-in configuration in which the plug housing 3 is at least partially plugged together with its second plug housing part 15 with the mating plug housing 5, and successively into a coupling configuration in which the plug housing 3 and the mating plug housing 5 are completely pushed together and the first signal conductor element 9 is coupled to the second signal conductor element 11.

[0096] In the illustrated first stage, the second connector housing part 15 and the mating connector housing 5 are pushed together in the plug-in direction 7 to such an extent that the second connector housing part 15 rests with its stop contour 59 in the plug-in direction 7 against an end face of the mating connector housing 5, wherein the first connector housing part 13 and the second connector housing part 15 are still arranged in their retracted configuration on the connector housing 3. This state is referred to herein as the plug-in configuration and, in the described two-stage process, represents an intermediate state between the separated initial configuration and the final coupling configuration. In this plug-in configuration, the second connector housing part 15 also engages with its locking hook 33 provided thereon into the recess 35 in the mating connector housing 5.

[0097] Until this plug-in configuration is reached, the locking mechanism 17 provided on the plug housing 3 prevents the first and second plug housing parts 13, 15 from being displaced from the retracted configuration into the advanced configuration.

[0098] For this purpose, the locking mechanism 17 uses, as particularly illustrated in Figures 8 to 10, on the one hand the elongated spring arm tab 21 on the first connector housing part 13 and, on the other hand, a stop surface 25 which is formed on the second connector housing part 15. The spring arm tab 21 projects with its free end 23 in or slightly obliquely to the plug-in direction 7 towards the second connector housing part 15. On the second connector housing part 15, the stop surface 25 is in turn designed such that an end surface 83 on the spring arm tab 21 can press directly and essentially along the plug-in direction 7 against the stop surface 25.In this way, the first connector housing part 13 with its spring arm tabs 21 and their end surfaces 83, on the one hand, and the second connector housing part 15 with its stop surfaces 25, on the other, are initially locked together, so that the two connector housing parts 13, 15 are blocked in the retracted configuration and cannot be moved toward the advanced configuration. This can be assisted by the fact that the front portion 47 of the spring arm tab 21 extends slightly outwardly and is prevented from lateral deflection in the radial direction 29 by the hold-down structure 61, so that the end surface 83 of the spring arm tab 21 can be supported stably and with a certain spreading mechanical preload on the stop surface 25.

[0099] The plug connector assembly 1 is specifically designed to automatically release the locking mechanism 17-induced locking of the plug housing 3 in its retracted configuration upon mating with the mating plug housing 5. The spring arm tab 21 is arranged and configured such that, when supported on the stop surface 25, it projects outward beyond the stop surface 25 with at least a projection region 27 in the radial direction 29 (see in particular Figs. 10 and 11). Furthermore, the mating plug housing 5 is arranged and configured such that, as the plug housing 3 and the mating plug housing 5 are pushed together, it presses the projection region 27 of the spring arm tab 21 inward, counter to the radial direction 29, as illustrated in Figs. 10 and 11 by a pivoting movement arrow 85.In other words, when the plug housing 3 is pushed together with the mating plug housing 5 when the plug configuration is reached, one end of the mating plug housing 5, which is directed towards the plug housing 3, comes into contact with the protruding area 27 at the free end 23 of the spring arm tab 21 in such a way that the latter is deflected inwards counter to the radial direction 29 and is thus moved out of the locking engagement with the stop surface 25 on the second plug housing part 15.

[0100] After the free end 23 of the spring arm tabs 21 has been compressed in this way, the first connector housing part 13 can be pushed further in the plugging direction 7 to thereby shift it from the retracted configuration to the advanced configuration. The spring arm tab 21 can be successively inserted into an elongated recess 87 formed in the second connector housing part 15.

[0101] In order to facilitate the compression of the free end 23 of the spring arm tab 21 and the subsequent insertion of the spring arm tab 21 into the elongated recess 87, suitable bevels or chamfers can be formed on the exposed end 23 of the spring arm tab 21 and / or on a corresponding counter surface adjacent to the stop 25 on the second connector housing part 15.

[0102] With reference to Figs. 12 to 15, the further pushing together of the plug housing 3 with the mating plug housing 5 is explained below, starting from the previously described plug configuration to the final coupling configuration as shown in the said figures.

[0103] After the locking mechanism 17 has released the latching action previously effected by the locking mechanism 17 as described above, the first connector housing part 13 can be displaced from the retracted configuration relative to the second connector housing part 15 by a pushing force exerted thereon in the plugging direction 7 until the advanced configuration is reached, in which it rests against the stop contour 59 on the second connector housing part 15.

[0104] Along with this movement, the first signal conductor element 9 is simultaneously displaced relative to the second connector housing part 15 in the plugging direction 7 and is thereby pushed out of the front opening 71 on the end face 69 from the recess 67 in the second connector housing part 15 (see in particular Fig. 13). The free ends 19 of the first signal conductor element 9 can thus penetrate into the opposite mating connector housing 5 and there come into contact with the second signal conductor element 11 in order to couple the two signal conductor elements 9, 11 in such a way that data signals can be transmitted between them (see in particular Fig. 14).

[0105] Additionally, during this movement, the spring arm tab 21 of the first connector housing part 13 is successively pushed into the elongated recess 87 in the second connector housing part 15. In doing so, it engages behind the spring arm 65 with its locking hook 33 formed thereon on the second connector housing part 15 (see in particular Fig. 15). By this engagement behind, the locking hook 33 is prevented from being able to deflect inwardly against the radial direction 29. By the engagement of the locking hook 33 in the recess 35 in the mating connector housing 5, it can thus be prevented that the connector housing 3 with its second connector housing part 15 can be easily pulled out of the mating connector housing 5.

[0106] Possible details of a two-stage process of separating or pushing apart the plug housing 3 from the mating plug housing 5 when releasing the plug connector assembly 1 are explained below.

[0107] Due to the special design of the locking mechanism 17 on the connector housing 3 and a correspondingly matching design of the mating connector housing 5, it can be achieved that in the course of pushing the connector housing 3 and the mating connector housing 5 apart against the plug-in direction 7 from the coupling configuration (as illustrated, for example, in Fig. 15) to the separated initial configuration, first the first and the second connector housing part 13, 15 are displaced from the advanced configuration into the retracted configuration and only then can the second connector housing part 15 be pulled out of the mating connector housing 5 against the plug-in direction 7.

[0108] This takes advantage of the fact that, in the mated coupling configuration, the elastically displaceable locking hook 33, which projects radially outward on the second connector housing part 15 and engages in the recess 35 on the mating connector housing 5, is engaged behind by the spring arm tab 21 inserted into the elongated recess 87 of the connector housing part 15 and is thus prevented from deflecting counter to the radial direction 29. In other words, the first connector housing part 13 is arranged and designed such that its spring arm tab 21 blocks displacement of the locking hook 33 out of engagement with the recess 35, at least initially during the sliding apart of the connector housing 3 and the mating connector housing 5, and only allows the locking hook 33 to deflect once the first connector housing part 13 has been pulled into its retracted configuration.

[0109] By retracting the first connector housing part 13, the first signal conductor element 9 connected thereto is also retracted into the interior of the connector housing 3, so that its free end 19 is protected from damage.

[0110] Only after the connector housing 3 has been brought into the retracted configuration by retracting its second connector housing part 13, and thus the entire connector assembly 1 has been brought into the plug-in configuration, can the connector housing 3 with its second connector housing part 15 be pulled out of the mating connector housing 5 by further pulling. It can be advantageous in this case for a flank 37 on the locking hook 33 to run obliquely to the plug-in direction 7, so that the locking hook 33, when moved relative to the mating connector housing 5, can be easily displaced with its oblique flank 37 out of engagement with the recess 35 in the mating connector housing 5.

[0111] It should be noted that a further patent application, filed by the applicant of the present patent application concurrently with the present patent application and entitled "CONNECTOR ARRANGEMENT WITH SIGNAL CONDUCTOR ELEMENTS PROTECTED BY A CLOSING COVER AND A DRAWING COVER," describes a connector assembly TI that is similar to the connector assembly described herein with respect to some features. Details as set forth in this further patent application can be applied partially or analogously to the connector assembly described in the present patent application. The content of the further patent application is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

[0112] Finally, thoughts and ideas on the connector arrangement described herein are presented again with slightly different wording as follows:

[0113] Embodiments of the connector assembly described herein can be used for any type of connector where protruding contacts do not ensure sufficient mating security ("Koshiri") and where the contacts can be damaged if mated at an angle. This can also improve the problem of wobble in contacts.

[0114] Conventional connectors with pin and socket contacts are protected against damage by the connector housing that extends beyond the contact. The connector housing also serves as a guide during mating, ensuring the mating safety (Koshiri) is maintained.

[0115] However, the following disadvantages may occur:

[0116] 1. There are connector arrangements where it is not possible to protect a contact by a protruding connector housing and avoid damage to the contact.

[0117] 2. Tolerances for the wobble play of contacts must be increased. This is because the short guide depth of the two connector housings at the beginning of the mating process also allows for a certain degree of skewed mating.

[0118] This gave rise to the following tasks and possible solutions: A connector with a protruding contact is designed in two parts and thus in two stages, with a tunnel connector housing and an inner contact carrier unit that can move separately in the plugging direction and has an integrated cable connection. During the plugging process, the movable inner contact carrier unit is in the protected rear position in the first step. The second step of plugging in the inner contact carrier unit with the contact is only possible after the two “opposite” main connector housings (i.e. mating connector and tunnel connector housing) have been completely plugged into one another. A further advantage is that by completely plugging in the mating connector and tunnel connector housing in the first step, the plug system is already very well aligned and has a positive effect on the issue of “wobble between contacts”. The initial slanted plugging has no effect on the contacts.

[0119] The following concrete solutions are presented: a) Function during mating: The inner contact carrier unit is positioned approximately 14mm to the rear before the actual mating process and is held against premature movement forward by two stops, provided by two spring arm tabs. A latch is also provided at the rear to prevent the inner contact carrier unit from becoming detached from the tunnel plug housing. Only when the actual first mating process between the mating connector and tunnel plug housing has been completed are the two spring arm tabs actuated by the mating connector housing, so that the stop is removed and the second mating process can be carried out by the inner contact carrier unit until the main latch engages. This latching process is secured by an existing so-called CPA.

[0120] (b) Function during unplugging: To ensure that the inner contact carrier unit reaches the protected and retracted rear position during unplugging, two delicate lateral locking hook elements are integrated into the tunnel connector housing, which in turn lock into two small lateral locking windows in the mating connector housing. To ensure that these two small locking hook elements only open after the inner contact carrier unit has been retracted, they are blocked by the two spring arm tabs, preventing the locking hook elements from moving out of place. Only after the connector has completely retracted backwards through the inner contact carrier unit do the two spring arm tabs clear the way for the locking hook elements and the tunnel connector housing can finally be unplugged. Finally, it should be noted that terms such as "having", "comprehensive", etc.do not exclude other elements or steps, and indefinite articles such as "a" or "an" do not exclude a plurality. Furthermore, it should be noted that features or steps described with reference to one of the above embodiments may also be used in combination with features or steps described with reference to other of the above embodiments. Reference signs in the claims are not to be considered as limitations.

[0121] List of reference symbols

[0122] I Connector arrangement

[0123] 3 connector housings

[0124] 5 mating connector housings

[0125] 7 Plug-in direction

[0126] 9 first signal conductor element

[0127] II second signal conductor element

[0128] 13 first connector housing part

[0129] 15 second connector housing part

[0130] 17 Locking mechanism

[0131] 19 free end of the first signal conductor element

[0132] 21 Spring arm tab

[0133] 23 free end of the spring arm bracket

[0134] 25 Stop surface

[0135] 27 Over standing area

[0136] 29 Radial direction

[0137] 31 force acting in the direction of insertion

[0138] 32 force acting against the plug-in direction

[0139] 33 locking hooks

[0140] 35 recess

[0141] 37 sloping flank

[0142] 39 light guides

[0143] 41 frame-like area of ​​the first connector housing part

[0144] 43 Passage opening

[0145] 45 rear section of the spring arm bracket

[0146] 47 front part of the spring arm tab

[0147] 49 locking device

[0148] 51 cover

[0149] 53 Guide surface

[0150] 55 guide groove

[0151] 57 lead

[0152] 59 Stop contour

[0153] 61 hold-down structure

[0154] 63 Spring arm guide groove

[0155] 65 spring arm

[0156] 67 Recess 69 Front face

[0157] 71 front opening

[0158] 73 Receiving opening

[0159] 75 Recess 77 Area of ​​the mating connector housing

[0160] 79 circuit board

[0161] 81 plug pins

[0162] 83 front surface on the spring arm bracket

[0163] 85 Swivel movement arrow 87 Long recess in the connector housing

Claims

AMENDED CLAIMS received by the International Bureau on 7 March 2025 (07.03.2025) 1. A connector assembly (1) for transmitting data signals, the connector assembly (1) comprising: a connector housing (3) and a mating connector housing (5), which can be mechanically reversibly connected to one another from a separate initial configuration by being pushed together in a plugging direction (7) via a plugging configuration to a coupling configuration, a first signal conductor element (9) held in the connector housing (3), a second signal conductor element (11) held in the mating connector housing (5), the connector housing (3) being formed in two parts with a first connector housing part (13) and a second connector housing part (15), the first and second connector housing parts (13, 15) being held against one another and being displaceable relative to one another in the plugging direction (7) between a retracted configuration and an advanced configuration,wherein the first signal conductor element (9) is fastened to the first connector housing part (13) in such a way that it is displaceable together with the first connector housing part (13) relative to the second connector housing part (15), wherein the connector housing (3) has a locking mechanism (17) which is configured such that, in a locking configuration, it blocks a displacement of the first and second connector housing parts (13, 15) relative to one another from the retracted to the advanced configuration as long as the connector housing (3) and the mating connector housing (5) are in the separated initial configuration, and that it releases the displacement of the first and second connector housing parts (13, 15) relative to one another from the retracted to the advanced configuration only by transitioning to an unlocking configuration,when the plug housing (3) and the mating plug housing (5) are pushed together at least up to the plug-in configuration, wherein the second plug housing part (15) has at least one locking hook (33) which is elastically displaceable against a radial direction (29) transversely to the plug-in direction (7), and wherein the mating plug housing (5) has at least one recess (35), wherein the locking hook (33) and the recess (35) are arranged and, AMENDED SHEET (ARTICLE 19) are designed such that, when the plug housing (3) and the mating plug housing (5) are in the coupling configuration, the latching hook (33) engages in the recess (35), and wherein the first plug housing part (13) is arranged and designed such that, in the course of pushing the plug housing (3) and the mating plug housing (5) apart against the plugging direction (7) from the coupling configuration towards the separated starting configuration, it initially blocks a displacement of the latching hook (33) out of engagement with the recess (35) and only releases it when the plugging configuration is reached.

2. Connector assembly (1) according to claim 1, wherein the plug housing (3) is configured and the first signal conductor element (9) is fastened to the first plug housing part (13) in such a way that in the retracted configuration a free end (19) of the first signal conductor element (9) is received within the plug housing (3) and in the advanced configuration the free (19) end of the first signal conductor element (9) projects beyond the plug housing (3) towards the mating plug housing (5).

3. Connector arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the locking mechanism (17) on the plug housing (3) and the mating plug housing (5) are configured such that, in the course of pushing the plug housing (3) and the mating plug housing (5) together, due to a force (31) exerted on the first plug housing part (13) and acting in the plugging direction (7), when the plug configuration is reached, the initially blocked displacement of the first and second plug housing parts (13, 15) relative to one another is released due to an action of the mating plug housing (5) on the locking mechanism (17).

4. Connector arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the locking mechanism (17) has at least one elongated spring arm tab (21) which is formed on the first connector housing part (13) and which projects with a free end (23) in a direction along the plugging direction (7) towards the second connector housing part (15), wherein the locking mechanism (17) further has at least one AMENDED SHEET (ARTICLE 19) Has a stop surface (25) which is formed on the second plug housing part (15) and which is aligned in a direction orthogonal to the plugging direction (7) towards the first plug housing part (13), wherein the spring arm tab (21) and the stop surface (25) are designed and arranged such that the free end (23) of the spring arm tab (21) is supported on the stop surface (25) such that the displacement of the first and second plug housing parts (13, 15) relative to one another from the retracted to the advanced configuration is blocked, at least as long as the plug housing (3) and the mating plug housing (5) are in the separated initial configuration.

5. Connector assembly (1) according to claim 4, wherein the spring arm tab (21) and the stop surface (25) as well as the mating connector housing (5) are designed and arranged such that due to the pushing together of the connector housing (3) and the mating connector housing (5), the free end (23) of the spring arm tab (21) is moved out of the support on the stop surface (25) in order to thereby release the displacement of the first and the second connector housing part (13, 15) relative to one another from the retracted to the advanced configuration.

6. Connector arrangement (1) according to claim 5, wherein the spring arm tab (21) is arranged and designed such that, when it is supported on the stop surface (25), it projects outwards beyond the stop surface (25) with at least a projecting area (27) in a radial direction (29) transverse to the plugging direction (7), wherein the mating connector housing (5) is arranged and designed such that, in the course of the plug housing (3) and the mating connector housing (5) being pushed together, it presses the projecting area (27) of the spring arm tab (21) inwards counter to the radial direction (29).

7. Connector arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the locking mechanism (17) on the plug housing (3) and the mating plug housing (5) are configured such that in the course of pushing apart the plug housing (3) and the mating plug housing (5) against the plugging direction (7) from the coupling configuration to the separated initial configuration due to a first AMENDED SHEET (ARTICLE 19) The force (32) exerted on the plug housing part (13) and acting counter to the plug-in direction (7) first displaces the first and second plug housing parts (13, 15) from the advanced configuration into the retracted configuration and only then is the second plug housing part (15) displaced away from the mating plug housing (5) counter to the plug-in direction (7).

8. Connector assembly (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first connector housing part (13) has at least one elongated spring arm tab (21) which is arranged and designed such that it supports the locking hook (33) in the radial direction (29) when the first and the second connector housing part (13, 15) are in the advanced configuration and that it does not support the locking hook (33) in the radial direction (29) when the first and the second connector housing part (13, 15) are in the retracted configuration.

9. Connector arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the latching hook (33) has at least one flank (37) running obliquely to the plugging direction (7).

10. Connector arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first and / or the second signal conductor element (9, 11) has an optical fiber (39) for transmitting the data signals. AMENDED SHEET (ARTICLE 19)

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