The disclosure relates to a fastening system for a plug connector. The disclosure furthermore relates to a method for mounting a fastening system. Fastening systems expand the field of application of plug connectors which are already commercially available. Thus, these plug connectors can be used in switch cabinets and/or in the internal wiring systems of machines.
WO 2020/114557 A1 discloses a housing for a plug connector, which can be attached to a top-hat rail and constructed with identically designed housing bodies to form a three-dimensional object.
However, specific installation requirements must be followed here. The position of the housing must be thought through and fixed before the plugging process, which limits the flexibility when installing appliances.
An object of the disclosure consists in proposing a fastening system for a plug connection which can be used flexibly and produced cost-effectively. The object is achieved by the subject-matter of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are provided in the dependent claims and the following description.
The fastening system is provided for fastening a plug connection to a top-hat rail and/or an appliance wall. In this context, a plug connection is intended to be a plug connector which is plugged to an appropriate mating plug connector. The contact elements present in the plug connectors are here brought into contact with one another, which, depending on the type of contact element, enables the transmission of electrical currents and/or data signals, alternatively also pneumatic or fiber-optic signals. The contact elements are each accordingly designed so that they correspond with one another.
The fastening system consists of a first retaining element in which a first plug connector is reversibly retained, and a second retaining element in which a second plug connector is reversibly retained. The two retaining elements are in each case equipped with at least one latching arm, as a result of which they can be locked to each other reversibly. The plug connectors plugged to each other, i.e., in the plugged state, are also plugged to each other by the locking of the retaining elements.
The retaining elements preferably each have at least two opposite clamping arms between which the respective plug connector can be firmly clamped. Such clamping can be effected by simple technical means.
The retaining elements are preferably each formed essentially from a flat, essentially T-shaped piece from which the clamping arms protrude perpendicularly. Because the retaining element is preferably produced from plastic material, this basic shape can be achieved particularly simply in an appropriate injection-molding process.
In a preferred embodiment, the retaining elements each have at least two opposite latching arms. As a result, the retaining elements can be joined with an exact fit and the abovementioned latching is correspondingly more stable.
One retaining element preferably has a latching arm with a latching tab. The other retaining element has a latching arm with a matching latching hook. Such a latching connection, in particular in the case of plastic parts, is easy to implement, can be operated intuitively, and can be released easily.
In a particularly preferred embodiment, the first and the second retaining element each have a top-hat rail fixing means for reversible fixing to a top-hat rail. This top-hat rail fixing means can be provided as a further component and can be built or fixed, for example, to the T-shaped basic shape of the retaining element. As a result, the fastening system can be adapted flexibly for different applications.
The first and the second retaining element preferably each have a wall fixing means for reversible fixing to an appliance wall. This wall fixing means consists, for example, of openings which are introduced or formed in the T-shaped basic shape and are used, for example, for fastening with screws. As a result, no special tool is required for fixing to a wall. Clips, rivets, or similar wall fixing means can also usefully be used.
An exemplary embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawings and explained in detail below.
The Figures contain partially simplified schematic illustrations. In part, identical reference signs are used for the same but possibly not identical elements. Different views of the same elements could be to a different scale.
The retaining elements 3, 4 are essentially formed from a T-shaped basic shape, from which two opposite clamping arms 6 protrude perpendicularly. The plug connectors 5, 5′ can each be firmly clamped reversibly between the clamping arms 6.
The retaining elements 3, 4 each have at least two opposite latching arms 7, 7′. The latching arms 7, 7′ have an essentially T-shaped design, wherein the stem of the T protrudes perpendicularly from the basic shape of the retaining elements 3, 4.
The latching arms 7′ of the first retaining element 3 have a latching tab 8. The latching arms 7 of the second retaining element 4 have a matching latching hook 9. The retaining elements 3, 4 are plugged together in the direction of the arrows 10, 10′. During the latching process, the latching hooks 9 first engage in the latching tabs 8 and are then latched, as a result of which the retaining elements 3, 4 are reversibly latched with each other.
The plug connectors 5, 5′ are also plugged together in the direction of the arrows 10, 10′ and, in the plugged state, form the plug connection 2 which can be seen, for example, in
The retaining elements 3, 4 are provided in their basic shape with openings 11 via which the retaining means 3, 4 can be fastened—with the aid of screws, rivets, or similar fastening means—for example to an appliance wall (not shown).
Two retaining means 3, 4 which are fixed to each other and are fastened to a separate top-hat rail fixing means 12 are shown in
The plugging directions of the retaining elements 3, 4 and the plug connectors 5, 5′ are represented by the arrows 10, 10′. The clamping direction in which the plug connectors 5, 5′ or the plug connection 2 are firmly clamped to the retaining elements 3, 4 is represented by the arrow 15. The arrows 10, 10′ and the arrow 15 are perpendicular to each other.
The retaining means 3, 4 offer various mounting options and accordingly can be used very flexibly.
A first mounting option takes place as follows:
An alternative, second mounting option is as follows:
A third mounting option of the fastening system functions as follows:
The method steps a and b can also be transposed.
Even if different aspects or features of the invention are shown in the Figures in each case in combination, unless otherwise stated it is clear to a person skilled in the art that the combinations illustrated and discussed are not the only ones possible. In particular, mutually corresponding units or groups of features from different exemplary embodiments can be transposed.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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10 2020 125 381.8 | Sep 2020 | DE | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/DE2021/100766 | 9/20/2021 | WO |