Patent Application
20210184400
The invention relates to a plug-in connector part that can be connected to a mating connector part so as to form a plug-in connection.
Such a plug-in connector part is used for connecting line ends, in particular electrical lines.
Such a plug-in connector part comprises a housing and an elastically deformable locking component, which is embodied separately from the housing and is designed to reversibly engage with a locking contour of the mating connector part when the plug-in connection is formed.
In conventional plug-in connector parts of this type, as described in DE 2 323 180, the plug-in connector part and the mating connector part have different parts of an annular groove on the inside of their housings, which parts align with one another when the plug-in connection is formed and thus form a continuous annular groove. A snap ring is then inserted into the annular groove in order to interlock the plug-in connection. In these plug-in connector parts, the fact that the snap ring is provided separately from a housing of the plug-in connector part can result in disadvantages. This can make handling them more difficult. In addition, there is increased risk of loss of the snap ring. In addition, the snap ring surrounds the plug-in connector part on an outer side of the housing, so that the snap ring is exposed to weathering and corrosion without protection, and thus the service life of the plug-in connector part can be shortened.
Other plug-in connector parts reduce the aforementioned problems by having, instead of a snap ring, a plastic housing with one or more latching elements formed thereon which detachably engage with corresponding latching receptacles in a plastic housing of the mating connector part. However, the deformation of the latching elements required in this method places high mechanical stresses on the housing material, which must often also satisfy electrical and environmental requirements. These requirements on the housing material are often quite difficult to fulfill simultaneously.
Therefore, there is a need for a plug-in connector part that alleviates or avoids the aforementioned problems.
In an embodiment, the present invention provides a plug-in connector part connectable to a mating connector part so as to form a plug-in connection, comprising: a housing; and an elastically deformable locking component embodied separately from the housing, which is configured to reversibly lock to a locking contour of the mating connector part during a creation of the plug-in connection, wherein the locking component is at least partially arranged in the housing of the plug-in connector part and has a section that is curved around a longitudinal axis of the plug-in connector part, which is parallel to the plug-in direction, and has at least one locking region and at least one unlocking region, and wherein the locking component is prestressed in a closed position and is elastically radially outwardly expandable into an open position in the locking region by an action of a radially inwardly oriented force on the unlocking region.
The present invention will be described in even greater detail below based on the exemplary figures. The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments. Other features and advantages of various embodiments of the present invention will become apparent by reading the following detailed description with reference to the attached drawings which illustrate the following:
In an embodiment, the locking component is at least partially arranged in the housing of the plug-in connector part and has a section which is curved around a longitudinal axis of the plug-in connector part which is parallel to the plug-in direction and has at least one locking region and at least one unlocking region. The locking component is prestressed when in a closed position and can be elastically expanded in a radially outward direction into an open position in the locking region by the action of a radially inward force on the unlocking region.
The locking component can be designed such that, when the plug-in connection is formed and before engagement, it expands elastically into the open position in the locking region by means of the locking contour of the mating connector part. In this case, the locking component can have a beveled profile in the locking region.
When in the prestressed position, the locking component can have a greater curvature in the unlocking region than in the locking region. In the open position, the curvature of the locking component in the locking region can be increased relative to the closed position. In the open position, the curvature of the locking component in the unlocking region can also be reduced relative to the closed position.
The locking component can be at least essentially annular. In this case, the locking component can be at least essentially oval. In addition, one unlocking region can be arranged in each case at the vertices of a long diameter of the locking component in each case and one locking region can be arranged in each case at the vertices of a short diameter of the locking component.
Alternatively, the locking component may be circular. In a further alternative, the locking component can be arc-shaped. The locking component can further be arranged concentrically to the longitudinal axis of the plug-in connector part in the housing. Alternatively, the locking component can be arranged eccentrically to the longitudinal axis of the plug-in connector part in the housing.
The housing of the plug-in connector part can at least essentially enclose the locking component in the radial direction. In addition, the housing of the plug-in connector part can have housing openings near the unlocking region of the locking component, which allow the insertion of a tool for exerting a radially inward force on the unlocking region. In this case, the housing can have a plurality of openings near the unlocking region, which permit insertion of the tool from different directions.
Alternatively, the housing of the plug-in connector part may incompletely enclose the locking component near the unlocking region. The housing can be designed in such a way that the manual, tool-free exertion of a radially inward force on the unlocking region is possible. In this case, when in the closed position, the locking component can protrude beyond an outside of the housing through one or more openings in the housing near the unlocking region.
In a region which engages with the mating connector part, the housing of the plug-in connector part can have an at least essentially rotationally symmetrical form around a longitudinal axis parallel to the plug-in direction.
The housing of the plug-in connector part and the locking component may comprise materials different from each other. In this case, the housing of the plug-in connector part can comprise a more rigid material than the locking component. The housing of the plug-in connector part may comprise plastic. The locking component may comprise a less rigid plastic than the housing and/or a flexible metal.
In another aspect, a plug-in connector is presented. The plug-in connector comprises a plug-in connector part of the type presented here and a mating connector part, to which the plug-in connector part can be reversibly connected to form a plug-in connection.
The locking contour of the mating connector part may comprise an annular groove. The locking contour can additionally have a protruding region.
The locking contour of the mating connector part may have a beveled region. The beveled region may be arranged in the protruding region of the locking contour.
In a region which engages with the housing of the plug-in connector part, the mating connector part can have an at least essentially rotationally symmetrical form around a longitudinal axis parallel to the plug-in direction.
The plug-in connector part 100 further comprises a locking component 120 formed separately from the housing 110 for reversibly locking a plug-in connection to a mating connector part. For this purpose, the locking component 120 comprises a plurality of locking regions 122 and a plurality of unlocking regions 124. The locking component 120 also has a beveled profile 126 in the locking regions 122.
The plug-in connector part 100 is designed to form a plug-in connection with a mating connector part, for example, the mating connector part 400 as shown in
The beveled profile 126 of the locking component 120 in the locking regions 122 aids the formation of a plug-in connection without the locking component 120 initially being required for this through exertion of a force on the unlocking region or regions 124 for opening the locking component 120. In particular, the beveled profile 126 promotes bending of the locking component 120 by a locking contour of the mating connector part when the plug-in connection is formed.
In the example shown, the locking component 120 is embodied as annular, in particular essentially oval. In this case, the unlocking regions 124 are each located at a vertex of the long diameter of the oval, while the locking regions 122 are each located at a vertex of the short diameter of the oval. The locking component 120 is also arranged concentrically to the longitudinal axis of the plug-in connector part 100. The plug-in connector part 100 is further arranged in the housing 110 in such a way that the housing openings 114 are each located near one of the unlocking regions 124 of the locking component 120.
In the example shown in
At the same time, the housing openings 114 allow the insertion of a tool, for example a screwdriver, in approximately the tangential direction to the longitudinal axis of the plug-in connector part 100 so as to exert a radially inward force on the unlocking regions 124. In some examples, the locking component 120 is formed so as to be sufficiently strongly deformed with respect to a provided mating connector part 400 to already to reach the open position through exertion of a force on only one of the unlocking regions 124.
The housing 110 also partially encloses the locking component 120 in the axial direction. This prevents the locking component 120 from falling out of the housing and thus in particular prevents the locking component 120 from being lost. In other examples, the locking component 120 is secured against loss by other means. For example, it can be fastened to the housing 110 at one or more connection points.
Given that the housing 110 and the locking component 120 are formed separately, the plug-in connector part 100 favors the use of different materials for the housing 110 and the locking member 120. In particular, a more rigid and weatherproof material can be used for the housing 110 than for the locking component 120, corresponding to the different functional requirements of the housing 110 and the locking component 120. At the same time, as described above, the service life of the locking component 120 is also increased by its arrangement within the housing 110. This particularly applies when typically weather-sensitive elastic materials are used for the locking component 120.
The invention has been described above using the example of a plug-in connector part 100 having a rotationally symmetrical region 112 which engages with the mating connector part and a centrally arranged, closed annular, in particular oval, locking component 120. However, it goes without saying that the described advantages can also be achieved with embodiments of the plug-in connector part 100 that differ from this. Specifically, a connecting region of the plug-in connector part 100 is not rotationally symmetric in other examples. In addition, in further examples, the locking component 120 is circular. In still further examples, the locking component 120 is arc-shaped, so that it describes a part of a ring, for example a part of an oval. In this case, the locking component 120 has, for example, a number that deviates from two unlocking regions 124 and two locking regions 122 for at least one of these types of regions. What these examples have in common is that the locking component has at least one curved section having at least one unlocking region and at least one locking region and is designed such that, as a result of exertion of an inward force on the unlocking region, the curvature of the locking component is changed such that the locking region or regions is or are elastically moved with respect to a provided mating connector part 400 from a prestressed position corresponding to a closed position into a position corresponding to an open position.
A tool W, for example a screwdriver, is inserted into the housing 110 through one of the housing openings 114. In this case, a radially inward force is exerted on the corresponding unlocking region 124. Aided by the shape of the housing 110, which prevents the locking component 120 from escaping as it would otherwise, the locking component 120 thus expands in the locking regions 122.
The plug-in connector part 300 comprises a housing 310 and a locking component 320 arranged at least essentially within the housing 310. The housing 310 has housing openings 314 through which the locking component 320 partially protrudes when in the closed position shown. In particular, operating regions 328 of the locking component 320 extend outwards through the housing openings 314 through an outside of the plug-in connector part 300. In the closed position shown, the locking regions 322 also extend into a locking contour 420, for example into an annular groove, of the mating connector part 400.
Unlike in the plug-in connector part 100 in
The plug-in connector part 300 provides reduced protection against unintentional or inadvertent operation compared to the plug-in connector part 100. In some examples, weather protection of the elastic parts of the locking component 320 is also less than in plug-in connector part 100. Nevertheless, even in plug-in connector part 300, the housing still offers extensive protection for the locking component, while at the same time facilitating operation this is simpler, in particular without tools.
In the example shown, the region 410 that engages with the housing of the plug-in connector part along with the locking contour 420 are formed in a rotationally symmetric manner. This makes it possible, for example, for the connected plug-in connector parts to be rotatable relative to one another around a longitudinal axis of the plug-in connection when the plug-in connection is established. The mating connector part 400 also has a beveled region 422 in the region of the locking contour 420. Similarly as described for the beveled profile 126 of the plug-in connector part 100, the beveled region 422 facilitates the expansion of the locking component by the locking contour 420 when the plug-in connection is formed.
While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive. It will be understood that changes and modifications may be made by those of ordinary skill within the scope of the following claims. In particular, the present invention covers further embodiments with any combination of features from different embodiments described above and below. Additionally, statements made herein characterizing the invention refer to an embodiment of the invention and not necessarily all embodiments.
The terms used in the claims should be construed to have the broadest reasonable interpretation consistent with the foregoing description. For example, the use of the article “a” or “the” in introducing an element should not be interpreted as being exclusive of a plurality of elements. Likewise, the recitation of “or” should be interpreted as being inclusive, such that the recitation of “A or B” is not exclusive of “A and B,” unless it is clear from the context or the foregoing description that only one of A and B is intended. Further, the recitation of “at least one of A, B and C” should be interpreted as one or more of a group of elements consisting of A, B and C, and should not be interpreted as requiring at least one of each of the listed elements A, B and C, regardless of whether A, B and C are related as categories or otherwise. Moreover, the recitation of “A, B and/or C” or “at least one of A, B or C” should be interpreted as including any singular entity from the listed elements, e.g., A, any subset from the listed elements, e.g., A and B, or the entire list of elements A, B and C.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 2017 125 915.5 | Nov 2017 | DE | national |
This application is a U.S. National Phase application under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of International Application No. PCT/EP2018/079363, filed on Oct. 26, 2018, and claims benefit to German Patent Application No. DE 10 2017 125 915.5, filed on Nov. 7, 2017. The International Application was published in German on May 16, 2019 as WO 2019/091795 under PCT Article 21(2).
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2018/079363 | 10/26/2018 | WO | 00 |
