The present invention concerns a plug-in connector, in particular for airbag retaining systems according to the preamble of patent claim 1. Such a plug-in connector is known from DE 100 35,726 A1.
In several respects, stringent requirements are placed on such plug-in connectors relative to the reliability of the connection that is produced and of the plugging-in process of a plug-in connector into its mating connector. In addition, the plug-in connection must be designed for a very long service life, during which fatigue phenomena of the seating of the plug must not occur.
A plug-in connector with a secondary locking mechanism is known from EP-1,207,591 A2, in which, during the plugging-in process of the connector into a corresponding mating connector and after the engaging of a primary locking mechanism, a secondary locking mechanism is moved into a slot between a tongue of the primary locking mechanism and the connector housing, in order to fill this slot and to prevent the primary locking mechanism from popping out of its locked position. In this case, the tongue of the secondary locking mechanism is continually under elastic strain in the final state, so that it may become subject to material fatigue, and, as the case may be, to material fracture over the long term. If pieces of the tongue of the secondary locking mechanism fall out of the slot, the secondary locking would therefore no longer be secure. At the very least, the correct seating of the plug-in connector in its mating connector would no longer be secure.
An electrical connector is known from DE 196 20,177 A1, in which an electrical contact between complementary connectors is first made toward the end of the plugging-in process in such a way that, during the plugging-in process, a spring is tensed, which moves the connectors into one another when a predetermined spring force has been exceeded and after release of its spring excursion.
DE 198 47,872 A1 describes an ignition bus housing with a secondary locking mechanism, which is pre-tensed by a spring during the plugging-in process and after engaging of the connector locking mechanism, moves by spring force over the connector lock and blocks it in its locking position.
In DE 100 05,858 A1, a spring clip acting as a safety device provides for the circumstance that the secondary locking can only take place when the connection of the connector has been concluded.
DE 100 35,726 A1 shows a contact support, in which a secondary locking mechanism is held back during the plugging-in process until the locking mechanism has been engaged. A spring tension is built up during the plugging-in process, and when this is released it moves the secondary locking mechanism into its final position. This release takes place after the spring tension has become large enough, due to the compression of the spring, in order to overcome an elastic resistance, which is formed by an elastic compressible clamp. The behavior of the latter determines the time point for triggering and this time can thus be determined only imprecisely and is hardly reproducible.
A plug-in connector with a secondary locking mechanism is known from EP 1,006,621 A1, wherein the secondary locking mechanism rests on one edge of the mating connector, until it is released by shifting laterally at a specific stage of the connecting process.
The object of the present invention is to further develop a plug-in connector of the type named initially in such a way that the secondary locking mechanism is supported by spring force at a pre-specified moment during the plugging-in process and is brought into its final position, but essentially rests free of mechanical strain in the final state.
This object is solved according to the claims.
The present invention is based on the concept of building up a spring force during the connecting process, by means of which the secondary locking mechanism is “catapulted” into its final position after the primary locking mechanism is engaged, and it then rests with essentially relaxed spring elements.
The spring elements can stand under slight mechanical strain in the final state, in order to prevent a chattering in the case of vibrations. The invention will be explained in more detail in the following, based on the description of an example of embodiment, which is not to be understood as limiting, with reference to the drawing.
The following are shown therein:
FIGS. 2 to 6 the individual steps of the plugging-in process, and
Further, the secondary locking mechanism 5 has detent arms 8a, 8b (
The back housing part 2 has longitudinal slots on opposite-lying sides in the direction of plugging in, from which project pieces 13a, 13b, which are formed on the secondary locking mechanism 5. A detaching aid 12 is plugged onto these pieces 13a, 13b by means of slot 14 in its side walls, and this aid surrounds the housing 2, 3 at least partially. This detaching aid can be moved by an operator in the direction opposite the plugging-in direction against the action of the force of the pressure springs 10a to 10d, whereby the locking tongues 6a, 6b and the detent arms 8a, 8b can be pulled out of the mating connector and the plug connection can be detached.
The individual steps of the plugging-in process will be explained in the following on the basis of FIGS. 2 to 6.
The final position of plug-in connector 1 in mating connector 7 is shown in
The plug connection produced in this way allows only unequivocal states which are also clearly perceived by the user. The “shooting in” of the secondary locking mechanism is clearly perceptible and ends up in a clearly locked state due to the pressure loading. Therefore, the plug-in connector according to the invention assures an increased security, which is particularly essential for use as an airbag connector.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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102420742 | Sep 2002 | DE | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/EP03/10070 | 9/10/2003 | WO | 8/15/2005 |