Other advantageous further developments and configurations of the plug-in connector with strain relief according to the invention are apparent from further dependent claims. Certain embodiments of the plug-in connector according to the invention will be described hereafter and are illustrated in the drawing in which:
FIG. 1 shows a perspective view especially of a base element of a plug-in connector according to the invention prior to assembly of the plug-in connector;
FIG. 2 shows a perspective view especially of an upper part of a plug-in connector according to the invention during assembly of the plug-in connector;
FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a plug-in connector according to the invention in the assembled condition of the plug-in connector, with no cable fitted;
FIG. 4 shows a perspective view especially of a base element of a plug-in connector according to the invention with a cable fitted in a cable duct, prior to assembly of the plug-in connector;
FIG. 5 shows a perspective view, sectioned in part, of a plug-in connector according to the invention in the assembled condition of the plug-in connector;
FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of a cross-section through a front of a plug-in connector according to the invention, in the assembled condition of the plug-in connector; and
FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a plug-in connector according to the invention in the assembled condition of the plug-in connector, with a cable in place.
DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
FIG. 1 shows a perspective view especially of a base element 10 of a plug-in connector 11 according to the invention prior to assembly of the cable which will be illustrated in FIGS. 4 to 7. The plug-in connector 11 further preferably comprises an upper part 12.
The base element 10 contains at least one insulation displacement contact 13, 14. A first, a second and a first clamping element 15, 16, 17 are arranged before and/or beside and/or behind the insulation displacement contact 13. The first and the third clamping elements 15, 17 are arranged laterally, related to the center of a core of the cable illustrated in FIGS. 4 to 7, while the second clamping element 16 is arranged at least approximately before and/or behind the clamping opening of the clamping element 13.
The first clamping element 15 has a flat upper end. The second and the third clamping elements 16, 17 are each provided with a pointed tip 18, 19. The pointed tips 18, 19 are preferably arranged to extend in the longitudinal direction 20 of the cable illustrated in FIGS. 4 to 7.
Neighboring the insulation displacement contact 14, especially before and/or behind the insulation displacement contact 14, there is provided a forth clamping element 21 which, compared with the first to third clamping elements 15, 16, 17 has a greater length extending in the longitudinal direction 20 and which distinguishes itself from the first to third clamping elements 15 to 17 in that it has two separate pointed tips 22, 23.
The base element 10 preferably comprises at least one positioning element guide 24, intended to guide an upper part 12 provided in certain cases, which preferably contains at least one positioning element 30 corresponding to the positioning element guide 24.
The upper part 12 preferably contains at least one cable duct 31 intended to receive the cable that is shown in more detail in FIGS. 4 to 7. The upper part 12 preferably comprises at least one recess 32 into which the at least one insulation displacement contact 13, 14 is inserted during assembly of the plug-in connector 11. Further, the upper part 12 preferably comprises at least one guide channel 33 into which the at least one clamping element 15, 16, 17, 21 is inserted during assembly of the plug-in connector 11.
In addition, the upper part 12 preferably comprises two detents 34 for locking the upper part 12 on the base element 10 in the assembled condition of the plug-in connector 11. Two detents 34, provided on one end of the upper part 12 one opposite the other, can be seen for example in FIG. 1. Corresponding detents 34 are preferably provided on the other end of the upper part 12 although they are not visible in FIG. 1.
As has been mentioned before, the upper part 12 is not absolutely necessary. In principle, the cable illustrated in more detail in FIGS. 4 to 7 might be bonded and located in the base element 10 even without an upper part 12. The clamping force exerted by the at least one insulation displacement contact 13, 14 may already be sufficient to press a cable insulation onto the at least one clamping element 15, 16, 17, 21. In that case, a high pull-out force is achieved especially when the at least one clamping element 15, 16, 17, 21 is arranged immediately adjacent the insulation displacement contact 13, 14.
However, the upper part 12 preferably is provided for bonding and locating the cable by the at least one insulation displacement contact 13, 14 during assembly of the plug-in connector 11. Further, the upper part 12 preferably is configured to additionally exert a clamping force on the cable insulation for pressing the cable insulation onto the at least one clamping element 15, 16, 17, 21.
Advantageously, the upper part 12 is provided with the at least one cable duct 31 for receiving the cable prior to the assembly process. As a result of that measure high positioning accuracy relative to the insulation displacement contact 13, 14 is achieved for the cable. Also, assembly of the plug-in connector 14 is considerably facilitated.
FIG. 2 shows a perspective view especially of the upper part 12 during assembly of the plug-in connector 11. Parts identical to those shown in FIG. 1 are designated in this Figure by the same reference numerals.
The illustration of FIG. 2 shows the position of the upper part 12, relative to the base element 10, where the at least one insulation displacement contact 13, 14 is inserted into the recess 32. The at least one clamping element 15, 16, 17, 21 has not yet been inserted into the corresponding guide channel 33 in that position, while the positioning element 30 is just beginning to enter the positioning element guide 24 of the base element 10.
FIG. 2 provides a view of those areas of the upper part 12 that surround the at least one guide channel 33. At least part of that area is configured as an abutment 35 which in the assembled condition of the plug-in connector 11 is positioned at least approximately opposite a corresponding clamping element 15, 16, 17, 21 thereby providing an additional counterforce suited to locate the cable insulation on the clamping element 15, 16, 17, 21.
FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the plug-in connector 11 in the assembled condition, without a cable fitted, in order to provide a view of the position of the at least one clamping element 15, 16, 17, 21 in the assembled condition of the plug-in connector 11. Parts identical to those shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are again indicated by the same reference numerals.
In the position illustrated in FIG. 3 the first clamping element 15, the pointed tips 18 of the second clamping element 16, the third clamping element 17 as well as the latter's pointed tips 19 and the two pointed tips 22, 23 of the third clamping element 21 can be seen projecting into the cable duct 31 at least in part.
FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the base element 10 and the upper part 12 with a cable 40 fitted in the upper part 12. Parts illustrated in FIG. 4 that are identical to the parts illustrated in the preceding Figures, are indicated by the same reference numerals.
It is assumed in the illustrated embodiment that the cable 40 consists of a ribbon cable having four cores 41, three cores 41 being illustrated in FIG. 4, while the forth core 41 has been omitted to provide a view of a guide channel 33 inside the upper part 12.
Further, it is assumed in the illustrated embodiment that the upper part 12 comprises at least one cable duct 31—four cable ducts 31 being shown in the Figure—for positioning and locating the cable 40 prior to assembly of the plug-in connector 11.
The cable 40 comprises at least one conductor 42 which is enclosed by a cable insulation 43. Further, it is assumed by way of example that the different cores 41 of the cable 40 are connected one to the other via connection webs 44.
FIG. 5 shows a perspective view, sectioned in part, of the plug-in connector 11 in the assembled condition. Those parts illustrated in FIG. 5 that are identical to the parts illustrated in the preceding Figures are indicated by the same reference numerals.
In FIG. 5 it can be seen how an insulation displacement contact 13 pierces the cable insulation 43 of a cable 41 during assembly of the plug-in connector 11, establishes contact with the conductor 42 and fixes the conductor 42 in its position. During assembly, the positioning element 30 of the upper part 12 has entered the positioning element guide 24 of the base element 10. The detents 34, which are not visible in FIG. 5, have snapped into their final positions so as to lock the upper part 12 on the base element 10.
As can be seen in FIG. 5, the at least one clamping element 15, 16, 17, 21 clamps the cable insulation 43 either by deformation or even by penetrating into the cable insulation 43 at least in part, thereby considerably increasing the pull-out force of the cable 40 relative to the plug-in connector 11. The length of the at least one clamping element 15, 16, 17, 21 should be selected accordingly.
The length determines whether the at least one clamping element 15, 16, 17, 21 will only deform the cable insulation 43 or will penetrate into the cable insulation 43 at least in part and get firmly stuck in the cable insulation 43. As the at least one clamping element 15, 16, 17, 21 is to be realized as an inelastic element, the clamping element 15, 16, 17, 21 will provide the necessary rigidity and, thus, the required force.
The clamping element 15, 16, 17, 21, which preferably is electrically non-conductive, could even penetrate into the cable insulation 43 up to the conductor 42 or could pierce the cable insulation 43 outside the conductor 42 completely or almost completely.
In the illustrated embodiment it is assumed that the first clamping element 15 clamps the cable insulation 43 relative to the base element 10 at a position outside the diameter of the core 41, related to the mounting direction of the upper part 12. The pointed tip 18 of the second clamping element 16 clamps the cable insulation 43 at least approximately on a diameter of a core 41 relative to the before-mentioned mounting direction.
In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5 it is assumed that the third clamping element 17 is present and clamps the connection web 44 between the two cores 41 of the cable 40 by its at least one pointed tip 19. Further, it is provided according to that embodiment that the width of the second clamping element 17 is selected to ensure that the third clamping element 17 will further clamp at least one cable insulation 43, preferably both neighboring cable insulations 43, outside the diameter of the core 41, related to the before-mentioned mounting direction.
FIG. 6 shows a perspective sectional view through the front of the plug-in connector 11 in the assembled condition, it being assumed in this case that the upper part 12 comprises at least one cable duct 31. Those parts illustrated in FIG. 6 that are identical to the part illustrated in the preceding Figures, are indicated by the same reference numerals.
The illustration shows a line 41 in place. The section taken through the front of both the upper part 12 and the base element 10 gives a full view of the arrangement of the at least one clamping element 15, 16, 17, 21 in FIG. 6.
A line duct 31 in the upper part 12 is shown without a cable in place so that the forth clamping element 21, comprising two separate pointed tips 22, 23 in the illustrated example, can be seen in the assembled condition of the plug-in connector 11.
Finally, FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of the plug-in connector 11 according to the invention in the assembled condition and with a cable 40 in place.
Patent Application
20080076295
