EP2854230A1 - Connector with primary and secondary lock - Google Patents

Abstract

According to the invention, therefore, a connector is proposed, comprising a contact carrier, at least two flat contacts and a secondary locking means with retaining arms, wherein the contact carrier is provided with openings for inserting a secondary locking means for fixing the flat contacts in the contact carrier and the flat contacts have primary locking means to which the respective flat contact a corresponding locking means in the contact carrier is supported (whereby a primary locking is made) and wherein each flat contact further has a detent opening for through-mounting of the secondary locking means and further wherein the secondary locking means are inserted with its retaining arms for fixing the flat contacts in its locking position in the openings of the contact carrier and protrude with its holding arms through the latching openings of the flat contacts and with the contact carrier (insbesonde re at the end portions) are inextricably linked.

Description

The invention relates to a connector according to claim 1 and a method for producing a non-destructively separable secondary lock for a connector according to claim 10.

The invention therefore particularly relates to a connector with primary and secondary locking for flat contacts. Furthermore, the present invention therefore relates in particular to a method for producing a connector with flat contacts, which with a primary lock and a secondary lock are securely fixed to the contact carrier of the connector.

Various applications for inserting flat contacts or blade contacts are known in the prior art. It is also known to receive flat contacts in a, the flat contacts enveloping contact carrier assembly to use them plugged with a corresponding mating connector.

In the prior art solutions are already known in which flat contacts are locked or latched in a connector. Furthermore, in the prior art connectors are generally known in which contacts are held in receiving chambers by the contacts or the receiving chambers are equipped with corresponding locking devices.

That's how it shows GB-A-2260866 a connector consisting of a housing with terminal receiving chambers, and a rear holder integrally attached to the housing by hinge strips. The housing further includes openings extending to the terminal receiving chambers and wherein the rear holder includes terminal locking projections insertable through the openings into the terminal chambers. The rear holder is insertable on the housing in two steps, namely a provisional engaged state and a full engaged state. In the provisional engaged state, the terminal locking protrusions are arranged outside the moving paths of terminal lugs in the terminal accommodating chambers, and in the fully engaged state, the terminal locking protrusions are arranged in the movement paths to prevent the terminal lugs from sliding out of the back of the terminal accommodating chambers.

Furthermore, in the US-A-4718159 a device for end-connecting cables to terminals in a connector housing, described for displacing a cover on the housing, which is hinged thereto and the Placing the cover on the housing to cover the connections. The connector housing is conveyed by means of a first conveyor into a cover displacement station, where the cover is deported from the housing and brought in a second conveying direction. The first conveyor is then moved to an end termination station where the wires are terminally connected to the terminals by tools, after which the second conveyor is moved into the end termination station and the tools are operated to forcibly move the deferred cover from the second conveyor to the connector housing.

Like from the JP (A) 61-232582 is known, this has a contact lock, which is integrally molded to a connector housing via strip-shaped hinge parts. The connector housing has terminal receiving chambers having a tubular shape for receiving terminals and a primary latch disposed within the terminal receiving chamber and preventing the inserted metal terminal from being pulled out. To further prevent withdrawal, a secondary lock is provided. Lock insertion holes are formed on side surfaces of the connector housing. The contact lock having locking protrusions is attached to the side portion of the connector housing. Each locking projection, when inserted into the associated terminal receiving chamber, abuts against one side of the metal terminal to lock the metal terminal, thereby causing secondary locking of the metal terminal.

A disadvantage of the aforementioned embodiments is that they are not readily transferable to a connector with flat contact. Furthermore, the constructions are complex and expensive to manufacture. In addition, it is desirable to produce a simple but reliable and secure connector having a primary latch and a secondary latch such that the secondary latch is also high withstands mechanical loads and is reliably protected against unintentional loosening.

Further, it is desirable that the assembly of the contacts and the corresponding lock are easy and inexpensive to produce.

Furthermore, the automotive industry places high demands on the durability and the secure fit of contact elements in a contact carrier, since initially it is not readily apparent whether a contact was pushed out of the contact chamber during mating of a connector.

It has been found in the prior art that existing primary interlocks and secondary interlocks are often not sufficient to ensure the necessary strength of a connector system and the maintenance of the locks, and beyond that are inexpensive to produce, permanently withstand the mechanical requirements. For example, it is known that the flow of plastic from detent spring arms can lead to the failure of such spring arms.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to overcome said disadvantages and in particular to produce a connector in which the contacts are securely locked and locked in the contact carrier.

This object is achieved with a connector with the features 1 and a method for producing a secure connector according to claim 10.

The basic idea of the present invention lies in mutually engaging both the contact carrier and the flat contacts as well as the locking means such that in each case one element of the contact carrier, the flat contacts or the secondary locking means are respectively in engagement with a corresponding element of the contact carrier, the flat contacts or the secondary locking means and in particular a secondary locking means is provided with retaining arms, that they are permanently connected in the final assembly position with the contact carrier after the secondary locking means in his locking position was performed.

The term "unsolvable" in the sense of the present invention is to be understood as a state in which the secondary locking means can no longer be removed from its locking position without destruction (unlike a resilient latch or a locking device that can be released by a tool).

Unlike in the prior art, therefore, the invention provides that no releasable attachment of the secondary locking means on the contact carrier (as is done by the secondary locking means of the flat contacts of this invention in the contact carrier) is provided, but that the retaining arms of the secondary locking means so thermally at its end Be deformed holding sections that they can no longer pull out of the contact carrier out or the locking position of the secondary locking means can not be solved.

According to the invention, therefore, a connector is proposed, comprising a contact carrier, at least two flat contacts and a secondary locking means with retaining arms, wherein the contact carrier is provided with openings for inserting a secondary locking means for fixing the flat contacts in the contact carrier and the flat contacts have primary locking means to which the respective flat contact a corresponding locking means in the contact carrier is supported (whereby a primary locking is produced) and wherein each flat contact further via a Has latching opening for through-mounting of the secondary locking means and further wherein the secondary locking means are inserted with its retaining arms for fixing the flat contacts in its locking position in the openings of the contact carrier and protrude with its holding arms through the locking openings of the flat contacts and with the contact carrier (in particular at its end portions) are permanently connected.

There is therefore provided a secondary locking means having retaining arms which, after the secondary locking means has been inserted through retaining holes in the flat contacts in the contact carrier, is thermally embossed at its end portions to prevent removal of the secondary locking means.

In a preferred embodiment, the secondary locking means thus has end-holding sections on the retaining arms, which project at least partially through the openings of the contact carrier. Advantageously, the openings are funnel-shaped, so that the end-side holding portions of the holding arms can be pressed by thermal embossing in the funnel-shaped openings and thereby result in end-side holding portions that prevent removal of the secondary locking means. Consequently, the end-side holding sections have (at least in one partial section) a corresponding shape to the funnel-shaped end of the openings. In this way, it is ensured that unintentional release of the secondary locking means after assembly of the contact carrier can not be done.

In a further preferred embodiment, the holding arms of the secondary locking means are formed of a thermally deformable and / or plastifiable material, the end-side holding portions were thermally transformed after insertion of the secondary locking means in its locking position so that the secondary locking means with the contact carrier is inseparable, ie permanently connected.

"Inseparable" in the sense of the present invention is equivalent to the previously mentioned term "insoluble". This means that the secondary locking means can not be separated from the contact carrier after the thermal forming of the holding sections destructively, whereby a particularly secure and permanent connection and fixing the flat contacts in the contact carrier is accomplished.

Furthermore, it can be ensured in this way that the temporal flow away of the plastic spring arms in secondary locking means, which have resilient locking means is prevented.

Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a suitable method for securely fixing the retaining arms of the secondary locking means in its locking position at their end-side retaining portions. For this purpose, a method by means of thermal energy input either by hot forming, hot stamping, Ultraschallverprägen or by an alternative thermal energy source proposed to deform the secondary locking means suitable.

This can be accomplished by suitably shaped cavities at the end opening of the contact carrier through which the support arms pass, by thermally deforming a volume of material of the end support portion into the corresponding cavity to form an end block, hat, or other holding form that supports the body Locking means against removal secures.

It is also advantageous if the secondary locking means comprises a base plate on which the retaining arms protrude laterally as cylindrical domes with their end-side sections and the contact carrier via corresponding Openings for the holding arms, that is the dome has. It is particularly advantageous if the openings in the contact carrier approximately correspond to the outer diameter of the dome or are minimally larger, so that is ensured at a hot embossing of the end-side holding portions of the support arms that removal of the secondary locking means from the contact carrier to enlarge the scope of Holding sections is reliably prevented by the forming.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the contact carrier is formed so that this front-side insertion openings for insertion mounting of the flat contacts in the insertion direction S of the connector has. In this way, the flat contacts in the insertion direction S of the contact carrier two can lead into these and can support them with their primary locking means on the corresponding locking means in the contact carrier, so that a secure position for insertion of the secondary locking means is ensured.

It is also advantageous if the secondary locking means is inserted into the contact carrier in a direction orthogonal to the plug-in direction S, so that the holding arms extend transversely through the openings in the flat contacts and thus a particularly stable locking is achieved.

In such an embodiment, the openings in the contact carrier are aligned with the latching openings of the flat contacts in the mounted position. In a further preferred embodiment, the primary locking means of the flat contacts are designed as spring arms, which protrude laterally from the flat contact at least with a support portion. In this way, a simple assembly of the flat contacts can be accomplished by these are inserted into the frontal insertion openings of the contact carrier and can deflect there and rebound after reaching their mounting position again, so that the end-side support sections on the corresponding

Support locking means in the Kotaktträger.

In a further preferred embodiment, the contact support is designed as a cuboid contract carrier in a side wall arranged recess (lateral recess) for fully receiving the secondary locking means with its base plate. In such an embodiment, the secondary locking means can thus be fully inserted flush with the surface of the contact carrier in the contact carrier and although transversely to the insertion direction S of the flat contacts. In this way, a particularly compact design is achieved.

1. a) Einschieben der Flachkontakte in den Kontaktträger in ihrer Montageposition derart, dass sich die Flachkontakte mit ihren Primärverriegelungsmitteln auf den korrespondierenden Rastmitteln in dem Kontaktträger abstützen;
2. b) Einstecken des Sekundärverriegelungsmittels mit seinen Haltearmen durch die Öffnungen des Kontaktträgers und durch die Rastöffnungen der Flachkontakte hindurch derart, dass zumindest endseitige Abschnitte der Haltearme aus dem Kontaktträger hervorstehen; und
3. c) thermisches Umformen oder Verprägen der hervorstehenden bzw. überstehenden endseitigen Abschnitte der Haltearme, welche durch die Rastöffnungen der Flachkontakte hindurch ragen, um diese an den Kontaktträger unlösbar festzulegen.

A further aspect of the present invention relates to a method for producing a non-destructively separable secondary interlock for a connector with flat contacts according to one of the embodiments described above with at least the following steps:

1. a) inserting the flat contacts in the contact carrier in its mounting position such that the flat contacts are supported with their primary locking means on the corresponding locking means in the contact carrier;
2. b) inserting the secondary locking means with its holding arms through the openings of the contact carrier and through the latching openings of the flat contacts such that at least end portions of the holding arms protrude from the contact carrier; and
3. c) thermoforming or embossing of the protruding or protruding end portions of the support arms, which protrude through the latching openings of the flat contacts, in order to fix them undetachably to the contact carrier.

If the contact carrier in the region of the protruding or projecting end sections over cylindrical or cuboidal or otherwise has shaped cavities, the thermal embossing, in particular the thermal hot stamping of the protruding end portions of the support arms accomplish so that the plastifiable or thermoformable material of the end-side holding portions is formed into the cavities and thereby forms holding portions, the release of the secondary locking means safely prevent it from its locking position.

Other advantageous developments of the invention are characterized in the subclaims or are explained in more detail below together with the description of the preferred embodiment of the invention with reference to FIGS.

Fig. 1

eine perspektivische Ansicht eines Ausführungsbeispiels eines erfindungsgemäßen Steckverbinders, bestehend aus einem Kontaktträger, zwei Flachkontakten und einem Sekundärverriegelungsmittel;

Fig. 2

eine Darstellung des Kontaktträgers in unterschiedlichen Ansichten;

Fig. 3

eine Darstellung eines erfindungsgemäßen Sekundärverriegelungsmittels in unterschiedlichen Ansichten;

Fig. 4

ein Zusammenbau der in Fig. 1 gezeigten einzelnen Komponenten in einer Seitenansicht und in einer Schnittansicht; und

Fig. 5

eine Ansicht ähnlich der Fig. 4, bei der der endseitige Halteabschnitt des Sekundärverriegelungsmittels umgeformt ist.

Show it:

Fig. 1

a perspective view of an embodiment of a connector according to the invention, consisting of a contact carrier, two flat contacts and a secondary locking means;

Fig. 2

a representation of the contact carrier in different views;

Fig. 3

an illustration of a secondary locking means according to the invention in different views;

Fig. 4

an assembly of in Fig. 1 shown individual components in a side view and in a sectional view; and

Fig. 5

a view similar to the one Fig. 4 in which the end-side holding portion of the secondary locking means is deformed.

In Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the connector 1 according to the invention consisting of a contact carrier 2, two flat contacts 3 and a secondary locking means 10 is shown. In the perspective shown here View the items are shown in a pre-assembly. The flat contacts 3 have a plug-side contact section 30 and a connection section 31 are struck on the lines 34 by means of a crimped connection. Between the contact portion 30 and the terminal portion 31 is the holding portion 32. In the holding portion 32 is the primary locking means 4 in the form of a laterally protruding spring arm. In addition to the primary locking means 4 is in the region of the holding portion 32 also has a detent opening 5 in each of the flat contacts 3. The detent opening 5 serves to lock the secondary locking means 10 on the contact carrier 2, which will be described in more detail later.

The flat contacts 3 are accomplished by means of plug-in mounting in the insertion direction S of the connector, which also represents the mounting direction of the flat contacts. The flat contacts are inserted into the front-side insertion openings 20a, 20b of the contact carrier 2 until the flat contacts 3 abut with the stop 33 against a counter-stop in the contact carrier 2. When inserting the flat contacts 3 in the contact carrier 2, the spring arms are compressed at control ribs 21 and springs after reaching the final assembly position in its rebound position back and based with its end-side support portion 4a on the latching means 22 of the contact carrier 2 from.

This mounting position is inter alia in the sectional view BB of Fig. 4 shown.

The contact carrier 2 has, in addition to the receptacles 23 for the flat contacts 3, a rear end face 24 and a plug-side end face 25. Further, the contact carrier 2 is formed according to the present embodiment as a substantially cuboid contact carrier. From the contact carrier 2 are frontally further plug-side arms 26 protruding. It can also be seen that in each case two openings 2a, 2b extend from an upper side 27 to an underside 28 through the contact carrier 2. The openings 2a, 2b terminate the upper side in each case in a funnel-shaped opening 29. The inner diameter of the openings 2a, 2b corresponds approximately to the outer diameter of the in Fig. 3 shown holding arms 11.

In Fig. 3 Furthermore, the secondary locking means 10 is shown in different views. The secondary locking means 10 has a substantially rectangular and planar base plate 12 from which two cylindrical dome (retaining arms 11) protrude laterally. Furthermore, the base plate 12 is formed in a C-shape and therefore has a central slot 13 in its rectangular basic shape.

A U-shaped collar 14 is located around the slot 13 in this exemplary embodiment. In addition to the U-shaped collar, in each case adjacent to each retaining arm 11, there is a protruding web section 15.

The web section 15 and the U-shaped collar 14 clamp on their surface on a common plane and define the insertion depth of the secondary locking means 10 in the lateral recess 20 of the contact carrier second

In Fig. 4 the inserted mounting position of the secondary locking means 10 is shown in the contact carrier 2, while in Fig. 5 the locking position of the secondary locking means 10 is shown with the contact carrier 2.

As in Fig. 4 recognizable protrudes an end-side portion 11a of the support arms 11 from the top 27 of the contact carrier 2, in the region of the funnel-shaped opening 29. As in Fig. 5 illustrated, the elastically deformable or plastifiable material of the support arms 11 was embossed by means of hot embossing in the funnel-shaped opening 29 that a removal from the in Fig. 4 mounting position shown is no longer possible. The geometric shape of the deformed Haltearmabschnitte 11 b is clearly in the sectional view BB of Fig. 5 to recognize.

Furthermore, in Fig. 4 to recognize that the diameter of the end portions of the support arms 11 is less than the outer diameter of the funnel-shaped opening 29. This allows a conical end portion 11 b of the support arms 11 produced by means of hot stamping.

For example, with a hot stamping punch with a sufficiently large diameter (diameter greater than or equal to the outer diameter of the funnel-shaped opening 29) by pressing on the end-side portion 11 a of the support arms 11 each have a deformed Haltearmabschnitt 11 b corresponding to the sectional view BB Fig. 5 getting produced.

An inventive method for producing a non-destructively separable secondary lock for flat contacts of a connector can therefore according to the schematic sequence of the in the Fig. 4 shown state in the in the Fig. 5 shown state. The flat contacts 3 are, as in Fig. 1 Then, the secondary locking means 10 through the openings to the contact carrier 2 and through the latching openings 5 of the flat contacts 3, as in. In the contact carrier 2 completely pushed into place and lock there with its primary locking means Fig. 4 pushed. Thereafter, a thermal Heißverprägen the protruding end portions 11a of the support arms 11 in the region of the funnel-shaped openings 29, in order to fix them indissolubly on the contact carrier 2.

The invention is not limited in its execution to the above-mentioned preferred embodiments. Rather, a number of variants is conceivable, which makes use of the preceding solution even with fundamentally different types of use.

Claims (10)

Includes connector (1) - A contact carrier (2), at least two flat contacts (3) and a secondary locking means (10) with retaining arms (11); - Wherein the contact entries (2) with openings (2a) for inserting a secondary locking means (10) for fixing the flat contacts (3) in the contact carrier (2) is provided; - wherein the flat contacts (3), primary locking means (4) on which the respective flat contact (3) on a corresponding latching means (4a) in the contact carrier (2) is supported; - Wherein each flat contact (3) further comprises a latching opening (5), for through-mounting of a secondary locking means (10) has and - Further wherein the secondary locking means (10) is inserted with its retaining arms (11) for fixing the flat contacts (3) in its locking position in the openings (2a) of the contact carrier (2) and with its retaining arms (11) through the latching openings (5) the flat contacts (3) protrudes and is inextricably connected to the contact carrier (2). Connector according to claim 1, characterized in that the secondary locking means (10) with end formed retaining portions (11b) of the support arms (11) through the openings (5) of the contact carrier (2) protrudes , that the secondary locking means (10) is secured against removal , Connector according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the holding arms (11) of the secondary locking means (10) are formed from a thermally deformable and / or plastifiable material whose end-side holding portions (11 a) after insertion of the secondary locking means (10). were thermally transformed into its locking position so that the secondary locking means (10) is inseparably connected to the contact carrier (2). Connector according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the retaining arms (11) of the secondary locking means (10) in its locking position at its end-holding portions (11 b) were converted by thermal energy input either by hot forming, hot stamping, Ultraschallverprägen or by means of a thermal energy source in that the secondary locking means (10) can no longer be released from its locking position by the contact carrier (2) without destruction. Connector according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the Sekundärärriegelungsmittel (10) has a base plate (12) on the side of the support arms (11) as cylindrical domes with their end portions (11a) projecting and the contact carrier (2) via corresponding Has openings (2a) for the support arms (11). Is formed connector (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contact carrier (2) with end-side push-in openings (20a, 20b) for the insertion assembly of the flat contacts (3) in the plugging direction (S) of the connector (1). Connector (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the latching means (4) are arranged in the contact carrier (2) that the flat contacts (3) in the mounted position against its insertion direction (S) in the contact carrier (2) fixed become. Connector (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the primary locking means (4) of the flat contacts (3) are designed as spring arms which project laterally from the flat contact (3) at least with a support portion (4a). Connector (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the one or more deformed end portions (11b) of the holding arms (11) of the secondary locking means (10) is formed in the shape of a truncated cone or part cone with an outwardly increasing extent or are. A method of making a non-destructively separable secondary connector for a connector according to any one of claims 1 to 9, comprising at least the following steps: a. Inserting the flat contacts (3) in the contact carrier (2) in its mounting position such that they are supported with their primary locking means (4) on the corresponding locking means (4a) in the contact carrier (2); b. Inserting the secondary locking means (10) with its retaining arms (11) through the openings (2a) of the contact carrier (2) for fixing the flat contacts (3) such that at least end portions of the support arms (11) from the contact carrier (2) protrude; c. Thermal deformation or embossing of the protruding end portions of the support arms (11) which protrude through the latching openings (5) of the flat contacts (3) in order to fix them permanently on the contact carrier (2).

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