CN111952759B

CN111952759B - Retaining frame and plug connector comprising such a retaining frame

Info

Publication number: CN111952759B
Application number: CN202010406561.7A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 卢卡斯·霍佩; 托尔斯滕·迪塞尔; 布鲁诺·穆特
Original assignee: Phoenix Contact GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Phoenix Contact GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 2019-05-14
Filing date: 2020-05-14
Publication date: 2023-05-23
Anticipated expiration: 2040-05-14
Also published as: CN212695362U; CN111952759A; DE102019112612B3; DE202020102621U1

Abstract

The invention relates to a holding frame (100) for a plug connector, the holding frame (100) being used for accommodating a contact insert (200), the holding frame (100) having a base frame (10) with a first side wall (11), a second side wall (12) opposite the first side wall (11), a first end wall (13) and a second end wall (14) opposite the first end wall (13), wherein the first side wall (11), the second side wall (12), the first end wall (13) and the second end wall (14) enclose an interior space (15) of the base frame (10), into which the contact insert (200) can be inserted in an insertion direction (E), and a plurality of wall sections (16) with an inner surface (23) pointing in the direction of the interior space (15) and an outer surface (35) pointing away from the interior space (15), and in a fixed position, the wall sections hold the contact insert (200) inserted into the interior space (15) of the base frame (10) at the interior space (10), wherein the first side wall (11) and the second wall section (18) are mounted in a pivotable manner in each case in an opening (18) of the base frame (10), to switch into the secured and open positions.

Description

Retaining frame and plug connector comprising such a retaining frame

Technical Field

The invention relates to a holding frame for a plug connector, which is used for accommodating a plurality of contact inserts. The invention also relates to a plug connector having such a holding frame.

Background

Such a holding frame is used, for example, for the modular use of contact inserts at plug connectors. One or more contact inserts can be arranged on such a holding frame for insertion together with the holding frame into the plug connector part or the housing of the plug connector and for connection to the housing via the holding frame. In this way, the contact inserts can be combined with one another in a modular manner and arranged in or at the plug connector part by the holding frame.

Such contact inserts may, for example, have one or more electrical contacts. In this case, the contact inserts are connected on the one hand to the electrical lines leading to the plug connector and on the other hand form plug contacts by means of which the plug connector can be plugged into a mating plug connector part for electrical contact.

Such a modular contact insert offers the advantage of flexible combinability and thus variable usability of the plug connector.

If the contact insert is inserted into the holding frame, it is necessary to hold the contact insert at the holding frame, so that the holding frame can be mounted together with the contact insert, for example, at a plug connector. In the retaining frame known from DE 10 2012 110 907 A1, a second retaining frame part can be mounted for this purpose on a first retaining frame part having a recess for receiving the protruding element of the contact insert, in order in this way to lock the protruding element inserted into the recess and thus to lock it on the retaining frame.

In the holding frame known from DE 20 2012 103 360 U1, two recesses are provided in the frame wall. In a first recess of the upper edge of the frame wall, a protruding element of the contact insert can be inserted in an insert manner, while a pin-shaped formation of the contact insert can be snapped into a second recess in the form of an opening (ras).

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the invention is to provide a holding frame which enables a simple insertion of a contact insert at the holding frame and a reliable locking of the contact insert at the holding frame, while at the same time enabling a simple removability of the contact insert from the holding frame.

According to the invention, this object is solved by the features of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments and advantageous developments of the invention are given in the dependent claims.

The holding frame according to the invention is characterized in that it comprises a base frame having a first side wall, a second side wall opposite the first side wall, a first end wall and a second end wall opposite the first end wall, wherein the first side wall, the second side wall, the first end wall and the second end wall enclose an interior space of the base frame into which the contact insert can be inserted in the insertion direction, and in that the plurality of wall sections have an inner surface pointing in the direction of the interior space and an outer surface pointing away from the interior space, and in that in the secured position the plurality of wall sections hold the contact insert inserted into the interior space of the base frame at the base frame, wherein openings are formed on the first side wall and the second side wall, wherein in each opening one of the plurality of wall sections is pivotably supported for switching into the secured position and the open position, respectively.

According to the invention, it is now provided that the wall section, by means of which the contact insert can be fastened to the base frame and thus to the holding frame, is no longer arranged in a positionally fixed manner on the base frame, but is arranged movably relative to the base frame, so that the wall section can be pivoted or tilted relative to the base frame into a fixed position and an open position. In the secured position, the wall sections are preferably arranged in alignment with the respective side walls of the base frame in which they are located. In the fixed position, the contact insert inserted into the interior space can be held in a fixed position at the wall section in such a way that the protruding element of the contact insert can engage with a recess formed on the wall section. When the wall section is switched from the fixed position to the open position, the wall section is pivoted in a direction away from the interior space such that the wall section in the open position is inclined outwards from the plane of the respective side wall. For example, in the open position, the wall sections may be inclined from the plane of the respective side wall at an angle of between 3 ° and 15 °, preferably at an angle of between 5 ° and 10 °. By means of the outward pivoting or tilting of the wall sections when switching into the open position, the insertion region for the contact insert in the open position expands or widens in the interior of the base frame, so that the contact insert can be inserted into the interior without obstruction. In the open position of the wall section, the contact insert can also be easily released and removed from the interior space of the base frame, since the wall section can for this purpose again be pivoted or tilted away from the contact insert. The pivotally movable support of the wall sections can be configured such that each wall section can be pivoted individually. It is also possible, however, for two or more wall sections arranged on one side wall to be connected or coupled to one another in such a way that they can be pivoted together. In the case of a possible individual pivoting movement of the wall sections, the individual contact inserts can be inserted into the holding frame individually, independently of the other contact inserts, and can also be released again from the holding frame.

By pivotally movably supporting the wall section on the base frame, the wall section can now preferably be made of a dimensionally stable material. The term dimensionally stable means here that the wall section itself is not deformable and therefore its shape remains in each position and does not change. The wall section is preferably of rigid construction. The wall section therefore preferably has no spring action or spring elasticity.

The base frame and the wall sections may be constructed of the same material. The base frame is preferably composed of a rigid, dimensionally stable material, so that the wall sections can also be composed of a rigid, dimensionally stable material. If the base frame and the wall sections are composed of the same material, compatibility and handling in fitting the wall sections at the base frame can be improved. Furthermore, if the base frame and the wall section are made of the same material, the production effort can be reduced.

Preferably, the wall sections are constructed from a die-cast material. By being constructed from a die-cast material, the wall sections can have a particularly smooth, edge-free, clean surface. Furthermore, particularly small wall thicknesses can be achieved when using die-cast materials. As the die casting material, for example, an aluminum die casting material or a zinc die casting material can be used. If the base frame is constructed of the same material as the wall sections, the base frame may also be constructed of a die cast material.

In order to form a pivotally movable support for the wall section, the wall section is preferably mounted in a pivotable manner on the rotation axis in an opening at the base frame or at a side wall of the base frame. The rotational axis about which the wall section can pivot or tilt is preferably arranged or configured eccentrically to the wall section. Preferably, the rotation axis is arranged or constructed on the lower end of the wall section. In the assembled state of the wall sections, the lower end of the wall sections is arranged closer to the lower edge of the base frame than the upper end of the wall sections. The upper end of the wall section is preferably arranged adjacent to the upper edge of the base frame. In the upper region of the wall sections, a recess is preferably formed in each case, in which recess in the fixed position the projecting element of the contact insert inserted into the interior can be held in each case. The rotary shaft may be configured as a shaft body, which may be connected as a separate component to the wall section and the base frame. Furthermore, the rotary shaft can also be formed by a rotary pin formed integrally on the wall section, wherein the rotary pin can be inserted into recesses formed on the base frame and can be rotatably mounted in these recesses.

Preferably, it can be provided that each wall section has an own rotation axis. If each wall section has its own axis of rotation, each wall section can be individually and thus independently switched into the fixed position and the open position, while adjacently arranged wall sections are not likewise switched together into the respective positions. Thus, the contact inserts can also be individually inserted and fixed into the holding frame or removed from the holding frame.

Furthermore, it is also possible, however, for two or more wall sections arranged on the first side wall and/or the second side wall to be mounted in a pivotable manner on a common axis of rotation in openings of the side walls of the base frame or of the base frame. The rotation shaft is preferably designed in the form of a shaft body which can extend through two or more wall sections. The connection of two or more wall sections of the side wall can then be achieved by the rotation shaft, so that the wall sections do not have to be individually switched into the fixed position and the open position, but the two or more wall sections can be simultaneously switched into the fixed position and the open position by actuating only one of the wall sections.

In order to facilitate the insertion of the contact insert into the interior space and thus into the region between two opposing wall sections, the wall sections can each have an insertion bevel on their inner surfaces. The insertion bevel is preferably formed on the upper end of the wall section. Preferably, the insertion bevel is formed in the insertion direction above a corresponding recess formed in the wall section.

In order to hold the wall sections in the fastening position, the wall sections can each have a fastening region which can interact in each case in the fastening position with a counter fastening region formed on the base frame. The fastening region of the wall section is preferably formed at the upper end of the wall section. The fastening region can be configured as a latching region and can have the shape of a latching nose, for example. The mating fastening region can be configured as a mating latching region and have the shape of a rear joint, for example, wherein the latching nose can then be hooked back (hinterhaken) or latched back (hinterrasten) in the fastening position at the rear joint.

In addition to or instead of the fastening region and the counter fastening region, at least one holding device can be fastened to the base frame for holding the wall sections in the fastening position, which holding device can at least partially enclose one or more of the wall sections in the fastening position. The holding device is preferably an additional or separate component which can be fixed at the base frame after the contact insert has been inserted and positioned in the holding frame. The holding device is preferably designed such that it can encompass not only a partial region of the base frame but also a partial region of one or more wall sections, so that the individual wall sections can be held in a fixed position relative to the base frame by means of the holding device.

For example, the at least one holding device can be configured in the form of a fastening rail which can be fitted or pushed onto the edge section of the base frame in such a way that, in the fastened position, the holding device can at least partially enclose the edge section of the base frame and the edge section of the wall section or sections. The edge section of the base frame onto which the holding device can be pushed is preferably formed on the upper edge of the base frame. The retaining means in the form of a retaining rail preferably have a C-shaped or U-shaped cross section, so that the wall sections in the retaining position of the base frame and also arranged in the retaining position can be enclosed in a C-shaped or U-shaped manner. The holding device configured as a fixed rail is preferably of straight and elongate design. Preferably, two holding devices can be provided, wherein a first holding device in the form of a fixed rail can be arranged at a first side wall of the base frame and a second holding device in the form of a fixed rail can be arranged at a second side wall of the base frame.

It is furthermore possible for the at least one holding device to be formed as a tensioning element, which in the secured position can enclose the base frame on an outer surface pointing away from the interior space and the wall section on an outer surface of the wall section. If the wall section is arranged in a fixed position after insertion of the contact insert, a holding device configured as a tensioning element can be arranged at the base frame. However, it is also possible for the holding device in the form of a tensioning element to be already mounted on the base frame before the contact insert is inserted. The retaining device embodied as a tensioning element preferably surrounds the base frame over its entire circumference or over its entire circumference, so that all wall sections arranged on the base frame can be surrounded together by the retaining device. If the retaining device is fitted to the base frame before the contact insert is inserted, the retaining device can provide a spring action by means of which the retaining device can exert an automatic return action on the wall section when the wall section is in the open position, whereby the wall section can automatically pivot back from the open position into the fixed position.

The tensioning element may be, for example, a polymer element or a metal spring element of elastic construction. The tensioning element preferably has a spring or spring action, so that the assembly of the tensioning element at the base frame and at the wall section can be facilitated. If the tensioning element is a polymer element of elastic construction, it may for example be constructed like a rubber belt. The polymer element may for example be composed of a rubber material or a plastic material. If the tensioning element is a metal spring element, it can be configured, for example, in the form of a spring ring, for example a spiral spring ring.

In order to facilitate the assembly of the contact inserts at the holding frame, the wall sections can each have at least one nose on their inner surface projecting in the direction of the inner space, which can cooperate with the contact inserts when they are inserted in order to shift the wall sections from the open position into the fixed position. Since the nose protrudes into the interior space, the contact insert can exert pressure on the nose when inserted into the interior space, whereby the wall section can be pivoted from the open position into the fixed position. The contact insert can thereby trigger the movement of the wall section from the open position into the fixed position, so that an additional manual movement of the wall section from the open position into the fixed position is no longer necessary. The nose is preferably arranged at the lower end of the wall section, so that the operation of the wall section is effected by the contact insert when the contact insert almost reaches its end position in the interior space of the base frame.

Furthermore, it can be provided that at least one spring element is arranged on the base frame, which spring element can interact with one or more wall sections in such a way that the at least one spring element can be shifted into a pretensioned position in a pivoting movement of the wall sections from the fixed position into the open position. By the pretensioning action of the spring element in the open position of the wall section, the wall section can be automatically pivoted back from the open position into the fixed position by the spring force acting on the wall section once the contact insert has been inserted into the interior space. The one or more spring elements are preferably configured such that they are fastened to the base frame and at least partially span one or more wall sections.

For example, at least one spring element can be fastened to the lower edge of the base frame and can have a spring web which interacts with the wall section, wherein the spring webs can each be held on the inner surface of the wall section. The spring element can, for example, have a connecting bridge which can be fastened to the lower edge of the base frame. The connecting bridge can be configured in a U-shape, so that the connecting bridge can surround the lower edge of the base frame. The spring webs can each be integrally formed at the connecting bridge. Preferably, a spring tab is provided for each wall section. The spring webs can engage or hook back onto the wall sections, in particular onto the inner surface of the wall sections, so that the spring webs can be fastened to the wall sections and can exert a spring action when the wall sections are moved into the fastened and the open position. The spring element may, for example, be cut and bent from a spring plate.

Alternatively, the spring elements may be configured such that each wall section corresponds to a spring element, wherein the spring elements may each span the outer surface of one of the wall sections. When the wall sections are moved from the fixed position into the open position, the respective spring element can be tensioned, since the wall sections can be pressed against the respective spring element and deflect it. The spring elements preferably each extend over a partial region of the outer surface of the wall section. Preferably, the spring elements each extend along the width of the wall section.

Preferably, the spring element is then constructed from a bent wire. The spring element can be constructed in a simple manner by means of a wire. The spring element, which is formed from a bent wire, can be fastened, for example, to the rotation axis or to a rotation pin formed at the wall section and spans the respective wall section in the width direction.

The object is also achieved according to the invention by means of a plug connector having a housing, a holding frame arranged in the housing and a plurality of contact inserts accommodated in the holding frame, wherein the holding frame is constructed and improved as described above.

Drawings

The invention is explained in detail below with the aid of preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.

And (3) displaying:

figure 1 shows a schematic view of a holding frame according to the invention,

fig. 2 shows a schematic view of the holding frame shown in fig. 1, with a wall section in an open position,

figure 3 shows a schematic perspective cross-section of the holding frame shown in figure 2,

fig. 4 shows a schematic view of a holding frame according to the invention, which holding frame has two holding means each in the form of a fixed rail,

fig. 5 shows a schematic cross-section of a holding frame according to the invention, in which a contact insert is inserted, which holding frame has a nose constructed at a wall section protruding into the interior space,

fig. 6 shows a schematic view of a holding frame according to the invention, with a holding device in the form of a tensioning element to be arranged at the base frame and the wall section,

fig. 7 shows a schematic view of the holding frame shown in fig. 6, with holding means arranged at the base frame and the wall sections,

fig. 8 shows a schematic view of a holding frame according to the invention, with spring elements arranged at the side walls of the base frame,

figure 9 shows a schematic view of the spring element shown in figure 8,

figure 10 shows a schematic perspective cross-section of the holding frame shown in figure 8,

fig. 11 shows a schematic view of a holding frame according to the invention, with spring elements each arranged in the form of a wire at a side wall of a base frame,

figure 12 shows a schematic view of a spring element in the form of a wire as shown in figure 11,

fig. 13 shows a schematic view of a wall section with a spring element as shown in fig. 11 and 12 arranged thereon, and

fig. 14 shows a schematic view of the holding frame shown in fig. 11, without wall sections being arranged in one of the openings.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 shows a schematic illustration of a holding frame 100 which can be arranged in a housing of a plug connector.

The holding frame 100 has a base frame 10 which is integrally constructed. The base frame has a first side wall 11, a second side wall 12 opposite the first side wall 11, a first end wall 13, and a second end wall 14 opposite the first end wall 13. The two

side walls

11, 12 are arranged parallel to each other. The two

end walls

13, 14 are likewise arranged parallel to one another. The

end walls

13, 14 are arranged at an angle of 90 ° relative to the

side walls

11, 12. The two

side walls

11, 12 and the two

end walls

13, 14 jointly enclose or define an interior space 15 of the base frame 10. The contact insert 200 can be inserted and fixed into this interior space 15 in the insertion direction E, for example as shown in fig. 5.

The fixing of the contact insert 200 takes place by means of the wall section 16 arranged at the base frame 10. Each wall section 16 has a recess 17 into which recess 17 a protruding element 210 of the contact insert 200 can be snapped when the contact insert 200 is inserted into the interior space 15 of the base frame 10.

For each wall section 16, an opening 18 is formed in the base frame 10, in which opening the wall section 16 can be arranged. Fig. 1 shows an opening 18 without such a wall section 16. In the other openings 18, in each case a respective wall section 16 is arranged.

The wall section 16 is pivotally mounted in the opening 18 such that the wall section 16 can be pivoted or tilted into an open position and a fixed position. In fig. 1, three wall sections 16 arranged in openings 18 are positioned in a fixed position. In this secured position, the wall sections 16 are arranged in alignment with the

respective side walls

11, 12 of the base frame 10, at which the wall sections 16 are positioned. In the fixed position, the contact insert 200 inserted into the interior space 15 can be held in a fixed position at the wall section 16. In the open position, as it is shown, for example, in fig. 2 at one of the four wall sections 16, the wall section 16 is pivoted or tilted in a direction away from the interior space 15. In the open position, the interior space 15 is enlarged, in particular widened, in the region of the respective wall section 16 as a result of the pivoted or inclined position of the wall section 16, so that the insertion of the contact insert 200 can be facilitated without having to deform the wall section 16 itself. The wall section 16 may be constructed of a shape stable material such that the wall section 16 is rigid and non-deformable. The wall section 16 may be constructed of the same material as the base frame 10. The wall section 16 and the base frame 10 may be constructed of die cast material.

The pivotable support of the wall section 16 is achieved by a rotation shaft 19. In the design shown in fig. 1, the rotation shaft 19 is a shaft body 20, which shaft body 20 is fixed in the base frame 10. The shaft body 20 here extends over the entire length of the

respective side wall

11, 12, so that the shaft body 20 extends over all openings 18 of the

side walls

11, 12. The wall sections 16 of the

side walls

11, 12 are thus arranged here on a common shaft body 20 and are thus connected to one another by a common rotation shaft 19. The wall sections 16 arranged at the

side walls

11, 12 thus perform the same movement, so that all wall sections 16 of the

side walls

11, 12 can be converted into the open position and the fixed position simultaneously. A rotary shaft 19 or a shaft body 20 is arranged at each

side wall

11, 12, respectively.

Alternatively, the shaft body 20 may also be arranged in a fixed position at the base frame 10. In this embodiment, the wall sections 16 are rotatably arranged on the shaft body 20, so that the wall sections 16 can be moved apart from one another into an open position and into a fixed position.

Fig. 3 shows a section through the base frame 10 and through two wall sections 16. It can be seen here that the wall sections 16 each have a through-hole 25, in which the rotary shaft 19 is formed and in which the shaft body 20 is guided.

The rotation shaft 19 or the shaft body 20 is arranged at a lower end 21 of the wall section 16. The lower end 21 is configured below the upper end 22 of the wall section 16 in the insertion direction E.

Each wall section 16 has an insertion bevel 24 at its inner surface 23, which faces in the direction of the interior space 15, in order to facilitate the insertion of the contact insert 200. An insertion bevel 24 is arranged at the upper end 22 of the wall section 16. The insertion bevel 24 is respectively formed above the recess 17 on the respective wall section 16.

In the secured position, the wall section 16 can be snapped onto its upper end 22 in such a way that a securing region 26 formed on the wall section 16 can interact with a counter securing region 27 formed on the base frame 10. The fastening region 26, which is embodied as a latching region, can be embodied in the form of latching lugs which can be hooked or back-hooked onto mating fastening regions 27, which are embodied as mating latching regions, which can be embodied as depressions (Hinterschnitt). The fastening region 26 is arranged on the upper end 22 of the wall section 16, in particular on an edge section 28 of the wall section 16 formed on the upper end 22. The mating fastening region 27 is arranged on an edge section 30 of the base frame 10, which is formed adjacent to the upper edge 29 of the base frame 10.

In order to be able to hold the wall section 16 in a fixed position relative to the base frame 10 in a fixed position, one or more holding devices 31 may be provided.

Fig. 4 shows a design of two holding devices 31 each in the form of a fastening rail which can be pushed onto the edge section 30 of the base frame 10 at the

side walls

11, 12. The holding device 31, which is embodied in the form of a fixed rail, has a C-shaped or U-shaped cross section and surrounds the edge section 30 or the upper edge 29 of the base frame 10 and the wall section at the edge section 28 at the upper end 22 of the wall section 16. In the embodiment shown in fig. 4, the holding device 31 embodied as a fixed rail adjoins the recess 17 of the wall section 16 in the pushed-up state, so that the recess 17 is just uncovered by the holding device 31.

In the sectional view shown in fig. 5, it can be seen that one or more noses 32 projecting in the direction of the interior space 15 are each formed on the inner surface 23 of the wall section 16, said noses 32 cooperating with the contact insert 200 when it is inserted in order to switch the wall section 16 from the open position into the fixed position. The wall section 16 arranged on the left in fig. 5 is positioned in the open position and the wall section 16 arranged on the right in fig. 5 is positioned in the fixed position. When inserted into the interior space 15, pressure is exerted on the nose 32 by means of the contact insert 200, whereby the wall section 16 can be pivoted from the open position into the secured position. The movement of the wall section 16 from the open position into the fixed position can thereby be triggered by means of the contact insert 200, so that an additional manual movement of the wall section 16 from the open position into the fixed position is no longer necessary. Here, the nose 32 is arranged at the lower end 21 of the wall section 16, so that the operation of the wall section 16 is effected by the contact insert 200 when the contact insert 200 almost reaches its end position in the interior space 15 of the base frame 10.

Fig. 6 and 7 show a design with a holding device 33 for holding the wall section 16 in a fixed position, which is embodied in the form of a tensioning element, which in the fixed position surrounds the base frame 10 on the outer surface 34 of the base frame 10 and on the outer surface 35 of the wall section 16. The holding device 33 is in this case configured in the form of a ring. For a secure and defined accommodation of the holding device 33, a circumferential groove 36 is formed on the outer surface 34 of the base frame 10 and on the outer surface 35 of the wall section 16, in which groove the holding device 33 can be positioned. By inserting the retaining device 33 into the groove 36, an undesired slipping off of the retaining device 33 from the base frame 10 and the wall section 16 can be prevented. Fig. 7 shows the holding device 33 in a position fixed to the base frame 10. The retaining device 33 is positioned at the upper end 22 of the wall section 16 and adjacent to the upper edge 29 of the base frame 10.

In order to enable the wall section 16 to be pivoted or flipped automatically from the open position into the fixed position after insertion of the contact insert 200, the wall section 16 can be preloaded in the open position by means of spring elements 37, 38 (as shown in fig. 8 to 14).

In the embodiment shown in fig. 8 to 10, the spring element 37 is arranged on the lower edge 39 of the base frame 10 or of the

side walls

11, 12 of the base frame 10. As can be seen in fig. 9, the spring element 37 has a connecting bridge 40 which can be fastened to the lower edge 39 of the

side wall

11, 12 of the base frame 10 or of the respective side wall. The connecting bridge 40 is configured in a U-shape, so that the connecting bridge 40 can surround the lower edge 39 of the base frame 10. A plurality of spring webs 41 are each integrally formed at the connecting bridge 40. The spring webs 41 extend into the interior space 15 of the base frame 10. For each wall section 16 of the

side walls

11, 12 of the base frame, a spring web 41 is arranged, which extends from the connecting bridge 40 up to the respective wall section 16, so that the spring web 41 can be connected to the respective wall section 16. The spring webs 41 can be engaged or hooked back on the wall section 16, in particular on the inner surface 23 of the wall section 16, so that the spring webs 41 can be fastened to the wall section 16 and can exert a spring action when the wall section 16 is moved into the fastened position and the open position, as can be seen in the sectional view of fig. 10. A rear engagement 42 is formed on the inner surface 23 of the wall section 16, on which a free end section 43 of the spring tab 41 can engage. The free end sections 43 are bent in the direction of the respective wall section 16 in order to be able to hook back at the rear joint 42. As can be seen in fig. 10, when the wall section 16 is moved into the open position, the spring webs 41 are stretched and deflected, so that a prestressing force can be applied to the wall section 16. Such a spring element 37 is arranged here at each of the two

side walls

11, 12.

Fig. 11 to 14 show a design in which the spring element 38 for applying a preload to the wall section 16 in the open position is not arranged on the inner surface 23 of the wall section 16, but interacts with the outer surface 35 of the wall section 16. Each wall section 16 corresponds to a spring element 38. The spring elements 38 each extend over the width of the wall section 16. The spring elements 38 extend over the outer surface 35 of the respective wall section 16 and over a partial region of the outer surface 34 of one or both

side walls

11, 12 of the base frame 10.

The spring element 38 is in this case constructed in the form of a bent wire. The spring element 38 is bent such that it has two opposite fastening regions 44, by means of which the spring element 38 is fastened to the respective wall section 16. As shown in fig. 13, the wall section 16 has two pivot pins 45 as pivot shafts 19, which can engage and be supported on the base frame 10 or on the

side walls

11, 12 of the base frame 10 in recesses 46 formed in the region of the openings 18. The fastening region 44 of the spring element 38 is bent such that the spring element 38 is wound or wrapped around the pivot pin 45 in the region of the fastening region 44. Before and after each fastening region 44, the spring element 38 is embodied straight. The spring element 38 has a U-shaped design at the point where the spring element 38 spans the respective wall section 16 along its width. In the region of the U-shaped design, the spring element 38 can rest flat against the outer surface 35 of the respective wall section 16, or it can be inserted into a groove-shaped recess formed on the outer surface 35 of the respective wall section 16. The lower free end 47 of the spring element 38, viewed in the insertion direction E, can rest flat against the outer surface 34 of the

side walls

11, 12 of the base frame 10 or of the base frame 10, or the lower free end 47 of the spring element 38 can be inserted into a slot-shaped recess 48 formed on the outer surface 34 of the base frame 10, as can be seen in fig. 14. The free ends 47 of the spring elements 38 are arranged to extend parallel to each other.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

100. Holding frame

10. Base frame

11. First side wall

12. A second side wall

13. First end wall

14. A second end wall

15. Interior space

16. Wall section

17. Concave part

18. An opening

19. Rotary shaft

20. Shaft body

21. Lower end part

22. Upper end portion

23. Inner surface

24. Insertion bevel

25. Through hole

26. Fixed area

27. Pairing fixing region

28. Edge section

29. Upper edge

30. Edge section

31. Holding device

32. Nose

33. Holding device

34. Outer surface

35. Outer surface

36. Groove(s)

37. Spring element

38. Spring element

39. Lower edge

40. Connecting bridge

41. Spring tab

42. Rear joint part

43. Free end section

44. Fixed area

45. Rotary pin

46. Concave part

47. Free end portion

48. Groove-like hollow part

200. Contact insert

210. Protruding element

E insertion direction

Claims

1. A holding frame (100) for a plug connector, the holding frame (100) being intended to accommodate a plurality of contact inserts (200), the holding frame (100) having

-a base frame (10) having a first side wall (11), a second side wall (12) opposite the first side wall (11), a first end wall (13) and a second end wall (14) opposite the first end wall (13), wherein the first side wall (11), the second side wall (12), the first end wall (13) and the second end wall (14) enclose an interior space (15) of the base frame (10) into which the contact insert (200) can be inserted in an insertion direction (E), and

a plurality of wall sections (16) which have an inner surface (23) pointing in the direction of the interior space (15) and an outer surface (35) pointing away from the interior space (15) and which, in a fixed position, hold a contact insert (200) inserted into the interior space (15) of the base frame (10) at the base frame (10),

wherein a plurality of openings (18) are formed at the first side wall (11) and the second side wall (12), wherein in each opening (18) one of the plurality of wall sections (16) is mounted in a pivotable manner for switching into the fixed position and the open position,

-wherein the wall section (16) is constructed of a shape stable material.

2. The holding frame (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the base frame (10) and the wall section (16) are constructed from the same material.

3. The holding frame (100) according to claim 2, wherein the wall section (16) is constructed from a die-cast material.

4. The holding frame (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the wall section (16) is mounted in the opening (18) in a pivotable manner on a rotation axis (19).

5. The holding frame (100) according to claim 4, wherein each wall section (16) has its own rotation axis (19).

6. The holding frame (100) according to claim 4, characterized in that two or more wall sections (16) arranged at the first side wall (11) and/or the second side wall (12) are supported in the opening (18) in a pivotable manner on a common rotation axis (19).

7. The holding frame (100) according to claim 1, wherein the wall sections (16) each have an insertion bevel (24) at their inner surface (23).

8. The holding frame (100) according to claim 1, wherein the wall sections (16) each have a fastening region (26) which in each case latches in a fastening position with a counter fastening region (27) formed on the base frame (10).

9. The holding frame (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that for holding the wall sections (16) in the fixed position, at least one holding device (31, 33) can be fixed at the base frame (10), which holding device in the fixed position at least partially encloses one or more of the wall sections (16).

10. The holding frame (100) according to claim 9, characterized in that the at least one holding device (31) is configured in the form of a fastening rail which can be fitted to an edge section (30) of the base frame (10) in such a way that, in the fastened position, the holding device (31) at least partially encloses an edge section (28) of one or more of the edge section (30) and the wall section (16) of the base frame (10).

11. The holding frame (100) according to claim 9, characterized in that the at least one holding device (33) is formed as a tensioning element, which in the secured position surrounds the base frame (10) at an outer surface pointing away from the interior space (15) and the wall section (16) at an outer surface (35) of the wall section (16).

12. The holding frame (100) according to claim 11, wherein the tensioning element is a polymer element or a metal spring element of elastic construction.

13. The holding frame (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the wall sections (16) each have at least one nose (32) on their inner surface (23) projecting in the direction of the inner space (15), which nose cooperates with the contact insert (200) when the contact insert (200) is inserted in order to switch the wall sections (16) from the open position into the fixed position.

14. The holding frame (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one spring element (37, 38) is arranged at the base frame (10), which cooperates with one or more of the wall sections (16) in such a way that the at least one spring element (37, 38) can be shifted into a pretensioned position in a pivoting movement of the wall sections (16) from a fixed position into an open position.

15. The holding frame (100) according to claim 14, characterized in that the at least one spring element (37) is fixed at a lower edge (39) of the base frame (10) and the at least one spring element (37) has a plurality of spring webs (41) which interact with the wall section (16), wherein the spring webs (41) are each held at an inner surface (23) of the wall section (16).

16. The holding frame (100) according to claim 14, wherein each wall section (16) corresponds to one spring element (38), wherein the spring elements (38) each span an outer surface (35) of one of the wall sections (16).

17. The holding frame (100) according to claim 16, wherein the spring element (38) is constructed from a bent wire.

18. Plug connector having a housing, a holding frame (100) arranged in the housing and a plurality of contact inserts (200) accommodated in the holding frame (100), characterized in that the holding frame (100) is constructed according to any one of claims 1 to 17.