DE102013113973B4 - Metallic holding frame for a connector and method for manufacturing - Google Patents

Abstract

Metallic holding frame for a connector for receiving similar and/or different modules (3), the holding frame being at least partially made of resilient sheet metal, characterized in that the holding frame has a circumferential base frame which has two mutually parallel end faces (11, 11', 21, 21', 25, 25') and at right angles thereto two mutually parallel side parts (12, 12', 22, 22'), the end faces (11, 11', 21, 21', 25, 25') being shorter than the side parts (12, 12', 22, 22'), a cheek region being additionally provided adjacent to each side part (12, 12', 22, 22'), which has a reinforcing region (14, 14', 24, 24') and tabs adjoining or overlapping therewith. (13, 13', 23, 23'), wherein the cheek region is bent by 180° and folded with its reinforcement region (14, 14', 24, 24') over the side part (12, 12', 22, 22') in order to reinforce this side part (12, 12', 22, 22') against outwardly acting forces.

Description

The invention relates to a metallic holding frame for a connector according to the preamble of the independent main claim 1.

Furthermore, the invention relates to a manufacturing method according to the preamble of independent claim 18.

Such holding frames are required to accommodate several similar and/or different modules. These modules can be, for example, insulating bodies that are intended as contact carriers for electronic and electrical and possibly also for optical and/or pneumatic contacts. It is particularly important that the holding frame is made of a metallic material, as this is required to create a proper protective earthing in accordance with the connector standard EN61984, for example to insert the holding frame equipped with modules into metallic connector housings.

State of the art

From the publication EP 0 860 906 B1 A holding frame for holding connector modules and for installation in connector housings or for screwing onto wall surfaces is known, wherein the connector modules are inserted into the holding frame and holding means on the connector modules interact with recesses provided on opposite wall parts (side parts) of the holding frame, wherein the recesses are designed as openings in the side parts of the holding frame that are closed on all sides, wherein the holding frame consists of two halves that are connected to one another in an articulated manner, wherein the separation of the holding frame is provided transversely to the side parts of the frame, and wherein joints are arranged in the fastening ends of the holding frame in such a way that when the holding frame is screwed onto a fastening surface, the frame parts align in such a way that the side parts of the holding frame are aligned at right angles to the fastening surface and the connector modules have a positive connection with the holding frame via the holding means. In practice, such holding frames are usually manufactured using a die-casting process, in particular a zinc die-casting process.

The publication EP 2 581 991 A1 discloses a holding frame for connector modules, which has two frame halves which can be locked together by linearly displacing one frame half relative to the other frame half in a sliding direction, wherein locking means corresponding to one another are provided on the frame halves, which, during linear displacement, cause the two frame halves to lock together in two different locking positions in which the frame halves are spaced apart from one another at different distances.

In practice, however, it has been shown that such holding frames require complex operation during assembly. For example, such holding frames must be unscrewed and/or unlocked from the connector as soon as even a single module is to be replaced. In the process, the other modules that were not intended to be removed may also fall out of the holding frame and then have to be reinserted before the frame halves are screwed together and/or locked together. Finally, all modules must be in their intended position at the same time before the frame halves are joined together in order to be finally fixed in the holding frame when the frame halves are joined together, which makes assembly more difficult.

The publication DE 295 08 095 U1 disclosed to provide the connector modules themselves with flexible holding means. This has the disadvantage of incompatibility with the systems existing on the market and an increased space requirement in the valuable installation space of the connector.

The publication DE 85 33 584 U1 discloses a housing for a miniature connector in which lamellae are bent inside to fix an inserted contact carrier. This solution is not stable enough for heavy-duty connectors.

The publication DE 20 2013 103 611 U1 discloses a solution for reducing the creep properties of a holding frame for pneumatic connector modules. To do this, two strong sheet metal parts are firmly screwed together at designated contact areas after the connector modules have been inserted. This solution has the disadvantage of being extremely difficult to use, but as a niche product it solves the aforementioned problem of creep properties.

The publication EP 1 801 927 B1 discloses a holding frame which consists of a one-piece plastic injection molded part. The holding frame is designed as a circumferential collar and has several wall segments separated by slots on its plug-in side. Two opposite wall segments form an insertion area for a plug module, whereby the wall segments have window-like openings which are used to accommodate the narrow sides of the modules serve as projections. Furthermore, a guide groove is provided in each of the wall segments. The guide groove is formed above the openings by means of a window bar that is offset outwards and has an insertion bevel on the inside. In addition, the plug-in modules have locking arms that are molded onto the narrow sides in the direction of the cable connections and lock below the side collar wall, so that two independent locking means fix the plug-in modules in the holding frame.

A disadvantage of this state of the art is, on the one hand, that it is a holding frame made of plastic, which is not suitable for protective earthing, for example through a PE contact, and therefore not suitable for installation in metal connector housings. However, the use of metal connector housings requires such protective earthing and is necessary in many cases, for example because of their mechanical robustness, temperature resistance and their electrically shielding properties, and is therefore desired by the customer. It has also been shown that the production of plastic holding frames designed in this way using the injection molding process is at least difficult and can only be achieved with great effort. Ultimately, the heat resistance of such a holding frame is not always sufficient for special applications, for example near a blast furnace. Ultimately, the plastic material and the shape, in particular the thickness of the holding frame at the relevant points, are primarily determined by the requirements for flexibility and not by those for temperature resistance.

Task

The object of the invention is to provide a design and a manufacturing method for a holding frame which, on the one hand, has good heat resistance and high mechanical robustness and which, in particular when installed in a metallic connector housing, enables appropriate protective earthing, in particular PE ("Protection Earth") protective earthing, and which, on the other hand, also ensures convenient operability, in particular when replacing individual modules.

This object is achieved with a holding frame of the type mentioned at the outset by the features of the characterizing part of the independent main claim 1.

Furthermore, this object is achieved with a manufacturing method of the type mentioned at the outset by the features of the characterizing part of independent claim 18.

Such a holding frame can be used in the field of heavy industrial connectors and consists at least partially of a metallic material, namely sheet metal, which thus enables protective earthing, in particular PE protective earthing, and at the same time, due to the spring-elastic properties of the sheet metal, allows modules to be inserted or removed individually with very little effort. Furthermore, the use of sheet metal as a material ensures high temperature resistance and also particularly high mechanical robustness of the holding frame.

A spring-elastic sheet is understood to be a sheet that has spring-elastic properties, such as reversible deformability, in particular when a corresponding restoring force is applied, for example a sheet that is made of spring steel or a comparable material.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the subclaims.

An advantage of the invention is that the modules can be inserted into and removed from the holding frame individually and with very little effort.

A further advantage of the invention is that the holding frame enables protective earthing for electrical safety, in particular a PE protective earthing of a metal connector housing into which the holding frame is inserted. This also ensures, as an additional advantage, shielding of the signals transmitted by the connector. This shielding can be protection against external interference fields. However, it can also be shielding to prevent or reduce interference emissions, i.e. to protect the environment against interference fields from the connector. In other words, not only are the signals transmitted by the modules protected from external interference fields, but the environment is also protected from interference caused by a current flowing through the modules.

A particularly large additional advantage is that the holding frame is, on the one hand, particularly heat-resistant and, on the other hand, has a sufficiently high elasticity in the required places to allow the modules to be inserted and removed from the module frame individually and with little effort. It is particularly advantageous if the entire support frame is made of spring-elastic sheet metal, as this makes it significantly more heat-resistant than a plastic frame that is otherwise functionally comparable from a mechanical point of view, while being at least as elastic. The associated modules can be designed to be compact, so that they can still be made of plastic and are still relatively heat-resistant.

It is particularly advantageous that both the material and the design of these modules only need to have a low level of elasticity, because the holding frame itself is made of a spring-elastic sheet and is therefore able, for example, to hold the modules in a constant basic tension even over a longer period of time without fundamentally changing as a result, i.e. without deforming so irreversibly and, in particular, "creeping" so much under constant mechanical and thermal stress that its holding force with regard to the modules and/or, for example, the contact pressure on a mating connector and thus the optimal function of the connector would be called into question. In other words, the modules can be clamped in the holding frame in a spring-elastic manner without the modules themselves having to have elastic parts and/or material properties.

It is therefore particularly advantageous if the holding frame is made at least partially from spring-elastic sheet metal, i.e. consists at least partially of one or more spring-elastic sheet metal parts.

In particular, it can be manufactured using stamping and bending technology, so that the sheet metal part or parts are stamped and bent parts. This advantageously enables production using the tools commonly used in stamping and bending technology, so that no special tools are required to manufacture such a holding frame. If the holding frame consists of several stamped and bent parts, then these stamped and bent parts can be made of the same sheet metal and therefore have the same material properties, in particular the same elasticity to one another. However, they can also be stamped out of different sheets and have different material properties, in particular different thicknesses and/or elasticities.

It is particularly advantageous if the holding frame has several different areas that have different elasticities, because it can then specifically apply a higher section modulus in the area of the highest bending stress. This can be achieved with a holding frame that consists of a single sheet metal part or with a holding frame that consists of several sheet metal parts, whereby the sheet metal parts can have the same or different material properties, in particular the same or different elasticities.

According to the invention, the holding frame consists exclusively of sheet metal parts that are made of the same material and also have the same thickness, i.e., for example, are punched out of the same stamped sheet metal. For this purpose, a first of these areas can consist of a surrounding base frame. The base frame can be essentially rectangular in cross-section, i.e. has two end faces that are parallel to one another and, at right angles to this, two side parts that are parallel to one another, with the end faces being shorter than the side parts.

Due to this closed shape, the geometry of the base frame and thus also the geometry of the entire holding frame contributes to this first area, namely the base frame, having less elasticity and thus greater strength than a second area, which for example consists of a cheek area with free-standing spring-elastic tabs that are separated from one another by slots. This is particularly true if the holding frame is firmly mounted in a connector housing, for example screwed into the connector housing using four screw holes. In addition, the sheet metal of the holding frame in the first area, namely the base frame, can be specifically reinforced at least in some places, in particular on the side parts and possibly also on the end faces, by different layers of the same sheet metal part lying flat on top of one another, for example by folding or by further layers of at least one other sheet metal part by attaching and fastening it, i.e. by a so-called joining connection. In the case of a joint, or “joining” for short, these sheet metal parts are fastened to one another at one or more suitable locations, for example by gluing, welding, soldering, riveting or any other suitable fastening method.

The associated modules can be essentially cuboid-shaped and have a locking lug on two opposite long sides, which can also be essentially cuboid-shaped. Each of the spring-elastic tabs of the holding frame advantageously has a locking window, which can be essentially rectangular. and which is intended for the preferably form-fitting reception of such a locking lug.

The two locking lugs of a module can differ from one another, for example in their shape and/or size, in particular in their length, and the tabs on both sides of the holding frame can have corresponding (e.g. rectangular) windows, which also differ from one another and whose size and/or shape match one of the locking lugs. This has the advantage that the orientation of each module in the holding frame is determined. In other words, the locking windows and the locking lugs can be used as coding means for orienting the modules in the holding frame due to their shape and/or size.

The tabs of the holding frame are advantageously bent slightly away from the holding frame in a free-standing end area, which makes it easier to insert the modules. Inserting a module into the holding frame is then particularly user-friendly. To do this, a module is first inserted between two tabs of a holding frame and then slides with its two long sides and in particular with the locking lugs formed on them along the end areas of the tabs that are bent away from each other. This causes the two tabs to bend apart briefly until the respective locking lugs are received by the corresponding locking window of the respective tab and thus lock into place, in particular audibly. When the locking lugs are received in the respective locking window, the tabs preferably spring back to their original position. In this way, the modules can lock individually in the holding frame, preferably audibly.

At the same time, the inserted module is held in the stable base frame with comparatively great force, especially if the holding frame is firmly mounted in a connector housing, for example screwed into the connector housing using four screw holes. To unlock the modules again, all you have to do is bend the two elastic tabs facing each other away from each other. The respective module can then be removed individually from the holding frame while the other modules remain locked in place. Furthermore, this method ensures a high holding force with a comparatively low actuation force, particularly due to the different elasticity of the various areas, which is particularly advantageous for usability.

The operation is further simplified if the locking lugs in the locking windows produce a noise, because this also acoustically signals to the user that the module is correctly positioned.

Another particular advantage is that the modules are already held in the holding frame with sufficient holding force by the aforementioned construction and therefore do not require any further locking means, such as locking arms, apart from their locking lugs, because this considerably simplifies their design and thus their manufacturing effort and at the same time ensures a compact design and thus also a high heat resistance of the modules and thus of the entire connector.

It is of particular advantage when producing the holding frame that the sheet metal part or parts are shaped, in particular punched and bent and/or joined together, in such a way that some of their areas come to lie on top of one another and thereby reinforce one another in their spring force and, if applicable, in their holding force for the functions intended for them.

This means that the sheet metal can be reinforced in some places, for example by folding a sheet metal part and/or by joining several individual sheet metal parts together, for example by doubling, tripling, quadrupling, etc. in thickness, i.e. multiplying it n-fold. This means that the manufacturing advantages of the stamping and bending technology can be combined with a targeted influence on the elasticity, which is otherwise difficult to achieve, especially if the same stamped sheet metal is used that originally had a constant thickness. By folding and/or joining, a spring-elastic sheet metal can be used as a particularly suitable material for the holding frame, and on the other hand, the elasticity of individual areas of the holding frame can be specifically influenced in the manner described above, even using a single stamped sheet metal, which makes production easier.

According to the invention, the side parts of the base frame are reinforced. For this purpose, an additional cheek area can be provided adjacent to each side part, which has a reinforcement area and tabs adjoining or overlapping it. The cheek area can be bent with its reinforcement area by 180° in a bending process and thus folded over the side part, thus reinforcing this side part against outward forces. In the further course, the cheek area can have slots all over or in parts, which divide it into equidistant intervals along the side part, the width of these intervals advantageously corresponding to the width of the modules. As a result, the frame. In an opposite direction, the side parts of the base frame reinforced in this way can also protrude with their respective bending edges beyond the end faces. The side parts are therefore wider than the end faces. This has the advantage that the modules are held in the holding frame over a larger area and in particular via a corresponding leverage effect with an increased holding force.

The folded cheek area thus protrudes unreinforced with its free-standing end beyond the base frame, forming the much more elastic second area. Due to its slots, this is achieved in particular by the individual, free-standing, spring-elastic tabs, which already have a comparatively high level of elasticity due to their shape. In contrast to the base frame, the tabs are made from just a single, unreinforced sheet, i.e. they are not reinforced by a second sheet, and thus only have the thickness of this single sheet and therefore also have greater elasticity than the first area. In addition, the tabs in the area of their slots are advantageously not attached to the side part themselves, but are only connected to the side part via the bending edge of the reinforcement area. This has the advantage that the tabs have a high level of elasticity with respect to outward forces, while the side parts in the area of the base frame offer great stability against outward forces because they are reinforced by the reinforcement areas. Since the tabs are only connected to the side part by the reinforcement area via the common bending edge, they spring outwards without reinforcement over their entire length, whereas the side parts are reinforced against outward-acting forces by the reinforcement areas, and thus in particular also by a corresponding overlap area of the tabs.

In an advantageous embodiment, only a single sheet metal part is used to produce the holding frame. Each end face can then be reinforced, for example, by punching out an additional reinforcing surface adjacent to each end face when the sheet is punched out, in particular in a mirror image of the end face. This reinforcing surface is then bent by 180° and thus folded over the end face in order to reinforce it and thus additionally stabilize the base frame. Furthermore, this reinforcing surface can be bent at a right angle at an end that then protrudes beyond the end face, so that a free-standing flange is created at the end of the end face, which can have screw holes for fastening, for example in a connector. For stabilization, this flange can also be reinforced in a similar way, namely by folding or joining.

In an alternative advantageous embodiment, the flange can be connected directly to the unreinforced front surface and bent at a right angle to it. In this case, the front surface is not reinforced, but on the other hand, this saves both material and a corresponding manufacturing step. Furthermore, the side parts can still be reinforced independently of this, which is ultimately of primary importance for holding the modules.

Furthermore, a large number of other designs are conceivable in which the holding frame is formed from several identical and/or different spring-elastic sheet metal parts which are fastened to one another, for example, by gluing, welding, soldering, screwing and/or riveting. In particular, these sheet metal parts can be produced using stamping and bending technology, so that the sheet metal parts are stamping and bending parts. Preferably, the holding frame can be formed from two sheet metal parts which are essentially U-shaped in the cross section of the base frame, and which therefore each have two end faces, namely a first and a second end face. During the production of the holding frame, the two sheet metal parts are then pushed into one another in such a way, in particular offset by one sheet thickness, that their first and second end faces come to rest on one another and are fastened to one another, for example by gluing, welding, soldering, screwing and/or riveting. In particular, the first end face of one of the sheet metal parts comes to rest on the second end face of the other sheet metal part and is fastened to it. In addition to the resulting reinforcement of the sheet metal in the area of the end faces, this design has the further advantage that the holding frame is closed over a large area in the area of its base frame and is therefore very stable.

By screwing the holding frame to the screw holes of its flanges, for example in or on a connector housing, the base frame is further stabilized considerably.

A flange, possibly with screw holes, can then be bent at a right angle on one edge of the first end face, similar to that described above. In a further advantageous embodiment, the second end faces can also have a reinforcing flange, which comes to rest on the flange of the first end face when they are joined together and can be reinforced there, for example by gluing, welding or ing, soldering, screwing and/or riveting. This makes the flange of the holding frame particularly stable.

In an advantageous embodiment, the two sheet metal parts are of the same type, i.e. despite the two-part design of the holding frame, only sheet metal parts of one type have to be produced, which further reduces the manufacturing effort.

In another preferred embodiment, the two sheet metal parts differ at least in the size and/or shape of their locking windows. This has the advantage that the orientation of each module, which accordingly also has two different locking lugs, is determined. In other words, the locking windows and the locking lugs can thus serve as coding means for orienting the modules due to their shape.

In a further preferred embodiment, the holding frame can consist of more than two sheet metal parts, in particular stamped and bent parts, which are fastened to one another, for example, by gluing, welding, soldering, screwing and/or riveting.

Example

• 1 a Ein erstes Blechteil im ungebogenen Zustand;
• 1 b ein zweites Blechteil im ungebogenen Zustand;
• 2 a,b jeweils ein weiteres Blechteil im ungebogenen Zustand;
• 2 c,d jeweils ein weiteres Blechteil mit einem Verstärkungsflansch;
• 3 a die beiden weiteren Blechteile im gebogenen Zustand beim Zusammenfügen;
• 3 b die beiden weiteren Blechteile mit Verstärkungsflansch im gebogenen Zustand beim Zusammenfügen;
• 4 a,b ein dazugehörendes Modul aus zwei verschiedenen Ansichten;
• 5 einen mit einem Modul bestückten Halterahmen.

An embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawing and is explained in more detail below. They show:

• 1 a A first sheet metal part in the unbent state;
• 1 b a second sheet metal part in the unbent state;
• 2 a ,b another sheet metal part in the unbent state;
• 2c ,d another sheet metal part with a reinforcing flange;
• 3 a the other two sheet metal parts in their bent state when being joined together;
• 3 b the two other sheet metal parts with reinforcement flange in the bent state when joined together;
• 4 a ,b a corresponding module from two different views;
• 5 a holding frame equipped with a module.

The 1a shows in a first embodiment a first, one-piece sheet metal part 1 in an unbent state.

• - Zwei Stirnflächen 11, 11', nämlich eine erste Stirnfläche 11 und eine zweite Stirnfläche 11';
• - zwei Seitenteile 12, 12', nämlich eine erste Seitenteil 12 und ein zweites Seitenteil 12', wobei die Seitenteile 12, 12' sowohl breiter als auch länger sind als die Stirnflächen 11, 11' und somit in der Richtung der jeweiligen ersten Biegelinie A, A', A'' über die daran angrenzende Stirnfläche 11, 11' hinausragen;
• - acht freistehende Laschen 13, 13', die jeweils ein Rastfenster 131, 131' aufweisen, wobei die Laschen 13, 13' durch Schlitze 18, 18' voneinander getrennt sind, wobei die Anzahl der Laschen 13, 13' sowie die damit korrespondierende Anzahl der Schlitze 18, 18' beispielhaft gewählt sind und wobei das Rastfenster 131 in vier der Laschen 13 breiter ist als das Rastfenster 131' in den anderen vier Laschen 13';

• - zwei einerseits an eine Begrenzungslinie E, E' und anderseits an einer zweiten Biegelinie B, B' an die jeweiligen Seitenteile 12, 12' angrenzende Verstärkungsbereiche 14, 14';
• - zwei an die jeweilige Stirnfläche 11, 11' an einer dritten Biegelinie C, C' angrenzende Verstärkungsflächen 15, 15', sowie
• - jeweils ein an die jeweilige Verstärkungsfläche 15, 15' an einer vierten Biegelinie D, D' angrenzender Flansch 17, 17', der Schraubbohrungen 171, 171' aufweist.

The first sheet metal part 1 has the following:

• - Two end faces 11, 11', namely a first end face 11 and a second end face 11';
• - two side parts 12, 12', namely a first side part 12 and a second side part 12', wherein the side parts 12, 12' are both wider and longer than the end faces 11, 11' and thus protrude beyond the adjacent end face 11, 11' in the direction of the respective first bending line A, A', A'';
• - eight free-standing tabs 13, 13', each having a locking window 131, 131', wherein the tabs 13, 13' are separated from one another by slots 18, 18', wherein the number of tabs 13, 13' and the corresponding number of slots 18, 18' are selected by way of example and wherein the locking window 131 in four of the tabs 13 is wider than the locking window 131' in the other four tabs 13';

• - two reinforcement regions 14, 14' adjoining the respective side parts 12, 12' on the one hand to a boundary line E, E' and on the other hand to a second bending line B, B';
• - two reinforcing surfaces 15, 15' adjacent to the respective end face 11, 11' at a third bending line C, C', and
• - a flange 17, 17' adjacent to the respective reinforcing surface 15, 15' at a fourth bending line D, D', which has screw holes 171, 171'.

The first sheet metal part 1 is folded by 180° at the second and third bending lines B, B', C, C' shown in dashed lines. As a result, each of the two reinforcement areas 14, 14' comes to lie on one of the side parts 12, 12' and each of the two reinforcement surfaces 15, 15' comes to lie on one of the end faces 11, 11' in order to reinforce the respective side part 12, 12' or the end face 11, 11' accordingly. The dashed boundary line E, E' thus represents a limit from which the tabs 13, 13' then protrude beyond the respective side part 12, 12'. The respective reinforcement region 14, 14' is connected to the associated side part 12, 12' only at the common second bending line B, B', and is therefore not otherwise attached thereto, i.e. not glued, soldered, welded, riveted, screwed or the like.

As a result, the tabs 13, 13' have a correspondingly high degree of flexibility, since they can be bent individually away from the side part 12, 12' over their entire length, i.e. into the reinforcement area 14, 14'. The length of the slots 18, 18' can thus be used to adjust the length and thus also the desired elasticity of the tabs 13, 13'.

The tabs 13, 13' and the further reinforcement area 14, 14' are collectively referred to as the cheek area, which is not provided with a reference symbol for reasons of clarity. The cheek area is thus largely divided into equal-sized intervals by the six slots 18, 18', whereby the tabs 13, 13' are formed, so that the length of the tabs 13, 13' corresponds to the length of the slots 18, 18'. The term "largely" in this context is to be understood as meaning that the slots 18, 18' and thus also the tabs 13, 13' extend beyond the boundary line E, E' into the respective reinforcement area 14, 14', but preferably end before the second bending line B, B'. In other words, at least part of the reinforcement area 14, 14' is formed by the tabs 13, 13'. This creates an overlapping area that is attributable to both the tabs 13, 13' and the reinforcement area 14, 14', namely the area of the tabs 13, 13' that lies between the boundary line E, E' and the second bending line B, B'. This overlapping area therefore has a dual function, because on the one hand it serves to reinforce the stability of the base frame and on the other hand to increase the elasticity of the tabs 13, 13' against outward forces. This applies in particular when the holding frame is firmly mounted in a connector housing, for example when it is screwed into the connector housing at its four screw holes 171, 171'.

Even in the folded state, the side parts 12, 12' protrude beyond the end faces 11, 11' with a bending edge corresponding to the second bending line B, B'.

The sheet metal part 1 is bent at right angles along the first and fourth bending lines A, A', A'', D, D', which are also shown in dashed lines. The right-angled bending along the fourth bending lines D, D' forms the respective flange 17, 17', which has the screw holes 171, 171' for fastening, for example, to or in a connector housing not shown in the drawing. The right-angled bending of the sheet metal part 1 around the first bending lines A, A', A'' ensures the closed shape of a base frame, which is thus formed from the end faces 11, 11' and the side parts 12, 12', reinforced by the reinforcing surfaces 15, 15' and the reinforcing areas 14, 14'. This right-angled bending takes place in such a way that the cheek area is arranged outside the base frame, i.e. on the outside of its side parts 12, 12'.

In order to fix the closed shape of the base frame, the second side part 12' must ultimately be attached to the first end face 11, for example by gluing, welding, soldering, screwing, riveting or the like. This is advantageously done by setting several welding points.

The 1b shows in a variant of the first embodiment a second sheet metal part 1' in an unbent state.

• - Die beiden Stirnflächen 11, 11', nämlich die erste Stirnfläche 11 und die zweite Stirnfläche 11';
• - zwei Seitenteile 12, 12', nämlich die erste Seitenteil 12 und das zweite Seitenteil 12', wobei die Seitenteile 12, 12' sowohl breiter als auch länger sind als die Stirnflächen 11, 11' und somit in der Richtung der jeweiligen ersten Biegelinie A, A', A'' über die daran angrenzende Stirnfläche 11, 11' hinausragen;

• - die acht freistehenden Laschen 13, 13', die jeweils ein Rastfenster 131, 131' aufweisen, wobei die Laschen 13, 13' durch Schlitze 18, 18' voneinander getrennt sind, wobei die Anzahl der Laschen 13, 13' sowie die damit korrespondierende Anzahl der Schlitze 18, 18' beispielhaft gewählt sind und wobei das Rastfenster 131 in vier der Laschen 13 breiter ist als das Rastfenster 131' in den anderen vier Laschen 13';
• - die beiden einerseits an die Begrenzungslinie E, E' und anderseits an die zweite Biegelinie B, B' angrenzenden Verstärkungsbereiche 14, 14';
• - jeweils den oben bereits erwähnten Flansch 17, 17', der an die jeweilige Stirnfläche 11, 11' an der Biegelinie D, D' angrenzt, und der Schraubbohrungen 171, 171' aufweist.

The second sheet metal part 1' differs from the first sheet metal part in that it has no reinforcing surfaces 15, 15' and accordingly no associated third bending line C, C', whereby the respective flange 17, 17' with its screw holes 171, 171', which thus borders on the corresponding end face 11, 11' via the fourth bending line D, D'. The second sheet metal part 1' thus has the following:

• - The two end faces 11, 11', namely the first end face 11 and the second end face 11';
• - two side parts 12, 12', namely the first side part 12 and the second side part 12', wherein the side parts 12, 12' are both wider and longer than the end faces 11, 11' and thus protrude beyond the adjacent end face 11, 11' in the direction of the respective first bending line A, A', A'';

• - the eight free-standing tabs 13, 13', each having a locking window 131, 131', wherein the tabs 13, 13' are separated from one another by slots 18, 18', wherein the number of tabs 13, 13' and the corresponding number of slots 18, 18' are selected by way of example and wherein the locking window 131 in four of the tabs 13 is wider than the locking window 131' in the other four tabs 13';
• - the two reinforcement areas 14, 14' adjacent on the one hand to the boundary line E, E' and on the other hand to the second bending line B, B';
• - the flange 17, 17' already mentioned above, which adjoins the respective end face 11, 11' at the bending line D, D' and which has screw holes 171, 171'.

The second sheet metal part 1' is folded by 180° at the second bending lines B, B' shown in dashed lines. As a result, each reinforcement area 14, 14' comes to lie on one of the side parts 12, 12' in order to reinforce the respective side part 12, 12' accordingly. The dashed line E, E' thus represents the limit from which the tabs 13, 13' then protrude beyond the respective side part 12, 12'. The respective reinforcement area 14, 14' is connected to the associated side part 12, 12' only at the common bending line, namely at the second bending line B, B', and accordingly is not attached to it in any other way, i.e. not glued, soldered, welded, riveted or the like. The tabs 13, 13' therefore have a correspondingly high degree of flexibility, since they can be bent away from the side part 12, 12' individually over their entire length, ie into the reinforcement area 14, 14'. The length of the slots 18, 18' can thus be adjusted to the length and thus also the desired elasticity of the tabs 13, 13'.

The tabs 13, 13' and the further reinforcement area 14, 14' are collectively referred to as the cheek area, which is not provided with a reference symbol for reasons of clarity. The cheek area is thus largely divided into equal-sized intervals by the six slots 18, 18', whereby the tabs 13, 13' are formed, so that the length of the tabs 13, 13' corresponds to the length of the slots 18, 18'. The term "largely" in this context is to be understood as meaning that the slots 18, 18' and thus also the tabs 13, 13' extend beyond the boundary line E, E' into the respective reinforcement area 14, 14', but preferably end before the second bending line B, B'. In other words, at least part of the reinforcement area 14, 14' is formed by the tabs 13, 13'. This creates an overlapping area that is attributable to both the tabs 13, 13' and the reinforcement area 14, 14', namely the area of the tabs 13, 13' that lies between the boundary line E, E' and the second bending line B, B'. This overlapping area therefore has a dual function, because on the one hand it serves to reinforce the stability of the base frame and on the other hand to increase the elasticity of the tabs 13, 13' against outward forces. This applies in particular when the holding frame is firmly mounted in a connector housing, for example when it is screwed into the connector housing at its four screw holes 171, 171'.

Even in the folded state, the side parts 12, 12' protrude beyond the end faces 11, 11' with a bending edge corresponding to the second bending line B, B'.

The sheet metal part 1 is bent at right angles along the first and fourth bending lines A, A', A'', D, D', which are also shown in dashed lines. The right-angled bending along the fourth bending lines D, D' forms the flange 17, 17', which has the screw holes 171, 171' for fastening, for example, to or in a connector housing not shown in the drawing. The right-angled bending of the sheet metal part 1' around the first bending lines A, A', A'' ensures the closed shape of a base frame, which is thereby formed from the end faces 11, 11' and side parts 12, 12', reinforced by the reinforcing areas 14, 14'. This right-angled bending takes place in such a way that the cheek area is arranged outside the base frame, i.e. on the outside of its side parts 12, 12'.

In order to fix the closed shape of the base frame, the second side part 12' must be attached to the first end face 11, for example by gluing, welding, soldering, screwing, riveting or the like. In particular, this can be done by means of several welding points.

Since a holding frame according to the above statements can be formed solely from a single, one-piece stamped and bent part, the first or the second sheet metal part 1, 1' is particularly well suited for the mechanical production of the holding frame 4.

The 2a and the 2 B show in a second embodiment two further sheet metal parts 2, 2', namely a third sheet metal part 2 and a fourth sheet metal part 2'. Apart from the size of their windows 231, 231', the two further sheet metal parts 2, 2' in the present example can be similar to one another, which also simplifies their manufacturing process.

• - Ein Seitenteil 22, 22', das sich von einer ersten Stirnfläche 21, 21' durch die erste Biegelinie A, A' abgrenzt und in der Richtung dieser ersten Biegelinie A, A' über die Stirnfläche 21, 21' hinausragt;
• - ein einerseits an der zweiten Biegelinie B, B' an das Seitenteil 22, 22' angrenzender und anderseits durch die Begrenzungslinie E, E' begrenzter Verstärkungsbereich 24, 24';

• - eine an das Seitenteil 22, 22' an der dritten Biegelinie C, C' angrenzende zweite Stirnfläche 25, 25';
• - vier freistehende Laschen 23, 23', die jeweils ein Rastfenster 231, 231' aufweisen, wobei die Laschen 23, 23' durch Schlitze 28, 28' voneinander getrennt sind, wobei die Anzahl der Laschen 23, 23' und die damit korrespondierende Anzahl der Schlitze 28, 28' beispielhaft gewählt sind und wobei die Rastfenster 231 in vier der Laschen 23, welche zum dritten Blechteil 2 gehören, größer, insbesondere breiter, sind als die Rastfenster 231' in den anderen vier Laschen 23', die zum vierten Blechteil 2' gehören;
• - einen an die erste Stirnfläche 21, 21' mit einer vierten Biegeline D, D' daran angrenzenden Flansch 27, 27' wobei der Flansch 27, 27' Schraubbohrungen 271, 271' aufweist.

These two additional sheet metal parts 2, 2' each have the following:

• - A side part 22, 22' which is delimited from a first end face 21, 21' by the first bending line A, A' and projects beyond the end face 21, 21' in the direction of this first bending line A, A';
• - a reinforcement region 24, 24' which, on the one hand, adjoins the side part 22, 22' at the second bending line B, B' and, on the other hand, is delimited by the boundary line E, E';

• - a second end face 25, 25' adjacent to the side part 22, 22' at the third bending line C, C';
• - four free-standing tabs 23, 23', each having a locking window 231, 231', wherein the tabs 23, 23' are separated from one another by slots 28, 28', wherein the number of tabs 23, 23' and the corresponding number of slots 28, 28' are selected by way of example and wherein the locking windows 231 in four of the tabs 23, which belong to the third sheet metal part 2, are larger, in particular wider, than the locking windows 231' in the other four tabs 23', which belong to the fourth sheet metal part 2';
• - a flange 27, 27' adjacent to the first end face 21, 21' with a fourth bending line D, D', the flange 27, 27' having screw holes 271, 271'.

The third and fourth sheet metal parts 2, 2' are each folded by 180° in a first direction at the second bending lines B, B' shown in dashed lines. As a result, each reinforcement area 24, 24' comes to lie on one of the side parts 22, 22' in order to reinforce the respective side part 22, 22' accordingly. The dashed line E, E' thus represents the limit from which the tabs 23, 23' then protrude beyond the respective side part 22, 22'.

The respective reinforcement area 24, 24' is connected to the associated side part 22, 22' only at the common bending line, namely at the second bending line B, B', and is therefore not attached to it in any other way, i.e. not glued, soldered, welded, riveted or the like. As a result, the tabs 23, 23' have a correspondingly high degree of flexibility, since they can be bent away from the side part 12, 12' individually over their entire length, i.e. into the reinforcement area 24, 24'. The length of the slots 28, 28' can thus be used to adjust the length and thus also the desired elasticity of the tabs 23, 23'.

The tabs 23, 23' and the reinforcement area 24, 24' are collectively referred to as the cheek area, which is not provided with a reference symbol for reasons of clarity. The cheek area is thus largely divided into equal-sized intervals by the six slots 28, 28', which form the tabs 23, 23', so that the length of the tabs 23, 23' corresponds to the length of the slots 28, 28'. The term "largely" in this context is to be understood to mean that the slots 28, 28' and thus also the tabs 23, 23' extend beyond the boundary line E, E' into the respective reinforcement area 24, 24', but end before the second bending line B, B'. In other words, part of the reinforcement area 24, 24' is formed by the tabs 23, 23'. This creates an overlapping area that is attributable to both the tabs 23, 23' and the reinforcement area 24, 24', namely the area of the tabs 23, 23' that lies between the boundary line E, E' and the second bending line B, B'. This overlapping area therefore has a dual function, because on the one hand it serves to reinforce the stability of the base frame and on the other hand to increase the elasticity of the tabs 24, 24' against outward forces. This applies in particular when the holding frame is firmly mounted in a connector housing, for example when it is screwed into the connector housing at its four screw holes 271, 271'.

Even in the folded state, the side parts 22, 22' protrude beyond the respective first end face 21, 21' with a bending edge corresponding to the second bending line B, B'.

These two sheet metal parts 2, 2' are bent at right angles at the first, third and fourth bending lines A, A', C, C', D, D', which are also shown in dashed lines. The right-angled bending of the two sheet metal parts 2, 2' around the first bending lines A, A' and around the third bending lines C, C' takes place in a second direction, which is opposite to the first direction, and thus ensures the U-shape of the sheet metal parts 2, 2', which is each formed from the side parts 22, 22', the first end face 21, 21' and the second end face 25, 25'. As a result, the cheek area is arranged on an outer side, i.e. on a side of the respective side part 22, 22' facing away from the bent end faces 21, 25, 21', 25'. By bending at right angles at the fourth bending lines D, D', the flange 27, 27' is formed, which has the screw holes 271, 271' for fastening, for example on or in a connector housing not shown in the drawing.

The 2c and 2 d represent two modified sheet metal parts 2'', 2''', namely a fifth sheet metal part 2'' and a sixth sheet metal part 2'''. These two modified sheet metal parts 2'', 2''' differ from the third sheet metal part 2 or the fourth sheet metal part 2' in that they have an additional reinforcement flange 29, 29' with corresponding screw holes 291, 291' on their respective second end face 25, 25' via a further associated fifth bending line F, F'.

The 3 a shows the two other sheet metal parts 2, 2', namely the third sheet metal part 2 and the fourth sheet metal part 2' in the bent state, whereby they each have the said U-shape and thus together form a holding frame, as for example in 5 shown, can be joined together by being pushed into one another offset by one sheet thickness so that their first end faces 21, 21' and their second end faces 25', 25 each come to rest on one another and can be glued, soldered, welded, riveted or screwed or otherwise fastened to one another over a large area.

On the one hand, this strengthens the holding frame in the area of the end faces 21, 21'. On the other hand, this creates a base frame from the two first end faces 21, 21' and the two side parts 22, 22', which is closed over a large area and therefore in a very stable manner by fastening the second end faces 25, 25' to the first end faces 21', 21 and for this reason also has a special strength. This is particularly true if the holding frame is firmly mounted in a connector housing, for example, screwed into the connector housing at its four screw holes 271, 271'. Furthermore, the base frame is reinforced in the area of its side ten parts 22, 22', in particular against outwardly acting forces, are stabilized by the respective reinforcement region 24, 24'.

In other words, the base frame formed in this way has a particularly high level of strength both due to its closed shape and due to the reinforcement of its material on the front and side parts 22, 22', 21, 21', in particular when the holding frame is firmly mounted in a connector housing, for example screwed into the connector housing at its four screw holes 271, 271'. The tabs 23, 23', on the other hand, can be bent away from the associated side part 22, 22' without reinforcement over their entire length, which corresponds to the length of the associated slots 28, 28', and thus have a particularly high level of elasticity with respect to forces acting outwards with respect to the base frame. For example, in the case of such a holding frame, in particular built into the connector housing or otherwise fixed to its screw holes 271, 271', a greater force must act on the side part 22' in order to push it outwards by a certain distance than on the tab 23'.

Furthermore, a further design not shown in the drawing is also conceivable, in which the holding frame consists of more than two parts. For example, such a part can consist of a flange and a reinforcing surface, with the flange then bent at a right angle from the reinforcing surface. This reinforcing surface is then attached to an end face of the preferably one-piece base frame, for example glued, soldered, welded, riveted or screwed. A further part can then form the cheek area, for example. This further part can then be attached to a side part of the base frame. However, it is important to ensure that the tabs can still be bent away from the associated side part over their entire length despite this attachment.

The 3 b shows the two modified sheet metal parts 2'', 2''', namely the fifth sheet metal part 2'' and the sixth sheet metal part 2''' each in a bent state in one of the 3 a comparable representation. These two modified sheet metal parts 2'', 2''' differ from the other bent modules 2, 2' in that the two modified sheet metal parts 2'', 2''' each have a right-angled reinforcement flange 29, 29' with associated screw holes 291, 291' on their second end face 25, 25'.

It is easy to see that when the two bent modified sheet metal parts 2'', 2''' are joined together, the respective flange 27, 27' and the reinforcing flange 29, 29' as well as the first and second end faces 21, 21', 25, 25' come to lie flat on one another and can thus be fastened to one another, for example glued, soldered, welded, riveted or screwed.

The 4 a and the 4 b show a module 3 that can be inserted into the support frame in a possible design from two different views. Of course, other modules with a similar design can also be used.

The module 3 has a first locking lug 31 on a first long side 32, which is intended for locking in a first locking window 131, 231, 431. On a second long side 32' opposite this first long side 32, the module 3 has a second locking lug 31', which is narrower than the first locking lug. The module is also very compact, which improves its heat resistance. The orientation of the module 3 in the holding frame is determined by the shape of the locking lugs 31, 31' and the shape of the windows 131, 131', 231, 231, 431, 431'.

The 5 shows a holding frame, which consists of the two further sheet metal parts 2, 2', namely the third sheet metal part 2 and the fourth sheet metal part 2', as shown in the 2a , 2 B and 3 In another embodiment, it could also be made of a single first sheet metal part 1, 1' as shown in 1a and 1b or alternatively consist of a plurality of individual parts, ie more than two individual parts.

This holding frame has a first area B1, formed from the base frame with a rectangular cross-section, and a second area B2, formed from the two outer cheek areas. It is easy to see that the cheek areas with their respective reinforcement areas 24, 24' reinforce the base frame against outward forces, but can themselves be bent outwards without reinforcement. In particular, the tabs 23, 23' together with their overlapping area can be bent outwards independently of one another with a relatively low force.

Advantageously, the base frame installed in a connector housing, i.e. fixed at its screw holes 271, 271', can thus, for example, at the center of its side surfaces 22, 22', oppose an outward deflection with a force that is greater than the force that is necessary to move a tab 23, 23' in the area of its window outward by the same distance.

From the perspective shown, only the second side part 22' can be seen because the first side part 22 is covered by the cheek area with the reinforcement area 24 and the corresponding tabs 23. In contrast, the two end faces 21, 21' are at least partially visible. At the end of each end face 21, 21', the flange 27, 27' is bent, which has the two screw holes 271, 271'. Each of the side parts 22, 22' is thus reinforced by the associated reinforcement area 24, 24' by means of the folding that took place at the second bending edge B, B'. Thus, part of the reinforcement area 24, 24' is formed by the overlap area of the tabs 23, 23'. The side parts 22, 22' and the reinforcement areas 24, 24' each protrude beyond the end of the front surface 21' with their bending edges corresponding to the second bending line B, B'.

The first end faces 21, 21' are reinforced by joining them with the second end faces 25, 25' of the other sheet metal part 2, 2', as can also be seen from the 3 Alternatively, in the case of a one-piece holding frame, which is therefore only made of a single sheet metal part 1, they could also be formed by folding an adjacent reinforcing surface 15, 15', as is shown for example in 1 is shown. In one of the alternative embodiments, a reinforcing surface could also be attached to the end face as a separate component, wherein the flange would advantageously be angled at a right angle to the reinforcing surface.

Thus, the first area B1, namely the base frame, is stronger than the second area B2 for several reasons. The first area B1 has this strength on the one hand due to its closed shape, which is also achieved by the large-area connections of the first and second end faces 21, 25', 21', 25 of the two sheet metal parts 2, 2', and on the other hand due to the reinforcement of this first area B1, which is at least partially achieved by means of the second area B2, namely the overlap area of the tabs 23, 23'. In particular, when distinguishing between the first area B1 and the second area B2, their functionality must also be taken into account. The base frame, i.e. the first area B1, is stabilized by the reinforcement area, and thus also by an overlap area of the tabs 23, 23', and therefore also by part of the second area B2, namely by its reinforcement areas 24, 24'. In particular, in accordance with its intended function, namely holding the modules 3, it counteracts outward forces with a particularly large force through this reinforcement. This applies in particular if the holding frame is firmly mounted in a connector housing, for example screwed into the connector housing at four screw holes 271, 271', or otherwise fixed to its screw holes 271, 271'.

The second area B2 consists of the cheek area and includes the unreinforced tabs 23, 23' and therefore offers a much lower resistance moment to a force acting outward on the tabs 23, 23' with respect to the frame than the second area, namely the base frame. The second area B2 therefore has a much higher elasticity than the first area B1. In other words, the holding frame has a much greater resistance moment to a force acting from the inside against its second side part 22' than to a force pressing from the inside against one of the tabs 23'. This can be explained in particular by the fact that the resistance moment of the respective side part 22, 22' and the resistance moment of the reinforcement area 24, 24' of the outer cheek area add up to a total resistance moment against forces pressing from the inside against the side parts 22, 22'. This total section modulus is therefore of course greater than the section modulus of the respective side part 22, 22'.

The number of tabs 23, 23', namely eight in this case, is chosen as an example; the holding frame could also have six, ten, twelve or fourteen or another even number of tabs 23, 23'. Half, namely in this case the four tabs 23 that are located on a first side of the holding frame, have larger, in particular longer, windows 231 than the other four tabs 23' that are located on the other side of the holding frame and whose windows 231' are comparatively smaller, in particular narrower, than the first-mentioned windows 231 and accordingly also have a different shape. In particular, the first locking lug 31 of the module 3, as shown in 4a shown as an example, in a form-fitting manner in the larger windows 231 and the second locking lug 31', as shown in 4b shown as an example, can be inserted into the smaller window 231'. This determines the orientation of the respective module 3 in the holding frame.

The locking lugs 31, 31' either fit positively into the respective locking windows 231, 231' or can at least be inserted in such a way that the modules 3 can be fixed in the holding frame by them.

An example is the 5 a module 3 is shown which is locked in the holding frame by its locking lug 31 being received by the locking window 231. Furthermore, it can also be seen that the tabs 23, 23' are are slightly bent apart, which further facilitates the introduction of such a module 3.

The module 3 is thus held in a particularly stable position by the particularly solid and stable first area B1, namely the base frame. The module is also stabilized by the base frame in the area of its side parts 22, 22' with its bending edge B protruding beyond the end of the front face 21, 21' and thus exerting a particularly strong leverage effect. The holding frame therefore holds the modules 3 on their long sides 32, 32' over a large area.

Furthermore, the module 3 is locked into the tabs 23, 23' in a very easy-to-use manner, whereby the tabs can be easily bent apart with only a small amount of force for both locking and unlocking due to their elasticity. In particular, those tabs 23, 23' that lock a module can be bent apart individually in order to unlock the individual module independently of other modules and thus release it again.

Since the tabs 23, 23' of the holding frame are slightly bent away from the holding frame at their free-standing end area, the modules 3 can be inserted into the holding frame particularly easily. To do this, a module 3 is first inserted between two tabs 231, 231' of the holding frame and then slides with its two long sides 32, 32' and in particular with the locking lugs 31, 31' formed on them along the end areas of the tabs 231, 231' that are bent away from each other. As a result, the two tabs 231, 231' bend apart briefly until the respective locking lugs 31, 31' are received by the corresponding locking window 231, 231' of the respective tab 23, 23' and thus lock into place therein. When the locking lugs 31, 31' are inserted into the respective locking window 231, 231', the tabs 23, 23' preferably spring back into their starting position. In this way, the modules 3 can be individually locked into the holding frame or removed. At the same time, the respective module 3 is held in the holding frame with great force, in particular by the stable and solid first area B1, namely the reinforced base frame. This achieves a very good ratio between holding force and actuating force.

List of reference symbols

1

first sheet metal part

1'

second sheet metal part

2

third sheet metal part

2'

fourth sheet metal part

2''

fifth sheet metal part

2'''

sixth sheet metal part

11, 11'

Front surfaces

21, 21'

first front surfaces

25, 25'

second front surfaces

12, 12', 22, 22'

Side panels

13, 13', 23, 23'

Tabs

131, 131', 231, 231'

Rest window

14, 14', 24, 24'

Gain range

15, 15', 45'

Reinforcing surfaces

17, 17', 27, 27'

Flanges

29,29'

Reinforcing flanges

171, 171', 271, 271'

Screw holes

18, 18', 28, 28'

Slots

3

module

31, 31'

first, second locking lug

32, 32'

first, second long side

A,A', B,B', C, C', C'', C''', D,D', F,F'

Bending edges (bending lines)

E, E'

boundary line

Claims (22)

Metallic holding frame for a plug connector for receiving similar and/or different modules (3), the holding frame being at least partially made of resilient sheet metal, characterized in that the holding frame has a circumferential base frame which has two mutually parallel end faces (11, 11', 21, 21', 25, 25') and at right angles thereto two mutually parallel side parts (12, 12', 22, 22'), the end faces (11, 11', 21, 21', 25, 25') being shorter than the side parts (12, 12', 22, 22'), a cheek region being additionally provided adjacent to each side part (12, 12', 22, 22'), which cheek region has a reinforcing region (14, 14', 24, 24') and adjoining or overlapping Tabs (13, 13', 23, 23'), wherein the cheek region is bent by 180° and folded with its reinforcement region (14, 14', 24, 24') over the side part (12, 12', 22, 22') in order to reinforce this side part (12, 12', 22, 22') against outwardly acting forces. Metallic support frame according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the holding frame is formed in one piece from a spring-elastic sheet metal part (1, 1'). Metallic support frame according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the holding frame consists of two spring-elastic sheet metal parts (2, 2', 2'', 2'''). Metallic support frame according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the holding frame consists of more than two spring-elastic sheet metal parts (1, 1', 2, 2', 2'', 2'''). Metallic holding frame according to one of the Claims 2 until 4 , characterized in that at least one of the sheet metal parts (1, 1', 2, 2', 2'', 2''') has at least one bending edge (A, A', B, B', C, C', D, D', F, F') at which it is bent. Metallic support frame according to Claim 5 , characterized in that the at least one sheet metal part (1, 1', 2, 2', 2'', 2''') is bent at a right angle on the at least one bending edge (A, A', A'', D, D', F, F'). Metallic holding frame according to one of the Claims 3 until 4 , characterized in that several sheet metal parts (2, 2', 2'', 2''') are arranged flat on top of one another at least in regions. Metallic support frame according to Claim 7 , characterized in that said plurality of sheet metal parts (2, 2', 2'', 2''') are fastened to one another by gluing, welding, soldering, riveting and/or screwing. Metallic holding frame according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the holding frame has at least the following: - two end faces (11, 11', 21, 21'); - two side parts (12, 12', 22, 22'); - two cheek regions, each cheek region having a reinforcement region (14, 14', 24, 24') and a plurality of tabs (13, 13', 23, 23'). Metallic support frame according to Claim 9 , characterized in that each tab (13, 13', 23, 23') has a locking window (131, 131', 231, 231 ') which is provided for receiving a locking lug (31, 31 ') of the respective module (3). Metallic holding frame according to one of the Claims 9 until 10 , characterized in that the holding frame has a base frame consisting of the two side parts (12, 12', 22, 22') and the two end faces (11, 11', 21, 21'). Metallic support frame according to Claim 11 , characterized in that the base frame has a substantially rectangular shape in cross-section. Metallic holding frame according to one of the Claims 9 until 12 , characterized in that each end face (11, 11', 21, 21 ') is bent at right angles from at least one side part (12, 12', 22, 22') and that each cheek region is folded over the associated side part (12, 12', 22, 22') so that the reinforcement region (14, 14', 24, 24') is arranged on the side part (12, 12', 22, 22'), the tabs (13, 13', 23, 23') projecting beyond the side part (12, 12', 22, 22'). Metallic holding frame according to one of the Claims 9 until 13 , characterized in that the holding frame consists of two sheet metal parts (2, 2', 2'', 2''') and that each of the two sheet metal parts (2, 2', 2'', 2''') has a first end face (21, 21') and a second end face (25, 25'), both of which are angled at right angles to the respective side part (22, 22'). Metallic support frame according to Claim 14 , characterized in that the first end faces (21, 21') and the second end faces (25', 25) of the two sheet metal parts (2, 2', 2'', 2''') are each fastened to one another. Metallic support frame according to one of the Claims 2 until 15 , characterized in that the sheet metal part (1, 1') or the sheet metal parts (2, 2', 2'', 2''') are stamped and bent parts. Metallic holding frame according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the holding frame has an electrical protective earthing contact. Method for producing a metallic holding frame for a plug connector, wherein the holding frame is provided for receiving similar and/or different modules (3), characterized in that the holding frame is formed at least partially from resilient sheet metal, wherein a cheek region adjacent to each of two opposing side parts (12, 12', 22, 22') of the holding frame is bent by 180° and folded with its reinforcing region (14, 14', 24, 24') over the respective side part (12, 12', 22, 22') in order to reinforce this side part (12, 12', 22, 22') against outwardly acting forces. Procedure according to Claim 18 , characterized in that the holding frame is manufactured using stamping and bending technology. Procedure according to one of the Claims 18 until 19 , characterized in that the holding frame is either made in one piece from a single Sheet metal part (1, 1') is formed by folding or from several sheet metal parts (2, 2', 2'', 2''') by folding and joining. Procedure according to Claim 20 , characterized in that the sheet metal part (1, 1') or the sheet metal parts (2, 2', 2'', 2''') are formed in a first region B1 of the holding frame to form a base frame which is substantially rectangular in cross section and has at least two end faces (11, 11', 21, 21') and two side parts (12, 12', 22, 22'). Procedure according to Claim 21 , characterized in that the sheet metal part (1, 1') or the sheet metal parts (2, 2', 2'', 2''') have a second region B2 in the form of two cheek regions which are folded over the respective side part (12, 12', 22, 22') and thus reinforce the base frame at the side parts (12, 12', 22, 22').

Images