DE102019215059A1 - Connector and slide for a connector - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a connector (1) for connecting to a mating connector (60) along an insertion direction (E). The connector (1) has a housing (2), at least one contact element (4) arranged inside (3) of the housing (2), set up for electrical connection to a mating contact element (61) of the mating connector (60) and a slide ( 20), which is set up to reduce an operating force when connecting the connector (1) to the mating connector (60). The slide (20) is arranged on the housing (2) and can be displaced relative to the housing (2). The slide (20) has a back element (21) and at least two arms (22) protruding from the back element (21), which extend essentially along an X-direction perpendicular to the insertion direction, the back element (21) having at least two rigid first Has sections (23). It is provided that the at least two rigid first sections (23) are connected to one another by a flexible second section (24) of the back element (21).

Description

Field of the invention

The invention relates to a connector and a slide for a connector.

State of the art

Electrical connector assemblies comprising a connector and a mating connector are known from the prior art. Such connector arrangements are used, for example, in the automotive and commercial vehicle sectors. Connector arrangements can have a connector with a connector housing, or housing for short, and with contact elements arranged in the interior of the housing. The mating connector can have a mating connector housing and mating contact elements arranged therein. When connecting the connector and mating connector, e.g. by plugging together along an insertion direction, which can also be referred to as a z-axis, or by inserting the connector into the mating connector or by plugging the connector onto the mating connector, a plug connection is created. The insertion forces, e.g. contact forces when beaking open contact lamellas or sealing forces from sealing mats arranged in the elements, must be overcome. In order to keep the insertion forces to be applied at an acceptable level of e.g. 75N, slides, for example, can be arranged on the connector, which are set up to reduce the insertion forces. This is done, for example, by actuating the slide along a slide direction perpendicular to the insertion direction (e.g. x-direction), whereby this slide direction is transformed into a relative movement between the connector and mating connector along the insertion direction by means of a mechanical coupling between the slide and the housing. For this purpose, for example, a link structure can be provided on the slide, in which a bolt engages, which is arranged on the mating connector housing.

As a result, the actuation forces can be reduced, with a longer actuation path being accepted.

When the connector is plugged onto the mating connector, the slide is usually in a first position, which can also be called the initial position. By moving the slide, e.g. across the direction of insertion, the housing is pulled onto the mating connector housing. This can be caused, for example, by the fact that the bolt on the mating connector is shifted along the link structure. The contact elements come into mechanical and electrical contact with the mating contact elements and the connection is closed.

Such slides are often designed in a U-shape. They have a back element as well as two arms protruding from it, which e.g. have the slide tracks or slide structures. A handle piece can be arranged on the back element. In other embodiments, combinations of a slide and a lever driving it are also known. In this case, there are also solutions in which the two arms are made from separate parts so that no back element is provided.

From the WO 02/078126 A2 a connector for connecting to a mating connector is known, the connector having a slide which is set up to reduce an operating force when connecting the connector to the mating connector

Disclosure of the invention

The invention is based on the knowledge that such slides have a so-called "dip" after their manufacture, i.e. that the arms protruding from the back element are pretensioned radially inward, that is towards one another. This can be manufacturing-related. This incidence can undesirably lead to increased frictional forces when the slide is actuated. The frictional forces arise, for example, when the slide or its radially inwardly pretensioned arms are pressed against the housing on which the slide is arranged. As a result, the actuating force is increased in an undesirable manner and thus the efficiency of the slide for reducing the actuating force is reduced.

This effect can be avoided with lever-slide combinations with separate arms (without back element) - however, the advantageous option of supporting the closing process by additional pressure on the back element or a handle arranged on it is omitted, which is advantageous depending on the installation position can be.

Another possibility of reducing this inconvenience is to design the tools differently during the manufacturing process or to design the manufacturing process to be slower or to make the connection point between the back part and the arms stronger. However, this can undesirably lead to higher costs for the provision of tools, to more material expenditure or to such a great material thickness that the slide can no longer be used without it further changes to the connector housing can be moved to its second position.

There may therefore be a need to provide a connector with a slide for reducing the operating force when connecting the connector to a mating connector, in which the extent of incidence is reduced or in which the radially inwardly acting biasing forces of the arms caused by such incidence are reduced towards each other and so the frictional forces when moving the slide from the first position to the second position are reduced. The slide should be able to be produced in a simple manner and inexpensively; it should be able to have the lowest possible material thickness in the area of the arms. Finally, the slide should preferably have a back element on which a fitter can grip the slide when moving the slide from the first to the second position (closing the plug connection) or when moving the slide from the second position to the first position (releasing the plug connection) can. In other words: the aim is to provide a slide that can be produced simply and inexpensively, with which the actuating force is as low as possible and is increased as little as possible by frictional forces.

Advantages of the invention

This need can be met by the subject matter of the present invention according to the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments of the present invention are described in the dependent claims.

According to a first aspect of the invention, a connector for connecting to a mating connector along an insertion direction is proposed.

• -- ein Gehäuse;
• -- wenigstens ein im Innern des Gehäuses angeordnetes Kontaktelement, wobei das Kontaktelement zum elektrischen Verbinden mit einem Gegenkontaktelement des Gegensteckverbinders eingerichtet ist;
• -- einen Schieber, der eingerichtet ist, eine Bedienkraft beim Verbinden des Steckverbinders mit dem Gegensteckverbinder zu reduzieren.

The connector has:

• - a housing;
• - At least one contact element arranged in the interior of the housing, the contact element being set up for electrical connection to a mating contact element of the mating connector;
• a slide which is set up to reduce an operating force when connecting the connector to the mating connector.

The slide is arranged on the housing and is displaceable relative to the housing. The slide has a back element and at least two arms protruding from the back element, which extend essentially along an X-direction perpendicular to the insertion direction, the back element having at least two rigid first sections. It is provided that the at least two rigid first sections are connected to one another by a flexible second section of the back element.

This advantageously has the effect that the slide or at least its back element is designed to be pliable by means of the flexible second section. This allows the frictional force on the housing of the connector to be reduced despite a possible inclination of the arms radially inwards, i.e. facing one another. This is because the elastic preload which the arms deflect radially inward and which thereby cause the frictional force is reduced by the flexible second section. This is because the at least two rigid first sections, between which the flexible second section is arranged, can in turn easily be twisted or tilted or displaced a little radially outward via the second section, or the pretensioning force can relax in the second section. As a result, the two arms, which can each be connected directly or indirectly to one of the rigid first sections, can also be easily rotated or tilted outwards or the pretensioning force no longer presses the two arms together so strongly. This has the advantageous effect that the inwardly acting force, which would press against the housing, is reduced. As a result, the slide can advantageously be displaced from a first position into a second position with reduced frictional forces, wherein the first position can be a starting position and the second position can be an end position. With this configuration, the slide can also advantageously be manufactured in a particularly simple and cost-effective manner. It is not necessary to change the material thickness on the arms, so that the slide can be used in a simple manner instead of the conventional slide on the same connector.

The term “rigid” is to be understood as “non-deformable”. In particular, this is to be understood as meaning that the back element cannot be elastically deformed in the rigid first sections. This gives the back element a high mechanical stability in the first sections, which is well suited, for example, to the transmission of forces.

The term “flexible” is to be understood in such a way that an elastic or at least reversible mechanical deformation or displacement can take place by means of the flexible second section or in the flexible second section. The flexible second section can be formed by the targeted selection of an intrinsically elastically deformable material. Alternatively or additionally can the second section can also be designed structurally as a flexible section, for example by forming a joint, for example a swivel joint, a tilt joint, a knee joint, a film joint or the like. The second section is preferably designed in such a way that it holds the two rigid first sections adjoining it essentially stationary relative to one another or couples them to one another without the action of external forces.

The expression that the at least two arms extend essentially along the X direction is to be understood as meaning that they extend in an angular range of +/- 25 ° along the X direction. The two arms preferably extend parallel to one another. However, due to the manufacturing process, they can run conically towards one another, starting from the back element, in the direction of their free ends (“collapse”). When arranging the slide on the housing, the formation of the flexible second section is intended to ensure that the two arms can run parallel to one another without any great force being applied to one another.

It goes without saying that more than two rigid sections can be arranged on the slide. If more than two rigid first sections are provided on the slide, a flexible second section is arranged between at least two of the rigid first sections. It can also be provided that a flexible second section is arranged between each two mutually adjacent rigid first sections, which connects the adjacent rigid first sections to one another.

It can be provided that the at least two arms are each arranged on a rigid first section. For example, the arms are each arranged at the outer ends along the Y direction of the rigid first sections, which is perpendicular to the X direction and the insertion direction. It goes without saying that more than two arms can also be arranged on the slide, for example three arms or four arms or even more arms. However, the arms can, for example, also be arranged approximately in the middle of a rigid first section.

The arms are preferably designed as cantilever arms. This means that they are connected to the back element at a first end or are attached to the back element. Your other end is then designed as a free end.

The contact element of the plug connector can be arranged or latched in the interior of the housing, for example in a contact chamber, for example by means of a latching lance. It can be designed as a male contact element or as a female contact element.

The mating contact element on the mating connector can be designed, for example, as a female mating contact element or as a male mating contact element. For example, it can be designed as a pin, a contact knife or the like.

In the context of the application, the term radial direction is used such that a direction radially inward corresponds to a direction which corresponds to a movement of the arms towards one another and a direction radially outward corresponds to a movement of the arms away from one another.

The slide can be displaceable relative to the housing along the X direction. The slide can be displaced relative to the housing, for example, along guide rails arranged on the housing. It can be arranged securely on the housing. The slide can be designed as a separate element from the housing and only be arranged on the housing of the connector shortly before the connector is mated with the mating connector.

The back element can extend, for example, along a Y direction perpendicular to the insertion direction and to the X direction.

The slide is designed to be very rigid on its back element by means of the two rigid first sections connected by the second flexible section along the X direction. In this way, forces can be transmitted very well along the X direction without major distortion. At the same time, it is designed to be flexible with respect to the incidence of the arms towards one another (i.e. along the Y direction) by means of the configuration of the back element, so that the frictional forces can be reduced by pretensioning the arms towards one another by means of the back element.

The fact that the back element has a notch in the second section has the advantageous effect that the second section is designed to be flexible with particularly simple means and the back element is thus designed to be flexible. In this way, a particularly cost-effective and material-saving solution is provided.

The second section can have the notch with respect to the adjoining first sections, for example. For this purpose, the notch can be formed, for example with respect to a contour of the first sections adjoining the flexible second section, by this outer contour receding in the second section.

It can be provided that the notch extends the second section along the insertion direction or z-direction reaches through completely. In this way, the second section is designed to be particularly flexible.

The notch can, for example, open to a side facing the arms. As a result, the pretensioning of the arms towards one another is relaxed particularly well. Alternatively, the notch can open to a side facing away from the arms. Finally, a notch can also be formed in the flexible second section on both sides (facing the arms and facing away from the arms).

It can be provided that the notch, viewed along the X direction, has a depth which corresponds to at least 20% or at least 40% or at least 60% of a thickness of the adjoining first sections in the X direction. This advantageously brings about a particularly high flexibility of the second section, which makes the back element sufficiently flexible.

For example, the depth of the notch can also correspond to at least 70% or at least 80% of the thickness of the adjoining first sections in the X direction.

For example, the notch can have a depth between 50% and 75% of the thickness of the adjoining first sections in the X direction. In this way, the second section can be designed in the manner of a film hinge. This has the effect that the back element is designed in the manner of a joint by means of the second section without having to provide a complex constructive joint construction.

If two opposing notches are formed, the thickness in the second section can be reduced by, for example, 30% to 90% by the two notches.

The fact that the slide is formed in one piece advantageously results in a particularly cost-effective production of the slide. The term “one-piece” means that the slide cannot be taken apart without being destroyed.

The fact that the slide is manufactured as an injection-molded part has the advantageous effect that the slide can be manufactured particularly cost-effectively. The slide can for example be made of a plastic or a metal. Because it is manufactured as an injection-molded part, the slide can be manufactured inexpensively, particularly well and reproducibly with low tolerances.

In a further development, it is provided that the slide is manufactured using a two-component injection molding process, the first sections being made from a first plastic material, the second section having a second plastic material that differs from the first plastic material, the second plastic material bending - and / or is torsionally softer than the first plastic material.

It goes without saying that there can also be more than two first sections and more than a single second section.

This advantageously has the effect that the back element can already be designed to be flexible through the choice of material. For example, this can cause the back element, viewed along the Y-axis, to have a substantially flush outer surface along the first and second sections. It goes without saying that the second plastic material in the second section can also be arranged in a possibly existing notch (or in more than one notch) in the second section. The second plastic material can fill this notch completely or only partially (e.g. between 50% and 95%). It is also conceivable that the second section is designed entirely by means of the second plastic material. For example, in this case the second section can have the same thickness along the X direction as the adjacent rigid first sections. Finally, it is also conceivable that the second section has a notch and the connecting element between the adjacent rigid first sections is a type of film hinge which is formed from the second plastic material (this film hinge then forms the second section).

In this way, the bending softness or flexibility or the pretensioning force of the two arms can advantageously be adjusted to one another and adapted to the desired purpose.

In a further development it is provided that the second plastic material is at least 15% or at least 40% more flexible and / or torsionally flexible than the first plastic material. The modulus of elasticity of the second plastic material can be, for example, less than 3500 megapascals (MPa) or less than 1700 MPa.

In this way, the flexibility of the slide or the back element can be adjusted in a particularly simple manner and can be tailored to the intended use or the connector.

In a further development it is provided that a link structure is provided in at least one of the arms is designed to receive a mating element of the mating connector that engages in the link structure. As a result, the operating force can advantageously be reduced in a particularly simple manner. Due to the interaction of the counter element with the link structure, the shift of the slide from the first position to the second position can be effected in a particularly reliable and reproducible manner in a shift of the connector relative to the mating connector along the insertion direction or z-direction.

Alternatively or additionally, it can be provided that in or on at least one of the arms at least one protrusion protruding transversely to the direction of extension of the arm is formed, the at least one protrusion being designed to engage in a mating connector link structure of the mating connector.

With this configuration, a movement of the slide along the X direction is also designed to be transformable in a particularly simple and reliable manner into a relative movement of the connector and mating connector along the insertion direction or the z direction.

According to a second aspect of the invention, a slide is proposed which is set up for arrangement on an electrical connector which can be connected to a mating connector along an insertion direction.

The slider is designed to reduce an operating force when connecting the connector to the mating connector, the slider having a back element and at least two arms protruding from the back element, which extend essentially along an X-direction perpendicular to the insertion direction. The back element has at least two rigid first sections, the at least two rigid first sections being connected or coupled to one another by a flexible second section of the rotor element.

In this way, a flexible slide or a slide with a flexible back element is advantageously provided. As a result, a pretensioning force of the arms towards one another is advantageously reduced or can be reduced due to a production-related collapse of the arms. In this way, such a slide can be arranged more easily on the housing of the connector and in this way possible frictional forces between the slide or its arms and the housing of the connector are advantageously reduced. Such a slide can advantageously be produced in a particularly simple manner, without the wall thickness of the arms or the material thickness at the connection point of the arms on the back element having to be increased in order to avoid the arms from collapsing toward one another.

drawings

Further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description of exemplary embodiments, which, however, are not to be interpreted as limiting the invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure list

• 1a and 1b : schematic side views of a connector arrangement from the prior art, consisting of a connector with a slide and a mating connector in the disconnected state ( 1a) and in the connected state ( 1b) ;
• 2 : a schematic perspective view of a slider from the prior art for a connector;
• 3 : a schematic plan view of a slider from the prior art;
• 4a : a schematic plan view of an embodiment of a slide according to the invention;
• 4b : a schematic plan view of a further embodiment of a slide according to the invention;
• 4c : a schematic plan view of a further embodiment of a slide according to the invention.

In the 1a and 1b are schematic side views of a connector assembly 100 shown from the prior art. The connector arrangement 100 has a connector 1 with a slider 20th on and a mating connector 60 .

1a shows the connector arrangement in an unconnected state of the connector 1 and mating connectors 60 . 1b shows the connector arrangement 100 where the connector 1 with the mating connector 60 connected is.

The connector 1 is set up to connect to the mating connector 60 along an insertion direction E, which can also be viewed as the z-direction. The connector 1 has a housing 2 on. He also has at least one inside 3 of the housing 2 arranged contact element 4th on. In the illustrated embodiment, the contact element is 4th in a contact chamber 5 arranged. The contact element 4th is set up for electrical connection with a mating contact element 61 , which is in a mating connector housing 62 is arranged. The connector 1 also has a slide 20th on, which is set up, an operator when connecting the connector 1 with the mating connector 60 to reduce. The slider 20th is on the housing 2 of the connector 1 arranged. It is relative to the housing 2 designed to be displaceable. In the illustrated embodiment, it can be displaced from right to left, for example. The slider 20th can do this from a first position P1 , which is a starting position, to a second position P2 be shifted, which is an end position. The slider 20th is here, for example, U-shaped and has a back element 21 on and at least two from the back element 21 protruding arms 22nd , which extend essentially along an X-direction perpendicular to the insertion direction E. In the side view shown, there is only one of the at least two arms 22nd shown. The back element 21 furthermore has a handle element 28 on which a fitter is pushing the slide 20th attack and from the first position P1 in the second position P2 can shift, or slide 20 from the second position P2 in the first position P1 can relocate. The back element 21 is rigid or flexurally rigid along its entire extension direction along a Y-axis perpendicular to the X-axis and to the insertion direction E.

In the arm shown 22nd is a curved backdrop structure 26th to recognize which is set up, a counter-element designed as a bolt 63 of the mating connector 60 to record.

The arrow that runs along the direction of insertion E at the right end of the slide 20th indicates that the connector 1 along this direction to the mating connector 60 is put on.

Will the connector 1 shifted downwards along the direction of the arrow, the counter-element engages 63 , i.e. the bolt, into the backdrop structure 26th of the arm 22nd a. Once this is done, the slide can 20th from right to left (see the horizontal arrow), i.e. from the first position P1 in the second position P2 to be relocated. This translational movement along the X direction is made by means of the in the link structure 26th running bolt 63 into a relative movement of the connector 1 along the insertion direction E towards the mating connector 60 converted.

1b shows the connected state of connector 1 and mating connectors 60 . It can be seen here that the mating contact element 61 , which is designed here, for example, as a pin or a contact knife, into the contact element 4th , which is designed here as a socket contact (female contact) is added. In this way there is an electrical connection between the mating contact element 61 and contact element 4th produced.

The contact element 4th is by means of an electrical line 30th connected, via which, for example, signals or a high voltage or high currents can be transmitted. The mating contact element is in the same way 61 with a second line or a second cable 70 electrically connected.

2 shows a schematic perspective view of a slide 20th from the prior art for a connector 1 .

In the two from the back element 21 protruding arms 22nd are each several backdrop structures 26th educated. The back element 21 is formed from a single first rigid section. This makes it very rigid.

At the top of the two arms 22nd a rack and pinion structure is arranged. The slider 20th can thus be connected to a connector 1 or its housing 2 be arranged with the connector 1 has a lever which has a gearwheel, which in turn is connected to the rack structure of the slide 20th combs. In this way, the sliding movement of the slide 20th from the first position P1 in the second position P2 be supported by means of the lever or by a mixed movement of a lever rotation and a pressure on the handle element 28 of the back element 21 be effected.

3 shows a schematic plan view of a slide 20th from the state of the art. For example, it can be the slide 20th out 2 act.

It can be seen that the two arms 20th extend substantially along the X direction. Ideally, the two arms would 22nd run along the X direction, so be aligned parallel to each other, as shown in 2 is shown. Due to the manufacturing process, however, the arms 22nd starting from their attachment point on the back element 21 towards their free ends 27 are tilted radially inward. This creates the free ends 27 are closer to each other than those ends at which the arms 22nd on the back element 21 are appropriate. The poor 22nd thus have an incidence in a radial inner direction R _i . In other words, they are biased towards one another (radially inward) in the force-free state. Will they be at Attaching to a housing 2 of a connector 1 aligned parallel to one another, the pretensioning force acts here, by way of example, on each arm in the radial inner direction R _i and the arms due to the incidence 22nd are against the case 2 pressed. This is indicated by the arrows which point in the radial inner direction R _i . This pressing force is generated when the slide is moved 20th from the first position P1 in the second position P2 a frictional force that is in addition to the operating force to connect connectors 1 and mating connectors 60 must be overcome.

4a shows a schematic plan view of an embodiment of a slide 20th . The slider 20th has a back element 21 on and in the illustrated embodiment two from the back element 21 protruding arms 22nd which extend essentially along the X-direction perpendicular to the insertion direction E. Here, too, it can be seen that the arms 22nd to have an incidence on each other in the force-free state.

The back part 21 has two rigid first sections here 23 on which by a flexible second section 24 of the back element are connected to one another. In other words: the flexible second section 24 is along the Y direction between the two rigid first sections 23 arranged.

The back element 21 in the second section 24 with respect to the adjacent first sections 23 a notch 25th on. The notch 25th opens to one of the poor 22nd facing side.

The notch 25th has, viewed along the X direction, a depth T which here is approximately 75% of a thickness D of the adjoining first sections 23 along the X direction. This way is the second section 24 designed in the manner of a film hinge. In place of the second section 24 where the notch is 25th is located, the back element is tilted or shifted or rotated about the second section 24 weakened around in the Y-direction. This causes the slide 20th on the housing 2 of the connector 1 can be attached with the arms 22nd aligned approximately parallel to each other. In contrast to the slide 20th from the 2 and 3 however, the rigid connection of the arms can 22nd on the back element 21 now no such strong inwardly acting prestressing force on the housing 2 of the connector 1 exercise. This is because the force to be applied to bend up the incidence along the Y direction (characterized by the two _{pointing outward in a respective outer radial direction R a} ) relaxes in the flexible second section 24 . In this way, the frictional force of the slider 20th on the housing 2 or the poor 22nd on the housing 2 and the resulting actuation force when moving the slide 2 from the first position P1 in the second position P2 is reduced considerably.

The notch 25th can be viewed along the insertion direction E, for example, completely through the second section 24 extend.

4b shows a schematic plan view of a further embodiment of a slide 20th .

The slider 20th out 4b differs from the slide 4a only by the fact that the slide 20th is produced by means of a two-component injection molding process, the first sections 23 are made from a first plastic material and wherein the second portion comprises a second plastic material which is different from the first plastic material. The second plastic material is designed to be more flexible and / or torsionally flexible than the first plastic material.

The first plastic material can, for example, comprise or be formed from a glass fiber reinforced polyamide, e.g. PA66, or it can comprise or be formed from polybutylene terephthalate (PBT).

The second plastic material can be designed as an elastomer, for example. In the illustrated embodiment, it is in the notch 25th arranged, for example injected, so that the notch is substantially completely filled by the second plastic material. In this way are the outer walls of the back element 21 formed approximately flush along the Y direction.

It goes without saying that an embodiment is also conceivable in which the back element 21 as in 4a is formed, with only the material in the second section 24 formed by the second plastic material and the notch 25th remains open.

It is also conceivable that two opposing notches 25th in the second section 24 are trained. These two notches can both be unfilled or both (partially or completely) filled, or only one of the two notches is filled. It is also conceivable that the notch 25th on that of the poor 22nd remote side of the back element 21 is formed (filled or unfilled or partially filled). The arrangement of the notch 25th on that of the poor 22nd remote side of the back element 21 is basically conceivable for all the embodiments shown here ( 4a to 4c ).

It goes without saying that the slide 20th can also be made of a different material (e.g. a metal, e.g. aluminum) or can have such a different material - this also applies to all embodiments shown here ( 4a to 4c ).

4c shows a schematic plan view of a further embodiment of a slide 20th .

In the illustrated embodiment of 4c are three rigid sections 23 on the back element 21 educated. Between every two adjacent first sections 23 is a flexible second section 24 educated. In the second two sections 24 is a notch each 25th arranged leading to one of the poor 22nd facing side opens. The notch in the illustrated embodiment has a depth T of approximately 40% to 60% of the thickness D of the first sections 23 on (viewed along the X direction). The back element 21 is here made from a single material or the material of the first sections 23 does not differ from the one in the second section 24 .

It goes without saying that in the second sections 24 a different material can also be arranged (e.g. as in 4b by filling in the notch 25th ) or that the second sections 24 can be configured by a second material different from the first material.

In all embodiments of the 4a , 4b and 4c it is only provided here as an example that the two arms 22nd at the outermost ends of the outermost first sections with respect to the Y direction 23 are arranged. Of course, more than two arms can also be used 22nd be provided or the arms 22nd can in other places on the back element 21 be arranged.

The back element 21 is designed with a relatively large thickness D in the illustrated embodiment. For example, the thickness D can be between 2 mm and 25 mm. The back element 21 is only shown schematically here. It can also be used as a handle element 28 serve.

The second plastic material can be, for example, an elastomer, for example a rubber, a rubber, etc.

QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent literature cited

• WO 02/078126 A2 [0006]

Claims (9)

Connector for connecting to a mating connector along an insertion direction (E), the connector (1) having: - a housing (2); - At least one contact element (4) arranged in the interior (3) of the housing (2), set up for electrical connection to a mating contact element (61) of the mating connector (60); - A slide (20) which is set up to reduce an operating force when connecting the connector (1) to the mating connector (60); wherein the slide (20) is arranged on the housing (2) and can be displaced relative to the housing (2); wherein the slide (20) has a back element (21) and at least two arms (22) protruding from the back element (21) and extending essentially along an X-direction perpendicular to the insertion direction, wherein the back element (21) has at least two rigid first sections (23), wherein the at least two rigid first sections (23) are connected to one another by a flexible second section (24) of the back element (21). Connector according to the preceding claim, wherein the back element (21) in the second section (24) has a notch (25) which opens in particular towards a side facing the arms (22). Connector according to the preceding claim, wherein the notch (25), viewed along the X direction, has a depth (T) which corresponds to at least 20% or at least 40% of a thickness (D) of the adjoining first sections (23) in the X direction . Connector according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the slide (20) is formed in one piece. Connector according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the slide (20) is manufactured as an injection-molded part. Connector according to the preceding claim, wherein the slide (20) is produced by means of a two-component injection molding process, wherein the first sections (23) are made from a first plastic material, wherein the second section (24) comprises a second plastic material that is different from the first plastic material, wherein the second plastic material is more flexible and / or torsionally flexible than the first plastic material. Connector according to the preceding claim, wherein the second plastic material is at least 15% or at least 40% more flexible and / or torsionally flexible than the first plastic material, wherein the modulus of elasticity of the second plastic material is in particular less than 3500 MPa or less than 1700 MPa. Connector according to one of the preceding claims, wherein in at least one of the arms (22) a link structure (26) for receiving a counter element (63) of the mating connector (60) engaging in the link structure (26) is formed, or wherein in at least one of the arms (22) at least one projection protruding transversely to the direction of extension of the arm (22) is formed, wherein the at least one projection is set up to engage in a mating connector link structure of the mating connector (60). Slider, set up for arrangement on an electrical connector which can be connected to a mating connector along an insertion direction (E), the slider (20) being set up to reduce an operating force when connecting the plug connector (1) to the mating connector (60); wherein the slide (20) has a back element (21) and at least two arms (22) protruding from the back element (21), which extend essentially along an X-direction perpendicular to the insertion direction (E), wherein the back part (21) has two rigid first sections (23), wherein the at least two rigid first sections (23) are connected to one another by a flexible second section (24) of the back element (21).

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