DE202019100782U1 - Connector with locking the connection support lever - Google Patents

Abstract

A connector, comprising - a housing (4), - a connection support lever (5) with at least one lever arm (6) on the housing (4) about an axis of rotation (A) between at least one open position, in which a mating connector (100) the connector (1) in a coupling direction (D) perpendicular to the axis of rotation (A) of the lever (5) can be coupled, and hinged to a closed position in which the connector (1) and the mating connector (100) are coupled together, - a latch (10) slidable between an unlocked position in which the lever (5) can be rotationally displaced between its open position and its closed position; and a locked position to which it can be displaced when Lever (5) is in the closed position, and in which it secures the lever (5) in the closed position, characterized in that the bolt (10) on the housing (4) is slidably mounted by the fact that the Ri lever (5) in locked position secures the lever (5) either in the open position or in the closed position and in that the latch (10) cooperates with the lever (5) to secure it in the closed position while unlocked Position is, and in that the latch (10) locks the lever (5) in the closed position, while it is in the locked position.

Description

The invention relates to the field of connection technology and in particular that of motor vehicle connection technology.

Connectors are used to transmit signals or electrical energy between cables, devices (computers, lighting, etc.) or motors. In particular, electrical connectors contain electrical contacts in more or less large numbers or in more or less large dimensions.

In addition, in order to avoid musculoskeletal complaints among fitters responsible for assembling and connecting the connectors with each other to ensure a simple and reliable connection, and to avoid the risk of faulty connections, connectors and especially connectors for the automotive industry may be involved a coupling support lever and with means for locking these levers, which further ensure a safety function for the coupling of the connector on which the lever is mounted, with a mating connector. This function is called "CPA", an acronym of "Connector Position Assurance", i. H. Ensuring the correct position of the connector, called.

Thus, connectors are known with a lever which can be secured with a latch (to ensure a secondary latch) slidable on the rotatable lever to be received behind a resilient latch (which ensures primary latching) which locks the lever in closed position holds. A connector of this kind is for example in the document EP2675021A2 or in the publication EP2863490A2 described.

The invention aims to propose a solution which offers advantages in the use of a lever as well as in ensuring the position of the connector, but is simplified over the prior art.

This object is achieved, at least in part, with a connector that includes housings, a connection assist lever, and a latch.

The connection support lever has at least one lever arm hinged to the housing about an axis of rotation between at least one open position in which a mating connector can be coupled to the connector in a coupling direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the lever, and a closed position in which the connector and the mating connector are coupled together.

The latch is slidably mounted on the housing between an unlocked position and a locked position. In the unlocked position, the lever can be rotatably displaced between its open position and its closed position. In the locked position, however, the lever is secured either in the open position or in the closed position, but not in an intermediate position of the lever between its open and its closed position. The latch cooperates with the lever to secure it in the closed position while in the unlocked position. In addition, in the locked position, the latch can lock the lever when it is in the closed position.

1. 1) Wenn der Riegel in verriegelter Position ist, während der Hebel in geöffneter Position ist, kann der Verbinder nicht mit einem Gegenverbinder gekoppelt werden;
2. 2) Wenn der Riegel in entriegelter Position ist, kann der Hebel aus seiner geöffneter Position in seine geschlossene Position betätigt werden und in seiner geschlossenen Position über eine primäre Verrieglung gehalten werden;
3. 3) Wenn der Hebel in einer Zwischenposition ist, kann der Riegel nicht aus seiner entriegelten Position in seine verriegelte Position verlagert werden, so dass sichergestellt werden kann, dass der Verbinder vollständig und richtig mit einem Gegenverbinder gekoppelt ist;
4. 4) Wenn der Hebel in geschlossener Position ist, kann der Riegel aus seiner entriegelten Position in seine verriegelte Position verlagert werden; somit ist es möglich, den Hebel in geschlossener Position über eine sekundäre Verrieglung zu verriegeln.

By the invention, the connector is provided in a simple manner with the following four functions:

1. 1) When the latch is in the locked position while the lever is in the open position, the connector can not be coupled to a mating connector;
2. 2) When the latch is in the unlocked position, the lever can be actuated from its open position to its closed position and held in its closed position by a primary latch;
3. 3) When the lever is in an intermediate position, the latch can not be displaced from its unlocked position to its locked position so that it can be ensured that the connector is fully and properly coupled to a mating connector;
4. 4) When the lever is in the closed position, the latch can be moved from its unlocked position to its locked position; Thus, it is possible to lock the lever in the closed position via a secondary lock.

• - der Riegel wirkt mit einem Griff des Hebels zusammen, um ihn in geschlossener Position zu sichern;
• - der Riegel wird zwischen seiner entriegelten Position und seiner verriegelten Position in einer Richtung parallel zur Längsrichtung des Griffs des Hebels verlagert;
• - der Hebel enthält nur einen Arm, der mit einem Ende am Gehäuse um eine Drehachse angelenkt ist, wobei das andere Ende des Arms mit dem Griff verbunden ist;
• - der Riegel enthält eine flexible Zunge, die dazu geeignet ist, sich unter dem Druck des Hebels zu biegen, wenn dieser in die geschlossene Position geführt wird;
• - die flexible Zunge wird nicht von dem Hebel beaufschlagt, wenn dieser in geschlossener Position ist;
• - die flexible Zunge enthält eine Raste, die sich hinter einem Teil des Hebels versenkt, wenn dieser in die geschlossene Position geführt wird;
• - die flexible Zunge enthält eine Andrückfläche, die dazu geeignet ist, die flexible Zunge zu biegen, wenn ein Bediener darauf drückt, und um somit den Hebel aus der Raste freizugeben;
• - der Riegel enthält einen Seitenflansch, der seitlich einen Freiraum unter der flexiblen Zunge, damit diese sich verformen kann, überdeckt;
• - der Flansch enthält eine bezüglich der Raste und der Andrückfläche angehobene Randkante.

The connector of the invention optionally contains one or the other of the following features, taken alone or in combination with others:

• - The bolt cooperates with a handle of the lever to secure it in the closed position;
• - The bolt is displaced between its unlocked position and its locked position in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the handle of the lever;
• - The lever contains only one arm, which is articulated at one end to the housing about an axis of rotation, wherein the other end of the arm is connected to the handle;
• - the latch includes a flexible tongue adapted to flex under the pressure of the lever when it is moved to the closed position;
• - The flexible tongue is not acted upon by the lever when it is in the closed position;
• - The flexible tongue contains a catch which engages behind a part of the lever when it is guided in the closed position;
• - The flexible tongue includes a pressing surface, which is adapted to bend the flexible tongue when an operator presses on it, and thus to release the lever from the detent;
• - The bar contains a side flange, the side of a space under the flexible tongue, so that it can deform, covered;
• - The flange contains a respect to the catch and the pressing surface raised edge.

• - 1 schematisch in Perspektive einen erfindungsgemäßen Verbinder mit dem Hebel in geöffneter Position, der zum Ankoppeln an einen Gegenverbinder bereit ist;
• - 2 schematisch in Perspektive und Explosionsansicht den Verbinder aus 1;
• - 3 schematisch in Perspektive den Verbinder aus 1 mit dem Hebel in geöffneter Position und dem Riegel in verriegelter Position;
• - 4 und 5 schematisch im Schnitt den Verbinder aus 1 bis 3 einerseits mit dem Hebel in Zwischenposition zwischen seiner geöffneten Position und seiner geschlossenen Position und andererseits mit dem Hebel in geschlossener Position;
• - 6 und 7 schematisch in Perspektive den Verbinder aus 1 bis 5 mit dem Hebel in geschlossener Position und mit dem Riegel in entriegelter Position bzw. mit dem Riegel in verriegelter Position; und
• - 8 schematisch in Perspektive und im Schnitt den Verbinder aus 1 bis 7 mit dem Hebel in geschlossener Position und dem Riegel in verriegelter Position.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and from the accompanying drawings. It shows:

• - 1 schematically in perspective a connector according to the invention with the lever in the open position, which is ready for coupling to a mating connector;
• - 2 schematically in perspective and exploded view of the connector 1 ;
• - 3 schematically in perspective the connector 1 with the lever in the open position and the latch in the locked position;
• - 4 and 5 schematically in section the connector 1 to 3 on the one hand with the lever in intermediate position between its open position and its closed position and on the other hand with the lever in the closed position;
• - 6 and 7 schematically in perspective the connector 1 to 5 with the lever in the closed position and with the bolt in the unlocked position or with the bolt in the locked position; and
• - 8th schematically in perspective and in section the connector 1 to 7 with the lever in the closed position and the latch in the locked position.

In the various figures, similar or identical elements are provided with the same reference numerals.

An example of a connection arrangement with a connector according to the invention 1 and a mating connector 100 is in 1 shown. It is a connector 1 , which is used for applications in automotive connection technology. This connector 1 contains a coupling surface 2 for coupling with the mating connector 100 and a line feedthrough 3 , The coupling surface 2 is provided with contacts (not shown) which are electrically connected to leads or cables (not shown) via the conduit feed-through 3 from the connector 1 escape. These contacts are designed to work with contacts of the mating connector 100 to be connected by the connector 1 and the mating connector 100 be approximated to each other, then in the coupling direction D be plugged into each other.

The connector 1 contains a housing 4 and a lever 5 , These elements are made of molded resin with dielectric properties. The lever 5 is on the case 4 around a rotation axis A rotatably mounted, parallel to the coupling surface 2 and perpendicular to the coupling direction D with the mating connector 100 runs.

As in 2 is shown contains the lever 5 a lever arm 6 and a handle 7 , The lever arm 6 is at one of its ends with the housing 4 on which it is rotatably mounted, and at the other end with the handle 7 connected. The lever 5 contains in the area of his with the housing 4 connected end teeth, which are intended to be with a rack of the mating connector 100 cooperate to mate the connector 1 with the mating connector 100 and coupling the respective contacts of the connector 1 and the counterpart connector 100 to support.

A latch 10 is on the case 4 slidably mounted in a direction of displacement T, which is parallel to the axis of rotation A of the lever 5 runs. The bolt 10 can on the case 4 between an unlocked position (see 1 and 6 ) and a locked position (see 3 and 7 and 8th ) are relocated. The bolt 10 contains two legs (a lower 11 and an upper one 12 ) joined together to form a V-shape. The bolt 10 becomes in its displacement in the direction of displacement T via sliding guides 13 guided on the housing 4 are formed and in which rails 14 are inserted at the free ends of the lower 11 and the upper one 12 Leg of the bolt 10 are formed. Frictional forces between the sliding guides 13 and the rails 14 prevent the latch 10 freely displaced between its unlocked and locked positions, for example under the action of vibrations.

The bolt 10 allows functions related to ensuring the coupling of the connector 1 and the counterpart connector 100 (the so-called "CPA" function, an acronym for "Connector Position Assurance", ie ensuring the correct position of the connector). Like in 3 is shown, then jumps when the bolt 10 in locked position, the latch 10 in a passage 15 in front of the case 4 is formed and in which the lever arm 6 is relocated. The bolt 10 in the locked position at least partially engages in this passage 15 a, causing the lever arm 6 a rotation about its axis of rotation A between the open position and the closed position of the lever 5 can perform. In this rotation grab the bolt 10 and the lever arm 6 each other. In other words, the bolt fits 10 in the way of the lever 5 between its open position and its closed position. The lever 5 can not be pivoted from its open position to its closed position. Furthermore, this is due to the fact that the pivoting of the lever 10 is prevented from its open position to its closed position, also the coupling of the connector 1 and the counterpart connector 100 prevented. If, on the other hand, as in 4 to 8th is shown, the bolt 10 in unlocked position, the lever can 5 be pivoted from its open position to its closed position and the coupling of the connector 1 and the counterpart connector 100 can thus be done. The bolt 10 However, it can only be moved from its unlocked position to its locked position when the lever 5 has been completely pivoted to its closed position, ie when the connector 1 and the mating connector 100 completely and correctly coupled.

As in 4 and 5 is shown, the latch contains a tongue 16 which is elastically flexible and deformable and of a hook or a detent 17 is inflated and each at its ends with the upper leg 12 connected is. The tongue 16 and the upper leg 12 extend substantially parallel to each other, one above the other, by providing a free space 18 between the tongue 17 and the upper thigh 12 set free. When a rotation of the lever 5 between its open position and its closed position, a lower surface acts 19 that are under the handle 7 located and substantially to the axis of rotation A of the lever 5 is directed, with the hook 17 together. In particular, this bottom surface closes 19 advantageously an angle slightly greater than 90 ° with the longitudinal direction of the lever 5 one and the hook 17 contains a ramp 20 , Thus, if a rotation of the lever 5 between its open position and its closed position, a front edge slides 21 of the handle 7 on the ramp 20 , causing the tongue 16 is forced to deform and to the axis of rotation A of the lever 5 to bend (to the housing 4 HIN). Then the vertex slides 22 of the hook 17 on the lower surface 19 of the handle 7 which also acts as a ramp, further enhancing the bending of the tongue 16 to the axis of rotation A is enforced. When the lever 5 is in the closed position are the connector 1 and the mating connector 100 completely and correctly coupled. The tongue 16 returns elastically to its undeformed and unactuated position with the hook 17 in abutment with a front edge 23 of the handle 7 and the tongue 16 on the lower surface 19 of the handle 7 reach. The hook 17 and the tongue 16 thus form primary locking means.

In the closed position of the lever 5 can the latch 10 from its unlocked position ( 6 ) in its locked position ( 7 ) are relocated. The bolt 10 is then in the in 7 and 8th position shown.

The bolt 10 contains a side flange 24 that forms a pressing surface that an operator can press to lock the latch 10 from its unlocked position to relocate to its locked position by the frictional forces between the sliding guides 13 and the rails 14 be overcome. Furthermore, this flange obscures 24 the free space 18 between the tongue 16 and the upper thigh 12 of the bolt 10 , whereby the penetration of foreign bodies in this space 18 is prevented. The flange 24 also contains a marginal edge 25 that is at least over the height of the hook 17 rises, leaving the tongue 16 is protected and thus prevents unintentional pressure on the tongue 16 is exercised. Furthermore, this edge contains 25 a notch 26 behind which the rear edge 23 of the handle 7 come to a stop. Even if thus inadvertently a pressure on the tongue 16 is exercised, this pressure would not be sufficient to the lever 5 release.

The bolt 10 and the handle 7 thus form secondary locking means.

To the connector 1 and the mating connector 100 to decouple, the bolt needs 100 be shifted from its locked position to its unlocked position by frictional forces between the sliding guides 13 and the rails 14 with the help of the marginal edge 25 overcome the grabbing of the bolt 10 facilitated. The bolt 10 is again in the in 6 position shown. Then a pressure on the tongue 16 in the area of a surface of the tongue 16 be exercised, which the ramp 20 continues. This operation allows the handle 7 and the lever 5 release, then can be rotated from its closed position to its open position.

The connector 1 of the embodiment described above includes a lever 5 with a single lever arm 6 However, according to others Embodiments of the invention of the connector 1 a lever 5 with two lever arms 6 included, with the bolt 10 with one or the other of the lever arms 6 or with both lever arms 6 can cooperate according to the principle explained above.

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been 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.

Cited patent literature

• EP 2675021 A2 [0004]
• EP 2863490 A2 [0004]

Claims (10)

A connector, comprising - a housing (4), - a connection support lever (5) with at least one lever arm (6) on the housing (4) about an axis of rotation (A) between at least one open position, in which a mating connector (100) the connector (1) in a coupling direction (D) perpendicular to the axis of rotation (A) of the lever (5) can be coupled, and hinged to a closed position in which the connector (1) and the mating connector (100) are coupled together, - a latch (10) slidable between - an unlocked position in which the lever (5) can be rotationally displaced between its open position and its closed position, and - a locked position to which it can be displaced when Lever (5) is in the closed position, and in which it secures the lever (5) in the closed position, characterized in that the bolt (10) is slidably mounted on the housing (4) by the latch (10) in the locked position secures the lever (5) either in the open position or in the closed position, and in that the latch (10) cooperates with the lever (5) to secure it in the closed position while in unlocked position, and in that the latch (10) locks the lever (5) in the closed position while in the locked position. Connector after Claim 1 wherein the latch (10) cooperates with a handle (7) of the lever (5) to secure it in the closed position. A connector according to the preceding claim, wherein the latch (10) is displaced between its unlocked position and its locked position in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction (L) of the handle (7) of the lever (5). Connector after Claim 2 or 3 in that the lever (5) contains only one lever arm (6) which is articulated at one end to the housing (4) about an axis of rotation (A), the other end of the lever arm (6) being connected to the handle (7) , A connector according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the latch (10) includes a flexible tongue (16) adapted to flex under the pressure of the lever (5) when placed in the closed position. A connector according to the preceding claim, wherein the flexible tongue (16) is not urged by the lever (5) when in the closed position. Connector after Claim 5 or 6 wherein the flexible tongue (16) includes a detent (17) which retracts behind a part (21) of the lever (5) when it is brought to the closed position. A connector according to the preceding claim, wherein the flexible tongue (16) has a pressing surface adapted to bend the flexible tongue (16) when an operator presses it, and thus the lever (5) from the catch (17). release. Connector according to one of Claims 5 to 8th comprising a side flange (24) laterally covering a clearance (18) below the flexible tongue (16) to allow it to deform. A connector according to the preceding claim, wherein the flange (24) has a peripheral edge (25) which is raised relative to the detent (17) and the pressing surface.

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