EP2684257B1 - Plug connector - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to the conceptually claimed and thus relates to the sealing of connectors.

Connectors are used to connect electrical equipment. For this purpose, a jack is typically provided on the device, in which a matching connector can be used. There are a variety of different standards for female connector pairs known. Although such female connector pairs can not be sized arbitrarily, it must nevertheless be ensured that the plug used has a sufficiently large pull-out force, so it can not be easily removed from the associated socket. This can be achieved, for example, with locking elements which, after insertion of the plug, made it possible to take off only after release of the arrest lock.

An example of this are the connectors of the RJ45 standard, which are widespread in network technology in particular. These have an approximately cuboid front portion, on the underside of which a plurality of electrical contacts are provided parallel to each other and on the upper side of a latching arm sits, which is pressed upon insertion of the plug into the socket first down until it is pushed behind a latching stop, where he his rest position pivots away from the connector body back. In order to remove the plug from the socket, a protruding from the socket approach to the locking element against the body must be pressed, which pivots the locking means from the detent position down and allows withdrawal of the plug.

The known connectors of this type are widely used and are mass-produced inexpensively. However, such known plug are standardized in the socket area, but are provided with different connector handle bodies that are not standardized. A problem therefore exists when the arrangement is exposed to the weather. It is to provide a weatherproof arrangement therein.

It is desirable to be able to use conventional cables so that electrical devices that are to be connected via such known connector and exposed to the weather, regardless of the required length of the lines can be connected.

The prior art has already tried to make per se sensitive connector such as RJ-45 plug under unfavorable conditions such as moisture, harsh environment, etc. available. Among other things already deal with this problem EP 1 317 025 A2 . FR2 906 089A1 . DE 20 2005 002162 U1 . US 2006 / 06825A1 . US Pat. No. 6,595,791 B2 . US Pat. No. 6,916,203 B2 . EP 1 662 287 A1 . US 7 316 583 A1 , The known arrangements are often expensive and difficult to assemble.

The object of the present invention is to provide new products for commercial use.

The solution to this problem is claimed in an independent form.

Thus, the present invention is concerned with a seal according to claim 1.

Thus, a first basic idea of the present invention is to see that the latch can be easily overridden if at the same time it is ensured by the seal in use that the plug remains in its correct contact position. This allows to provide a sufficiently dense connection without impairment by the locking means, which provides good protection against humidity, driving rain, etc.

It is possible to use the gasket of the present invention for a modular plug having as normalized element only a front, cuboid or block-shaped region, which has contact elements in particular on its underside and is provided on its upper side with the locking means, as this at plugs of RJ45 standard is the case, while the plug handle body can be formed in a conventional manner without any particular restriction, provided the compliance of conventional handle body sizes. It should be noted, however, that the invention is by no means limited to RJ45 plug, but in particular other modular plug, such as RJ21 plug and the like can be used. Common to such modular connectors, for example, the RJ11, RJ14, RJ12 standard that they have a block-shaped front portion in which contacts are arranged on one side, and formed on the other side of the locking element as a hinged, in the unloaded state projecting arm is, which passes behind a latching stop in the socket and so prevents withdrawal as long as the locking arm is not pressed against the body.

The sealing collar is manufactured separately from the plug of a highly flexible material. As a rule, the plug, in particular with modular plugs, is wider than the cable connected through it. The preferred flexibility of the sealing collar is then so great that, optionally, a pre-assembled connector can also be inserted into the sealing collar from the rear side, that is to say through the opening sealingly surrounding the cable in use. This makes it possible to strip the flexible sealing collar of a seal according to the invention via a pre-assembled connector and thereby make prefabricated cables usable.

In a preferred variant, the catch-preventing means does not simply engage with the latching means anywhere, but preferably, even in a clearly defined position against the latching element, at least in that position in which the separating means pushes into the bushing. For this purpose, projections may be provided on the detent preventing means on both sides of the actuating arm for the detent means, when the plug is formed as a modular plug, which abut those edges which contact the detent shoulders in conventional use of the detent cable. In this way it can be ensured in a particularly simple manner that the plug, regardless of the override of the locking means in a standard contact position, simply by again the urging means is in fixed contact with the locking preventing means. It is according to the invention the correct position the connector in the socket regardless of the locking prevention just by the locking preventing means ensures the standard position of the plug.

It is possible and preferred if the urging means comprises a threaded or bayonet nut which is rotatable upon attachment to the housing having the bushing. In this way, a particularly simple assembly and disassembly can take place. Alternatively, a Ausgestattung is approximately possible such that the plug are inserted linearly and are fixed with a locking hook on the housing. This snap hook arrangement can be designed so that it can be released with or without tools.

Protection is also claimed for a plug-in connection with a seal according to the invention as well as for an electrical appliance comprising a plug connection arrangement that is configured with the seal according to the invention.

Figur 1

ein Steckverbinder mit Dichtung gemäß der vorliegenden Erfindung in eingebautem Zustand in einem Gehäuse;

Figur 2

eine Draufsicht auf das geöffnete Gehäuse von Figur 1 mit eingeschobenen Stecker;

Figur 3

eine perspektivische Darstellung einer erfindungsgemäßen Dichtung mit einem davon noch separat gezeichneten Stecker und einem Gehäuse;

Figur 4

verschiedene Stecker der vorliegenden Erfindung und ein Gehäuse mit einem erfindungsgemäß gedichteten Stecker;

Figur 5

eine Veranschaulichung des Anschlagens des Rastverhinderungsmittels arm Rastmittel;

Figur 6

verschiedene Beispiele für die Übergang auf die Dichtmanschette.

The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the drawings. In this is represented by.

FIG. 1

a connector with seal according to the present invention in the installed state in a housing;

FIG. 2

a plan view of the open housing of FIG. 1 with inserted plug;

FIG. 3

a perspective view of a seal according to the invention with a still separately drawn plug and a housing;

FIG. 4

various connectors of the present invention and a housing having a sealed plug according to the invention;

FIG. 5

an illustration of the stopping of the locking means arm locking means;

FIG. 6

different examples of the transition to the sealing sleeve.

To FIG. 1 includes a generally designated seal 1 for a connector assembly 2 releasably engageable with a standard socket 3 plug 4 a locking means 5 for permanently preventing the latching of the plug 4 in the socket and an urging means 6 for urging the non-latching plug 4 in its contact position when used.

The seal 1 is formed in the present case to protect the plug against atmospheric influences such as moisture, driving rain and the like to a housing 10.

The connector assembly 2 is a conventional per se modular plug, which is shown here as RJ45 connector as preferred. While the illustrated housing 10 has only two terminals and a wall mounting capability, and thus may serve as a coupling, for example, it will be appreciated that the connector assembly 2 will also be readily mounted in an outdoor electrical device such as a surveillance camera can. It is preferred if the inlet opening for the plug 4 shows in use in expected assembly down.

The standard socket 3 of the RJ45 plug connector arrangement 2 shown here is positioned in the housing at a distance from the entry opening for the plug arranged in the wall of the housing 10.

The connector assembly 2 is constructed so that electrical contacts are provided on the bottom 4a of the plug, which engage with mating contacts in the standard socket 3, wherein on the upper side a locking means 4b is provided, which with a pull-out in the standard socket 3 in as long anti-outward engagement is, as here the one-sided articulated arm 4b1 of the locking means 4b, as long as it is not pressed against the plug body 4c.

A conventional plug according to the standard without seal assembly according to the invention can thus be used with the housing 10, but requires, if necessary, an engagement with tools and it also does not make a leak. However, at least indoor operation is possible without additional means or temporary operation without sealant, such as for testing purposes on an already mounted device.

The standard socket 3 for the modular plug is per se conventional and has mating contacts with the contacts on the plug 4 and a drooping detent shoulder, which is able to depress the protruding from the plug body in the relaxed state locking means 4b when inserting the plug into the socket and, after complete insertion of the Plug 4, a relaxation of the depressed locking means allowed, so that the locking edge 4b2 and 4b2 'of the locking means 4b comes behind the locking shoulder and thereby locks the plug against pulling out.

The catch preventing means 5 is, see. especially FIG. 5 formed as a separate component, through which the plug body can be pushed through. It has at the front end an opening 5a, the passgenaü the standardized size of the block of the modular plug 4 corresponds and, above the opening 5a two lugs 5b1 and 5b2, which are dimensioned and arranged so that they on both sides of the latching arm 4b1 on the Stop locking edges 4b2 'and 4b2 strike when the catch preventing means 5 from the cable end is pushed out to the front. The catch preventing means 5 has a length suitable for accommodating the usual handle body sizes of the module body.

At the cable end, the catch preventing means 5 has an annular collar 5c, which is designed to rest on an edge 7a around the inlet opening 7.

The seal 1 further comprises a union nut 8, which in the present case is designed as a bayonet nut and can be brought into engagement with a bayonet connection 7b around the inlet opening 7. The bayonet nut 8 is dimensioned so that from behind a sealing sleeve 12 can be pushed, which engages over the collar 5c and can be pressed together with the locking preventing means 5 by tightening the urging means 6 on the bayonet thread of the housing 10 tight against the housing.

The sealing collar 12 itself is formed of flexible material, in particular highly flexible plastic or rubber and so strong elastic that the plug can be pushed by the voltage applied to the cable 11 in the sealing sleeve 12 of the seal 9 without damaging them.

As from the comparison of FIG. 4 seen between the sealing sleeve and various illustrated on the same scale conventional plug handle bodies, the sealing sleeve is formed so large that it can easily accommodate the protruding from the housing 10 part of connector handle bodies.

• Zunächst wird das Gehäuse 10 mit nach unten weisender Öffnung 7 im Freien montiert. Dann wird eine herkömmliche RJ45 Leitung bereitgestellt und zunächst das Kabel in die Bajonettmutter 8 gesteckt, durch die Rückseite der Dichtung 9 und dann durch das Rastverhinderungsmittel 5. Danach wird die Dichtung über das Rastverhinderungsmittel 5 gestreift und die Bajonettmutter 8 über die Dichtung 9. Dies geschieht, während das Rastverhinderungsmittel 5 bereits mit den Laschen 5b1, 5b2 gegen die Rastkanten 4b2 und 4b2' anliegt. Der Rastmittelarm 4b1 ist somit heruntergedrückt. Nun kann der Stecker 4 in die Normbuchse 3 eingeschoben werden, wobei er nicht verrastet, da das Rastmittel 4 heruntergedrückt ist. Durch Fixieren der Bajonettmutter 8 an der entsprechenden Befestigung am Gehäuse 10 wird dann durch geeignete Ausformungen im Innenbereich der Bajonettmutter 8 das Rastverhinderungsmittel 5 gegen das Gehäuseinnere gedrückt, was Kraft über die Laschen 5b1 und 5b2 auf die Rastkanten 4b1 und 4b2 ausübt und somit den Stecker nach vorne in die Normbuchse 3 treibt. Durch geeignete Wahl der Beabstandung der Normbuchse 3 von der Öffnung 7 im Gehäuse ist dabei eine normgerechte Lage erzielt, sobald das Bajonett verriegelt ist. Dies gilt unabhängig von der Form des Steckergriffkörpers, solange übliche Größen des Steckergriffkörpers eingehalten werden; somit sind handelsübliche Kabel ohne weiteres einsetzbar, und zwar auch dann, wenn die zuverlässige Kontaktierung sicherheitsrelevant ist. Gleichzeitig ist eine Dichtwirkung erzielt, da das Gehäuse selbst als dicht angenommen werden kann, eine Dichtung um das Kabel erfolgt und auch eine Abdichtung im Bereich um den Rand der Öffnung herum durch Anpressen der Dichtmanschette mittels des Kragens 5c gegen das Gehäuse erfolgt. Die Anordnung ist somit dicht gegen atmosphärische Einflüsse wie Feuchtigkeit und Regen.

The arrangement is used as follows:

• First, the housing 10 is mounted with downwardly facing opening 7 outdoors. Then a conventional RJ45 cable is provided and first the cable into the bayonet nut 8, through the back of the seal 9 and then by the catch preventing means 5. Thereafter, the seal is stripped over the catch preventing means 5 and the bayonet nut 8 via the seal 9. This happens while the catch preventing means 5 already with the tabs 5b1, 5b2 against the Latching edges 4b2 and 4b2 'is applied. The latching arm 4b1 is thus depressed. Now, the plug 4 can be inserted into the standard socket 3, wherein it does not lock, since the locking means 4 is depressed. By fixing the bayonet nut 8 to the corresponding attachment to the housing 10 is then pressed by suitable formations in the interior of the bayonet nut 8, the locking means 5 against the housing interior, which force on the tabs 5b1 and 5b2 on the locking edges 4b1 and 4b2 exerts and thus the plug after front in the standard socket 3 drives. By a suitable choice of the spacing of the standard socket 3 of the opening 7 in the housing while a standard position is achieved as soon as the bayonet is locked. This applies regardless of the shape of the plug handle body, as long as usual sizes of the plug handle body are met; Thus, commercially available cables are readily usable, even if the reliable contact is safety-relevant. At the same time a sealing effect is achieved, since the housing itself can be assumed to be tight, a seal is made around the cable and also a seal in the area around the edge of the opening around by pressing the sealing collar by means of the collar 5c against the housing. The arrangement is thus tight against atmospheric influences such as moisture and rain.

While a specific connection between the sealing collar and the nut or the like used for fixing the plug to the housing has been described above, this connection is not necessarily as described. Rather, other configurations are possible. This should be explained with reference to Fig. 6 , in which different embodiments are shown by way of example.

In the top of the in Fig. 6 illustrated embodiments, a sealing sleeve is shown, which - as described above engages over the collar of the insert 5, wherein the trainees, for example, as a nut attachment overlaps over the collar. This arrangement has the advantage of easy manufacturing. The disadvantage, however, in this variant that the attachment in turn seated on the seal, which may be due to a lower pullout strength. In addition, when using a nut, a rotational movement of the nut on the soft gasket, which may affect the long-term stability.

In the Fig. 6 shown middle variant, therefore, provides that the sealing sleeve penetrates to the collar and is fixed there with a striped ring. The ring itself can be made of hard plastic. The mother then only touches this ring. To achieve a seal against the housing, the housing facing side of the collar can be provided with a sealing O-ring. This can be set up in particular; that he could instead be provided directly on the housing, for the sake of completeness mentioned. This variant is also easy to manufacture, very reliable in use, but requires the installation of more parts and also involves the risk that in a later replacement of the sealing ring is not guaranteed standard.

A particularly easy to install variant, however, is in Fig. 6 shown below. Here is a sealing sleeve is shown, which is molded directly to an insert. The sealing collar is injected through holes in the collar region in order to produce a sealing ring on the side facing the housing in use. This arrangement is more complicated to finished, but allows a particularly simple installation.

Claims (9)

1. A seal (1) for a plug connector arrangement (2)
   on a cable (11)

   which comprises

   a modular plug (4)

   which is intended to latch into a standard socket (3) arranged in a housing (10)

   in a releasable manner

   and

   which is prefabricated with one

   out of a plurality of different

   grip bodies (46), wherein

   the seal (1)
   is formed
   with a latching prevention means (5) for permanently preventing the plug from latching in, and
   with a pushing means (6) for pushing the non-latching plug (4) into its standard contact position,
   characterized in that
   the seal comprises a flexible sealing sleeve (12) which

   is made separately from the plug (4),

   can be expanded so much

   that the plug

   of the finished cable (11)

   can be inserted through the opening

   which surrounds the cable (11) in a sealing manner during use,

   is so flexible that it then adjoins the cable (11) in a sealing manner,

   is dimensioned such that it can readily receive the part of a plug grip body (46) projecting from the housing (10),
   and
   comprises a sealing surface pushed by the pushing means (6) against the housing (10) during use.
2. The seal according to the preceding claim for a plug which is selected from the group of RJ45 plugs, RJ21 plugs, RJ 11 plugs, RJ14 plugs, RJ12 plugs.
3. The seal according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sealing sleeve (12) is formed of plastic or rubber.
4. The seal according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the latching prevention means (5) stops in a defined position on the latching means (4b) of the plug (4) at least in the pushed state.
5. The seal according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pushing means (6) comprises a threaded or bayonet nut which can be turned onto a fastening means on the housing having the socket.
6. The seal according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the pushing means (6) has a latching hook engagement means for latching into the housing.
7. A plug connector comprising a seal (1) according to any one of the preceding claims.
8. An electrical device comprising a plug connector apparatus, with a seal (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a fastening means for the pushing means is provided on the housing (10).
9. The electrical device according to claim 8, characterized in that a standard socket (3) is arranged so far behind an opening that it is not possible to release the plug (4), which is intended to be latched in, without tools.

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