EP2760085A1 - Plug-in adapter module and manufacturing method for the same - Google Patents

Abstract

The plug-in adapter module has a hollow plug receptacle (11) and two oppositely arranged electrical plug connectors (13,14). The plug connectors are surrounded by an insulating plastic sheath (15). The plug adapter core (12) formed by the plug connectors and insulating plastic sheath, is inserted into the hollow plug receptacle. A holding unit is provided for holding the plug adapter core slid into the plug receptacle. An independent claim is included for method for manufacturing plug-in adapter module.

Description

TECHNICAL AREA

The present invention relates to a plug-in adapter module with a hollow connector receptacle and two oppositely disposed electrical connectors whose contacts are electrically conductively connected to each other, wherein the connectors are circumferentially surrounded by an insulating plastic jacket, having the features of the preamble of claim 1; it further relates to a manufacturing method for such a plug adapter module.

STATE OF THE ART

A number of plug-in adapter modules are known from the prior art, which can also be used as an intermediate connector between two cables, in particular telecommunications cables.

A one-piece plug-in adapter module is from the US 4,379,609 known, which forms a coupling piece for RJ connector. The one-piece plastic housing has an outer shape substantially in the shape of a cylinder, the term cylinder not being seen in the usual sense of a "roll" but in the mathematical sense, the two end faces having openings into which the male type plugs are pluggable. The electrical connection is accomplished via guided in cavities electrical contacts.

The EP 1 458 062 describes a multi-part plug-in adapter module, in which a Containing contacts and the middle transverse wall forming element is received between two plastic housing halves, which provide the outer shape of the plug.

Such elements are relatively expensive to create, as for a variety of different plug adapter modules a corresponding number of different connectors and housings must be provided.

PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION

Starting from this prior art, the invention has for its object to provide a method for producing a connector, which is much easier to implement and is easier to adapt to the different connector types. At the same time, the mechanically very robust and simple plug-in adapter module, which can be produced by the method, the subject of the invention.

The invention is based on the insight that in today's liaison while a variety of types of connectors are internationally standardized, but the individual transitions between these types of connectors must still be performed by adapter elements. Today, the computer user needs transitions from USB-A to USB-B, an extension needs a transition from USB-A to USB-A, and a USB-B or USB-B version is also required. These versions can also be realized with micro-USB elements.

The application is not limited to the USB connection, but it is also the transition from HDMI from the plug to the socket or mini-HDMI socket to mini-HDMI plug a corresponding application. The same principles can be realized in other electrical connectors, since in any case the costly production of the connectors by providing the corresponding electrical connector as the first or second plug is sufficient, which are encapsulated after electrical connection with an insulating plastic sheath, which already The outer shape of the plastic front part pretends, in which this element einschieb- and is lockable.

A plug-in adapter module according to the invention has a hollow continuous connector receptacle, two oppositely arranged electrical connectors and a plastic jacket. The contacts of the connectors are electrically connected to each other and the connectors are circumferentially surrounded by the insulating plastic jacket, which is designed so that the plug adapter core forming a plug can be arranged accurately in the hollow connector receptacle. In this case, the plug-in adapter core and the plug receptacle on retaining means to hold the inserted into the plug receptacle plug-in core (12) in this. This can be made with a few items a variety of different plug adapter modules in a simple manufacturing process.

Advantageously, the holding means complementary locking means to lock the inserted into the connector receptacle plug core.

The plastic casing has, in particular, a shape that is rotationally secure with respect to rotations about the longitudinal axis of the plug-in adapter core, whose cross-section is complementary to the inner contour of the plug receptacle, so that the core sits securely in the front component.

The plastic casing can then have at least one rib provided on the circumference and extending in the longitudinal direction, advantageously two opposite sides viewed in cross section, so that a predetermined orientation exists in the plug core to be inserted into the front part.

The plastic sheath may each have two locking lugs provided on opposite sides of the plastic sheath in the longitudinal direction of the module. Advantageously, these locking lugs are resilient, over the circumference protruding elements, which preferably have a ramp, which have on the opposite side a more or less in the radial direction tapered demolition edge. If then the two ramps of these locking lugs are in opposite directions, and on the inner wall of the connector receptacle complementary recesses are provided, then can be made with the connector receptacle a beneficial in normal use non-detachable connection of the plug-in adapter core.

Further embodiments are given in the dependent claims.

According to a method according to an embodiment of the invention, the method for producing a plug-in adapter module having a first plug and a second plug is configured with the method steps of arranging the two plugs opposite each other; the electrically conductive connection of the electrically conductive contacts of the two plugs to each other to a workpiece, the overmolding of the merged workpiece with a plastic sheath to a plug-in core, which is then advantageously handled individually, in particular storable, before inserting the Steckadapterkerns in a hollow step in a final step continuous plug receptacle is provided. This can be generated with two possibly different plugs whose contacts are, for example, either plugged together or soldered and surrounding this umspritzbaren plastic coat a manageable plug core, which then inserted into a surrounding this front component, in particular on one side with a flange and held there.

In this case, the holding can be achieved in particular by a snug fit of the deformable plastic sheath in the front component or after insertion follows the process step of ratcheting the plug-in adapter core in the connector receptacle with the aid of provided at this complementary locking means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1

zeigt eine perspektivische Ansicht eines Steckadaptermoduls gemäss der Erfindung;

Fig. 2

zeigt eine Explosionsdarstellung des Moduls nach Fig. 1 vor dem Zusammensetzen;

Fig. 3

zeigt schematisch eine perspektivische Ansicht des Steckadapterkerns, der in der Fig. 2 in das zugehörige Kunststofffrontteil eingeschoben wird;

Fig. 4

zeigt in schematischer Ansicht ein Kunststofffrontteil nach Fig. 1;

Fig. 5

zeigt das Kunststofffrontteil nach Fig. 4 in der perspektivischen Vorderansicht;

Fig. 6

zeigt ein alternatives Kunststofffrontteil für einen anderen Steckertypen;

Fig. 7

zeigt eine schematische perspektivische Ansicht gemäss Fig. 2 in einer anderen Perspektive;

Fig. 8

zeigt eine Schnittansicht des Gehäusefrontteils nach Fig. 7 mit teilweisem Schnitt des Adapterkerns nach Fig. 3;

Fig. 9

zeigt eine perspektivische Schnittansicht des Adapters nach Fig. 1 und

Fig. 10

zeigt eine perspektivische Frontansicht des Moduls nach Fig. 1.

Preferred embodiments of the invention will be described below with reference to the drawings, which are given by way of illustration only and are not to be interpreted as limiting. In the drawings show:

Fig. 1

shows a perspective view of a plug-in adapter module according to the Invention;

Fig. 2

shows an exploded view of the module Fig. 1 before assembling;

Fig. 3

schematically shows a perspective view of the plug-in adapter core, which in the Fig. 2 is inserted into the associated plastic front part;

Fig. 4

shows a schematic view of a plastic front part Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 5

shows the plastic front part after Fig. 4 in the perspective front view;

Fig. 6

shows an alternative plastic front part for another type of connector;

Fig. 7

shows a schematic perspective view according to Fig. 2 in a different perspective;

Fig. 8

shows a sectional view of the housing front part after Fig. 7 with partial cut of the adapter core Fig. 3 ;

Fig. 9

shows a perspective sectional view of the adapter according to Fig. 1 and

Fig. 10

shows a front perspective view of the module after Fig. 1 ,

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The Fig. 1 shows the plug adapter module 10 in a perspective view, wherein the in Fig. 3 shown element of the plug-in adapter core 12 is already inserted into the plastic front part or the plug receptacle 11. The Fig. 2 shows the plastic front part 11 after Fig. 1 with pre-insertion plug adapter core 12.

The plastic front part 11 is deposited behind a flange 19 on the front contact side of the plug 13 by a cylindrical shell 16 over here, wherein the jacket 16 has a stepped step 17 again to a thinner diameter. Both lateral surfaces with the step 17 may also be provided smoothly in a continuous jacket 16. It is also possible that the outer shell is angular, for example square or rectangular.

The reference numerals 13 and 14, the two opposite first and second connectors are designated. Here is a USB 3.0 type A as first plug 13 and a USB type B provided as a second connector 14. The two plugs 13 and 14 are individual elements that are electrically connected together by soldering, not shown in the drawings. In other words, in the method for producing a corresponding plug-in adapter module 10, the desired first and second plugs 13 and 14 are removed from a feeding device, arranged opposite each other and electrically connected to each other. This so combined, but not stable, workpiece is then encapsulated in an injection molding machine with a plastic sheath 15. The plastic casing 15 circumferentially surrounds the workpiece resulting from the two plugs 13 and 14 and forms the plug-in adapter core 12 from these three elements 13, 14 and 15. The plastic casing 15 insulates the above-mentioned soldered wire connections between the plugs 13 and 14.

The plastic sheath 15 has a shape that is substantially non-rotatable with respect to rotations, with in particular a rib 18, which may be provided on opposite sides. There may also be only one rib 18 or no rib. The rib 18 or the ribs 18 are in a positive connection with in the Fig. 8 shown groove 35 is brought into the plastic front part 11. On the other opposite sides of the plastic casing, ie in the circumferential direction at an angular distance of 90 degrees, locking lugs 41 and 42 are provided as the first nose and second nose on the opposite ends in the longitudinal direction of the module. These locking lugs 41, 42 are resilient protruding elements, which preferably have a ramp 43, which has a more or less in the radial direction tapered demolition edge 44 on the opposite side. Advantageously, the two ramps 43 are in opposite directions, so that when these noses 41 and 42 in the corresponding recesses 31 and 32, as they arise from the Fig. 8 result, a positive and not re-releasable in normal use connection of the plug-in adapter core 12 is effected with the front plastic part 11.

Advantageously, the lugs 41 and 42 are sprung and injection-molded around the plugs 13 and 14 around and leaves the known to those skilled front sides of the plug 13 and 14 free.

Advantageously, as in the Fig. 3 . 7 and 8 represented, the ramps 43 after the ends of the plug-in adapter core 12 designed to taper and the demolition edges 44 are assigned to each other. This means that with a corresponding configuration of the plastic front part 11 of the plug-in adapter core 12 on the one hand with the first connector 13 or optionally with the second connector 14 in the front part 11 1 can be inserted.

From the Fig. 4 the plastic front part 110 is shown without inserted plug adapter piece 12. All identical reference numerals correspond to identical features, with similar reference numerals to refer to similar features.

The reference numeral 35 designates the longitudinal groove into which the rib 18 is insertable. On the opposite sides at 90 ° to the groove 35, the two recesses 31 and 32 are arranged in the longitudinal direction, in which the locking lugs 41 and 42 can engage. The recess 31 is in cross-section of Fig. 8 recognizable.

The Fig. 5 shows the plastic front part 110 of Fig. 4 seen from the front of the flange 19, so that it can be seen that the plastic front part has a rectangular opening 210, which is a front opening, which can accommodate the corresponding rectangular front end of the USB-A connector. The reference numeral 113 also denotes the inner wall of the plastic front part.

To clarify that a plurality of plugs can be made according to the invention, the shows Fig. 6 a plastic front part 210 according to another embodiment in which Fig. 5 corresponding front view, wherein the front opening 211 is here substantially square to accommodate the front end of a USB-type B-connector. Due to the larger opening here, the recess 31 in the interior of the plastic front part 111 can be seen.

The Fig. 7 shows one to Fig. 2 Similar view of the front housing part 11 with the Doppeladaptersteckerkern 12 before assembly, where it is directly recognizable that the first connector 13 ends in the longitudinal direction at the front flush with the opening 210 on the flange 19 when the locking lugs 41 and 42 in the corresponding Recesses have been advanced.

It can be seen that the ramp 43 is adapted to be advanced over the inner wall 113 of the plastic front part 11, and then latched in the recess 31. The nose 42, however, is only advanced into the recess 32, but without exercising a detent function here.

Of course, it is possible, for example, the rib 18 with a corresponding notch to design, for example, the rib 18 can represent a top view of a spherically symmetrical elevation, which can slide in a corresponding spherical symmetrical recess in the inner wall 113 of the plastic front part.

The Fig. 8 shows the plastic front part 11 in a section through its main central axis, so that the recesses 31 and 32 are shown in section and half of the opening 210 forms the front end of the adapter. From behind the core piece 12 is already advanced in the correct orientation to the entrance of the recess and the Fig. 9 shows in an assembled and also the core adapter piece 12 in a sectional view showing assembled element; in other words, a cross section through a main axis of the plastic adapter according to Fig. 1 ,

It can be clearly seen that the front nose 41 is engaged in the corresponding recess 31, wherein the rear surface 44 is supported on the radially extending wall of the recess 31. The first connector 13 is aligned flush with the front of the flange. On the back, only the connector 14 on the rear-facing edge surface 21, wherein these form at the same time through the end of the lugs 42, which are only accurately inserted into the recess 32. The reference numeral 115, the plastic material layer of the sheath 15 is shown, which completely fills the gaps between the solder joints of the plug 13 and 14 and thus on the one hand ensures the corresponding stability of the connection of the plug 13 and 14 and on the other hand, the isolation of the individual components carried out in it electrical connections on the other.

The Fig. 10 finally shows the subject of the Fig. 1 in a view from the front with plugged in USB-A module.

The description of the plug according to the invention clearly shows a person skilled in the art a preferred embodiment of a method for producing such a plug. As already mentioned above, the two types of plug, which are to be used in the module 10, so the plug 13 and 14, selected and electrically connected to each other, in particular soldered. It can in principle also be a plug connection. In the illustrated embodiment, the first and second plugs 13 and 14 are different plugs. In other embodiments, these may be the same types of connectors.

The one-piece plug module produced from the two plugs 13 and 14 is further processed to plug core 12 by this element is encased in an injection molding process with a plastic layer 15, which in particular also fills the lying between the two plugs rooms with a plastic wall 115, without of course the electrical Separate contacts. This results in the plug-in adapter core 115 having an outer contour, which already comprises at least one pair of plug-in noses 41, which insert into corresponding complementary cavities in the outer plastic part 11 and in particular can be latched. Advantageously, corresponding first plug tabs 41, which are arranged at the front end of the plastic plug 15, are provided on two opposite sides in a radial view. Then it is possible to provide on the opposite side of the plastic sheath corresponding second lugs 42 which are the same to the lugs 41 one to one. The advantage of this approach is that when providing a corresponding plastic front part 11 with corresponding recesses 31 depending on the orientation of the plug in one or the other direction, the lugs 41 or 42 can be advanced into this recess 31. The corresponding recesses 32 at the open end of the plastic front part then take the corresponding lugs 42 (or in the other orientation, the lugs 41) only fit.

The plastic front parts 11 are, however, advantageously encoded on the intended connector types, ie have at the front of an opening 210 or 211, which is complementary to the plug shape of the first connector 13. Is she like in the Fig. 6 complementary to the second connector 42, so a corresponding procedure is possible. Subsequently, the plug core 12 is inserted into the plastic front part and thus produced only to be solved by destruction connection to a one-piece plug adapter.

The advantage lies in the fact that for all types of plugs (USB-A to USB-B, USB-A to USB-A, USB-B to USB-B, HDMI-to-HDMI connector etc.) can be built with a single plastic injection mold into which the pre-soldered plug components are to be inserted, which in turn are only constructed from the two basic forms USB-A / USB-B or HDMI plug / HDMI socket. The plastic front part 11 in turn is designed differently only with respect to the front front opening 210 or 211, so that this different configuration can be configured with a different front plastic injection mold. In this respect, a surprisingly large number of easy-to-manufacture series of adapter plugs can be produced with a very small number of shapes.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

Plug adapter module

11

plug receptacle

12

Plug adapter core

13

first plug

14

second plug

15

plug casing

16

coat

17

coat stage

18

rib

19

flange

21

rearward edge surface

31

first recess

32

second recess

35

longitudinal groove

41

first nose

42

second nose

43

leading ramp

44

scarp

110

plug receptacle

111

plug receptacle

113

inner wall

115

partition

210

Front breakthrough

211

Front breakthrough

220

Adapter plug receiving

Claims (11)

Plug-in adapter module with a hollow connector receptacle (11) and two oppositely disposed electrical connectors (13, 14) whose contacts are electrically connected to each other, wherein the connectors (13, 14) are circumferentially surrounded by an insulating plastic sheath (15), characterized in that the two connectors (13, 14) and the plastic jacket (15) form a plug-in adapter core (12), wherein the plastic jacket (15) is designed so that the plug-in adapter core (12) can be arranged accurately in the hollow connector receptacle (11) the plug-in adapter core (12) and the plug receptacle (11) have holding means in order to hold therein the plug-in adapter core (12) inserted into the plug receptacle (11). Plug-in adapter module according to claim 1, characterized in that the holding means are complementary latching means (41, 42, 31, 32) for latching the plug-in adapter core (12) inserted into the plug receptacle (11). Plug-in adapter module according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the plastic casing (15) has a relation to rotations about the longitudinal axis of the plug-in adapter core (12) against rotation form whose cross-section is complementary to the inner contour of the plug receptacle (11). Plug-in adapter module according to claim 3, characterized in that the plastic casing (15) has at least one circumferentially provided and extending in the longitudinal direction of a rib (18), in particular two seen in cross-section opposite sides. Plug-in adapter module according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the plastic jacket (15) has two provided on opposite sides of the plastic sheath locking lugs (41 and 42), wherein the first nose and the second nose provided at opposite ends in the longitudinal direction of the module are. Plug-in adapter module according to claim 5, characterized in that these latching noses (41, 42) are resilient, projecting beyond the circumference elements, which preferably have a ramp which has a more or less in the radial direction tapered demolition edge on the opposite side. Plug-in adapter module according to claim 6, characterized in that the two ramps of these locking lugs (41, 42) is in opposite directions, and in that on the inner wall of the plug receptacle (11) complementary recesses (31 and 32) are provided to a advantageously not wiederlösbare in normal use To cause connection of the plug adapter core (12) with the connector receptacle (11). Plug-in adapter module according to one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that the lugs (41 and 42) are sprung resiliently and by injection molding around the plug (13 and 14) around. Method for producing a plug-in adapter module having a first plug (13) and a second plug (14), with the method steps: - Arranging the two of the two connectors (13 and 14) opposite each other; Electrically conductively connecting the electrically conductive contacts of the two plugs (13 and 14) to one another, - Overmolding the merged workpiece with a plastic sheath (15) to a plug-in adapter core (12); - Inserting the plug-in adapter core (12) in a hollow continuous connector receptacle (11). A method according to claim 9, characterized in that after insertion of the process step follows: - Locking of the plug-in adapter core (12) in the connector receptacle (11) by means of provided at this complementary locking means. A method according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the electrically conductive connection comprises the creation of a plug connection between the two plugs (13 and 14) or in particular a soldering of plug contacts.

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