EP2795732B1 - Electrical contact element comprising a latching lance for a plug housing - Google Patents

Description

State of the art

From the prior art electrical connectors for producing an electrical connector are known. The electrical connector essentially comprises a connector housing having at least one contact chamber, wherein each contact chamber can be equipped with an electrical contact element. In order to avoid unintentional removal of the electrical contact elements from the contact chambers, the electrical contact elements engage in the contact chambers. This often happens by a protruding from the electrical contact element locking lance, which is compressed upon insertion of the electrical contact element in the contact chamber in a second position and, when the electrical contact element has reached a predetermined position within the contact chamber, jumps to a first position with a Lock undercut in the contact chamber. In general, the locking lance has a relatively narrow shape, which is issued from the electrical contact element. Before the electrical contact elements are mounted in their associated connector housings, however, the locking lances can easily impose on adjacent contact elements and / or electrical lines due to their shape. This can lead to a plastic deformation of the locking lances in the form of bending, so that a proper locking of the locking lance and thus the contact element in the contact chamber is no longer guaranteed.

The EP 0 821 438 A1 discloses an electrical contact element with a protective collar for the locking lance and with protective elements on the locking lance.

The US Pat. No. 7,217,161 B1 discloses an electrical contact element having a latching lance with a Verhakungsschutz. The EP 1 113 532 A2 discloses a contact socket for an electrical contact element, wherein the contact element has a locking lance.

The EP 1 885 029 A1 discloses an electrical contact element with a protective collar for the locking lance and with protective elements on the locking lance. The US Pat. No. 3,613,052 A discloses an electrical contact element with a retractable latching element.

Summary of the invention

Thus, there may be a need to provide an electrical contact element with a locking lance, in which a mutual hooking of the locking lance and adjacent components is reliably prevented.

The need can be satisfied by the subject matters of independent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments will be apparent from the dependent patent claims.

According to a first embodiment of the invention, an electrical contact element for a single- or multi-pole plug housing is provided with at least one contact chamber of electrically insulating material for receiving the at least one electrical contact element. The electrical contact element has a fastening section for fastening an electrical line. The electrical contact element has a contact section for producing an electrically conductive connection with a corresponding mating contact element. The electrical contact element has at least one latching lance, wherein the latching lance is displaceable from a first position to a second position and vice versa. The locking lance is in the first position obliquely outwards. The locking lance can be locked in the first position with the contact chamber. At the locking lance a support element is permanently connected. By the locking lance and the support member, a cavity is limited, wherein the cavity is closed in the first position by a closure element such that a hooking of the locking lance is prevented.

By closing the cavity formed by the locking lance and the support element on the one hand prevents the proposed electrical contact element can catch with its locking lance on other adjacent components. On the other hand, it is prevented by the proposed electrical contact element that, for example, the locking lances of other contact elements according to the prior art can get caught with the locking lance of the proposed electrical contact element. By the proposed electrical contact element is a hooking the locking lance as well prevented with electrical wires or other components. Characterized in that a hooking of the locking lance of the proposed electrical contact element to other components and vice versa is prevented, damage to other components can be effectively prevented by the proposed electrical contact element. The support element may in this case be designed such that it also effectively prevents entanglement with other components. The locking element may be connected to a first end fixed to a portion of the electrical contact element, wherein at a second end opposite the first end, the support member may be firmly connected. For example, the proposed electrical contact element in a side view be designed such that the locking lance and the support member legs of a triangle, while said portion forms another leg. This subarea can be box-shaped or flat. In order to close the limited by the locking lance and the support member cavity, this cavity may for example be poured by means of a potting compound. Also, the cavity may be closed by means of a plastic insert element. It may also be possible to close the cavity by wing elements, which are arranged on the lateral edges of the locking lance and / or the support member. The closure element will usually be designed such that a combination of locking lance, support element and closure element does not form sharp corners or edges. By such a configuration can be prevented that in a placement and removal of the proposed electrical contact element from the connector housing, on which a sealing mat is arranged, damage to this sealing mat can be effectively prevented.

According to this embodiment of the invention, the closure element is formed by a first wing element and a second wing element. The locking lance and the support member have a common first edge and a first edge opposite common second edge. The first wing element is at least partially fixedly connected to the first edge. The second wing element is at least partially fixedly connected to the second edge. The first wing member and the second wing member are formed such that the first wing member and the second wing element protrude neither the locking lance nor the support element.

The first and the second wing element may be formed such that the wing elements are firmly connected either to the edge of the support member or to the edge of the locking lance. In particular, if the electrical contact element is designed as a stamped and bent part, then the wing element may be bent out of the support element and / or out of the latching lance. In general, the wing elements will be formed such that a free portion of the edge, so a portion of the edge which is not connected to the wing member is covered by the locking lance or the support member without the wing member projects beyond the locking lance and the support member , Furthermore, the first and the second wing element will generally rest at least partially against the respective free partial area of the edge in order to reliably prevent entanglement of the latching lance. The wing elements are designed such that the locking lance can be displaced from the first position to the second position and vice versa, without the wing elements hindering a displacement.

According to a further exemplary embodiment of the invention, the closure element of the electrical contact element is formed by a first wing element and a second wing element. The locking lance has a third edge and a third edge opposite the fourth edge. The support element has a fifth and a fifth edge opposite the sixth edge. The third edge and the fifth edge are spaced apart. The fourth edge and the sixth edge are spaced apart. The first wing element is firmly connected to a component from the group third edge and fourth edge. A first outer side of the first wing element facing away from the cavity is at least partially flush with the other component from the group of the third edge and the fourth edge. The second wing member is fixedly connected to a component of the group of fifth edge and sixth edge. A second outer side of the second wing element facing away from the cavity is at least partially flush with the other component from the group of the fifth edge and the sixth edge.

Again, the cavity is advantageously closed in such a way by the two wing elements, that a hooking of the locking lance and / or the support member to andeen components is reliably prevented.

According to a further exemplary embodiment of the invention, the first wing element is connected to the latching element or to the support element. The second wing element is connected to the latching element or to the support element.

Thus, formations are possible in which, for example, the first wing element are connected to the support element and the second wing element to the latching element. Since electrical contact elements are generally formed as a stamped and bent part and are thereby stamped from a flat sheet, such a configuration may have advantages in the arrangement of the development of the proposed electrical contact element on the sheet, as this may possibly punching waste can be reduced. Furthermore, the locking element, the support element and the wing element can be made in one piece in an advantageous manner. Thus, an additional effort and concomitantly higher manufacturing costs compared to a multi-piece design effectively avoided.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the electrical contact element has a substantially box-shaped portion. The box-shaped portion has two opposing side walls, a bottom member and a lid member opposite the bottom member with an opening bounded by the side walls. The side walls are connected to each other inextricably by the bottom element and the lid member. The support member extends in the first direction at least to the opening. The closure element extends at least to the opening.

Thus, in the first position of the locking lance between the closure element, respectively the support member, and the opening no component can get caught. In general, however, the closure element will be designed such that in the first position of the locking lance there is at least partial overlapping of the side walls with the closure element.

According to a further exemplary embodiment, in the second position, the first wing element and the second wing element are displaced through the opening into the box-shaped partial area such that the latching element is substantially flush with the cover element.

Thus, the locking lance can be displaced into the box-shaped portion such that in the second position of the locking lance of the box-shaped portion of the electrical contact element has no protruding parts. As a result, the electrical contact element can be removed from the connector housing in a particularly simple manner. Also, damage to a sealing mat arranged on the plug housing is reliably prevented by such a configuration.

According to a further exemplary embodiment of the invention, the support element has a projection, wherein the projection is guided through the opening and engages behind the cover element.

Advantageously, the protrusion avoids that the locking lance can be displaced counter to its direction of displacement from the first position to the second position beyond the first position. This ensures that even with improper handling of the service personnel with the proposed electrical contact elements, the locking lance with the support member and the closed cavity is not deformed such that form about columns, possibly in the latching lances of electrical contact elements according to the prior art or could catch electrical lines.

According to a further embodiment of the invention act in the second position of the projection and the bottom element together such that a displacement of the locking lance in a direction of displacement of the locking lance from the first position to the second position beyond the second position is not possible.

Thus, a displacement path of the locking lance from the first position to the second position by an interaction of the projection and the Floor element limited so that the locking lance can not be moved until it has reached the second position. This limitation of the displacement prevents the locking lance from being deformed beyond the elastic range during displacement. In particular, a plastic deformation of the locking lance could prevent the locking lance can independently take the first position. Failure to reach the first position may possibly prevent proper locking of the electrical contact element in the contact chamber. Thus, the electrical contact element can be pushed when pushing the electrical mating contact element from its contact chamber and enter into with the corresponding mating contact element no or possibly only an insufficient electrical connection.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the electrical contact element is a stamped and bent part.

Thus, the electrical contact element can be produced inexpensively. The contact elements can be designed such that they are only about 1 mm ² in cross-section to create a grid, ie a distance from the center of the first contact element to the center of the first contact element adjacent second contact element of 1.5 mm.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the electrical contact element is in one piece.

As a result, the electrical contact element can be produced particularly inexpensively.

It is noted that thoughts on the invention are described herein in the context of an electrical contact element. It will be clear to a person skilled in the art that the individual features described can be combined with one another in various ways so as to arrive at other embodiments of the invention.

Brief description of the drawings

Fig. 1

zeigt ein elektrisches Kontaktelement mit einer in eine erste Position verlagerte Rastlanze, bei dem ein durch die Rastlanze und ein Stützelement gebildeter Hohlraum durch eine Vergussmasse verschlossen ist, in einer 3D-Ansicht;

Fig. 2

zeigt das aus Fig. 1 bekannte elektrische Kontaktelement, bei dem der Hohlraum mittels zweier, einander gegenüberliegender Flügelelemente einer ersten Variante verschlossen ist, in einer 3D-Ansicht;

Fig. 3

zeigt das aus Fig. 2 bekannte elektrische Kontaktelement in einem Querschnitt;

Fig. 4

zeigt das aus Fig. 1 bekannte elektrische Kontaktelement, bei dem der Hohlraum mittels zweier Flügelelemente einer zweiten Variante verschlossen ist, in einer 3D-Ansicht;

Fig. 5

zeigt das aus Fig. 4 bekannte elektrische Kontaktelement in einem Querschnitt;

Fig. 6

zeigt eine weitere Ausführungsform des aus Fig. 4 bekannten elektrischen Kontaktelements in einer 3D-Ansicht; und

Fig. 7

zeigt das aus der Fig. 2 bekannte elektrische Kontaktelement, bei dem die Rastlanze in eine zweite Position verlagert ist, im Längsschnitt.

Embodiments of the invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The figures are only schematic and not to scale.

Fig. 1

shows an electrical contact element with a displaced in a first position locking lance, in which a cavity formed by the locking lance and a support member is closed by a potting compound, in a 3D view;

Fig. 2

shows that off Fig. 1 known electrical contact element, in which the cavity is closed by means of two, opposing wing elements of a first variant, in a 3D view;

Fig. 3

shows that off Fig. 2 known electrical contact element in a cross section;

Fig. 4

shows that off Fig. 1 known electrical contact element, in which the cavity is closed by means of two wing elements of a second variant, in a 3D view;

Fig. 5

shows that off Fig. 4 known electrical contact element in a cross section;

Fig. 6

shows a further embodiment of the Fig. 4 known electrical contact element in a 3D view; and

Fig. 7

shows that from the Fig. 2 known electrical contact element, wherein the locking lance is displaced in a second position, in longitudinal section.

Detailed description of exemplary embodiments

Fig. 1 shows an electrical contact element 2 with a fixing portion 4 for fixing an electric wire and a contact portion 6 to Production of an electrically conductive connection with a corresponding mating contact element. The electrical contact element 2 has a latching lance 8 which, from a first position shown here along a displacement direction V in a, as in Fig. 7 shown, second position is displaceable. In the first position, the locking lance 8 is obliquely outwards. At the locking lance 8, a support member 10 is permanently connected. By the locking lance 8 and the support member 10, a cavity 12 is limited. The cavity 12 is closed by a closure element 14, which is designed here as a potting compound. The closing of the cavity 12 prevents on the one hand, that hooks the proposed electrical contact element 2 with its locking lance 8 to other adjacent components. On the other hand, it is prevented that latching lances of other contact elements according to the prior art, for example, get caught up with the proposed electrical contact element 2. The locking lance 8 has a first end 16, with which it is permanently connected to a cover member 28 and a first end 16 opposite the second end 18 to which the support member 10 is fixedly connected. The cover element 28 has a substantially rectangular opening 30. Further, the cover element 28 is associated with a box-shaped portion 20, which further consists of a first side wall 22, one of the first side wall 22 opposite second side wall 24 and a bottom member 26. Here, the first 22 and the second side wall 24 extend to each other substantially parallel and along the displacement direction V. The first 22 and the second side wall 24 are connected to each other by the bottom member 26 and the lid member 28. On the support member 10, a projection 32 is formed, which engages under the cover member 28, so that a displacement of the locking lance 8 against the displacement direction V beyond the first position is not possible. Thus, it is sufficient to prevent the locking of the locking lance 8 with other components to close the cavity 12 by means of a cross-sectionally substantially triangular shaped closure member 14.

Fig. 2 shows that off Fig. 1 known electrical contact element 2, in which the cavity 12 by means of two opposing and substantially parallel to each other extending wing elements 34, 38 is closed. Fig. 3 shows the arrangement described below in one The support element 10 extends substantially perpendicularly along the direction of displacement V and is thus substantially perpendicular to the lid member 28. The locking lance 8 and the support member 10 have a common first edge 36 and a first edge 36 opposite common second edge 40. In the embodiment shown here defines a third edge 42 of the common first edge 36, the locking element 8 and a fifth edge 46, the support member 10. Further limits a fourth edge 44 of the common second edge 40, the locking element 8 and a sixth edge 48, the support member 10. The first wing member 34 to the third edge 42 of the locking lance 8 firmly connected. The second wing member 38 is fixedly connected to the fifth edge 46 of the locking lance 8. The wing elements 34, 38 shown here close not only the cavity 12, but extend through the opening 30 in the box-shaped portion 20 in the direction of the bottom element 26. The first wing member 34 has a cavity 12 facing the first inside 58 and the second wing member 38th Since the electrical contact element 2 is formed as a one-piece punched and bent part, the two wing elements 34, 38 are arranged on the locking lance 8, that the inner sides 58, 60 at the respective edges 46, 48 of the support member 10 at least substantially abut. In this case, none of the wing elements 34, 38 projects beyond a front side 41 of the support element 10.

Fig. 4 and 5 show that out of the Fig. 2 and 3 known electrical contact element 2 in a further embodiment. Again, the two wing elements 34 and 38 are firmly connected to the locking lance 8. However, in this case, the fifth edge 46 of the support element 10 projects in the direction of the first side wall 22 in relation to the third edge 42 of the latching lance 8. Thus, the third edge 42 is spaced from the fifth edge 46. Accordingly, the sixth edge 48 of the support element 10 projects relative to the fourth edge of the latching lance 8 in the direction of the second side wall 34. Thus, the fourth edge 44 is spaced from the sixth edge 48. The first wing element 34 has a first outer side 50 opposite the first inner side 58, and the second wing element 38 has a second outer side 52 opposite the second inner side 60. The first wing element 34 and the second wing element 38 are arranged on the latching lance 8 Support member 10, the two wing elements 34, 38 covered. Accordingly, the first outer side 50 of the first wing member 34 is substantially flush with the fifth edge 46 of the support member 10 and the second outer side 52 of the second wing member 38 is substantially flush with the sixth edge 48 of the support member 10. Also by this configuration is a hooking the locking lance 8 prevents other components.

Fig. 6 essentially shows the electrical contact element 2 Fig. 4 , Both the first side wall 22 and the second side wall 24 each have an edge 62, by which the opening 30 is limited. In the present embodiment, the first 30 and second wing members 38 are configured to terminate in the first position with the rim 62. Thus, on the in the Fig. 4 and 5 extensions shown 54 are omitted, yet to securely prevent hooking of the locking element 8 with other components.

Fig. 7 shows that off Fig. 2 known electrical contact element in longitudinal section, wherein the locking lance 8 is displaced along the displacement direction V of the first position to the second position. In the second position, the locking lance 8 is flush with the cover element 28. In order to prevent further displacement of the locking lance 8 in the direction of displacement V beyond the second position, the projection 32 abuts against the base element 26 on.

By the embodiments shown here on the one hand reliably prevents the locking lance 8 of the proposed electrical contact element 2 can get caught with other components. On the other hand it is prevented that the locking lance 8 along the displacement direction V beyond the second position is displaced. Such a displacement could plastically deform the locking lance 8, respectively the cover element 28, so that the locking lance 8 could no longer independently reach the first position.

Claims (11)

1. Electrical contact element for a single- or multipole plug housing comprising at least one contact chamber which is composed of electrically insulating material for receiving the at least one electrical contact element (2), wherein the electrical contact element (2) has a fastening section (4) for fastening an electrical line, wherein the electrical contact element (2) has a contact section (6) for establishing an electrically conductive connection to a corresponding mating contact element, wherein the electrical contact element (2) has at least one latching lance (8), wherein the latching lance (8) can be moved from a first position to a second position and vice versa, wherein the latching lance (8) protrudes obliquely outwards in the first position, wherein the latching lance (8) can be latched to the contact chamber in the first position,
   wherein a supporting element (10) is inextricably connected to the latching lance (8),
   wherein a hollow space (12) is delimited by the latching lance (8) and the supporting element (10), wherein the hollow space (12) is closed by a closure element (14) in the first position in such a way that the latching lance (8) is prevented from catching,
   characterized in that
   the closure element (14) is formed by a first wing element (34) and a second wing element (38),
   wherein the latching lance (8) and the supporting element (10) have a common first edge (36) and a common second edge (40) which is situated opposite the first edge (36),
   wherein the first wing element (34) is fixedly connected at least partially to the first edge (36), wherein the second wing element (38) is fixedly connected at least partially to the second edge (40), wherein the first wing element (34) and the second wing element (38) are formed in such a way that the first wing element (34) and the second wing element (38) do not project beyond either the latching lance (8) or the supporting element (10).
2. Electrical contact element according to Claim 1, characterized in that the latching lance (8) has a third edge (42) and a fourth edge (44) which is situated opposite the third edge (42),
   wherein the supporting element (10) has a fifth edge (46) and a sixth edge (48) which is situated opposite the fifth edge (46),
   wherein the third edge (42) and the fifth edge (46) are at a distance from one another,
   wherein the fourth edge (44) and the sixth edge (48) are at a distance from one another,
   wherein the first wing element (34) is fixedly connected to a component from the group comprising the third edge (42) and the fourth edge (44),
   wherein a first outer side (50) of the first wing element (34), which first outer side is averted from the hollow space (12), is at least partially flush with the other component from the group comprising the third edge (42) and the fourth edge (44),
   wherein the second wing element (38) is fixedly connected to a component from the group comprising the fifth edge (46) and the sixth edge (48),
   wherein a second outer side (52) of the second wing element (38), which second outer side is averted from the hollow space (12), is at least partially flush with the other component from the group comprising the fifth edge (46) and the sixth edge (48).
3. Electrical contact element according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   the first wing element (34) is connected to the latching element (8) or to the supporting element (10), the second wing element (38) is connected to the latching element (8) or to the supporting element (10).
4. Electrical contact element according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   the electrical contact element (2) has a substantially box-like subregion (20),
   wherein the box-like subregion (20) has two side walls (22, 24) which are situated opposite one another, a base element (26) and a cover element (28) which is situated opposite the base element (26) and has an opening (30) which is delimited by the side walls (22, 24),
   wherein the side walls (22, 24) are inextricably connected to one another by the base element (26) and the cover element (28),
   wherein the supporting element (10) extends at least as far as the opening (30) in the first position,
   wherein the closure element (14) extends at least as far as the opening (30).
5. Electrical contact element according to one of Claims 1 to 4,
   characterized in that,
   in the second position, the first wing element (34) and the second wing element (38) are moved through the opening (30) into the box-like subregion (20) in such a way that the latching element (8) is substantially flush with the covering element (28).
6. Electrical contact element according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   the supporting element (10) has a projection (32), wherein the projection (32) is guided through the opening (30) and engages behind the cover element (28).
7. Electrical contact element according to Claim 6,
   characterized in that,
   in the second position, the projection (32) and the base element (26) interact in such a way that a movement of the latching lance (8) in a movement direction (V) of the latching lance (8) from the first position to the second position beyond the second position is not possible.
8. Electrical contact element according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized
   in that the electrical contact element (2) is a stamped and bent part.
9. Electrical contact element according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized
   in that the electrical contact element (2) is in one piece.
10. Electrical contact element according to one of Claims 1 to 9,
    characterized
    in that the hollow space (12) is filled using a potting compound.
11. Electrical contact element according to one of Claims 1 to 9,
    characterized
    in that the hollow space (12) is closed by means of a plastic insert element.

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