EP3493333A1 - Electric plug connection for data transmission - Google Patents

Abstract

Electrical plug connection (1) for data transmission with a plug (2) and a socket (3), wherein the plug (2) has a plug housing (4) and a plug-in extension (5) with electrical contacts (6) protruding beyond the plug housing (4) and the socket (3) has a socket housing (7) with a receiving channel (8) for the plug housing (4) and the plug connection (1) has a plug insertion receptacle (9) with electrical mating contacts (10), wherein in a completely inserted state of the plug extension (5) for the connection of the electrical contacts (6) with the electrical mating contacts (10) in the plug extension receptacle (9) is inserted and the plug housing (4) at least partially within the receiving channel (8) is arranged, wherein the socket (3) a Locking device (11) for locking the plug housing (4) in the receiving channel (8) in the fully inserted state and on the socket housing (7) projecting actuating element (12) z has to release this lock.

Description

The present invention relates to an electrical connector for data transmission with a plug and a socket, wherein the plug is a plug housing and a plug housing protruding plug extension with electrical contacts and the socket, a socket housing with a receiving channel for the plug housing and the plug connector, a plug extension with electrical mating contacts in which, in a fully inserted state, the plug-in extension for connecting the electrical contacts to the electrical mating contacts is plugged into the mating extension receptacle and the plug housing is arranged at least partially within the receiving channel.

Electrical connectors of the type mentioned are for example from WO 2017/063005 A1 known. There, the socket housing is arranged sunk directly into the housing of an electrical device. The plug housing of the plugged into this socket cable connector is held frictionally with a correspondingly small clearance between the plug and socket housing.

Other known by public prior use measures for securing the plug housing in the socket against pulling are screwed or locking devices with pivoting locking levers on the connector housing.

The object of the invention is to provide a robust electrical connector of the type mentioned above, in which the plug is secured against being pulled out of the socket.

This is achieved according to the invention by the socket a Locking device for locking the plug housing in the receiving channel in the fully inserted state and has a protruding over the socket housing actuator for releasing this lock.

A basic idea of the invention is thus to design the locking device as part of the socket and to arrange it so that it locks the plug housing in the receiving channel, ie within a region of the socket housing, when the plug housing is in the fully inserted state correspondingly far in the receiving channel.

By means of the protruding from the socket housing actuating element, the lock can be released so as to pull the plug housing and thus the plug out of the socket again. The actuator advantageously has an externally accessible actuating surface which can be operated by hand. Preferably, the actuating element is mounted linearly displaceable in or on the socket housing. For linear displacement of the actuating element in the socket housing or relative to the socket housing is conveniently sufficient simple pressing on the actuator. The provision of the actuating element can be achieved by a corresponding spring preload. This spring bias can be achieved in preferred embodiments by the locking device itself, preferably by elastic locking arms of the locking device, as described in more detail below. It is preferably provided that the plug housing has on its outer surface at least one notch, preferably on opposite sides in each case a notch, for the engagement of the locking device for locking the plug housing in the receiving channel in the fully inserted state. In terms of a very robust, as little as possible interference-prone configuration, preferred variants thereof provide that the notch or the notches of the plug housing are arranged in the completely inserted state within the receiving channel.

The locking device has in preferred variants at least one movably mounted in or on the socket housing and operable by the actuator locking arm, which engages for locking in the notch or one of the notches of the plug housing. Preferably, this locking arm is pivotally mounted in or on the socket housing. Particularly preferred is an elastic design. For this purpose, the locking arm itself can be elastically deformable, for example in the form of a spring arm. However, it is also conceivable to elastically bias the locking arm by means of a separate spring. This is possible both when the locking arm is linearly movable and pivotable.

Particularly preferably it is provided that the locking device has at least two movably mounted in or on the socket housing and operable by the actuating element locking arms, which engage in each case for locking in one of the notches of the plug housing. The notches are conveniently arranged on opposite sides of the plug housing. Preferred variants provide that the locking device has exactly two such locking arms. These, too, are generally movable. They can therefore also be formed linearly displaceable. However, it is preferably again pivotable mounted locking arms. Again, particularly preferably the elastic bias of the locking arms is directed towards the locking position. This can in turn be realized by correspondingly self-elastic locking arms in the form of locking springs, but also by correspondingly elastically biased in itself rigid locking arms.

The locking arms may be arranged in a V-shape relative to each other so that they together form a V-shape. Particularly preferably, it is provided that both locking arms can be actuated by the one actuating element. This can be realized, for example, by a linearly displaceable actuating element in the opening between two locking arms arranged in a V-shape can be inserted to these, preferably against their elastic bias, further apart swing.

The plug is conveniently a cable plug attached or attached to a cable. Also, the socket can in principle be attached to a cable or fastened. Preferably, however, it is provided that the socket is a chassis bush attached or to be fastened to a housing of a device. Preferably, it is provided that the socket has a mounting flange for the attachment of the socket to a housing of a device. Preferably, the actuating element penetrates this mounting flange. The insertion extension is basically part of the connector. It may also be part of the socket, e.g. by fixed fixed to the socket housing or integrated into this. But the insertion extension can also be a separate part of the electrical connector. It can be provided that the socket is attached directly or indirectly to a printed circuit board, in which case the plug extension receptacle can then be fastened in a corresponding positioning relative to the socket on the printed circuit board. Particularly preferred variants provide that a carrier card arranged at a distance from the printed circuit board is arranged on the printed circuit board, and the plug-in die recording is arranged on the carrier card.

In electrical connectors according to the invention are those for data transmission, ie the electrical transmission of information or data. However, the electrical connectors according to the invention can also be used for electrical power transmission or in other words to power a device.

Electrical connectors according to the invention are particularly preferably a USB connector, more preferably a USB type C connector. USB is a well-known standard. USB is an abbreviation for Universal Serial Bus. By means of the invention, such USB connectors can be made very robust and secured against inadvertent removal of the plug from the socket.

• Fig. 1 eine Seitenansicht auf ein erstes Ausführungsbeispiel einer erfindungsgemäßen elektrischen Steckverbindung;
• Fig. 2 den Schnitt entlang der Schnittlinie AA aus Fig. 1 durch die Steckfortsatzaufnahme mit eingestecktem Steckfortsatz;
• Fig. 3 bis 5 den Stecker und die Buchse aus Fig. 1 im vollständig eingesteckten Zustand in verschiedenen Ansichten mit geschlossener Verriegelung;
• Fig. 6 eine zu Fig. 4 entsprechende Ansicht, allerdings im entriegelten Zustand;
• Fig. 7 den vorab gezeigten Stecker samt Buchse im voneinander getrennten Zustand;
• Fig. 8 eine Frontansicht auf die Buchse alleine;
• Fig. 9 einen Horizontalschnitt durch die Anordnung gemäß Fig. 3;
• Fig. 10 einen Vertikalschnitt durch die Anordnung gemäß Fig. 1 und
• Fig. 11 bis 14 verschiedene Darstellungen zu einer zweiten erfindungsgemäßen Ausführungsvariante einer elektrischen Steckverbindung.

Further features and details of preferred embodiments of the invention are explained below in the figure description with reference to preferred embodiments of the invention. Show it:

• Fig. 1 a side view of a first embodiment of an electrical connector according to the invention;
• Fig. 2 the section along the section line AA Fig. 1 through the insertion attachment with plug-in extension inserted;
• Fig. 3 to 5 the plug and the socket off Fig. 1 when completely inserted in different views with closed lock;
• Fig. 6 one too Fig. 4 corresponding view, but in the unlocked state;
• Fig. 7 the previously shown plug and socket in the separated state;
• Fig. 8 a front view of the socket alone;
• Fig. 9 a horizontal section through the arrangement according to Fig. 3 ;
• Fig. 10 a vertical section through the arrangement according to Fig. 1 and
• Fig. 11 to 14 different representations of a second embodiment of an electrical connector according to the invention.

In principle, electrical plug-in connections 1 according to the invention can be designed very differently. In the exemplary embodiments shown here, however, the electrical plug-in connections according to the invention are all so-called USB plug-in connections, here in particular USB type C plug-in connections which fulfill the corresponding USB standard.

The embodiments of the electrical connector 1 according to the Fig. 1 on the one hand and the Fig. 11 to 14 on the other hand, differ essentially by the way in which the socket 3 of the electrical plug connection 1 and the insertion projection receptacle 9 of the electrical plug connection 1 are arranged on a printed circuit board 18. The based on the Fig. 2 to 10 discussed features of the shown here, preferred embodiments of a socket 3 and a plug 2, apply both to the variant according to Fig. 1 as well as for the variant according to the Fig. 11 to 14 ,

In Fig. 1 is the insertion extension 9, which is not a fixed part of the socket 3 in the embodiments shown here, mounted directly on a printed circuit board 18 only schematically indicated here. For the socket 3 of the electrical connector 1 according to the invention a corresponding recess of the printed circuit board 18 is provided, so that the socket 3 in the in Fig. 1 shown position on the printed circuit board 18 can be arranged and fixed so that the plug-in extension 5 of the fully inserted into the socket 3 plug 2 is arranged in the insertion recess 9.

Alternatively, it is of course also possible to form the insertion recess 9 directly as part of the socket 3.

In the illustrated embodiment, the socket 3, a female housing 7 and a mounting flange 17, which are fixed to each other. In the female housing 7 is the receiving channel 8, in which the plug housing 4 can be inserted over a part of its longitudinal extent and also locked. In the fully inserted state, as in the Fig. 1 and 3 to 6 such as 9, 10 . 11, 12 and 13 is shown, the plug housing 4 of the plug 2 is arranged over part of its longitudinal extent within the receiving channel 8. The socket 3 is fixed by means of the mounting flange 17 to a housing 20 of an electrical device, that the plug 2 can be inserted from the outside into the receiving channel 8 of the socket 3. In Fig. 1 is shown by the housing 20 of the device, only a section of a panel. The socket is mounted on this housing 20 and the aperture shown here in the first embodiment so that the mounting flange 17 rests on the outside of the housing 20 and the socket housing 7 penetrates a corresponding opening in the housing 20 of the device and is largely disposed within the housing 20. This manner of mounting sockets 3 on panels or on housings 20 of electrical devices is known per se and need not be explained further. The socket 3 is in the embodiments shown here in any case to a mounted on a housing 20 of a device or to be fastened chassis socket, which has the mounting flange 17 for fixing the socket 3 to the housing 20. Deviating from this, corresponding sockets 3 could also be attached to a cable.

In the case of the plug 2 of the electrical plug-in connection 1 according to the invention shown here, in all exemplary embodiments shown here, a cable plug fastened to a cable 16 is concerned. In order to avoid kinking of the cable 16 at the output from the connector housing 4, a cable grommet 21 is provided in the embodiments shown here, as known per se, which, in principle, but could of course be omitted.

According to the invention, the socket 3 of the electrical plug-in connection 1 in all exemplary embodiments shown here has a locking device 11 for locking the plug housing 4 in the receiving channel 8 in the completely inserted state. In other words, the locking device 11 locks the connector housing 4 in the region of the receiving channel 8. In the embodiment of the bushings 3 realized in the embodiments shown here on the housings 20 of the electrical devices, the location of the locking, ie the location at which the locking device 11 is located Plug housing 4 engages in the region of the receiving channel 8 and thus of the female housing 7 and thus usually within the respective housing 20 of the respective electrical device. In addition, according to the invention, the bushing 3 has an actuating element 12 protruding beyond the bushing housing 7 for releasing this locking. In the embodiments shown, the actuating element 12 penetrates the mounting flange 17 and in the preferred embodiments also the housing 20, so that the actuating element 12 can be accessed from the outside and operated by hand. In all embodiments shown here, the actuating element 12 is a slide. The actuating element 12 is mounted linearly displaceable in or on the socket housing 7. The design and operation of the Locking device 11 of these embodiments shown here and their interaction with the actuator 12 will be explained in more detail below.

Fig. 2 shows the section along the section line AA through the insertion projection receptacle 9, in the fully inserted state of the plug-in extension 5 of the plug 2 is inserted. In this completely inserted state, the electrical contacts 6 on the plug-in extension 5 are in electrically conductive contact with the electrical mating contacts 10 of the plug-in insert receptacle 9, so that both data and optionally also electrical power via the electrical contacts 6 and the electrical mating contacts 10 and thus via the electrical connector 1 can be transmitted. In the configuration of the plug-in extension 5 and the insertion record holder 9 is a connection that follows the USB standard and here in particular the USB type C standard, so this need not be explained further. Basically, the plug-in extension 5 and then the corresponding matching insertion record 9 but of course could be designed differently.

The Fig. 3 . 4 and 5 show the socket 3 and plug 2 used in all embodiments of an electrical connector 1 shown here, the plug 2 in all Fig. 3 . 4 and 5 is completely inserted into the receiving channel 8 of the female housing 7, so that the plug-in extension 5 so far protrudes at the rear end of the female housing 7, that he in the, in the Fig. 3 . 4 and 5 not shown, insertion recess 9 for contacting the electrical contacts 6 with the electrical mating contacts 10 may be inserted.

In the Fig. 3 . 4 and 5 is the locking device 11 in the locked state in which it holds the connector 2 in the socket 3 by corresponding engagement in the connector housing 4. Fig. 6 indicates an otherwise analog representation Fig. 4 , The only difference is that in Fig. 6 the lock is released by the locking device 11 by means of the actuating element 12.

In the embodiments shown, the locking device 11 has two pivotally mounted on the socket housing 7 and actuated by the actuating element 12 locking arms 15. These are formed U-shaped in the embodiments shown here we engage for locking or in the locked state each in one of the arranged on opposite sides of the plug housing 4 notches 14 a. These notches 14 in the outer surfaces 13 of the plug housing 4 are particularly good in Fig. 7 to see. In the embodiment shown here, the locking arms 15 are formed in itself elastically as spring arms and pivotally mounted by means of the fixation 23 on the female housing 7. The realized in this preferred embodiment locking arms 15 are arranged in a V-shape. Both locking arms 15 are actuated in the embodiments shown here by a single actuator 12. The provided for engagement in the notches 14 of the plug housing 4 ends 29 of the here in these embodiments each U-shaped locking arms 15 engage in the locked state in corresponding openings 28 in the female housing 7 a.

The actuating element 12 is mounted to release the lock linearly displaceable on the female housing 7. This displaceable mounting is realized in the embodiment shown here concretely by the linear guide 24 on the female housing 7. In preferred embodiments, as shown here, the actuator 12 is exclusively linear in the directions 30 between its end positions according to 4 and FIG. 6 movable back and forth. To the V-shaped arranged locking arms 15 of the examples shown here from the locking position according to Fig. 4 in the unlocked position according to Fig. 6 To bring, the actuating element 12, as also realized here, be partially wedge-shaped. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the actuating element 12 has the wedge-shaped section 32 for this purpose. The actuating surface 31 of the actuating element 12 is conveniently outside of the female housing 7 and - if present - also of the mounting flange 17th and is accessible from outside. In the exemplary embodiment shown here, the actuation takes place by pressing with a finger on the actuating surface 31, whereby the actuating element 12 from the position according to FIG Fig. 4 in the position according to Fig. 6 is moved. As a result, the actuating element 12, with its wedge-shaped section 32, penetrates deeper into the region between the V-shaped locking arms 15, so that these locking arms 15 are moved away from the actuating element 12 from the locked position Fig. 4 in the unlocked position according to Fig. 6 be pressed apart. As a result, the ends 29 of the locking arms 15 are lifted out of the notches 14 of the arranged in the receiving channel 8 plug housing 4, so in Fig. 6 the unlocked position is reached, in which the plug 2 can be pulled out of the socket 3. In the locked state, the locking device 11 prevents this pulling out.

The provision of the actuating element 12 from the position according to Fig. 6 in the position according to Fig. 4 Favorably takes place automatically by means of elastic restoring forces as soon as the actuating surface 31 is released. For this purpose, a separate spring for biasing the actuating element 12 may be provided in principle. In preferred variants, such as that shown here, it is provided that the actuating element 12 is elastically biased by the locking device 11 and thus also reset as soon as the actuating surface 31 is released. Specifically, this takes place in the embodiment shown here, characterized in that the locking arms 15 are resiliently biased toward each other, and thus by acting on the wedge-shaped portion 32, the actuating element 12 again in the position according to Fig. 4 push as soon as the actuating surface 31 is no longer pressed.

Notwithstanding the specific embodiment shown here, the locking device 11 may in principle also have only a single locking arm 15. The one or more locking arms 15 must also not necessarily pivotally mounted on the socket housing 7. You can also be moved elsewhere, eg linearly displaceable, be mounted on the socket housing. The one or more locking arms 15 need not be elastic in itself. Their elastic bias can, if provided at all, also be realized by additional spring elements or the like.

In Fig. 7 the plug 2 is shown in a pulled out of the socket 3 state. Well visible are also arranged in the outer surface 13 of the plug housing 4 notches 14. In the inserted state, the plug housing 4 so far into the receiving channel 8 of the female housing Inserted 7 that the notches 14 are located in the receiving channel 8 and are accessible through the opening 28 in the concrete embodiment shown here, so that the locking arms 15 can engage with their ends 29 to lock the plug 2 in the socket 3 in the notches 14. In the illustrated as well as in other preferred embodiments, the connector housing 4, except for the notches 14, made substantially smooth. In preferred embodiments, such as the one shown here, a step or shoulder 25 is located between the plug housing 4 and the plug-in extension 5. The length 33 of the area of the plug housing 4 between the respective notch 14 and said step or shoulder 25 is favorably within the range from 1 mm to 35 mm, preferably in the range of 10 mm to 20 mm. The length 34 of the region between the respective notch 14 and the rear, the plug extension 5 opposite end of the plug housing 4 is conveniently in the range of 5 mm to 70 mm, preferably in the range of 10 mm to 30 mm. The total length 35 of the male housing 4 from the shoulder 25 to the opposite end is desirably in the range of 15 mm to 90 mm, preferably 25 mm to 50 mm.

Fig. 8 shows a front view of the socket 3 and in particular on the mounting flange 17. Here are good to see the mounting holes 22, by means of which the mounting flange 17 and thus the socket 3 on the housing 20 of an electric Device can be screwed on. The mounting holes 22 can of course be replaced by other fasteners. Fig. 8 shows a view into the receiving channel 8 of the female housing 7. Good to see here is the rear opening 26 of the female housing 7, through which the plug-in extension 5 can be pushed through to be inserted into the insertion recess 9.

Fig. 9 shows a horizontal section through the fully inserted into the receiving channel 8 of the socket 3 plug 2 in the locked state, Fig. 10 shows a perpendicular orthogonal vertical section, wherein in Fig. 10 in addition, the housing 20, the printed circuit board 18 and the insertion recess 9 are shown. In both FIGS. 9 and 10 the cuts through the plug 2 and the cable 16 are shown only highly schematized, since the inner life of the plug 2 ultimately known per se as in the prior art, can be executed. As is known per se, the cable 16 is inserted into the plug housing 4 through the cable sleeve 21, which is also shown only schematically here. A strain relief 36 protects the upstream, as known per se electronics 27 before tensile load by holding the cable 16. The electronics 27 may be designed according to the USB standard in the embodiment shown here. The same applies to the contacts 6 of the plug-in extension 5 and also the mating contacts 10 of the plug insertion receptacle 9.

The Fig. 11 to 14 show a variant of an electrical connector 1 according to the invention in the form of a USB connector, which is implemented on a standard PCI card. The front panel of this known PCI card is considered here as part of the housing 20 and also referred to as such. The essential difference from the embodiment according to Fig. 1 is that the socket 3 is mounted here resting on the circuit board 18 and that one, spaced from the printed circuit board 18 carrier card 19 is provided on the printed circuit board 18, wherein the dummy extension holder 9 is arranged on the carrier card 19. When mounting the carrier card 19 on the circuit board 18 is a table-like construction, as in Fig. 11 is particularly good to see. The carrier card 19 and the printed circuit board 18 are conveniently parallel to each other. This distanced arrangement of the insertion projection receptacle 9 relative to the printed circuit board 18th allows to fix the socket 3 on the printed circuit board 18 without having to provide a corresponding recess in the printed circuit board. Otherwise, this embodiment corresponds to the Fig. 11 to 14 in its structure and in its function of the previously described embodiment, so that reference may be made to the previous explanations. Fig. 13 shows a front view of the here as a housing 20 designated aperture, wherein in each case a plug 2 is inserted into a socket 3. Fig. 14 shows the same view, but the plug 2 are not plugged in, so you can look into the receiving channels 8 of the sockets 3. Legend to the reference numbers: 1 electrical plug connection 19 carrier card 2 plug 20 casing 3 Rifle 21 grommet 4 plug housing 22 mounting hole 5 Plug extension 23 fixation 6 Contact 24 linear guide 7 socket housing 25 step 8th receiving channel 26 rear opening 9 Plug extension recording 27 electronics 10 countercontact 28 opening 11 locking device 29 end up 12 actuator 30 direction 13 outer surface 31 actuating surface 14 score 32 wedge-shaped section 15 lock 33 length 16 electric wire 34 length 17 mounting flange 35 overall length 18 PCB 36 Strain relief

Claims (10)

Electrical plug connection (1) for data transmission with a plug (2) and a socket (3), wherein the plug (2) has a plug housing (4) and a plug-in extension (5) with electrical contacts (6) protruding beyond the plug housing (4) and the socket (3) has a socket housing (7) with a receiving channel (8) for the plug housing (4) and the plug connection (1) has a plug insertion receptacle (9) with electrical mating contacts (10), wherein in a completely inserted state of the plug extension (5) is inserted for connecting the electrical contacts (6) with the electrical mating contacts (10) in the insertion recess (9) and the connector housing (4) at least partially within the receiving channel (8) is arranged, characterized in that the socket ( 3) a locking device (11) for locking the plug housing (4) in the receiving channel (8) in the fully inserted state and on the female housing (7) projecting Bet Having actuating element (12) for releasing this lock. Electrical connector (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that it is a USB connector, preferably a USB Type C connector. Electrical connector (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the plug housing (4) on its outer surface (13) at least one notch (14), preferably on opposite sides in each case a notch (14), for the engagement of the locking device (11) for locking the plug housing (4) in the receiving channel (8) in the fully inserted state. Electrical connector (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the notch (14) or the notches (14) of the plug housing (4) are arranged in the fully inserted state within the receiving channel (8). Electrical plug connection (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the actuating element (12) is mounted linearly displaceable in or on the socket housing (7). Electrical plug connection (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the locking device (11) at least one, preferably elastically, movable, preferably pivotable, in or on the socket housing (7) mounted and actuatable by the actuating element (12) locking arm ( 15) which engages for locking in the notch (14) or one of the notches (14). Electrical plug connection (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the locking device (11) at least, preferably exactly, two, preferably elastic, movable, preferably pivotable, mounted in or on the socket housing (7) and the actuating element (12 ) operable locking arms (15) which engage respectively for locking in each one of, preferably on opposite sides of the plug housing (4), notches (14). Electrical plug connection (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that the locking arms (15) are arranged in a V-shape and / or that of the one actuating element (12) both locking arms (15) are actuated. Electrical plug connection (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the plug (2) has a cable plug fastened or to be fastened to a cable (16) and / or that the bush (3) has a plug connected to a cable Housing (20) of a device mounted or to be fastened chassis socket, it is preferably provided that the socket (3) has a mounting flange (17) for fixing the socket (3) on the housing (20) of the device and the actuating element ( 12) penetrates the mounting flange (17). Electrical plug connection (1) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the bushing (3) is attached directly or indirectly to a printed circuit board (18), wherein it is preferably provided that on the printed circuit board (18) a distance to the printed circuit board (18) arranged carrier card (19) and on the carrier card (19), the insertion projection receptacle (9) is arranged.

Images