EP3493333B1 - Electric plug connection for data transmission - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an electrical connector according to the preamble of claim 1.

Electrical connectors of the type mentioned are for example from the WO 2017/063005 A1 known. There the socket housing is sunk directly into the housing of an electrical device. The plug housing of the cable plug inserted into this socket is held in a frictionally engaged manner with a correspondingly small amount of play between the plug and the socket housing.

Other known measures for securing the plug housing in the socket against pulling out, which are known from prior prior use, are screw connections or also locking devices with pivotable locking levers on the plug housing.

The US 2016/0373845 A1 shows an electrical connector, in which the plug for insertion into the socket has a connector housing in which the electrical contacts of the plug are arranged. For locking purposes, the plug has a notch running around the inside of the plug housing. The US 9,039,455 B2 discloses a charging plug for a cigarette lighter socket, in which outwardly projecting electrical contacts protrude beyond the housing of the charging plug and are elastically biased outwards. The US 2010/0151720 A1 shows a USB connector according to the preamble of claim 1.

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 with an electrical connector according to claim 1.

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

The locking element can be released by means of the actuating element protruding from the socket housing in order to pull the plug housing and thus the plug out of the socket again. The actuating element advantageously has an actuating surface which is accessible from the outside and which can be actuated by hand. The actuating element is preferably mounted so as to be 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, simply pressing the actuating element is advantageously sufficient. The actuating element can be reset by a corresponding spring preload. In preferred embodiments, this spring preload can be achieved by the locking device itself, preferably by elastic locking arms of the locking device, as will be described in more detail below. In the invention it is provided that the connector housing has on its outer surface on opposite sides in each case a notch for the engagement of the locking device for locking the connector housing in the receiving channel in the fully inserted state. In the sense of a very robust design that is as prone to failure as possible, preferred variants of this provide that the notch or notches of the plug housing are arranged within the receiving channel in the fully inserted state.

In preferred variants, the locking device has at least one locking arm which is movably mounted in or on the socket housing and which can be actuated by the actuating element and which locks into one of the notches of the Engages connector housing. This locking arm is preferably pivotally mounted in or on the socket housing. It is particularly preferably an elastic configuration. For this purpose, the locking arm itself can be elastically deformable, for example in the form of a spring arm. But it is also conceivable to elastically bias the locking arm by means of a separate spring. This is possible if the locking arm can be moved linearly as well as pivoted.

It is particularly preferably provided that the locking device has at least two locking arms that are movably mounted in or on the socket housing and that can be actuated by the actuating element and that each engage in one of the notches of the connector housing for locking. The notches are arranged on opposite sides of the connector housing. Preferred variants provide that the locking device has exactly two such locking arms. Generally speaking, these are also movable. So you can also be designed to be linearly displaceable. However, it is again preferably pivotable locking arms. Again, the elastic bias of the locking arms is particularly preferably directed in the direction of the locking position. This can in turn be achieved by locking arms which are correspondingly elastic in themselves in the form of locking springs, but also by locking arms which are rigid in themselves and are correspondingly elastically biased.

The locking arms can be arranged in a V-shape relative to one another, so that together they form a V-shape. It is particularly preferably provided that both locking arms can be actuated by the one actuating element. This can be achieved, for example, by inserting a linearly displaceable actuating element into the opening between two V-shaped locking arms in order to further apart them, preferably against their elastic bias swing.

The plug is advantageously a cable plug attached or to be attached to a cable. In principle, the socket can also be fastened or fastened to a cable. However, it is preferably provided that the socket is a chassis socket which is fastened or to be fastened to a housing of a device. It is preferably provided that the socket has a mounting flange for fastening the socket to a housing of a device. The actuating element preferably penetrates this mounting flange. The plug-in adapter is basically part of the plug connection. It can also be part of the socket, e.g. by being permanently attached to the socket housing or integrated into it. The plug extension receptacle can also be a separate part of the electrical plug connection. It can be provided that the socket is fastened directly or indirectly to a printed circuit board, in which case the plug-in extension receptacle can also be fastened in a corresponding position relative to the socket on the printed circuit card. Particularly preferred variants provide for a carrier card arranged at a distance from the circuit card and the plug-in extension receptacle on the carrier card.

The electrical plug connections according to the invention are those for data transmission, that is to say the electrical transmission of information or data. However, the electrical plug connections according to the invention can also be used for electrical power transmission or in other words for the power supply of a device.

The electrical plug connections according to the invention are particularly preferably a USB plug connection, particularly preferably a USB Type C plug connection. USB is a well-known standard. USB is an abbreviation for Universal Serial Bus. By means of the invention, such USB plug connections can be made very robust and secured against unintentional 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 description of the figures using preferred exemplary 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 due to the plug-in extension receptacle with the plug-in extension inserted;
• 3 to 5 the plug and the socket Fig. 1 in the fully inserted state in different views with the lock closed;
• Fig. 6 one too Fig. 4 corresponding view, but in the unlocked state;
• Fig. 7 the plug and socket shown above in a separate state;
• Fig. 8 a front view of the socket alone;
• Fig. 9 a horizontal section through the arrangement according Fig. 3 ;
• Fig. 10 a vertical section through the arrangement according Fig. 1 and
• 11 to 14 Various representations of a second embodiment variant of an electrical connector according to the invention.

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

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

In Fig. 1 the plug-in extension receptacle 9, which in the exemplary embodiments shown here is not a fixed component of the socket 3, is attached directly to a printed circuit board 18 which is only schematically indicated here. A corresponding recess in the printed circuit board 18 is created for the socket 3 of the electrical plug connection 1 according to the invention, so that the socket 3 in the in Fig. 1 The position shown can be arranged and fastened on the printed circuit card 18, so that the plug extension 5 of the plug 2 fully inserted into the socket 3 is arranged in the plug extension receptacle 9.

Alternatively, it is of course also possible to design the plug-in extension receptacle 9 directly as part of the socket 3.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, the socket 3 has a socket housing 7 and a mounting flange 17, which are fixedly connected to one another. The receptacle channel 8 is located in the socket housing 7, into which the plug housing 4 can be inserted and also locked over part of its longitudinal extent. In the fully inserted condition, as in the Fig. 1 and 3 to 6 such as 9, 10 , 11, 12 and 13 is shown, the connector housing 4 of the connector 2 is arranged over part of its longitudinal extent within the receiving channel 8. The socket 3 is fastened to a housing 20 of an electrical device by means of the mounting flange 17 in such a way that the plug 2 can be inserted from the outside into the receiving channel 8 of the socket 3. In Fig. 1 only a section of an aperture is shown of the housing 20 of the device. The socket is mounted on this housing 20 or the diaphragm shown here in the first embodiment in such a way that the mounting flange 17 abuts the housing 20 on the outside and the socket housing 7 penetrates a corresponding opening in the housing 20 of the device and is largely arranged within the housing 20. This way 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 exemplary embodiments shown here in any case around a chassis socket which is fastened or to be fastened to a housing 20 of a device and which has the mounting flange 17 for fastening the socket 3 to the housing 20. Deviating from this, corresponding sockets 3 could also be attached to a cable.

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

According to the invention, the socket 3 of the electrical connector 1 in all of the exemplary embodiments shown here has a locking device 11 for locking the connector housing 4 in the receiving channel 8 in the fully inserted state. In other words, the locking device 11 locks the connector housing 4 in the region of the receiving channel 8. In the mounting of the sockets 3 on the housings 20 of the electrical devices shown in the exemplary embodiments shown here, the location of the locking, ie the location at which the locking device 11 is located Connector housing 4 attacks, in the region of the receiving channel 8 and thus the socket housing 7 and thus generally within the respective housing 20 of the respective electrical device. In addition, according to the invention, the socket 3 has an actuating element 12 protruding beyond the socket housing 7 for releasing this locking. In the exemplary 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 of the exemplary embodiments shown here, the actuating element 12 is a slide. The actuating element 12 is mounted in a linearly displaceable manner in or on the socket housing 7. The design and functioning of the Locking device 11 of these exemplary embodiments shown here and their interaction with the actuating element 12 is explained in more detail below.

Fig. 2 shows the section along the section line AA through the plug-in extension receptacle 9, into which the plug-in extension 5 of the plug 2 is inserted in the fully inserted state. In this fully 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 extension receptacle 9, so that both data and, if appropriate, electrical power via the electrical contacts 6 and the electrical mating contacts 10 and thus via the electrical plug connection 1 can be transferred. The design of the plug-in extension 5 and the plug-in extension receptacle 9 is a connection which follows the USB standard and here in particular the USB type C standard, so that this need not be explained further. Basically said, the plug-in extension 5 and then the correspondingly fitting plug-in extension receptacle 9 could of course also be designed differently.

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

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

In the exemplary embodiments shown, the locking device 11 has two locking arms 15 which are pivotably mounted on the socket housing 7 and can be actuated by the actuating element 12. In the exemplary embodiments shown here, these are U-shaped and engage in one of the notches 14 arranged on opposite sides of the plug housing 4 for locking or in the locked state. These notches 14 in the outer surfaces 13 of the connector housing 4 are particularly good in Fig. 7 to see. In the exemplary embodiment shown here, the locking arms 15 are designed in an elastic manner as spring arms and are pivotably attached to the socket housing 7 by means of the fixation 23. The locking arms 15 realized in this preferred exemplary embodiment are arranged in a V-shape. In the exemplary embodiments shown here, both locking arms 15 can be actuated by a single actuating element 12. The ends 29 of the locking arms 15, each of which are U-shaped here in these exemplary embodiments, are provided for engaging in the notches 14 of the plug housing 4 and engage in corresponding openings 28 in the socket housing 7 in the locked state.

The actuating element 12 is mounted in a linearly displaceable manner on the socket housing 7 in order to release the locking. In the exemplary embodiment specifically shown here, this displaceable mounting is realized by the linear guide 24 on the socket housing 7. In preferred exemplary embodiments, such as that shown here, the actuating element 12 is only linear in the directions 30 between its end positions 4 and 6 movable back and forth. Around the V-shaped locking arms 15 of the examples shown here according to the locking position Fig. 4 according to the unlocked position Fig. 6 to bring, the actuating element 12, as also realized here, can be wedge-shaped in some areas. 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 advantageously outside the socket housing 7 and - if present - also the mounting flange 17th and is accessible from the outside. It is particularly preferred, as also realized here, to actuate elements 12 or actuating surfaces 31 that can be actuated by hand and without tools. In the exemplary embodiment shown here, actuation is carried out by pressing with a finger on the actuating surface 31, as a result of which the actuating element 12 corresponds to the position Fig. 4 in the position according to Fig. 6 is moved. As a result, the actuating element 12 penetrates with its wedge-shaped section 32 deeper into the area between the V-shaped locking arms 15, so that these locking arms 15 according to the actuating element 12 from the locked position Fig. 4 according to the unlocked position Fig. 6 be pushed apart. As a result, the ends 29 of the locking arms 15 are lifted out of the notches 14 of the connector housing 4 arranged in the receiving channel 8, so that 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 return of the actuator 12 from the position according to Fig. 6 in the position according to Fig. 4 conveniently takes place automatically by means of elastic restoring forces as soon as the actuating surface 31 is released. For this purpose, a separate spring can generally be provided for pretensioning the actuating element 12. In preferred variants, such as that shown here, however, it is provided that the actuating element 12 is elastically pretensioned by the locking device 11 and thus also reset as soon as the actuating surface 31 is released. Specifically, this takes place in the exemplary embodiment shown here in that the locking arms 15 are elastically prestressed in the direction toward one another and thus, by acting on the wedge-shaped section 32, the actuating element 12 is returned to the position according to FIG Fig. 4 slide as soon as the actuation surface 31 is no longer pressed.

In deviation from the specific embodiment shown here, the locking device 11 can in principle also have only a single locking arm 15. The one or more locking arms 15 must also not necessarily be pivotally mounted on the socket housing 7. They can also be moved in another manner, for example linearly, on the socket housing. The one or more locking arms 15 do not have to be elastic in themselves. If provided at all, their elastic prestress can also be realized by additional spring elements or the like.

In Fig. 7 the plug 2 is shown in a state pulled out of the socket 3. The elongated connector housing 4 and the plug extension 5 protruding from the connector housing 4 are clearly visible. The notches 14 arranged in the outer surface 13 of the connector housing 4 are also clearly visible 7 are inserted that the notches 14 are located in the receiving channel 8 and are accessible through the opening 28 in the exemplary embodiment specifically embodied here, so that the locking arms 15 can engage with their ends 29 to lock the plug 2 in the socket 3 into the notches 14. In the shown as well as in other preferred exemplary embodiments, the plug housing 4, apart from the notches 14, is essentially smooth. In preferred embodiments, such as the ones shown here, there is a step or shoulder 25 between the plug housing 4 and the plug 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 advantageously in the area from 1 mm to 35 mm, preferably in the range from 10 mm to 20 mm. The length 34 of the area between the respective notch 14 and the rear end of the plug housing 4 opposite the plug-in extension 5 is advantageously in the range from 5 mm to 70 mm, preferably in the range from 10 mm to 30 mm. The total length 35 of the connector housing 4 from the shoulder or step 25 to the opposite end is advantageously in the range from 15 mm to 90 mm, preferably from 25 mm to 50 mm.

Fig. 8 shows a front view of the socket 3 and in particular on its mounting flange 17. Here the mounting holes 22 can be seen well, by means of which the mounting flange 17 and thus the socket 3 on the housing 20 of an electrical 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 socket housing 7. The rear opening 26 of the socket housing 7, through which the plug-in extension 5 can be pushed in order to be inserted into the plug-in extension socket 9, is clearly visible here.

Fig. 9 shows a horizontal section through the plug 2 fully inserted into the receiving channel 8 of the socket 3 in the locked state, Fig. 10 shows a vertical section orthogonal to this, wherein in Fig. 10 in addition, the housing 20, the circuit card 18 and the plug-in extension receptacle 9 are shown. In both 9 and 10 the sections through the connector 2 and the cable 16 are only shown in a highly schematic manner, since the interior of the connector 2 can ultimately be implemented as is known per se in the prior art. As is known per se, the cable 16 is inserted into the connector housing 4 through the cable grommet 21, which is only shown schematically here. A strain relief 36 protects the upstream electronics 27, as is known per se, from tensile stress by holding the cable 16 in place. In the exemplary embodiment shown here, the electronics 27 can be designed in accordance with the USB standard. The same applies to the contacts 6 of the plug-in extension 5 and also the counter-contacts 10 of the plug-in extension receptacle 9.

The 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 PCl card. The front panel of this PCI card, which is known per se, is regarded here as part of the housing 20 and is also referred to as such. The main difference from the embodiment according to Fig. 1 lies in the fact that the socket 3 is fastened here lying on the circuit card 18 and that a carrier card 19, spaced apart from the circuit card 18, is provided on the circuit card 18, the plug-in extension receptacle 9 being arranged on the carrier card 19. The mounting of the carrier card 19 on the circuit card 18 is a table-like construction, as shown in FIG Fig. 11 is particularly easy to see. The carrier card 19 and the circuit card 18 advantageously run parallel to one another. This spaced-apart arrangement of the plug-in extension receptacle 9 relative to the printed circuit board 18 allows the socket 3 to be fastened on the printed circuit board 18 without having to provide a corresponding recess in the printed circuit board. Otherwise, this embodiment corresponds to the 11 to 14 in its structure and in its function the previously described embodiment, so that reference can be made to the previous explanations. Fig. 13 shows a front view of the diaphragm designated here as the housing 20, wherein a plug 2 is inserted into a socket 3. Fig. 14 shows the same view, but the plugs 2 are not plugged in, so that one can look into the receiving channels 8 of the sockets 3. Legend for the reference numbers: 1 electrical connector 19th Carrier card 2nd plug 20th casing 3rd Rifle 21st Cable grommet 4th Connector housing 22 Mounting hole 5 Connector extension 23 Fixation 6 Contact 24th Linear guide 7 Socket housing 25th step 8th Recording channel 26 rear opening 9 Extension attachment 27 electronics 10th Counter contact 28 opening 11 Locking device 29 end up 12 Actuator 30th direction 13 Outside surface 31 Operating area 14 score 32 wedge-shaped section 15 Locking arm 33 length 16 electric wire 34 length 17th Mounting flange 35 overall length 18th PCB 36 Strain relief

Claims (9)

1. An electrical plug-and-socket connection (1) for data transfer, having a plug (2) and a socket (3), wherein the plug (2) has a plug housing (4) and a plug-in prolongation (5), projecting beyond the plug housing (4), with electrical contacts (6) and the socket (3) has a socket housing (7) with a receiving channel (8) for the plug housing (4) and the plug-and-socket connection (1) has a plug-in prolongation receiver (9) with electrical counter contacts (10), wherein in a fully plugged-in state, the plug-in prolongation (5) is for connection of the electrical contacts (6) to the electrical counter contacts (10) plugged into the plug-in prolongation receiver (9) and at least regions of the plug housing (4) are arranged within the receiving channel (8), wherein the socket (3) has a locking device (11) for locking of the plug housing (4) in the receiving channel (8) in the fully plugged-in state and has an actuating element (12), protruding beyond the socket housing (7), for releasing this locking, characterized in that facing sides of the outer surface (13) of the plug housing (4) have a respective notch (14) for engagement of the locking device (11) for locking of the plug housing (4) in the receiving channel (8) in the fully plugged-in state.
2. An electrical plug-and-socket connection (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that it is a USB plug-and-socket connection, preferably a USB type C plug-and-socket connection.
3. An electrical plug-and-socket connection (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the notches (14) of the plug housing (4) are arranged within the receiving channel (8) in the fully plugged-in state.
4. An electrical plug-and-socket connection (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the actuating element (12) is mounted in or on the socket housing (7) in a linearly displaceable manner.
5. An electrical plug-and-socket connection (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the locking device (11) has at least one locking arm (15), mounted in or on the socket housing (7) in a preferably elastic, movable, preferably pivotable manner, actuatable by the actuating element (12), which locking arm (15) engages for locking purposes one of the notches (14).
6. An electrical plug-and-socket connection (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the locking device (11) has at least, preferably exactly, two locking arms (15), mounted in or on the socket housing (7) in a preferably elastic, movable, preferably pivotable manner, actuatable by the actuating element (12), which locking arms (15) each engage for locking purposes a respective notch (14) arranged on opposite sides of the plug housing (4).
7. An electrical plug-and-socket connection (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the locking arms (15) are arranged in a V-shape and/or in that both locking arms (15) can be actuated by the one actuating element (12).
8. An electrical plug-and-socket connection (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the plug (2) is a cable plug which is secured or is to be secured to a cable (16) and/or in that the socket (3) is a chassis socket which is secured or is to be secured to a housing (20) of an apparatus, wherein it is preferably provided that the socket (3) has a mounting flange (17) for securing the socket (3) to the housing (20) of the apparatus and the actuating element (12) passes through the mounting flange (17).
9. An electrical plug-and-socket connection (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the socket (3) is directly or indirectly secured to a printed circuit board (18), wherein it is preferably provided that a carrier board (19) is arranged on the printed circuit board (18) at a distance from the latter and the plug-in prolongation receiver (9) is arranged on the carrier board (19).

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