EP3961821B1 - Connection device with a connector and a mating connector - Google Patents

Description

Technical area

The invention relates to a connecting device with a plug connector and a mating plug connector, in particular for connecting at least one cable to another electrical component.

State of the art

Plug connector assemblies are generally used to detachably connect cables, in particular coaxial cables, to an electrical component. Plug connector assemblies normally have contact parts that are connected to the conductive components of the cable in order to establish an electrical connection between the cable and the component to be connected. Furthermore, a plug connector assembly typically has a housing part for each connection partner. The housing part is mechanically connected either to the component or the cable or to the contact parts. In addition, the housing parts of the connection partners can be detachably connected to one another in order to create an additional connection which, on the one hand, protects the conductive connection of the contact parts and makes the connection of the connection partners more stable and resilient to external influences. If the connection of the housing parts is made using a positive connection, for example via snap connections, a so-called plug connector position lock may be necessary, which prevents the snap connection from being undesired or unintentionally released. Such plug connector position locks are known, for example, from the documents US9054458 B1 , US10355414B1 and EN 11 2017 001 349 T5 known.

In the EN 10 2015 224 164 A1 also discloses a plug connection which has a plug connector with a plug connector housing and a mating plug connector which can be plugged together, wherein the plug connector has a superstructure and the superstructure accommodates a locking element in a pre-latching and a final locking position, wherein the plug connector has first latching means and the locking element has first latching means corresponding thereto, and the mating plug connector has further latching means and the locking element has further latching means corresponding thereto, wherein the locking element with the first latching means corresponding to one another is initially fixed to the plug connector in the pre-latching position before the mating plug connector is plugged into the plug connector, and by plugging the mating plug connector into the plug connector, the further latching means corresponding to one another are actuated, whereby the locking element can be moved into its final locking position. The connector housing and the locking element have third mutually corresponding locking means with which an additional locking of the locking element on the connector is carried out when the latter has been moved into its final locking position.

However, the connector arrangements known in the prior art have the disadvantage that they have a high degree of complexity in order to meet the requirements placed on the connector.

Description of the invention

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a connecting device which has a connector position assurance, but has a significantly lower degree of complexity.

The object of the invention is achieved by a connecting device having the features of independent claim 1. Further advantageous embodiments of the invention can be found in the subclaims, the description and the drawings.

A connecting device according to the invention comprises a plug connector and a mating plug connector. The plug connector has a housing which has a plug side, a rear side and a base side connecting the plug side and the rear side. The The rear side is preferably arranged opposite the plug-in side, wherein the housing can have at least one plug-in chamber that extends from the rear side to the plug-in side. The plug connector also has a locking arm. The mating plug connector has a receiving space into which the plug connector can be at least partially inserted in an insertion direction into a connecting position. In the connecting position, the locking arm is in a rest position in engagement with a locking receptacle of the mating plug connector. In this context, the rest position can be understood to mean that no external, in particular mechanical, force acts that would change the position of the locking arm.

The connector further comprises a securing unit which is movably arranged on the base side. The securing unit is arranged between a locking position in which the securing unit locks the locking arm in the rest position and a release position in which the locking arm can be moved out of its rest position. In other words, in the securing position the securing unit prevents the locking arm from being moved out of its rest position. In the release position the locking arm can preferably be moved out of the rest position at least far enough that in the connection position the locking arm can be moved out of the locking receptacle.

The securing unit has a base part and a securing arm extending away from the base part in the direction of the plug-in side. The securing arm has a stop surface which, in the release position, abuts against a stopper element arranged on the base side of the housing, so that movement of the securing unit into the locking position is blocked. The securing unit is preferably located outside the connection position in the release position. Furthermore, the securing arm has a deflection slope at an end facing away from the base part. The mating connector has at least one counter-stop element. If the connector is inserted into the receiving space in an insertion direction, the counter-stop element strikes the deflection slope, with the securing arm being deflected perpendicular to the insertion direction and parallel to the base side. When the connector is inserted into the connection position, the securing arm is deflected with the help of the counter-stop element to such an extent that the stop surface is offset from the stopper element and the securing unit can be moved into the locking position. The deflection of the safety arm is preferably carried out in such a way that the safety arm is Deflection slope on the counter stop element when inserting the connector into the receiving space and is deflected by elastic deformation.

The base side is divided by a central plane into a first and a second base side section, which extends centrally from the rear side to the plug-in side and perpendicular to the base side. However, the central plane is not an actual plane, but an imaginary, in particular mathematical, plane. In this context, "central" can be understood to mean that the central plane between the rear side and the plug-in side, in particular over the entire length of the base side, has a distance that the central plane has to a first base side outer edge, which is the same as the distance that the central plane has to a second base side outer edge. Advantageously, the first and the second base side outer edges can be arranged mirror-symmetrically to one another, with the central plane particularly preferably representing the mirror plane. It is preferred that a movement axis along which the securing unit can be moved between the release position and the locking position is arranged parallel to the central plane. It is also preferred that the securing arm is deflected in the direction of the central plane by the counter-stop element. In the release position, the safety arm can be arranged entirely in the second base side section, wherein in the locking position the safety arm is arranged at least for the most part in the base side section.

The stopper element and at least a large part of the securing arm are arranged in the second base side section. It is particularly preferred at this point that at least the actuating section of the locking arm is arranged largely or entirely in the first base side section and the securing arm is arranged largely or entirely in the second base side section. It is also particularly preferred that the stopper element and the actuating section are arranged offset from one another in relation to the central plane. In this context, offset can be understood to mean that there is no connecting line between the stopper element and the actuating section that runs parallel to the central plane.

The structure according to the invention makes it possible to provide a connecting device with the aid of which at least one cable can be connected to an electrical component in an electrically conductive manner, with an additional connector position lock preventing the connection from being accidentally released. At the same time, the degree of complexity of the connecting device can be kept low, which This reduces the manufacturing effort and thus the costs of the connecting device without having to accept any disadvantages in terms of the functionality of the connecting device.

Preferably, the locking arm can be connected to the base side in the area of the plug-in side and can extend at a distance from the base side along the base side, in particular parallel to the central plane, towards the rear. The distance of the locking arm can increase from the plug-in side to the rear. The locking arm can be formed in one piece and/or made of the same material as the housing. The locking arm can have an actuating section at an end facing away from the plug-in side, which is arranged at least mostly in the first base side section. Depending on the embodiment, it is also possible for the arm to be arranged completely in the first base side section. In this context, an actuating section can be understood as a section of the locking arm that is designed to move the locking arm from its rest position, in particular by pushing or pulling, in order to, for example, release the engagement of the locking arm of the plug connector in the locking receptacle of the mating connector.

The housing can have a safety bracket that spans the actuating section of the locking arm. It is preferred at this point that the safety bracket only spans a partial section of the actuating section. The safety bracket can extend, for example, from the first base side outer edge to the second base side outer edge. Furthermore, the safety bracket is preferably made of the same material and/or in one piece with the housing. Furthermore, a passage is preferably enclosed by the base side and the safety bracket, through which at least the actuating section of the locking arm is guided. Furthermore, the safety unit can also be guided through the passage. At this point, however, it is particularly preferred that at least in the release position the safety arm is guided through the passage, but the base part is arranged outside the passage.

Furthermore, the security unit can have a latch which is arranged in the locking position between the actuating section and the safety bracket. The latch is preferably connected to the base part via a cover element which covers the actuating section at least in the locking position. Furthermore, it is preferred that the actuating section is arranged at least in sections between the base part and the cover element is arranged. In a further preferred embodiment, the actuating section is arranged in the release position at least in sections between the latch and the base side, wherein the actuating section can particularly preferably be actuated indirectly via the latch, for example by the latch being pressed towards the base side and the latch thereby exerting a force on the actuating section and the actuating section also being pressed towards the base side.

The safety arm can have a holding element on a side facing away from the base side, which at least in the release position abuts against a side wall of the safety bracket. The side wall preferably runs at an angle of between 60 and 120 degrees, more preferably perpendicular, to the central plane. The holding element can have an abutment surface on a side facing the side wall, which runs approximately parallel to the side wall. On a side facing away from the side wall, the holding element can have a first insertion bevel. The side wall can also have a second insertion bevel complementary to the first insertion bevel on a side facing away from the holding element. The first and second insertion bevel allow the safety arm with the holding element to be guided past the side wall when the safety arm is pushed through the passage during assembly.

In the release position, the securing arm can enclose an angle α1, in particular an acute angle, with the central plane, which is larger than an angle α2 that the securing arm encloses with the central plane in the locking position. Both the angle α1 and the angle α2 preferably have the same vertex. It is also preferred that the angles α1 and α2 open in the direction of the plug-in side. In addition, it is preferred that the securing arm extends parallel to the locking arm and/or the central plane in the locking position. Furthermore, the deflection slope and the central plane, in particular in the locking position, can enclose an acute angle β that opens in the direction of the rear.

The safety arm can be arranged at least in sections between the locking arm and the base side. The safety arm can be arranged at least in sections between the base side and the locking arm both in the release position and in the locking position. In the locking position in particular, it is particularly preferred that the deflection slope is arranged completely between the locking arm and the base side.

The locking arm can have a bulge at least in sections on a side facing the locking arm in an area in which the securing arm is arranged between the locking arm and the base side. If the securing arm has a holding element, the holding element can be arranged at least partially in the bulge at least in the locking position.

In the locking position, the locking arm can rest on the base part at least in part. The locking arm preferably rests on the base part with the actuating section. In addition, it is preferred that the locking arm does not touch the safety arm in the release position or in the locking position.

The security unit can have at least one latching hook and the housing at least one first opening and at least one second opening, wherein the latching hook engages in the first opening in the release position and in the locking position in the second opening. The latching hook preferably holds the security unit fixed in the release position or locking position by engaging in the first or second opening. It is particularly preferred at this point that the latching hook is arranged on a side of the base part facing the base side. It is also preferred that the security unit has at least two latching hooks, two first openings and two second openings, which are each arranged mirror-symmetrically to one another, wherein the center plane preferably represents the plane of symmetry. Furthermore, the at least one first opening and the at least one second opening can be arranged one behind the other parallel to the main plane.

The stopper element can have a counter stop surface against which the stop surface at least partially abuts in the release position. The counter stop surface can enclose an acute or right angle γ with the base side, wherein the angle γ can open towards the rear. Furthermore, it is preferred that the counter stop surface is arranged on a side of the stopper element facing away from the plug-in side and a side facing the rear. If the angle γ is designed as an acute angle, the angle γ preferably has an angle of 45 degrees to 89 degrees, more preferably 60 degrees to 89 degrees. Furthermore, it is particularly advantageous if the stop surface is designed at the corresponding angle to the counter stop surface, so that in the release position the stop surface preferably abuts flat against the counter stop surface.

Figur 1

eine erste Ausführungsform eines Steckverbinders einer erfindungsgemäßen Verbindungsvorrichtung in einer Explosionsdarstellung;

Figur 2

eine dreidimensionale Darstellung der ersten Ausführungsform des Steckverbinders der erfindungsgemäßen Verbindungsvorrichtung;

Figur 3

eine dreidimensionale Darstellung der ersten Ausführungsform des Steckverbinders der erfindungsgemäßen Verbindungsvorrichtung mit einer Schnittansicht

Figur 4

eine dreidimensionale Darstellung der ersten Ausführungsform des Steckverbinders der erfindungsgemäßen Verbindungsvorrichtung mit einer Sicherungseinheit;

Figur 5

eine Draufsicht auf eine Grundseite des Steckverbinders der erfindungsgemäßen Verbindungsvorrichtung gemäß der ersten Ausführungsform;

Figur 6

eine Draufsicht auf eine Grundseite einer vollständigen erfindungsgemäßen Verbindungsvorrichtung gemäß der ersten Ausführungsform;

Figur 7

eine Schnittansicht des Steckverbinders der erfindungsgemäßen Verbindungsvorrichtung im Bereich der Sicherungseinheit in einer Freigabestellung gemäß der ersten Ausführungsform;

Figur 8

eine Schnittansicht des Steckverbinders der erfindungsgemäßen Verbindungsvorrichtung im Bereich der Sicherungseinheit in einer Verriegelungsstellung gemäß der ersten Ausführungsform;

Figur 9

eine weitere Schnittansicht des Steckverbinders der erfindungsgemäßen Verbindungsvorrichtung im Bereich der Sicherungseinheit in einer Freigabestellung gemäß der ersten Ausführungsform; und

Figur 10

eine weitere Schnittansicht des Steckverbinders der erfindungsgemäßen Verbindungsvorrichtung im Bereich der Sicherungseinheit in einer Verriegelungsstellung gemäß der ersten Ausführungsform.

In addition, further advantages and features of the present invention are apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments. The features described there and above can be implemented alone or in combination, provided that the features do not contradict each other. The following description of the preferred embodiments is made with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

Figure 1

a first embodiment of a connector of a connecting device according to the invention in an exploded view;

Figure 2

a three-dimensional representation of the first embodiment of the connector of the connecting device according to the invention;

Figure 3

a three-dimensional representation of the first embodiment of the connector of the connecting device according to the invention with a sectional view

Figure 4

a three-dimensional representation of the first embodiment of the connector of the connecting device according to the invention with a fuse unit;

Figure 5

a plan view of a base side of the connector of the connecting device according to the invention according to the first embodiment;

Figure 6

a plan view of a base side of a complete connecting device according to the invention according to the first embodiment;

Figure 7

a sectional view of the connector of the connecting device according to the invention in the region of the securing unit in a release position according to the first embodiment;

Figure 8

a sectional view of the plug connector of the connecting device according to the invention in the region of the security unit in a locking position according to the first embodiment;

Figure 9

a further sectional view of the connector of the connecting device according to the invention in the region of the safety unit in a release position according to the first embodiment; and

Figure 10

a further sectional view of the plug connector of the connecting device according to the invention in the region of the securing unit in a locking position according to the first embodiment.

Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of a plug connector 2 of a connecting device according to the invention in a three-dimensional exploded view. The plug connector 2 has a housing 4 with a plug side 5, a rear side 6 and a base side 7 connecting the rear side 6 and the plug side 5. In the present case, 4 parallel plug chambers 35 extend from the rear side 6 to the plug side 5. Four cables (not shown) can be introduced into the plug chambers 35 via the rear side 6, which can be connected to another electrical component (not shown) via the plug side 5. The housing 4 has a locking arm 8 on the base side 7. The locking arm 8 is formed in one piece and from the same material as the housing 4 and is connected to the housing 4 in the area of the plug side 5. The base side is delimited by a first base side outer edge 32 and a second base side outer edge 33, which extend between the rear side 6 and the plug side. Furthermore, the housing 4 has a safety bracket 24, which is arranged on the base side 7 and extends from the first base side outer edge 32 to the second base side outer edge 33. The safety bracket 24, together with the base side 7, encloses a passage through which the locking arm 8 partially protrudes with an actuating section 23. A stopper element 15 is also arranged on the base side 7. In the present embodiment, the stopper element 15 is arranged between the locking arm 8 and the base side 7.

The connector 2 also has a safety unit 11, which can be positioned on the base side 7 of the housing 4. The safety unit 11 consists of a base part 12, from which a safety arm 13 extends. The safety arm 13 has a stop surface 14 on an end 16 facing away from the base part 12. If the safety unit 11 is positioned on the base side 7 of the housing 4 in a release position, the stop surface 14 is arranged on a side of the safety arm 13 facing the base side 7. Furthermore, the safety arm 13 has a deflection slope 17 on the end 16 facing away from the base part 12. The safety unit 11 can between the aforementioned release position and a locking position on the base side 7 of the housing 4. In order to hold the security unit 11 in the respective positions, the security unit 11 has two locking hooks 29 on the base part 12 on a side that faces the base side 4 when the security unit 11 is positioned on the base side 7.

Figure 2 shows a three-dimensional representation of the first embodiment, wherein the safety unit 11 is arranged in the release position on the base side 7 of the housing 4. In order to prevent the safety unit 11 from moving out of the release position on its own, the safety arm 13 has a holding element 26 on a side facing away from the base side 7, which abuts against a side wall 27 of the safety bracket 24. The safety unit 11 can therefore only be moved towards the rear side 6 until the holding element 26 abuts against the side wall 27. The safety unit 11 also has a latch 25, which is connected to the base part 13 via a cover element 34. In the present embodiment, the latch 25 is arranged at least partially between the safety bracket 24 and the locking arm 8 both in the release position and in the locking position.

Figure 3 shows an enlarged representation of the first embodiment in a three-dimensional view with a sectional view perpendicular to the base side 7. The locking arm 8 has a bulge 28 on a side facing the base side 7. The bulge 28 ensures that the security unit 11 (not shown for the sake of clarity) can be moved between the release position and the locking position without restricting the freedom of movement of the security unit 11. The part of the actuating section 23 which is arranged on an end 22 of the locking arm 8 facing away from the plug-in side 5 can be used to operate the locking arm 8. In the present embodiment, this is done by manually pressing the actuating section 23 in the direction of the base side 7.

Figure 4 shows the three-dimensional representation of the first embodiment with sectional view perpendicular to the base side 7 according to Figure 3 , the safety unit 11 being arranged in the release position on the base side 7 of the housing 4. To ensure that the safety unit 11 does not move out of the release position towards the plug-in side 5, the stop surface 14 abuts the stop element 15. Furthermore, the latch 25 of the safety unit 11 is located between the safety bracket 24 and the actuating section of the locking arm 8. In the present embodiment, the The locking arm 8 is not moved, for example, by a fitter directly pressing the actuating section, but rather by the fitter pressing the cover element 34 towards the base side 7. Due to the elastic deformation of the cover element 34, the latch 25 presses on the locking arm 8, so that the locking arm 8 can be operated indirectly via the security unit 11.

Figure 5 shows a top view of the base side 7 of the plug connector 2 according to the first embodiment. In the illustration shown, the securing unit 11 is in the release position. The base side 7 is divided by a central plane 19 into a first base side section 20 and a base side section 21. In the present embodiment, the base side sections 20, 21 are delimited by the central plane and the respective base side outer edge 32, 33. While the locking arm 8 is still arranged essentially centrally to the central plane 19 in the area of the plug side 5, the actuating section extends for the most part in the first base side section 20. The actuating section is not shown to maintain clarity. The securing arm 13 is arranged completely in the second base side section 21 in the release position. The securing arm 13 and the central plane 19 enclose an acute angle α greater than 0 degrees in the release position. Furthermore, the center plane 19 forms an acute angle β with the deflection slope 17.

Figure 6 shows the connecting device 1 in a plan view of the base side 7 of the plug connector 2, wherein the plug connector 2 is arranged in a connection position within a receiving space 9 of a mating plug connector 3. The securing unit 11 is in the locking position. The mating plug connector 3 has a counter-stop element 18 in its receiving space 9, which runs in the form of a web within the receiving space 9. The plug connector 2 is moved into the receiving space 9 of the mating plug connector 3 in a step not shown. Even before the connection position is reached, the securing arm 13 is deflected by the counter-stop element 18 in the direction of the central plane. This takes place in that the deflection slope 17 strikes the counter-stop element 18 when the plug connector 2 is inserted into the receiving space 9, wherein a partial force acts on the securing arm 13 in the direction of the central plane 19 due to the deflection slope 17 and deflects the securing arm 13. In the present embodiment, the deflection is achieved by elastic deformation of the securing arm 13, which is made of a thermoplastic material. In order to promote deflection of the securing arm 13 and to avoid tilting, the counter stop element 18 is also bevelled. In order to avoid that the partial force acting in the direction of the central plane does not cause the entire connector 3 to be perpendicular to the Center plane 19 is offset, the mating connector 3 has an additional abutment 36 in the receiving space 9. The abutment 36 is also designed in the form of a web, with the locking arm 8 being guided between the web formed by the counter stop element 18 and the web formed by the abutment 36. The securing arm 13 is deflected by this guide, but not the rest of the connector 3. Both the angle β that the center plane 19 encloses with the deflection slope 17 and the angle α that the securing arm encloses with the center plane 19 are smaller in the locking position than in the release position, with Figure 6 the angle α was not shown, since in the locking position in the present embodiment it is approximately 0 degrees.

Figure 7 shows a sectional view of the connector 2 according to the first embodiment in the area of the securing unit 11, wherein the sectional plane runs parallel to the center plane 19. The securing unit 11 is in the release position. Although the latch 25 is arranged partly between the securing bracket 24 and the actuating section 23, the locking arm 8 is in a rest position. In the release position, the base part 12 is arranged offset from the locking arm 8 in the direction of the rear side 6, so that the end 23 of the locking arm 8 can be guided past the base part 12 in the direction of the base side 7.

Figure 8 shows a sectional view of the plug connector 2 according to the first embodiment in the connection position, with the securing unit 11 arranged in the locking position. The locking arm 8 is in engagement with a locking receptacle 10 of the mating connector 3. For this purpose, the mating connector 3 has a bracket along which the locking arm 8 is guided. Even in the connection position, the locking arm 8 is in the rest position, with the locking arm 8 having left the rest position when the locking arm 8 was guided past the bracket 37 in a step not shown by the insertion of the plug connector 3 into the receiving space of the mating connector 3. In the locking position, the locking arm 8 rests with its end 22 on the base part 12 of the securing unit, so that the locking arm 8 cannot be moved in the direction of the base side 7. Furthermore, the latch 25 is arranged completely between the securing bracket 24 and the actuating section 23.

Figure 9 shows a sectional view of the connector 2 according to the first embodiment, wherein the securing unit is arranged in the release position. The sectional plane runs parallel to the center plane and through the locking hook 29 of the securing unit 11. In the present embodiment, the securing unit 11 has on the base side 7 facing side of the base part 12 two locking hooks 29. The one locking hook 29 shown is arranged in a first opening 32. The first opening 32 is made in the base side 7 of the housing 4. The engagement of the locking hook 29 in the first opening 32 prevents the securing unit 11 from being able to move out of the release position on its own.

Figure 10 shows a further sectional view of the plug connector 2 according to the first embodiment, wherein the securing unit is arranged in the locking position. The sectional plane runs parallel to the center plane and through the locking hook 29 of the securing unit 11. In the locking position, the locking hook 29 shown engages in a second opening 33. The second opening 33 is also made in the base side 7 of the housing 4. The engagement of the locking hook 29 in the second opening 33 prevents the securing unit 11 from moving out of the locking position on its own. The first and second openings are arranged one behind the other in the base side 7 in a direction parallel to the center plane. Since the base part 12 in the present embodiment has two locking hooks 29, the housing 4 also has two first openings 32 and two second openings 33.

The explanations given with reference to the figures are purely exemplary and are not to be understood as limiting.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

1

Connecting device

2

Connectors

3

Mating connector

4

Housing

5

Plug-in side

6

back

7

Home Page

8th

Locking arm

9

Recording room

10

Snap-in mount

11

Security unit

12

Base part

13

Safety arm

14

Stop surface

15

Stopper element

16

End (safety arm)

17

Deflection slope

18

Counter stop element

19

Middle level

20

First basic page section

21

Second basic page section

22

End (locking arm)

23

Operating section

24

safety catch

25

bars

26

Holding element

27

Side wall

28

bulge

29

Latching hook

30

First opening

31

Second opening

32

First base side outer edge

33

Second base side outer edge

34

Cover element

35

Plug-in chamber

36

Abutment

37

hanger

Claims (13)

1. Connecting device (1) having a plug-in connector (2) and a mating plug-in connector (3), wherein the plug-in connector (2) has a housing (4), which has a plug-in side (5), a rear side (6) and a base side (7) that connects the plug-in side (5) and the rear side (6), and

   a latching arm (8),

   the mating plug-in connector (3) has a receiving space (9), in which the plug-in connector (2) can be introduced at least partially in an insertion direction into a connecting position, wherein,

   in the connecting position, the latching arm (8), in a rest position, is in engagement with a latching receptacle (10) of the mating plug-in connector (3), the plug-in connector (2) has a securing unit (11), which is arranged on the base side (7) so as to be able to move between a locking position, in which the securing unit (11) locks the latching arm (8) in the rest position, and a released position, in which the latching arm (8) can be moved out of its rest position,

   the securing unit (11) has a base part (12) and a securing arm (13) that extends away from the base part (12) in the direction of the plug-in side (5),

   the securing arm (13) has an abutment surface (14), which, in the released position, abuts against a stopper element (15) arranged on the base side (7) of the housing (4), so that the securing unit (11) is blocked from moving into the locking position,

   the securing arm (13) has, at an end (16) facing away from the base part (12), a deflecting slope (17),

   the mating plug-in connector (3) has at least one mating abutment element (18), which, when the plug-in connector (2) is introduced into the receiving space (9), abuts against the deflecting slope (17) and deflects the securing arm (13), so that, in the connecting position, the abutment surface (14) is arranged so as to be offset in relation to the stopper element (15) and the securing unit (11) can be moved into the locking position, characterized in that the securing arm (13) is deflected perpendicularly to an insertion direction and parallel to the base side (7),

   the base side (7) is divided into a first and a second base side portion (20; 21) by a median plane (19), which extends centrally from the rear side (6) to the plug-in side (5) and perpendicularly to the base side (7), and the stopper element (15) and at least a large proportion of the securing arm (13) are arranged in the second base side portion (21).
2. Connecting device (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the latching arm (8) is connected to the base side (7) in the region of the plug-in side (5), extends in the direction of the rear side (6) at a distance from the base side (7) along the base side (7), in particular parallel to the median plane (19), and has, at an end (22) facing away from the plug-in side (5), an actuating portion (23), which is at least predominantly arranged in the first base side portion (19).
3. Connecting device (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the housing (4) has a securing bracket (24), which spans the actuating portion (23).
4. Connecting device (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the securing unit (11) has a locking bar (25), which is arranged between the actuating portion (23) and the securing bracket (24) in the locking position.
5. Connecting device (1) according to either of Claims 3 and 4, wherein the securing arm (13) has, on a side facing away from the base side (7), a holding element (26), which, at least in the released position, abuts against a side wall (27) of the securing bracket (24).
6. Connecting device (1) according to any of Claims 2 to 5, wherein the stopper element (15) and the actuating portion (23) are arranged so as to be mutually offset with respect to the median plane (19).
7. Connecting device according to any of Claims 2 to 6, wherein, in the released position, the securing arm (13) encloses with the median plane (19) an angle (α1), which is in particular an acute angle and is larger than an angle (α2) that the securing arm (13) encloses with the median plane (19) in the locking position.
8. Connecting device (1) according to any of Claims 2 to 7, wherein the deflecting slope (17) and the median plane (19) enclose an acute angle (β) that opens in the direction of the rear side (6).
9. Connecting device (1) according to any preceding claim, wherein at least certain portions of the securing arm (13) are arranged between the latching arm (8) and the base side (7).
10. Connecting device (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein at least certain portions of the latching arm (8) have, in a region in which the securing arm (13) is arranged between the latching arm (8) and the base side (7), on a side facing towards the securing arm (13), a protuberance (28).
11. Connecting device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein, in the locking position, at least certain regions of the latching arm (8) bear against the base part (12).
12. Connecting device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the securing unit (11) has at least one latching hook (29) and the housing (4) has at least a first opening (30) and at least a second opening (31), wherein the latching hook (29) engages in the first opening (30) in the released position and in the second opening (31) in the locking position.
13. Connecting device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the stopper element (15) has a mating abutment surface, against which the abutment surface (14) at least partially abuts in the released position, wherein the mating abutment surface encloses an acute or right angle (γ) with the base side (7) and the angle (γ) opens in the direction of the rear side (6) .

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