EP3984100A1

EP3984100A1 - Socket, method for producing same, and plug connector

Info

Publication number: EP3984100A1
Application number: EP20730059.1A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Tom KUFNER; Philipp Alexander Strehler; Lucas WIRZ
Original assignee: Staeubli Electrical Connectors AG
Current assignee: Staeubli Electrical Connectors AG
Priority date: 2019-06-11
Filing date: 2020-06-08
Publication date: 2022-04-20
Also published as: WO2020249497A1; CN113950779A; US20220255255A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a socket (1) for connecting to a plug, comprising a socket housing (2) with a socket wall (5) and a contact element (6). The socket wall (5) delimits a socket opening (9) in which the contact element (6) can be received. The contact element (6) has a contact region (28) which is designed to form a functional contact with the plug. The contact element (6) has at least one elastic contact section (11) at least in some regions, said contact section being designed to expand radially relative to a longitudinal direction (L) extending centrally through the socket when the plug is received in a contact element opening (10) of the contact element (6). The socket wall (5) has a limiting element (12) on the inner face, said limiting element being designed such that a radial expansion of the elastic contact section (11) of the contact element (6) is limited, wherein the limiting element (12) is in the region of the contact region (28) of the contact element (6) in particular.

Description

TITLE

SOCKET, METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THEREOF, AND CONNECTOR

TECHNICAL AREA

The present invention relates to a socket for connection to a plug according to claim 1, a plug connector comprising such a socket and a plug according to claim 14, and a method for producing a socket according to claim 15.

STATE OF THE ART

Plug connectors comprising a socket with a contact element and a plug are used in a large number of applications in order to enable a connection, usually electrical, between components. The contact elements should ensure a reliable connection between the plug and the socket.

A socket with a stop element is known from US Pat. No. 5,730,628, the stop element serving as a limitation for the transverse movement of the contact element mounted in the socket when it is assembled with a plug. This is to prevent the contact element from exceeding its elastic limit. If the plug is not inserted optimally into the socket, but for example at an angle, the contact element can nevertheless be deformed. As a result, the contact between the plug and the socket is impaired or even made impossible.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to specify a socket for connection to a plug which ensures an improved and secure connection to a plug. This object is achieved by a socket according to claim 1. In particular, a socket for connection to a plug is specified which comprises a socket housing with a proximal housing end, a distal housing end and a socket wall, and a contact element with a proximal contact element end and a distal contact element end. The socket wall delimits a socket opening in which the contact element can be received. The contact element has a contact area which is designed to form a functional contact, in particular an electrical contact, with the plug. The contact element delimits a contact element opening into which the plug can be received. The contact element has at least regionally an elastic contact section, the elastic contact section being designed such that when the plug is received in the contact element opening of the contact element of the socket, it expands radially with respect to a longitudinal direction extending centrally through the socket. The elastic contact section is thus radially expandable when a plug is inserted into its contact element opening. For this purpose, it is therefore preferred if the socket is designed for connection to a plug, with a diameter or clear width of the contact element opening in the unconnected state of the plug at least in the area of the elastic contact section smaller than a diameter or cross section of the plug at least in a plug area which is connected to the socket. The plug area is preferably inserted into the contact element opening when the plug is connected to the socket. The socket wall has a delimiting element on the inside which is designed such that a radial expansion of the elastic contact section of the contact element is limited, the delimiting element being arranged in particular in the area of the contact area of the contact element.

Because the delimitation element not only delimits a radial expansion of the contact element, but is also arranged in particular in the area of the contact area of the contact element, the radial expansion of the contact section can be limited by the delimitation element regardless of an insertion direction of the plug into the contact element opening. As a result, plastic deformation of the contact element is prevented even in the case of a plug inserted at an angle, for example, whereby an improved and secure connection between the socket and the plug is ensured. The socket can be a one-piece socket. However, a multi-part, for example a two-part, socket is just as conceivable. For example, the socket housing can consist of two or more socket housing parts which can be joined together to form a socket. The connection between the two socket housing parts can be detachable or non-detachable. For example, a connection can be achieved by a force fit and / or form fit and / or by pressing, gluing, welding, etc. of the socket housing parts. In this case, a connection is preferably made via connecting elements formed correspondingly to one another on the respective socket housing parts. For example, a first socket housing part can have a first connection element, which first connection element can be connected to a second connection element on the second socket housing part. A wide variety of configurations of the connecting elements are conceivable. For example, the first connecting element could be a recess formed on the inside in the socket wall, which can be connected to a second connecting element in the form of a recess formed on the outside in the socket wall.

The delimitation element is preferably designed in such a way that plastic deformation of the elastic contact section of the contact element of the socket is prevented when the plug is received in the contact element opening of the contact element of the socket. In other words, the delimitation element allows elastic, that is to say reversible, deformation of the elastic contact section, but at the same time prevents plastic, that is, irreversible deformation of the elastic contact section.

The delimitation element is preferably arranged and designed such that it provides a guide for the plug when it is received in the contact element opening along a connection direction. The delimitation element can therefore also serve as a guide element. There is no need for separate guide elements, which reduces the plug depth of the socket and, in the case of a plug connected to the socket, a compact plug connector can be obtained. For this reason in particular, it is preferred that the delimitation element is arranged in the region of the distal end of the housing. The delimiting element can be at least partially designed as at least one elevation with respect to the socket wall when viewed in cross section and the elastic contact section can, when viewed in cross section, at least partially delimiting at least one recess, the elevation and the recess being essentially complementary to one another.

If the plug is now inserted into the socket, the plug presses the elastic contact section of the contact element increasingly radially outwards in the direction of the socket wall. The at least one recess of the elastic contact section is increasingly pressed in the direction of the at least one elevation of the delimiting element and strikes against the elevation of the delimiting element when the radial expansion is sufficiently large. Because of the complementary structures, this limitation is guaranteed regardless of the direction in which the plug is inserted into the socket.

Preferably, in the case of a plug accommodated in the contact element opening, the elevation can be received essentially completely in the recess of the elastic contact section, in particular an at least regional surface contact being formed between the elastic contact section delimiting the recess and the elevation of the socket wall.

Starting from the proximal end of the contact element in the direction of the distal end of the contact element, the elastic contact section is preferably increasingly biased inwardly, at least in some areas, in the direction of the longitudinal direction, and / or the delimiting element preferably extends, starting from the proximal end of the housing towards the distal end of the housing, at least in some areas and preferably increasingly in the direction lengthways inwards.

The inwardly pretensioned elastic contact section and a non-inwardly pretensioned area of the contact element of the socket can in the absence of the plug in the contact element opening a first angle of about 10 ° to 50 °, preferably of about 15 ° to 45 °, particularly preferably of about 20 ° Include ° up to 40 °. In addition or as an alternative to this, the inwardly prestressed elastic Contact section and the non-inwardly biased area of the contact element of the socket in the case of a plug received in the contact element opening have a second angle of about 5 ° to 45 °, preferably about 5 ° to 40 °, particularly preferably about 5 ° to 35 °, most preferably include about 11 °.

This means that the elastic contact section can be prestressed inwardly in the longitudinal direction such that it forms a first angle in the aforementioned area with a non-prestressed area of the contact element in the absence of a plug and a second angle in the aforementioned area in the presence of a plug. Due to the design for radial expansion, the first angle is preferably larger than the second angle. In other words, in the absence of the plug, the elastic contact section is more strongly biased inwardly in the socket than in the presence of the plug.

A diameter of the socket opening in the area of the delimiting element is preferably smaller than a diameter in an area of the socket opening adjoining this area and facing the proximal end of the housing. Or in other words, a recess is formed in the socket wall proximal to the delimiting element. This configuration has the advantage that part of the elastic contact section of the contact element can protrude into the recess when a plug is received in the contact element opening. The recess is preferably such that a part of the elastic contact section protruding into the recess is only elastically, but not plastically deformed.

The delimiting element preferably runs at least partially, in particular completely, along a circumferential direction of the socket wall, in particular the socket opening. That is to say, the delimiting element, viewed in the circumferential direction, can only be provided over a partial area or in segments, but also completely on the inside of the socket wall.

The delimiting element extends, viewed along the longitudinal direction, preferably essentially completely along the elastic contact section of the contact element of the socket. In the area of the distal end of the housing, the socket wall can have an end section in which the socket opening has a diameter which is greater than a diameter in the area of the proximal end of the housing, and the elastic contact section can in the area of the distal end of the contact element via a lengthwise direction have externally extending end section, so that in the case of a plug received in the contact element opening, a stop is formed between the end sections, which preferably prevents displacement of the contact element relative to the socket housing along a proximal direction extending from the distal end of the housing towards the proximal end of the housing. As an alternative to this, however, it is also conceivable that the socket wall has an end section in the area of the distal end of the housing, in which the socket opening has a diameter which is smaller than a diameter in the area of the proximal end of the housing. In addition, it is conceivable to provide a stop by means of recesses in the socket wall and correspondingly formed projections on the contact element, see below.

This means that the contact element preferably has an elastic contact section which, starting from the proximal contact element end in the direction of the distal contact element end, is initially biased inward in the direction of the longitudinal direction and then extends radially outward away from the longitudinal direction. It is also the case that, starting from the proximal housing end in the direction of the distal housing end, the socket wall initially runs inwards in the direction of the longitudinal direction due to the limiting element and then preferably increasingly runs radially outwards and ends in an end section that is radially expanded with respect to the longitudinal direction. The socket wall and the contact element are preferably designed to be complementary to one another only in sections or over the entire area just mentioned.

The socket wall can have one or more recesses in the area of the proximal end of the housing, and the contact element can have one or more protrusions in the area of the proximal end of the contact element, which can be received in the recesses, thereby displacing the contact element with respect to the socket housing along a distal direction running from the proximal end of the housing in the direction of the distal end of the housing is prevented. As mentioned earlier, the recesses in the socket wall also provide a stop for the projections on the contact element, which limits undesired displacement of the contact element with respect to the socket housing along a proximal direction extending from the distal end of the housing towards the proximal end of the housing. The recesses and the projections preferably provide a snap or latch connection. A plurality of recesses and projections are preferably provided, which are provided along the circumferential direction of the socket opening or along a circumferential direction of the contact element.

The contact element can have one or more radially outwardly protruding contact points, which are arranged on the outside of the contact element and can be brought into contact with the inside socket wall, an electrical connection in particular being able to be established between the contact element and the socket. A contact established between the elastic contact section and the plug can be passed on to the socket via these contact points.

The above-mentioned recess for partially receiving the elastic contact section is preferably formed between the region of the inside socket wall that can be brought into contact with the contact points and the delimiting element.

The elastic contact section is preferably provided by two or more elastic spring arms which each open into free ends in the area of the distal contact element end, the free ends preferably being offset radially outward with respect to the longitudinal direction.

Particularly preferably, the elastic contact section is formed by a plurality of elastic spring arms which are arranged around a longitudinal axis of the contact element and are separated from one another by gaps or slots between adjacent spring arms. Starting from the proximal contact element end in the direction of the distal contact element end, the spring arms initially run increasingly inward in the direction of the longitudinal direction and then increasingly outward. The one from the contact element protruding contact points are preferably arranged in the elastic area of the spring arms and act as a pivot point for the spring arms when they expand radially. At the same time, the contact points provide a defined contact point for the socket wall. The arrangement of the contact points on the contact element thus influences the spring properties of the spring arms. In other words, a shift in the contact points leads to other spring properties of the spring arms.

In a further aspect, a plug connector comprising a socket as described above and a plug is specified, wherein the plug is received in the contact element opening of the contact element of the socket and radially expands the elastic contact section with respect to the longitudinal direction, and wherein the radial expansion of the elastic contact section is achieved by the Limiting element is limited. Thus, it is preferred if a diameter or inside width of the contact element opening in the disconnected state of the plug at least in the area of the elastic contact section is smaller than a diameter or cross section of the plug at least in the area of its insertion into the contact element.

As mentioned at the outset, the delimiting element limits a radial expansion of the contact element through the plug, regardless of its insertion direction or insertion position.

In a further aspect, a method for producing a socket, in particular a socket as described above, for connection to a plug is specified, the method comprising the steps of: providing a socket housing with a socket wall, the socket wall delimiting a socket opening; Providing a contact element; and inserting the contact element into the socket opening. The contact element has a contact area which is designed to form a functional contact, in particular an electrical contact, with the plug. and the contact element delimits a contact element opening into which the plug can be received. The contact element has at least one elastic contact section at least in some areas, the elastic contact section being designed such that, when the plug is received in the contact element opening of the contact element of the socket, it extends centrally through the socket Radially expands in the longitudinal direction. The socket wall has a delimiting element on the inside which is designed such that a radial expansion of the elastic contact section of the contact element is limited, the delimiting element being arranged in particular in the area of the contact area of the contact element.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the

Drawings described which are only used for explanation and are not to be interpreted restrictively. In the drawings show:

Fig. 1 shows a central longitudinal section through a socket comprising a

Socket housing and a contact element in a first state;

FIG. 2 shows a central longitudinal section through the socket according to FIG. 1 in a second state;

3a shows a central longitudinal section through a socket housing of a socket shown in a simplified manner;

Fig. 3b shows a central longitudinal section through the socket housing and through a

Contact element of the socket shown in simplified form according to FIG. 3 a in a first state;

Fig. 3c shows a central longitudinal section through the socket housing and the

Contact element of the socket shown in simplified form according to FIG. 3a in a second state;

4 shows a plan view of a contact element in a first state;

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the contact element according to FIG. 4 in a second state;

FIG. 6 shows a central longitudinal section through the contact element according to FIG. 5;

7 shows a perspective view of a contact element according to a further embodiment;

FIG. 8 shows a side view of the contact element according to FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 shows a front view of the contact element according to FIG. 7; 10 shows a perspective view of a contact element according to a further embodiment;

FIG. 11 shows a side view of the contact element according to FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 shows a front view of the contact element according to FIG. 10;

13 shows a perspective view of a contact element according to a further embodiment;

14 shows a side view of the contact element according to FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 shows a front view of the contact element according to FIG. 13;

16 shows a perspective view of a socket housing according to a further embodiment;

FIG. 17 shows a front view of the socket housing according to FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 shows a central longitudinal section through the socket housing according to FIG

16;

19 shows a perspective view of a socket housing according to a further embodiment;

FIG. 20 shows a front view of the socket housing according to FIG. 19;

FIG. 21 shows a central longitudinal section through the socket housing according to FIG

19;

22 shows a perspective view of a socket comprising the

Contact element according to Figure 7 and the socket housing according to Figure 16;

23 shows a front view of the socket according to FIG. 22;

FIG. 24 shows a central longitudinal section through the socket according to FIG. 22;

Fig. 25 shows a perspective view of a socket comprising the

Contact element according to FIG. 10 and the socket housing according to FIG. 19;

FIG. 26 shows a front view of the socket according to FIG. 25;

27 shows a central longitudinal section through the bush according to FIG. 25;

28 shows a perspective view of a socket according to another

Embodiment with a first socket housing part and a second socket housing part in the disconnected state;

29 shows a side view of the socket according to FIG. 28;

FIG. 30 shows a central longitudinal section through the socket according to FIG. 28;

31 shows a perspective view of the socket according to FIG. 28 with the first socket housing part and the second socket housing part in the connected state;

32 shows a front view of the socket according to FIG. 31;

FIG. 33 shows a side view of the socket according to FIG. 31;

34 shows a central longitudinal section through the socket according to FIG. 31;

35 shows a perspective view of the socket according to FIG. 31 including the contact element according to FIG. 7;

36 shows a front view of the socket comprising the contact element according to FIG

Figure 35;

37 shows a central longitudinal section through the socket comprising the

Contact element according to Figure 35.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the figures 1 to 37 different aspects of a socket 1 according to the invention are shown, which can be connected with a plug to a plug connector. In all embodiments, the socket 1 comprises an essentially cylindrical socket housing 2 with a proximal housing end 3, a distal housing end 4 and a socket wall 5. FIGS. 1 to 27 differ from FIGS. 28 to 37 in that the socket 1 according to the figures 1 to 27 is designed with a one-piece socket housing 2, while the socket housing 2 according to FIGS. 28 to 37 is designed in two parts comprising a first socket housing part 2a and a second socket housing part 2b that can be connected or connected thereto. It should be understood that all statements relating to the socket 1 with a one-piece socket housing 2 also apply to the socket 1 comprising the two-part socket housing 2, and vice versa. The socket wall 5 delimits a likewise essentially cylindrical socket opening 9 in which a contact element 6 can be received. The socket 1 and the contact element 6 are therefore two components that are designed separately from one another.

The contact element 6 comprises a proximal contact element end 7, a distal contact element end 8, and a contact area 28 which is designed to form a functional contact, in particular an electrical contact, with the plug. For this purpose, the contact element 6 delimits a contact element opening 10, in which plug can be received. In addition, the contact element 6 has at least one elastic contact section 11, at least in some areas, the elastic contact section 11 being designed in such a way that, when the plug is received in the contact element opening 10 of the contact element 6 of the socket 1, it extends centrally through the socket 1 Longitudinal direction L expands radially. In order to prevent the elastic contact section 11 from being bent in the case of an obliquely inserted plug and thereby reducing the functional contact between the socket and the plug or even making it impossible, the socket wall 5 has a delimiting element 12 on the inside, which is designed in such a way that a radial expansion of the elastic contact section 11 of the contact element 6 is limited. The delimiting element 12 is designed such that plastic deformation of the elastic contact section 11 of the contact element 6 of the socket 1 when the plug is received in the contact element opening 10 of the contact element 6 of the socket 1 is prevented, while elastic deformation is enabled. As will be explained in more detail below in connection with FIGS. 22 to 27, the delimiting element 12 is therefore arranged in the area of the contact area 28 of the contact element 6. Furthermore, the delimiting element 12 is designed here at least in some areas essentially complementary to the elastic contact section 11 of the contact element 6 of the socket 1. If the plug is received in the contact element opening 10 of the contact element 6, electrical contact is established between the elastic contact section 11 and the plug. The contact element 6 comprises a multiplicity of elastic contact sections 11, which are each provided by elastic spring arms which each open into free ends 27 in the region of the distal contact element end 8. With regard to the longitudinal direction, the free ends 27 are offset radially outward. The contact element 6 thus corresponds to a so-called contact tulip.

As is evident from FIGS. 1 and 2, the socket opening 9 extends essentially completely through the socket housing 2 and has several differently configured sections. Thus, the socket housing has an initial section 25 in the area of the proximal housing end 3, an end section 20 in the area of the distal housing end 4 and a middle section 26 between the proximal housing end and the distal housing end. The end section 20 of the socket opening 9 comprises a radial extension 22 with a diameter d3, which is greater than a diameter d1 of the starting section 25 and also greater than a diameter d2 of the middle section 26. The diameter dl of the starting section 25 is in turn greater than the diameter d2 of the middle section 26. Furthermore, the elastic contact section 11 in the area of the distal contact element end 8 has an end section 16 extending radially outward with respect to the longitudinal direction L, so that in the event of one in the contact element opening 10 a stop is formed between the end sections of the socket and the plug 20, 16, which prevents a displacement of the contact element 6 relative to the socket housing 2 along a proximal direction P extending from the distal housing end 4 in the direction of the proximal housing end 3.

The socket wall 5 has one or more recesses 17 on the inside in the region of the proximal housing end 3, i.e. in the starting section 25, and the contact element 6 has several projections 18 in the region of the proximal contact element end 7 which can be received in the recesses 17. If the projections 18 are received in the recesses 17, a displacement of the contact element 6 with respect to the socket housing 2 along a distal direction D running from the proximal housing end 3 in the direction of the distal housing end 4 is prevented. In other words, the projections 18 and the recesses 17 form a snap or latching connection, by means of which the contact element 6 is held within the socket opening 9. The contact element 6 has several radially outwardly protruding contact points 19 which are arranged on the outside of the contact element 6 and can be brought into contact with the inside socket wall 5, in particular an electrical connection being established between the contact element 6 and the socket wall 5. In particular, through the contact points 19, the electrical contact which is established between the elastic contact section 11 and the plug is passed on to the socket.

As already explained at the outset, the delimiting element 12 is at least regionally essentially complementary to the elastic contact section 11 of the contact element 6 of the socket 1. In the embodiments shown, the delimiting element 12, seen in cross section, is designed as an elevation at least in some areas with respect to the socket wall 5, and the elastic contact section 1 1, seen in cross section, delimits at least in some areas a recess 13, the elevation 12 and Recess 13 are formed substantially complementary to one another. In fact, in the case of a plug received in the contact element opening 10, the delimiting element 12 or the elevation 12 is received essentially at least in certain areas in the recess 13 of the elastic contact section 11.

By comparing Figures 1 and 2, it can be seen that the elastic contact section 11, starting from the proximal contact element end 7 in the direction of the distal contact element end 8, is at least in some areas increasingly pretensioned in the direction of the longitudinal direction L, while the limiting element 12 starting from the proximal housing end 3, viewed in the direction of the distal end of the housing 4, runs increasingly inwardly in the direction of the longitudinal direction L, at least in some areas. In the absence of a plug, the inwardly pretensioned elastic contact section 11 is located at a radial distance from the inside socket wall 5 as well as from the limiting element 12, see Figure 1.If the plug is inserted into the contact element opening 10, it pushes the elastic contact section 11 radially outside, wherein the elastic contact section 11 comes to rest on the socket wall 5 and, in the event that the plug is not inserted coaxially but, for example, obliquely into the contact element opening 10, the delimiting element 12, see Figure 2. The delimiting element 12 extends along viewed in the longitudinal direction L at least partially along the elastic contact section 11 of the contact element 6.

This process will now be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 3a to 3c. It should be noted that the socket 1 is shown in a simplified manner in these figures and is primarily intended to explain the functional principle. In each of FIGS. 3a to 3c, a socket housing 2 is shown which, in the initial section 25, has the said recesses 17 and, viewed in the distal direction D, has a delimiting element 12 that projects inward in some areas. The delimitation element 12 is formed here in the middle section 26 and directly adjacent to the end section 20 and, viewed in longitudinal section, has an essentially semicircular shape. In Figure 3b, the socket housing 2 and a contact element 6 received therein are shown, wherein no plug has yet been inserted into the contact element opening. In this state, the inwardly prestressed elastic contact section 11 is arranged at a distance from the delimiting element 12. The projections 18 of the contact element 6 in the area of the proximal contact element end 7 are received in the recesses 17 in the starting section 25 of the socket housing 2, whereby a displacement of the contact element 6 along the distal direction D is prevented. The inwardly pretensioned elastic contact section 11 and a region 14 of the contact element 6 that is not inwardly pretensioned enclose an angle a1 of approximately 25 °. In Figure 3c, the socket 1 is shown after a plug (not shown) has been inserted into the contact element opening 10 of the contact element 6 and thereby the elastic contact section 11 has expanded radially with respect to the longitudinal direction L. The elastic contact section 11 was pressed outwardly in relation to the longitudinal direction L and strikes against the delimiting element 12. In other words, the elastic contact section 11 comes into surface contact with the delimiting element 12, at least in some areas, in this state. An angle a2 between the inwardly prestressed elastic contact portion 11 and the not inwardly prestressed area 14 of the contact element 6 of the socket 1 is approximately here 10 °. In contrast to the example according to FIGS. 1 and 2, here the radially outwardly extending end section 16 and the free ends 27 of the spring arms 11 are not in surface contact with the inside socket housing 5 but are instead arranged at a distance from it.

As can be seen from FIGS. 4 to 6, the contact element 6 can be produced from an initially flat, conductive material. In this flat element made of conductive material, cutouts are created in the proximal contact element end 7 by punching, which cutouts define the projections 18. Furthermore, starting from the distal contact element end 8, the flat element is cut up in the direction of the proximal contact element end 7 in such a way that the spring arms 11 are formed. In addition, the circular contact points 19 are formed by reshaping at the opposite ends of the spring arms 11 at the free ends 27. The initially flat free ends 27 are also produced by reshaping from a plane running through the flat element, whereby the end sections 16 running radially outward are formed. The contact element is then rolled up in a rolling process so that the contact element opening 10 is formed. In this way, a large number of different contact elements can be produced which differ, for example, in their length and / or in their diameter and / or in the radius of curvature of the spring arms 11. In FIGS. 7 to 9, 10 to 12 and 13 to 15, various contact elements 6 are shown by way of example. Thus the contact element according to FIGS. 7 to 9 has an elongated, essentially cylindrical shape. As can be seen in particular from FIG. 9, this contact element comprises a total of eight spring arms and four projections. The contact element 6 according to FIGS. 10 to 12 also has an approximately cylindrical shape, but differs from that of FIGS. 7 to 9 in particular in its larger diameter and the higher number of spring arms 11 and projections 18. The contact element 6 according to FIGS to 15, however, is essentially ring-shaped and has more spring arms 1 1 and projections 18 than the contact elements according to FIGS. 7 to 12. However, all contact elements 6 have in common that the spring arms 11 are biased inward in the rolled up state and radially towards outwardly extending end sections 16 open into free ends 27, as well as that a contact point 19 is formed on each spring arm 11 and projections 18 are formed in the region of the proximal contact element end 7. It is therefore to be understood that any number of different contact elements are conceivable, each of which differs in its dimensions such as size or shape, but which nevertheless have the aforementioned elements and can therefore be used as a contact element within the meaning of the invention.

The socket housing 2 can also be provided in different configurations. As can be seen, for example, in FIGS. 16 to 18, the socket housing 2 can be provided with a circumferential cylindrical socket wall 5. The socket opening 9 projecting completely through the socket housing 2 is produced by milling or drilling. As can be seen from FIG. 18, the recess 17 for the projections 18 of the contact element 6 in the starting section 25, the limiting element 12 in the middle section 26 and the radial extension 22 in the end section 20 can then be produced on the inside in the socket wall 5. The delimitation element 12 according to FIGS. 16 to 18 differs from the delimitation element 12 according to FIGS. 1 and 2 by a proximal recess 24 and a greater slope with which the delimitation element 12 extends inward in the direction of the longitudinal axis.

The socket housing 2 according to FIGS. 19 to 21 was formed by stamping and bending and, like the socket housing 2 of the other examples, comprises one Socket wall 5 with a recess 17 in the initial section 25, followed by a middle section 26 with a non-inwardly extending area which opens distally into a first recess 23 and then into a second recess 24 following this first recess 23. The second recess 24 in turn ends distally in the inwardly running region 21 of the delimiting element 12, which ends in the end section 20 in the radial extension 22. Here, too, it should be understood that any number of different socket housings are conceivable, which differ in their dimensions such as size or shape, but which nevertheless have in particular the limiting element 12 and, for example, also the recesses 17 and the radial extension 22 and can therefore be used as a socket housing within the meaning of the invention.

FIGS. 22 to 24 show different views of a socket 1 comprising a contact element 6 according to FIGS. 7 to 9, which has been inserted into the socket opening 9 of a socket housing 2 according to FIGS. 16 to 18. FIGS. 25 to 27 each show a socket 1 in which a contact element 6 according to FIGS. 10 to 12 has been inserted into a socket housing 2 according to FIGS. 19 to 21. That is, and as can be seen in particular from FIGS. 24 and 27, the contact element 6 in the area of the distal contact element end 8 comprises a contact area 28 which is designed to form a functional contact with a plug inserted into the contact element opening 10. This contact area 28 is formed in the elastic contact section 11, i.e. here in the spring arm, and forms the point of maximum elevation of the spring arm 11. Or, in other words, the contact area 28 is formed at the point where the elastic contact section 11 starting from the proximal Contact element end 7 viewed in the direction of the distal contact element end 8 is biased maximally inwardly in the direction of the longitudinal direction L. Or, to put it another way, a diameter of the contact element opening 10 at the location of the contact area 28 is minimal. The inwardly pretensioned elastic contact section 11 and the not inwardly pretensioned area 14 of the contact element 6 here enclose a first angle a1 of approximately 11 °. The delimitation element 12 is arranged in the area of the contact area 28 of the contact element 6. The delimitation element 12 runs from the proximal housing end 3 in the direction of the distal housing end 4, at least in some areas increasingly inward in the direction of the longitudinal direction L, the delimiting element 12 having advanced maximally inward at the location of the contact area 28. Correspondingly, a diameter db of the socket opening 9 at the location of the contact area 28 is also minimal. As can be seen clearly from these figures, the delimitation element 12 is arranged in the region of the distal housing end 4 and, due to this distal arrangement and its inwardly protruding configuration, provides a guide for the plug when it is received in the contact element opening 10 along a connection direction V. Viewed along the proximal direction P, the limiting element 12 opens into the recess 24. The socket opening 9 consequently has a larger diameter da in the area of the recess 24 than in the area of the limiting element 12. If a plug is now inserted into the contact element opening 10 of the contact element 6, thus the elastic contact section 11 of the contact element 6 bends, a part of the elastic contact section 11 being pressed into the recess 24 of the socket 1. The design of the recess 24 is such that the part of the elastic contact section 11 that is bent in this way is elastically, but not plastically deformed, and does not touch the socket wall 21 in the process. Also in the examples shown here, the contact points 19 protruding from the contact element 6 are arranged in the elastic contact section 1 1, more precisely at the proximal end of the spring arms 1 1, and act as a pivot point for the spring arms 1 1 during their radial expansion when a plug is inserted into the Contact element opening 10 is received. From these views it can also be seen that the spring arms 11 of the contact elements 6 each extend essentially completely along a circumferential direction U of the socket opening. The recesses 17 and the delimiting element 12 each run essentially completely along the circumferential direction U, so that a displacement of the contact element 6 with respect to the socket housing 2 due to the engagement between the projections 18 and the recesses 17, the passing on of the electrical contact via the contact points 19 of the contact element 6 to the socket housing 2, and above all a prevention of plastic deformation of the spring arms 11 when inserting the plug into the socket 1 over the entire circumference U of the socket 1 is ensured.

As mentioned at the outset, the socket housing 2 can be constructed in several parts, in particular in two parts. Such an embodiment is shown in Figures 28-37. Thus, a two-part or multi-part socket housing 2 enables simplified insertion of the Contact element 6 in the case of a socket 1 or a contact element 6 with a small diameter. As can be clearly seen in these figures, the socket 1 can thus be formed from a first socket housing part 2a and a second socket housing part 2b, which can be connected to one another and form the socket housing 2 in the connected state. The connection between the two socket housing parts 2a, 2b can be designed to be detachable or non-detachable. For example, a connection can be achieved by a force fit and / or form fit and / or by pressing, gluing, welding, etc. of the two socket housing parts 2a, 2b. It can be seen from FIGS. 30, 34 and 37 that the first socket housing part 2a has a first connection element 30 in a distal housing part area 29 and the second socket housing part 2b has a second connection element 32 in a proximal housing part area 31. The two socket housing parts 2a, 2b are connected via the two connecting elements 30, 32. In the present example, the second socket housing part 2b is at least partially inserted into the first socket housing part 2a to form the socket 1. So to a certain extent it is a plug connection. For this purpose, the first connecting element 30 is designed as a recess in the inner socket wall 5. The second connecting element 32 in turn also includes a recess, but in the outer socket wall 5. The recesses 30, 32 are each bounded by a surface 33, 34, these surfaces 33, 34 facing each other in the connected state of the socket housing parts 2a, 2b come to lie. Furthermore, the distal end 35 of the first connecting element 30 forms a stop for the second connecting element 32, the stop limiting a displacement of the second housing part 2b into the first housing part 2a along the proximal direction P. Furthermore, in the present example, a gap or gap 36 is formed between the two housing parts 2a, 2b in the connected state. Except for its two-part design, the socket 1 according to FIGS. 28 to 37 does not differ significantly from the socket 1 according to the previous figures. This can be seen in particular from FIGS. 35 to 37, which show the two-part socket 1 with the contact element 6 received. The contact element 6 here is the contact element 6 according to FIGS. 7 to 9, which is why reference is made to the above statements. If the socket 1 was formed from the socket housing parts 2a, 2b, the contact element 6 can be inserted into the socket opening 9 along the proximal direction P. When pushed in, the projections 18 of the latch Contact element 6 in the recesses 17 of the starting section 25 of the socket 1, here in the recesses 17 of the starting section 25 of the first socket housing part 2a, and the contact points 19 of the contact element 6 are with the inside socket wall 5 of the socket 1, here again with the inside Socket wall 5 of the first socket housing part 2a, can be brought into contact. The limiting element 12 is formed here in the second socket housing part 2b. If a plug is now inserted into the contact element opening 10, it presses the elastic contact section 11 of the contact element 6 radially outwards so that it lies on the socket wall 5 and, in the event that the plug is not inserted coaxially, on the delimiting element 12 comes, as explained earlier. That is to say, the two-part socket 1 also comprises a delimitation element 12 for delimiting the radial expansion of the elastic contact section 11 of a contact element 6, as well as further elements as described above. For further explanations, reference is again made to the statements above. The order of the individual assembly steps can be different. For example, it is possible to introduce the contact element 6 into the first socket housing part 2a in a first step, and then to connect the second socket housing part 2b to the first socket housing part 2a in a second step. It is just as conceivable, however, to introduce the contact element 6 into the second socket housing part 2b in a first step and then to connect the first socket housing part 2a to the second socket housing part 2b in a second step.

REFERENCE LIST

Bushing 26 middle section

Socket housing 27 free end

a socket housing part 28 contact area b socket housing part 29 distal housing part area proximal housing end 30 connecting element distal housing end 31 proximal

Socket wall housing section

Contact element 32 connecting element proximal 33 surface

Contact element end 34 surface

distal contact element end 35 distal end

Bushing opening 36 gap

0 contact element opening

1 elastic contact section L longitudinal direction

2 Limiting element D distal direction

3 recess P proximal direction 4 area U circumferential direction

5 area al angle

6 end section a2 angle

7 recess dl diameter

8 projection d2 diameter

9 contact point d3 diameter

0 end section da diameter

1 area db diameter

radial extension

Recess

Initial section

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS

1. Socket (1) for connection to a plug comprising:

- A socket housing (2) with a proximal housing end (3), a distal housing end (4) and a socket wall (5), and

- A contact element (6) with a proximal contact element end (7) and a distal contact element end (8),

wherein the socket wall (5) delimits a socket opening (9) in which the contact element (6) can be received,

wherein the contact element (6) has a contact area (28) which is designed to form a functional contact, in particular an electrical contact, with the plug,

wherein the contact element (6) delimits a contact element opening (10) into which the plug can be received, and

wherein the contact element (6) has at least one elastic contact section (11) at least in some areas, the elastic contact section (11) being designed in such a way that when the plug is received in the contact element opening (10) of the contact element (6) of the socket ( 1) widens radially with respect to a longitudinal direction (L) extending centrally through the bushing,

characterized in that the socket wall (5) has a delimiting element (12) on the inside, which is designed such that a radial expansion of the elastic contact section (11) of the contact element (6) is limited, the delimiting element (12) in particular in the area of the Contact area (28) of the contact element (6) is arranged.

2. Socket (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the limiting element (12) is designed such that a plastic deformation of the elastic contact portion (11) of the contact element (6) of the socket (1) when the plug is received in the Contact element opening (10) of the contact element (6) of the socket (1) is prevented.

3. Socket (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the limiting element (12) is arranged and designed such that it provides a guide for the plug when it is received in the contact element opening (10) along a connection direction (V) .

4. Socket (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the limiting element (12) is arranged in the region of the distal end of the housing (4).

5. Socket (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the delimiting element (12) is at least partially substantially complementary to the elastic contact section (11) of the contact element (6) of the socket (1), wherein in particular the delimiting element ( 12), seen in cross-section, is at least partially designed as at least one elevation with respect to the socket wall (5) and the elastic contact section (1 1), seen in cross-section, delimits at least one recess (13) at least partially, the elevation (12) and the recess ( 13) are designed essentially complementary to one another.

6. Socket (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the elevation (12) in the case of a plug received in the contact element opening (10) can be received essentially completely in the recess (13) of the elastic contact section (11).

7. Socket (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the elastic contact section (11) starting from the proximal contact element end (7) in the direction of the distal contact element end (8), at least in some areas, increasingly increasing in the direction of the longitudinal direction (L) inwards is biased, and / or

that, starting from the proximal housing end (3) in the direction of the distal housing end (4), the delimiting element (12) extends inwards at least in some areas and preferably increasingly in the direction of the longitudinal direction (L).

8. socket (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that the inwardly biased elastic contact portion (1 1) and a non-inwardly biased region (14) of the contact element (6) of the socket (1) in the absence of the plug in the Contact element opening (10) enclose a first angle (a1) of approximately 10 ° to 50 °, preferably of approximately 15 ° to 45 °, particularly preferably of approximately 20 ° to 40 °, and / or

that the inwardly biased elastic contact section (1 1) and the not inwardly biased area (14) of the contact element (6) of the socket (1) in the case of a plug received in the contact element opening (10) have a second angle (a2) of approximately 5 ° to 45 °, preferably from about 5 ° to 40 °, particularly preferably from about 5 ° to 35 °.

9. Socket (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a diameter (db) of the socket opening (9) in the region of the limiting element (12) is smaller than a diameter (da) in an adjoining this region, the proximal housing end (3) facing area (24) of the socket opening (9).

10. Socket (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the limiting element (12) at least partially, in particular completely along a circumferential direction (U) of the socket wall (5), in particular the socket opening (9).

1 1. Socket (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the socket wall (5) in the region of the proximal housing end (3) has one or more recesses (17), and that the contact element (6) in the region of the proximal contact element end (7) has one or more projections (18) which can be received in the recesses (17), whereby a displacement of the contact element (6) relative to the socket housing (2) along one of the proximal housing end (3) in the direction of the distal housing end (4) extending distal direction (D) is prevented.

Bush (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that that the contact element (6) has one or more radially outwardly protruding contact points (19) which are arranged on the outside of the contact element (6) and can be brought into contact with the inside socket wall (5), with an in particular electrical connection between the Contact element (6) and the socket wall (5) can be produced.

13. Socket (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the elastic contact section (1 1) is provided by two or more elastic spring arms which open into free ends (27) in the region of the distal contact element end (8), wherein the free ends (27) are preferably offset radially outward with respect to the longitudinal direction (L).

14. Connector comprising a socket (1) according to one of the preceding claims and a plug, wherein the plug is received in the contact element opening (10) of the contact element (6) of the socket (1) and the elastic contact portion (1 1) with respect to the longitudinal direction (L) expands radially, and wherein the radial expansion of the elastic contact section (11) is limited by the limiting element (12).

15. A method for producing a socket (1), in particular a socket (1) according to one of claims 1 to 13, for connection to a plug comprising the steps:

- Providing a socket housing (2) with a socket wall (5), wherein the socket wall (5) delimits a socket opening (9);

- Providing a contact element (6); and

- Insertion of the contact element (6) into the socket opening (9), the contact element (6) having a contact area (28) which is designed to form a functional contact, in particular an electrical contact, with the plug, the contact element ( 6) delimits a contact element opening (10) into which the plug can be received, and wherein the contact element (6) has at least one elastic contact section (11) at least in some areas, the elastic contact section (11) is designed in such a way that when the plug is received in the contact element opening (10) of the contact element (6) of the socket (1) it expands radially with respect to a longitudinal direction (L) extending centrally through the socket, the socket wall (5 ) has a delimiting element (12) on the inside which is designed in such a way that a radial expansion of the elastic contact section (11) of the contact element (6) is limited, the delimiting element (12) in particular in the area of the contact area (28) of the contact element (6) ) is arranged.