EP4228107A1

EP4228107A1 - Quick install system for panel-mount electrical connectors

Info

Publication number: EP4228107A1
Application number: EP22305155.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Fabien Houvenaghel
Original assignee: Connecteurs Electriques Deutsch SAS
Current assignee: Connecteurs Electriques Deutsch SAS
Priority date: 2022-02-11
Filing date: 2022-02-11
Publication date: 2023-08-16

Abstract

The invention relates to a frame assembly (1) for mounting an electric connector (97) to a panel (23) and to a panel mount connector (69) for mounting to a panel (23). Prior art solutions for mounting an electrical connector (97) to a panel (23) are cumbersome and time-consuming. A faster mounting is achieved by the inventive frame assembly (1) in that it comprises a frame member (3) that is configured to be mounted to the panel (23) and in that is is configured to receive the connector (97), the frame assembly (1) further comprising a mounting pin (19) and latching means (15) for mounting the frame member (3) to the panel (23). The panel mount connector (69) improves prior art solutions by comprising at least one through opening (75), the through opening (75) being configured to receive the mounting pin (19) of a frame assembly (1) according to the invention.

Description

The invention relates to a frame assembly for mounting an electric connector to a panel, to a panel mount connector configured to be mounted to a panel, and a set comprising a frame assembly and a panel mount connector.
In the art, different connection means for mounting an electric connector to a panel are known. Any connection needs to securely mount an electric connector to the panel and to securely hold the electric connector in its mounting position at the panel. Prior art solutions that establish such a mounting connection are cumbersome and time-consuming.
There is thus a need to facilitate connections between an electric connector and a panel, preferably in a shorter time than for the prior art solutions.
This need is addressed by the frame assembly mentioned in the beginning by comprising a frame member that is configured to be mounted to the panel and that is configured to receive the connector. The frame assembly further comprises a mounting pin and latching means for mounting the frame member to the panel.
The frame assembly has the advantage of providing a base element attached to the panel. Such a pre-installed frame assembly may, for instance, define a mounting position and thus facilitate the mounting of the electric connector to the panel.
The need for an improved connection between an electric connector and a panel is also addressed by the panel mount connector comprising at least one through opening. The through opening is configured to receive the mounting pin of a frame assembly according to the invention.
The panel mount connector thus facilitates mounting to a panel by being configured to receive and to engage the mounting pin of the frame assembly. Thus, by the panel mount connector engaging the mounting pin of the frame assembly, the panel mount connector may be securely and easily mounted to the panel. The frame assembly is already fixed to the panel. There is no need to additionally hold said frame assembly during mounting of the electrical connector.
Further, the above need is also addressed by the set mentioned in the beginning, in which the through opening of the panel mount connector is configured to engage the mounting pin of the frame assembly and by the set, in which the panel mount connector is mountable to the frame assembly if the coding structure and the counter coding structure are in complementary coding positions.
The invention may be further improved by optional features that may be arbitrarily combined with one another in different embodiments of the inventive frame assembly, panel mount connector and set to be described in the following. In further embodiments, several of the optional features may be omitted. Each of the below embodiments is advantageous on its own.
The electric connector may, in particular, be a panel mount connector. The panel may be part of a fastening system of a housing that may be used for coupling of electrical connectors and/or coupling of electrical mating connectors to one another or to a corresponding socket.
The inventive frame assembly and the inventive panel mount connector may, in particular, replace an already existing installation system without additional requirements on or modifications to the panel, e.g. panel trilling. Consequently, the inventive frame assembly and the inventive panel mount connector may be applied in installation systems of the art without the need for modifications of the panel.
The latching means for mounting the frame member to the panel may be latching elements that are configured to be inserted into a through hole provided in the panel and configured to engage in a positive lock with the panel. A plurality of latching elements that may be circumferentially arranged may be provided. The latching elements may comprise deflectable latching arms and a locking hook or other geometrical structures suitable for engaging a positive lock between a latching element and an edge of the panel. The latching element may engage the panel in a plug-in direction that is oriented perpendicular to the panel.
The inventive frame assembly has thus the further advantage that no panel installation tool or element (such as a screw nut) is necessary to mount the frame assembly to the panel. Further, no additional panel trilling is necessary either. In addition, the frame assembly, according to the invention, may be mounted to a panel of the art. The panel mount connector is further interchangeable with panel mount connectors of the art, which makes the invention versatile.
In a very specific embodiment, the panel may be configured to receive panel mount connectors according to standard EN 3545 or another standard.
A panel wall thickness may be between 0.5 and 2 mm. The panel wall thickness may, in other specific embodiments, be thinner than 0.5 mm or thicker than 2 mm. The panel wall thickness may in particular be between 0.7 and 1.6 mm.
The frame assembly may comprise a panel thickness compensation component. The panel thickness compensation component may be provided and/or attached to the frame member at a side of the frame member that faces towards the panel. When the frame assembly is mounted to the panel, the panel thickness compensation component is arranged between the frame member and the panel. The panel thickness compensation component may be configured to be compressible in the direction along which the frame assembly is mounted to the panel, i.e. in a direction perpendicular to the panel. The panel thickness compensation component may be or comprise an elastomeric part. The mounting pin may be a mounting stud, a mounting pintle or a mounting bolt.
The frame assembly may be further improved in that the mounting pin is configured to be inserted through the latching means of the frame member, wherein the mounting pin is configured to secure the latching means against disengaging from the panel when the mounting pin is received in the frame member. Such an embodiment has the advantage that the frame assembly can not be dismounted from the panel once the mounting pin is received in the frame member. The mounting pin has therefore the additional functionality of a positioning assurance for the frame assembly.
Thus, the mounting pin may block a movement of the latching means from an engaged position, in which the latching means engage the panel, to a release position, in which the latching means is moved, e.g. deflected or bent, out of engagement with the panel.
This embodiment thus also has the advantage that the frame assembly may be mounted to a panel without the need of any electrical connector attached thereto. Consequently, a panel may be pre-equipped with a predetermined number of frame assemblies, each mounted to a predetermined position at the panel. This may reduce installation time further, as no positioning of the electrical connectors with respect to the panel are necessary.
In an advantageous embodiment of the frame assembly, the mounting pin comprises pin locking means that are configured to lock the pin to the frame member and/or to the panel.
This has the advantage that the mounting pin may also be pre-installed to the panel, without the danger of losing it. If the pin locking means are configured to lock the pin to the frame member, the frame assembly may be in a delivery state without the risk of the mounting pin getting lost. The pin locking means of the mounting pin may be configured to be disengaged in order to separate a frame member and a mounting pin for installation to a panel.
In another advantageous embodiment, the mounting pin protrudes from the frame member at one side of the frame member and the mounting pin comprises mounting means configured to engage the connector.
This embodiment has the advantage of providing a frame assembly configured to easily receive an electric connector without the need of a coupling tool. The panel mount connector is easily attached to the frame assembly by means of the mounting means of the mounting pin.
The corresponding panel mount connector may thus comprise a counter mounting means configured to engage the mounting means of the mounting pin or the mounting stud.
In one embodiment, the mounting means may be a depression. In a further embodiment, the mounting means may be a recess and, in yet another embodiment, the mounting means may be a circumferential notch provided at the mounting pin. In these embodiments, the mounting means may be part of a snap-fit connection system.
A corresponding counter mounting means may be provided at the panel mount connector. The counter mounting means may be configured complementary to the mounting means of the mounting pin and may be configured to be releasable from the mounting means, e.g. by deflecting away from said mounting means. In case of a circumferential notch, the counter mounting means may be a ring, such as a circlip.
The frame assembly may further be improved if the mounting pin tapers towards a free end, wherein the mounting means are provided at the free end of the mounting pin.
Such a taper may be advantageous when mounting the panel mount connector to the frame assembly. The taper may facilitate positioning and reorienting of the panel mount connector with respect to the frame assembly. The taper may guide the panel mount connector into a correct mounting position by an interaction of the at least one through opening of the panel mount connector with the taper of the mounting pin.
Further, by providing the mounting means at the free end of the mounting pin, the position at which the mounting means of the mounting pin may be engaged with the electric connector is located at a certain distance away from the frame member. This has the advantage that a rigid structure may be provided by the electric connector between said position and the frame member. Consequently, lever forces that may be exerted onto a connection between the electric connector and frame assembly may be kept below a critical value for the material applied.
The one side of the frame member from which the mounting pin protrudes, may be considered as a first side. In an advantageous embodiment of the frame assembly, the mounting pin further protrudes from the frame member at a second side of the frame member, the second side being opposite the first side with respect to the frame member.
This embodiment has the advantage that an electric connector may be mounted from the first side of the frame member and an electric mating connector may be mounted from the second side of the frame member to connect the electric connector. This embodiment thus enables a fast and secure connection between an electric connector and an electric mating connector.
The frame assembly may define and fix a predetermined position at the panel for mounting an electric connector. This may facilitate a connection. Connecting an electric connector with an electric mating connector may, for instance, be possible with one hand by subsequently mounting the electric connector to the frame assembly (which is attached to the panel at a predetermined position) from the first side and subsequently mounting the electric mating connector to the frame assembly from the second side. This strongly facilitates mounting because there is no need to hold the electric mating connector in place while plugging together the electric mating connector with the electric connector. Establishing an electrical and/or mechanical connection between the electric connector and the electric mating connector may thus be faster.
It is particularly advantageous if two mounting pins are provided at two opposing longitudinal ends of the frame member.
The two mounting pins may be oriented parallel to one another and may be spaced apart from one another. The frame member may comprise two solid portions at the two opposing longitudinal ends and may comprise a central portion between the two longitudinal ends, wherein the central portion may comprise a cutout portion configured to receive a connector face of the electric connector, respectively a connector face of the electric mating connector.
The frame assembly may further be improved in that it comprises a coding assembly, which provides at least one coding structure that is configured to engage a corresponding counter coding structure provided by the electrical connector.
This so-called Poka-Yoke principle of inadvertent error prevention helps prevent mistakes and defects from occurring by correcting or indicating errors during assembly.
In this embodiment, only a counter coding structure of the electrical connector that corresponds to the coding structure of the frame assembly enables the electrical connector to be mounted to the frame assembly. The coding structure and the counter coding structure may be set to a coding position. If only the coding position of the coding structure corresponds to the coding position of the counter coding structure, engagement between the electrical connector and the frame assembly is possible.
If the coding positions do not correspond to each other, mounting is blocked by the coding structure and the counter coding structure.
The coding structure of the frame assembly may comprise at least one of a coding key and a coding keyway.
Accordingly, the counter coding structure of the electrical connector may comprise at least one of a coding keyway and coding key. The counter coding structure may be configured complementary to the coding structure in order to allow engagement of the electrical connector and frame assembly. Such a coding may prevent interchanging of different electrical connectors, in particular electrical connectors configured to transmit different signals or configured for power transmission.
This embodiment has the further advantage that no particular training for the operator is necessary, as mounting an incorrect electric connector to the frame assembly is prevented. This embodiment thus avoids failure and/or damage due to incorrect mounting.
The corresponding embodiment of the panel mount connector thus further comprises a counter coding assembly. The counter coding assembly comprises at least one counter coding structure that is configured to engage a corresponding coding structure provided by the frame assembly.
The counter coding structure of the panel mount connector has the same advantages as the coding structure of the frame assembly. Through interaction between the coding structure of the frame assembly and the counter coding structure of the panel mount connector, incorrect mounting of an electric connector to the frame assembly may be prevented.
The at least one counter coding structure may be at least one of a coding key and a coding keyway. The at least one counter coding structure may be arranged at a discrete coding position and is preferably configured, complementary to the coding structure.
The frame assembly may further be improved by providing a position coding means. The position coding means provides a predetermined number of different insertion positions of the mounting pin, each of the different insertion positions being rotated relative around a plug-in direction with respect to the remaining insertion positions, and wherein the mounting pin comprises a coding member, the coding member being configured complementary to the position coding means.
This has the advantage that mounting a correct electric connector to the frame assembly is facilitated. The frame assembly may comprise an indication member configured to indicate the insertion position of the mounting pin. An operator may thus recognize which type of electrical connector is to be connected to the frame assembly.
It is particularly advantageous if this embodiment of the frame assembly is combined with the coding structure as previously explained. The coding structure may, in particular, be provided by or at the mounting pin, such that mounting an electrical connector to the frame assembly is only possible if the insertion position of the mounting pin corresponds to an insertion position that is accepted by the electrical connector. A coding position of the coding structure may be determined by the insertion position of the mounting pin. A different insertion position may result in a different coding position.
Thus, a corresponding advantageous embodiment of the panel mount connector further comprises a nut receptacle and a panel nut that is configured to be received in the nut receptacle, wherein a nut position coding means is provided, the nut position coding means providing a predetermined number of different insertion positions of the panel nut, each of the different insertion positions of the panel nut being rotated relative around a pin-receiving direction with respect to the remaining insertion positions, and wherein the panel nut comprises a nut coding member, the nut coding member being configured complementary to the nut position coding means.
This has the advantage that an indication of the insertion position of the panel nut is provided by the rotational position of the panel nut. In combination with the counter coding assembly previously described, a particularly advantageous embodiment of the panel mount connector is obtained.
The panel nut may be the clip arrangement or may comprise said clip arrangement. The nut receptacle may in particular form the through opening of the panel mount connector. Preferably, the through opening is a central opening or through hole in the nut receptacle. The mounting pin may therefore be received in the through opening and, as the panel nut is received in said through opening, also in the panel nut.
The clip arrangement may be provided in an element different than a nut, exemplarily in a sleeve or in an arm that extents from the panel mount connector body. Said arm may be formed monolithically with the body of the panel mount connector.
A specific coding position may thus be set by the insertion position of the mounting pin in the frame member and by the insertion position of the panel nut in the nut receptacle of the panel mount connector. A different insertion position of the panel nut in the nut receptacle may result in a different coding position.
The nut receptacle may be provided in the through opening or represent one part thereof. The nut receptacle may comprise a hexagonal recess, which may be a nut position coding means.
The panel nut may comprise a nut coding member in the form of a hexagonal collar, wherein the nut coding member may be configured complementary to the nut coding means. Such a hexagonal coding is described as an example only. Different shapes of the nut position coding means and the nut coding member are conceivable, for instance a pentagonal shape.
The panel nut may be configured to at least partially receive the mounting pin along a pin-receiving direction. The pin-receiving direction may correspond to the plug-in direction.
Thus, a panel mount connector having a counter coding structure that does not correspond to the coding structure of the frame assembly prevents mounting of said panel mount connector to said frame assembly. Even if the mounting pin were to be partially received in the through opening of the panel mount connector, it would not be possible to mount said panel mount connector to said frame assembly if the insertion position of the mounting pin is not accepted. In this case, mounting may be blocked.
The different insertion positions of the mounting pin may, in particular, be discrete. The mounting pin may comprise a coding collar. The frame member may provide a receptacle for said coding collar that is configured complementary to the coding collar. The coding collar may be integral with the mounting pin or may be connected monolithically thereto.
The coding collar and/or the panel nut may have a rotational symmetry with respect to the longitudinal axis of the mounting pin or with respect to a receiving direction along which the mounting pin is received. The rotational symmetry may be N-fold, with 'N' being the number of discrete insertion positions. Accordingly, if a coding member (or a counter coding member) is provided at the mounting pin (at the panel nut), the same number 'N' of coding positions of the mounting pin (the panel nut) is obtained.
As indicated above, the panel nut may be rotationally symmetric as well.
The coding collar may be a portion of the mounting pin. The coding collar and/or the panel nut may have a hexagonal cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the mounting pin, respectively perpendicular to the receiving direction along which the mounting pin is received in the panel nut.
The coding structure and/or the counter coding structure may additionally provide a guiding means if an electric connector is mounted to the frame assembly that has the same coding position as the mounting pin.
The interaction between the coding structure of the mounting pin and the counter coding structure of the panel nut facilitates handling of the frame assembly and the panel mount connector. In particular, handling of the set comprising a frame assembly with a mounting pin comprising a coding structure and a panel mount connector with a panel nut comprising the counter coding structure is facilitated.
The panel nut may also comprise a shape with rotational symmetry with respect to the mounting direction, along which the panel nut may be mounted to the mounting pin. The panel nut may also provide a through opening configured to receive the mounting pin of the frame assembly. In another embodiment, the panel nut may form said through opening together with a body of the panel mount connector. The panel nut may be received in a panel nut receptacle, wherein the panel nut receptacle may be configured to lock the panel nut in place once received therein. The locking between the panel nut and the panel nut receptacle may be releasable.
The panel nut receptacle is preferably configured complementary to the panel nut. The panel nut and the panel nut receptacle may, in particular, have a hexagonal shape, i.e. provide six discrete insertion positions of the panel nut and consequently six different coding positions of the panel nut as well as the counter coding means provided by the panel nut.
In a preferred embodiment, two mounting pins are comprised at opposing ends of the frame member. The insertion position of each of the two mounting pins may be set individually and independently from each other. Consequently, in an embodiment comprising two mounting pins, an overall number of coding positions is given by the product of the number 'N1' of coding positions of the first mounting pin and the number 'N2' of coding positions of the second mounting pin. If six possible coding positions (by applying a hexagonal position coding means and an hexagonal nut position coding means) are provided by each of the mounting pins, the overall number of possible coding positions amounts to 36. Preferably, 36 coding positions are also provided by two panel nuts of the electric panel mount connector.
In one embodiment, only one panel nut of the electric panel mount connector may be provided with a counter coding structure, such that mounting the panel mount connector to the frame assembly is enabled if a first coding structure corresponds to a first counter coding structure. The mounting is independent on a second coding structure as the panel nut may not provide a second counter coding structure. It may thus be possible to connect a subset of different electric panel mount connectors to a specific frame assembly.
As an example, it is conceivable that said specific frame assembly concerns the transmission of image data to be displayed on a screen, wherein different panel mount connectors may be provided for different screens. The insertion position of the second panel nut may indicate the type of screen, whereas each of the different screens may be attached to the corresponding frame assembly. The different panel mount connectors may represent a subset concerned with displaying means, addressed, or coded by the coding position of the first mounting pin. Any of the possible displaying means may be attached to the frame assembly via the corresponding panel mount connector.
However, a different subset of devices, exemplarily concerned with data storage, may be prevented to be connected to said frame assembly because of the first coding structure that may not correspond to the first counter coding structure of this different subset.
To fix the panel mount connector to the frame assembly, the former may, in one embodiment, further comprise a clip arrangement that is adapted to engage mounting means of the mounting pin.
This has the advantage of a fast and tool-free mounting of the panel mount connector to the frame assembly. Such a snap fit mounting is less time-consuming than screwing connections of the art.
The mounting may be repetitively releasable. The mounting means of the mounting pin may be a circumferential groove.
In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the panel mount connector, the clip arrangement comprises a circlip that comprises a protruding collar with an inner chamfered surface for bending open the circlip.
Such a circlip may facilitate disconnecting or dismounting the electric panel mount connector from the frame assembly.
The protruding collar may protrude from the circlip in the insertion direction. Such a protruding collar may simply be operated by a tool or component of a fixed geometry. Portions of said tool may be configured to engage the chamfered surface, wherein a radially outwards directed force component exerted by the tool may deflect or bent the circlip open.
This embodiment has the advantage that the tool to open the circuit may be applied with a different section of the panel mount connector as well. No specific tool, e.g. pliers, is needed and assembly is facilitated.
The circlip may comprise spokes that extend from an outer rim radially inwards. The spokes may be formed by lugs or tabs having an inner part of the circumferential surface that extends partially in the circumferential direction. The spokes may have a length measured in the circumferential direction that is larger than the width of the coding keyway formed by a guiding slot in the mounting pin. This has the advantage that the spokes of the circlip are received within the circumferential slot forming the mounting member independent on a rotational position of the circlip with respect to the mounting pin. Thus, all spokes are always in mechanical contact with the mounting means of the mounting pin.
In the following, specific embodiments of the frame assembly and panel mount connector will be described with reference to the accompanying figures. In the figures, the same technical features and features having the same technical effect will be denoted with the same reference numeral. The embodiments shown are purely exemplary.
The figures show:

Fig. 1: a perspective view of an embodiment of the frame assembly;
Fig. 2: the frame assembly of Fig. 1 attached to a panel;
Fig. 3: an embodiment of a mounting pin of the frame assembly;
Fig. 4: a detailed view of the frame assembly attached to a panel;
Fig. 5: the frame assembly of Fig. 4 shown in a different perspective;
Fig. 6: an embodiment of the panel mount connector;
Fig. 7: a set comprising one embodiment of the frame assembly and a corresponding embodiment of the panel mount connector;
Fig. 8: another embodiment of the set;
Fig. 9: a cut view showing the mounting of an electric connector to the frame assembly; and
Fig. 10: the set of Fig. 9 in a mounting position.

Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of the frame assembly 1. The frame assembly 1 comprises a frame member 3 that has two opposing ends 5, namely a first end 7 and a second end 9. Between the two opposing ends 5, a central portion 11 is provided. The central portion 11 has a cutout 13 that is configured to receive portions of an electric connector (not shown). The cutout 13 may have a specific shape of a plug connector face to be received.
Further, the frame member 3 comprises latching means 15 that are latching hooks 17 in the embodiment shown. Three latching hooks 17 are provided at each of the two opposing ends 5. The latching hooks 17 are arranged circumferentially and spaced apart from one another. The latching hooks 17 are deflectable radially inwards.
Further, the frame assembly 1 comprises two mounting pins 19 received in the frame member 3. The mounting pins 19 prevent a deflection of the latching hooks 17 radially inwards and are therefore position assurance means 21.
Further, the embodiment of the frame assembly 1 shown in Fig. 1 comprises a panel thickness compensation component 29 in the form of an elastomeric part 33. The panel thickness compensation component 29 comprises a flexible material and allows for compensation of different panel thicknesses. The frame assembly 1 shown may thus be mounted to panels having different material thicknesses.
In Fig. 2, the frame member 3 of Fig. 1 is mounted to a panel 23. The panel 23 is drawn semitransparent. The latching hooks 17 of frame member 3 are inserted in corresponding through holes 25 of the panel 23 along a plug-in direction 47 that is perpendicular to the panel 23. During mounting, the latching hooks 17 are deflected radially inwards and abut a first surface 23a of the panel 23. The panel thickness compensation component 29 is compressed against a second surface 23b of the panel 23.
In Fig. 2, latching hooks 17 are still deflectable radially inwards. Once the mounting pins 19 are received in the frame member3, such a deflection is blocked and the frame assembly 1 is secured to the panel 23.
Fig. 3 shows a mounting pin 19, which comprises a first mounting end 35 at a first side 35a and a second mounting end 37 at a second side 37a. Both mounting ends 35, 37 protrude in opposite directions. The mounting pin 19 may be a mounting stud or mounting bolt (not shown) in another embodiment of the frame assembly 1.
The mounting ends 35, 37 are connected by a central part 39 that comprises a coding member 41 which has a hexagonal structure 43. This coding member 41 will be explained in more detail in Fig. 4.
The mounting pin 19 has a longitudinal axis 45, which is oriented parallel to the plug-in direction 47 when the mounting pin is installed to the frame assembly 1.
The hexagonal structure 43 has two surfaces facing towards the first side 35a and towards the second side 37a. These surfaces are pin locking means 53.
The mounting pin 19 further comprises a coding structure 61 in the form of a coding keyway 63. Further, at each end 35, 37 mounting means 65 in the form of a circumferential notch 67 are provided. The latter will be described below in more detail.
Referring now to Fig. 4, which shows a detail of a mounted frame assembly 1, it is conceivable that the mounting pin 19 is inserted into the frame member 3 along the plug-in direction 47, wherein counter pin locking means 55 provided by the frame member 3 lock the central part 39 of the mounting pin 19 in place.
The hexagonal structure 43 of the mounting pin 19 is received in a hexagonal recess 51 of the frame member 3. Thereby, an insertion position 59 of the mounting pin 19 is fixed.
The frame member 3 has indication means 67 for distinguishing different insertion positions 59. These may be provided in the form of numbers or symbols.
In Fig. 5, the mounting pin 19 is inserted through the latching means 15 of the frame member 3, thereby securing the latching means 15 against disengaging from the panel 23. Further, the panel thickness compensation component 29 is visible. As the frame member 3 is preferably made of a polymer, no metallic parts abut the panel 23.
Fig. 6 shows a panel mount connector 69 according to the invention. The panel mount connector 69 comprises a connector body 71 that receives an exemplary connector insert 73. The connector body 71 further comprises through openings 75 on opposing sides of the connector body 71. Through openings 75 are configured to receive the mounting pin 19 of the frame assembly 1.
The through opening 75 comprises a nut receptacle 85 and the nut receptacle 85 comprises a hexagonal recess 51. This hexagonal recess 51 is a nut position coding means 86 that provides a predetermined number of different insertion positions 59 of a panel nut 77.
The panel nut 77 is configured to be received in the nut receptacle 85 provided in the connector body 71. The panel nut 77 further comprises a nut coding member 86a in the form of a hexagonal collar 86b. The nut coding member 86a is configured complementary to the nut coding means 86.
Thus, the mounting pin 19 is configured to be received in the through opening 75 and in the panel nut 77.
The panel nut 77 further comprises a counter coding structure 79 and is configured to interact with the coding structure 61 of the mounting pin 19. The counter coding structure 79 is shown in detail in Fig. 9 and 10.
The counter coding structure 79 comprises a coding key 87 that is formed by a longitudinal protrusion 89 which is best seen in Fig. 9.
If the panel nut 77 is received within the hexagonal recess 51, an insertion position 59 of the panel nut 77 is determined. Six insertion positions 59 are possible. The coding key 87 determines a coding position 91 of the panel nut 77. Six coding positions 91 may be set in the embodiment shown. The coding position 91 as well as the insertion position 59 may be indicated by indication means 67.
To mount and attach the panel mount connector 69 to the frame assembly 1, a clip arrangement 81 (Figs. 6, 8 and 9) is provided. The clip arrangement comprises a circlip 83 that is configured to engage the mounting means 65 of the mounting pin 19. This will also be shown in Fig. 9 and 10. The clip arrangement 81 is a part of the panel nut 77. In other embodiments (not shown), the clip arrangement 81 may be comprised in other elements, e.g. in a sleeve.
The connector body 71 has a hexagonal recess 51 in which the locking nut 77 may be received in a discrete number of insertion positions 59.
Further, in Fig. 7, a first embodiment of a set 93 is shown. The set 93 comprises a frame assembly 1 with one mounting pin 19 that is attached to the panel 23. The panel mount connector 69 comprises one panel nut 77 received in the hexagonal recess 51, respectively the nut receptacle 85, thereby setting a coding position 91 of the panel nut 77 which is fixed in the connector body 71.
The mounting pin 19 has the same coding position 91 which is set by the interaction between the hexagonal recess 51, i.e. the position coding means 49 in the frame member 3 and the coding member 41 of the mounting pin 19. As can be seen, only one mounting pin 19 is provided.
Fig. 8 shows a preferred embodiment of the set 93 with increased stability.
A frame assembly 1 is attached to the panel 23, wherein the mounting pins 19 extend to the first side 35a and to the second side 37a.
The frame member 3 is secured to the panel 23 by the mounting pin 19 locking an elastic movement of the latching means 15. From the first side 35a, a first panel mount connector 69a is attached to the mounting pins 19, which is only possible if the coding positions 91 of the mounting pins 19 correspond to the coding positions 91 of the panel nuts 77 of the first panel mount connector 69a.
In the cutout 13 of the panel 23, a connector face 95 of the first panel mount connector 69a is visible and accessible. Further, a second panel mount connector 69b is mounted from the second side 37a to the mounting pins 19. The second panel mount connector 69b also has a connector face 95, which is, however configured complementary to the connector face 95 of the first panel mount connector 69a. The first panel mount connector 69a is an electric connector 97 and the second panel mount connector 69b is an electric mating connector 99. Also, the panel nuts 77 of the electric mating connector 99 have the same coding position 91.
Each of the panel nuts 77 comprises a clip arrangement 81 for locking to the mounting means 65 of the two mounting pins 19.
The electric connector 97 is therefore provided with a fixed position with respect to the panel 23, which facilitates mounting the electric mating connector 99 thereto. This mounting may be performed with one hand.
In Fig. 9 and Fig. 10, the coding is shown in detail, as well as the fixation of the panel mount connector 69 to the mounting pin 19.
For reasons of visibility, the panel 23 is not shown in these two figures.
In Fig. 9, the panel mount connector 69 is in a pre-mount position 101. In the cut view, the coding key 87 in form of the longitudinal protrusion 89 of the panel nut 77 is received in the coding keyway 63 of the mounting pin 19. Only if the panel nut 77 and the mounting pin 19 are in the same coding position 91, the panel mount connector 69 may be mounted to the mounting pin 19. The same may be said for a second mounting pin 19. For both mounting pins 19, the coding position 91 must correspond to the coding position 91 of the corresponding panel nut 77.
Further, the circlip 83 of the clip arrangement 81 is shown in detail as well. The circlip 83 is received within the panel nut 77 and is fixed in its position. The circlip 83 comprises spokes 103 that extend radially inwards.
The mounting pin 19 has a chamfer 105, which, when getting in contact with the spokes 103 deflects the circlip 83 radially outwards, thereby lifting the spokes 103 in the same direction. Upon further insertion, the spokes 103 enter the mounting means 65 of the mounting pin 19, the mounting means 65 being a circumferential notch 66 (see also Fig. 3).
The circlip 83 comprises a protruding collar 107 with an inner chamfered surface 109 for bending open the circlip 83.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

1: frame assembly
3: frame member
5: opposing ends
7: first end
9: second end
11: central portion
13: cutout
15: latching means
17: latching hook
19: mounting pin
21: position assurance means
23: panel
23a: first surface
23b: second surface
25: through hole
27: panel cutout
29: panel thickness compensation component
31: flexible material
33: elastomeric part
35: first mounting end
35a: first side
37: second mounting end
37a: second side
39: central part
41: coding member
43: hexagonal structure
45: longitudinal axis
47: plug-in direction
49: position coding means
51: hexagonal recess
53: pin locking means
55: counter pin locking means
57: circumferential direction
59: insertion position
61: coding structure
63: coding keyway
65: mounting means
66: circumferential notch
67: indication means
69: panel mount connector
69a: first panel mount connector
69b: second panel mount connector
71: connector body
73: connector insert
75: through opening
77: panel nut
79: counter coding structure
81: clip arrangement
83: circlip
85: nut receptacle
86: nut position coding means
86a: nut coding member
86b: hexagonal collar
87: coding key
89: longitudinal protrusion
91: coding position
93: set
95: connector face
97: electric connector
99: electric mating connector
101: pre-mounting position
103: spoke
105: chamfer
107: protruding collar
109: inner chamfered surface
111: mounted state

Claims

Frame assembly (1) for mounting an electric connector (97) to a panel (23), wherein the frame assembly (1) comprises a frame member (3) that is configured to be mounted to the panel (23) and that is configured to receive the connector (97), the frame assembly (1) further comprising a mounting pin (19) and latching means (15) for mounting the frame member (3) to the panel (23).
Frame assembly (1) according to claim 1, wherein the mounting pin (19) is configured to be inserted through the latching means (15) of the frame member (3), wherein the mounting pin (19) is configured to secure the latching means (15) against disengaging from the panel (23) when the mounting pin (19) is received in the frame member (23).
Frame assembly (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the mounting pin (19) comprises pin locking means (53) configured to lock the mounting pin (19) to the frame member (3) and/or to the panel (23).
Frame assembly (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the mounting pin (19) protrudes from the frame member (3) at one side of the frame member (3), and wherein the mounting pin (19) comprises mounting means (65) configured to engage the connector (97).
Frame assembly (1) according to claim 4, wherein the mounting pin (19) tapers towards a free end, and wherein the mounting means (65) are provided at the free end of the mounting pin (19).
Frame assembly (1) according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the one side of the frame member (3), from which the mounting pin (19) protrudes is a first side (35a), and wherein the mounting pin (19) further protrudes from the frame member (3) at a second side (37a) of the frame member (3), the second side (37a) being opposite the first side (35a) with respect to the frame member (3).
Frame assembly (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a position coding means (49) is provided, the position coding means (49) providing a predetermined number of different insertion positions (59) of the mounting pin (19), each of the different insertion positions (59) being rotated relative around a plug-in direction (47) with respect to the remaining insertion positions (59), and wherein the mounting pin (19) comprises a coding member (41), the coding member (41) being configured complementary to the position coding means (49).
Frame assembly (1) according to claim 7, wherein the mounting pin (19) comprises a coding structure (61), the coding structure (61) being arranged at a coding position (91) in dependence on the insertion position (59) of the mounting pin (19).
Panel mount connector (69) for mounting to a panel (23), the panel mount connector (69) comprising at least one through opening (75), the through opening (75) being configured to receive the mounting pin (19) of a frame assembly (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8.
Panel mount connector (69) according to claim 9, further comprising a clip arrangement (81) that is adapted to engage mounting means (65) of the mounting pin (19).
Panel mount connector (69) according to claim 10, wherein the clip arrangement (81) comprises a circlip (83) that comprises a protruding collar (107) with an inner chamfered surface (109) for bending open the circlip (83).
Panel mount connector (69) according to any one of claims 9 to 11, further comprising a nut receptacle (85) and a panel nut (77) that is configured to be received in the nut receptacle (85), wherein a nut position coding means (86) is provided, the nut position coding means (86) providing a predetermined number of different insertion positions (59) of the panel nut (77), each of the different insertion positions (59) of the panel nut (77) being rotated relative around a pin-receiving direction with respect to the remaining insertion positions (59), and wherein the panel nut (77) comprises a nut coding member (86a), the nut coding member (86a) being configured complementary to the nut position coding means (86).
Panel mount connector (69) according to claim 12, wherein the panel nut (77) comprises a counter coding structure (79), the counter coding structure (79) being arranged at a coding position (91) in dependence on the insertion position (59) of the panel nut (77).
Set (93) comprising a frame assembly (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6 and a panel mount connector (69) according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the through opening (75) of the panel mount connector (69) is configured to engage the mounting pin (19) of the frame assembly (1).
Set (93) comprising a frame assembly (1) according to any one of claims 7 to 11 and a panel mount connector (69) according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the panel mount connector (69) is mountable to the frame assembly (1) if the coding structure (61) and the counter coding structure (79) are in complementary coding positions (91).