IE912911A1

IE912911A1 - Connector box for electrical conductors

Info

Publication number: IE912911A1
Application number: IE291191A
Authority: IE
Original assignee: Quante Ag
Priority date: 1990-08-17
Filing date: 1991-08-16
Publication date: 1992-02-26
Also published as: DE4026124A1; EP0471199A1

Abstract

A connection box for electrical conductors, in particular for flat strip conductors, having a plurality of parallel braided conductors, in telecommunications technology, having a baseplate which can be fitted to a wall or the like, having a covering cap, which has at least one opening for the insertion of a plug connector, at least one duct for the flat strip conductor being provided between the baseplate and covering cap, having at least one socket element for holding in each case one plug connector, and having penetrating contacts for making contact with an uncut flat strip conductor, characterised in that each socket element is fitted to the baseplate such that it can pivot about one axis and, when it is pivoted in, comes to rest over the flat strip conductor, there being arranged in the socket element spring contacts to which the penetrating contacts are fitted in an angled manner, and in that each socket element has a sprung pushbutton, constructed integrally with the top side, for releasing the lock of the plug connectors on its top side.

Description

Connector box for electrical conductors The invention relates to a connector box for electrical conductors, in particular for flat strip leads in telecommunications technology having several parallel bunched conductors, comprising the features of the preamble of patent claim 1.

A connector box for flat strip leads in telecommunications technology is known from EP-A-0360957 and has a base plate mountable on a wall or the like, a cover which has at least one opening for introducing a pin-and-socket connector, at least one lead-in duct being between the base plate and the cover provided for the flat strip lead, at least one socket element for receiving at least one pin-and-socket connector and penetration contacts for contacting an uncut flat strip lead. Such a connector box distinguishes itself through its space-saving arrangement. However, the compactness is achieved at the expense of a relatively complex construction which also implies that the individual components are only accessible with great difficulty.

It is therefore the object of invention to further develop a connector box in such a manner that the individual components of the connector box are easily accessible whilst maintaining the space-saving arrangement so that, in particular, a simple connecting and disconnecting of the flat strip lead becomes possible.

This object is solved by a connector box of the type initially mentioned comprising the features of the characterizing clause of patent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are the subject matter of the dependent claims In accordance with the present invention, each socket element is mounted to be pivotable about an axis on the base plate and comes to lie over the flat strip lead when swung into place, wherein spring contacts are arranged in the socket element upon which the penetration contacts are attached at an angle, each socket element additionally having on its upper side a resilient press button integrally formed with the upper side for releasing the locking mechanism of the pin-and-socket connector.

In the closed state of the connector box, the cover engages over the press button of the socket element and snaps into place. The cover can be opened with a simple tool such as a knife or a screw-driver. As soon as the cover no longer lies over the socket element, it can be pivoted about an axis so that the space for the flat strip lead to be inserted becomes accessible. On a whole, all components of the connector box are accessible in the simple manner. - 3 The spring contacts can be attached to the penetration contacts by means of crimping, welding or the like. Thus, the transitional resistance at the contact points is minimized.

It is furthermore advantageous if the arrangement consisting of the penetration contacts and the spring contacts can be snapped into place in the socket element. This unit is thus easy to mount and can, if necessary, also be exchanged in a simple manner.

Each of the spring contacts can have two legs of different length, wherein the penetration contacts are respectively arranged on the legs of various lengths. Thus, for the similarly long legs, a unitary lever effect results which is necessary for the trouble-free contacting of the pin-and-socket connector in the socket.

Preferably, the spring contacts are provided on a contact carrying plate, each conductor of the flat strip lead being connectable via one of the legs by means of their different length, whereby this is possible out of every spring position.

So that contact with the adjacent contacts is avoided, the leg of at least one of the spring contacts is provided regionally with a bend. This bend enables the leading of the legs under other conductor paths.

The socket element can be connected with the base plate by means of an undetachable threaded screw arranged in the upper part of the socket. In tightening the screw, a secure fitting of the socket element on the base plate and thus the penetration contacting on the flat strip lead is insured . - 4 The cover can be connected with the base plate by means of at least one film hinge. Thus, the cover is held on the base plate even in the pivoted state.

The base plate preferably has a chamfer at least one of its edges extending perpendicularly to the flat strip lead. Thus, the breaking off or unsupported carrying of the flat strip lead is avoided.

Additionally, a through-opening can be provided in the cover for each press button, although a common through-opening for all press buttons is also conceivable.

The socket elements are aligned with their insertion openings for the pin-and-socket connector either in the direction of the inserted flat strip lead or perpendicular to the direction of the inserted flat strip lead. Thus, the connector box is adaptable to the various conditions which are necessary for assembly.

In the following, the invention is merely described by example in more detail with respect to the drawings, in which: Fig shows a schematic view of a the connector box according invention, first embodiment of to the present Fig . 2 shows a schematic the connector box invention, vies of a according second embodiment of to the present Fig. 3 shows a schematic view of the connector box in Fig. 1 in which the cover is swung away, - 5 Fig. 4 shows a schematic view of a fourth embodiment of the connector box according to the invention with the cover pivoted out of place, Fig. 5 shows the connector box of Fig. 4 with a mounted cover, Fig. 6 shows a schematic view of the base plate, Fig. 7 shows a schematic view of a socket element, Fig . 8 shows a schematic comprising spring view of a contact plate elements, Fig. 9 shows a cross-sectional view of the contact arrangement in Fig. 8, and Fig. 10 shows a detailed view of a spring contact.

The connector box in Fig. 1 is depicted in the closed condition, i.e. the cover 12 covers the socket element and in particular the flat strip lead 15. For inserting a pin-and-socket connector, an insertion opening 38 is provided in the cover which corresponds with an associated opening of the socket element. On inserting the pin-and-socket, this glides and contacts the spring contacts 41 and is held in the socket element by means of a catch. On account of the particular formation of the spring contacts 41, the contacting of the flat strip lead 15 is optimized. In this embodiment, the insertion opening lies perpendicular to the direction of the flat strip lead . In order to guide the flat strip lead 15 through the housing, recesses 50 are provided in the cover 12. The upper side of the cover 12 additionally includes a - 6 through-open 32 through which the press button 30 of the socket element projects in the closed state of the connector box. By pressing down the press button 30, the locked pin and socket connector is released out of its fixed state.

In Fig. 2, a connector box is depicted in which two insertion openings 38, 39 for the pin-and-socket connector are provided. Corresponding cut-outs 36, 37 are arranged in the cover 42. Each of the socket elements is provided with a press button 30, 31 which are respectively guided through the through-openings 32, 33 in the cover 12. When the cover 12 is swung into place, these snap into position via the opening 48 and the snap connector 47 so that the cover 12 securely maintains the connector box in a closed state. A flat strip lead 15 is furthermore led through the housing for which suitable recesses 50 are provided in the cover 12. The press buttons 30, 31 for each socket element are led through the corresponding openings 32, 33. In order to remove the cover 12, both press buttons 30, 31 must be pressed so that the cover 12 can be swung away after release of the snap connector 47, 48. The spring contacts 41 can simultaneously contact the bunched conductors of the flat strip lead 15, but it is also possible that mutually corresponding spring contacts 41 are associated with different bunched conductors.

Fig. 3 shows the conductor box of Fig. 1, but with the cover 12 swung away. The socket element 13 is mounted on a base plate which is provided with fastening holes 51, wherein the socket element 13 is pivotable about the axis 20 relative to the base plate 11. An undetachably mounted threaded screw 21 in the socket element 13 can be screwed into the base plate 11 and thus provides for a secure - 7 positioning of the socket element 13 on the flat strip lead 15. The flat strip lead 15 extends under the socket element 13, whereby in accordance with the embodiment depicted here, it is arranged perpendicularly to the insertion opening 38 of the socket element 13. On the upper side 14 of the socket element 13, an integrally formed press button 30 is mounted. The cover 12 is fastened on the base plate 11 by means of a film hinge 22. The cover 12 has recesses 49 which engage over the flat strip lead 15 when the cover 12 is swung into place. Additionally, an opening 48 is provided in the cover 12 and serves for the snapping into place of the cover 12 on the socket element 13.

Fig. 4 shows an embodiment of the invention in which the insertion opening 38 of the socket element 13 lies in the direction of the flat strip lead 15. Furthermore, the socket element 13 is pivotably mounted about an axis 20 and can be fastened by means of a threaded screw 21 to the base plate 11. Additionally, the snap connector 47 over which the opening 48 of the cover 12 engages is provided on the socket element 13. When the cover 12 is swung into place, the recesses 49, 50 lie over the flat strip lead 15 while the cut-out 36 coincides with the insertion opening 38.

Fig. 5 shows the connector box of Fig. 4 with the cover 12 swung into place. The cover 12 is snapped into position via the snap connector 47 in the opening 48. When swung into place, the cut out 36 coincides with the insertion opening 38 which extends parallel to the direction of the flat strip lead 15. The cover 12 has two chamfered surfaces 34, 35 which can adapted in terms of their inclination in such a manner that the internal components are optimally covered. - 8 Fig. 6 essentially shows the base plate 11 of a connector box according to the invention to which a cover 12 is attached via a film hinge 22. In the vicinity of the film hinge 22, axle guides 28, 29 are provided which serve to receive the axle 20 of the socket element. In order to align the socket element relative to the base plate 11, positioning aids 18, 19 in the form of recesses are provided on the base plate in the vicinity of the edge regions of the base plate 11. A lead-in duct 17 is additionally provided on the base plate 11 for the flat strip lead and equipped with inclinations 23, 24 in order to prevent the flat strip lead from breaking off at its point of exit from the connector box. A threaded bore is provided on the side of the duct lying opposite the axle guides which serves to receive a threaded screw provided on the socket element.

Fig. 7 shows a socket element 13 which substantially consists of an integral body upon the upper side 14 of which a press button 30 is integrally formed. In the vicinity of the insertion opening 38, axle pins 26, 27 are provided which can be inserted into the corresponding axle guides of the base plate so that the socket element 13 is pivotable about the axis formed through these axle pins.

On the side opposite the insertion opening 38 a snap connector 47 is provided over which the cover snaps into place. The socket element 13 has a pedestal 16 which is displaced relative to the upper side 14 of the socket element and in which the threaded screw 21 is disposed.

Fig. 8 shows a contact carrier plate 44 upon which a number of spring contacts are mounted, in this case four. The longer legs 43 of the spring contacts are guided in grooves 55 and thus aligned with an exact fit. The legs 42 are, for example, bent at 45° relative to the contact - 9 carrier plate 44 and essentially project upwards. The longer legs 43 are guided in path 54 in such a manner that they allow for the desired wiring connection to be realized. At the front side of the contact carrier plate 44 in the vicinity of the bending point of the leg 42, snap studs 45, 46 are provided which can be inserted into the corresponding guide rails of the socket element and snapped into predetermined positions.

Fig. 9 shows a sectional view of the depiction in Fig. 8. Penetration contacts 40 connected to the spring contacts 41 are guided through the contact carrier plate 44. Thus, a stable location of the penetration contacts 40 in the whole arrangment is ensured.

Fig. 10 shows one of the spring contacts 41 in detail.

Such a spring contact 41 consists essentially of two legs 42, 43 of different lengths. The shorter leg 42 of these is bent relative to the longer leg 43. The longer leg 43 has a bend 53 in the vicinity of the penetration contact 43. On account of this bend, the leg 43 can be guided under one of the conducting contacts without an electrical contact arising between these. The penetration contacts 40 are formed in the shape of teeth and are located at a continuation 57 of the longer leg 43 of the spring contact 41.

Claims

1. Connector box for electrical conductors, in particular for flat strip leads in telecommunications technology having several parallel bunched conductors, comprising a base plate mountable on a wall or the like, a cover which has at least one opening for inserting a pin-and-socket connector, at least one lead-in duct being provided between the base plate and the cover for the flat strip lead, at least one socket element for respectively receiving a pin-and-socket connector, and penetration contacts for contacting an uncut flat strip lead, characterized in that each socket element (13) is pivotably mounted about an axis (20) on the base plate (11) and comes to lie over the flat strip lead (15) when swung into place, wherein spring contacts (41) are arranged in the socket element (13) to which the penetration contacts (40) are attached at an angle, and that each socket element (13) has on its upper side (14) a resilient press button (30, 31) integrally formed with the upper side for releasing the lock of the pin-and-socket connector.

2. Connector box according to claim 1, characterized in that the spring contacts (41) are connected to the penetration contacts (40) by means of crimping, welding or the like.

3. Connector box according to claim 1, characterized in that the arrangement consisting of the penetration contacts (40) and spring contacts (41) is snappable into the socket element (13). - 11

4. Connector box according to one of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that each of the spring contacts (41) has two legs (42, 43) of different length, the penetration contacts (40) respectively being arranged on the longer (43) of the legs (42, 43).

5. Connector box according to one of the claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the spring contacts (41) are provided on a contact carrier plate (44), each conductor of the flat strip lead (15) being connectable with one of the legs (43) on account of their different lengths.

6. Connector box according to one of the claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the leg (43) of at least one of the spring contacts (41) is locally provided with a bend (53).

7. Connector box according to one of the claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the socket element (13) is connectable with the base plate (11) by means of an undetachable threaded screw (21) arranged in the socket upper portion (13).

8. Connector box according to one of the claims l to 7, characterized in that the cover (12) is connected to the base plate (11) by means of at least one film hinge (22).

9. Connector box according to one of the claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the base plate (11) has a chamfering (23, 24) on at least one of its edges lying perpendicular to the flat strip lead (15). 11. 11. 12 . 12 . Connector box according to one of the claims 1 to 9, characterized in that a through-opening (32, 33) is provided in the cover (12) for each press button (30, 31) . Connector box according to one of the claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the socket elements (13) are aligned with their insertion opening (38) for pin-and-socket connectors in the direction of the inserted flat strip lead (15). Connector box according to one of the claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the socket elements (13) are aligned with their insertion opening (38, 39) for pin-and-socket connectors perpendicular to the direction of the inserted flat strip lead (15). Connector box for flat strip electrical conductors substantially as described herein with reference to, and as shown in, Figures 1 and 3, 2, 4 and 5, or 6 to 10 of the accompanying drawings.