WO2011157606A1

WO2011157606A1 - Connection device and connection system

Info

Publication number: WO2011157606A1
Application number: PCT/EP2011/059501
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jacco Elenbaas; Rick Groeneveld
Original assignee: Tyco Electronics Nederland Bv
Priority date: 2010-06-16
Filing date: 2011-06-08
Publication date: 2011-12-22
Also published as: DE202010009146U1

Abstract

It is the object of the present invention to provide a contact unit which may be reliably fixed to a complementary contact unit, a fixing of the contact unit at the complementary contact unit being easily removable as well as favourably providing construction space. Furthermore, it is the object of the present invention to provide a contact system comprising such a contact unit. In order to solve this object, a contact unit (LC-connector) for a fibre optic cable is provided comprising a first housing part, a contact element arranged at the first housing part and a second housing part being moveably arranged at the first housing part between a first position and a second position. The contact element comprises a locking unit for fixing the contact unit to a complementary contact unit. The second housing part is moveably arranged at the first housing part in such a way that the second housing part actuates the locking unit for removing the fixing upon being moved into the second position. In this manner it is safeguarded that the fixing of the contact unit may be easily removed by means of the locking unit at the complementary contact unit. Furthermore, the provision of an additional actuating space for actuating the locking unit of the contact unit may be abandoned.

Description

CONNECTION DEVICE AND CONNECTION SYSTEM

The present invention relates to a contact means for a fibre optic cable, which means can be fixed to a complementary contact means. Further, the invention relates to a contact system with a contact means, a complementary contact means and a fibre optic cable.

Numerous contact means and contact systems for fibre optic cables are known, with engagement means which serve to fix the contact means to a complementary contact means.

The object of the invention is to provide a contact means which can be fixed reliably to a complementary contact means, a fixing of the contact means on the complementary contact means being designed to be detachable in simple manner and also beneficial in terms of space. Further, it is also an object of the invention to provide a contact system with such a contact means.

This object is achieved by a contact means according to Claim 1 and by a contact system according to Claim 14. Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are set forth in the dependent claims.

According to the invention, a contact means for a fibre optic cable is proposed which has a first housing part, a contact element arranged on the first housing part and a second housing part which is mounted on the first housing part displaceably between a first position and a second position. The contact element comprises a latch means for fixing the contact means to a complementary contact means. The second housing part is mounted displaceably on the first housing part such that the second housing part upon displacement into the second position actuates the latch means for detaching the fixing.

In this manner, it is ensured that the fixing of the contact means on the

complementary contact means by means of the latch means can be detached in simple manner. Further, it is possible to dispense with providing an additional actuation space for actuating the latch means of the contact means. This advantage is yielded in particular with a configuration of the contact means with a plurality of contact elements having a latch means. In this case, all the latch means of the contact elements can be actuated simultaneously by the displacement of the second housing part into the second position, in order to detach the fixing of the contact means on the complementary contact means in simple manner.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the latch means has a latch element and an unlocking element, the contact means being able to be fixed via the latch element of the latch means on the complementary contact means. The latch element and the unlocking element of the latch means are formed projecting from the contact element. The unlocking element, upon the displacement of the second housing part into the second position, presses the latch element in the direction of the contact element to detach the fixing. In this manner, the fixing of the contact means is detached by a movement sequence which is simple to carry out in the form of the displacement of the second housing part into the second position.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the unlocking element has a sliding surface which is associated with the latch element, the latch element, upon the displacement of the second housing part into the second position, sliding along the sliding surface of the unlocking element. The sliding surface in this case ensures low-resistance sliding of the latch element on the unlocking element in the direction of the contact element.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the unlocking element and the latch element are arranged opposed to each other on the contact element. This ensures that hooking of the unlocking element with the latch element upon fixing the contact means on the

complementary contact means is avoided.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the unlocking element has a knob-shaped raised section which upon the displacement of the second housing part into the second position is in physical contact with the second housing part. This means that a reduced contact surface between the unlocking element and the second housing part can be provided, facilitated by the sliding of the unlocking element on the second housing part upon the displacement of the second housing part into the second position. In a further embodiment of the invention, the second housing part has a curved end section which upon the displacement of the second housing part into the second position actuates the latch means or the unlocking element thereof to detach the fixing of the contact means. In this manner, a soft and homogeneous force path can be made available for the actuation of the latch means.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the second housing part has an operating structure for easier handling. This may be formed e.g. as a T-shaped structure on a surface of the second housing part.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the first housing part has a circumambient housing wall which encompasses an interior of the first housing part. Further, the first housing part has in the interior a fixing means for fixing a glass fibre of the fibre optic cable. In this manner, the glass fibre can be fastened reliably in the first housing part. In this case, in particular impairments such as bending of the glass fibre or dropping below a minimum radius of the glass fibre can be avoided.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the housing wall of the first housing part which encompasses the interior has a fixing receptacle for fixing the contact element to the first housing part. In this case, a partial section of the contact element projects out of the interior of the first housing part in the position fixed to the first housing part. The fixing receptacle ensures simple and reliable fastening of the contact element to the first housing part.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the housing wall which encompasses the interior has a wall section, extending in a triangle, with at least one cutout for receiving a strain relief device or an anti-kink protection for the fibre optic cable. This ensures optimum orientation of the fibre optic cable dependent on an assembly location, so that bending of the fibre optic cable can be avoided.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the second housing part has, in the region of the triangular wall section of the first housing part, a covering element by which the fibre optic cable and/or the strain relief device and/or the anti-kink protection is at least partially covered. The fibre optic cable and/or the strain relief device and/or the anti-kink protection can be protected from mechanical damage by the covering element.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the first housing part has a T-shaped receptacle and the second housing part has a T-shaped rail. The T-shaped rail engages in the T-shaped receptacle for the displaceable mounting of the second housing part on the first housing part. In this manner, a direction of displacement of the second housing part can be established in simple manner, and furthermore reliable fastening and simple mounting of the second housing part on the first housing part can be ensured.

According to the invention, furthermore a contact system with a contact means described above and a complementary contact means is proposed. Therein, the

complementary contact means has a complementary contact element and an engagement means, the engagement means being formed for engaging with the latch means of the contact means, in order to fix the contact means on the complementary contact means. In this manner, it is ensured that the fixing of the contact system can be detached in simple manner.

The invention will be explained in greater detail below with reference to figures. Therein:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a contact means;

Figure 2 shows a side view of a contact system, the contact means of Figure 1 being fixed to a complementary contact means;

Figure 3 shows a detail view of the contact system shown in Figure 2;

Figure 4 shows a side view of the contact means shown in Figure 2 upon unlocking of the fixing;

Figure 5 shows a top view of a first housing part of the contact means;

Figure 6 shows a partial section through the first housing part shown in Figure 5; Figure 7 shows a view of a second housing part;

Figure 8 shows a side view of the second housing part shown in Figure 7; and

Figure 9 shows a modification of the first housing part of Figure 5 in a top view.

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a contact means 1 , the components of which can be produced from plastics material for example in an injection-moulding process. The contact means 1 is designed to be used e.g. as a "Lucent Connector" (LC), in order to connect e.g. a fibre optic cable 40 to a control unit. For this, the contact means 1 has a first housing part 11, a plurality of contact elements 15 arranged on the front side of the first housing part 11, with in each case a latch means 20, 21 and a second housing part 10 arranged on the upper side of the first housing part 11.

In the configuration shown in Figure 1 , the contact means 1 merely has contact elements 15 with a latch means 20, 21. Furthermore, there is the possibility that the contact means 1 is also provided with contact elements 16 without latch means in addition to contact elements 15. This will be discussed in greater detail further below in conjunction with Figure 5. First the construction of a contact element 15 will be described below.

The contact element 15 comprises, as illustrated in Figures 1 to 4, a latch means with a latch element 20 and an unlocking element 21, which are formed in the manner of a spring. The contact element 15 is formed with an approximately rectangular cross-section and comprises an opening region through which a glass fibre 42 of a multi-core fibre optic cable 40 is guided. The glass fibre 42 projects out in the manner of a pin from the contact element 15 on a side of the contact element 15 which is remote from the first housing part 11. The latch element 20 and the unlocking element 21 are arranged on the contact element 15 opposed to each other on an upper side of the contact element 15, as will also become clear with reference to the side view of Figure 2 described in greater detail further below.

In Figure 1 and the following figures, further a coordinate system with directions x, y, z which are perpendicular to each other is illustrated, by means of which the mode of operation of the contact means 1 is described. The second housing part 10 is mounted displaceably in a direction of displacement (y direction) between a first position and a second position on the first housing part 11. On an end on the front side, the second housing part 10 has an end section 12 which is formed curved and pointing away from a contact element 15. Further, an actuation structure 31 for easier displacement of the second housing part 10 relative to the first housing part 11 is arranged on an upper side 30 of the second housing part 10. The actuation structure 31 is formed in a T-shape, as illustrated in Fig. 1, with a region 310 arranged transversely to the direction of displacement (x direction) and a region 31 1 oriented along the direction of displacement (y direction). In this case, the region 310 arranged transversely to the direction of displacement can offer sufficient purchase to a user. The region 311 oriented along the direction of displacement can indicate the direction of displacement to a user.

Apart from this configuration, it is conceivable to design the operating structure 31 in a different configuration, such as linear, rod-shaped, with domed knobs or circular.

Further, grip elements 69 are arranged on the rear side of the first housing part 11 , in order further to facilitate the handling of the contact means 1. Figure 2 shows a side view of a contact system 5, the contact means 1 of Figure 1 being fixed on a complementary contact means 2. For better illustration, further a detail view of the contact system 5 is shown in Figure 3. The complementary contact means 2 has in each case a complementary contact element 71 (indicated in broken lines in Figure 2) with an engagement means 70 for each contact element 15 (or 16). In the fixed state of the contact means 1 on the complementary contact means 2, the contact element 15 is at least partially received by the complementary contact element 71 and provides a glass fibre contact between the glass fibre 42 and a further glass fibre 74 arranged in the complementary contact means 2. The further glass fibre 74 is e.g. a constituent of a further multicore fibre optic cable, which is fastened on the complementary contact means 2 (not shown).

The engagement means 70 of the complementary contact element 71 comprises a cutout 73 which is delimited by a shoulder 72. The complementary contact element 71 is e.g. in the form of a contact receptacle integrated in the complementary contact means. It is however also conceivable to form the complementary contact element 71 in the form of a component which can be inserted separately into the complementary contact means 2. In this case, the complementary contact element 71 is formed in the manner of a bush, in order to receive, at least partially, the contact element 15 formed in the manner of a plug in the assembled state.

The latch element 20 and the unlocking element 21 of the contact element 15 of the contact means 1 are, as described above, arranged opposed to each other on the contact element 15. In such case, the unlocking element 21 and the latch element 20 in the assembled state project from the upper side of the contact element 15. Further, the latch element 20 and the unlocking element 21 are oriented towards each other, with in the embodiment illustrated in Figure 2 the unlocking element 21 being arranged overlapping the latch element 20. The latch element 20 has in each case laterally projecting latch projections 26 which in the embodiment of Figures 2 and 3 may extend perpendicular to the plane of the drawing. The latch projections 26 engage in the assembled state in the cutout 73 in the engagement means 70, which fixes the contact means 1 on the complementary contact means 2.

As further illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, the unlocking element 21 projects over the latch element 20 and contacts a free end of the latch element 20 at a contact point 36. A further end of the latch element 20 is fastened at a fastening point 27 in the region of the upper side of the contact element 15. The free end of the latch element 20 in this case lies against a sliding surface 24 arranged on the underside of the unlocking element 21 in the contact point 36. Further, a free end of the unlocking element 21 is associated with the free end of the latch element 20. The unlocking element 21 is fastened in a fastening point 28, which is arranged opposed to the fastening point 27 of the latch element 20 in the region of the upper side of the contact element 15.

On the upper side, facing the second housing part 10, the unlocking element 21, as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, has a plurality of knob-shaped raised sections 25 which upon displacement of the second housing part into the second position come into contact with the second housing part 10 in a contact point 43. Due to the knob-shaped configuration, the contact surface and hence the friction in the contact point are reduced, which permits easier sliding of the second housing part 10 on the unlocking element 21. It is further conceivable to vary the number and configuration of knobs of the knob-shaped raised section 25. In particular, the construction of the knob-shaped raised section 25 from a single knob is alternatively conceivable.

Due to the displaceable mounting of the second housing part 10 on the first housing part 1 1 , a predetermined direction of displacement (y direction) is established. In Figures 2 and 3, the second housing part 10 is shown in a first position of the mounting. Upon displacement of the second housing part 10, indicated in Figure 2 by an unbroken arrow, in the direction of a second position illustrated in Figure 4, at least one knob-shaped raised section 25 is in physical contact with an underside 32 of the second housing part 10. Further, upon the displacement of the sliding member or of the second housing part 10, the unlocking element 21 is pressed in the direction of the contact element 15. Upon the displacement of the second housing part 10, the latter is displaced counter to a combined spring force of the spring-like unlocking element 21 and the spring-like latch element 20. In so doing, the unlocking element 21 in the region of the free end of the unlocking element 21 actuates the free end of the spring-like latch element 20 and depresses it in the direction of the contact element 15. Upon depressing, the latch element 20 slides in the contact point 36 along the sliding surface 24 of the unlocking element 21. Further, upon depressing of the latch element 20, the latch projection 26 is drawn out of the cutout 73 until the latch element 20 is completely detached from the engagement means 70 of the complementary contact means 2 and the engagement or fixing of the contact means 1 on the complementary contact means 2 is cancelled out. Further, the actuation of the latch means 20, 21 by the second housing part 10 shown in Figures 2 to 4 ensures an embodiment of the contact means 1 which is beneficial in terms of space, since it is possible to dispense with the provision of an actuation space for actuating the latch means 20, 21 above the latch means 20, 21. This advantage further permits the close arrangement of a plurality of contact means 1 next to each other on a plurality of complementary contact means 2. The sliding surface 24 described above is formed such that the sliding of the latch element 20 on the unlocking element 21 is facilitated. This can be done in particular by a particularly smooth surface structure or by a layer of material which has a particularly low coefficient of friction. The layer of material of the sliding surface 24 could for example be introduced by means of a dual-component injection-moulding process upon the production of the contact element 15.

The curved end section 12 of the second housing part 10 is formed such that a force for depressing the unlocking element 21 is particularly low. For this, the curvature of the second housing part 12 is substantially in the form of a part of a circle which covers an angular segment of 45°. Due to this configuration, a soft and homogeneous force path for the displacement of the second housing part 10 and hence for the detaching of the fixing is provided. It is however also conceivable to form the end section 12, instead of a curved configuration, by means of an incline, a plurality of inclines arranged one behind another, or by a straight continuation of the second housing part 10. It would also be conceivable to form the end section 12 as a chamfer on a front edge of the second housing part 10.

Upon the displacement of the second housing part 10 from the first position into the second position, the second housing part 10 is displaced counter to the combined spring force of the unlocking element 21 and of the latch element 20. This combined spring force supports the returning of the second housing part 10 or of the sliding member from the second position into the first position. For this, the stressed unlocking element 21 presses against the end section 12 of the second housing part such that a restoring force is provided counter to the direction of displacement (illustrated in Figure 4 by means of an arrow shown in broken lines). Furthermore, the combined spring force of the unlocking element 21 and of the latch element 20 prevents unintentional displacement of the second housing part 10 out of the first position thereof, and consequently detaching of the fixing from the complementary contact means 2.

Further, it is conceivable to support the returning of the second housing part 10 into the first position by means of an additional spring element which is connected by a first end to the first housing part 11 and by a second end to the second housing part. A beneficial arrangement position for such a spring element would be approximately in a central position of the first housing part 11, the first housing part 11 and the second housing part 10 each having a fastening element for fastening the spring element. Alternatively, it would be conceivable to arrange two spring elements laterally in the first housing part 11 in order to ensure even pulling-back of the second housing part 10. In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 4, the unlocking element 21 and the latch element 20 of the latch means of a contact element 15 are formed overlapping and fastened to opposed regions of the appropriate contact element 15. It is however alternatively also conceivable for the latch element 20 and the unlocking element 21 to be connected to the free ends and formed in one piece.

Further, alternatively to the overlapping arrangement on the latch element 20, it is conceivable for the unlocking element 21 to have an entraining device which entrains the latch element 20 upon the displacement of the second housing part 10 and presses it in the direction of the contact element 15.

Further, it is alternatively conceivable to arrange the two fastening points 27, 28 not in opposed regions of the contact element 15, but in regions which are arranged next to one another. Also, in this configuration too, the unlocking element 21 can simply actuate the latch element 20 and thus the contact means 1 can be detached from the complementary contact means 2.

Further, it is conceivable to arrange the second housing part 10 relative to the first housing part 11 such that in a first position there is no physical contact between the latch means 20, 21 and the second housing part 10. If the second housing part 10 is displaced into the second position, the second housing part 10 from a given position onwards contacts the unlocking element 21 of the latch means 20, 21 in order to detach the latch element 20 from the engagement means 70 of the complementary contact means 2.

Figure 5 shows a top view of the first housing part 11 of the contact means 1 in the partially assembled state. The first housing part 11 has an approximately rectangular outline or is cassette-shaped. A circumambient housing wall 63 encompasses an interior of the first housing part 11. The interior is closed on the upper side in the assembled state of the contact means 1 by the second housing part 10.

In contrast to the embodiment of the contact means 1 shown in Figure 1 , which comprises exclusively contact elements with latch element and unlocking element 20, 21, in the embodiment shown in Figure 5, as an example a plurality of contact elements 15 with latch elements 20 and unlocking elements 21 and also contact elements 16 without such latch elements 20 and unlocking elements 21 are arranged on the front side of the first housing part 11. The contact elements 16 otherwise have the same construction as the contact elements 15. The number and arrangement of the contact elements 15, 16 is flexible, and may be varied corresponding to the intended use. In particular, the arrangement of the contact elements 15, 16 may be selected such that the spring force and the restoring force (established by the contact elements 15), in order to displace the second housing part 10 into the second position and back, is adjustable. Further, the contact elements 15, 16 may be combined with each other such that both easier engagement and easier unlocking can be made available.

For fastening the contact elements 15, 16, the housing wall 63 has a plurality of receptacles 52, with a groove 51 being arranged at regular distances between the receptacles 52 in order to be able to compensate for manufacturing tolerances of the contact elements 15, 16 introduced into the receptacles 52. In such case, the contact elements 15, 16 in the assembled state project out of the first housing part 11 on the front side with a partial section. A further partial section of the contact elements 15, 16 is located in the receptacle 52 and in the interior of the first housing part 11. On the rear side of the housing wall 63 which is arranged opposed to the front side there is arranged a wall section 61, extending in a triangle, of the housing wall 63 with two cutouts 62 for receiving a strain relief device and/or an anti-kink protection 60. In the embodiment shown in Figure 5, the strain relief device for the fibre optic cable 40 is also integrated in the anti-kink protection 60.

The anti-kink protection 60 is conical and comprises an incision 67. The latter receives, in the assembled state of the anti-kink protection 60 in the cutout 62, the housing wall 63 and fastens the anti-kink protection 60 to the first housing part 11. The fibre optic cable 40 is guided into the interior of the first housing part 11 through the anti-kink protection 60, the fibre optic cable 40 being connected to the anti-kink protection 60 in order to fasten the fibre optic cable 40 to the first housing part 11. In the embodiment shown in Figure 5, only the right-hand side cutout 62 is occupied by the anti-kink protection 60 and the fibre optic cable 40. The cutout 62 arranged on the left-hand side is unoccupied. Due to the arrangement of the two cutouts 62, the anti-kink protection 60 can be arranged in one of the two cutouts 62 depending on the desired orientation of the fibre optic cable 40. In this manner, improved cable guidance on the contact means 1 can be provided.

In the interior of the first housing part 11, as illustrated in Figure 5, both two T- shaped rails 33 and two wall sections 13 are arranged symmetrically to the longitudinal axis (y direction) of the first housing part 11. The wall sections 13 are oriented with their longitudinal axis in the y direction and each have a side face 130 in the form of a part of a circle, in order to guide a glass fibre 42 of the fibre optic cable 40 optimally. The

configuration of the side face 130 of the wall section 13 is dependent on a minimum radius in which the glass fibre 42 of the fibre optic cable 40 can be guided. The radius of a curvature of the side face 130 should in this case ideally not drop below the minimum radius of the glass fibre 42. Furthermore, there is the possibility of continuing a contour in the form of a partial circle in the region of the bottom of the interior of the first housing part 11, on which the T- shaped rails 33 and the wall sections 13 are arranged (indicated in broken lines in Figure 5). Alternatively, it is also conceivable to configure the side face 130 of the wall section 13 from one or more inclines.

On the wall sections 13 and the housing wall 63 there are further arranged fixing means 14 which project into the interior, which means are designed to fasten the glass fibres 42 of the fibre optic cable 40. The fastening of the glass fibres 42 to the wall sections 13 and the housing wall 63 ensures optimum guidance of the glass fibres 42 in the interior of the first housing part 11. In order not to drop below a minimum radius of the glass fibres 42, the glass fibres 42 emerge from the fibre optic cable 40 after the anti-kink protection 60 and are guided via associated wall sections 13 and also a plurality of fixing means 14 to the corresponding contact elements 15, 16, to which the glass fibres 42 are fastened by means of sleeves 37.

Figure 6 shows a partial section through the first housing part 11 shown in Figure 5 along the section line A- A shown in Figure 5, by means of which a possible construction of the fixing means 14 also becomes clear. The fixing means 14 may for example be in the form of encompassing bar elements, in which the glass fibres 42 can be suspended. The vertical arrangement or height (z direction) of the fixing means 14 on the wall sections 13 arranged in the interior and the housing wall 63 is determined by the thickness and number of the glass fibres 42 which are to be fastened. Thus it is conceivable for the fixing means 14 to be arranged on the first housing part 11 in a different vertical position on the wall section 13 and the housing wall 63, in order to fasten a different number of glass fibres 42.

Figure 7 shows a view of the second housing part 10 and Figure 8 shows a side view of the second housing part 10. The second housing part 10 comprises on the underside 32, which faces the first housing part 11, T-shaped receptacles 34 which have a stop 35 at one end. For the displaceable mounting of the second housing part 10 on the first housing part 11, the T-shaped rails 33 (cf. Figure 6) engage in the T-shaped receptacles 34, which are open towards the end section 12. The stop 35 of the T-shaped receptacles 34 in this case limits the path of displacement of the second housing part 10 in the displacement from the first position to the second position.

As can also be seen from Figure 8, the actuation structure 31 shown in Figure 1 is arranged on the opposite side from the T-shaped receptacles 34 of the plate-shaped second housing part 10.

Upon the assembling of the contact means 1, the second housing part 10 is pushed with the opened side of the T-shaped receptacle 34 from the rear side of the first housing part 11 onto the first housing part 11, with [into] the T-shaped rails 33 engaging in the T-shaped receptacles 34. To this end, the housing wall 63 has on the rear side in each case an indentation 64 (cf. Figure 6) which is formed such that in each case a T-shaped receptacle 34 of the second housing part 10 shown in Figures 7 and 8 can be guided through the indentation 64.

Alternative embodiments are conceivable instead of the T-shaped rails 33 and receptacles 34 illustrated in Figures 5 to 8. For example, the stop 35 of the receptacles 34 can be provided at an opposing point, so that instead of the second position the first position of the second housing part 10 is determined by the stop 35. Alternatively to the T-shaped configuration of the rails 33 and receptacles 34, other configurations are also conceivable, such as an L-shaped, a spherically-headed or a curved embodiment of the rails 33 and receptacles 34.

The second housing part 10 has further, as is apparent with reference to Figure 7, a covering element 38 which is arranged on the end located opposite the end section 12 on the second housing part 10. The covering element 38 is formed as a rectangular projection of the second housing part 10, and protects the fibre optic cable 40 which is arranged thereunder in the assembled state from mechanical damage in the region of the anti-kink protection 60. In such case, the covering element 38 projects out of a peripheral contour of the second housing part 10, in order to protect the fibre optic cable 40 in space-saving manner and at the same time to define an installation space height for the contact means 1. Further, the covering element 38 may serve for rear-side actuation of the second housing part 10, in order to detach the engagement of the latch means 20, 21 on the complementary contact means 2. Alternatively, likewise very widely varying geometric configurations of the covering element 38, such as a triangular or a semicircular configuration, are conceivable.

Figure 9 shows a top view of a modified housing part 110. The modified housing part 110 is substantially identical to the first housing part 11 shown in Figures 1 to 5, and, unlike the first housing part 11 , is formed to permit vertical departure of the fibre optic cable 40 from the modified housing part 110. For this, the modified housing part 110 has on the rear side a rectilinearly extending wall section 65 with a thickened section 66 extending into the interior of the housing part 110. The thickened section 66 and the rectilinearly extending wall section 65 have the cutout 62 for receiving the anti-kink protection 60, which recess is oriented in the y direction. The thickened section 66 serves to reinforce the rectilinearly extending end section 65 and to guide the glass fibres 42. The thickened section 66 has on an inner surface facing the interior a curved path, in order to provide a contour which is beneficial in terms of injection-moulding for the production of the housing part 110 and sufficient purchase for the strain relief device and/or the anti-kink protection 60. However, alternatively other forms of orientation and cutouts for receiving the strain relief device and/or the anti-kink protection 60 on the rear side of the housing part 11 of Figure 5 and the modified housing part 110 of Figure 9 are also conceivable. The embodiments of contact means 1 , 2 and their components explained with reference to the figures represent preferred embodiments, or embodiments by way of example, of the invention. In addition to the embodiments described and illustrated, further embodiments which may comprise further modifications or combinations of the features described are conceivable.

In particular, it is pointed out that the complementary contact means 2 of the contact system 5 which are also shown can also be realised in a different or modified configuration. For example, it is possible for the engagement means 70 of the complementary contact means 2 to have a bulge which engages in a receptacle of the latch element 20 of the contact means 1, in order thus to fasten the contact means 1 on the complementary contact means 2. Also the engagement means 70 may be realised separately/separated from a complementary contact element 71.

It is also conceivable to arrange the fibre optic cable 40 shown both on the contact means 1 and on the complementary contact means 2, which provides a coupling cable.

Furthermore, it is pointed out that the configuration of a contact element 15 and also of a contact element 16 is by way of example. Thus it is conceivable to replace the rectangular cross-section by other desired ones, such as circular, elliptical, polygonal or trapezoidal cross-sectional forms. Also the arrangement and number of the latch element 20 and of the unlocking element 21 on the contact element 15 is by way of example. Thus it is entirely conceivable to arrange a plurality of latch elements 20 and associated unlocking elements 21 on the contact element 15. It is also conceivable to form the latch means in one piece and of uniform material.

Also with the aforementioned alternative and further possible embodiments, provision is made for the latch means used for fixing to be actuated by the displacement of the second housing part 10 from the first position into the second position in order to detach the fixing of the contact means 1 on the complementary contact means 2.

Claims

1. A contact means (1) for a fibre optic cable (40), having a first housing part (11), a contact element (15) arranged on the first housing part (11) and a second housing part (10) which is mounted on the first housing part (11) displaceably between a first position and a second position, the contact element (15) having a latch means (20, 21) for fixing the contact means (1) to a complementary contact means (2), the second housing part (10) being mounted displaceably on the first housing part (11) such that the second housing part (10) upon displacement into the second position actuates the latch means (20, 21) for detaching the fixing.

2. A contact means (1) according to Claim 1, the latch means (20, 21) having a latch element (20) and an unlocking element (21), the contact means (1) being able to be fixed via the latch element (21) of the latch means (20, 21) on the complementary contact means (2), the latch element (20) and the unlocking element (21) being formed projecting from the contact element (15), and the unlocking element (21) of the latch means (20, 21) being formed, upon the displacement of the second housing part (10) into the second position, to press the latch element (20) in the direction of the contact element (15) to detach the fixing.

3. A contact means (1) according to Claim 2, the unlocking element (21) having a sliding surface (24) which faces the latch element (20), the latch element (20) being formed, upon the displacement of the second housing part (10) into the second position, to slide along the sliding surface (24) of the unlocking element (21).

4. A contact means (1) according to Claim 2 or 3, the unlocking element (21) and the latch element (20) being arranged opposed to each other on the contact element (15).

5. A contact means (1) according to one of Claims 2 to 4, the unlocking element (21) having a knob-shaped raised section (25) which upon the displacement of the second housing part (10) into the second position is in physical contact (43) with the second housing part (10).

6. A contact means (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 5, the second housing part (10) having a curved end section (12) for actuating the latch means (20, 21) to detach the fixing upon the displacement into the second position.

7. A contact means (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 6, the second housing part (10) having an operating structure (31).

8. A contact means (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 7, the first housing part (11) having a circumambient housing wall (63) which encompasses an interior of the first housing part (11), and the first housing part (11) having in the interior a fixing means (14) for fixing a glass fibre (42) of the fibre optic cable (40).

9. A contact means (1) according to Claim 8, the housing wall (63) of the first housing part (11) which encompasses the interior having a fixing receptacle (52) for fixing the contact element (15) to the first housing part (11), a partial section of the contact element (15, 16) projecting out of the interior of the first housing part (11) in the position fixed to the first housing part (11).

10. A contact means (1) according to Claim 8 or 9, the housing wall (63) which

encompasses the interior having a wall section (61), extending in a triangle, with at least one cutout (62) for receiving a strain relief device or an anti-kink protection (60) of the fibre optic cable (40).

11. A contact means (1) according to Claim 10, the second housing part (10) having, in the region of the triangular wall section (61) of the first housing part (11), a covering element (38) by which the fibre optic cable (40) and/or the strain relief device and/or the anti-kink protection (60) is at least partially covered.

12. A contact means (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 11, the first housing part (11) comprising a T-shaped receptacle (34) and the second housing part (10) comprising a T-shaped rail (33), the T-shaped rail (33) engaging in the T-shaped receptacle (34) for the displaceable mounting of the second housing part (10) on the first housing part (11).

13. A contact means (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 12, a plurality of contact

elements (15, 16) being arranged on the first housing part (11).

14. A contact system (5) comprising a contact means (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 13 and a complementary contact means (2), the complementary contact means (2) having a complementary contact element (71) and an engagement means (70), the engagement means (70) being formed for engaging with the latch means (20, 21) of the contact means (1), in order to fix the contact means (1) on the complementary contact means (71).

15. A contact system (5) according to Claim 14, further having at least one fibre optic cable (40) with at least one glass fibre (42), the glass fibre (42) being connected to the contact element (15, 16) and/or to the complementary contact element (71).