WO2013087472A1

WO2013087472A1 - Plug adapter

Info

Publication number: WO2013087472A1
Application number: PCT/EP2012/074467
Authority: WO
Inventors: Christian Otto Boemmel; Rolf Jetter; Antonio Lehner
Original assignee: Tyco Electronics Amp Gmbh
Priority date: 2011-12-13
Filing date: 2012-12-05
Publication date: 2013-06-20
Also published as: DE102011056335A1; DE102011056335B4

Abstract

The present invention relates to a connector adapter (3) for securing an electrical plug type connector which, in an end assembly position (E), extends through an aperture (5, 5') from a first side (6) to a second side (7) of a wall (8, 44), in particular a metal bodywork sheet (8) and/or a fitted bodywork component (1), the connector adapter (3) comprising an aperture portion (11, 11') which is arranged in the aperture (5, 5') in the end assembly position (E) and a securing receiving member (10, 10') which extends and opens in a radial direction (r) of the connector adapter (3). In order to provide a connector adapter (3) which is simple and precise to assemble and which enables good sealing between the connector adapter (3) and the metal bodywork sheet (8) and/or the fitted bodywork component (1), the aperture portion (11, 11') forms the securing receiving member (10, 10') according to the invention.

Description

PLUG ADAPTER

The present invention relates to a connector adapter for securing an electrical plug type connector which extends, in an end assembly position, through an aperture from a first side to a second side of a wall, in particular a metal bodywork sheet and/or a fitted bodywork component, the connector adapter comprising an aperture portion which is arranged in the aperture in the end assembly position and a securing receiving member which extends and opens in a radial direction of the connector adapter. Connector adapters of the type mentioned above are known from the prior art. Such connector adapters are used, for example, to receive a plug connector for connecting an electrically adjustable and/or heatable external mirror of a motor vehicle. The connector adapter is fixed beforehand in an aperture or a hole in the bodywork. There is used for fixing a sealing bushing which is formed from rubber or resilient plastics material and which engages on the one hand around the edge of the aperture and on the other hand is retained in the securing receiving member of the connector adapter. The insertion of the connector adapter with the sealing bushing is generally carried out manually. At the same time as or after the connector adapter is inserted, a connector of the mirror-side cable harness is introduced into the connector adapter from the first side or the outer side and secured therein. Subsequently, from the second side or inner side, the mating connector which is connected to the cable harness in the vehicle is inserted into the connector adapter, whereby the connector and mating connector of the plug type connector are electrically connected and the external mirror is electrically connected.

The external mirror is secured to an external mirror retention member in which the connector adapter is generally supported in a floating manner and mechanically secured by means of the sealing bushing. The external mirror retention member or another fitted bodywork component, depending on the field of application of the connector adapter, is releasably mounted on the metal bodywork sheet so as to fit the aperture, for example, by means of screwing.

In connector adapters known from the prior art having sealing bushings, there is the problem that the installation, owing to the manual assembly, is imprecise and time-consuming. Furthermore, the sealing via the sealing bushing arranged in the aperture is subject to failure, in particular if the sealing occurs at an undefined cutting edge or on the edge of the aperture.

Taking into account the above-mentioned problems with the connector adapter according to the prior art, an object of the present invention is to provide a connector adapter which is as simple and precise as possible to assemble and which enables good sealing between the connector adapter and the metal bodywork sheet and/or the fitted bodywork component. According to the invention, this object is achieved in that the aperture portion forms the securing receiving member. In this manner, the connector adapter may be secured directly to the wall. A sealing bushing, as used in the prior art, is not required. This enables precise assembly and sealing of the connector adapter on the wall.

The solution according to the invention may be further improved by means of various embodiments which are each advantageous per se and which can be freely combined with each other. The individual embodiments and the advantages connected therewith will be set out below.

The connector adapter according to the invention can be assembled in a particularly rapid, simple and reliable manner by the connector adapter having at least one clamping portion which adjoins the aperture portion and/or catch portion for non-positive or positive-locking securing of the connector adapter.

The assembly can be further simplified by the clamping portion being constructed as a rotary bar. A rotary bar, that is to say, an element which can be locked or unlocked by means of rotation, enables the connector adapter to be inserted into the aperture in a simple manner in a preassembly position. By means of a rotation of the rotary bar, or, in the case of a rotary bar which is connected to the connector adapter in a rotationally secure manner, rotation of the connector adapter, for example, about the longitudinal axis thereof, the adapter is moved into its end assembly position, in which the rotary bar secures the adapter to the wall in a non- positive-locking or positive-locking manner. To this end, the clamping portion may have an inclined leading member which rises in a peripheral direction of the connector adapter and which simplifies the application of a clamping force. The aperture in the wall and the clamping portion may be formed in a mutually complementary manner, for example, in a projection along the longitudinal or rotation axis, that is to say, the axial direction of the connector adapter in the manner of a key/lock principle. The assembly and in particular a stable seat of the connector adapter in the aperture or on the wall can be improved in that the aperture portion adjoins a support collar, which supports the connector adapter at least in the end assembly position in an axial direction at the first or second side of the wall. The support collar may provide a contact surface which is as planar and wide as possible, which abuts the wall and which ensures stable and uniform retention of the connector adapter.

Sealing between the connector adapter and the wall can be simplified by means of a sealing portion for receiving a sealing element for sealing between the sealing portion and the wall, at least in the end assembly position. The sealing portion may directly abut the wall at least in the end assembly position and, for example, adjoin the support collar or be constructed as part of the support collar. For example, the sealing portion may surround the support collar, whereby the support collar may perform a mechanical retention function and the sealing portion may perform a sealing function. In this manner, the connector adapter can be repeatedly assembled and disassembled without losses in the mechanical securing and sealing action. The connector adapter may be further developed by the clamping portion and/or the catch portion at least in the end assembly position applying a pressing or pushing force, which presses the sealing portion in the direction of the wall in a sealing manner. Thus, the sealing portion and/or the support collar may be pressed on the wall using the clamping portion and/or catch portion.

The sealing portion may have at least one sealing element. The sealing element may be constructed as an annular seal. An annular configuration of the sealing element facilitates in particular securing of the connector adapter by means of a clamping portion which is constructed as a rotary bar. Furthermore, an annular seal may readily seal the aperture from one side in a completely surrounding manner.

The sealing element may be received in a simple and non-displaceable manner on the connector adapter by the sealing portion having a continuous and axially open sealing receiving member. The seal can be inserted in the seal receiving member in a non-positive and/or positive-locking manner by being pressed, for example, owing to its resilience, into the receiving member and being retained therein. The sealing portion may abut the first or the second side of the wall at least in the end assembly position.

At least one contact pin may be arranged in a connector receiving member and/or a mating connector receiving member of the connector adapter. It is thus possible, for example, for the at least one contact pin to be arranged in the connector receiving member and/or mating connector receiving member so as to be already protected from external influences, in particular mechanical damage, when the connector adapter is supplied. Furthermore, a connector adapter according to the invention may be received in a retention member which is constructed according to the invention, in particular a retention member for an external mirror of a motor vehicle or another fitted bodywork component. The retention member may be constructed according to the invention so as to complement the connector adapter. To this end, the retention member may have a sleeve whose contour is adapted to the shape of the connector adapter. A metal bodywork sheet may also be constructed according to the invention, in particular by there being formed in the region of an external mirror receiving member of a motor vehicle an aperture which is constructed according to the invention so as to receive a connector adapter according to the invention.

The invention is described in greater detail below by way of example with reference to possible embodiments and the appended drawings. The feature combinations which are set out in these embodiments are merely for the purposes of illustration. Individual features may also be omitted in accordance with the advantages thereof described above, if the advantage of the relevant feature is not significant in specific applications. In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a schematic, perspective illustration of an external mirror housing which can be adjusted in an electromotive manner with the fitted bodywork component and connector adapter of an embodiment known from the prior art;

Figure 2 is an enlarged cutout of Figure 1 with the fitted bodywork component and the connector adapter which is arranged in an aperture of the fitted component; Figure 3 is a schematic sectioned illustration of the connector adapter of Figures 1 and 2 in longitudinal section to illustrate its fixing and sealing in the aperture of a metal bodywork sheet;

Figure 4 is a schematic, perspective view of a retention member, in particular a retention member or a fitted bodywork component for an external mirror of a motor vehicle, having a connector adapter according to the invention which is preassembled on the retention member of a first embodiment according to the invention with an indicated metal bodywork sheet having an aperture for the connector adapter;

Figure 5 is an enlarged, perspective cutout of the region of the retention member from Figure 4, on which the connector adapter according to the invention is preassembled; Figure 6 is a schematic illustration of the metal bodywork sheet and the connector adapter according to the invention of Figure 4;

Figure 7 is an enlarged, perspective view of the retention member with the connector adapter of Figure 4 preassembled thereon, in an intermediate position whilst the connector adapter is guided through the aperture of the metal bodywork sheet;

Figure 8 is an enlarged illustration of the retention member having a connector adapter and metal bodywork sheet in accordance with the illustration shown in Figure 7, after the connector adapter has been moved into the end assembly position and is secured to the metal bodywork sheet;

Figure 9 is a perspective illustration of Figure 8 with the connector adapter in the end assembly position thereof, the metal bodywork sheet and the retention member being illustrated in a schematically sectioned manner as a fitted bodywork component for the external mirror;

Figure 10 is the illustration of Figure 9, the connector adapter according to the invention of the first embodiment also being shown in longitudinal section in an axial direction;

Figure 1 1 is a schematic, perspective illustration of a retention member for an external mirror housing having a connector adapter which is preassembled on the retention member according to a second embodiment and an indicated metal bodywork sheet;

Figure 12 is a cutout of Figure 1 1 , the metal bodywork sheet, the connector adapter according to the invention of the second embodiment and the region of the retention member in which the connector element is preassembled being illustrated in longitudinal section; and

Figure 13 is a longitudinal section of the connector portion according to the invention of the second embodiment assembled in the retention member, in accordance with the illustration of Figure 12, in the end assembly state in which the retention member is constructed at the corresponding location and is fitted to the vehicle bodywork.

A fitted bodywork component known from the prior art, that is, a retention member 1 for fitting an external mirror housing 2 which can be adjusted in a motorised manner with a known connector adapter 3, is first explained below with reference to Figures 1 to 3. The connector adapter 3 serves to secure an electrical plug type connector for connecting the electrically adjustable external mirror to the electrical circuit of the vehicle. The connector adapter 3 has a sealing bushing 4 which is generally formed from rubber or a resilient plastics material. The sealing bushing 4 engages around the edge 9 of an aperture 5 which extends from a first side or outer side 6 to a second side or inner side 7 of a wall 8. The outer side 6 is intended to refer below to the side which faces away from the bodywork in the assembled state of the fitted bodywork component 1 or the sheet metal thereof which forms the wall 8. The inner side 6 refers to the side facing the metal bodywork sheet or the wall 8 in the assembled state. The wall 8 constitutes the portion of a metal bodywork sheet 8 to which the retention member 1 of the external mirror housing 2 is fitted and the connector adapter 3 extends through the aperture S of the metal bodywork sheet or the wall 8 in the end assembly position thereof.

The sealing bushing 4 engages on the one hand around the edge 9 of the aperture 5 and is on the other hand retained in the securing receiving member 10 of the connector adapter 3. In this manner, the connector adapter which is known from the prior art and which is illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, is fixed in the aperture 5 by means of the sealing bushing 4.

The connector adapter 3 has an aperture portion 1 1 which is arranged in the aperture 5 of the bodywork wall 8 and is supported at that location in a floating manner by means of the sealing bushing 4. The connector adapter 3 has an adapter housing 12 which has an internal chamber 13 and an external chamber 14 which form a receiving member 15, 15a for the mating connector housing 16 or the connector housing 17. A connector adapter 3 according to the invention in accordance with a first embodiment will be explained below with reference to Figures 4 to 10. The connector adapter 3 has an adapter housing 12 which comprises a mating connector receiving member 15 and a connector receiving member 15a. The mating connector receiving member 15 is constructed as an internal chamber 13 which opens in an axial direction or longitudinal direction L in an assembled state of the retention member 1 towards the inner space of the motor vehicle. The mating connector (not illustrated) of the vehicle-side cable harness is connected to the mating connector housing 16 which is placed in the mating connector receiving member 15. The connector receiving member 15a is constructed as an external chamber 14 which opens in an axial direction L, in the assembled state in a direction away from the motor vehicle. The cable harness of the external mirror 2 is connected to the connector housing 17 which is placed in the connector receiving member 15a.

Between the internal chamber 13 which forms the mating connector receiving member 15, and the external chamber 14 which forms the connector receiving member 15a, a partition wall 18 is provided. One side 19 of the partition wall 18 forms the base of the internal chamber 13 facing in an axial direction and the other side 20 forms the base of the external chamber 14. There are arranged on the partition wall 18 contact pins 21 which extend from the internal chamber 13 through the partition wall 18 as far as a location inside the external chamber 14 and which are orientated substantially in an axial direction L or longitudinal axis direction L of the connector adapter 3. The inner-wall-side region 21 a of the contact pins 21 is located in a contact chamber 22 of the mating connector housing 16. The external portions 21 b of the contact pins 21 are arranged in contact chambers 24 of the connector housing 17 to which the mirror-side cable harness is connected in a mechanical and electrically conductive manner. The connector adapter 3 may in this manner have two socket housings 16, 17 for connecting two connectors (not illustrated).

The connector housing 17 and mating connector housing 16 are introduced in an axial direction from the outer or inner side of the connector adapter 3 into the connector receiving member 15 or mating connector receiving member 15a. The connector housing 17 but also the mating connector housing 16 may be provided with a flexible redirectable catch arm 26 which has a catch projection 27. The catch projection 27 protrudes in a radial direction r, that is to say, perpendicularly relative to the catch arm 26 which extends substantially in an axial direction L and, when the mating connector housing 16 is inserted into the connector receiving member 15, is brought into engagement with a catch stop 28 of the adapter housing 12 in such a manner that the catch projection 27 of the catch arm 26 that abuts the catch stop 28 prevents the mating connector housing 16 from being taken out of the connector receiving member 15. In the embodiment illustrated, only one engagement of the mating connector housing 16 is shown. In a similar manner, engagement of the connector housing 17 may also be carried out in the connector receiving member 15a.

Both the connector housing 17 and mating connector housing 16 may be sealed by means of a contact chamber sealing means 29 with respect to an inner wall of the internal chamber 13 or outer chamber 14. The contact chamber sealing means 29 may be located, for example, between the chamber side wall 30, which constitutes the delimitation of the internal chamber 13 or external chamber 14 in the radial direction r and the outer side 31 of the connector housing 17 or mating connector housing 16 facing in a radial direction r. The sealing means 29 surrounds the outer side 31 of the housing 17 completely and consequently seals the gap between the lateral wall 30 and the housing outer wall 31 . In the embodiment illustrated, for example, in Figure 10, this type of sealing is illustrated by way of example for the external chamber 14 which forms the connector receiving member 15a. The connector adapter 3 according to the invention comprises an aperture portion 1 1 which, in the end assembly position E which is shown, for example, in Figure 10, is arranged in the aperture 5 of the wall 8. The connector adapter 3 further comprises a securing receiving member 10 which extends in a radial direction r and opens in a radial direction r. The aperture portion 1 1 is the region of the connector adapter 3 or the adapter housing 12 that is located in the end assembly position E in the aperture 5 of the wall 8 or in an aperture 5' of a fitted bodywork component 1 , in the embodiment illustrated, the retention member 1 . The region of the connector adapter 3 at which it is connected to the wall 8 or the fitted bodywork component 1 is referred to as a securing receiving member 10.

The connector adapter 3 according to the invention is distinguished in that the aperture portion 1 1 forms the securing receiving member 10. This enables precise assembly and sealing of the connector adapter 3 on the wall 8, particularly in a manner which extends through the aperture 5. Indirect securing by means of a sealing bushing 4, as is the case with known connector adapters 3 of Figures 1 to 3, is prevented in this manner. The connector adapter 3 according to the invention in the embodiment illustrated in Figures 4 to 10 is provided with a clamping portion 32 which adjoins the aperture portion 10. The clamping portion 32 serves to secure the connector adapter 3 to the wall 8 in a non-positive-locking and positive-locking manner, that is to say, for example, to the metal bodywork sheet. A clamping portion 32 is intended to refer to a region or portion or element of the connector adapter 3 that is constructed to form a mechanical connection with the wall 8. The clamping portion 32 is consequently the region of the connector adapter 3 via which it is mechanically connected to the wall 8 or the fitted component 1 which has an aperture 5, 5'.

In the embodiment of the connector adapter 3 which is shown in Figures 4 to 10, the clamping portion 32 is constructed as a rotary bar 33. The rotary bar 33 is constructed in such a manner that, when the clamping portion 32 is rotated about the longitudinal axis L in a rotation direction D, it locks the connector adapter 3 at the securing receiving member 10 thereof on the wall 8 against being pulled out of the aperture 5. To this end, the clamping portion 32 is moved by means of the rotation from a preassembly position, in which the connector adapter 3 is arranged so as to be able to be released from the wall 8, into the end assembly position E in which the clamping portion 22 which is constructed as a rotary bar 33 is connected to the wall 8 in a non-positive locking and/or positive-locking manner. In the embodiment illustrated, the rotary bar 33 is constructed in a similar manner to a bayonet closure 34 in such a manner that the securing receiving member 10, after the connector adapter 3 has extended through the aperture 5 when the connector adapter 3 is rotated in the direction of rotation D, is brought into engagement with the region of the wall 8 which is located at the edge 9 of the aperture 5 and consequently secures the connector adapter 3 in the aperture 5 in the longitudinal direction L. The mechanical securing by means of the clamping portion 32 is carried out in that, during the rotation movement, a clamping region 23 of the wall 8 which is arranged in the securing receiving member 10 is clamped in the securing portion 32.

To this end, the clamping portion 32 may have an inclined leading member 35 which rises in the peripheral direction U which corresponds to the direction of rotation D, so that the gap of the securing portion 10 which the inclined leading member 35 of the clamping portion 32 adjoins becomes narrower when the connector adapter 3 is rotated and is connected to the wall 8, more precisely the clamping region 23 thereof, in a non-positive-locking manner.

In the embodiment illustrated, the connector adapter 3 is constructed with two securing receiving members 10 which face each other in the peripheral direction U and which are symmetrically arranged with respect to the axis of rotation which corresponds to the longitudinal axis L and which have adjacent clamping portions 32 which are constructed as rotary bars 33.

In the embodiment illustrated, the contour of the aperture 5 of the wall 8 is adapted to the region of the connector adapter 3 that is formed with the aperture portion 1 1 which forms the securing receiving members 10 with the two rotary bars 33. The aperture 5 of the wall 8 is circular at the centre thereof and has at opposing sides in a radial direction r circular-segment-like widened portions 25. The widened portions 25 correspond to the clamping portions 32 which are also constructed in a circular-segment-like manner and which are in the form of a bayonet closure 34. Consequently, in a projection in the longitudinal direction L, that is to say, when viewed in an axial direction L, the contour of the internal connector adapter face 36 is complementary to the outline of the aperture 5 which is defined by the edge 9 thereof. In order to fix the connector adapter face 36 in the predetermined preassembly position to the retention member 1 in a rotationally secure manner, the aperture 5' of the retention member 1 has an orientation notch 48 or an orientation pin 48. This auxiliary orientation means 48 places the connector adapter 3 in the preassembly position thereof, in which it is fixed to the retention member 1 in such a secure manner that the internal connector adapter face 36, when the retention member 1 is mounted on the metal bodywork sheet or the wall 8, is orientated in alignment with the outline 9 of the aperture 5 in the sheet metal or the wall 8.

If the clamping portions 32 of the connector adapter face 36 are arranged in alignment with the widened portions 25 of the aperture 5, the adapter face 36 can be guided in an axial direction L through the aperture 5 until it strikes the outer side 6 of the wall 8. The movement of the connector adapter 3 is indicated in Figure 7. Subsequently, the connector adapter 3 is rotated in a rotation direction D about the longitudinal axis thereof and the clamping region 23 of the wall 8 which surrounds the edge 9 of the aperture 5 is connected to the connector adapter 3 by the clamping portion 32 in such a non-positive-locking manner that the inclined leading member 35 presses the wall 8 securely in the securing portion 10. In order to release the connector adapter 3 from the orientation notch 48 which retains it in a rotationally secure manner in the aperture 5' of the retention member 1 , the adapter 3 can be displaced to predetermined extents in the longitudinal direction L relative to the retention member 1 , the rotational fixing in the orientation notch 48 being released by disengaging the connector adapter 3 in an axial direction L by a defined extent.

During the locking operation, owing to the inclined leading member 35, a support collar 37 which adjoins the aperture portion 1 1 and substantially constitutes a continuation of the partition wall 18 that extends in a radial direction r, is supported at the first side 6 of the wall 8. The support collar 37 extends in a peripheral direction U once completely around the connector adapter 3 and consequently provides a planar and wide contact face which provides the connector adapter 3 with stable and uniform retention on the wall 8 and which provides a large friction surface for the non-positive-locking connection.

The connector adapter 3 according to the invention further has a sealing portion 38. The sealing portion 38 is constructed in such a manner that it can receive a sealing element 4', the sealing element 4' sealing at least in the end assembly position E between the sealing portion 38 and the wall 8. The sealing portion 38 is formed by a groove 39 which extends in a peripheral direction U, which adjoins in a radial direction r the support collar 37 and which opens in an axial direction L towards the internal connector adapter face 36.

When the connector adapter 3 is moved into the end assembly position E, by means of rotation in the rotation direction D the clamping portion 32 which is constructed as a rotary bar 33 rotates relative to the wall 8, the wall 8 being guided along the inclined leading member 35 in such a manner that the support collar 37 is pressed against the first wall 6 with a pressing force or pushing force F. In the end assembly position E, the clamping portion 32 consequently applies a pressing force F which presses the support collar 37 against the first side 6 of the wall 8 and at the same time moves the sealing portion 38 closer to the first side 6 and consequently presses the sealing element 4' which is placed in the sealing portion 38 against the first side 6 of the wall 8 in a sealing manner.

In the embodiment illustrated, the sealing portion 38 has a sealing element 4' which is constructed as an annular seal and which enables sealing which surrounds the complete edge 9 of the aperture S regardless of the outline 9 of the aperture 5. In the embodiment illustrated, the sealing portion 38 has a continuous sealing receiving member 39 which opens in an axial direction L and in which the sealing element 4' is introduced or which has this sealing element 4'.

As can be seen in Figure 10, in the end assembly position E not only the support collar 37, but also the sealing portion 38 which adjoins this support collar 37 in a radial direction r consequently abuts the first side 6 of the wall 8. It is explained in greater detail below, in particular with reference to Figure 9, that the connector adapter 3 according to the invention has an additional aperture portion 1 1 ' which extends through an aperture 5' of the retention member 1 as a fitted bodywork component if the connector adapter 3 according to the invention is connected in its preassembly position in which the connector adapter 3 is supported on the retention member 1 in a non-releasable manner. The aperture portion 1 1 ' extends in an axial direction L between the support collar 37 with the sealing receiving member 39 at one end thereof and the external end 40 of the adapter housing 12. At the external end 40, the adapter housing 12 is provided with a catch portion 41 which is directed in a radial direction r and which is constructed in the embodiment shown as a continuous catch groove 42. The catch groove 42 is configured in such a manner that, when the connector adapter 3 is arranged with its aperture portion 1 1 ' in the aperture 5' of the retention member 1 , a catch projection 43 of the retention member 1 that is directed inwards into the aperture 5' is brought into engagement with the catch groove 42 as an additional securing receiving member 10' of the connector adapter 3. After engagement of the catch groove 42 and the catch projection 43, the connector adapter 3 is consequently secured in the aperture opening 5' of the retention member 1 and prevented from being removed in an axial direction L. At the same time, the groove 42, owing to the extent of its width in the axial direction L, provides the play of the connector adapter 3 in the longitudinal direction L relative to the aperture 5' which is required to release the rotationally secure fixing by means of the auxiliary orientation means 48, which facilitates assembly of the retention member 1 .

In the preassembly position which is shown in Figure 4, the adapter housing 12 is inserted in the aperture opening 5' of a bearing sleeve 44 of the retention member 1 formed for that purpose in a radial direction r in a positive-locking manner. The aperture 5' formed by the bearing sleeve 44 is adapted with the contour thereof to the outer contour of the aperture portion 1 1 '. The aperture 5' of the retention member 1 is therefore surrounded by the bearing sleeve 44 which consequently forms a wall with an aperture 5. The adapter member 12 is formed in a substantially cylindrical manner in the region of the aperture portion 1 1 '. After the aperture portion 1 1 ' has been inserted into the aperture 5' of the retention member 1 , the connector adapter is consequently secured in a radial direction r in a positive-locking manner and supported in such a manner that a rotation of the connector adapter 3 in the peripheral direction U thereof, that is to say, in the rotation direction D, is possible as long as this is not prevented by the auxiliary orientation means 48.

At the same time, the connector adapter 3 in the preassembly position is secured by means of the engagement between the catch projection 43 as a catch portion 41 in an axial direction L. The catch projection 42 protrudes as a continuous collar from the inner side of the bearing sleeve 44 into the aperture 5'. The securing receiving member 10' of the connector adapter 3, which is associated with the bearing sleeve 44, consequently extends between the support collar 37 on the hook-like stop 47 of the catch groove 42 which is brought into engagement with the catch projection at the outer-side end of the adapter housing 12'. A second embodiment of the connector adapter 3 according to the invention which is illustrated in Figures 1 1 to 13 is described below. In this instance, the differences of the connector adapter 3 according to the second embodiment with respect to the connector adapter 3 of the first embodiment are primarily discussed. For components whose function and/or structure is/are similar or identical to components of the previous embodiment, the same reference numerals are used.

The structure of the adapter housing 12 with an internal chamber 13 and an external chamber 14 of the second embodiment substantially corresponds to the structure of the connector adapter 3 according to the first embodiment. The connector adapter 3 of the second embodiment also has an aperture portion 1 1 ' and a securing receiving member 10' which serve to secure the connector adapter 3 in the bearing sleeve 44 of the retention member 1 as a fitted bodywork component of the external mirror 2, which substantially corresponds to the structure of the first embodiment of the connector adapter 3.

The connector adapter 3 of the second embodiment differs in terms of its configuration of the internal connector adapter face 36. The connector adapter 3 of the second embodiment also has a sealing receiving member 39 which opens in an axial direction L and which is formed by a sealing portion 38 which adjoins the support collar 37 in an axial direction L and in which a sealing element 4' which is constructed as a sealing ring is arranged. However, in the connector adapter 3 of the second embodiment, on the internal connector adapter face 36 the clamping portion 32 of the first embodiment has been omitted. The pressing force F with which the sealing element 4' is pressed against the wall 8 of a metal bodywork sheet is applied in the connector adapter 3 of the second embodiment by the retention member 1 having assembly members 45 which are provided with assembly openings 46 by means of which the retention member 1 can be mounted on, for example, screwed to, the bodywork or the corresponding fitted bodywork component.

List of reference numerals

1 Retention member

2 External mirror housing

3 Connector adapter

4 Sealing bushing

4' Sealing element

5 Aperture

6 First side/outer side

7 Second side/inner side

8 Wall, metal bodywork sheet

9 Edge of the aperture

10, 1 0' Securing receiving member

1 1 , 1 1 ' Aperture portion

12 Adapter housing

13 Internal chamber

14 External chamber

15 Mating connector receiving member 15a Connector receiving member

16 Mating connector housing

17 Connector housing

18 Partition wall

19 Base of the internal chamber

20 Base of the external chamber

21 Contact pin

21 a Internal wall portion of 21

21 b External wall portion of 21

22 Contact chamber of 1 7

23 Clamping region of the wall

24 Contact chamber of 1 6

25 Widened portions of the aperture

26 Catch arm

27 Catch projection 28 Catch stop

29 Contact chamber sealing means

30 Chamber side wall

31 Housing outer side

32 Clamping portion

33 Rotary bar

34 Bayonet closure

35 Inclined leading member

36 Internal connector adapter face

37 Support collar

38 Sealing portion

39 Sealing receiving member

40 External end of 3

41 Catch portion

42 Catch groove

43 Catch projection

44 Bearing sleeve

45 Assembly member

46 Assembly opening

47 Stop of the catch groove

48 Orientation notch/pin/auxiliary means

D Direction of rotation

E End assembly position

F Pressing force

L Axial direction/longitudinal

R Radial direction

U Peripheral direction

Claims

1 . Connector adapter (3) for securing an electrical plug type connector which, in an end assembly position (E), extends through an aperture (5, 5') from a first side (6) to a second side (7) of a wall (8, 44), in particular a metal bodywork sheet (8) and/or a fitted bodywork component (1 ), the connector adapter (3) comprising an aperture portion (1 1 , 1 1 ') which is arranged in the aperture (5, 5') in the end assembly position (E) and a securing receiving member (10, 10') which extends and opens in a radial direction (r) of the connector adapter (3), characterised in that the aperture portion (1 1 , 1 1 ') forms the securing receiving member (10, 10').

2. Connector adapter (3) according to claim 1 , characterised by at least one clamping portion (32) which adjoins the aperture portion (1 1 , 1 1 ') and/or catch portion (41 ) for non-positive-locking or positive-locking securing of the connector adapter (3) at least in the end assembly position (E) on the metal bodywork sheet (8) and/or the fitted bodywork component (1 ).

3. Connector adapter (3) according to claim 2, characterised in that the clamping portion (32) is constructed as a rotary bar (33).

4. Connector adapter (3) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the aperture portion (1 1 , 1 1 ') adjoins a support collar (37) which supports the connector adapter (3) at least in the end assembly position (E) in an axial direction (L) at the first side (6) or the second side (7) of the wall (8, 44).

5. Connector adapter (3) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised by a sealing portion (38) for receiving a sealing element (4') for sealing between the sealing portion (38) and the wall (8) at least in the end assembly position (E).

6. Connector adapter (3) according to claim 5, characterised in that the clamping portion (32) and/or the catch portion (41 ) at least in the end assembly position (E) apply a pressing force (F) which presses the sealing portion (38) in a sealing manner in the direction of the wall (8).

7. Connector adapter (3) according to either claim 5 or claim 6, characterised in that the sealing portion (38) has at least one sealing element (4') which is constructed as an annular seal.

8. Connector adapter (3) according to any one of claims 5 to 7, characterised in that the sealing portion (38) has a continuous sealing receiving member (39) which opens in an axial direction (L).

9. Connector adapter (3) according to any one of claims 5 to 8, characterised in that the sealing portion (38) at least in the end assembly position (E) abuts the first side (6) or the second side (7) of the wall (8).

10. Connector adapter (3) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that at least one contact pin (21 ) is arranged in a connector receiving member (15) and/or a mating connector receiving member (15a) of the connector adapter (3).