WO2015086619A1

WO2015086619A1 - Connector with rotable locking latch

Info

Publication number: WO2015086619A1
Application number: PCT/EP2014/077085
Authority: WO
Inventors: Dirk Dünkel; Gregor Panitz
Original assignee: Tyco Electronics Amp Gmbh
Priority date: 2013-12-10
Filing date: 2014-12-09
Publication date: 2015-06-18
Also published as: JP6543254B2; KR20160096668A; KR102240779B1; DE102013225512B4; CN105794051B; DE102013225512A1; JP2016540354A; CN105794051A

Abstract

The present invention relates to a plug element (2) for an electrical connector (1), comprising a latch (4) that can be rotated about an axis of rotation (R) from an unlocking position(O) into a locking position (C) and that has a locking component (43) spaced apart from the axis of rotation (R). Furthermore, the invention relates to mating plug element (3) for an electrical connector (1). The invention also relates to an electrical connector (1). In order to unload the axis of rotation (R), provision is made according to the invention such that in the locking position (C) the locking component (43) is engaged with a counter locking component (33) of the mating plug element (3) and the latch (4) is engaged with the counter bearing (24), the locking component (43) being supported against the counter locking component (33) in the direction opposing the plugging direction (S) and the latch (4) being supported against the counter bearing (24) in the plugging direction (S) in which the plug element (2) is brought together with the mating plug element (3).

Description

CONNECTOR WITH ROTABLE LOCKING LATCH

The present invention relates to a plug element for an electrical connector comprising a latch that can be rotated about an axis of rotation from an unlocking position into a locking position and that has a locking component spaced apart from the axis of rotation. Furthermore, the invention relates to a mating plug element for an electrical connector.

The invention also relates to an electrical connector.

Electrical connectors with plug elements and mating plug elements of the type specified above are known from the prior art. The plug element and the mating plug element are generally designed such that they can be brought together in a plugging and counter plugging direction in order to bring contact elements and counter contact elements accommodated within them into contact with one another in an electrically conductive manner.

In order to better overcome the mating forces that occur when the plug element and mating plug element are plugged together and to secure the plug elements in a final plugging position in which they are fully plugged together, aids such as latches and pushers are used. The latches are generally mounted rotatably on the plug element and engage on the mating plug element so as to then be moved from the unlocking position into a locking position, the plug element and the mating plug element being moved towards one another and the mating forces being overcome. Here the mating forces between a locking component moulded onto the latch and a counter locking component moulded onto the mating plug are transferred on the one side and on the other side from the latch onto an axis of rotation which is located on the plug element and about which the latch is rotatably mounted.

With the connectors comprising latches known from the prior art there is the problem that the components on the plug element and the latch forming the axis of rotation of the latch are worn by repeated use of the latch and, moreover, even after overcoming the mating forces clamping forces between the plug element and the latch on the one hand and the latch and the mating plug element on the other hand may lead to material fatigue of the components predetermining the axis of rotation. This results in the disadvantage that only by means of above- average dimensions can these components be made to be so stable that they can withstand the wear and long-term stressing due to the clamping forces over the desired life span of the con- nector and, if possible, beyond.

In view of the problems and disadvantages specified above, for connectors comprising a latch known from the prior art, the object underlying the present invention is to provide the greatest possible clamping forces in components with the smallest possible dimensions which predetermine the axis of rotation of the latch. According to the invention, this object is achieved for the plug element specified at the start in that a counter bearing spaced apart from the axis of rotation and the locking component is provided which, at the very least in the locking position, supports the latch in a direction opposing the plugging direction of the plug element. With the mating plug element specified at the start, the object is achieved according to the invention by the mating plug element being made to complement a plug element designed according to the invention.

With an electrical connector specified at the start, the object is achieved according to the invention by the connector having a plug element according to the invention and a mating plug element according to the invention.

It is an advantage of the solutions according to the invention that the clamping forces can be dissipated by the counter bearing, and this contributes to the axis of rotation being unloaded. The axis of rotation or the components forming the latter can thus be given the smallest possible dimensions. If the connector is subjected to vibrations during operation, the latter do not only act on the axis of rotation, but can be absorbed by the counter bearing and the axis of rotation is thus further unloaded.

The locking component can be formed and/or disposed, for example, eccentrically to the axis of rotation on the latch. The locking component can be made such that it can be engaged with the counter locking component which can be disposed on the mating plug element of the con- nector together with which the plug element is made to plug in the plugging direction. The counter bearing of the plug element spaced apart from the axis of rotation can co-operate with a counter bearing section of the rotating latch and support the latter in the direction opposing the plugging direction.

The solutions according to the invention can be combined arbitrarily with and be further im- proved by the following additional embodiments which are each advantageous in their own right:

The locking component can be located, at least in some sections, on a side of the axis of rotation turned away from the counter bearing along the plugging direction. In other words, the axis of rotation can be located between the locking component and the counter bearing. The counter locking component can be located on the side of the axis of rotation turned away from the counter bearing. Thus, the axis of rotation can be unloaded between the counter bearing and the locking component or counter locking component because clamping forces respectively act via the latch between the counter bearing and the latch in the direction opposing the plugging direction and between its locking component and the counter locking component in the plugging direction. In both cases the clamping forces act in the direction away from the axis of rotation. The clamping forces are neutralised as far as possible in the region of the axis of rotation.

The latch can be supported resiliently on the counter bearing. A section of the latch supported against the counter bearing can be connected elastically by a connection section to a bearing and/or locking section of the latch through which the axis of rotation passes, the axis of rotation passing through the bearing and/or locking section. The vibrations can thus be absorbed by the latch and the highest possible clamping forces can be applied by its elasticity.

There can be provided on the latch a counter bearing section on which the counter bearing sits during the movement of the latch from the unlocking position into the locking position. The counter bearing section can have an inclined ramp, for example, between an inclined surface and a counter bearing surface, an inclined distance between the inclined surface and the axis of rotation being able to be greater than a counter bearing distance between the counter bearing surface and the axis of rotation. The inclined ramp can be formed by a resilient material bridge. Clamping forces can be increased by the inclined ramp during the rotational movement of the latch, while the counter bearing first of all strikes the inclined surface and is then guided via the inclined ramp onto the counter bearing surface.

At the very least when the counter bearing section rests against the counter bearing in the locking position, there can be play, measured parallel to the plugging direction, between a housing side pivot bearing component and a latch side pivot bearing component of the plug element which together predetermine the axis of rotation. Therefore, the dimensions of the pivot bearing components can enable floating mounting of the latch, and this helps to further minimise the forces acting on the axis of rotation.

The housing side pivot bearing component can be made in the form of a pin and the latch side pivot bearing component in the form of an opening. Alternatively, the housing side pivot bear- ing component can be made in the form of an opening and the latch side pivot bearing component in the form of a pin. In order to allow play between the pivot bearing component, at least parallel to the plugging direction, the opening can have a larger inside diameter than an outside diameter of the pin, at least measured parallel to the plugging direction.

The counter bearing can be made in the form of a projection with a rounded support surface pointing in the direction opposing the plugging direction. As a projection, the counter bearing can simply extend away from the plug element or a housing of the plug element. Alternatively, the counter bearing can be made in the form of a slot, a groove or some other embodiment which offers a support surface pointing in the direction opposing the plugging direction. The rounding of the support surface helps to allow the counter bearing section or its counter bear- ing surface to run up onto the counter bearing as precisely and gently as possible and to be supported here. The locking component can be made, at least in sections, in the form of a connecting link curved around the axis of rotation. In the unlocking position the one insertion opening moulded onto the connecting link can point in the plugging direction. The counter locking component can easily be guided along a guide surface of the connecting link or the locking component, and this can pull the counter locking component in the direction of the plug element by moving the latch from the unlocking position into the locking position.

On the mating plug element the counter locking component can accordingly be made in the form of a bolt, a peg, a pin or the like when the locking component is made in the form of a connecting link. Alternatively, the locking component can be made in the form of a bar-like guide or a guidable projection. As a projection the locking component can co-operate with a guide or connecting link moulded onto the mating plug element.

With an electrical connector specified at the start, the solution according to the invention can be further improved, for example, in that in the locking position the locking component is engaged with a counter locking component of the mating plug element and the latch is engaged with the counter bearing, at least the locking component being supported against the counter locking component in the direction opposing the plugging direction or the latch being supported on the counter bearing in the plugging direction in which the plug element is brought together with the mating plug element. In other words, as already mentioned above, clamping forces between the latch and the counter bearing on the one hand and between the locking compo- nent and the counter locking component on the other hand can, instead of as is customary in the prior art, act between the locking component and the axis of rotation which is thus unloaded.

At least in the locking position, the axis of rotation can be free from forces parallel to the plugging direction. Thus, at least in the locking position, i.e. generally during operation of the con- nector, forces acting parallel to the plugging direction can be fully transferred between the latch, the counter bearing and the counter locking component and the axis of rotation or the components forming it can be preserved.

The counter bearing and the counter locking component can be arranged along a height direction of the connector, substantially at the level of a centre axis of the connector. At least in the height direction, for example, the centre axis can run centrally through a plugging section of the plug element and/or through a mating plugging section of the mating plugging section. Optimally, the centre axis runs along a neutral fibre of the connector or is overlaid by the latter. The counter bearing and the counter locking component can be disposed centrally on the connector and/or on the neutral fibre in the height direction. Thus, the plug element and the mating plug element can be brought together wherever possible without any twisting or occurrence of transverse forces and be held in the locked state, and this helps to preserve both the plugging section and the mating plugging section as well as the counter bearing, the counter bearing section, the locking component, the counter locking component and the axis of rotation.

At least in the locking position, a distance between the counter bearing and the axis of rotation, measured parallel to the plugging direction, can be greater than a distance between the axis of rotation and the counter locking element measured parallel to the plugging direction. Thus, by means of the section of the latch located between the axis of rotation and the counter bearing, which section is longer than any section located between the counter locking component and the axis of rotation, the highest possible latch effects can be achieved which make it easy to overcome the mating forces. At least in the locking position the counter bearing, the axis of rotation and the counter locking element can be located in a projection along the axis of rotation in a triangular arrangement. Therefore, the axis of rotation can be located outside of the force line formed between the counter locking component and the counter bearing, and this can further contribute to the unloading of the axis of rotation. In the following the invention will be described in more detail using, as examples, possible embodiments with reference to the attached drawings. The combinations of features shown in these embodiments only serve purposes of demonstration. Individual features can also be omitted subject to their advantages, as described above, if in specific applications the advantage of the respective feature is not essential. In the description of the embodiments, for the sake of simplicity the same features and elements are provided with the same reference numbers. Features and elements with the same or at least similar functionality generally have the same reference number or the same reference letter which is provided with one or more apostrophes in order to identify another embodiment or possibility. The figures show as follows:

Fig. 1 a diagrammatic perspective view of an electrical connector according to the invention with a plug element and a mating plug element spaced apart from one another and a latch in the unlocking position;

Fig. 2 a diagrammatic perspective view of the connector shown in Fig. 1 in a final state with the plug element and the mating plug element in a final plugging position and a latch in the locking position;

Fig. 3 a diagrammatic side view of the connector shown in Figs. 1 and 2 with a plug element and a mating plug element in a pre-plugging position and a latch in the unlocking position; Fig. 4 a diagrammatic perspective view of the connector shown in Figs. 1 to 3 with a plug element and a mating plug element in another pre-plugging position and a latch in an engaged position;

Fig. 5 a diagrammatic side view of the connector shown in Figs. 1 to 4 in the final state with the plug element and the mating plug element in the final plugging position and the latch in the locking position; and

Fig. 6 a detail V from Fig. 5.

In Fig. 1 a connector 1 according to the invention is shown in a diagrammatic perspective view. The connector 1 comprises a plug element 2 and a mating plug element 3 as well as a latch 4 fastened to the plug element 2. Furthermore, the connector 1 comprises a sealing element 5, a contact arrangement 6 assigned to the plug element 2 and a counter contact arrangement 7 assigned to the mating plug element 3. The plug element 2 and the latch 4 together form a pivot bearing 8 on which the latch 4 is fastened to the plug element 2 such as to rotate about an axis of rotation R. The connector 1 extends in a longitudinal direction X, a transverse direction Y running transverse to the longitudinal direction X and a height direction Z running transverse to the longitudinal direction X and the transverse direction Y, which together span a Cartesian coordinate system. The plug element 2 is made so that it can mate with the mating plug element 3 in a plugging direction S and the mating plug element 3 is made so that it can mate with the plug element in a counter plugging direction S' . The axis of rotation R extends transversely to the plugging direction S substantially parallel to the transverse direction Y. The plugging direction S and the counter plugging direction S' run substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis X. A centre axis M or a longitudinal axis L of the connector also runs parallel to the longitudinal direction X. The plug element 2 comprises a housing 20 which forms a plugging section 21 in the form of a socket-like mating plug receiver (not shown) with an inner contour 22. A housing side pivot bearing component 23 extends from a side wall 20a of the housing in the form of a pin along the axis of rotation R. Furthermore, there is disposed on the side wall 20a a counter bearing 24 that forms a rounded support and counter bearing surface 42a pointing substantially in the di- rection opposing the plugging direction S. Furthermore, the housing 20 has a cover 20b, a base 20c and a rear side turned away from the plugging section 21 .

The mating plug element 3 has a counter housing 30 that correspondingly has a side wall 30a, a cover 30b, a base 30c and a rear side 30d. A mating plugging section 31 of the plug element 3 is made in the form of a plug with an outer contour 32, and the sealing element 5 is arranged lying tightly around the latter. A counter locking component 33 extends substantially parallel to the axis of rotation or transverse direction Y away from the side wall 30a of the housing 30 and forms a rounded counter locking surface 33a pointing substantially in the plugging direction S. Furthermore, an unlocking component 34 extends substantially parallel to the transverse direction Y away from the side wall 30a of the housing 30 and forms a rounded unlocking surface 34a pointing substantially in a direction opposing the plugging direction S. The latch 4 has a latch body 40 with a locking section 41 and a latch section 42. A locking component 43 in the form of a connecting link is formed in the locking section 41 . A counter bearing section 44 is disposed on the latch section 42. The locking component 43 and the counter bearing section 44 are made to be rotatable about a latch-side pivot bearing component 45 in the form of an opening and that is arranged concentrically to the housing side pivot bearing component 23. In other words, the housing side pivot bearing component 23 and the latch side pivot bearing component 45 together form the pivot bearing 8. The housing side pivot bearing component 23 is accommodated in the latch side pivot bearing component 45.

Fig. 2 shows the connector 1 in a final state E in which the plug element 2 and the mating plug element 3 are plugged together fully until they are in a final plugging position B and the latch 4 is moved into a locking position C. A locking surface 43a moulded onto the locking component 43 is supported on the counter locking surface 33a of the counter locking component 33 in the direction opposing the plugging direction S. A counter bearing surface 44a (not yet shown here) of the counter bearing section 44 is supported on the support surface 24a of the counter bearing 24 in the plugging direction S. Thus, in the final plugging position B, the plug element 2 and the mating plug element 3 are secured against being detached from one another in the plugging direction S or the counter plugging direction S' by the latch 4.

Fig. 3 shows the connector 1 with the plug element 2 and the mating plug element 3 in a pre- plugging position A, as well as a latch 4 in an unlocking or open position 0 in a diagrammatic side view. The counter locking component 33 is inserted into the locking section 41 of the latch 4 via an insertion section 41 a in the form of an insertion opening in the counter plugging direction S' and in the direction opposing the plugging direction S. On the side of the locking section 41 a the latch 4 has a bearing section 46 on which the latch side pivot bearing component 45 is disposed or moulded. The locking section 41 and the bearing section 46 clamp between them the locking component 43 in the form of the connecting link. The axis of rotation R and the locking surface 43a, measured parallel to the plugging direction S, are arranged spaced apart from one another by a distance d_{Ri 3a}. The locking section 41 and the bearing section 46 are brought together and connected to the counter bearing section 44 by a connection section 46 of the latch 4. Moulded onto the counter bearing section 44 is an inclined surface 44b which runs substantially parallel to the counter bearing surface 44a. The inclined surface 44b is connected to the counter bearing surface 44a by a ramp 44c.

Fig. 4 shows the connector 1 in a diagrammatic side view with a plug element 2 and a mating plug element 3 in another pre-plugging position A' as well as a latch 4 in an engaged position E. With respect to the open position 0 the latch 4 is turned to such an extent that a guide surface 43b moulded onto the locking component 43, and which is formed substantially by the inner contour, pointing in the direction of the axis of rotation R, of the connecting link-like locking component 43, lies on the counter locking surface 33a of the counter locking component 33 moulded onto the mating plug element 3. Along a distance d_{Rj 3d}, measured parallel to the plugging direction S, between the axis of rotation R and the guide surface 43b and a distance d_R; 3a, likewise measured parallel to the plugging direction S, between the axis of rotation R and the counter locking surface 33a a locking force acts between the axis of rotation R and the counter locking component 33 in the engaged state E. Along a distance d_{2 a}, 3b, measured parallel to the plugging direction S, between the support surface 24a and the guide surface 43b a clamping force F₂ acts by stressing the counter bearing 24 as soon as the latter engages with the counter bearing section 44. The inclined surface 44b is disposed just above the support surface 24b in the height direction Z and after the clamping force F₂ strikes the support surface 24a, the plug element 2 and the mating plug element 3 will be drawn towards one another in the plugging direction S or the counter plugging direction S' . From this point onwards the axis of rotation R and the pivot bearing 8 and the pivot bearing components 23, 45 forming the latter, which were previously subjected to the relatively low locking force F_{1 (} are unloaded .

Fig. 5 shows the connector 1 in the final plugging state F. The counter locking component 33 lies with its counter locking surface 33a over the locking surface 43a of the latch 4 in the plug- ging direction S. A radial distance between the guide surface 43b and the axis of rotation R decreases from its end turned towards the insertion section 41 a to the locking surface 43a. Thus, when the latch 4 moves from the open position 0 via the engaged position E into the locking position C, the plug element 2 and the mating plug element 3 are drawn towards one another in the plugging direction S or in the counter plugging direction S' . This effect intensi- fies upon movement into the locking position C. The locking and clamping forces acting between the plug element 2 and the mating plug element 3 are increased by the support surface 24a rising simultaneously from the inclined surface 44b via the ramp 44c onto the counter bearing surface 44a, a distance d_33ai 44_a, measured parallel to the plugging direction S, between the counter locking surface 33a and the counter bearing surface 44a being smaller than a distance d33a_{i 4}4b, likewise measured parallel to the plugging direction S, between the counter locking surface 33a and the inclined surface 44b.

Fig. 6 shows a detail V from Fig. 5 in which it is particularly evident that, at least in the final state F, the housing side pivot bearing component 23 and the latch side pivot bearing component 45 are arranged in relation to one another such that a width w₂3 of the housing side pivot bearing component, measured parallel to the plugging direction S, is smaller than a width w ₅, likewise measured parallel to the plugging direction S, of the latch side pivot bearing component 45, by means of which there is a distance d₂3_{i 5} between the housing side pivot bearing component 23 and the latch side pivot bearing component 45 both in the plugging direction S, and in the opposing direction. The distances d₂3, ₄₅ between the housing side pivot bearing component 23 and the latch side pivot bearing component 45 form in total a play of the pivot bearing 8, parallel to the plugging direction S, and this helps to unload the axis of rotation R and the components 23, 45 forming the latter. Within the framework of the idea behind the invention, deviations from the embodiments described above are possible.

A connector 1 according to the invention may comprise plug elements 2 and mating plug elements 3 which may, if one so chooses, be provided with a latch 4 in order to lock these elements to one another and to overcome mating forces. The plug element 2 and the mating plug element 3 can have any number and any form of sealing elements 5, contact arrangements 6 and counter contact arrangements 7. Pivot bearings 8 can be formed arbitrarily between the plug element 2 and the latch 4 or between the mating plug element 3 and the latch 4.

A plug element 2 according to the invention can be provided with a housing 20 with side walls 20a, covers 20b and bases 20c that can be formed arbitrarily according to the respective re- quirements, and have a plugging section with an inner contour 22, housing side pivot bearing components 23, counter bearings 24 and support surfaces 24a in a form and number corresponding to the respective requirements.

The mating plug element 3 can have a counter housing 3 with side walls 30a, 30b, bases 30c and rear sides 30d according to the respective requirements and be provided with a mating plugging section 31 , designed according to the respective requirements, with any form or number of outer contours 32 and counter locking components 33, counter locking surfaces 33a, unlocking components 34 and unlocking surfaces 34a.

According to the respective requirements, the latch 4 can be a latch body 40 with a locking section 41 , a latch section 42, locking components 43 with locking surfaces 43a and a guide surface 43b, counter bearing sections 44 with counter bearing surfaces 44a, inclined surfaces 44b and ramps 44c, latch side pivot bearing components 45, bearing sections 46, connection sections 47 and insertion sections/openings 41 a, in order to co-operate with the housing side pivot bearing component 23, the counter bearing 24 and the counter locking component 33.

Sealing elements 5 can be formed and arranged according to the respective requirements in order to seal an internal space formed between the plug element 2 and the mating plug element 3 and in which contact arrangements 6 and counter contact arrangements 7 formed according to the respective requirements can be arranged which can contain any number of contact elements 60 and counter contact elements 70 formed according to the respective requirements and which can be in contact with one another such as to be electrically conductive, at the very latest in the final plugging position E. According to the respective requirements, a pivot bearing 8 according to the invention can be formed from housing side pivot bearing components 23 and latch side pivot bearing components 45 which can be shaped as respectively complementarily formed pivot bearing parts such as pins, bolts and pegs on the one hand and as sockets, openings and receivers on the other hand.

List of reference numbers

1 connector

2 plug element

3 mating plug element

4 latch

5 sealing element

6 contact arrangement

7 counter contact arrangement

20 housing

20a side wall

20b cover

20c base

20d rear side

21 plugging section

22 inner contour

23 housing side pivot bearing component

24 counter bearing

24a support/counter bearing surface

30 counter housing

30a side wall

30b cover

30c base

30d rear side

31 mating plug section

32 outer contour

33 counter locking component

33a counter locking surface

34 unlocking component

34a unlocking surface

40 latch body

41 locking section

41 a insertion section/opening

42 latch section

43 locking component

43a locking surface

43b guide surface

44 counter bearing section

44a counter bearing surface

44b inclined surface ramp

latch side pivot bearing component bearing section

connection section

contact element

counter contact element pre-plugging position/open position final plugging position

unlocking position

engaged position

locking position

final state

locking force

clamping force

longitudinal axis

centre axis

axis of rotation

longitudinal direction

transverse direction

height direction

Claims

A plug element (2) for an electrical connector (1 ), comprising a latch (4) that can be rotated about an axis of rotation (R) from an unlocking position(O) into a locking position (C) and that has a locking component spaced apart from the axis of rotation (R), characterised by a counter-bearing (24) spaced apart from the axis of rotation (R) and the locking component (43) which, at the very least in the locking position (C), supports the latch (4) in a direction opposing the plugging direction (S) of the plug element (2).

The plug element (2) according to Claim 1 , characterised in that the locking component (43) is located, at least in some sections, on a side of the axis of rotation (R) turned away from the counter bearing (24) along the plugging direction (S).

The plug element (2) according to Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the latch (4) is supported resiliently on the counter bearing (24).

The plug element (2) according to at least one of Claims 1 to 3, characterised by a counter bearing section (44) of the latch (4) on which the counter bearing (24) sits during the movement of the latch (4) from the unlocking position (0) into the locking position (C).

The plug element (2) according to at least one of Claims 1 to 4, characterised in that at the very least when the counter bearing section (44) rests against the counter bearing (24) in the locking position (C), there is play, measured parallel to the plugging direction (S), between a housing side pivot bearing component (23) and a latch side pivot bearing component (45) of the plug element (2) which together predetermine the axis of rotation (R).

The plug element (2) according to Claim 5, characterised in that the housing side pivot bearing component (23) is made in the form of a pin and the latch side pivot bearing component (45) in the form of an opening.

The plug element (2) according to at least one of Claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the counter bearing (24) is made in the form of a projection with a rounded support surface (24a) pointing in the direction opposing the plugging direction.

The plug element (2) according to at least one of Claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the locking component (43) is made, at least in sections, in the form of a connecting link curved around the axis of rotation.

9. A mating plug element (3) for an electrical connector (1 ), characterised in that the mating plug element (3) is made to be complementary to a plug element (2) according to at least one of Claims 1 to 8.

An electrical connector (1 ), characterised in that the connector (1 ) has a plug element (2) according to at least one of Claims 1 to 8 and a mating plug element (3) according to Claim 9.

The electrical connector (1 ) according to Claim 10, characterised in that in the locking position (C) the locking component (43) is engaged with a counter locking component (33) of the mating plug element (3) and the latch (4) is engaged with the counter bearing (24), at least the locking component (43) being supported against the counter locking component (33) in the direction opposing the plugging direction (S) or the latch (4) being supported against the counter bearing (24) in the plugging direction (S) in which the plug element (2) is brought together with the mating plug element(3).

The electrical connector (1 ) according to Claim 10 or 1 1 , characterised in that the axis of rotation (R) is free from forces parallel to the plugging direction (S) at least in the locking position (C).

The connector (1 ) according to Claim 1 1 or 12, characterised in that the counter bearing (24) and the counter locking component (33a) are arranged along a height direction (Z) of the connector (1 ), substantially at the level of a centre axis (M) of the connector (1 )·

The connector (1 ) according to at least one of Claims 1 1 to 13, characterised in that at least in the locking position (C), a distance (d₂₄, ) between the counter bearing (24) and the axis of rotation (R), measured parallel to the plugging direction (S), is greater than a distance (d_{Rj 33}) between the axis of rotation (R) and the counter locking element (33), measured parallel to the plugging direction (S).

15. The connector (1 ) according to at least one of Claims 1 1 to 14, characterised in that at least in the locking position (C) the counter bearing (24), the axis of rotation (R) and the counter locking element (33) are in a triangular arrangement.