Support frame for connector module

The invention is based on a holding frame for connector modules according to the preamble of independent claim 1.

Such holding frames are used to hold connector modules, the holding frame being equipped with various connector modules and then inserted into a connector housing and screwed to it. The holding frame must be mechanically stable in order to be able to withstand the plugging and pulling forces that occur when the plug connection is joined or separated.

State of the art

From the <de-docref CY="DE" DNUM="19707120" KI="C1">DE 19 707 120 C1</de-docref> a holding frame for connector modules is known. The holding frame consists of two halves that are connected to one another via a joint. Latching hooks of the connector modules engage in recesses in the side surfaces of the respective half. The joint or the joints at the end are arranged in the fastening ends of the holding frame. When the holding frame is screwed onto a fastening surface, the frame parts align themselves in such a way that the side parts of the holding frame are oriented at right angles to the fastening surface. This fixes the connector modules in the holding frame.

The holding frame of the <de-docref CY="DE" DNUM="19707120" KI="C1">DE 19 707 120 C1</de-docref> does not have a clearly defined open position for equipping the holding frame with connector modules. This occasionally results in a somewhat bulky assembly, especially by inexperienced people.

If the holding frame has been successfully equipped with connector modules, it must be brought into a closed state or into a closed position so that the connector modules are fixed. There is no fixed closed state for the closed state of the holding frame of the prior art, so that the holding frame can accidentally open, whereby the modules can fall out of their anchoring.

Due to a purely articulated connection, there is not always a defined electrical contact between the halves of the holding frame. As a result, a reliable use of the holding frame for grounding purposes cannot be guaranteed.

The <de-docref CY="DE" DNUM="202012103360" KI="U1">DE 20 2012 103 360 U1</de-docref> shows holding frame for connector modules, which has two frame halves which can be locked to one another by linear displacement of one frame half relative to the other frame half.

The <de-docref CY="CN" DNUM="204205152" KI="U">CN 204 205 152 U</de-docref> shows a holding frame for connector modules. The holding frame consists of two halves, which are connected to one another via a joint and at the respective ends via spiral springs. During the entire assembly process of the holding frame, work must be done against the spring force of the spiral spring.

The <de-docref CY="CN" DNUM="201656162" KI="U">CN 201 656 162 U</de-docref> shows a holding frame for connector modules. The holding frame consists of two halves, which are connected to each other at the respective ends via spiral springs. The spiral springs pull the halves longitudinally towards each other. When equipping the holding frame with connector modules, care must be taken to ensure that the ends of the holding frames are equidistant from one another so that the connector modules can be inserted easily. When returning the halves, care must also be taken to ensure that the ends are returned in an equally parallel manner, otherwise the modules will get caught in the side parts of the halves.

Overall, the assembly process is the <de-docref CY="CN" DNUM="204205152" KI="U">CN 204 205 152 U</de-docref> very cumbersome and often leads to jamming or hooking of the connector modules.

Task

The object of the invention is to propose a holding frame that is easy to handle and versatile.

The object is achieved by the characterizing features of independent claim 1.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the subclaims.

The holding frame according to the invention is intended to accommodate connector modules and then to be installed in a connector housing. The holding frame consists of two halves that can be connected to one another, a first half and a second half. The holding frame has at least one first locking element.

The halves can be aligned with one another in at least two positions and can be fixed in at least two positions with one another via the first locking element. The alignability of the halves is achieved via the articulated connection, which is described in more detail below.

The holding frame advantageously has a pivot point at each end, the connecting line of the pivot points forming an axis of rotation which runs parallel to the side surfaces of the halves. The halves of the holding frame can be rotated along the axis of rotation and aligned with one another. The pivot points are usually formed by a joint head which is guided in a suitable joint receptacle and is described in more detail below.

Preferably the first locking element has an arcuate shape. One could also speak of a U-shape. One end of the locking element is held on the first half and the other end of the locking element is held on the second half.

According to the invention, the first locking element is fastened to the halves under a pretension, and the pretension exerts a force which fixes the holding frame in an open position or in a closed position. The force applied by the preload is used to fix the holding frame in a closed or an open position. When aligning the halves, the user must first overcome a counterforce until the holding frame remains in the respective position (open or closed) or is fixed in this position.

The force resulting from the pretensioning of the first locking element acts on the end joints or on the end points of the axis of rotation of the holding frame. Depending on the orientation in which the holding frame is currently located, a resulting force acts on the articulated connection and forces the holding frame into a closed or open position.

The holding frame preferably has at least one second locking element. The first locking element is preferably arranged on one end face of the holding frame and the second locking element is arranged on the opposite end face of the holding frame. The first locking element is located on the inside of the first end face of the holding frame. The second locking element is located on the inside of the second end face of the holding frame. As a result, the holding frame is mechanically stable in its alignment option.

The second locking element is preferably designed in a meander shape. This meander shape supports the alignment movement of the halves.

It is particularly advantageous if the second locking element is also attached to the halves under a bias. This bias can support the fixation by the first locking element.

The halves are advantageously made of a metallic material. In a closed state, the halves are in electrically conductive contact with one another. The electrically conductive connection between the halves can also be brought about or supported by the locking element. For this purpose, the blocking element or the blocking elements must also consist of an electrically conductive material.

The open position means that the halves are at an angle α other than 180 ° to one another along the dividing line. The angle is preferably between 130 ° and 170 °. An angle between 155 ° and 165 ° has proven to be particularly advantageous. In this angular position of the halves, the connector modules can be inserted particularly easily into the holding frame. In the closed position, the halves make an angle of approximately 180 ° or exactly 180 ° to one another. The halves are parallel to each other in the closed position.

The two halves are reliably brought into electrical contact with one another via the locking element. This is done on the one hand via the locking element itself, provided it is made of an electrically conductive material. In addition, the pretensioning of the locking element presses the joint head of one half into the joint receptacle of the other half, creating a reliable electrical contact.

Figure list

An embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawings and is explained in more detail below. Show it:<ul list-style="none" id="ul_0001"><li id="ul_0001_0001"><figref>1</figref> a side view of a support frame with a first</li><li id="ul_0001_0002">Locking element in a closed position,</li><li id="ul_0001_0003"><figref>2</figref> a side view of a support frame with a first</li><li id="ul_0001_0004">Locking element in an open position,</li><li id="ul_0001_0005"><figref>3</figref> a perspective view of a section of the holding frame with a first locking element in an open position,</li><li id="ul_0001_0006"><figref>4</figref> a perspective view of a further section of the holding frame with a second locking element in an open position,</li><li id="ul_0001_0007"><figref>5</figref> a perspective view of the closed holding frame with a first locking element,</li><li id="ul_0001_0008"><figref>6</figref> a perspective view of the closed holding frame with integrated connector modules,</li><li id="ul_0001_0009"><figref>7</figref> a perspective view of a first locking element and</li><li id="ul_0001_0010"><figref>8</figref> a perspective view of a second locking element.</li></ul>

The figures contain partially simplified, schematic representations. In some cases, identical reference symbols are used for identical, but possibly not identical elements. Different views of the same elements could be scaled differently.

The <figref>1</figref> shows a holding frame <b>1</b> in a closed position. The holding frame<b>1</b> consists essentially of two halves <b>4</b>, <b>5</b>that have a joint <b>2</b>, <b>3</b> are connected to each other. A half<b>5</b> has a joint head on the respective end faces <b>2</b> on, which is in a designated joint receptacle <b>3</b> the opposite half <b>4</b> intervenes. One speaks here of an articulated connection of the two halves<b>4</b>, <b>5</b> of the holding frame.

The holding frame <b>1</b> has a first locking element <b>7</b> on, which is essentially U-shaped. The first locking element<b>7</b> is in <figref>7</figref> shown. The ends of the first locking element<b>7</b> are bent by 90 °. The bent areas form so-called locking hooks<b>9</b> out.

The halves <b>4</b>, <b>5</b> of the holding frame <b>1</b> each have a recess <b>6</b> on. The locking hooks<b>9</b> of the first locking element engage in the recesses <b>6</b> a, whereby the first locking element <b>7</b> on the inside of an end face of the holding frame <b>1</b> is fixed.

The first locking element <b>7</b> is biased into the recesses <b>6</b> used. The ends of the first locking element<b>7</b> exert a force along a virtual tension line through the preload <b>10</b> to each other. In the<figref>1</figref> and <figref>2</figref> is a center line <b>11</b> of the swivel head <b>2</b> or the articulated connection of the halves <b>4</b>, <b>5</b> of the holding frame <b>1</b> drawn.

The following is how the first locking element works <b>7</b> explained in more detail. By the bias of the first locking element<b>7</b> becomes a force on the articulated connection of the support frame <b>1</b> exercised. A resulting force causes the halves<b>4</b>, <b>5</b> face each other in a closed or open position.

Is the tension line <b>10</b> above the midline of the joint <b>2</b>, <b>3</b>, become the halves <b>4</b>, <b>5</b> into a closed position of the holding frame <b>1</b> led to each other (<figref>1</figref>). One of the rod ends<b>2</b> outgoing first stop <b>12</b> against a first attack <b>13</b> the first half <b>4</b> pressed. Is the tension line<b>10</b> below the center line <b>11</b>, becomes a second, from the joint head <b>2</b> protruding stop <b>14</b> against a second attack <b>15</b> the first half <b>4</b> pressed. This will make the halves<b>4</b>, <b>5</b> or becomes the holding frame <b>1</b> fixed in an open position (<figref>2</figref>).

On an opposite, inner face of the holding frame <b>1</b> is a second locking element <b>7'</b> fixed. This locking element is designed essentially in a meander shape and has locking hooks at the respective end<b>9'</b> on that in recesses <b>6</b> on the halves <b>4</b>, <b>5</b> are held. A loop of the meander-shaped, second locking element<b>7'</b> is at the level of the joint <b>2</b>, <b>3</b>. The meander-shaped second locking element<b>7'</b> essentially supports the articulated connection of the halves <b>4</b>, <b>5</b> and provides a restoring force from the open to the closed position. This makes the holding frame easier to use.

Connector modules <b>19</b> have long been known and for example in the <de-docref CY="DE" DNUM="19707120" KI="C1">DE 19 707 120 C1</de-docref> described. The connector modules<b>19</b> are with protruding, approximately rectangular holding means <b>20</b> and spring-elastic locking hooks <b>21</b> Mistake. In the side panels<b>22</b> of the halves <b>4</b>, <b>5</b> are as openings that are closed on all sides <b>23</b> provided in which the holding means <b>20</b> when inserting the connector modules <b>19</b> in the holding frame <b>1</b> immerse.

The holding frame <b>1</b> has a grounding socket <b>24</b> in which a pin (not shown) of an opposing holding frame (not shown) can engage.

The essence of the invention relates to a holding frame <b>1</b>in which connector modules <b>19</b> can be used, the holding frame <b>1</b> of two halves that can be joined together <b>4</b>, <b>5</b>, a first half <b>4</b> and a second half <b>5</b>, with the holding frame <b>1</b> at least a first locking element <b>7</b> having and wherein the halves <b>4</b>, <b>5</b> via the first locking element <b>7</b> can be aligned and fixed in relation to one another in at least two positions. The first locking element<b>7</b> is preloaded on the halves <b>4</b>, <b>5</b> attached and a force is exerted by the bias, which the holding frame <b>1</b> optionally fixed in an open position or in a closed position.

It has been found to be particularly effective when a holding frame <b>1</b> with a U-shaped locking element on both sides <b>7</b> is provided as it is in <figref>7</figref> is shown.

List of reference symbols

<dl tsize="2"><dt>1</dt><dd>Holding frame</dd><dt>2</dt><dd>Swivel head</dd><dt>3</dt><dd>Joint mount</dd><dt>4</dt><dd>First half</dd><dt>5</dt><dd>Second half</dd><dt>6</dt><dd>Recess</dd><dt>7</dt><dd>First locking element</dd><dt>7'</dt><dd>Second locking element&lt;br /&gt;</dd><dt>8</dt><dd>screw</dd><dt>9</dt><dd>Locking hook</dd><dt>10</dt><dd>Tension line</dd><dt>11</dt><dd>Center line</dd><dt>12</dt><dd>First stop of the joint head</dd><dt>13</dt><dd>First stop of the first half</dd><dt>14</dt><dd>Second stop of the joint head&lt;br /&gt;</dd><dt>15</dt><dd>Second attack in the first half&lt;br /&gt;</dd><dt>19</dt><dd>Connector module</dd><dt>20</dt><dd>Holding means</dd><dt>21</dt><dd>Spring-elastic locking hook&lt;br /&gt;</dd><dt>22</dt><dd>Side part</dd><dt>23</dt><dd>opening</dd><dt>24</dt><dd>Grounding socket</dd></dl>