Fastening device for fastening a connector plug to a base housing

Translation of description of equivalent WO 2010124842 A1

p0001Fastening device for securing a cable connector to a base housing

p0002The invention relates to a fastening device for attaching a connection plug on a base housing by a fastening element. Furthermore, the invention relates to a connector arrangement having such a fastening device.

p0003A connector usually includes a plug housing composed of an insulating material with at least one conductor connection arranged therein and an element connected to the conductor connection plug contact element. The connector can be designed as a screw terminal, at which on the connector housing, a screw shaft is provided, through which a screw can be inserted into the interior of the connector housing. For fastening a cable connector on a circuit board, a base housing can be provided which is usually located on solder pins on the circuit board and has a slot for plugging the connector. Such connector assemblies are primarily there for use where an accidental contact of the connector is desired on the circuit board.

p0004To establish a secure connection between the connector and the base body, it is known fasteners having a fastener provided. For the fastener mostly in the connector and / or on the base housing special recording elements, for example in the form of apertures provided in which the attachment means in the mounted state, ie, in the state when the

p0005BESTATIGUNGSKOPIE Connector is attached to the base housing, engages. This increases construction costs such connector assemblies and also the fastening elements are usually arranged so that they are for a user only with difficulty and therefore cumbersome operable such to the connector and the base housing. Replacement of the fasteners is considerably more difficult and is usually only possible with additional tools. Characterized in that additional recording elements are necessary for fastening of the fastener, a retrofitting of a connector assembly with such fasteners is usually not possible at all. Furthermore, such fasteners usually require a larger additional space, which makes the entire installation space required the

p0006Connector assembly with the fastener in particular may result during installation in control cabinets to big problems.

p0007The invention is therefore to provide, which is distinguished by a simple structural design, is easy to use and anytime replaced or retrofitted to existing plug assemblies on the object, a fastening device for arrangement on a one connector and a base housing having plug assembly can.

p0008The problem is solved according to the invention by the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are indicated in the dependent claims.

p0009The inventive device for arrangement on a one connector and a base housing having plug assembly includes a fastener for Attaching the connector to the base housing, wherein the connector comprises a plug housing with a screw shaft. The fastening element has a first attachment region and a second fastening region, wherein the first

p0010Attachment area of ​​the fastening member to the screw shaft of the plug housing can be fastened, and the second fastening region of the fastening element can be fastened to an outer surface of the base housing.

p0011By means of the fastening device of the invention, an unintentional loosening of the connector can be prevented from the base housing. The fastening device according to the invention is characterized in that over the known fasteners case no additional receiving elements longer required to attach a fastener to the connector and the base housing, as are used for fastening only existing on the connector assembly elements by the fastener to a is attached to the connector present on the shaft opening and is attached to the other on an outer surface of the basic housing without at the outer surface of the base housing additional receiving elements must be provided. Because for fixing only been on the plug assembly existing elements are used, such a fastening device of the invention can be added anytime to existing plug assemblies. Complex designs of such attachment devices for securing a cable connector on a base housing omitted so, saving both cost and time. By saving additional receiving elements for the fastening element also allows the installation space required for such a fastening device be substantially reduced.

p0012For attaching the first attachment portion to the screw shaft of the plug housing, the first

p0013Attachment region preferably on a hook element. In a fastened state of the fastener, the hook member is disposed at an angle <90 ° to the surface of the fastener. In the mounted state the fastening element is secured to the connector and to the base housing. The hook element locked thereby on the outer surface or on an outer edge of the screw shaft, so that the hook element is hooked to the outer surface of the screw shaft and is held or fixed to the screw shaft. In been chopped state, the hook element is spread apart from the fixing member so that the hook member is disposed at an angle <90 °, preferably at an angle between 10 ° and 45 ° to the surface of the fastening element, in particular of the connector housing facing surface of the fastener ,

p0014In the unfastened state of the fastening element, that is, when the fastener is not attached to the plug assembly, the hook member is preferably formed as a wall surface of the fixing member is formed and in the fastened state, the hook member is preferably an opening at the fastener free. For securing the hook member to the screw shaft designed as a wall surface in the unfastened state the hook element can be bent downwardly so as to form an opening at the fastening element. In this opening is in the fastened state of the fastening element introduced the screw shaft so that the screw shaft is clamped between the hook member and the ridges formed as side surfaces of the fastener. The hook element is thus preferably not a separate component, which in addition to the

p0015must be attached fastening element, but it is a part of the fastener. This allows both materials and the manufacturing costs of such a fastener can be reduced. In addition, the fastener is characterized in that the screw shaft is clamped to the released by the hook member opening, particularly clamped without slipping on the connector.

p0016According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the fastening element is designed as a film hinge and the fixing member is pivotally supported at its first mounting region on the screw shaft. Characterized in that the fastening element is designed as a film hinge, it is know to a rather flat, plate-like shape so that the fastener requires only a small installation space and thereby possible space saving can be used. The fastener is preferably formed from a plastic material, so that the fastening element is electrically insulating and thus can serve as a protection against accidental contact. Further, the fastening element is preferably designed resiliently, wherein the hook element preferably designed as a spring element, so that the fastener is pivotally mounted at its first mounting region on the screw shaft. This is a particularly simple handling of the operating member for an operator allows. Further, it is preferably provided that the first fastening region can be fastened by means of an adhesive connection to the screw shaft. Preferably the hook member is attached by means of the adhesive bond to the screw shaft, so that the fastening element at a first attachment portion particularly securely in a fixed position can be fixed both by hooking into the screw shaft as well as by an adhesive bond, so that slipping of the fastening element even in strong loads can be prevented.

p0017According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention the fastener is in the fastened state of the fastening element arranged such that the first fastening element of the

p0018Fastening region to the second fastening region spanning a first side surface of the basic housing, wherein in the fastened state of the fastening element, the second attachment region bears against a transverse to the first side surface disposed second side surface of the base housing. The base housing is thereby clamped by the fixing member and pressed against the connector housing of the connector. This makes it possible to connect the connector fixed to the basic housing without additional to the base housing

p0019Connection elements are necessary. In addition, the attachment itself is easy to realize, because the initially fixed to the first fastening region fastening element can be slid over the first side surface of the base housing until the portion of the fastener to which the second fastening region is provided at the second transverse to said first side surface disposed side surface comes to rest, and thus engages behind the second side surface of the base housing. The Fastening element or the fastening device is thus particularly easy to handle without that additional tools would be necessary.

p0020For engaging behind the second lateral surface of the

p0021Base housing preferably comprises the second attachment to a locking lug. By means of the locking lug, the connector to be pressed in a simple manner to the basic housing. The base housing is thereby clamped between the detent and the connection plug.

p0022In addition, the fastener according to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention includes a bearing element which engages in a corresponding at

p0023Connector housing provided bearing recess is inserted. By means of the bearing member, the fastener can be fixed in the fastened state in addition to its first mounting region on the connector.

p0024According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the fastening element on a handle portion which is provided in the region of the first fastening region. Characterized in that the

p0025Handle is provided at the first fixing region, the loosening of the fastening element of the base housing is particularly simple to handle, particularly when the actuating element is formed resiliently and pivotally connected at its first mounting region on the

p0026mounted screw shaft. This actuation of the fastener alone on the easily accessible from the operator side handle portion is possible. The loosening of the actuating element and thus the Connector plug from the base casing may thus be effected in a simple manner by actuation of the handle portion with a finger. The use of an adjuvant or an additional tool is thus no longer necessary. The hook element is designed as a spring element, it is ensured that during non-actuation of the handle portion, the fastening element always remains in its fixed, locked condition.

p0027Furthermore, the invention relates to a connector assembly with a connector and a base housing, wherein the connector to the base housing by means of an embodiment as above, and further developed attachment device is fastened.

p0028In the following the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings with reference to preferred embodiments will be explained.

p0029Show it

p0030Fig. 1 is a perspective schematic view of a fixing device according to the invention in the attached state in accordance with a first embodiment;

p0031Fig. 2 is a perspective schematic view of the fixing device shown in FIG. 1 along with a connection plug and a base housing,

p0032Fig. 3 is a perspective schematic view of the fixing device shown in FIG. 1, in the unattached state, Fig. 4 is a perspective schematic view of a fixing device according to the invention in the fastened state according to a second embodiment, and

p0033Fig. 5 is a perspective schematic view of a fixing device according to the invention in the attached state in accordance with a third embodiment.

p0034Fig. 1 shows schematically a fastening device according to the invention with a fastening element 10, which is attached to a connector 12 and a connector connectable to the 12 base housing 14. The connector 12 has an existing of an insulating connector housing 16 having arranged therein conductor connecting elements and with the conductor-connection elements bandaged plug contacts (not shown here). The connector plug 12 is formed as a screw terminal, wherein on the connector housing 16 three screw shafts 18 are provided, whereby in FIG. 1, due to the perspective shown here, two of the three screw shafts 18 obscured by the fastener 10. Via each of the screw shafts 18 has a screw is inserted into the interior of the connector housing 16 respectively. For fastening a cable connector 12 on a circuit board, not shown here, the base housing 14 is provided, which means 20 to the solder pins

p0035PCB can be mounted and comprises a plurality of not shown slots for plugging the connector 12th The fastening element 10 is designed as a film hinge made from a plastic which has a first fastening region 22 and a second fastening area 24th By means of the first fastening portion 22, the fastening member 10 is fastened to the connector 12th The first fastening region 22 of the fastener 10 has a hook member 26th The hook element 26 is preferably of flat construction, the side faces 18 of the fastener 10 are formed as webs, through which the fastener 10 has a sufficient stability. In the unfastened condition of the fastening element 10, ie, when the fastener 10 is not fixed to the plug assembly, the hook member 26 is preferably formed as a wall surface of the

p0036The fastening element 10 is formed. To attach the hook member 26 to the screw shaft 18 formed as the wall surface in the unfastened state the hook element so that an opening 30 on the fastening element 10 can be 26 bent downward is formed. In this opening 30, at least a part of the screw shaft 18 is in the fastened state, as shown in Fig. 1, is introduced, in particular the part of the screw shaft 18, which is located from the outer surface of the plug housing 16 is increased, so that the screw shaft 18 between the hook element 26 and the webs formed as side surfaces 28 of the fastener 10 is clamped. The hook element 26 is configured as a spring element, so that the attachment element 10 pivotally connected at its first fastening region 22 on the

p0037Screw shaft is rotatably 18th The fastener 10 can function as a kind of rocker. Through the pivot point of the fastener 10 at the first attachment region 22, the fastening element 10 in to remain capable upon application of a pulling force on the connector 12 and / or on the base housing 14 in position and not to break away from this.

p0038The second attachment portion 24 of the fastener 10 provided opposite to the first attachment portion 22 at the other end of the fastener 10th The second attachment portion 24 has a detent 32 that such bears in the fastened state of the fastening element 10 on an outer surface of the base housing 14 that the latch 32, the base housing 14 engages, so that the main body 14 between the connector 12 and the locking lug 32 is clamped ,

p0039As shown in Fig. 2, wherein the transfer of the

p004010 fastener 10 first hooked from the unfastened condition to the fastened condition, the fastening element to the first fastening portion on the screw shaft 18 of the connector 12th The remainder of the fastener 10 is slid over preferably the entire length of a first side surface 34 of the base housing 14 until the locking nose 32 on the second transverse to said first side surface 34 disposed side surface 36 of the base housing 12 comes to rest, so that so that the locking lug 16, the second side surface 34 of the base housing 14 from behind.

p0041A particularly reliable, in particular verrutschsichere to realize attachment of the fastener 10 to the connector 12, the hook member 26 in addition a bearing member 38 on which (not shown here) is in a corresponding provided on the connector housing 16 bearing recess inserted. In the area of ​​the first attachment portion 22 further includes the fastening element 10 has a handle portion 40. Characterized in that the handle portion 40 is provided in the region of the first fastening region 22, wherein the handle portion protrudes 40 over the edge region of the plug housing 16 of the connector 12, the fastening element 10 can easily be operated by hand and thereby the connector 12 is easily detached from the base housing 14 will. This is particularly advantageous when the connector assembly for example in a

p0042Cabinet is arranged so that very little clearance between the end face of the plug assembly and the housing wall of the switch cabinet consists. Because the fastener 10 can be operated by pressing with a finger on the handle portion 40 easy, no additional tool for releasing the connector plug 12 is necessary. The handle portion 40 preferably has groove-shaped depressions on the gripping aid and anti-skid device on actuation of the handle portion 40th

p0043FIGS. 4 and Fig. 5 show two further possible embodiments of such a

p0044Fastening device, in particular for such a fastening element 10, wherein the attachment elements shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 have a shorter length than the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, a fastening element. In FIG. 5 spans in the fastened state, the fastener 10 is not the entire length of the first side surface 34 of the base housing 14. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

p0045Fastener 10

p0046Connector 12 basic housing 14

p0047Plug housing 16

p0048Screw shaft 18

p0049Solder pin 20

p0050First attachment region 22 Second attachment region 24

p0051Hook member 26

p0052Side surface of the fastener 28

p0053opening 30

p0054Locking lug 32 first side surface of the base housing 34

p0055Second side surface of the base housing 36

p0056Lagere1ement 38

p0057Handle portion 40