Locking clip for an electrical connector housing

Abstract

An electrical connector housing is provided with at least one locking clip, which is mounted pivotably via a bearing pin and has a locking region and an actuation region. In order to reversibly lock the electrical connector housing to a mating electrical connector housing, the locking region engages overbearing journals integrally moulded on the mating electrical connector housing. The locking clip has a locking device or means for blocking the pivot movement of the locking clip. In this manner, an accidental release of the plug-in connection can be prevented.

Claims

1. An electrical connector housing comprising at least one locking clip which is pivotably mounted by a bearing pin, the at least one locking clip having a locking region and an actuating region for moving the locking clip between an unlocked clip position and a locked clip position, wherein the electrical connector housing is lockable to a mating electrical connector housing by the locking region of the locking clip when moving the locking clip from the unlocked clip position to the locked clip position, wherein the locking clip further comprises a locking device separate and distinct from the locking region, which locking device is movable between a latched position and an unlatched position, wherein pivoting movement of the locking clip away from the locked clip position is prevented when the locking device is in the latched position, and wherein the locking device includes a user-manipulable actuating head accessible at an upper side of the actuating region of the locking clip remote from the locking region to selectively move the locking device from the latched position to the unlatched position to release the locking device from preventing the pivoting movement of the locking clip.

2. The electrical connector housing, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the locking device is pivotably mounted along an axis of rotation in a region of the actuating grip.

3. The electrical connector, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the locking clip assumes a basic U-shape, having an actuating grip and two side pieces which project perpendicularly from the actuating grip, and wherein ends of the side piece constitute the locking region.

4. The electrical connector, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the locking clip comprises a bearing axis, which is arranged between the locking region and the actuating region.

5. The electrical connector housing, as claimed in claim 4, wherein the locking device comprises a latching hook at an opposing end of the locking device opposite of the user-manipulable actuating head and in an area below the actuating region of the locking clip.

6. The electrical connector housing, as claimed in claim 5, wherein the electrical connector housing incorporates a recess, in which the latching hook is configured to engage in order to block the pivoting movement of the locking clip.

7. The electrical connector housing, as claimed in claim 3, wherein the locking device is arranged in a region of the actuating grip.

8. The electrical connector, as claimed in claim 7, wherein a spring element is arranged in the region of the actuating grip of the locking clip, which is operatively connected to the locking device.

9. The electrical connector housing, as claimed in claim 8, wherein a spring force of the spring element is oriented such that a latching hook of the locking device is urged into a recess of the electrical connector housing.

10. A method for employing an electrical connector housing comprising at least one locking clip which is pivotably mounted by a bearing pin, the at least one locking clip having a locking region and an actuating region for moving the locking clip between an unlocked clip position and a locked clip position, the locking clip further comprising a locking device separate and distinct from the locking region, which locking device is movable between a latched position and an unlatched position, wherein pivoting movement of the locking clip away from the locked clip position is prevented when the locking device is in the latched position, and wherein the locking device includes a user-manipulable actuating head accessible at an upper side of the actuating region of the locking clip remote from the locking region to selectively move the locking device from the latched position to the unlatched position to release the locking device from preventing the pivoting movement of the locking clip, the method comprising: mating the electrical connector housing in an exact fit to a mating electrical connector housing in a plug-in direction; and pivoting the at least one locking clip conversely to the plug-in direction of the electrical connector housing, as a result of which the locking region of the locking clip engages over a bearing pin of the mating electrical connector housing, and as a result of which the locking device secures the locking clip in the locked clip position.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10, further comprising: releasing the locking clip from the locked clip position by way of the user-manipulable actuating head of the locking device; pivoting the at least one locking clip in the plug-in direction of the electrical connector housing; and drawing the electrical connector housing and the mating electrical connector housing apart conversely to the plug-in direction.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Exemplary embodiments of the invention are represented in the drawings, and are described in greater detail hereinafter. In the drawings:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a partially transparent perspective representation of a locking clip,

(3) FIG. 2 shows a perspective representation of an electrical connector housing according to one example embodiment of the invention,

(4) FIG. 3 shows two electrical connector housings, respectively in an unlocked and in a mutually interlocked state,

(5) FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a section of the actuating region of the locking clip,

(6) FIG. 5 shows a systematic sequence of images for a locking method of two electrical connector housings, and

(7) FIG. 6 shows a systematic sequence of images for an unlocking method of two electrical connector housings.

(8) The figures may contain partially simplified schematic representations. In some cases, the same reference numbers are employed for similar, but optionally not identical elements. Different views of the same elements may be represented to different scales.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(9) FIG. 1 shows a partially transparent perspective representation of a locking clip 1, according to one example embodiment, which is pivotably mounted on an electrical connector housing 2, on bearing pins 3. The electrical connector housing represented in FIG. 2 is also described as a built-on housing, as it can be built onto, for example, a machine (not represented).

(10) The electrical connector housing 2 is essentially configured with a cuboid shape. The exposed surfaces are described as the connection side A and the plug-in side B. One locking clip 1 is pivotably mounted on each of the narrow sides of the electrical connector housing 2.

(11) The locking clip 1 is essentially configured with a U-shape. The locking clip comprises an actuating region, onto which an actuating grip 5 is integrally molded. Two side pieces 6 project perpendicularly from the actuating region 4, comprising sockets which extend in the direction of said side pieces 6, in each of which a C-shaped spring element 7 is arranged. At the lower end, the spring element 7 incorporates a through-opening 9, such that the spring element 7 is likewise secured by way of the bearing pins 3 of the electrical connector housing 2. The spring elements 7 are provided with an end-mounted clamp 8. The connection between the spring element 7 and the clamp 8 is form-fitted. Upon locking, the end-mounted clamps 8 engage over the bearing pins 3′ of a mating electrical connector housing 2′. At their ends, the side pieces 6 comprise a locking region 21.

(12) The connecting line of the through-openings 9 constitutes the bearing axis of the locking clip 1. The bearing axis is arranged between the locking region 21 and the actuating region 4. As a result, an optimum lever action is generated by the locking and unlocking movement of the locking clip 1.

(13) In the actuating region 4 of the locking clip 1, a locking device or means 10 is arranged. The functional interaction of the locking device or means 10 can clearly be seen in FIG. 4. The locking device or means 10 is pivotably mounted on a bearing axis 11. The locking device or means 10 can be pivoted along the double-headed arrow 12. The pivoting direction is oriented perpendicularly to the pivoting movement of the locking clip 1. The locking device or means 10 is essentially configured with a T-shape, and is operatively connected to a coil spring 13. In place of a coil spring 13, a spring element of an elastomer material can also be provided.

(14) At the upper end, the locking device or means 10 comprises an actuating head 14 with an unfinished surface structure. By way of the actuating head 14, the locking device or means 10 can be pivoted along the double-headed arrow 12. At the lower end, the locking device or means 10 comprises a latching hook 15. The spring force of the coil spring 13 drives the latching hook 15 continuously in the direction of the arrow 16, and thus into a recess 17 in the electrical connector housing 2. If the locking clip 1 is in its lower position, which constitutes the locking position, it is automatically secured in this position by the locking device or means 10. Only once the latching hook 15 has been actively withdrawn from the recess 17 in the electrical connector housing 2, by way of a pivoting movement which is initiated by the actuating head 14, is the plug connection released, such that it can then be separated.

(15) A method for locking an electrical connector housing 2 to a mating electrical connector housing is schematically represented in FIG. 5. The temporal sequence proceeds from left to right:

(16) a) In the left-hand image, the electrical connector housing 2 and the mating electrical connector housing 2′ are arranged in an exactly mutually oriented state. The electrical connector housings 2, 2′ have previously been brought together in the plug-in direction.

(17) b) In the next image, it can be seen that the locking clip 1 is then pivoted conversely to the plug-in direction of the electrical connector housing—in the direction of the arrow 18.

(18) c) In the right-hand image, it can be seen that, by the pivoting movement, the locking region 4 of the locking clip 1 engages over the bearing pins 3′ of the mating electrical connector housing 2′, and

(19) d) simultaneously, the locking device or means 10 secures the locking clip 1 in its terminal position or locking position.

(20) FIG. 6 shows an analogous representation of the process for the unlocking of the electrical connector housing 2 and the mating electrical connector housing 2′:

(21) e) Firstly, by way of the locking device or means 10, the locking clip 1 is released from its locking position. The actuating head 14 of the locking device or means 10 is thus pivoted in the direction of the arrow 19—i.e., towards the electrical connector housing 2. The latching hook 15 of the locking device or means 10 is thus extracted from the recess 17 in the electrical connector housing 2. During this process, the user is required to deliberately counteract the spring force of the spring element 13. Any inadvertent release is precluded accordingly.

(22) f) The locking clip 1 is then pivoted in the plug-in direction of the electrical connector housing 2—in the direction of the arrow 20, 20′.

(23) If the locking clip 1 is in its upper position or unlocking position, the electrical connector housing 2 and mating electrical connector housing 2′—conversely to their respective plug-in direction—can be drawn apart.

(24) Although various aspects or characteristics of embodiments of the invention are represented in combination in the figures in each case, it will be evident to a person skilled in the art—unless indicated otherwise—that the combinations represented and discussed are not the only ones possible. In particular, mutually corresponding units or series of characteristics from different exemplary embodiments can be interchanged.

(25) In general, in the following claims, the terms used should not be construed to limit the claims to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification and the claims, but should be construed to include all possible embodiments along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.