Contact for plug connector

Abstract

The invention relates to a contact element (1) for a plug connector, comprising a crimp region having crimp wings (5), with which same is connected to an electrical conductor of a line, wherein the contact element (1) has a spring-like contact geometry for a counter contact element in a contact region, wherein this contact geometry is provided in duplicate, characterised in that one part of the double contact geometry is formed by an additional contact element (3), wherein this additional contact element (3) is produced separately from the contact element (1) and, after production, same is arranged on the contact element (1) via a connection (4).

Claims

1. A contact assembly for a plug connector, the contact assembly comprising: a longitudinally open contact sleeve that receives a mating contact; a crimp region offset longitudinally from the contact sleeve and having crimp tabs that attach the contact assembly to an electrical conductor of a wire; two elastic contact formations for mating contact at a contact region with a counter contact region, one of the two contact formations being formed by an additional contact that is produced separately from the contact assembly and after production is mounted on the contact assembly via a connection, the additional contact having a free end longitudinally opposite the crimp region and formed with an outward end bend; and an angled part formed at an end of the contact sleeve remote from the crimp region and protecting the free end of the additional contact from being engaged longitudinally and bent.

2. The contact assembly according to claim 1, wherein the contact sleeve has at least one projecting angled web on at least one longitudinal edge in the region of its abutting longitudinal edges.

3. The contact assembly according to claim 1, wherein in the region of its abutting longitudinal edges the contact sleeve, on one of the longitudinal edges has at least one web that engages in a corresponding recess in the other longitudinal edge.

4. The contact assembly according to claim 1, wherein the at least one end angled part is formed by the contact sleeve in a region of the contact sleeve to which the crimp region connects.

5. The contact assembly according to claim 4, wherein two such end angled parts aligned parallel to the longitudinal axis of the contact sleeve are formed by the contact sleeve, the ends of the two end angled parts standing out from the surface of contact sleeve and being aligned at a spacing from one another.

6. The contact assembly according to claim 1, further comprising: a contact spring provided integrally with the contact sleeve extending from the contact sleeve pointing into its interior.

7. The contact assembly according to claim 6, wherein the connection between the contact sleeve and the contact spring has a thickness reduction.

8. The contact assembly according to claim 6, wherein the end of the contact spring abuts against a central region of the additional contact.

9. The contact assembly according to claim 1, wherein the additional contact has a straight central region between the region in which it is fixed to the contact sleeve via the connection and its free end that points away from it.

10. The contact assembly according to claim 1, wherein at least one contact chamber support is formed by the contact sleeve in a region of the contact sleeve to which the crimp region connects.

11. The contact assembly according to claim 1, wherein the end of the bend of the free end of the additional contact is aligned parallel to and at a spacing from the end of the angled part.

12. The contact assembly according to claim 1, wherein an outwardly projecting latching lug is formed by the contact sleeve.

13. The contact assembly according to claim 12, wherein an indentation pointing into the interior of the contact sleeve is provided between the region from which the latching lug projects from the contact sleeve and the end of the contact sleeve that is remote from the crimp region.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

(1) Different views of an embodiment are shown in the drawing in which:

(2) FIGS. 1 to 9 show a first embodiment of the invention; and

(3) FIGS. 10 to 17 show a second embodiment.

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(4) FIG. 1 shows a contact 1 that comprises a latching lug 2 for the purpose of the primary locking of the contact 1 in an unillustrated contact chamber of a contact holder. In addition, according to the invention, there is an additional contact 3 that is secured by a connection 4 on the contact 1, which is realized in an integral manner per se. As is known, the contact 1 has crimp tabs 5 in order to connect an electrical conductor of a cable mechanically and electrically to the contact 1. In addition, there are two tabs of a strain relief 6. These two tabs can also be bent around like the crimp tabs 5 and fit snugly to the outer surface of the outer casing of the wire. Where applicable, a single conductor seal, which interacts with the contact chamber of the contact holder for the purpose of sealing against rainwater, can be on the outer casing of the cable.

(5) At the front end, that is to say on the end of the contact 1 remote from the crimp region, there is an angled part 7. This angled part 7 lies at the front end in the same plane as the end-face end of the contact 1.

(6) The additionally mounted contact 3 comprises a bent part 8 at its free end. In addition, the contact 1 comprises a contact sleeve 9. A contact spring 10, which interacts with the contact 3, extends from the contact sleeve 9. The contact spring 10 can have, but does not have to have, a thickness reduction 11 in the transition region from the contact sleeve 9 to the free region. In addition, the contact sleeve 9 forms an end angled part 12 formed with two projecting tabs that spaced along the longitudinal axis of the contact 1. In addition, there is a contact chamber support 13. This contact chamber support 13 is formed in this embodiment by the additionally attached contact 3. As an alternative to this or in addition to it, such a contact chamber support 13 can also be formed by the contact sleeve 9.

(7) FIG. 2 shows the same contact 1. The cross section of the contact sleeve 9 can be seen here and has been brought into the form shown by bending a flat element. FIG. 2 shows two possibilities for connecting the abutting longitudinal edges of the contact sleeve 9 together that can be realized together, or each case can be seen on its own merits. On the one hand, tabs 14, which face one another and that form a type of tongue and groove system and come to abut against one another when the contact sleeve 9 has been brought into the positions shown in FIG. 2, are provided on the two longitudinal edges. If these webs 14 abut, a weld operation can be carried out as an option in this region, for example a weld point can be made to join the two webs 14 that face one another. In addition, at least one angled part 15 (in the embodiment two angled parts 15 spaced apart) is provided. Each angled part 15 is initially in the same plane as the side face of the contact sleeve 9, from which it projects. Not until the contact sleeve 9 is brought into its form shown is the deformation thereof effected as a result of the introduction of force onto the angled part 15 in order, consequently, to close the contact sleeve 9. An angled part within the range of between 10 and 20°, preferably 15°, has proved to be optimum in order to ensure permanent closure and in order to avoid unnecessary high forces for the angled part.

(8) In addition, FIG. 2 shows an indentation 16 that is between the latching lug 2 and the end of the contact 1.

(9) FIG. 3 shows the contact 1 sectioned at the contact sleeve 9. On the one hand, the indentation 16 can be seen. On the other hand, at least one contact point, here two contact points 17, are formed by the contact sleeve 9 or as an alternative to this is thereon. These contact points 17 formed for example like a contact spring, are convex to increase stability. That is to say that they have an arched form, as can be seen in FIG. 3. In addition, it is also conceivable to provide these contact points 17 with a coating. They form an electrical contact point for electrically contacting the contact 1 with a mating contact inserted into the contact sleeve 9.

(10) FIG. 4 shows the contact also in a section through the contact sleeve 9. In this connection, the shape of the contact chamber support 13 in particular can be seen, through which a compression spring end geometry is realized. In addition, it can be seen that the free end of the contact spring 10 abuts against a central region, in particular in a straight central region, of the contact 3 in order, as a result, to realize the increase in the normal force via the two-lever principle. Both a part of the inwardly pointing contact spring 10 and the indentation 16 and the at least one contact point 17 (not shown) form the contacting regions for the mating contact. In addition, it can also be seen that the end of the bend 8 of the free end of the contact 3 is aligned parallel to and at a spacing from the end of the angled part 7 in order to protect against wire undercut and protection against over-extension in the direction of the contact sleeve. If in fact an inadmissibly high force is exerted onto the contact 3, in particular onto its bent-in free end 8, this contact 3 cannot be moved fully inward into the contact sleeve 9 (even under inadmissible deformation of the contact spring 10) as the end of the bend 8 comes to abut on the right against the edge of the angled part 7.

(11) FIGS. 5 and 6 show the contact 1 inserted into contact chamber 19 of a contact holder 18. In this case, FIG. 5 shows the contact chamber 19 from the direction of the crimp region of the contact 1, whereas FIG. 6 shows the view of the contact chamber 9 from the front, that is to say from the direction of the connector face of the contact 1.

(12) FIGS. 7 and 8 show a finished plug connector that comprises the contact holder 18 with the inserted contact 1. Additionally present, but not designated in any more detail, are seals between the contact holder and a housing, in which the contact holder is inserted. In addition, the plug connector can comprise an additional locking device (so-called CPA) but does not have to.

(13) When looking at FIGS. 7 and 8, the essential point is the presence and the actuation of a locking latch 20. This locking latch 20 interacts with the contact holder 18. In FIG. 7, the locking latch 20 is shown in its open position. This means that, once its production is complete, the contact 1 can be inserted into the contact chamber 19. The locking latch 20 can only be actuated if this contact abuts there in the correct manner, that is to say if the contact chamber support 13 has also reached its required position. After its actuation, it locks the contact 1 in the contact chamber 19 in cooperation with the at least one end angled part 12. In this embodiment, the contact 1 is constructed in such a manner that the locking latch 20 is able to slide precisely into a free region between the end angled part 12 and the crimp tabs 5 when the contact 1 has been oriented properly and in its correct position in the contact chamber 19.

(14) The various views of the contact according to the invention already described above are shown one more time in FIG. 9.

(15) With reference to FIG. 4, it must still be pointed out that the contact 1 is shown in the drawing with a projection 21. This projection 21 is necessary for handling the contact 1 during its production in a stamping and bending process. Once the production has been completed and the contact 1 has been brought into its definitive form shown in the figures, the projection 21 is removed. In addition, reference is made to an angled part 22 that is also formed by the contact sleeve 9 (for example by a stamping) but could also be a separate part that is produced independently of the contact sleeve 9 and is subsequently fastened thereon. This element of the angled part 22, which can also be designated as a projection, projects somewhat into the interior of the contact sleeve 9. Its job is to protect the latching lug 2 against over-extension in order to prevent the latching lug 2 being pressed into the interior of the contact sleeve 9 if an external force acts on this latching lug in the direction of the contact sleeve 9.

(16) Both in general and for the embodiment described above as well as for the embodiment still to be described below, the one contact formation is realized by the contact 1 itself, that is to say the stamped-bent part thereof (as a result of direct abutment of the mating contact against the contact 1, the contact sleeve 9 thereof, the contact spring 10 thereof, the indentation 16 thereof and/or the at least one contact point 17 thereof), the second contact formation being formed at least by the further contact 3 that is on the contact 1, in particular on the contact sleeve 9 thereof. This further contact 3 then abuts directly against the mating contact when this mating contact is inserted into the contact sleeve 9, and consequently produces the electrical connection, or it abuts indirectly against the mating contact when this mating contact is inserted into the contact sleeve 9, for example via the contact spring 10, such that the contact 3 acts with a required force on the mating contact via the contact spring 10 and, as a result, not only is the contact formation formed but the electrical connection between the contact 1 and the inserted mating contact is also produced.

(17) A further embodiment is shown in FIGS. 10 to 17. The design of the contact 1 shown is substantially similar to the contact that is disclosed in DE 10 2014 113 490.

(18) The duplicate contact formation is also present but both contact regions that form the duplicate contact formations can be designed identically but do not have to be.

(19) In the case of the illustrated contact 1, a contact 2 formed from the stamped-bent part that forms the contact 1 is provided for forming the one contact region. A further contact 3 is produced independently of the stamped-bent part preferably also in a stamping and bending process and is on the basic body of the contact 1. Mounting of the additional contact 3 on the base contact 1 is preferably effected by a connection 4, which can be a rivet or a connection by caulking.