Holding frame for an industrial, electrical connector

Abstract

A holding frame for an industrial electrical connector for holding similar and/or different electrical connector modules is provided, the holding frame consisting largely of a three-dimensionally bent wire frame. Such a holding frame can be produced particularly economically. The holding frame is used in particular in applications in which particularly high mechanical stability is not required.

Claims

1. A holding frame for an industrial connector, for accommodating similar and/or different connector modules, wherein the holding frame comprises a three-dimensionally bent wire frame having a frame-like base structure having two mutually opposing end regions and two mutually opposing lateral regions to form a rectangular opening extending through the frame-like base structure to receive the connector modules.

2. The holding frame as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wire frame is constituted of a single and continuous piece of wire.

3. The holding frame as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wire frame is constituted of a piece of wire, a diameter of which is at least 1 millimeter, and up to 2 millimeters, in at least some regions of the wire frame.

4. The holding frame as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of a plurality of corner regions of the wire frame comprises a loop in which a respective fixing element is held for the reversible fastening of the holding frame in a connector housing.

5. The holding frame as claimed in claim 1, wherein the holding frame comprises two sidewalls, which are respectively attached to the lateral regions of the wire frame.

6. The holding frame as claimed in claim 1, wherein the holding frame comprises a PE-contact element.

7. The holding frame as claimed in claim 6, wherein the PE-contact element comprises a cylindrical contact pin, which incorporates a thickening.

8. The holding frame as claimed in claim 7, wherein the thickening assumes a knurled or a sprocket wheel-shaped surface.

9. The holding frame as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wire frame, at one of the end regions, incorporates a loop-shaped recess, in which a PE-contact element is held.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

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

(2) FIG. 1 shows a perspective representation of a holding frame according to a first embodiment of the invention, with one sidewall missing,

(3) FIG. 2 shows a perspective representation of the holding frame according to the first embodiment of the invention, with both sidewalls,

(4) FIG. 3 shows a perspective representation of a PE-contact element,

(5) FIG. 4 shows a perspective representation of a second embodiment of a holding frame according to the invention, and

(6) FIG. 5 shows a perspective representation of a third embodiment of a holding frame according to the invention.

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

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(8) FIGS. 1 and 2 show a perspective representation of a first form of embodiment of a holding frame 1 according to the invention. FIG. 4 shows a second form of embodiment of a holding frame 1′ and FIG. 5 shows a third form of embodiment of a holding frame 1″ according to the invention.

(9) With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the holding frame 1 is comprised of a three-dimensionally bent wire frame. The wire frame is formed by a single and continuous piece of wire 2 which, for example, has been trimmed to an appropriate length beforehand from a roll of wire. Using a bending machine, the piece of wire can be formed into virtually any desired three-dimensional shape.

(10) The wire frame constitutes a frame-like base structure having two mutually opposing end regions or end faces and two mutually opposing lateral regions or lateral surfaces. Sidewalls 3 are attached to the respective lateral regions. In this case, the sidewalls are reversibly attached to the wire frame by clamp arms 16. On one end region, a wire loop is constituted, in which a PE-contact element 4 is captively held. The PE-contact element 4 comprises a screw terminal 5 for a grounding line (not represented) and a contact pin 6 for grounding contact with a mating connector (not represented). Alternatively, the PE-contact element 4, instead of with a contact pin 6 (FIG. 1) can also be fitted with a contact socket 6′ (FIG. 2).

(11) Between the screw terminal 5 and the contact pin 6, the PE-contact element 4 incorporates a thickening 7, as shown in FIG. 3. The function of the thickening 7 is the fixing of the PE-contact element 4 in the wire loop 8 in the end region of the holding frame 1. The thickening 7 is optional and, for example, is not provided in the second variant of embodiment of the invention (FIG. 4).

(12) In the corner regions of the holding frame 1, loops 10 are respectively constituted by the wire frame, in each of which screws 9 are held. By way of the screws 9, the holding frame 1 can be reversibly fastened in a housing of an industrial connector (not represented).

(13) With reference to FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 5, in the lateral regions, the holding frame 1, 1′, 1″, on both sides, comprises a plurality of fixing contours 11, 11′, 11″. In the exemplary embodiments, three such fixing contours 11, 11′, 11″ are shown for each lateral surface. However, fewer or more such fixing contours 11, 11′, 11″ can also be present.

(14) In the exemplary embodiments, the holding frames 1, 1′, 1″, in the interests of simplicity, are respectively fitted with the same connector modules 12. Naturally, different connector modules, including in a combined form, can be fastened in the holding frame 1, 1′, 1″.

(15) The connector modules 12 are generally inserted into the holding frame 1, 1′, 1″ from the direction of the closed end of the fixing contour 11, 11′, 11″ (i.e., the terminal side) in the direction of the arrow 13 of FIG. 1. The opposing fixing contours 11, 11′, 11″ of the connector module 12 are thus initially compressed outwards. Thereafter, by the action of the restoring force of the wire material, the fixing contours 11, 11′, 11″ are returned to their original position. The recesses 14, 14′, 14″ located at the end of the fixing contours 11, 11′, 11″ engage over the latching lugs 15 of the connector modules 12. The connector modules 12 are reversibly secured in the holding frame 1, 1′, 1″ accordingly.

(16) In the forms of embodiment according to FIGS. 1, 2 and 5, there is also an option for the insertion of the connector modules 12 into the holding frame 1, 1′, 1″ from the plug-in side, i.e., conversely to the arrow 13 of FIG. 1. Likewise, the connector modules 12 can also be removed from the holding frame 1, 1′, 1″ from the plug-in side. If the connector modules 12 are inserted into the holding frame 1, 1″ from the direction of the open end of the fixing contour (i.e., from the plug-in side, conversely to the arrow 13 of FIG. 1), the tapers of the respective fixing contour 11, 11″ are initially expanded by the respective latching lugs 15 of the connector modules 12, until the latching lugs 15 are located in the respective recesses 14 of the fixing contours 11, 11″. Thereafter, the taper is restored by the restoring force of the wire material, and the connector modules 12 are secured in the holding frame 1, 1″. The connector modules 12 can be removed from the holding frame 1, 1″, on the plug-in side (in the direction of the arrow 13 of FIG. 1), in an analogous manner. Optionally, to this end, the geometry of the respective recess 14, 14″ of the fixing contour 11, 11″ and of the latching lugs 15 of the connector modules 12 can be optimized in an expert fashion.

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