PLUG CONNECTOR

Abstract

Disclosed is a plug connector for contacting electrical lines. The plug connector has a first plug part and a second plug part. The first plug part and the second plug part are each designed for receiving and contacting of an electrical cable. The first plug part has a spherical shell as a contact region and the second plug part has a sphere as a contact region. By this geometric design, the first plug part and the second plug part can be variably aligned and fastened to each other. Particularly advantageously and flexible, the first plug part and the second plug part can be adjusted without the contact and connections having to be dismantled.

Claims

1. A plug connector, having a first plug part and a second plug part, wherein the first plug part has at least one first contact point and at least one first contact face and in that the second plug part has at least one second contact point and at least one second contact face, wherein a first contact point and a second contact face form a contact pair in each case and a second contact point and a first contact face form a contact pair in each case.

2. The plug connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first plug part is formed by a first base body, wherein the first contact points and the first contact faces are arranged on the first base body, and in that the second plug part is formed by a second base body, wherein the second contact points and the second contact faces are arranged on the second base body.

3. The plug connector as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first base body has a first cable exit and/or the second base body has a second cable exit.

4. The plug connector as claimed in claim 2, wherein, the first base body is formed as a spherical shell with a spherical inside face, wherein the first contact points and first contact faces are formed on the spherical inside face.

5. The plug connector as claimed in claim 2, the second base body is formed as a sphere with a spherical outside face, wherein the second contact points and the second contact faces are formed on the spherical outside face.

6. The plug connector as claimed in claim 1, the plug connector has at least one electrically insulating spacer, which is arranged between the first plug part and the second plug part.

7. The plug connector as claimed in claim 6, wherein the spacer forms a gap between the first contact faces and the second contact faces.

8. The plug connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second contact points are arranged between two first and second contact faces in each case.

9. The plug connector as claimed in claim 1, the first and second contact points are resiliently mounted end-pressure contacts or so-called Pogo pins.

10. The plug connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first contact points and first contact faces are electrically insulated from one another, and in that the second contact points and second contact faces are electrically insulated from one another.

11. The plug connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second contact points are movable on the second and first contact face which form their contact pair.

12. The plug connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plug connector has a fastener, wherein the first plug part and the second plug part are configured to be fastened to one another by the fastener.

13. The plug connector as claimed in claim 12, wherein the fastener is formed as a ring and has a thread, wherein the thread is configured to be screwed on the first plug part or the second plug part.

14. The plug connector as claimed in claim 12, wherein the fastener is formed as a clamping ring and possesses a clamp, wherein the first plug part and the second plug part are configured to be connected by the clamping ring.

15. The plug connector as claimed in claim 12, wherein the fastener is configured to be fastened to the first plug part by at least one clamping element.

16. The plug connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein a membrane is on the plug connector, which membrane surrounds the second plug part completely.

17. A plug connector, having a first plug part with first contacts and a second plug part with second contacts, wherein the first plug part and the second plug part are connected to one another via a spherical head joint.

18. The plug connector as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first base body is formed as a spherical shell with a spherical inside face, wherein the first contact points and first contact faces are formed on the spherical inside face.

19. The plug connector as claimed in claim 3, wherein the second base body is formed as a sphere with a spherical outside face, wherein the second contact points and the second contact faces are formed on the spherical outside face.

20. The plug connector as claimed in claim 4, wherein the plug connector has at least one electrically insulating spacer, which is arranged between the first plug part and the second plug part.

Description

EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT

[0029] An exemplary embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawings and will be explained in more detail below. The drawings show:

[0030] FIG. 1 a perspective illustration of a plug connector according to the present invention;

[0031] FIG. 2 an exploded view of a plug connector according to the invention;

[0032] FIG. 3 a first plug part;

[0033] FIG. 4 a second plug part;

[0034] FIG. 5 a sectional illustration of a plug connector according to the invention; and

[0035] FIGS. 6 and 7 the plug connector of FIG. 1 in two further positions.

[0036] The figures contain partially simplified schematic illustrations. Identical reference signs are sometimes used for elements which are similar but possibly not identical. Varying views of similar elements can be drawn to different scales.

[0037] FIG. 1 shows a perspective illustration of a plug connector 1 according to the present invention. The plug connector 1 is formed by a first plug part 2 and a second plug part 3. In this case, the first plug part 2 and the second plug part 3 each have a cable exit 5, 6, through which a respective cable can be guided into the plug parts and connected there. In this case, the first plug part 2 is formed with a flange. The flange possess four—in this case two visible—openings by means of which the first plug part 2 can be screwed and secured on a surface or to a housing.

[0038] The second plug part 3 is received in the first plug part 2 and is movably arranged therein. The cable exit 6 of the second plug part 3 can thus be variably aligned on the plug connector 1 and with respect to the first plug part 2.

[0039] In FIG. 2, the plug connector 1 is shown in an exploded illustration with its individual parts. Illustrated at the bottom is the first plug part 2, which is formed as a spherical shell and serves as a socket for the second plug part 3 illustrated above. The second plug part 3 is formed as a sphere and is insertable into the first plug part 2 and movably received therein.

[0040] Both plug parts 2, 3 possess a cable exit 5, 6. The cable exit 5 is arranged in a lateral opening on the first plug part 2. A cable can be inserted into the plug part 2 via the cable exit 5. A cable can be correspondingly inserted into the second plug part 3 via the cable exit 6. The cable exit 6 is located above the second plug part 3.

[0041] A fastening means 4 is arranged over the second plug part 3. The fastening means 4 is formed as a screw ring and is provided for screwing onto the first plug part 2. For this, the fastening means 4 can reach around the second plug part 4 and thus fasten it in the first plug part 2. The second plug part 4 is thus received in the first plug part 2 and prevented from falling out by the fastening means 4 and equally, depending on the extent to which the fastening means 4 is to be secured to the first plug part 2, also immovably fastened in a defined position between the first plug part 2 and the fastening means 4.

[0042] An isolated first plug part 2 is shown in FIG. 3. In this case, the first plug part 2 is formed by a first base body 21. The base body 21 possesses a lateral opening 22 in which the cable exit 5 is received. A cable can be inserted into the first plug part 2 via the cable exit 5 and the opening 22.

[0043] On the underside, a flange 26 is integrally formed on the base body 21. The flange 26 possesses four bores by means of which the base body 26 can be secured on a housing or another surface.

[0044] According to the invention, the first base body 21 is formed as a spherical shell. In this case, the first base body 21 forms a spherical inside face, which corresponds to a hemisphere. In the exemplary embodiment shown, four first contact faces 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d are formed on the spherical inside face, as well as four first contact points 24a, 24b, 24c, 24d, arranged between the first contact faces 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d. In this case, the first contact points 24a, 24b, 24c, 24d and first contact faces 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d are electrically insulated from one another, wherein the first contact points 24a, 24b, 24c, 24d are formed such that they are raised slightly above the first contact faces 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d.

[0045] Strands or wires of an inserted electrical cable can be electrically connected to the first contact points 24a, 24b, 24c, 24d and first contact faces 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d in the interior of the first base body 21. An electrical connection of the first contacts 24a, 24b, 24c, 24d, 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d to the connected cable is thus established.

[0046] The second plug part 3 is illustrated in isolation in FIG. 4. This plug part comprises a second base body 31, which forms a sphere. The second base body 31 consequently has a spherical outside face on which the second contact points 34a, 34b, 34c, 34d and the second contact faces 35a, 35b, 35c, 35d are arranged. In this case, the second contact points 34a, 34b, 34c, 34d and the second contact faces 35a, 35b, 35c, 35d are electrically insulated from one another. The second contact points 34a, 34b, 34c, 34d are arranged such that they are raised slightly above the second contact faces 35a, 35b, 35c, 35d.

[0047] In the exemplary embodiment shown, spacers 7 are arranged between the second contact faces 35a, 35b, 35c, 35d on the spherical outside face of the second base body 31. The electrically insulating spacers 7 are raised above the second contact faces 35a, 35b, 35c, 35d but do not project beyond the second contact points 34a, 34b, 34c, 34d. The spacers 7 merely define a gap between the spherical inside face of the first plug part 2 and the spherical outside face of the second plug part 3, i.e. between the first contact faces 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d and the second contact faces 35a, 35b, 35c, 35d.

[0048] In the region of the second plug part 3 which is illustrated at the top, an opening 32 is also integrally formed on the base body 3, which opening is provided for receiving the cable exit 6. In the interior of the second base body 31, strands or wires of an inserted electrical cable can be electrically connected to the second contact points 34a, 34b, 34c, 34d and second contact faces 35a, 35b, 35c, 35d. An electrical connection of the second contacts 34a, 34b, 34c, 34d, 35a, 35b, 35c, 35d to the connected cable is thus established.

[0049] FIG. 5 shows a sectional illustration of a plug connector 1 according to the invention. The second base body 31 of the second plug part 3 is received in the spherical shell of the first base body 21. In this case, the first contact points 24 of the first plug part 2 contact the second contact faces 35 of the second plug part 3. Likewise, the first contact faces 25 of the first plug part 2 are contacted by the second contact points 34 of the second plug part 3.

[0050] The gap between the spherical inside face of the first plug part 2 and the spherical outside face of the second plug part 3 is defined by the spacers 7. These can be seen in the lower region of the second plug part 3. Distributed over the circumference of the second base body 31, the spacers 7 are arranged between the second contact faces 35 and, at the same time, separate these in an electrically insulating manner

[0051] It can moreover be seen in FIG. 5 how the cable exits 5, 6 enable entry of a cable into the interior of the base body 21, 31. There, the strands/wires of the cables can be connected in an electrically conductive manner to the first and second contacts 24, 24a, 24b, 24c, 24d, 25, 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d, 34, 34a, 34b, 34c, 34d, 35, 35a, 35b, 35c, 35d. The connection of the strands/wires to the contacts 24, 24a, 24b, 24c, 24d, 25, 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d, 34, 34a, 34b, 34c, 34d, 35, 35a, 35b, 35c, 35d is not described further here, since this is already widely known from the prior art.

[0052] For the sake of clarity, the illustration of the fastening means 4 has been omitted in FIG. 5. Screwed to the first plug part 2 in the upper region thereof, this fastening means would surround the second plug part 3, at least in certain regions, and press it into the spherical shell of the first plug part 2. The first plug part 2 and the second plug part 3 can thus be connected to one another via form fit and fastened to one another via force fit.

[0053] The plug connector 1 of FIG. 1 is illustrated in two further positions in FIGS. 6 and 7. In this case, the second plug part 3 in FIG. 6 is pivoted rearward to the right and fastened. In FIG. 7, the second plug part 3 is pivoted forward to the left and fastened. The two plug parts 2, 3 can thus be moved in diverse positions with respect to one another and fastened with respect to one another via the fastening means 4. The maximum pivotal range of the second plug part 3 is approximately 45° in any direction, starting from the perpendicularly projecting cable exit 6 of FIG. 1. Moreover, the second plug part 3 can be rotated through approximately 40°-45° starting from FIG. 1. The maximum deflection and rotation of the first plug part 2 and second plug part 3 with respect to one another depends on the number of contact pairs and the width of the spacers 7. This means that the plug connecter 1 can be aligned with greater flexibility, the fewer contact pairs it has. Correspondingly, the flexibility becomes more limited, the more contact pairs are present.