Abstract
An electrically conductive, single-piece flat part (100) for a plug with first and second contact pins (112, 114) are arranged in two parallel rows, and with a connector region for a cable. The part has a connecting element (102). Conductors (108, 110) which open into the first and second contact pins (112, 114) extend from the first and from the second side of the connecting element, the conductors (108, 110) which lie on the opposite sides of the connecting element (102) being connected to the connecting element (102) in a manner which is offset with respect to one another in such a way that the imaginary straight extension of a conductor (108, 110) runs on the one side of the connecting element (102) next to one or between two conductors (108, 110) on the opposite side of the connecting element (102). The first contact pins (112) are connected via an offset region (132) to the first conductors (108) which extend from the first side of the connecting element (102), which offset region (132) compensates for the offset of the first and second conductors (108, 110) on the connecting element (102).
Claims
1. Electrically conductive, single-piece flat part for a plug with first and second contact pins which are arranged in two parallel rows, and with a connector region for a cable, the conductors of which lie in one plane next to one another, said single-piece flat part comprising: a connecting element (102) with a second side (106) which lies opposite the first side (104), conductors (108, 110) which open into the first and second contact pins (112, 114) extending from the first and from the second side of the connecting element, the conductors (108, 110) which lie on the opposite sides of the connecting element (102) being connected to the connecting element (102) in a manner which is offset with respect to one another in such a way that the imaginary straight extension of a conductor (108, 110) runs on the one side of the connecting element (102) next to one or between two conductors (108, 110) on the opposite side of the connecting element (102), the first contact pins (112) being connected via an offset region (132) to the first conductors (108) which extend from the first side of the connecting element (102), which offset region (132) compensates for the offset of the first and second conductors (108, 110) on the connecting element (102).
2. The flat part according to claim 1, wherein, in each case two adjacent contact pins which are connected to the same side of the connecting element being connected to one another in a manner which is spaced apart from their ends by way of webs.
3. The flat part according to claim 1, wherein the contact pins which are connected to the first side of the connecting element running in each case at first spacings from the connecting element at a first angle with respect to the direction, from which the conductors which are connected to them extend from the connecting element, and the contact pins which are connected to the second side of the connecting element running in each case at second spacings from the connecting element at a second angle with respect to the direction, from which the conductors which are connected to them extend from the connecting element, the first and the second angle being mirror-inverted at a folding axis which runs transversely with respect to a direction, in which the first and second conductors extend from the connecting element.
4. The flat part according to claim 3, wherein the contact pins which are connected to the first side of the connecting element ending at a greater spacing from a third side of the connecting element, which third side connects the first and the second side (104, 106), than the contact pins which are connected to the second side (106) of the connecting element.
5. A method for producing a flat part according to claim 1, comprising: providing of a plate or a sheet made from an electrically conductive material (metal, alloy, plastic), and punching of the flat part, or providing of a planar carrier, applying of an electrically conductive material in the form of the flat part in one or more layers to the carrier, and detaching of the carrier from the flat part which is formed by way of the electrically conductive material.
6. A method for producing a double-row plug with a connector region for a cable, the conductors of which lie in one plane next to one another, with the use of a flat part according to claim 1, comprising: providing of the flat part, the method comprising, in a first variant: first bending of the first conductors which are connected to the first side of the connecting element in a first direction which points out of the plane of the flat part, second bending of the first conductors which are connected to the first side of the connecting element in a direction which is opposed to the first bending direction, with the result that first contact pins of the first conductors lie in a second direction which points parallel to the plane of the flat part, the method comprising, in a second variant: first bending of the first conductors which are connected to the first side of the connecting element in a first direction which points out of the plane of the flat part, first bending of the second conductors which are connected to the second side of the connecting element in a second direction which points out of the plane of the flat part, the second direction lying in an opposed manner with respect to the first direction, each of the method variants comprising, moreover: folding of the connecting element along a folding axis which runs transversely with respect to the direction, in which the first and second conductors extend from the connecting element, with the result that the first conductors which extend from the first side of the connecting element lie in one plane next to or between the second conductors which extend from the second side of the connecting element, without making contact with one another, overmoulding of the folded flat part with an electrically insulating material, severing of the connecting element, and removal or cutting through of the webs which connect two adjacent contact pins.
7. The method according to claim 6 in the first variant, the second conductors which are connected to the second side of the connecting element being subjected to two bending operations which correspond to the first and the second bending operation, to which the first conductors of the connecting element which are connected to the first side have been subjected.
8. The method according to claim 6, one or more bends being effected in a region of the folded flat part before the overmoulding of the folded flat part, in which region the conductors which are connected to the first and the second side of the connecting element lie in one plane.
9. The method according to claim 6, further comprising: separating of a part from the body which is produced by way of overmoulding, the separated part being mounted such that it can be displaced longitudinally along the conductors which are severed from the connecting element in a connector region of the plug.
10. A double-row plug for a ribbon or foil cable, comprising a flat part according to claim 1 and a body which is produced by way of overmoulding with an electrically insulating material.
11. The apparatus for the transmission of current with a ribbon or foil cable and at least one double-row plug according to claim 10 which is connected to the former in an electrically conducting manner.
12. The apparatus for the transmission of current according to claim 11, the ribbon or foil cable being wound up helically at least partially.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0046] In the following text, the invention will be described in greater detail by way of example on the basis of one embodiment with reference to the appended figures. All the figures are purely diagrammatic and are not true to scale. In the figures:
[0047] FIG. 1 shows a diagrammatic illustration of two versions of a first exemplary flat part according to the invention before reshaping,
[0048] FIG. 2 shows a second exemplary flat part according to the invention for a double-row plug before reshaping,
[0049] FIG. 3 shows a perspective illustration of the flat part from FIG. 2 after a first processing step of a method for producing a double-row plug,
[0050] FIG. 4 shows a perspective illustration of the flat part from FIG. 2 after a second processing step of the method for producing a double-row plug,
[0051] FIG. 5 shows a perspective illustration of the flat part from FIG. 2 after a third processing step of the method for producing a double-row plug,
[0052] FIG. 6 shows a perspective illustration of the flat part from FIG. 2 after a fourth processing step of the method for producing a double-row plug,
[0053] FIG. 7 shows a perspective illustration of the flat part from FIG. 2 after a first part step of a fifth processing step of the method for producing a double-row plug,
[0054] FIG. 8 shows a perspective illustration of the flat part from FIG. 2 after a second part step of the fifth processing step of the method for producing a double-row plug,
[0055] FIG. 9 shows a perspective illustration of the flat part from FIG. 2 after a third part step of the fifth processing step of the method for producing a double-row plug,
[0056] FIG. 10 shows a perspective illustration of the flat part from FIG. 2 after a fourth part step of the fifth processing step of the method for producing a double-row plug,
[0057] FIG. 11 shows an illustration of the flat part from FIG. 10 from another perspective,
[0058] FIG. 12 shows an illustration of the flat part from FIG. 10 from a further perspective,
[0059] FIG. 13 shows a perspective illustration of the flat part from FIG. 2 after a sixth processing step of the method for producing a double row plug,
[0060] FIG. 14 shows an illustration of the flat part from FIG. 13 from another perspective,
[0061] FIG. 15 shows a perspective illustration of the flat part from FIG. 2 after a seventh processing step of the method for producing a double-row plug,
[0062] FIG. 16 shows a perspective illustration of a detail of the plug which is produced with use of the flat part from FIG. 2, after an eighth processing step of the method,
[0063] FIG. 17 shows a perspective illustration of another detail of the plug which is produced with use of the flat part from FIG. 2, after the eighth processing step of the method,
[0064] FIG. 18 shows an illustration of the plug which is produced with use of the flat part from FIG. 2, from a first perspective,
[0065] FIG. 19-21 show illustrations of the plug from further perspectives,
[0066] FIG. 22 shows a diagrammatic flow chart of the method according to the invention for producing a double-row plug with use of a flat part according to the invention,
[0067] FIG. 23 shows a diagrammatic flow diagram of a method for producing a flat part according to the invention,
[0068] FIG. 24 shows a first diagrammatic illustration of an application of an apparatus according to the invention for the transmission of current with a ribbon or foil cable and one or two plugs which are produced with use of the flat part according to the invention, and
[0069] FIG. 25 shows a second diagrammatic illustration of an application of an apparatus according to the invention for the transmission of current with a ribbon or foil cable and one or two plugs which are produced with use of the flat part according to the invention.
[0070] Identical or similar elements are provided in the figures with identical or similar reference numerals.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
[0071] FIG. 1 shows a diagrammatic illustration of two versions of a first exemplary flat part 100 according to the invention before reshaping. The flat part 100 has a connecting element 102, from the opposite sides of which first and second conductors 108, 110 extend. The difference between the flat parts which are shown in FIG. 1a) and FIG. 1b) consists merely in that the connecting element 102 in FIG. 1a) is formed by a strip, from which the conductors 108, 110 extend, whereas the connecting element 102 in FIG. 1b) is formed by a frame which encloses a free interior space. The two versions afford the same advantages, but the position of bending points can vary between the versions. The figure shows by way of example only one folding axis 120, along which or around which the flat part 100 is folded, in order to obtain a conductor part of a double-row plug.
[0072] In the case of the two versions, the first and second conductors 108, 110 open into first and second contact pins 112, 114 which are connected to webs 122, 124 in order to increase the stability during processing. The lateral offset of the conductors which lie opposite one another on the two sides of the connecting element is compensated for again by way of an offset section 132, with the result that the contact pins lie above one another again in the plug which is produced with the use of the flat part 100.
[0073] FIG. 2 shows a second exemplary flat part 100 according to the invention for a double-row plug 200 before reshaping. The flat part 100 has a connecting element 102 with a first and a second side 104, 106, from which first conductors 108 and second conductors 110 extend. The ends of the first and second conductors 108, 110 form first and second contact pins 112, 114. The first and the second conductors 108, 110 are arranged offset on the opposite first and second sides 104, 106 of the connecting element 102 in such a way that the imaginary extension of a first conductor 108 runs beyond the connecting element 102 next to or between the connections of the second conductors 110 to the connecting element. This is indicated in the figure by way of the dashed lines which extend from the first conductors via the connecting element. The first contact pins 112 run from the respective first spacings 116a-116e from the connecting 102 at a first angle with respect to the direction, from which the first conductors 108 which are connected to them extend from the connecting element 102. The second contact pins 114 run from respective first spacings 118a-118e from the connecting element 102 at a second angle with respect to the direction, from which the second conductors 110 which are connected to them extend from the connecting element 102. The first and the second angle are mirror-inverted on an axis 120 which intersects the connecting element 102 symmetrically in the centre between the first and the second side 104, 106. In the example which is shown in the figure, the first and the second angle are right angles, but it is readily conceivable for other angles to be selected, depending on the requirements of the plug and its installation location.
[0074] In each case two adjacent first and second contact pins 112, 114 are connected to webs 122, 124 in a manner which is spaced apart from their ends. The webs 122, 124 increase the stability of the flat part in the case of following processing steps; they are removed in one of the last processing steps, just like the connecting element 102.
[0075] The contact pins 112 which are connected to the first side 104 of the connecting element 102 end at a greater spacing from a third side 130 of the connecting element 102 than the contact pins 114 which are connected to the second side 106. This is indicated in the figure by way of the auxiliary lines 126, 128 and the arrow which lies in between and indicates the difference. The different spacing of the ends of the first and second contact pins 112, 114 is due to the fact that at least the conductors which are arranged on one side of the connecting element have to be bent at two points in such a way that the contact pins lie in a plane which lies parallel to the plane of the connecting element, and therefore there are two parallel rows of contact pins after the processing steps, the ends of which lie in one plane. The step which results from the bends requires correspondingly longer conductor sections between the connecting element 102 and the contact pins.
[0076] FIG. 3 shows a perspective illustration of the flat part 100 from FIG. 2 after a first processing step 302 (FIG. 22) of a method 300 (FIG. 22) for producing a double-row plug 200. For the sake of improved clarity, only the elements which are relevant for understanding are provided with reference numerals in this figure and the following figures. In the first processing step, the first contact pins 112 are bent by 90 out of the plane of the flat part 100 in the case of a first bending operation, with the result that they then point obliquely downwards out of the plane of the drawing. In the case of the exemplary flat part which is shown in the figure, the bending point lies between the webs 122 and a section 132 of the first conductors 108 which are connected to the first side 104 of the connecting element 102, which section 132 compensates for the comb-like offset of the first and second conductors 108, 110 again after the folding of the connecting element 102, with the result that the first and the second contact pins 112, 114 are oriented in parallel rows with respect to one another. In the perspective which is shown in FIG. 3, the section 132 can be seen clearly only at the edge, and is therefore highlighted additionally by way of the dashed oval which is shown correspondingly in FIG. 1. The bending direction is indicated in this figure and the following figures by way of the arrow.
[0077] FIG. 4 shows a perspective illustration of the flat part 100 from FIG. 2 after a second processing step 304 (FIG. 22) of the method 300 (FIG. 22) for producing a double-row plug 200. In this processing step, the conductors have been bent in a second bending operation 108 in a direction which is opposed to the first bend, with the result that the first contact pins 112 then run in a plane parallel to the plane of the flat part 100. In this figure, the conductor sections 132 can be also seen again, at which the contact pins 112 are offset laterally.
[0078] FIG. 5 shows a perspective illustration of the flat part 100 from FIG. 2 after a third processing step 302a (FIG. 22) of the method 300 (FIG. 22) for producing a double-row plug 200. In the said processing step, the conductors 110 have been bent in a third bending operation in a direction which corresponds to the second bend, with the result that the second contact pins 114 point obliquely away from the observer into the plane of the drawing.
[0079] FIG. 6 shows a perspective illustration of the flat part 100 from FIG. 2 after a fourth processing step 304a (FIG. 22) of the method 300 (FIG. 22) for producing a double-row plug 200. In the said processing step, the conductors 110 have been bent in a fourth bending operation in a direction which corresponds to the first bend, with the result that the second contact pins 114 then run in a plane parallel to the plane of the flat part 100.
[0080] FIG. 7 shows a perspective illustration of the flat part 100 from FIG. 2 after a first part step of a fifth processing step 306 (FIG. 22) of the method 300 (FIG. 22) for producing a double-row plug 200. In the said processing step, which represents a first step of the folding of the connecting element 102, the first conductors 108 on the first side 104 of the connecting element 102 are bent away from the observer into the plane of the drawing.
[0081] FIG. 8 shows a perspective illustration of the flat part 100 from FIG. 2 after a second part step of the fifth processing step 306 (FIG. 22) of the method 300 (FIG. 22) for producing a double-row plug 200. In the said processing step, which represents a second step of the folding of the connecting element 102, the connecting element 102 is bent in a direction which lies counter to the direction of the bend of the first step of the folding. Here, the connecting element 102 is bent at the connecting webs between the first side 104 and the second side 106, with the result that the first conductors 108 and the second conductors 110 run in planes which lie approximately perpendicularly with respect to one another.
[0082] FIG. 9 shows a perspective illustration of the flat part 100 from FIG. 2 after a third part step of the fifth processing step 306 (FIG. 22) of the method 300 (FIG. 22) for producing a double-row plug 200. In the said processing step, which represents a third step of the folding of the connecting element 102, the second conductors 110 are bent away from the observer towards the plane of the drawing.
[0083] FIG. 10 shows a perspective illustration of the flat part 100 from FIG. 2 after a fourth part step of the fifth processing step 306 (FIG. 22) of the method 300 (FIG. 22) for producing a double-row plug 200. In the said processing step, which represents a fourth step of the folding of the connecting element 102, the connecting element 102 is finally bent in such a way that the first side 104 and the second side 106 of the connecting element 102 approach one another, and the first conductors 108 and the second conductors 110 lie in an alternating manner next to one another in one plane. It can already be seen clearly in the figure that the first and second contact pins 112, 114 are arranged in two parallel rows with respect to one another.
[0084] FIG. 11 shows an illustration of the flat part 100 from FIG. 10 from another perspective. It can be seen clearly in the said view that the first and the second conductors 108, 110 lie in one plane, and that the first contact pins 112 and the second contact pins 114 are arranged above one another in two parallel planes. It can likewise be seen clearly in the said figure how the conductor section 132 of the first conductors 108 offsets the first contact pins 112 laterally in such a way that they are arranged in each case exactly above second contact pins 114.
[0085] FIG. 12 shows an illustration of the flat part 100 from FIG. 10 from a further perspective. It can also be seen in the said view that the first and the second conductors 108, 110 lie in one plane, and that the first contact pins 112 and second contact pins 114 are arranged above one another in two parallel planes.
[0086] FIG. 13 shows a perspective illustration of the flat part 100 from FIG. 2 after a sixth processing step 312 (FIG. 22) of the method 300 (FIG. 22) for producing a double-row plug 200. In the said processing step, the flat part 100 is bent out of the plane of the drawing towards the observer in the region, in which the first conductors 108 and the second conductors 110 lie in an alternating manner next to one another in one plane, with the result that the two parallel rows of contact pins 112, 114 no longer run in planes which lie parallel to the plane, in which the first conductors 108 and second conductors 110 extend from the connecting element 102. The dash-dotted line indicates the axis, along which the bend has taken place.
[0087] FIG. 14 shows an illustration of the flat part 100 from FIG. 13 from another perspective. In the said illustration, that part with the first and second contact pins 112, 114 which is bent out of the plane of the first and second conductors 108, 110 is bent away from the observer. As in FIG. 13, the dash-dotted line indicates the axis, along which the bend has taken place.
[0088] FIG. 15 shows a perspective illustration of the flat part 100 from FIG. 2 after a seventh processing step 308 of the method 300 for producing a double-row plug 200. In the said processing step, the flat part from FIG. 12 is overmoulded with an electrically non-conducting material, for example plastic. Here, the first and second contact pins 112, 114 and the connecting element 102 have remained exposed, just like windows 134 between the contact pins, one window 136 in the region, in which the first and second conductors 108, 110 lie in an alternating manner next to one another in one plane, and two notches 138 next to the first and second conductors 108, 110. A guiding or clamping part 140 is connected merely by way of two narrow connecting webs 142 to the body 144 of the plug 200.
[0089] FIG. 16 shows a perspective illustration of a detail of the plug 200 which is produced with the use of the flat part 100 from FIG. 2, after an eighth processing step 310 (FIG. 22) of the method 300 (FIG. 22). In the said processing step, the connecting element 102 has been severed from the first and second conductors 108, 110. A foil cable (not shown in the figure) can be pushed into the plugs between the guiding or clamping part 140 and the first and second conductors 108, 110, the conductor tracks of which foil cable correspond with the first and second conductors 108, 110. The conductor tracks of the foil cable can be connected electrically to the first and second conductors 108, 110, for example by way of soldering or welding. An electric connection between the conductor tracks of the foil cable and the first and second conductors 108, 110 can also be established by way of being pressed against one another. The detail which is shown in FIG. 15 is shown as viewed from the rear side which is not visible in FIG. 14.
[0090] FIG. 17 shows an illustration of another detail of the plug 200 which is produced with the use of the flat part 100 from FIG. 2, after the eighth processing step 310 (FIG. 22) of the method 300 (FIG. 22). It can be seen in the said detail how the webs which lie between adjacent contact pins are interrupted through the windows 134, with the result that the contact pins are then no longer connected electrically to one another. The webs can be interrupted, for example, by way of punching tools which are guided through the windows 134 of the body 144.
[0091] FIG. 18 shows an illustration of the plug 200 which is produced with use of the flat part from FIG. 2, from a first perspective. It can be seen clearly in the said illustration how the contact pins run parallel to a plane which is tilted slightly with respect to the conductors 108, 110.
[0092] FIGS. 19 to 21 show illustrations of the plug 200 from further perspectives.
[0093] FIGS. 2 to 15 show the connecting element 102 as a substantially rectangular part with four sides which enclose a free interior space. It is likewise possible for the connecting element to be configured, as shown in FIG. 1a), merely as a strip which connects the conductors 108, 110 without a free interior space, the first side 104 and the second side 106 then lying on two sides of the same strip. In this case, the bending operations which are carried out within the connecting element 102 during the folding would take place in the region of the conductors 108, 110. The first conductors 108 and/or the second conductors 110 are then expediently of correspondingly longer configuration.
[0094] FIG. 22 shows a diagrammatic flow chart of a method 300 according to the invention for producing a double-row plug 200 with use of a flat part 100 according to the invention. The individual method steps have already been described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 15, with the result that merely a brief summary takes place at this point. In step 301, the flat part 100 according to the invention is first of all provided. Subsequently, in step 302, at least the conductors 108 which are connected to the first side 104 of the connecting element 102 are bent in a first bending operation at a third spacing from the connecting element 102 in a first direction which points out of the plane of the flat part 100.
[0095] In step 304, in a second bending operation, at least the conductors 108 which are connected to the first side 104 of the connecting element 102 are bent at a fourth spacing from the connecting element 102 in a direction which is opposed to the first bending direction, with the result that first contact pins 112 of the first conductors 108 lie in a second direction which points parallel to the plane of the flat part 100. The distance between the third and the fourth spacing determines a height of the step which is produced by way of the two bending operations, and ultimately determines, as a result, the spacing of the parallel rows of contact pins of the plug which is produced according to the present method.
[0096] Depending on the shape requirements of the plug, it is possible for only the conductors which are connected to one side of the connecting element 102 to be bent into a step-shaped profile, and for the conductors which are connected to the other side of the connecting element to be left straight. It is also possible, however, for the conductors on both sides of the connecting element 102 to be bent in each case into a step-shaped profile. A lateral offset of the contact pins 112, 114 can then be set with respect to a plane, in which the conductors 108, 110 extend from the connecting element. In each case one row of contact pins can then lie on one side of the plane, or both rows of contact pins can lie on the same side of the plane. The optional additional bending operations of the conductors which are connected on the other side of the connecting element 102 are shown in the figure as steps 302a, 304a with a dashed border.
[0097] It is likewise possible to allow the contact pins to point out of the plane of the flat part with only in each case one bend, for example at a right angle with respect to the said plane of the flat part. In this case, the first conductors would be bent only in a first bending operation 302, and the second conductors would be bent correspondingly in a first bending operation 302a. The optional bending operation of the second conductors is shown in the figure as step 302a with a dashed border.
[0098] In step 306, the connecting element 102 is then folded along a folding axis 120 which intersects the connecting element symmetrically in the centre between the first and the second side, with the result that the first and the second side 104, 106 of the connecting element 102 approach one another, and the first conductors 108 which extend from the first side 104 of the connecting element 102 lie in one plane next to or between the second conductors 110 which extend from the second side 106 of the connecting element 102, without coming into contact with one another. Here, the folding can comprise a plurality of separate bending operations along different bending axes which lie symmetrically or asymmetrically with respect to the folding axis 120.
[0099] In step 308, the overmoulding of the folded flat part 100 with an electrically insulating material follows.
[0100] In step 310, the connecting element 102 is severed, and the webs 122, 124 are removed or cut through.
[0101] In an optional step 312 which lies before the overmoulding, the folded flat part 100 can be subjected to one or more bending operations in a region, in which the conductors 108, 110 which are connected to the first and the second side 104, 106 of the connecting element 102 lie in one plane. As a result, the contact pins can point in a direction which points out of the direction of the plane, in which the conductors 108, 110 which are connected to the first and the second side 104, 106 of the connecting element 102 lie.
[0102] In a concluding optional step 314, a part 140 of the body 144 which is produced by way of overmoulding of the folded flat part 100 is separated from the said body 144. The separated part 140 is mounted such that it can be displaced longitudinally in a connection region of the plug 200 along the conductors 108, 110 which are severed from the connecting element 102, and can form, for example, a clamping part, by means of which the ribbon or foil cable can be connected to the plug 200.
[0103] FIG. 23 shows a diagrammatic flow chart of a method 400 for producing a flat part 100 according to the invention. The arrangement of the conductors 108, 110, the contact pins 112, 114 and the connecting element 102 has been fixed previously in accordance with the requirements of the plug.
[0104] In a first variant of the method, in step 402a, a plate or a sheet made from an electrically conductive material is provided, which is punched in the following step 402b by way of a punching die which correspondingly reproduces the previously fixed arrangement of the conductors, the contact pins and the connecting element with respect to one another.
[0105] In a second variant of the method, in step 402b, a planar carrier is provided, onto which, in step 404b, an electrically conductive material is applied in one or more layers in the previously fixed shape of the flat part. In step 406, the carrier is then released from the flat part which is formed by way of the applied electrically conductive material.
[0106] FIG. 24 shows a first diagrammatic illustration of an application of an apparatus according to the invention for the transmission of current with a ribbon or foil cable and one or two plugs 200 produced with use of the flat part 100 according to the invention. The figure diagrammatically shows two walls 1 of circular configuration of a housing 2 of an electric device. The said device can be, for example, a control unit which is installed into the steering wheel of a motor vehicle. For the supply of current to electronics 3 of the device, the latter is connected to the battery 4 of the motor vehicle. The battery 4 is connected via an electric line 5 to a terminal 6 which is configured as a fixed point. The electronics 3 are connected via an electric line 7 to a terminal 8 which can be moved in the direction of the double arrow 9. A ribbon or foil cable 10 with a plurality of conductors is connected between the two terminals 6 and 8. The lines 5 and 7 are outgoing lines and are to be connected to the ribbon or foil cable 10.
[0107] According to FIG. 24, the ribbon or foil cable 10 can be arranged in a plurality of windings between the two terminals 6 and 8, that is to say in the manner of a spring barrel of clocks. Although the number of revolutions of a steering wheel is limited to a few revolutions, a greater number of windings can be provided for the ribbon or foil cable 10. The rotational movement of the terminal 8 does not then have a substantial impact on an individual winding of the ribbon or foil cable 10. Merely the diameter of the roll which consists of all the windings of the ribbon or foil cable 10 is decreased or increased. The ribbon or foil cable 10 is preferably equipped with flat conductors. The said embodiment of the ribbon or foil cable 10 is particularly thin and therefore takes up very little space. The ribbon or foil cable 10 might also fundamentally have round conductors, however.
[0108] In the case of one variant which is not shown in the figure, the ribbon or foil cable changes direction approximately in the middle, and is arranged helically between the walls of the housing as a part which leads to and fro. In the case of a rotation of the terminal, the point, at which the direction changes, is moved accordingly. In other words, the outwardly running section runs on the inner wall in the case of a rotation, with the result that the reversal point moves. An arrangement of this type is also called a U-turn clock spring.
[0109] As shown in FIG. 25, the ribbon or foil cable 10 can also be wound as a bifilar coil 12 between the two terminals 6 and 8. In the bifilar coil 12, the ribbon or foil cable 10 is bent over approximately in its centre, which results in a reversal point 13. From there, the ribbon or foil cable 10 is wound in two layers. The diameter of the bifilar coil 6 in the starting position of the apparatus is expediently selected in such a way that it is equal to the shortest spacing of the two terminals 6 and 8 from one another or is smaller than the said spacing.
[0110] In the case of the two apparatuses for the transmission of current which are shown in the figures, the ribbon or foil cable is provided at at least one of the two terminals 6 and 8 with a plug 200 according to the invention, in order to make the connection possible to outgoing cables or lines or to electric devices.
TABLE-US-00001 List of Reference Numerals 1 Wall 2 Housing 3 Electronics 4 Battery 5 Electric line 6 Terminal 7 Electric line 8 Terminal 9 Double arrow 10 Ribbon or foil cable 12 Bifilar coil 13 Reversal point 100 Flat part 102 Connecting element 104 First side 106 Second side 108 First conductors 110 Second conductors 112 First contact pins 114 Second contact pins 116a-116e First spacings 118a-118e Second spacings 120 Axis 122 Web 124 Web 126 Auxiliary line 128 Auxiliary line 130 Third side 132 Offset section 134 Window 136 Window 138 Notch 140 Guiding or clamping part 142 Connecting web 144 Body 200 Plug 300 Method 301-314 Method steps 400 Method 402-406 Method steps
