PLUG CONNECTOR

Abstract

A plug connector has a main body, an actuating element, and a contact carrier accommodated in the main body. By pulling on the actuating element against the plugging direction of the plug connector, a locking connection to a mating plug connector can be released and the plug connector can be removed from the mating plug connector. The spring strength of locking arms that enable the locking connection to a mating plug connector can be adjusted by the actuating element. As a result of a spring strength reduced in such a way, the locking connection can be released.

Claims

1. A plug connector, having a base body with at least one side formed as a plug face, an actuator, which can be displaced along the base body, at least one latching arm and a contact carrier arranged in the base body, wherein the latching arm is flexibly formed and can execute a pivotal movement, and wherein the latching arm has a free end, which is aligned toward that side of the plug connector which is formed as a plug face, wherein at least one spring arm is formed on the plug connector, and wherein the spring arm abuts against the latching arm and is connected to the actuator, wherein a pivotal movement leading radially outwardly away from the center of the plug connector can be executed by the latching arm, wherein the spring arm abuts against the latching arm during this pivotal movement.

2. The plug connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein a latching hook having a latching flank and an insertion chamber is formed at the free end of the latching arm.

3. The plug connector as claimed in claim 2, wherein the spring arm abuts against the latching arm on the side of the latching arm which is remote from the latching hook.

4. The plug connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the spring arm abuts against the latching arm in the region of the free end of the latching arm.

5. The plug connector as claimed in claim 4, wherein the spring arm is configured to be moved out of the region of the free end of the latching arm using the actuator.

6. The plug connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the actuator is configured to assume a first, locking position and a second, unlocking position, wherein, in the first, locked position, the spring arm connected to the actuator abuts against the free arm further toward the free end than in the second, unlocked position.

7. The plug connector as claimed in claim 6, wherein the spring force of the latching arm is weaker in the second, unlocked position of the actuator than with the abutting spring arm in the first, locked position of the actuator.

8. The plug connector as claimed in claim 6, wherein the plug connector has a spring, which is arranged between the actuator and the base body, wherein the spring is configured to exert a force on the actuator and forces it into the first, locked position.

9. The plug connector as claimed in claim 2, wherein the spring arm abuts against the latching arm in the region of the free end of the latching arm.

10. The plug connector as claimed in claim 9, wherein the spring arm is configured to be moved out of the region of the free end of the latching arm by the actuator.

11. The plug connector as claimed in claim 3, wherein the spring arm abuts against the latching arm in the region of the free end of the latching arm.

12. The plug connector as claimed in claim 11, wherein the spring arm is configured to be moved out of the region of the free end of the latching arm by the actuator.

13. The plug connector as claimed in claim 7, wherein the plug connector has a spring, which is arranged between the actuator and the base body, wherein the spring is configured to exert a force on the actuator and forces it into the first, locked position.

Description

EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT

[0025] The exemplary embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawings and will be explained in more detail below. The drawings show:

[0026] FIG. 1 a perspective illustration of a plug connector according to the invention in a first state;

[0027] FIG. 2 a perspective illustration of the plug connector according to the invention in a second state;

[0028] FIG. 3 a sectional illustration of the plug connector according to the invention in the first state; and

[0029] FIG. 4 a sectional illustration of the plug connector according to the invention in the second state.

[0030] 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 could be drawn to different scales.

[0031] FIG. 1 shows a perspective illustration of a plug connector 1 according to the invention in a first, locked state. The plug connector 1 is formed by a base body, which is enclosed by an actuating means 4. On the rear side, a cable gland 3 is provided on the plug connector 1. A cable can be inserted into the plug connector 1 and connected thereto via the cable gland 3. On the plug-in side, the plug connector 1 forms a plug face which enables access to a contact carrier 2 received in the plug connector 1.

[0032] The contact carrier 2 in the plug face of the plug connector 1 is surrounded by four latching arms 5, which enable a locking connection with a mating plug connector, a plug socket or so-called receptacle. The latching arms 5 each have a latching hook in the plug face of the plug connector 1. The latching hook is aligned inwards, toward the center axis of the plug connector 1, and forms an insertion chamfer 7 and a latching flank 6.

[0033] The latching flank 6 is aligned toward the rear side, the cable gland 3 of the plug connector 1. At the rear of the latching flank 6, the insertion chamfer 7 is aligned toward a mating plug connector. The latching arm 5 can be deflected via the insertion chamfer 7 upon connecting with a mating plug connector in order to latch with this latter.

[0034] A spring arm 9 is arranged on the outside of each latching arm 5. In this case, the spring arm 9 abuts against the latching arm 5 and touches it over its entire length.

[0035] FIG. 2 shows a perspective illustration of the plug connector 1 according to the invention in a second, unlocked state. In the second, unlocked state, the actuating means 4 is in a second, unlocked position. For this, the actuating means 4 is positioned further toward the cable gland 3 than in the first, locked position.

[0036] As a result of the second position, which is further remote from the plug-in side and the plug face of the plug connector 1, the spring arms 9 are likewise moved out of the plug face.

[0037] The spring arms 9 thus no longer abut so far along the free ends of the latching arms as in the first, locked position. Upon a radially outward pivotal movement, the spring force of the latching arms 5 is thus lower than in the first, locked state of the plug connector.

[0038] The two states of the plug connector 1, the first, locked state and the second, unlocked state, are illustrated again in FIGS. 3 and 4. In this case, FIGS. 3 and 4 each show a sectional illustration of the plug connector 1 in the respective position.

[0039] In FIG. 3, it is possible to see the latching arms 5 which possess latching hooks on the plug-in side. The latching hooks each form an insertion chamfer 7 and a latching flank 6. A receptacle of a mating plug connector is latched against the latching flank 6. For the sake of clarity, the receptacle is only illustrated schematically.

[0040] A spring arm 9 abuts against the latching arms 5 in each case. The spring force of the latching arms 5 is increased by the abutting spring arm 9. An outer sleeve 10 of the base body, which surrounds the latching and spring arms 5, 9, is formed such that the latching and spring arms 5, 9 can still execute a pivotal movement together. In this special embodiment, the sleeve 10 and the latching arm 5 are formed in one part.

[0041] The spring arms 9 are formed in one part with the actuating means 4. The actuating means 4 is forced into the first, locked position by a spring 8, which is arranged between the actuating means 4 and the base body. As a result of this forced locking, it is ensured that, if necessary, the plug connector 1 is always locked and not unlocked.

[0042] FIG. 4 shows the plug connector 1 in the second, unlocked state. The actuating means 4 is moved into a rear, second, unlocked position. The spring arms 9 are thus removed from the region of the free ends of the latching arms 5. The spring force of the latching arms 5 is therefore considerably lower than in the first, locked position illustrated in FIG. 3.

[0043] In this state, the latching arms 5 can simply execute a pivotal movement and therefore release the latching connection with the receptacle. As a result of a slight chamfer of the latching flanks 6 or the corresponding region on the receptacle, the radial force which is therefore generated by withdrawing the plug connector 1 is sufficient for a pivotal movement of the latching arms 5. The force generated by the latching and spring arms 5, 9 in the state in FIG. 3 is too great to be overcome by a force.

[0044] The advantage of the invention consists in that the spring force of the latching arms 5 can be increased or reduced by the spring arms 9. As a result of a correspondingly advantageous configuration of the latching flanks 6 and associated mating flanks on the receptacle, reliable latching as well as intentional unlocking of the plug connector can therefore be established.