Holding frame for a heavy plug-type connector

Abstract

A holding frame for a heavy plug-type connector can receive identical and/or different plug-type connector modules. The holding frame comprises a main body which has two side parts which lie opposite one another, and at least one fixing clip which is held at least on a side part, and by way of which the plug-type connector modules can be fixed within the main body. The at least one fixing clip has at least one holding arm which moves parallel to the plane of the side parts during the introduction of a plug-type connector module into the holding frame. As a result, plug-type connector modules can be introduced into the holding frame particularly simply and even in the installed state of said holding frame. At the same time, the holding frame variant which is shown here is more stable than the previously known holding frames which have the same functionality.

Claims

1. A holding frame for a plug-type connector for receiving plug-type connector modules, comprising: a base body that has two side parts that lie opposite one another and fixedly connected to one another at a predetermined distance in parallel planes; and at least one fixing clip which is held at least on one of the two side parts and by which at least one of the plug-type connector modules is fixed within the base body between the two side parts, wherein the at least one fixing clip and the base body are separately formed parts, and wherein the at least one fixing clip comprises at least one holding arm that as a plug-type connector module is being inserted into the holding frame moves parallel to the side parts at a constant distance from the plug-type connector module; wherein the at least one fixing clip comprises at least two holding arms that, as a plug-type connector module is inserted into the holding frame, move in a manner parallel to the side parts and in opposite directions to one another; wherein the at least two holding arms move away from each other as a plug-type connector module is inserted into the holding frame.

2. The holding frame as claimed in claim 1, wherein the holding frame comprises multiple fixing clips.

3. The holding frame as claimed in claim 1, wherein the two side parts respectively comprise multiple connecting pieces that are arranged lying opposite one another in a symmetrical manner, and wherein open receiving arrangements are formed between these connecting pieces.

4. The holding frame as claimed in claim 3, wherein one fixing clip respectively is arranged in a region of each of the open receiving arrangements at least of one side part.

5. The holding frame as claimed in claim 3, wherein each fixing clip comprises multiple holding arm pairs and one holding arm pair respectively is arranged in a region of each of the open receiving arrangements at least of one of the two side parts.

6. The holding frame as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the two side parts comprises one receiving arrangement or multiple receiving arrangements into which one fixing clip respectively may be inserted and as a result is held on the side part.

7. The holding frame as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one side part has one contour or multiple contours against which one fixing clip respectively may be clamped and as a result is held on the side part.

8. The holding frame as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one fixing clip each is held on both side parts of the holding frame or one fixing clip is held on one side part and at least two fixing clips are held on the other side part, or at least two fixing clips are held on both side parts, or n fixing clip are held on one side part and m fixing clip are held on the other side part, wherein n and m elements are from the natural number range and n is smaller than or equal to m.

9. The holding frame as claimed in claim 8, wherein the fixing clip of the one side part is arranged lying opposite in a symmetrical manner with respect to the fixing clip of the other side part, or the fixing clips of the one side part are arranged lying opposite in a symmetrical manner with respect to the fixing clips of the other side part.

10. The holding frame as claimed in claim 8, wherein the fixing clip of the one side part is arranged lying opposite in an offset manner with respect to the fixing clip of the other side part, or the fixing clips of the one side part are arranged lying opposite in an offset manner with respect to the fixing clips of the other side part.

11. The holding frame as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fixing clip is or the fixing clips are attached within the base body to the holding frame.

12. The holding frame as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base body is formed from a zinc pressure die-cast component or produced from aluminum.

13. The holding frame as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fixing clip is or the fixing clips are produced from an elastic synthetic material or from a spring-elastic sheet metal plate.

14. A system, comprising a plug-type connector housing, the holding frame as in claim 1, and at least one plug-type connector module.

15. The holding frame as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one fixing clip extends upwardly above an upper edge of the at least one of the two side parts in which the at least one fixing clip is held.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) An exemplary embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawings and will be further explained below.

(2) FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a first embodiment of a holding frame having a side part that is not shown for illustrative reasons.

(3) FIG. 2 illustrates a further perspective view of the first embodiment of the holding frame having a side part that is not shown for illustrative reasons.

(4) FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of a second embodiment of a holding frame.

(5) FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective detail of the second embodiment of the holding frame.

(6) FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of a third embodiment of the holding frame.

(7) FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of a further method of the third embodiment of the holding frame.

(8) FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the holding frame.

(9) FIG. 8 illustrates a perspective detail of the fourth embodiment of the holding frame.

(10) FIG. 9 illustrates a perspective detail of an alternative fourth embodiment of the holding frame.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(11) The figures show in part simplified, schematic illustrations. In part, identical reference numerals are used for identical but where appropriate non-identical elements. Different views of identical elements may be scaled differently.

(12) FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a first embodiment of a holding frame 1. The holding frame 1 is configured for a heavy plug-type connector (not illustrated). Identical and/or different plug-type connector modules 2 may be used in the holding frame 1. The plug-type connector modules 2 fundamentally comprise a cuboid base body that has outwardly facing latching lugs 8 formed on its narrow sides.

(13) The holding frame 1 comprises a base body 4 that has two side parts 3 that lie opposite one another. The base body 4 forms a frame-shaped structure. Receiving arrangements 5 are formed within this frame-shaped structure in the respective side parts 3 and one fixing clip 6 respectively may be inserted into said receiving arrangement and as a result may be fixed therein. The fixing clip 6 respectively comprise two holding arms 7. The holding arms 7 comprise on their end face outwardly oriented latching hooks 9. In the case of two fixing clips 6 that are arranged adjacent to one another, the end-face latching hooks 9 face one another.

(14) As a plug-type connector module 2 is being inserted into the holding frame 1, the latching lugs 8 of the plug-type connector module 2 are guided between two holding arms 7 of two adjacent fixing clips 6. In so doing, the holding arms 7 are pushed to the side in a manner parallel to the side parts 3 on account of the latching hooks 9 that are making the insertion region narrower. If the latching lugs 8 pass out of the region of the latching hooks 9 by virtue of being further pushed in, the latching arms 7 spring back into their original position. Subsequently, the latching hooks 9 engage over the latching lugs 8 of the plug-type connector modules 2, as a result of which the plug-type connector modules 2 are fixed in the holding frame 1 in a loss-proof but reversible manner. In order to remove the plug-type connector modules 2, it is only necessary to bend the latching arms 7 of the fixing clip 6 away from the latching lugs 8 of the plug-type connector modules 2.

(15) FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate an alternative (second) embodiment of a holding frame 1 in accordance with the invention. For reasons of clarity of overview, the plug-type connector modules 2 are not shown here. It is possible to use and insert the same plug-type connector modules 2 as in the case of the above described first embodiment (FIGS. 1 and 2).

(16) The holding frame 1 has a frame-shaped base body 4. The two side parts 3 respectively comprise multiple connecting pieces 10 that are preferably arranged lying opposite one another in a symmetrical manner. Open receiving arrangements 11 are formed between these connecting pieces 10. A contour 12 in which one fixing clip 6 is held or rather fixed is located below these receiving arrangements 11 within the holding frame 1.

(17) The fixing clip 6 comprises two latching arms 7 having latching lugs 9 that are oriented facing one another.

(18) As a plug-type connector module 2 is being inserted into the holding frame 1, the latching lugs 8 are pushed into the region of the open receiving arrangements 11 of the side parts 3. In so doing, the latching hooks 9 of the holding arms 7 of the fixing clip 6 are bent away from one another in a manner parallel to the side walls 3. If the latching lugs 8 pass out of the region of the latching hooks 9 by virtue of being further pushed in, the latching arms 7 spring back into their original position. Subsequently, the latching hooks 9 engage over the latching lugs 8 of the plug-type connector modules 2, as a result of which the plug-type connector modules 2 are fixed in the holding frame 1 in a loss-proof but reversible manner. In order to remove the plug-type connector modules 2, it is only necessary to bend the latching arms 7 of the fixing clip 6 away from the latching lugs 8 of the plug-type connector modules 2. As a consequence, the plug-type connector module 2 may be released and may be removed or rather replaced by another model.

(19) FIG. 5 illustrates a third embodiment of a holding frame 1 in accordance with the invention. The base body 4 is likewise configured as in the case of the second embodiment. It is also possible to insert the same plug-type connector modules 2. The fixing clip 6 may comprise multiple holding arms 7. One holding arm pair 13 respectively is arranged in the region of a receiving arrangement 11 between the connecting pieces 10. The fixing clip 6 is fixed within the holding frame 1 on a contour (not illustrated). The fixing clip 6 may comprise any number of holding arms 7 or rather holding arm pairs 13. The fixing clip 6 may extend over the entire width of the side part 3. However, it is also possible to arrange two fixing clips 6 with a different number of holding arms along the side part 3 of the holding frame 1, as is illustrated by way of example in FIG. 6.

(20) FIGS. 7-9 illustrate a fourth embodiment of a holding frame 1. This embodiment may be fitted out with two alternative fixing clips 6, 6 in the region of the receiving arrangements 11 of the side part 3 of the holding frame 1.

(21) A first variant of one fixing clip 6 is illustrated in FIG. 8. The fixing clip 6 is arranged in the region of the receiving arrangement 11 of the side part 3 of the holding frame 1. The latching hooks 9 that are arranged on the end face of the holding arms 7 protrude in the case of this variant over the connecting pieces 10 of the side part 3. The latching hooks 9 are slightly bent outwardaway from one anotherin the upper region. In addition to providing the fixing arrangement, the latching hooks 9 also function as guiding means, as a result of which a plug-type connector module 2 may be inserted more easily. The latching lugs 8 of the plug-type connector module 2 are grasped by the latching hooks 9, subsequently the holding arms 7 are pushed to the side and finally grip the latching hooks 9 so as to provide the fixing arrangement via the latching lugs 8 of the plug-type connector module 2.

(22) Alternatively, the fourth embodiment of the holding frame 1 is configured with a fixing clip 6, as illustrated in FIG. 9. The holding arms 7 are shorter in this case than the connecting pieces 10 of the side part 3 of the holding frame 1. As the holding frame 1 is being fitted out, the latching lugs 8 of the plug-type connector module 2 move into the receiving arrangements 11 of the side part 3 and in so doing initially make contact with the latching hooks 9 of the fixing clip 6. As a consequence, the holding arms 7 are initially pushed away from one another. As the plug-type connector modules 2 are pushed further in, the latching lugs 8 pass out of the engagement region of the latching hooks 9. The latching hooks 9 may engage over the latching lugs 8 and in so doing pivot back toward one another. The latching hooks 9 now prevent the plug-type connector 2 moving in the opposite direction to the direction of insertion. The plug-type connector modules 2 may only be removed if the latching hooks 9 are pushed back away from one another, as a result of which the latching lugs 8 of the plug-type connector modules 2 are released.

(23) In the case of the fourth embodiment of the holding frame 1, the fixing clips 6, 6 are fastened within the base body 4 on or rather with the aid of a contour 12. As a consequence, the holding frame 1 may be produced in an automated procedure in large numbers.

(24) In the case of all the above described embodiments, the basis of the holding frame 1, 1, 1, 1 is formed by a rigid base body 4 that serves as a stable framework. Fixing clips 6, 6, 6, 6, 6 that are fixedly connected are to the base body 4 are inserted from inside in this base body 4. The plug-type connector modules 2 are encompassed by the base body 4 in the installed state. As a consequence, the system comprising holding frames 1, 1, 1, 1 and plug-type connector modules 2 have a high degree of stability.

(25) As a plug-type connector module is being inserted, the holding arms 7, 7, 7, 7, 7 of the fixing clips 6, 6, 6, 6, 6 are pivoted sideward, initially allowing the plug-type connector module 2 to pass through and subsequently snapping back together as soon as the plug-type connector module has achieved its end position in the base body 4. The plug-type connector module 2 is held between the holding arms 7, 7, 7, 7, 7 of the fixing clips 6, 6, 6, 6, 6 via its latching lugs 8. In so doing, the fixing clips 6, 6, 6, 6, 6 may be configured from a round or rectangular wire or from a synthetic material.

(26) Even if different aspects or features of the invention are each illustrated in combination, it is apparent for the person skilled in the artunless otherwise statedthat the illustrated and discussed combinations are not the only combinations possible. In particular, units that correspond with one another or feature complexes from different exemplary embodiments may be used in lieu of one another.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

(27) 1 Holding frame 2 Plug-type connector module 3 Side part 4 Base body 5 Receiving arrangement 6 Fixing clip 7 Holding arm 8 Latching lug 9 Latching hook 10 Connecting piece 11 Receiving arrangement 12 Contour 13 Holding arm pair