Modular plug connector system

Abstract

Embodiments of a modular plug connector system for vehicles may include a module housing having a first housing part with a plurality of uniform first plug places having interfaces for receiving a respective first adapter from a first adapter group, wherein the first adapter group has a plurality of first adapters of different types which have, on their outer sides, uniform interfaces for positioning in the first plug places of the first housing part, wherein the adapters have a different internal geometry for accommodating differently designed plug connectors. The module housing also has a second housing part with a plurality of uniform second plug places having interfaces for receiving a respective second adapter from a second adapter group, wherein the second adapter group has a plurality of second adapters of different types which have, on their outer sides, uniform interfaces for positioning in the second plug places of the second housing part, wherein the adapters have a different internal geometry for accommodating differently designed mating connectors. The outer sides of the first adapter and the second adapter and their corresponding plug places are may form a primary safety device for securing the adapters in their respective plug places when the corresponding adapter is inserted into an end position in the plug places.

Claims

1. A modular plug connector system, said system comprising: a module housing having a first housing part and a second housing part, the first housing part and the second housing part being two separate housing parts which are connectable to one another; the first housing part having a plurality of uniform first plug places for receiving a respective first adapter of a first adapter group; the first adapter group including a plurality of first adapters for positioning in the first plug places of the first housing part, each of the first adapters having outer sides with first interfaces which are uniform among the first adapters in the first adapter group; the first adapters each having a respective first internal geometry; the first internal geometry differing among the first adapters in the first adapter group for receiving respectively differently configured first plug connectors; the first adapters and the first plug connectors being separate components which can be plugged together with one another; the outer sides of the first adapters and the first plug places of the first housing part being configured to form a first primary securing means for fastening a respective one of the first adapters in a respective one of the first plug places when the respective one of the first adapters is inserted into a first end position in the respective one of the first plug places; the second housing part having a plurality of uniform second plug places, each of the second plug places receiving a respective second adapter of a second adapter group; the second adapter group including a plurality of second adapters for positioning in the second plug places of the second housing part, each of the second adapters having outer sides with second interfaces which are uniform among the second adapters in the second adapter group; the second adapters each having a respective second internal geometry; the second internal geometry differing among the second adapters in the second adapter group for receiving respectively differently configured second plug connectors; the second adapters and the second plug connectors being separate components which can be plugged together with one another; the outer sides of the second adapters and the second plug places of the second housing part being configured to form a second primary securing means for fastening one of the second adapters in a respective one of the second plug places when the second adapter is inserted into a second end position in the respective one of the second plug places; the first housing part and second housing part being connectable to one another such that when the first housing part and second housing part are connected to one another, each one of the first plug connectors received in the first housing part is connected to a corresponding one of the second plug connectors received in the second housing part; the first adapters, the second adapters, the first housing part and the second housing part being configured such that the first adapters can be plugged only into the first plug places of the first housing part and the second adapters can be plugged only into the second plug places of the second housing part.

2. The plug connector system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the module housing further includes at least one latching element pair and wherein the first housing part can be plugged into the second housing part and wherein the first housing part and the second housing part can be latched with one another via the at least one latching element pair.

3. The plug connector system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first plug connectors and the second plug connectors are designed as at least one of: plugs, couplings, sockets, printed circuit board plug connectors and housing plug connectors.

4. The plug connector system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first plug connectors and the second plug connectors are designed as housing plug connectors of at least one of the following types: HFM, H-MTD, AMEC, PL, BNC, TNC, SMBA, SMA, SMB, SMS, SMC, SMP, BMS, HSD, BMK, Mini-Coax and Makax.

5. The plug connector system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first housing part has two or more rows of the first plug places, the rows of first plug places being arranged parallel to one another and wherein the second housing part has two or more rows of the second plug places, the rows of the second plug places being arranged parallel to one another.

6. The plug connector system as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the first plug places and at least a corresponding one of the first adapters form a guide for guiding the first adapters into the first plug places.

7. The plug connector system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first plug places have an axial end stop.

8. The plug connector system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first primary securing means is formed by at least one latching nose and a spring arm.

9. The plug connector system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first adapters and the first plug places are configured in such a way that plugging-in of the first adapters is possible in only a single predetermined orientation.

10. The plug connector system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first adapters are provided with mechanical codings in such a way that only pairs of first plug connectors and second plug connectors which are functionally assigned to one another can be connected to one another.

11. The plug connector system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a corresponding secondary securing means is provided for each adapter type of the first adapter group and for each adapter type of the second adapter.

12. The plug connector system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first adapters are formed in one piece with the first plug connectors.

13. The plug connector system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the second adapters are formed in one piece with the second plug connectors.

14. The plug connector system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first housing part has two or more rows of the first plug places, the rows of first plug places being arranged offset from one another and wherein the second housing part has two or more rows of the second plug places, the rows of second plug places being arranged offset from one another.

15. The plug connector system as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the second plug places and at least a corresponding one of the second adapters form a guide for guiding the second adapters into the second plug places.

16. The plug connector system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second plug places have an axial end stop.

17. The plug connector system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first adapters and the second plug places are configured in such a way that plugging-in of the second adapters is possible in only a single predetermined orientation.

18. A modular plug connector system, said system comprising: a module housing having a first housing part and a second housing part, the first housing part and the second housing part being connectable to one another, the first housing part having a plurality of uniform first plug places, each of the first plug places having a respective interface for receiving a respective first adapter of a first adapter group, the first adapter group including a plurality of first adapters for positioning in the first plug places of the first housing part, each of the first adapters having outer sides with first interfaces which are uniform among the first adapters in the first adapter group, each of the first adapters having a respective internal geometry which differs among the first adapters in the first adapter group for receiving respectively differently configured first plug connectors, the outer sides of the first adapters and the first plug places of the first housing part being configured to form a first primary securing means for fastening a respective one of the first adapters in a respective one of the first plug places when the first adapter is inserted into a first end position in the respective one of the first plug places, the second housing part having a plurality of uniform second plug places receiving a respective second adapter of a second adapter group, the second adapter group including a plurality of second adapters for positioning in the second plug places of the second housing part, each of the second adapters having outer sides with second interfaces which are uniform among the second adapters in the second adapter group, each of the second adapters having a respective internal geometry which differs among the second adapters in the second adapter group and which have a different internal geometry for receiving respectively differently configured second plug connectors, the outer sides of the second adapters and the second plug places of the second housing part being configured to form a second primary securing means for fastening the second adapter in the respective second plug place when the second adapter is inserted into a second end position in the second plug place; said system further comprising secondary securing means for securing the first adapter in the respective one of the first plug places by inserting the secondary securing means into the first housing part in an orthogonal direction to a predefined end position at which the secondary securing means is completely plugged into the first housing part, the orthogonal direction being orthogonal to a plug-in direction, the plug-in direction being a direction in which the first adapter plugs into the first housing part.

19. The modular plug connector system as claimed in claim 18, wherein the secondary securing means have blocking elements which block the first primary securing means in a locking state.

20. The modular plug connector system as claimed in claim 18, wherein the secondary securing means have plug-in preventers which prevent a connection between the plug first connector and a corresponding one of the second plug connectors when the secondary securing means is plugged into the first housing part but is not yet in the predefined end position.

21. The modular plug connector system as claimed in claim 18, wherein the secondary securing means secure the first plug connectors in the first adapters.

22. The modular plug connector system as claimed in claim 18, wherein the secondary securing means assumes at least three plug states, the at least three plug states including: (i) a first plug state in which the secondary securing means is at a basic position at which the secondary securing means is captively connected to the first housing part but not yet connected to the corresponding first adapter, and (ii) a second plug state in which the secondary securing means is at a pre-latching position and is connected to the corresponding first adapter inside the first housing part, and (iii) a third plug state in which the secondary securing means is at the predefined end position and fixes the first plug connector in the corresponding first adapter.

23. The modular plug connector system as claimed in claim 18, wherein the secondary securing means in the end position is connected to the first housing part in a form-fitting manner and to the first adapter in a form-fitting manner in order to channel axial forces acting on the first plug connectors via the secondary securing means into the first housing part.

24. The modular plug connector system as claimed in claim 18, wherein the secondary securing means secure the first plug connectors to the second adapters.

25. The modular plug connector system as claimed in claim 18, wherein the secondary securing means assumes at least three plug states, the at least three plug states including: (i) a first plug state in which the secondary securing means is at a basic position at which the secondary securing means is captively connected to the second housing part but not yet to a corresponding second adapter, and (ii) a second plug state in which the secondary securing means is at a pre-latching position and is connected to the corresponding second adapter inside the second housing part, and (iii) a third plug state in which the secondary securing means is at the predefined end position and fixes the second plug connector in the corresponding second adapter.

26. A module housing for a modular plug connector system, said module housing comprising: a first housing part and a second housing part, the first housing part and the second housing part being two separate housing parts which are connectable to one another, the first housing part having a plurality of uniform first plug places for receiving a respective first adapter of a first adapter group, the first adapter group including a plurality of first adapters for positioning in the first plug places of the first housing part, each of the first adapters having outer sides with first interfaces which are uniform among the first adapters in the first adapter group; the first adapters each having a respective first internal geometry; the first internal geometry differing among the first adapters in the first adapter group for receiving respectively differently configured first plug connectors; the first adapters and the first plug connectors being separate components which can be plugged together with one another; the outer sides of the first adapters and the first plug places of the first housing part being configured to form a first primary securing means for fastening a respective one of the first adapters in a respective one of the first plug places when the respective one of the first adapters is inserted into a first end position in the respective one of the first plug places; the second housing part having a plurality of uniform second plug places, each of the second plug places receiving a respective second adapter of a second adapter group, the second adapter group including a plurality of second adapters for positioning in the second plug places of the second housing part, each of the second adapters having outer sides with second interfaces which are uniform among the second adapters in the second adapter group; the second adapters each having a respective second internal geometry; the second internal geometry differing among the second adapters in the second adapter group for receiving respectively differently configured second plug connectors; the second adapters and the second plug connectors being separate components which can be plugged together with one another; the outer sides of the second adapters and the second plug places of the second housing part forming a second primary securing means for fastening one of the second adapters in a respective one of the second plug places when the second adapter is inserted into a second end position in the respective one of the second plug places; the first housing part and second housing part being connectable to one another such that when the first housing part and second housing part are connected to one another, each one of the first plug connectors received in the first housing part is connected to a corresponding one of the second plug connectors received in the second housing part; the first adapters, the second adapters, the first housing part and the second housing part being configured such that the first adapters can be plugged only into the first plug places of the first housing part and the second adapters can be plugged only into the second plug places of the second housing part.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Functionally identical elements are provided with the same reference signs in the figures, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 schematically shows the modular plug connector system in the unassembled state in the manner of an exploded illustration in isometric view;

(3) FIG. 2 schematically shows the modular plug connector system in the assembled state in an isometric view;

(4) FIG. 3 schematically shows the assembled plug connector system of FIG. 2 in a front view of the first housing part;

(5) FIG. 4 schematically shows the assembled plug connector system of FIG. 2 in a front view of the second housing part;

(6) FIG. 5 schematically shows an isometric, partially sectioned view of the first housing part of the unassembled plug connector system;

(7) FIG. 6 schematically shows the illustration of the plug connector system as shown in FIG. 5 during a first assembly step;

(8) FIG. 7 schematically shows an enlarged illustration of the detail VII of FIG. 6;

(9) FIG. 8 schematically shows the enlarged-detail illustration of the plug connector system as shown in FIG. 5 during a second assembly step;

(10) FIG. 9 schematically shows an enlarged illustration of the detail IX of FIG. 8; and

(11) FIG. 10 schematically shows a front view of the first housing part with a partial section through one of the plug places to illustrate a secondary securing means in the end position in the plug place.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(12) The exemplary embodiment shows the modular plug connector system 1 according to the invention for vehicles. FIG. 1 illustrates an unassembled state and FIG. 2 illustrates an assembled state.

(13) The plug connector system 1 comprises a module housing 2 having a first housing part 3 and having a second housing part 4. The housing parts 3, 4 can be plugged one inside the other and can be latched with one another via a latching element pair 5 (cf. FIG. 2). In principle, however, the module housing 2 can also be formed in one piece. Furthermore, the latching element pair 5 can be formed at any desired point and in any desired embodiment, be multiply present or be omitted.

(14) The first housing part 3 comprises a plurality of uniform plug places 6 with interfaces for respectively receiving a first adapter 7 from a first adapter group, wherein the first adapter group comprises a plurality of first adapters 7 of different type which have uniform interfaces on their outer sides for positioning, in particular for fastening, in the plug places 6 of the first housing part 3, and which have a different internal geometry for receiving differently configured plug connectors 8. Analogously, the second housing part 4 comprises a plurality of uniform plug places 9 with interfaces for respectively receiving a second adapter 10 from a second adapter group, wherein the second adapter group comprises a plurality of second adapters 10 of different type which have uniform interfaces on their outer sides for positioning, in particular for fastening, in the plug places 9 of the second housing part 4, and which have a different internal geometry for receiving differently configured mating plug connectors 11.

(15) In principle, there can be provision for the housing parts 3, 4 to each have one (as realized in the exemplary embodiment), two, three or even more rows of plug places 6, 9 arranged parallel to or offset from one another. However, the exact number of plug places 6, 9 used and the arrangement or distribution thereof within the module housing 2 is of no importance for the purposes of the invention.

(16) In the exemplary embodiment, the first housing part 3 can be connected to the second housing part 4 in order to connect the plug connectors 8 received in the first housing part 3 to the corresponding mating plug connectors 11 received in the second housing part 4. What is of essential importance here is the establishment of an electrical connection between the plug connectors 8 and the mating plug connectors 11.

(17) Particularly if the module housing 2 is formed in one piece, there can also be provision that the first adapters 7, together with the plug connectors 8 received therein, can be plugged directly into the functionally defined first housing part 3 of the module housing 2 and are connected to the corresponding mating plug connectors 11 when the second adapters 10, together with the mating plug connectors 11 received therein, are plugged into the functionally defined second housing part 4 of the module housing 2.

(18) The housing parts 3, 4 are preferably designed to securely channel away mechanical loads which act on the plug connectors 8 and the mating plug connectors 11 and/or to ensure the holding force between the plug connectors 8 and the mating plug connectors 11. It is accordingly the case that, inter alia, undesired shear forces are channeled away by the robust module housing 2, and the plug connectors 8 or the mating plug connectors 11 are less strongly loaded.

(19) In principle, the plug connectors 8 and the mating plug connectors 11 can take the form of plugs, couplings, sockets, printed circuit board plug connectors and/or housing plug connectors. For example, plug connectors 8 or mating plug connectors 11 of the HFM, H-MTD, AMEC, PL, BNC, TNC, SMBA, SMA, SMB, SMS, SMC, SMP, BMS, HSD, BMK, Mini-Coax and/or Makax types can be used. The invention is not limited to a certain type of plug connector 8 or mating plug connector 11.

(20) In the exemplary embodiment, the plug places 6, 9 and the adapters 7, 10 form guides 12. In the exemplary embodiment, the guides take the form of guide webs 12 of the plug places 6, 9 and corresponding guide elements (not illustrated in further detail) of the adapters 7, 10. The guide webs 12 serve to receive the adapters 7, 10. Furthermore, the plug places 6, 9 comprise axial end stops 13 (cf. in particular FIG. 1 and FIGS. 5-6).

(21) It is furthermore possible for the adapters 7, 10 and the plug places 6, 9 to be configured in such a way that plugging-in of the adapters 7, 10 is possible in only one predetermined orientation. It is possible here particularly to avoid plugging-in with the wrong polarity, for example plugging-in with a rotation through 180°. The anti-rotational safeguarding is achieved in the exemplary embodiment by a mechanical coding which is realized by an asymmetrical geometrical configuration of the insertion openings in the plug places 6, 9 and by a corresponding external configuration of the adapters 7, 10. This can be seen in particular in FIGS. 3 and 4, which show a front view of the first housing part 3 (FIG. 3) and of the second housing part 4 (FIG. 4). The mechanical coding serving for this purpose is in particular in the form of differently configured bevels 14.

(22) Furthermore, the first adapters 7, the second adapters 10 and the two housing parts 3, 4 are configured in such a way that the first adapters 7 can be plugged only into the plug places 6 of the first housing part 3, and the second adapters 10 can be plugged only into the plug places 9 of the second housing part 4. Also provided for this purpose is a corresponding mechanical coding which is realized by means of a corresponding geometrical configuration of the components using projections, recesses and/or bevels 14.

(23) Furthermore, there can be provision that mechanical codings are provided on the end sides of the adapters 7, 10 that are at the front in the plug-in direction A, B (cf. FIG. 1) and/or on a front end of a plug place 6, 9 of the housing parts 3, 4 in such way that only pairs of plug connectors 8 and mating plug connectors 11 which are functionally assigned to one another can be connected.

(24) Furthermore, there is provision in the exemplary embodiment that the outer sides of the first adapters 7 and the outer sides of the second adapters 10 and also the plug places 6 of the first housing part 3 and the plug places 9 of the second housing part 4 are configured in such a way that they form a primary securing means 15 (cf. FIGS. 6-9) for fastening the respective adapter 7, 10 in the corresponding plug place 6, 9 when the respective adapter 7, 10 is inserted into its end position in the corresponding plug place 6, 9.

(25) In particular, there can be provision that the primary securing means 15 is formed by at least one latching nose 16 and a spring arm 17, as illustrated for example in FIG. 6 and the corresponding enlargement as shown in FIG. 7. The primary securing means preferably has two pairs of latching noses 16/spring arms 17 which fix the adapter 7, 10 on opposite sides in the respective plug place 6, 9.

(26) In the exemplary embodiment, the plug connector system 1 further has secondary securing means 18 for securing the adapters 7, 10 in the respective plug places 6, 9 that can be plugged along a plug-in direction C orthogonally to the plug-in direction A, B of the adapters 7, 10 into the housing parts 3, 4 up and into a predefined end position. The end positions can be seen in particular in FIGS. 2 and 8 or 9.

(27) In particular, the second secondary securing means 18 can have blocking elements 19 in order to block the primary securing means 15 in their locking state, for example by engaging behind the spring arms 17 in order to block them in the latching noses 16 in a form-fitting manner, as is clearly evident in FIG. 8 and the enlargement as shown in FIG. 9.

(28) The blocking elements 19 prevent a situation in which the spring arms 17 can spring back into a position which releases the form fit (in the pull-out direction) between the latching nose 16 and the associated spring arm 17. The blocking elements 19 preferably take the form of flat plate-shaped or web-shaped projections whose front end engages behind the spring arms 17. Each secondary securing means preferably has two blocking elements 19 which, when the adapter 7, 10 is introduced into a plug place 6, 9, each secure a pair of the latching noses 16/spring arms 17.

(29) Apart from securing the adapters 7, 10, the secondary securing means 18 can also be used for securing or for fastening the plug connectors 8 or the mating plug connectors 11 in the adapters 7, 10. There is preferably provided for this purpose a form-fitting and/or force-fitting connection between the secondary securing means 18 and the associated adapter 7, 10 on the one hand and a form-fitting and/or force-fitting connection between the secondary securing means 18 and the associated plug connector 8 or the mating plug connector 11. For this purpose, as illustrated in the exemplary embodiment, the secondary securing means 18 can have, for example, a securing clamp 20 which is inserted through an opening into the associated adapter 7, 10 and embraces in a form-fitting manner the plug connector 8 or the mating plug connector 11 received in the adapter 7, 10. Furthermore, the secondary securing means 18 can be configured in such a way that it is inserted into the associated adapter 7, 10 in a form-fitting manner.

(30) FIG. 8 and FIG. 10, in respect of which reference is made to the plug place 6 illustrated in section on the right in the drawing plane, illustrate a particularly advantageous embodiment for securing the secondary securing means 18 in the plugged-in end position. FIGS. 8 and 10 show a particularly advantageous end latching of the secondary securing means 18. The latching is preferably realized by virtue of the fact that the secondary securing means 18 has one, two or more latching elements 23. Preferably, only one latching element 23 is provided. The latching element 23 is preferably formed by virtue of the fact that the securing clamp 20 preferably has one, but possibly also more than one, snap hook 23.

(31) The adapter 7, with which the secondary securing means 18 latches in the end position by means of the latching element, preferably the snap hook 23, has a corresponding latching receptacle 24. Here, the latching receptacle 24 can preferably take the form of a depression, groove or shoulder 24. The latching receptacle 24 is preferably formed in such a way that a form-fitting connection with the latching element 23 results in such a way that the form fit acts in the pull-out direction of the secondary securing means 18. This is correspondingly illustrated in FIG. 8 and FIG. 10.

(32) If the secondary securing means 18 has more than one latching element 23, there is preferably also provided a corresponding number of latching receptacles 24.

(33) Releasing of the snap hook 23 from the shoulder 24 can preferably be effected in the exemplary embodiment by virtue of the fact that a suitable tool, preferably a special tool, is inserted such that the form-fitting connection between the snap hook 23 and the shoulder 24 is released again.

(34) As illustrated in FIG. 8 and FIG. 10, only one snap hook 23 is preferably formed on the securing clamp 20.

(35) Although FIG. 10 shows the first housing part 3, the second housing part 4 or the second adapters 10 can be formed analogously.

(36) The secondary securing means 18 is preferably configured in such a way that it can be plugged completely in its end position into the adapter 7, 10 only when both the adapter 7, 10 and the plug connector 8 or the mating plug connector 11 are situated in their predefined end position, that is to say in the assembly position. The secondary securing means 18 thus makes it possible to determine whether the adapters 7, 10 and the plug connectors 8 or the mating plug connectors 11 are correctly positioned. In the case of an incorrect position, the secondary securing means 18 cannot be plugged in up to its end position. This can preferably be achieved by the securing clamp 20 being configured in such a way that it can embrace the plug connector 8 or the mating plug connector 11 on the outside only when the securing clamp 20 strikes an outer region of the plug connector 8 or mating plug connector 11 that is suitably configured, preferably having a part-annular or annular depression, a groove, a recess, a taper 25 or a shoulder into which the securing clamp 20 can engage. This is illustrated in principle in FIGS. 5, 6 and 8.

(37) The engagement preferably occurs in a form-fitting manner. With further preference, there is provision here, as can be seen in particular from FIG. 8, that a form fit results at least in the pull-out direction such that the plug connector 8 (or analogously the mating plug connector 11) is prevented from being pulled out. Where appropriate, in addition or alternatively to the end stop 13, there can also be provided a form fit in the plug-in direction of the plug connector 8 (or analogously of the mating plug connector 11). In the exemplary embodiment, the plug connector 8 has a shoulder such that a taper 25 results. Alternatively, a form fit can also be produced in and counter to the plug-in direction, for example by means of a groove. FIG. 8 illustrates a stop region 26 by way of example to symbolize the form fit.

(38) It is preferable that for each adapter type of the two adapter groups there is provided a corresponding secondary securing means 18.

(39) The secondary securing means 18, the housing parts 3, 4 and/or the adapters 7, 10 are preferably formed in such a way that the secondary securing means 18 can assume at least three plug states along their plug-in direction C, wherein a first plug state relates to a basic position in which the secondary securing means 18 is captively connected to the housing part 3, 4 but not yet connected to the corresponding adapter 7, 10, and wherein a second plug state relates to a pre-latching position in which the secondary securing means 18 is connected to the corresponding adapter 7, 10 inside the housing part 3, 4, and wherein a third plug state relates to the end position in which the secondary securing means 18 is completely plugged into the housing part 3, 4.

(40) In a particularly advantageous manner, as can be seen in the Figs., the secondary securing means 18 channels axial forces acting on the plug connector 8/mating plug connector 11 into the associated housing part 3, 4. This is also achieved by the form-fitting connection of the secondary securing means 18 to the associated plug connector 8/mating plug connector 11 or the adapter 7, 10 and the form-fitting connection of the secondary securing means 18 to the associated housing part 3, 4.

(41) As illustrated in the exemplary embodiment, the secondary securing means 18 can have plug-in preventers 21, wherein the plug-in preventers 21 can be designed to prevent two corresponding adapters 7, 10 from being plugged together when the secondary securing means 18 is not situated in its end position in the housing part 3, 4. The plug-in preventer 21 of the secondary securing means 18 preferably blocks the plugging together of the corresponding adapters 7, 10 of the plug connector 8 with a mating plug connector 11 when the secondary securing means 18 is situated in its pre-latching position.

(42) The plug-in preventer 21 can be designed in such a way that, during the plugging-in of the secondary securing means 18, it is situated first of all in the displacement path of the adapter 10, 7 corresponding to the adapter 7, 10 assigned to the secondary securing means 18 and frees up the displacement path only in the completely plugged end state.

(43) The interfaces, which are configured uniformly for the adapters 7, 10, are configured in such way that they form at least one, preferably a plurality of, particularly preferably all, the interface(s) stated as follows: an interface for the primary securing means, for example the latching noses 16; an interface for the secondary securing means 18; an interface for guiding, for example a corresponding guide which interacts with the guide webs 12; an interface for the end stops 13; and an interface for positioning the adapters 7, 10 in as play-free a manner as possible in the plug places 6, 9 in the end position, for which purpose the adapters 7, 10 preferably have a suitable external geometry.

(44) Finally, there can be provision for the module housing 2 or its housing parts 3, 4 to be mechanically coded such that only housing parts 3, 4 of a common module housing type can be plugged one inside the other. Purely by way of example, a region 22 in which corresponding mechanical codings can be provided on the first housing part 3 is highlighted in FIG. 3 using dashed lines.

(45) In the exemplary embodiment, the invention is illustrated in the preferred variant in which the adapter 7 and the adapter 10 are formed in such a way that they have an internal geometry for receiving differently configured plug connectors 8 or mating plug connectors 11. However, it is also possible, in a manner which has not been illustrated, to provide for the adapter 7 to be formed in one piece with differently configured plug connectors 8. Alternatively or additionally, there can moreover be provision for the adapters 10 also to be formed in one piece with differently configured mating plug connectors 11. Also possible here are mixed forms between the two alternatives, that is to say there can be provision for some of the plug connectors 8 or some of the mating plug connectors 11 to be received by a corresponding adapter 7, 10, whereas other adapters 7, 10 are formed in one piece with a plug connector 8 or a mating plug connector 11. It is also possible for the adapters 10 to be formed in one piece with the mating plug connectors 11, whereas the adapters 7 have an internal geometry for receiving differently configured plug connectors 8, and vice versa.

(46) While the invention has been described with reference to various preferred embodiments, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt to a particular situation or application of the invention without departing from the scope of the invention. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed but rather, that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims, either literally or under the Doctrine of Equivalents.