Abstract
The invention relates to an electrical plug connector for a safety restraint system, preferably for an airbag ignition system, including at least two contact terminals disposed within the plug connector and a shorting clip, that is configured to short circuit the at least two contact terminals in an uncoupled or incorrectly coupled condition of the plug connector. The shorting clip includes at least two shorting tongues. Each shorting tongue is electrically connected with a respective contact terminal. Each shorting tongue further includes at least one electrical contact surface and at least one of the shorting tongues includes an actuating member. The actuating member is provided with an actuating surface that is configured to interact with a separator device. The contact surfaces are not arranged within the same plane as the actuating surface(s).
Claims
1. An electrical plug connector, comprising: a plug connector; at least two contact terminals within the plug connector; and a shorting clip configured to short circuit the at least two contact terminals when the plug connector is in an uncoupled or incorrectly coupled condition, wherein the shorting clip further includes at least two shorting tongues, wherein each shorting tongue is electrically connected with a respective one of the at least two contact terminals, wherein each shorting tongue further includes an electrical contact surface, wherein the electrical contact surfaces contact each other to short circuit the at least two contact terminals when the plug connector is in an uncoupled or incorrectly coupled condition, wherein at least one of the shorting tongues includes an actuating member, wherein the actuating member is provided with an actuating surface that is configured to interact with a separator device, when the plug connector is in an correctly coupled condition, and wherein the electrical contact surfaces are embossed projections that protrude from the actuating surfaces and are not arranged within the same planes as the actuating surfaces.
2. The electrical plug connector according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the two shorting tongues includes a bendable portion, wherein the bendable portion is bent to open a contact between the at least two contact surfaces upon correct coupling of the plug connector.
3. The electrical plug connector according to claim 1, further comprising a housing and a connector position assurance (CPA) member, which is insertable into the housing of the plug connector and which the CPA member includes a separator device, which separator device interacts with the actuating surface of the actuating member during insertion of the CPA member into the housing of the plug connector, so that electrical contact between the at least two contact surfaces is opened.
4. The electrical plug connector according to claim 1, wherein electrical contact between the at least two contact surfaces is configured to be opened upon correct coupling the electrical plug connector to a corresponding counter-connector, wherein the corresponding counter-connector includes a separator device, which separator device interacts with the actuating surface of the actuating member during correct coupling of the plug connector to the corresponding counter-connector, so that the electrical contact between the at least two contact surfaces is opened.
5. The electrical plug connector according to claim 1, wherein the electrical contact surface does not contact any structure of the separator device when the plug connector is correctly coupled to a corresponding counter-connector.
6. The electrical plug connector according to claim 1, wherein the separator device contacts the actuating surface when the plug connector is correctly coupled to a corresponding counter-connector.
7. The electrical plug connector according to claim 1, wherein the separator device is at least partly arranged between the at least two contact surfaces without contacting any one of the at least two contact surfaces when the plug connector is correctly coupled to a corresponding counter-connector.
8. The electrical plug connector according to claim 1, wherein at least one terminal and one respective shorting tongue of the shorting clip are integrally formed, and wherein preferably each of the at least two contact terminals and the respective shorting tongue of the shorting clip are integrally formed.
9. The electrical plug connector according to claim 1, wherein the actuating member of the shorting tongue is formed by a metal forming process.
10. The electrical plug connector according to claim 1, wherein at least one terminal and at least one shorting tongue of the shorting clip include copper or a copper based alloy.
11. The electrical plug connector according to claim 1, wherein the at least two contact surfaces are not gold plated.
12. A method for assembling an electrical connector assembly comprising the steps of: providing a plug connector having at least two contact terminals within the plug connector and a shorting clip configured to short circuit the at least two contact terminals when the plug connector is in an uncoupled or incorrectly coupled condition, wherein the shorting clip further includes at least two shorting tongues, wherein each shorting tongue is electrically connected with a respective one of the at least two contact terminals, wherein each shorting tongue further includes at least one electrical contact surface, wherein the electrical contact surfaces contact each other to short circuit the at least two contact terminals when the plug connector is in an uncoupled or incorrectly coupled condition, wherein at least one of the shorting tongues includes an actuating member, wherein the actuating member is provided with an actuating surface that is configured to interact with a separator device, when the plug connector is in an correctly coupled condition, and wherein the at least two contact surfaces are embossed projections that protrude from the actuating surfaces and are not arranged within the same planes as the actuating surfaces; providing a corresponding counter-connector; and mating the plug connector with the corresponding counter-connector, wherein a contact between the at least two contact surfaces is separated upon correct coupling the plug connector to the corresponding counter-connector.
13. The method according to claim 12, comprising further the steps of: providing a connector position assurance (CPA) member, wherein the CPA member is provided with a separator device, and inserting the CPA member into a housing of the plug connector so that the separator device interacts with the actuating surface of the actuating member in order to separate the contact between the at least two contact surfaces upon full insertion of the CPA member into the housing of the plug connector.
14. The method according to claim 12, comprising further the steps of: separating the contact between the at least two contact surfaces of the shorting clip upon correct coupling the plug connector to the corresponding counter-connector, wherein the corresponding counter-connector includes a separator device, which separator device interacts with the actuating surface of the actuating member, so that the contact between the at least two contact surfaces is separated upon correct coupling of the plug connector to the corresponding counter-connector.
15. An electrical connector system, comprising: a plug connector; and a corresponding counter-connector, wherein the plug connector includes a shorting clip having at least two shorting tongues, wherein each shorting tongue is electrically connected with a respective one of the at least two contact terminals, wherein each shorting tongue further includes at least one electrical contact surface, wherein the electrical contact surfaces contact each other to short circuit the at least two contact terminals when the plug connector is in an uncoupled or incorrectly coupled condition, wherein at least one of the shorting tongues includes an actuating member, wherein the actuating member is provided with an actuating surface that is configured to interact with a separator device, when the plug connector is in an correctly coupled condition, and wherein the at least two contact surfaces are embossed projections that protrude from the actuating surfaces and are not arranged within the same planes as the actuating surfaces.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING
(1) The present invention will now be described, by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
(2) FIG. 1A shows a schematic illustration of a plug connector according to one embodiment;
(3) FIG. 1B shows an exploded view of the plug connector of FIG. 1A according to one embodiment;
(4) FIGS. 2A and 2B show a schematic illustration of a terminal assembly according to one embodiment;
(5) FIGS. 3A and 3B show a schematic cut view of an electrical plug connector in an uncoupled and a coupled condition according to one embodiment;
(6) FIG. 3C shows a detailed view of the electrical plug connector in a coupled condition according to one embodiment;
(7) FIG. 4A shows a schematic illustration of a further embodiment of an electrical plug connector according to one embodiment;
(8) FIG. 4B shows the electrical plug connector of FIG. 4A in an exploded view according to one embodiment;
(9) FIGS. 5A and 5B show a schematic illustration of the terminal assembly of the plug connector according to one embodiment;
(10) FIGS. 6A and 6B show a schematic illustration of the electrical plug connector of FIG. 4A in an uncoupled condition according to one embodiment; and
(11) FIGS. 6C and 6D show a schematic illustration of the electrical plug connector of FIG. 4A in a coupled condition according to one embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
(12) FIG. 1A shows a non-limiting example of an electrical plug connector 1, including a first housing member 200 and a second housing member 400. The electrical plug connector further includes two signal lines 601, 602. The CPA member 100 can be inserted into the first and second housing members 200, 400 of the plug connector 1 when the plug connector 1 is correctly coupled to a corresponding counter-connector (not shown).
(13) FIG. 1B shows the connector of FIG. 1A in an exploded view. The terminal assembly 300 is enclosed by the first and second housing members 200, 400 and includes at least two terminals 321, 322. Further, the terminal assembly 300 includes a shorting clip 330 and welding or soldering pads 311, 312, to connect the signal lines 601, 602 to the terminal 321, 322.
(14) FIGS. 2A and 2B show the terminal assembly 300 from different perspectives. The terminal assembly 300 includes terminals 321 and 322, which are electrically connected to a respective one of the shorting tongues 331, 332 of the shorting clip 330. Further, the welding or soldering pads 311, 312 are electrically connected to the terminals 321, 322. Preferably, the terminals 321, 322, the shorting tongues 331, 332 and the welding/soldering pads 311, 312 are integrally formed as one part. The welding or soldering pads 311, 312 are configured to be soldered to respective signal lines 601, 602. Other connection techniques such as welding or the like are also suitable.
(15) Further, as best can be seen in FIG. 2B, each of the shorting tongues 331, 332 includes at least one electrical contact surface 335, 336 and a recessed actuating member 343, 444, having an actuating surface 345, 446. The contact surfaces 335, 336 can for example be manufactured by embossing or the like. The actuating surface(s) is/are configured to contact a separator device in order to bend the shorting tongues or at least one of the shorting tongues 331, 332 outwardly so that the contact between the contact surfaces 335, 336 is open.
(16) FIG. 3A shows an electrical plug connector 1 in a cut view, wherein the electrical plug connector 1 is in an uncoupled condition. The first and second housing members 200, 400 enclose the terminal assembly 300 at least partly, wherein the shorting tongues 331, 332 are received within the first and second housing members 200, 400. The CPA member 100 is not yet fully inserted into the first and second housing members 200, 400. Further, the separator device 101 is positioned between the shorting tongue 331, 332, but does not bend the shorting tongues 331, 332 outwardly, i.e. the electrical contact between contact surfaces 335, 336 is still established.
(17) FIG. 3B, shows the electrical plug connector 1 in a correctly coupled condition and a corresponding counter-connector 700. In the correctly coupled condition, the contact between the contact surfaces 335, 336 is separated by the separator device 101 of the CPA member 100. Preferably, the separator device 101 bends at least one of the shorting tongues 331, 332 outwardly, to open the contact between the contact surfaces 335, 336. Since the CPA member 100 can only be inserted when the plug connector 1 is correctly coupled to the corresponding counter-connector 700, and since the CPA member 100 opens the contact between the contact surfaces 335, 336 upon being inserted into the first and second housing members 200, 400, the correct coupling of the electrical plug connector 1 to a corresponding counter-connector 700 can be monitored electrical or electronically.
(18) FIG. 3C shows a detailed view of the separator device 101, being positioned between the shorting tongues 331, 332 and in particular between the contact surfaces 335, 336. As can be seen, the contact surfaces 335, 336 protrude from the shorting tongue 331, 332 since they are for example manufactured by embossing. Thus, the contact surfaces 335, 336 and the actuating surfaces 346, 345 are not arranged within the same plane. The plane of a surface is defined by the surface itself if the surface is a flat surface. In the case that the surface is a curved surface that is for example achieved by bending or by embossing a metal sheet, the plane that is associated with the curved surface is the tangential surface in the contact point. The contact point has to be understood as the point, in which the shorting tongues 332, 331 contact each other or respectively, the point, in which the separator device 101 contacts the actuating surface 346, 345.
(19) As shown in FIG. 3C, the separator device 101 is provided with at least two recesses 111, 112. These recesses are designed such that the contact surfaces 335, 336 of the shorting tongue 331, 332 do not contact the separator device 101 when the plug connector 1 is correctly coupled to a corresponding counter-connector 700. The separator device 101 preferably further includes corresponding actuating surfaces 145, 146, that are configured to interact with the actuating surface(s) 345, 346 of the shorting tongues 331, 332. The interaction between the actuating surfaces and the corresponding actuating surfaces is at least a mechanical contact and even more preferred this mechanical contact results in a bending of the shorting tongues or at least one shorting tongue 331, 332. Preferably, the separator device 101 includes a plastic material.
(20) By separating the actuating surface and the contact surface of the shorting tongues 331, 332, the undesired deposition of residual layers of plastic and/or the like due to fogging can be significantly reduced. Thus, the electrical conductivity properties of the contact between the contact surfaces can be maintained stable during the use of the electrical plug connector 1.
(21) FIG. 4A shows an electrical plug connector 2. The electrical plug connector 2 includes a first housing member 210 and a second housing member 410 that form the housing of the plug connector 2. Further, the electrical plug connector 2 includes at least one signal line 612. FIG. 4B shows the electrical plug connector 2 in an exploded view. As can be seen, the first and second housing members 210, 410 of the electrical plug connector 2 receive a terminal assembly 500 that includes at least two terminal 521, 522. The terminal assembly 500 further includes a shorting clip 530 and welding or soldering pads 511, 512 for welding or soldering the signal lines 611, 612. Further, the electrical plug connector 2 can be coupled to a corresponding counter-connector 710.
(22) FIG. 5A shows a detailed view of the terminal assembly 500 of the electrical plug connector 2, shown in FIG. 4B. The terminal assembly 500 includes a shorting clip 530, wherein the shorting clip 530 includes at least two shorting tongues 531, 532, which are configured to short circuit the at least two contact terminals (not shown). A terminal, a respective shorting tongue and a respective welding or soldering pad 512 are electrically connected to each other and preferably integrally formed as a single part. Each of the welding or soldering pads 512, 511 is configured to be soldered to a respective signal line 611, 612. Other connection techniques, such as welding and the like, are also suitable. The shorting tongues 532, 531 include at least one electrical contact surface 535, 536 as best can be seen in FIG. 5B, further, the shorting tongues 532, 531 shown here, include an actuating member 344, 343, wherein each actuating member 344, 343 includes an actuating surface 545, 546. The actuating surface 545, 546 is configured to interact with a separator device (not shown). The contact surfaces 335, 336 are configured to contact each other if the plug connector 2 is in an uncoupled or in an incorrectly coupled condition. As shown in FIG. 5B, the contact surfaces 535, 536 and the corresponding actuating surfaces 546, 545 of the corresponding actuating members 543, 544 are arranged in different planes. A plane has to be understood, as defined within the description of FIG. 3C.
(23) Since the surfaces are not arranged within the same plane, the surfaces are separated from each other. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 6B and 6D, just the actuating surfaces 545, 546 are configured to contact a separator device 711, so that the contact surfaces 535, 536 do not contact the separator device 711. Therefore, fogging and/or other deposition of residual layers can be prevented. The actuator members 543, 544 are preferably formed by embossing, bending and/or punching processes.
(24) FIG. 6A shows the electrical plug connector 2 and a corresponding counter-connector 710 in a cut view. The first and second housing members 210, 410 of the plug connector 2 enclose the shorting tongues 531, 532. As can be seen, the contact surfaces 535, 536 of the shorting tongues 531, 532 are in contact with each other when the plug connector 2 is in the uncoupled or incorrectly coupled condition. The counter-connector 710 includes a separator device 711 that is preferably formed from plastic or includes at least a plastic material. The separator device 711 is configured to be forced between the shorting tongues 531, 532, in order to open the contact between the contact surfaces 535, 536. Further, at least one of the shorting tongues 531, 532 is bent outwardly by the separator device 711.
(25) FIG. 6B shows a detailed cut view of the electrical plug connector 2 as shown in FIG. 6A, wherein the cut is performed along the line A-A. As can be seen, the contact surfaces 535, 536 of the shorting tongues 531, 532 contact each other, so that the terminals of the plug connector 2 are short circuited. Further, the shorting tongues 531, 532 include actuating members 543, 545, having each an actuating surface 545, 546. These actuating surfaces 545, 546 are configured to be contacted by the separator device 711, so that at least one of the shorting tongues 531, 532 is bent outwardly in order to open the contact between the contact surfaces 535, 536. The actuating surfaces 545, 546 and the contact surfaces 535, 536 of one shorting tongue are arranged in different planes. Therefore, these surfaces are separate from each other. Thus, when separating the contact between the contact surfaces 535, 536 by means of the separator device 711, the contact surfaces 535, 536 will not contact the separator device 711.
(26) Further, FIG. 6C shows the plug connector 2 in a correctly coupled condition. In the electrical coupled condition, the contact between the contact surfaces 535, 536 of the shorting tongues 531, 532 is separated by the separator device 711. In this condition, the separator device 711 is forced between the actuating surfaces 545, 546 as shown in FIG. 6D. FIG. 6D is a partial cut view of the electrical plug connector 2 of FIG. 6C, wherein the view is cut along the line B-B. The separator device 711 is forced between the shorting tongues 531, 532 and interacts with the actuating surfaces 545, 546 of the actuating members 543, 544. Since the actuating surfaces 545, 546 are arranged in a different plane than the corresponding contact surfaces 535, 536, the contact surfaces 535, 536 will not contact the separator device 711. Thus, fogging can be prevented and the electrical connection properties of the contact surfaces 535, 536 can be maintained.
(27) While this invention has been described in terms of the preferred embodiments thereof, it is not intended to be so limited, but rather only to the extent set forth in the claims that follow. Moreover, the use of the terms first, second, etc. does not denote any order of importance, but rather the terms first, second, etc. are used to distinguish one element from another. Furthermore, the use of the terms a, an, etc. do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items.
