Holding frame comprising a fixing element held in a movable manner

Abstract

A holding frame is provided, into which plug connector modules can be inserted, wherein the holder frame comprises or consists of two halves which can be connected to each other, a first half and a second half, wherein the halves each have a lateral surface and a cover surface, wherein the holding frame has at least one first blocking element, via which the halves can be fixed in a closed position, and wherein the at least one blocking element is movably held on the first half or on the second half. The blocking element is held on the first half or on the second half in a displaceable or rotatable or pivotable manner.

Claims

1. A holding frame into which plug connector modules having outwardly projecting lugs are insertable, the holding frame comprising: two frame halves, namely, a first frame half and a second frame half, which are connected to one another and configured to pivot relative to each other between a closed position and an open position, and which each include openings to receive the outwardly projecting lugs of the plug connector modules when the plug connector modules are loaded in the holding frame in the open position and the frame halves are thereafter moved from the open position to the closed position; and at least one blocking element that is separate and distinct from the two frame halves of the holding frame, and wherein the blocking element is attached directly to one of the two frame halves of the holding frame at a movable joint that enables the blocking element to move relative to the one of the two frame halves between a blocking position and an unblocking position, and whereby the two frame halves are secured in the closed position by the at least one blocking element when the at least one blocking element is moved into the blocking position to physically contact the other one of the two frame halves and physically block the first frame half and the second frame half from pivoting to the open position.

2. The holding frame as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one blocking element is displaceably or rotatably or pivotably held on the first frame half or on the second frame half.

3. The holding frame as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the blocking element has two protruding fingers, namely, a first finger and a second finger, and at least one latching hook is integrally formed on an end of the first finger.

4. The holding frame as claimed in claim 3, wherein: the latching hook of the first finger can latch on or behind an edge of a cover surface of the second frame half, the second finger can be supported on the cover surface of the second frame half, and the holding frame can thus be secured in the closed position.

5. The holding frame as claimed in claim 4, wherein the second frame half has a beveled unlocking edge into which a tool can engage for releasing a securing state of the closed position of the holding frame.

6. The holding frame as claimed in claim 1, wherein the holding frame has a grounding socket which is integrally formed on the first frame half.

7. The holding frame as claimed in claim 6, wherein the blocking element is displaceably held on the grounding socket.

8. The holding frame of claim 1, wherein, when the two frame halves are in the closed position, the openings assist in holding the plug connector modules in place within the holding frame via interaction with the projections on sides of the plug connector modules.

9. The holding frame of claim 1, wherein the other one of the two frame halves includes a cover surface that is perpendicular to a plug-in direction of the holding frame when the two frame halves are in the closed position, and wherein the blocking element engages the cover surface when the blocking element is in the blocking position to physically obstruct the first frame half and the second frame half from pivoting to the open position.

10. A method for equipping a holding frame with plug connector modules having outwardly projecting lugs, the holding frame comprising two frame halves which are connected to one another and configured to pivot relative to each other between a closed position and an open position, and which include openings to receive the outwardly projecting lugs of the plug connector modules when the plug connector modules are loaded in the holding frame in the open position and the two frame halves are thereafter moved from the open position to the closed position, and the holding frame comprising at least one blocking element which is movably coupled to the two frame halves, the method comprising: transferring the holding frame into the open position; inserting at least one plug connector module into the holding frame in the open position; transferring the holding frame into the closed position such that the outwardly projecting lugs of the at least one plug connector module are received in the openings of the two frame halves; and locking the holding frame in the closed position with the aid of the at least one blocking element which is separate and distinct from the two frame halves of the holding frame and which is attached directly to one of the two frame halves of the holding frame at a movable joint that enables the blocking element to move relative to the one of the two frame halves between a blocking position and an unblocking position, the locking of the holding frame occurring by moving the at least one blocking element into the blocking position to physically contact the other one of the two frame halves and physically block the two frame halves from pivoting to the open position.

11. A method for removing at least one plug connector module having outwardly projecting lugs from a holding frame, the holding frame comprising two frame halves which are connected to one another and configured to pivot relative to each other between a closed position and an open position, and which include openings to receive the outwardly projecting lugs of the plug connector module when the plug connector module is loaded in the holding frame in the open position and the two frame halves are thereafter moved from the open position to the closed position, and the holding frame comprising at least one blocking element which is separate and distinct from the two frame halves of the holding frame and which is attached directly to one of the two frame halves at a movable joint that enables the blocking element to move relative to the one of the two frame halves from an unblocking position to a blocking position to secure the two frame halves in the closed position in a locking state by physically contacting the other one of the two frame halves and physically blocking the two frame halves from pivoting to the open position, the method comprising: engaging a tool in an unlocking edge of the holding frame; releasing the locking state of the holding frame by prying the at least one blocking element attached directly to the one of the two frame halves of the holding frame out of the blocking position; transferring the holding frame into the open position; and removing the at least one plug connector module from the holding frame in the open position, wherein transferring the holding frame into the open position and removing the at least one plug connector module includes withdrawing the outwardly projecting lugs of the plug connector module from the openings of the frame halves.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) An exemplary embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawings and will be explained in more detail below. In the drawings:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a perspective illustration of a holding frame in a closed and latched position;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a perspective illustration of a holding frame in an open position;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a perspective illustration of a holding frame in a closed and unlatched position;

(5) FIG. 4 shows a perspective illustration of a holding frame in a closed and latched position with integrated plug connector modules;

(6) FIG. 5 shows a side view of a blocking element;

(7) FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the blocking element; and

(8) FIG. 7 shows a further perspective view of the blocking element.

(9) The figures contain partially simplified schematic illustrations. Identical reference numerals are sometimes used for elements which are similar but possibly not identical. Different views of similar elements can be drawn to different scales.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(10) FIG. 1 shows the perspective illustration of a holding frame 1 which is in a closed position. The holding frame 1 substantially comprises two halves 4, 5, which are connected to one another via a joint. To this end, one half 5 has a joint head 11 on the respective end faces, which joint head 11 engages in a joint receiving means 12 (e.g., joint receiving cavity) provided for this purpose in the opposite half 4. This is referred to as a jointed connection of the two halves 4, 5 of the holding frame 1.

(11) The respective halves 4, 5 have a lateral surface 2, 2′ and a cover surface 3, 3′. In the closed position of the holding frame 1, the cover surfaces 3, 3′ are at an angle of 180° with respect to one another. The cover surfaces 3, 3′ are then located in a plane.

(12) The holding frame 1 has a grounding socket 24, in which a pin (not shown) of an opposite holding frame (not shown) can engage. A rail 13 is integrally formed on the grounding socket 24. The blocking element 7 has a receiving means, by way of which the blocking element 7 is held on the rail 13 in a displaceable and captive manner. The rail 13 is designed to be approximately trapezoidal. The receiving means of the blocking element 7 is correspondingly designed to match said rail. The blocking element 7 can be displaced along the rail 13 in the direction of the cover surface 3.

(13) The blocking element 7 has two fingers 8, 9 which are aligned in the direction of the cover surface 3. The first finger 8 is designed to be longer than the second finger 9. The first finger 8 has a latching hook 10 at the end.

(14) In the closed position of the holding frame 1 (FIGS. 1 and 4), the latching hook 10 of the first finger 8 latches on or behind an edge of the cover surface 3 of the second half 5. At the same time, the second finger 9 of the blocking element 7 is supported on the cover surface 3 of the second half 5. The second half 5 can therefore no longer be moved relative to the first half 4. The holding frame 1 can thus be secured in a closed position.

(15) To enable the closed position to be unlocked again, an unlocking edge 6 extending downwards at an angle has been integrally formed in the cover surface 3 of the second half 5. A slotted screwdriver can engage here for example and pry the blocking element 7 out of the latching state. The jointed connection of the holding frame 1 is then released again. The holding frame 1 can be opened, the plug connector modules 19 removed or new plug connector modules 19 incorporated.

(16) The blocking element is shown in various different illustrations in FIGS. 5 to 7. The blocking element 7 has a semi-cylindrical holding region 14 which at least partially comprises the grounding socket 24 of the first half 4. A trapezoidal groove 15 is integrally formed in the holding region 14, which groove 15 is designed to precisely match the rail 13 integrally formed on the grounding socket 24. The system of groove 15 and rail 13 enables a sliding movement of the blocking element 7 in the direction of the double-headed arrow 16.

(17) The blocking element 7 has an inner first finger 8 which is provided with a latching hook 10 at the end. The latching hook 10 acts on the cover surface 3 of the second half 5 when the holding frame 1 is in a closed position. The outer, second finger 9 of the blocking element 7 is designed to be somewhat shorter than the first finger 8 and—in the closed position of the holding frame 1—is supported on the cover surface 3 of the second half 5. The fingers 8 and 9 are aligned substantially perpendicularly to the cover surface 3 of the second half 5. The cover surface 3 is thus clamped between the fingers 8 and 9 and thus blocked. The holding frame 1 is secured in the closed position.

(18) A recess 17 is incorporated in the end region of the second finger 9. A tool can engage in this recess 17 and, interacting with the unlocking edge 6 integrally formed in the second half 5, can pry the blocking element 7 out of the latching position, whereby the jointed connection of the holding frame 1 is released again and the holding frame 1 can be transferred back into an open position.

(19) Plug connector modules 19 have been known for a long time and are described for example in DE 197 07 120 C1. The plug connector modules 19 are provided with protruding, approximately rectangular holding means 20 and resilient latching hooks 21. Cut-outs or recesses 23 which are formed as fully enclosed openings and into which the holding means 20 of the plug connector modules 19 extend when the plug connector modules 19 are inserted in the holding frame 1, are provided in the lateral parts 2, 2′ of the halves 4, 5.

(20) To insert the plug connector modules 19, the holding frame 1 is opened as can be seen in FIG. 2 so that the plug connector modules 19 can be inserted. To pre-secure the plug connector modules 19, the latching hooks 21 firstly reach below the lower edges of the lateral parts 22 of the halves 4, 5 during insertion.

(21) The frame halves 4, 5 are then brought into a closed position as can be seen in FIG. 1, wherein the holding means 20 of the plug connector modules 19 arrive in the cut-outs or recesses 23 and a reliable form-fitting holding of the plug connector modules 19 in the holding frame 1 is effected.

(22) According to one embodiment, the blocking element 7 advantageously consists of an electrically conductive material. The same generally applies to the two halves 4, 5 of the holding frame 1. The halves 4, 5 can be reliably connected to one another, or in contact with one another, in an electrically conductive manner via the blocking element 7 so that the holding frame 1 can also be used for grounding purposes.

(23) In general, in the following claims, the terms used should not be construed to limit the claims to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification and the claims, but should be construed to include all possible embodiments along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.