Unlocking aid

Abstract

An unlocking aid for simplifying a process of releasing an electrical connector from a mating electrical connector is disclosed. The electrical connector comprises at least one locking mechanism, at least one housing element and at least one cable connection. The unlocking aid is brought into engagement with the locking mechanism of the electrical connector from outside the electrical connector and, by means of a connecting element, leads a gripping region to a position substantially behind the cable connection in order to release the locking mechanism.

Claims

1.-10. (canceled)

11. A method for releasing a connector (2) having a locking mechanism (3), a housing element (4), and a cable connection (5) from a mating connector, the method comprising: bringing an unlocking aid (1) into engagement with the locking mechanism (3) of the connector (2) from outside the connector (2); and guiding, by a connecting element (8), a gripping region (9) to a position substantially behind the cable connection (5) in order to release the locking mechanism (3).

12. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the unlocking aid (1) on the connector (2) is brought into engagement with the locking mechanism (3) embodied as a push-pull mechanism.

13. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the unlocking aid (1) has a fastening device (7), wherein the fastening device (7) is arranged at least partially on the locking mechanism (3).

14. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the unlocking aid (1) is embodied substantially as a bushing which is connected to the locking mechanism (3), and wherein the fastening device (7) engages at least part-circularly around the locking mechanism (3).

15. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the unlocking aid (1) is guided over the locking mechanism (3) in an opposite direction to a plug-in direction (S) and comprises at least one through-opening (11).

16. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the fastening device (7) is brought into engagement with the locking mechanism (3) in a region between the connector (2) and the mating connector.

17. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the fastening device (7) is brought into engagement in a retaining device (6) of the connector (2), and wherein the retaining device (6) is arranged on the locking mechanism (3).

18. An electrical connector (2), comprising: a locking mechanism (3); a housing element (4); and a cable connection (5), wherein the locking mechanism (3) is provided with a retaining device (6), and wherein the retaining device (6) is designed to be brought into engagement with a fastening device (7) of an unlocking aid (1).

19. The electrical connector (2) as claimed in claim 18, wherein the electrical connector (2) is formed substantially as a circular connector, and wherein the locking mechanism (3) is embodied as a push-pull locking mechanism.

20. The electrical connector (2) as claimed in claim 18, wherein the unlocking aid (1) is fastened to the locking mechanism (3) so as to be pivotable about at least one axis.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] An exemplary embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawings and is explained in more detail below. In the drawings:

[0018] FIG. 1 shows a perspective illustration of a longitudinal section of an unlocking aid;

[0019] FIG. 2 shows a perspective illustration of an unlocking aid over a circular connector with angled cable outlet;

[0020] FIG. 3 shows a perspective illustration of a circular connector with an unlocking aid attached thereto;

[0021] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a circular connector with angled cable outlet and unlocking aid.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] The figures contain partially simplified, schematic representations. In part, identical reference signs are used for like, but possibly non-identical elements. Different views of like elements may be scaled differently.

[0023] FIG. 1 shows an unlocking aid 1 according to the invention. The unlocking aid 1 is formed here for a connector 2 embodied as a circular connector. The unlocking aid 1 is substantially of a bushing-like design and is shown in longitudinal section. The bushing-like unlocking aid 1 is thus embodied with a hollow-cylindrical form, which can be slid over a connector. The unlocking aid 1 has a fastening device 7, in this case embodied as an inner ring. A connecting element 8 connects the fastening device 7 of the unlocking aid 1 to a gripping region 9. The embodiment of the unlocking aid 1 shown is tubular with a fastening device 7 integrally formed as a ring and with a connecting element 8 in shell form, which transitions into the gripping region 9. The gripping region 9 is embodied with a generally round through-opening, which serves as a gripping aid 10, for easy handling. The fastening device 7 is embodied as a lid on the unlocking aid 1, wherein the lid is provided with a through-opening 11.

[0024] FIG. 2 shows a possible use of the unlocking aid 1 on a connector 1 with angled cable connection 5. Due to the embodiment of the unlocking aid 1 as a socket, the unlocking aid 1 can be guided directly over the locking mechanism 3 of the connector 2. The fastening device 7 of the unlocking aid 1 allows the locking mechanism 3 of the connector 2 to be unlocked by applying a pulling force against the plug-in direction S. Since the connecting element 8 is formed substantially as a half-tube, the unlocking aid 1 can also be applied in a simple manner to connectors 2 with angled cable connection 5.

[0025] FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 show embodiments of connectors 2 which are equipped with locking mechanisms 3 which have retaining devices 6. In FIG. 3, a connector 2 embodied as a circular connector is provided with a straight cable connection 5. In FIG. 4, a generally similarly embodied connector 2 is equipped with an angled cable connection 5. The unlocking aid 1 is attached here to the retaining devices 6 of the connector 2. Since the retaining devices 6 are embodied as pins, it makes sense to form the fastening device 7 as a blind hole or, as in the case shown, as a through-opening. The fastening devices 7 of the unlocking aid 1, which are embodied as through-openings, allow the unlocking aid 1 to be pivoted about an imaginary axis running through the connector 2. Thus, first of all, the assembly of a connector 2 is possible in a simple manner, since the unlocking aid 1 can be swung out of the assembly region without any difficulty. Furthermore, especially a connector 2 shown in FIG. 4 with an angled cable terminal 5 can be provided with an unlocking aid 1, wherein the unlocking aid 1 can be pivoted into a space-saving position in which the gripping aid 10 is located in the vicinity of the cable connection 5. The illustrated unlocking element 1 has two connecting elements 8, which are embodied as struts running parallel to one another. The connecting elements 8 are only connected in the region of the cable connection 5, or therebehind by the gripping region 9. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the gripping region 9 also has a gripping aid 10 in each case, which makes it easy to apply a tensile force against the plug-in direction S.

[0026] Even though various aspects or features of the invention are each shown in combination in the figures, it is apparent to a person skilled in the art—unless otherwise indicated—that the combinations shown and discussed are not the only possible ones. In particular, corresponding units or feature complexes from different exemplary embodiments can be interchanged with each other.

[0027] The articles “a” and “an” as used in this application should generally be construed to mean “one or more” unless specified otherwise or clear from context to be directed to a singular form.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0028] 1 unlocking aid

[0029] 2 connector

[0030] 3 locking mechanism

[0031] 4 housing element

[0032] 5 cable connection

[0033] 6 retaining device

[0034] 7 fastening device

[0035] 8 connecting element

[0036] 9 gripping region

[0037] 10 gripping aid

[0038] 11 through-opening

[0039] S plug-in direction