Plug connector having shock hazard protection

Abstract

A plug-side first electrical plug connector has at least two flat electrical contact elements arranged in parallel extending in a housing of the connector in the insertion direction of the connector for accommodating socket-side second plug connector in the direction of an opening of the housing. A plastic tip is formed on one end of a contact region of the contact elements, and at least one dome-like shock hazard protection element is provided in the housing, extending in the insertion direction adjacent to the contact elements and protrudes beyond the contact region of the contact elements. The plug connector is suitable for a motor vehicle inverter to supply power to an auxiliary unit of the motor vehicle, and provides shock hazard protection of the contact elements for a human finger and/or reliable operating security is provided.

Claims

1. A plug connector assembly comprising a plug-side connector and a socket-side plug connector; wherein the plug-side connector comprises a first housing within which at least two electrical contact elements, each comprising a plastic tip formed at one end of a contact region, are arranged next to one another, in parallel, and extend along an insertion direction within an opening of the first housing; the first housing further comprises a pivotable protective flap, including at least one protective flap locking hook, which covers the opening of the first housing; and at least one dome-like shock hazard protection body within the first housing, extends adjacent the contact elements in the insertion direction; and at least one latching lug is provided on either the first housing or a wall bushing for the first housing; and the socket-side plug connector comprises a second housing that includes at least one socket locking hook; such that, when the protective flap covers the opening of the first housing, the protective flap locking hook releasably engages with the latching lug; and when the protective flap is pivoted to reveal the opening of the first housing, the socket locking hook, of the socket-side plug connector, releasably engages the latching lug upon mating with the plug-side connector along the insertion direction.

2. The plug connector assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one locking hook is provided on the socket-side plug connector, which locking hook corresponds to at least one latching lug which is provided on the housing or on a wall bushing for the housing in such a way that releasable locking of the socket-side plug connector which is connected to the plug-side plug connector is provided.

3. The plug connector assembly as claimed in claim 1, having a plurality of contact elements which are arranged parallel next to one another successively in a row and having a plurality of shock hazard protection bodies.

4. The plug connector assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein a plastic tip is provided on a stump-like holding geometry of the contact elements which is formed in each case at an end of the contact region, wherein the plastic tip can be injection-molded onto the holding geometry.

5. The plug connector assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the dome-like shock hazard protection body and/or the further shock hazard protection body are/is integrally formed with the housing.

6. The plug connector assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first plug-side plug connector is provided on a wall of an inverter of a motor vehicle for supplying power to an auxiliary assembly of the motor vehicle, and the dome-like protection bodies of the first plug-side plug protect adjacent contact elements against contact by a test finger.

7. The plug connector assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the dome-like shock hazard protection body is designed in a manner corresponding to a recess of a housing of the socket-side plug connector in such a way that guidance for connecting and/or disconnecting the plug-side plug connector and the socket-side plug connector is provided by the dome-like shock hazard protection body in interaction with the recess.

8. The plug connector assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein at least one locking hook is provided on the socket-side plug connector, which locking hook corresponds to at least one latching lug which is provided on the housing or on a wall bushing for the housing in such a way that releasable locking of the socket-side plug connector which is connected to the plug-side plug connector is provided.

9. The plug connector assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one dome-like shock hazard protection body projects beyond at least the contact region of the contact elements by a predetermined amount.

10. The plug connector assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein at least one locking hook is provided on the socket-side plug connector, which locking hook corresponds to at least one latching lug which is provided on the housing or on a wall bushing for the housing in such a way that releasable locking of the socket-side plug connector which is connected to the plug-side plug connector is provided.

11. The plug connector assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein at least one further shock hazard protection body is provided in the housing, wherein the height of the at least one further shock hazard protection body corresponds at least approximately to the height of the contact region of the contact elements.

12. The plug connector assembly as claimed in claim 11, wherein at least one locking hook is provided on the socket-side plug connector, which locking hook corresponds to at least one latching lug which is provided on the housing or on a wall bushing for the housing in such a way that releasable locking of the socket-side plug connector which is connected to the plug connector is provided.

13. The plug connector assembly as claimed in claim 11, wherein the further shock hazard protection body projects beyond at least the contact region of the contact elements by a second predetermined amount.

14. The plug connector assembly as claimed in claim 13, wherein the dome-like shock hazard protection body is provided between two adjacent contact elements, wherein the dome-like shock hazard protection body corresponds to a first recess of the housing of the socket-side plug connector, and/or the further shock hazard protection body is provided adjacent to an inner wall of the housing, wherein the further shock hazard protection body corresponds to a second recess of the housing of the socked-side plug connector, so that guidance for connecting and/or disconnecting the plug-side plug connector and the socket-side plug connector is provided by the dome-like shock hazard protection body and/or the further shock hazard protection body in each case in interaction with the first recess and/or the second recess.

15. The plug connector assembly as claimed in claim 13, wherein at least one locking hook is provided on the socket-side plug connector, which locking hook corresponds to at least one latching lug which is provided on the housing or on a wall bushing for the housing in such a way that releasable locking of the socket-side plug connector which is connected to the plug connector is provided.

16. The plug connector assembly as claimed in claim 11, wherein the dome-like shock hazard protection body is provided between two adjacent contact elements, wherein the dome-like shock hazard protection body corresponds to a first recess of the housing of the socket-side plug connector, and/or the further shock hazard protection body is provided adjacent to an inner wall of the housing, wherein the further shock hazard protection body corresponds to a second recess of the housing of the socket-side plug connector, so that guidance for connecting and/or disconnecting the plug-side plug connector and the socket-side plug connector is provided by the dome-like shock hazard protection body and/or the further shock hazard protection body in each case in interaction with the first recess and/or the second recess.

17. The plug connector assembly as claimed in claim 16, wherein at least one locking hook is provided on the socket-side plug connector, which locking hook corresponds to at least one latching lug which is provided on the housing or on a wall bushing for the housing in such a way that releasable locking of the socket-side plug connector which is connected to the plug-side plug connector is provided.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Exemplary embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and will be explained in more detail below. In the drawings:

(2) FIG. 1a shows a perspective exploded illustration of a plug connector having shock hazard protection according to one embodiment of the invention;

(3) FIG. 1b shows the plug connector of FIG. 1b on a wall of a housing;

(4) FIG. 2a shows a perspective illustration of a plug connector which is suitable for connection to the plug connector of FIGS. 1a and b;

(5) FIG. 2b shows a contact element of the plug connector of FIG. 2a;

(6) FIG. 3a shows a further illustration of the housing of the plug connector of FIG. 1b;

(7) FIG. 3b shows an enlarged illustration of a contact element of the plug connector of FIGS. 1a and b;

(8) FIG. 3c shows an enlarged illustration of the detail A of FIG. 3b of the contact element without its plastic tip;

(9) FIG. 4a shows a perspective illustration of the plug connector of FIGS. 1a and b on a wall of a housing together with a test finger; and

(10) FIG. 4b shows a longitudinal section through the plug connector and the test finger of FIG. 4a.

(11) The figures contain partially simplified, schematic illustrations. In some instances, identical reference signs are used for similar, but possibly not identical, elements. Different views of the same elements could be shown to different scales.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(12) FIG. 1a shows a perspective exploded illustration of a plug-side plug connector 1 which has shock hazard protection according to one embodiment of the invention, and FIG. 1b shows the plug connector 1 of FIG. 1a for its intended use mounted on a wall 3 of a housing of an apparatus which can be, in particular, an inverter of an on-board electrical system of a motor vehicle.

(13) The plug connector 1 comprises a housing 10 for accommodating, here by way of example, four contact elements 13 which are arranged parallel in relation to one another. The contact elements 13 which are of flat, substantially L-shaped design each have a contact region 130 which is provided for contact-connection with the contact region 230 by contact elements 23, which correspond to said contact elements 13, of a socket-side plug connector 2 which is described below with reference to FIGS. 2a and 2b.

(14) The contact elements 13 extend by way of their contact regions 130 in the interior of the housing 10, and are accessible for contact to be made with them via an opening of the housing 10. In this case, the contacts 13 are fixed in a stationary manner in the interior of the housing 10 of the plug connector 1 by means of a potting compound 14, wherein the region thereof which protrudes on the other side of the potting compound 14 and of the housing 10 is likewise electrically contacted as intended and can be connected, for example, to contacts of a printed circuit board.

(15) The contact elements 13 are held in a stationary manner in the housing 10 by means of the potting compound 14, and the housing 10 of the plug connector 1 is advantageously longitudinally watertight in the unplugged state. It is clear that the contact elements 13 can also be positioned in the housing 10 in another suitable manner. For example, a suitable watertight seat of the contact elements 13 can also be injected into the housing 10.

(16) A wall bushing 11 for the housing 10 is provided for mounting on a wall 3 of a corresponding apparatus, by means of which wall bushing the housing 10 is fixed to the wall 3. A seal 12 is provided for the housing 10 and its wall bushing 11 for protecting the interior of the apparatus.

(17) First shock hazard protection bodies 101, have dome-like ends 105 which project beyond the contact region 130 of the contact elements 13 advantageously by a predetermined amount in the insertion direction in this embodiment of the invention, are provided adjacent to the contact elements 13 in the housing 10. In this case, the contact elements 13 are arranged alternately with the shock hazard protection bodies 101 consecutively parallel in a row in the interior of the housing 10 and are each spaced apart from the contact elements 13 at a predetermined distance.

(18) A plastic tip 131 is provided at the end of the contact region 130 of the contact elements 13. The plastic tip 131 of a contact element 13 interacts with the adjacent shock hazard protection bodies 101 of said contact element and protects the contact regions 130 of the contact elements 13 from contact in particular in the insertion direction of the plug connector 1.

(19) In this context, reference is made here to the following description with reference to FIGS. 4a and 4b. A plug connector 1 according to an embodiment of the invention is provided with the abovementioned contact elements 13 which are designed and arranged in this way and the abovementioned shock hazard protection bodies 101.

(20) Furthermore, the housing 10 comprises further shock hazard protection bodies 102 which are adjacent to the contact elements 13 and also arranged adjacent to an inner wall of the housing 10. In this embodiment of the invention, the shock hazard protection bodies 102 project, like the shock hazard protection bodies 101, in the insertion direction by a predetermined amount beyond the contact region 130 of the contact elements 13 and are spaced apart from the contact elements 13 at a predetermined distance.

(21) A modification to the above-described embodiment is provided by the shock hazard protection bodies 101 and the further shock hazard protection bodies 102 together with the contact elements 13 which are provided with a plastic tip 131. In this case, the shock hazard protection bodies 102 are arranged, by way of example, only adjacent to the inner wall, which is at the top in the drawing, and to the opposite lateral walls which adjoin said wall, whereas, likewise by way of example, no shock hazard protection bodies 102 are provided adjacent to the lower internal wall.

(22) A pivotable protective flap 15 is provided on the wall bushing 11, by means of which protective flap a pivotable cover for the opening of the housing 10 is likewise provided for shock hazard protection of the contact elements 13. Two locking hooks 151 for releasably fixing the protective flap 15 in its position which covers the opening of the housing 10 are provided on the protective flap 15. For this purpose, latching lugs 115 which correspond to the locking hooks 151 are provided on the wall bushing 11.

(23) The housing 10 is, like the shock hazard protection bodies 101 and 102, composed of a suitable insulating plastic, wherein the shock hazard protection bodies 101 and 102 can be integrally formed with the housing 10. Here, the shock hazard protection bodies 102 can furthermore be spaced apart from their adjacent wall of the housing 10 or be designed as steps of the wall. The shock hazard protection bodies 101 and 102 are particularly advantageously designed in a manner corresponding to recesses 201 and, respectively, recesses 202 in a socket-side plug connector 2 which interacts with the plug connector 1, so that guidance for the plug connector 2 when it is connected to/disconnected from the plug connector 1, which is mounted in a stationary manner on the wall 3 by way of its wall bushing 11, is provided.

(24) A further illustration only of the housing 10, which is fitted with contact elements 13, of the plug connector of FIGS. 1a and b with the embodiment in which the shock hazard protection bodies 102 are designed in a manner spaced apart from their adjacent internal wall of the housing 10 is shown in FIG. 3a.

(25) FIG. 2a shows a perspective illustration of a plug connector 2 which is suitable for connection to the plug connector 1 of FIGS. 1a and b, and FIG. 2b shows a contact element 23 of the plug connector of FIG. 2a in a comparatively enlarged illustration.

(26) The housing 20 of the plug connector 2 is likewise formed from a suitable plastic and in a manner corresponding to the housing 10 of the plug connector 1 of FIGS. 1a and b. Flat contact elements 23 which are provided with a crimped connection for a cable and are designed as spring contacts are accommodated in in each case one slot from amongst cruciform slots 203 of the housing 20 which are formed in the housing 20. The contact elements 23 have a contact region 230 for their intended contact with the contact region 130 of the flat stamped contact elements 13 of the plug connector 1.

(27) Recesses 201 which extend parallel to the slots 203 into the interior of the housing 20 are formed in the housing 20, which recesses correspond to the shock hazard protection bodies 101 of the plug connector 1 which are described above with reference to FIG. 1b. In the event of connection/disconnection of the plug connector 2 to/from the plug connector 1, the shock hazard protection bodies 101 are received by/guided out of the recesses 101, wherein advantageous guidance of the plug connector 2 is provided in each case.

(28) Further recesses 202 are formed at the edge of the housing 2, which further recesses correspond to the shock hazard protection bodies 102 of the plug connector 1 which are described above with reference to FIG. 1b. The recesses 202 interact with the shock hazard protection bodies 102 in the same way as the above-described recesses 201 interact with the shock hazard protection bodies 101. In this case, the recesses 102 are designed as steps of the outer wall of the housing 20.

(29) In this case, the shock hazard protection bodies 101 and 102 can be formed in a suitable manner in each case in an interlocking manner with the recesses 201 and 202, wherein a stop for the socket-side plug connector 2 can also be provided on the plug-side plug connector 1 by means of the shock hazard protection bodies 101 and 102 and the recesses 201 and 202.

(30) The further recesses which can be seen in the drawing but are not provided with reference signs can be used for receiving and guiding further shock hazard protection bodies which are formed in a suitable manner in the housing 10 of the plug connector 1 and/or for accommodating signal lines which are respectively not illustrated in the drawings.

(31) In this case, the housing 20 has, by way of its recesses 201 and 202 and its further recesses and by way of its cruciform slots 203, an advantageous structure of honeycomb-like cross section with a correspondingly advantageously low weight and nevertheless desirable stability.

(32) Locking hooks 251 for releasably locking the housing 20 to the housing 10 of the plug connector 1 are also provided on the housing 20, which locking hooks interact with the above-described latching lugs 115. Furthermore, the locking hooks 251 can be designed, as described at the outset, in a manner corresponding to the locking hooks 151 of the cover 15 in such a way that the locking hooks 151 latch with the locking hooks 251 when the plug connectors 1 and 2 are connected to one another. Advantageous releasable secondary locking is provided for the connected plug connectors 1 and 2 in this way.

(33) As likewise mentioned at the outset, the locking hooks 151 can also be designed in a manner corresponding to the housing 20 in such a way that advantageous releasable secondary locking for the connected plug connectors 1 and 2 is provided by means of said locking hooks latching with the housing 20. In this way, desirable reliable operating safety of the plug connectors 1 and 2 for an operator is in particular also provided in the run-up to contact with the contact elements 13 which is to be avoided.

(34) As already mentioned above with reference to FIG. 1b, FIG. 3a shows a slightly enlarged illustration of the housing 10 of the plug connector 1 of FIG. 1b with the contact elements 13 and the shock hazard protection bodies 101 and 102 in an embodiment in which the shock hazard protection bodies 102 are at a distance from their adjacent internal wall of the housing 10. Moreover, it is clear that a suitable encircling seal can be provided on the housing 20.

(35) FIG. 3b shows an enlarged illustration of the flat, stamped contact element 13 of L-shaped design of the plug connector 1 of FIGS. 1a and b with its contact region 130 which is provided for contact with the contact region 230 of the contact element 23, which is designed as a spring contact, of the plug connector 2. The plastic tip 131 at the end of the contact region 130 is designed so as to taper to a tip in a suitable manner for simple connection of the contact element 13 to the contact element 23. It should be mentioned here that the above-described shock hazard protection bodies 101 and 102 can also be designed so as to taper to a tip in a suitable manner at their end for simple insertion of said shock hazard protection bodies into the recesses 201 and 202.

(36) FIG. 3c shows an enlarged illustration of the detail A of FIG. 3b of the contact element 13 without its plastic tip 131 which is indicated using dashed lines in the drawing, wherein a holding geometry 132 which is suitable for injection molding or latching of the plastic tip 131 is formed at the end of the contact region 130 of the contact element 13, so that the plastic tip is held on the contact element 13 in a stationary and stable manner.

(37) FIG. 4a shows the plug connector 1 of FIG. 1b on a wall 3 of a housing of an apparatus for its intended use mounted together with a test finger 4, and FIG. 4b shows a longitudinal section through the plug connector 1 and the test finger 4 of FIG. 4a. As can be seen in FIG. 4b, the dome-like protection bodies 101 of the first housing protect adjacent contact elements against contact by a test finger.

(38) The contact elements 13 which are held in the potting compound 14 in the housing 10 extend through a wall of the housing 10, which wall is situated opposite the opening of the housing 10, into the interior of the housing 10 which is freely accessible through its opening. In this way, the contact regions 130 of the contact elements 13 are likewise accessible for connection to corresponding contact elements 23.

(39) The plastic tip 131 is in each case provided at that end of the contact region 130 of the contact elements 13 which faces the opening of the housing. The shock hazard protection bodies 101, which are of integral design with the housing 10 in this embodiment, are arranged adjacent to the contact elements 13 which are arranged parallel in a row.

(40) In this embodiment of the invention, the shock hazard protection bodies 101 project beyond the contact region 130 and also the plastic tip 131 of the contact elements 13 in the insertion direction advantageously by a predetermined amount, whereby only the plastic tip 131 of the contact elements 13 can be contacted by the tip of a standardized test finger 4 in the insertion direction and/or at an angle in relation to the insertion direction. Contact with the contact region 130 of the contact elements 13 by the test finger is not possible, whereby a plug-side plug connector 1 according to an embodiment of the invention which has shock hazard protection and has desirable, reliable operating safety is provided.

(41) Since an abovementioned test finger is suitable for simulating contact by a human finger, a plug-side plug connector 1 according to an embodiment of the invention which has shock hazard protection and has desirable, reliable operating safety is provided.

(42) A plug-side plug connector 1 which is described above with reference to the drawings, in particular together with a corresponding, likewise described socket-side plug connector 2 as mentioned in the introductory part, is suitable in particular for an inverter of a motor vehicle for supplying power to an auxiliary assembly of the motor vehicle.

(43) Even though various aspects or features of the invention are shown respectively in combination in the figures, it is clear to the person skilled in the art—unless stated otherwise—that the illustrated and discussed combinations are not the only ones possible. In particular, mutually corresponding units or feature complexes from different exemplary embodiments can be exchanged with one another.

Plug Connector

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

(44) 1 Plug connector, plug-side 10 Housing 101, 102 Shock hazard protection body 11 Wall bushing 115 Latching lug 12 Seal 13 Contact element 130 Contact region 131 Plastic tip 132 Holding geometry 14 Potting compound 15 Cover, protective flap 151 Locking hook 2 Plug connector, socket-side 20 Housing 201, 202 Recess 203 Slot 251 Locking hook 23 Contact element, spring contact 230 Contact region 3 Housing wall 4 Test finger