CONNECTOR ELEMENT

• US 20100105235A1
• Filed: 02/22/2008
• Published: 04/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Techpointe S.A.
• Original Assignee: Techpointe S.A.
• Inventors: Kawa, Krystian, Friedrich, Juergen
• Granted Patent: US 7,850,472 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/321
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/506 assembled by snap action of the parts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/622 Screw-ring or screw-casing H01R13/623 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6277 comprising annular latching means, e.g. ring snapping in an annular groove
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6278 comprising a pin snapping into a recess
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/639 Additional means for holding or locking coupling parts together, after engagement, e.g. separate keylock, retainer strap

Abstract

The invention relates to a connector element (1) of an electrical connector, comprising a contact carrier (3) that is provided with one or more electrical contacts (18), an actuation sleeve (4) which surrounds the contact carrier (3), and a threaded engaging part (7) that is provided with one or more engaging thread projections (5) which are to penetrate into a mating thread (6) of a mating connector element (2). The actuation sleeve (4) can be moved from a released position, in which the thread projections (5) do not engage into the mating thread (6) and the connector element (1) can be connected to the mating connector element (2), into a locked position, in which the thread projections (5) engage into the mating thread (6) and the connector element (1) is tied to the mating connector element (2). The engaging thread projections (5) are supported by spring tongues (8) which can be moved from the released position into the locked position by axially moving the actuation sleeve (4) against the spring bias thereof. The spring tongues (8) are monolithically molded onto a spring tongue support (9) that annularly surrounds the contact carrier (3). The threaded engaging part (7) is made of plastic and forms a mating catching means (12) that cooperates with a catching means (13) of the actuation sleeve (4) in order to lock the actuation sleeve (4) into place in both the released position and the locked position.

Claims

1. Connector element (1) of an electrical plug-in connection having a contact carrier (3) which has one or more electrical contacts (18), an actuating sleeve (4) which surrounds the contact carrier (3), and having a thread engagement part (7) having one or more thread engagement projections (5) for entry into a mating thread (6) of a mating connector element (2), it being possible to move the actuating sleeve (4) from a released position, in which the thread projections (5) do not engage in the mating thread (6) and the connector element (1) can be connected to the mating connector element (2), into a locked position, in which the thread projections (5) engage in the mating thread (6) and the connector element (1) is secured to the mating connector element (2), with the thread engagement projections (5) being carried by spring tongues (8) which can be displaced from the released position to the locked position by axial displacement of the actuating sleeve (4) against its spring stress, and the spring tongues (8) are integrally formed on a spring tongue carrier (9) which annularly surrounds the contact carrier (3), characterized in that the thread engagement part (7) consists of plastics and forms a mating latching means (12) which interacts with a latching means (13) of the actuating sleeve (4) in order to lock the actuating sleeve (4) both in the released position and in the locked position.

2. Connector element according to claim 1, characterized in that the latching means is a projection (13) which projects radially inward from the inner wall of the actuating sleeve, and the mating latching means is a latching cutout (12).

4. Connector element according to one or more of the preceding claims or in particular according thereto, characterized by a longitudinal groove (10) which is formed by the spring tongue (8) and in which a pin (11) which projects from the inner wall of the actuating sleeve (4) engages.

5. Connector element according to one or more of the preceding claims or in particular according thereto, characterized by rearward push-in projections (16) of the thread engagement part (7) which are inserted into plug-in passages (15) in the actuating sleeve.

6. Connector element according to one or more of the preceding claims or in particular according thereto, characterized in that the push-in projections (16) are disposed at the rear of the annular spring tongue carrier (9) and, in particular, are axial rearward extensions of the spring tongues (8).

8. Connector element according to one or more of the preceding claims or in particular according thereto, characterized by at least three actuating arms (27) which are uniformly distributed in the circumferential direction.

9. Connector element according to one or more of the preceding claims or in particular according thereto, characterized in that the actuating arms (27) are disposed between the spring tongues (8) which carry the thread engagement projections (5).

10. Connector element according to one or more of the preceding claims or in particular according thereto, characterized in that the thread engagement projections (5) are formed by arcuate pieces which are integrally formed at the ends of the spring tongues (8).

11. Connector element according to one or more of the preceding claims or in particular according thereto, characterized in that inclined surfaces (28) of the actuating arms (27) engage beneath the edges (29) of the arcuate pieces.

12. Connector element according to one or more of the preceding claims or in particular according thereto, characterized by wedge pieces (30) which slide between two arcuate pieces (5) when the actuating sleeve (4) is displaced into the locked position.

13. Connector element according to one or more of the preceding claims or in particular according thereto, characterized in that the actuating sleeve (4) is rotatably disposed on the contact carrier (3) together with the spring tongue carrier (8).

14. Connector element according to one or more of the preceding claims or in particular according thereto, characterized in that the thread engagement projections (5) have protrusions (29) which project beyond the spring tongues (8) laterally in the circumferential direction and beneath which the lifting surfaces (28) move.

15. Connector element according to one or more of the preceding claims or in particular according thereto, characterized in that the thread engagement projection (5) is formed by a plurality of helical turns of a helical spring (36).

16. Connector element according to one or more of the preceding claims or in particular according thereto, characterized in that the helical spring (36) lies in a retaining groove (37) in the contact carrier (3), the circumference of said retaining groove being, in particular, interrupted.

17. Connector element according to one or more of the preceding claims or in particular according thereto, characterized by indication elements (16′

) which become visible in the locked position and which are formed, in particular, by rearward projections (16) of the spring tongue carrier (8).

3. Connector element according to one or both of the preceding claims or in particular according thereto, characterized in that the latching cutout (12) is disposed on a rearward side flank of the spring tongue (8) and the latching projection (13) is formed by a lug which projects laterally from a guide rib (14).

7. Connector element (1) of an electrical plug-in connection having a contact carrier (3) which has one or more electrical contacts (18) Connector element (1) of an electrical plug-in connection having a contact carrier (3) which has one or more electrical contacts (18), an actuating sleeve (4) which surrounds the contact carrier (3) and having a thread engagement part (7) which has one or more thread engagement projections (5) for entry into a mating thread (6) of a mating connector element (2), it being possible for the actuating sleeve (4) to be moved from a released position, in which the thread projections (5) do not engage in the mating thread (6) and the connector element (1) can be connected to the mating connector element (2), into a locked position, in which the thread projections (5) engage in the mating thread (6) and the connector element (1) is secured to the mating connector element (2), characterized in that the actuating sleeve has actuating arms (27) on which lifting surfaces (28) are provided, said lifting surfaces acting on the thread engagement projections (5) at a plurality of circumferential points (29) in order to move said thread engagement projections into the thread engagement position when the actuating sleeve (4) is displaced.