Plug connector with axial locking function against separation

• US 6,290,525 B1
• Filed: 04/14/2000
• Issued: 09/18/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: OTTO Dunkel GmbH Fabrik Fur Elektrotechnische Gerate
• Original Assignee: OTTO Dunkel GmbH Fabrik Fur Elektrotechnische Gerate
• Inventors: Jacobi, Wolfgang
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, TULSIDAS C
• Application Number:
  US09/550,347
• Time in Patent Office: 522 Days
• Field of Search: 439/314, 439/307, 439/311, 439/312, 439/313, 439/328, 439/350, 439/351, 439/352, 439/353, 439/91, 439/31, 439/310, 285/319, 287/119
• US Class Current: 439/319
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6277 comprising annular latching means, e.g. ring snapping in an annular groove
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/639 Additional means for holding or locking coupling parts together, after engagement, e.g. separate keylock, retainer strap

Abstract

A plug connector has a male plug part, connected to an electric connecting cable and having contact elements, and a female plug part with matching counter contact elements providing electric contact in a contact position established when the male plug part is inserted into the female plug part. The female plug part has a sleeve-shaped housing having an inner circumferential surface with a locking edge. The male plug part has a locking sleeve and an outer sleeve axially slipped onto the locking sleeve. The outer sleeve has locking tabs engaging the locking edge in the contact position. The locking sleeve has several tongue-shaped thickened portions distributed circumferentially that have radially outwardly positioned cone-shaped locking surfaces. The locking tabs are spaced circumferentially from one another by a spacing that allows the thickened portions to pass between the locking tabs when the outer sleeve is slipped onto the locking sleeve. The outer sleeve is rotatable about an angle of half the angular spacing between the locking tabs so as to axially align the locking tabs and the thickened portions. The locking surfaces act on the locking tabs when the locking sleeve is axially loaded in a direction counter to the assembly direction to prevent the plug connector from separating.

Claims

1. A plug connector comprising:

a sleeve-shaped male plug part configured to be connected to an electric connecting cable and having contact elements;

a matching female plug part having matching counter contact elements configured to provide electric contact with the contact elements in a contact position established when the male plug part is inserted into the female plug part;

the female plug part having a sleeve-shaped housing having an inner circumferential surface with a locking edge;

the male plug part comprising a locking sleeve and an outer sleeve configured to be axially slipped onto the locking sleeve in an assembly direction and rotatably seated radially outwardly on the locking sleeve;

the outer sleeve having several locking tabs configured to engage the locking edge in the contact position;

the locking sleeve having several tongue-shaped thickened portions distributed circumferentially about the locking sleeve;

the tongue-shaped thickened portions having radially outwardly positioned locking surfaces shaped as a portion of a cone envelope;

the locking tabs being spaced circumferentially from one another by an angular spacing so as to allow the tongue-shaped thickened portions to pass between the locking tabs when the outer sleeve is slipped onto the locking sleeve;

the outer sleeve being rotatable about a rotational angle of one half of the angular spacing between the locking tabs so as to align the locking tabs and the tongue-shaped thickened portions with one another in the axial direction, wherein the locking surfaces are configured to act on the locking tabs when an axial load acts on the locking sleeve in a direction counter to the assembly direction in order to prevent the male plug part and the female plug part from separating in the contact position.

2. The plug connector according to claim 1, wherein the locking sleeve is made of a synthetic material.

3. The plug connector according to claim 1, wherein the outer sleeve is made of a synthetic material.

4. The plug connector according to claim 1, wherein the locking sleeve and the outer sleeve are made of a synthetic material.

5. The plug connector according to claim 1, wherein the outer sleeve has a first rotational securing element and the locking sleeve has a second rotational counter securing element configured to cooperate with the first rotational securing element in order to limit the rotational angle of the outer sleeve.

6. The plug connector according to claim 1, wherein the inner circumferential surface of the female plug part has a circumferential groove and wherein the locking edge is a limiting edge of the circumferential groove.

7. The plug connector according to claim 1, wherein the female plug part is a part of an electrical device.