Electrical plug-and-socket device comprising a fixing unit

• US 6,383,036 B1
• Filed: 04/13/2001
• Issued: 05/07/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Fenger, Stefan, Steinhauser, Uwe
• Primary Examiner(s): Sircus, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Son V.
• Application Number:
  US09/674,981
• Time in Patent Office: 389 Days
• Field of Search: 439/489, 439/752, 439/350-358
• US Class Current: 439/752
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6271 Latching means integral with the housing H01R13/6276, H01R13/6277, H01R13/6278 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/641 by indicating incorrect coupling; by indicating correct or full engagement

Abstract

An electric plug-and-socket device having a fixation device and having a closed position of the plug-and-socket device that is discernable readily from the outside and is securable. The plug-and-socket device, which is composed of a first plug connector and a second plug connector which can be joined to it, is provided with a control slide mounted on the first plug connector as part of the fixation device. This control slide is convertable from an unlocked position in which it assumes a first position with respect to a mark to a locked position in which it assumes a second position with respect to the mark only when the two plug connectors have been joined completely. The closed position of the plug-and-socket device is discernable readily by the second position of the control slide with respect to the mark and is additionally securable by the control slide.

Claims

1. An electric plug-and-socket device comprising:

a first plug connector having a first housing;

a second plug connector having a second housing, wherein the first plug connector and the second plug connector have matching contact elements and are reversibly coupled in an axial plug direction for closing the electric plug-and-socket device; and

a fixation device for securing the electric plug-and-socket device in a closed position in a detachable manner, the fixation device being provided on the first housing and the second housing, and the fixation device including a control slide mountable externally on the first housing and on which at least one guide element and a latching element are provided;

wherein;

an axial displacement of the control slide is blockable at least by the latching element in an open position of the electric plug-and-socket device in which the two plug connectors are uncoupled from one another, and in a coupled position of the electric plug-and-socket device in which the first plug connector and the second plug connector are partially joined;

the latching element is free floating in a closed position of the electric plug-and-socket device in which the first plug connector and the second plug connector are completely joined; and

the control slide is convertable from an unlocked position in which it assumes a first position with respect to a mark on the first housing to a locked position by a displacement of the latching element into a recess, where the control slide includes a reference face, and another displacement of the guide element into a mating guide, the guide element locking the closed position of the electric plug-and-socket device and the control slide assuming a second position with respect to the mark in the locked position, where the reference face is flush with the mark when the control slide is in the second position.

2. The plug-and-socket device of claim 1, further comprising:

a stop for blocking the axial displacement of the control slide out of the unlocked position of the control slide, wherein the latching element includes a latching arm, which runs essentially axially and which is radially displaceable, and a latching projection on the latching arm that, in the open position and in the coupled position of the plug-and-socket device, rests on the first housing with a radially directed latch face on a radially directed mating latch face of the stop for blocking the axial displacement of the control slide out of the unlocked position of the control slide.

3. The plug-and-socket device of claim 2, wherein the first housing includes a top part and a bottom part, the top part and the bottom part being joined together by connectors and being resiliently displaceable relative to one another across a plug direction by a displacement distance.

4. The plug-and-socket device of claim 3, wherein:

the control slide is mountable on the top part; and

the stop and the mating guide are associated with the bottom part.

5. The plug-and-socket device of claim 4, wherein the stop includes an inclined stop face for stopping a cam of the second plug connector when joining the first plug connector and the second plug connector to the coupled position of the plug-and-socket device and for deflecting the bottom part across the plug direction with respect to the top part by the displacement distance.

6. The plug-and-socket device of claim 5, wherein when the first plug connector and the second plug connector are joined to form the closed position of the electric plug-and-socket device, the stop having the mating latch face engages the cam to secure the closed position of the electric plug-and-socket device, the bottom part springs back with respect to the top part by the displacement distance, and the mating latch face is a distance away from the radially directed latch face.

7. The plug-and-socket device of claim 6, wherein in the closed position of the electric plug-and-socket device, the control slide is axially displaceable in the direction of the bottom part to the locked position of the control slide for establishing a form-fitting connection between the guide element and the mating guide for locking the closed position of the electric plug-and-socket device.