Plug connector

• US 6,454,463 B1
• Filed: 10/30/2000
• Issued: 09/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Uc, Kamil, Schekalla, Peter, Herlitz, Martin, Halbach, Paul Gerhard
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Khiem
• Assistant Examiner(s): LE, THANH TAM T
• Application Number:
  US09/702,286
• Time in Patent Office: 694 Days
• Field of Search: 385/56, 385/60, 385/78, 385/88, 385/92, 439/352
• US Class Current: 385/60
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3821 with axial spring biasing or loading means G02B6/3847 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3869 Mounting ferrules to connector body, i.e. plugs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3893 Push-pull type, e.g. snap-in, push-on
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4292 the light guide being disconnectable from the opto-electronic element, e.g. mutually self aligning arrangements

Abstract

A plug connector (10) for light conductors comprises two connector parts (12, 14) which can be plugged together and locked to one another and of which at least one (12) is provided with at least one optical ferrule (16). The ferrule (16) which is associated with a first connector part (12) can be locked via a locking device (18) with the other connector part (14). The first connector part (12) comprises a base part (20) which accommodates the ferrule (16), a housing (22) which is movable in the plugging or axial direction (5) over a definite range relative to the base part (20) and a secondary locking element (24) which is movable in the plugging or axial direction (S) in each case over a definite range both relative to the base part (20) and relative to the housing (22), said secondary locking element (24) being resiliently supported at the base part (20) and being urged by the spring force into a forward securing position when viewed in the plugging direction (S) in which it secures the locking of the ferrule (16) when the connector parts (12, 14) are plugged together. The secondary locking element (24) can be first moved out of its securing position against the spring force during the plugging together of the two connector parts (12, 14) in order to enable a locking of the ferrule (16). It assumes its securing position again only after the completion of the locking. The secondary locking element (24) is movable out of its securing position during the separation of the two connector parts (12, 14) with a drawing back of the housing (22) relative to the base part (20) against the spring force in order to enable an unlocking of the ferrule (16).

Claims

1. Plug connector (10) for light conductors, comprising two connector parts (12, 14) which can be plugged together and locked to one another and of which at least one connector part (12) is provided with at least one optical ferrule (16), wherein a locking device (18) is provided, via which the ferrule (16) which is associated with a first connector part (12) can be locked with the other connector part (14);

in that the first connector part (12) comprises a base part (20) which accommodates the ferrule (16), a housing (22) which is movable in the plugging or axial direction (S) over a definite range relative to the base part (20) and a locking element (24) which is movable in the plugging or axial direction (S) in each case over a definite range both relative to the base part (20) and relative to the housing (22) said locking element (24) being resiliently supported at the base part (20) and being urged by a spring force into a forward securing position when viewed in the plugging direction (S) in which it secures the locking of the ferrule (16) when the connector parts (12, 14) are plugged together, with the locking element (24) first being moved out of its securing position against the spring force during the plugging together of the two connector parts (12, 14) in order to enable a locking of the ferrule (16), and assuming its securing position again only after the completion of the locking, and with the locking element (24) being movable out of its securing position during the separation of the two connector parts (12, 14) with a drawing back of the housing (22) relative to the base part (20) against the spring force in order to enable an unlocking of the ferrule (16).

2. Plug connector in accordance with claim 1, wherein the housing (22) is coupled preferably via flexible latching elements (30) to the base part (20) in such a manner that the base part (20) can be moved together with the housing (22) during the plugging together of the two connector parts (12, 14) and, during the separation of the two connector parts (12, 14), can first be moved back relative to the base part (20) over a definite range while taking along the locking element (24).

3. Plug connector in accordance with claim 1, wherein the locking element (24) is urged into its securing position through a compression spring (26) which is supported at the base part.

4. Plug connector in accordance with claim 1, wherein the locking element (24) is formed by a preferably ring-shaped slider element.

5. Plug connector in accordance with claim 1, wherein the locking device (18) comprises at least one resilient locking arm (18′

, 18″

) which is associated with the other connector part (14) and which in the course of a relative displacement between the ferrule (16) and the other connector part (14) is first deflectable against the spring force by the ferrule (16) and can then be brought into engagement with a locking surface (38) which is provided at the ferrule (16).

6. Plug connector in accordance with claim 5, wherein at least two mutually oppositely lying locking arms (18′

, 18″

) are provided.

7. Plug connector in accordance with claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the locking surface is formed by a groove (38) which is provided at the ferrule (16).

8. Plug connector in accordance with claim 7, wherein the groove is formed by a peripheral groove (38).

9. Plug connector in accordance with claim 1, wherein during the plugging together of the two connector parts (12, 14) the locking element (24) first comes to an abutmenet at the deflected locking arm (18′

, 18″

) and can thereby be moved out of its securing position, and then assumes its securing position again after a latching in of the locking arm (18′

, 18″

) into the locking surface (38) as a result of the spring force in order to hold the locking arm (18′

, 18″

) in engagement with the locking surface (38).

10. Plug connector in accordance with claim 1, wherein the locking element (24) is executed in ring shape and can be at least partly pushed over the locking arm after a latching in of the locking arm (18′

, 18″

) into the locking surface (38) as a result of the spring force.