Connector with snap collar

• US 6,749,454 B2
• Filed: 11/07/2002
• Issued: 06/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Escha Bauelemente GmbH, Lumberg Automation Components
• Original Assignee: Lumberg Automation Components GmbH & Co. KG (Belden Inc.), Escha Bauelemente GmbH
• Inventors: Daedelow, Rainer, Gembruch, Karsten, Schmidt, Werner
• Primary Examiner(s): GUSHI, ROSS N
• Application Number:
  US10/289,816
• Publication Number:
  US 20030162431A1
• Time in Patent Office: 586 Days
• Field of Search: 439/350, 439/349, 439/320, 439/321, 439/352, 439/606, 439/253, 439/254, 439/592, 439/598, 439/599, 439/600
• US Class Current: 439/350
• 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-in connection comprising a connector (1) for fitting onto a counter connector (2), contact elements (3) of the connector (1) entering into an electrical conducting connection with counter contact elements (4) of the counter connector (2), with a sleeve (7) which surrounds the contact elements (3) carried by a core (K) and forms a snap collar (18) for gripping behind a latching bead (27, 28) of the counter connector (2) and with a locking coupling (5) which is displaceable in the plugging direction and which, in a release position, allows radial escape of the snap collar (18) and, in a locking position, prevents it, the core (K) being made of a harder plastic than a casing (17) surrounding the core (K) with a spacing and forming a sleeve portion (7) which has peripheral interruptions (8 and 9) and on the inside of which the snap collar (18) of softer plastic is formed integrally with the casing (17).

Claims

1. Connector (1) for fitting onto a counter connector (2), contact elements (3) of the connector (1) entering into an electrical conducting connection with counter contact elements (4) of the counter connector (2), with a sleeve (7) which surrounds the contact elements (3) carried by a core (K) and forms a snap collar (18) for gripping behind a latching bead (27, 28) of the counter connector (2) and with a locking coupling (5) which, in a release position, allows radial escape of the snap collar (18) and, in a locking position, prevents it, wherein the core (K) is made of a harder plastic than a casing (17) surrounding the core (K) with a spacing and forms a sleeve portion (7) which has peripheral interruptions (8 and 9) and on inside of which the snap collar (18) of softer plastic is formed integrally with the casing (17).

2. Connector according to claim 1, wherein the entire inner side of the sleeve portion (7) of the core (K) is lined with soft plastic, but outer side is substantially free from soft plastic.

3. Connector according to claim 1, wherein the peripheral interruptions (9) comprise at least two slits (8), lying diametrically opposite each other, which are open toward an end face of the sleeve portion (7).

4. Connector according to claim 1, wherein there is at least one anchoring clearance (9) of the sleeve portion (7), which is filled with soft plastic.

5. Connector according to claim 1, wherein the connector part (1) is female or male.

6. Connector according to claim 1, wherein the core (K) has at least one guide (11) for the locking coupling (5), extending in direction of displacement of the locking coupling (5), said guide (11) has latching means (12, 13) at each end for latching the locking coupling (5) in its two end positions.

7. Connector according to claim 6, wherein the guide (11) is a groove or a window, with a central constriction (11′

), into which a guide pin (21) of the locking coupling (5) engages.

8. Connector according to claim 7, further comprising a run-up slope (14), disposed ahead of the guide (11), for the guide pin (21), which is also provided with a run-up slope (22).

9. Connector according to claim 1, further comprising a locking shoulder (24), which runs partly around peripheral level with the guide pin (21) and in the locking position grips behind the snap collar (18), and in front of said locking shoulder (24) there lies a peripheral free space (U) of the locking coupling (5), in which an edge of the sleeve can escape radially.

10. Connector according to claim 1, wherein there is at least one through-flow opening (16) disposed between the sleeve (7) and a central region (Z) of the core (K), said region carrying the contact elements (3) and, particularly, is in form of a socket.

11. Connector according to claim 10, wherein there is an annular gap (29), which surrounds the central region (Z) and bottom (30) of which forms a soft plastic support (19), which extends over the through-flow opening (16) and is engaged by end edge (31) of a threaded sleeve (26) of the counter connector (2) having annular bead (27).

12. Connector according to claim 10, wherein the central region (Z) in the form of a socket forms a cup-shaped clearance for the insertion of a socket (6) of the counter connector (2), the socket (6) carrying the counter contact elements (4).

13. Connector (1) for fitting onto a counter connector (2), contact elements (3) of the connector (1) entering into an electrical conducting connection with counter contact elements (4) of the counter connector (2), with a sleeve (7) which surrounds the contact elements (3) carried by a core (K) and forms a snap collar (18) for gripping behind a latching bead (27, 28) of the counter connector (2) and with a locking coupling (5) which, in a release position, allows radial escape of the snap collar (18) and, in a locking position, prevents it, and an axial extension (33) of the sleeve (7) which, in the locking position of the locking coupling (5), is enclosed by the latter, wherein the core (K) is made of a harder plastic than a casino (17) surrounding the core (K) with a spacing and forms a sleeve portion (7) which has peripheral interruptions (8 and 9) and on inside of which the snap collar (18) of softer plastic is formed integrally with the casino (17).

14. Connector according to claim 13, wherein the axial extension (33) of the snap collar (18) is formed by casing (17).

15. Connector according to claim 13, further comprising an end bead (34), which is arranged to the extension (33) and extends in the circumferential direction.

16. Connector according to claim 13, wherein the bead (34) is enclosed by end portion (5′

) of the locking coupling (5) with a small spacing.

17. Connector according to claim 13, wherein the extension (33) is divided by two diametrically opposite axial slits (2).

18. Counter connector for a connector, the connector comprising:

contact elements (3) entering into an electrical conducting connection with counter contact elements (4) of the counter connector (2), with a first sleeve (7) which surrounds the contact elements (3) carried by a core (K) and forms a snap collar (18) for gripping behind a latching bead (27, 28) of the counter connector (2) and with a locking coupling (5) which, in a release position, allows radial escape of the snap collar (18) and, in a locking position, prevents it, and an axial extension (33) of the first sleeve (7) which, in the locking position of the locking coupling (5), is enclosed by the latter, the counter connector having a second sleeve (26, 36), having a bottom, counter contact elements (4) coordinated to said bottom, wherein the rim of an opening of the second sleeve (26, 27) forms a latching bead (27, 28), wherein the second sleeve (26, 27) forms an inner sleeve (26), which is screwed into an outer sleeve a collar forming part of annular bead (27) rests on an end edge of the outer sleeve (36).

19. Counter connector according to claim 18, wherein the collar forming the annular bead (27) is adjoined by an annular bead portion (28) of the outer sleeve (36), which is adjoined by an annular clearance, for entry of a snap collar (18).

20. Plug-in connection comprising a connector (1) for fitting onto a counter connector (2), contact elements (3) of the connector (1) entering into an electrical conducting connection with counter contact elements (4) of the counter connector (2), with a sleeve (7) which surrounds the contact elements (3) carried by a core (K) and forms a snap collar (18) for gripping behind a latching bead (27, 28) of the counter connector (2) and with a locking coupling (5) which, in a release position, allows radial escape of the snap collar (18) and, in a locking position, prevents it, wherein the core (K) is made of a harder plastic than a casing (17) surrounding the core (K) with a spacing and forms a sleeve portion (7) which has peripheral interruptions (8 and 9) and on inside of which the snap collar (18) of softer plastic is formed integrally with the casing (17), and the plug-in connection further comprising a counter connector having a sleeve (26, 36) having a bottom, counter contact elements (4) coordinated to said bottom, wherein the rim of an opening of the sleeve (26, 27) forms a latching bead (27, 28).

21. Counter connector for a connector, the connector comprising:

contact elements (3) entering into an electrical conducting connection with counter contact elements (4) of the counter connector (2), with a first sleeve (7) which surrounds the contact elements (3) carried by a core (K) and forms a snap collar (18) for gripping behind a latching bead (27, 28) of the counter connector (2) and with a locking coupling (5) which, in a release position, allows radial escape of the snap collar (18) and, in a locking position, prevents it, wherein the core (K) is made of a harder plastic than a casing (17) surrounding the core (K) with a spacing and forms a sleeve portion (7) which has peripheral interruptions (8 and 9) and on inside of which the snap collar (18) of softer plastic is formed integrally with the casing (17), the counter connector having a second sleeve (26, 36) having a bottom, counter contact elements (4) coordinated to said bottom, wherein the rim of an opening of the second sleeve (26, 27) forms a latching bead (27, 28), and wherein the second sleeve (26, 27) forms an inner sleeve (26), which is screwed into an outer sleeve (36), and a collar forming part of annular bead (27) rests on an end edge of the outer sleeve (36).

22. Counter connector according to claim 21, wherein the collar forming the annular bead (27) is adjoined by an annular bead portion (28) of the outer sleeve (36), which is adjoined by an annular clearance, for entry of a snap collar (18).