Electrical connector

• US 8,535,071 B1
• Filed: 04/23/2012
• Issued: 09/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Schaltbau GmbH (Schaltbau Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Schaltbau GmbH (Schaltbau Holding AG)
• Inventors: Mueller, Benno
• Primary Examiner(s): Abrams, Neil
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Phuongchi T
• Application Number:
  US13/453,836
• Time in Patent Office: 512 Days
• Field of Search: 439/34, 439/35, 439/455, 439/453, 439/135, 439/144, 439/923
• US Class Current: 439/144
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/64 Couplings or joints therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/32 of electricity
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/34 of parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/16 Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/502 composed of different pieces H01R13/514 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6315 allowing relative movement between coupling parts, e.g. floating connection for coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, H01R12/91 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6395 for wall or panel outlets
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/26 for vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

Disclosed is a plug-type connection having a plug and a socket with a plug-in opening for the plug. The socket includes a socket housing and at least one retaining element connected to the socket housing and movable about a first pivot axis. The retaining element secures the plug plugged into the plug-in opening against slipping out of the plug-in opening. A means is provided to displace the retaining element about the first pivot axis out of the position securing the plug against slipping out, thereby releasing the plug, if a specific force acting on the plug opposite to the plug-in direction is exceeded.

Claims

1. A plug-type connection (1), specifically for the electrical interconnection between a towing vehicle and a trailer, comprising a plug (2) and a socket (3) with a plug-in opening (4) for the plug (3), the socket comprising a socket housing (5) and at least one retaining element (6) connected to the socket housing (5) and movable about a first pivot axis (A), which secures the plug (2) plugged into the plug-in opening (4) against slipping out of the plug-in opening (4), wherein a means is provided to displace the retaining element (6) about the first pivot axis (A) out of the position securing the plug (2) against slipping out, thereby releasing the plug (2), if a specific force acting on the plug (2) opposite to the plug-in direction is exceeded, characterized in that the plug (2) comprises a first plug part (2.1) pluggable into the plug-in opening (4) and having a first plug axis (X), and a second plug part (2.2) having a second plug axis (Y) and interacting with the retaining element (6), wherein the plug (2) is flexible at least between the first plug part (2.1) and the second plug part (2.2) so that the second plug part (2.2) can be displaced relative to the first plug part (2.1) from a straight position, in which the second plug axis (Y) coincides with the first plug axis (X), to an oblique position, in which the second plug axis (Y) encloses an angle relative to the first plug axis (X), wherein the retaining element (6) is rotatable about a second pivot axis (B), and wherein the first pivot axis (A) and the second pivot axis (B) are different from each other and enclose an angle relative to each other.

2. A plug-type connection (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the second pivot axis (B) stands perpendicularly on a plane in which the first pivot axis (A) lies.

3. A plug-type connection (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the second pivot axis (B) coincides with an imagined axis about which the second plug part (2.2) can be displaced relative to the first plug part (2.1) from the straight position to the oblique position due to the flexibility of the plug (2), if the plug (2) is plugged in.

4. A plug-type connection (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the means, by means of which the retaining element (6) is displaced about the first pivot axis (A) out of the position securing the plug (2) against slipping out, thereby releasing the plug (2), if a specific force acting on the plug (2) opposite to the plug-in direction is exceeded, is a spring (11) associated with the first pivot axis (A).

5. A plug-type connection (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that furthermore a return spring (12) associated with the second pivot axis (B) is provided, by means of which the retaining element (6) is preloaded about the second pivot axis (B) into a preferred position in which the retaining element (6) is oriented to optimally secure the plugged in plug (2) if the second plug part (2.2) is in the straight position.

6. A plug-type connection (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that two clamps are provided as retaining elements (6), which extend substantially parallel to each other and are each rotatable with one of their ends about the mutual first pivot axis (A), wherein the two clamps are arranged symmetrically relative to the second plug axis (Y).

7. A plug-type connection (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that each clamp comprises at least one form closure element (9), which is engaged with a corresponding form closure element (10) of the plug (2) as soon as the clamps secure the plugged in plug (2) against slipping out of the plug-in opening (4).

8. A plug-type connection (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that a lid (8) of the socket (3) comprises a first lid part (8.1) and a second lid part (8.2), wherein the first lid part (8.1) is rotatably mounted on the socket housing (5) about a third pivot axis (C), wherein the second lid part (8.2) is rotatable relative to the first lid part (8.1) about the second pivot axis (B), and wherein the retaining element (6) is rotatably mounted on the second lid part (8.2) about the first pivot axis (A).

9. A plug-type connection (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that the first pivot axis (A) and the third pivot axis (C) are aligned parallel relative to each other if the second plug part (2.2) is in the straight position.

10. A plug-type connection (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that a return spring (13) associated with the third pivot axis (C) is provided, by means of which the lid (8) is preloaded about the third pivot axis (C) so as to close the plug-in opening (4) if the plug (2) is not plugged in.