Touch-protected socket, plug, and plug-in connection

• US 10,199,759 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2017
• Issued: 02/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Original Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Inventors: Raettich, Philip, Wagner, Matthias
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Hien
• Application Number:
  US15/701,571
• Publication Number:
  US 20170373421A1
• Time in Patent Office: 511 Days
• Field of Search: 439835, 439838, 439839
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/187 with spring member in the socket
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/193 Means for increasing contact pressure at the end of engagement of coupling part , e.g. zero insertion force or no friction
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/631 for engagement only
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/639 Additional means for holding or locking coupling parts together, after engagement, e.g. separate keylock, retainer strap
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/4809 using a leaf spring to bias the conductor toward the busbar

Abstract

A socket has a housing, which is composed of an electrically insulating material and an elongate plug-receiving region. A contact spring is arranged in the plug-receiving region. A lever loads the contact spring in the open position of the lever such that a dimension of the contact spring transverse to the longitudinal direction of the plug-receiving region is reduced and relaxes the contact spring in the closed position of the lever. A plug is provided for such a socket.

Claims

1. A plug-in connection, comprising:

a socket including;

a housing which is composed of electrically insulating material and has an elongate plug-receiving region;

a contact spring which is arranged in the plug-receiving region; and

a lever which, in an open position, tensions the contact spring, so that a dimension of the contact spring transverse to a longitudinal direction of the plug-receiving region is reduced, and which, in a closed position, relieves the contact spring of tension relative to the tensioned state, and

a plug having an electrically insulated housing and a clearance into which the contact spring of the socket is insertable when the plug is inserted into the socket, and

wherein the contact spring is dimensioned such that, when the lever is in the open position and as a result the contact spring is tensioned, the contact spring is insertable into the clearance in the plug, and, when the lever is in the closed position, the contact spring presses against an electrically conductive inner face of the clearance of the plug.

2. The plug-in connection as claimed in claim 1, wherein when the lever is in the closed position, the lever engages behind the plug that is inserted into the plug-receiving region, so that said plug is prevented from being pulled-out of the socket.

3. The plug-in connection as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the lever, in the closed position, extends into an inlet opening in the plug-receiving region.

4. The plug-in connection as claimed in claim 3, wherein

the contact spring is fixedly connected to an electrically conductive connection to which an electrical line is connectable.

5. The plug-in connection as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the contact spring is fixedly connected to an electrically conductive connection to which an electrical line is connectable.

6. The plug-in connection as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the lever is pivotable about a rotation axis and has a grip region, and

an operating end of the lever, which operating end is situated on an opposite side to the grip region with respect to the rotation axis, tensions the contact spring.

7. The plug-in connection as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the contact spring comprises a component which is both resilient and electrically conductive.

8. The plug-in connection as claimed in claim 7, wherein

the contact spring is a bent leaf spring which has two ends which both point toward a same longitudinal end of the socket.

9. The plug-in connection as claimed in claim 6, wherein

the contact spring is a bent leaf spring which has two ends which both point toward a same longitudinal end of the socket.

10. The plug-in connection as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the contact spring is a bent leaf spring which has two ends which both point toward a same longitudinal end of the socket.

11. The plug-in connection as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the contact spring comprises one component which is resilient, and comprises another component which is electrically conductive.

12. The plug-in connection as claimed in claim 6, wherein

the contact spring comprises one component which is resilient, and comprises another component winch is electrically conductive.