EP2636101B1 - Electrical plug - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a plug having a plurality of arranged in a plug housing contact elements and arranged on the housing strain relief elements, both the contact elements and the strain relief elements by means of SMT technology on a circuit board can be fastened, wherein the strain relief elements are fastened to plug housing parts sheet metal elements are bent in their side facing the circuit board substantially at right angles to form a support surface for an SMT attachment.

State of the art

From the US 2010/0055952 A1 is a plug with a plurality of arranged in a connector housing contact elements and with arranged on the housing strain relief elements, in which the strain relief, as well as the contact elements by means of SMT technology can be mounted on a circuit board. The strain relief are fastened to male housing parts sheet metal elements that are on your one PCB facing side are bent substantially at right angles to form a support surface for an SMT attachment.

From the WO 2008/096678 A1 shows a connector in which SMT technology designed strain relief elements are arranged on a housing.

JP 11 167955 A . US 2003/100211 A1 . US 2007/155227 A1 . US 2008/085616 A1 show more connectors.

From the applicant's catalog D074497 02/08 Issue 3, which can be downloaded from the applicant's home page at: http://www.erni.com/db/pdf/smc/ERNI-SMC-Board-on-d.pdf, go connector, in which the strain relief on each side transversely to the direction of insertion and substantially in extension of the longitudinal sides of the plug housing arranged fastening elements which are connected via plastic webs with the plug housing, are attached. The strain relief elements are stamped sheet metal parts that are attached to the fasteners. The sheet metal elements have on the side facing the circuit board support surfaces for SMT attachment. These bearing surfaces are each laterally over the narrow sides of the housing over.

These plugs have blade and socket strips, each comprising such strain relief. In the nested state, the mating process is now essentially limited by the thickness of the laterally projecting plastic webs. In terms of a large Überstecksicherheit, ie in the sense of maximum nesting, it is now desirable that the two connector parts, ie male connector and spring bar, are inserted into each other as deeply as possible. For this reason, the plastic web would have to be made as thin as possible, since the depth of the nesting of the two connector parts is limited by the thickness of the plastic web. However, this is not possible in the sense of optimal strain relief, since the above-described strain relief are attached to the mounting projections, which in turn integrally formed on the web are. However, a thin plastic web does not have the desired stability.

The invention has the object of developing such a connector to the effect that on the one hand maximum Überstecksicherheit is guaranteed, so a maximum nesting of blade and socket, on the other hand an optimal strain relief is ensured and that the connector in a simple manner, especially by machine, produced is.

Advantages of the invention Disclosure of the invention

This object is achieved by a plug having the features of claim 1. The basic idea of the invention is to design the strain relief elements as sheet metal parts which can be fastened directly to webs serving for reverse polarity protection and are angled away on their side facing the printed circuit board to form a bearing surface. In this way, fastening devices that are integrally formed on laterally projecting plastic webs, completely eliminated. Rather, the sheet metal elements themselves form the strain relief, wherein the angled areas, which form the support surface, due to the higher stability of sheet metal compared to plastic can be made substantially thinner. In this way, a maximum nesting and thus a very high Überstecksicherheit, i. a maximum nesting of the plug contact elements possible.

By attaching the sheet metal elements at the same time serving the reverse polarity protection bars is a particularly stable attachment of the sheet metal elements to the connector housing, which also withstands high tensile forces allows.

The webs are in the direction of insertion as well as transversely to the direction of insertion on the connector housing over and are so far much thicker and solid than the housing walls. This not only increases the stability of the attachment of the sheet metal elements, but also increases the robustness of the reverse polarity protection. At their upper side, the webs have truncated pyramidal projections which are suitable for insertion into recesses in a corresponding housing part. The sheet metal elements can be fastened by latching connections to the webs. Such locking elements not only allow easy installation, but also a simple production, for example by punching the sheet metal elements.

The measures listed in the dependent claims advantageous refinements and improvements of the independent claim 1 connector are possible.

A particularly preferred embodiment provides that the sheet metal elements have four latching connections, which are divided into two groups of two latching elements, wherein the first group is as close as possible to the circuit board and the second group as close as possible to the plug top. In this way, the stability of the plug mounted on a printed circuit board also increases with respect to a torque exerted on the plug. The robustness of the strain relief is thereby significantly increased.

Preferably, the rectangular bent sheet metal elements form a rectangular bearing surface extending perpendicular to the direction of insertion and parallel to the circuit board on the sides of the housing protruding. This design allows a large-surface attachment of the strain relief, wherein the support surface, unlike the prior art, is not interrupted, but is formed throughout.

The sheet metal elements are preferably stamped parts, which are very quick and accurate to manufacture, especially in mass production. After the punching process only bending operations are still required in this case, namely the formation of the right angles formed bearing surfaces and the formation of the locking elements.

Brief description of the drawings

Fig. 1

eine isometrische Darstellung eines auf einer Leiterplatte angeordneten, als Federleiste ausgebildeten erfindungsgemäßen Steckers;

Fig. 2

der in Fig. 1 dargestellte Stecker vor der Montage der der Zugentlastung dienenden Blechelemente;

Fig. 3

ein als Messerleiste ausgebildeter erfindungsgemäßer Steckverbinder in isometrischer Darstellung;

Fig. 4

zwei erfindungsgemäße Steckverbinder, eine Federleiste und eine Messerleiste, vor dem Zusammenstecken und

Fig. 5

eine erfindungsgemäße Messerleiste und eine Federleiste nach dem Zusammenstecken.

Embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and explained in more detail in the following description. In the drawing show:

Fig. 1

an isometric view of a arranged on a circuit board, designed as a female connector according to the invention plug;

Fig. 2

the in Fig. 1 illustrated connector before mounting the strain relief serving sheet metal elements;

Fig. 3

an inventive connector designed as a male connector in an isometric view;

Fig. 4

two connectors according to the invention, a spring strip and a male connector, before mating and

Fig. 5

an inventive male connector and a spring bar after mating.

Description of exemplary embodiments

In the following, connectors that are both as a spring bar (see FIG. Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 ) as well as a male connector (cf. Fig. 3 ) may be formed, explained with reference to the figures. As a whole with 100 designated female connector comprises a housing 110 in which (not visible) spring contact elements are arranged in a known per se. The housing 110 has on its upper side 111 openings 120 into which the blade contacts to be described below can be inserted. The spring contact elements have on their underside SMT solder pads 122, for example, via side surfaces 112 can survive and are arranged on a printed circuit board 10. On the side of the housing 110 webs are arranged, which extend over the housing both in the insertion direction, in the Fig. 1 with an arrow R, as well as perpendicular to the direction of insertion over the housing defining the side surfaces 112 and 113 survive. The webs 150 have on their upper side truncated pyramidal projections 152 which are adapted for insertion into recesses in a corresponding housing part (FIG. Fig. 3 ) are provided. The webs 150 serve on the one hand the reverse polarity protection, on the other hand strain relief elements 200 are fastened to them, which are formed as sheet metal parts. The sheet metal parts have an essentially L-shaped configuration with a vertically extending part 210 and with a bent perpendicularly thereof parallel to the printed circuit board 10 extending sheet metal part 220th

The sheet metal part 210 extending in the vertical direction has four latching elements 211, 212, of which a group of two latching elements 211 is arranged as close as possible to the upper side 111 of the housing 110 of the plug connector 100 and a further pair of latching elements 212 as close as possible to the angled sheet metal part 220 and thus the circuit board 10 is arranged. By this arrangement of four locking elements such that each two pairs in the insertion direction have the greatest possible distance from each other, a secure attachment of the sheet metal part designed as a strain relief element 200 and in particular a sufficiently large robustness, for example, against breaking off the mounted on the circuit board connector 100th ensured by applying a torque to this plug 100.

The angled portion 220 of the strain relief element 200 serves as a support surface for an SMT attachment on the circuit board. This angled portion 220 has a substantially rectangular shape, wherein it projects transversely to the direction of insertion on the narrow side 113, so as to provide the largest possible contact surface. This will be the on the circuit board soldered solder pads 122 effectively relieved of strain and thus avoid accidental contact interruption of one or more of the solder pads 122 due to a high tensile load.

The sheet metal element can - as in Fig. 1 shown - may be attached to the web 150 in a recess provided for this purpose 151. However, this is not mandatory. In principle, the strain relief element 200 can also be fastened on the outside of the web, ie without a recess. A recess 151, as in Fig. 1 illustrated, however, allows a particularly compact design.

In Fig. 2 is the in Fig. 1 shown connector just before the attachment of the strain relief 200 shown. Same elements are denoted by the same reference numerals as in FIG Fig. 1 designated. In the disassembled state, the latching openings 153 can be seen, engage in the latching elements 211, 212 of the strain relief elements 200. The strain relief elements 200 are punched from a sheet metal part, wherein the punching process only bending operations, namely the right angle bend of the part 220 and the bend of the locking elements 211, 212 must follow. The fastening of the strain relief elements 200 takes place by latching into the latching openings 153 in the webs 150.

In Fig. 3 is designed as a male connector 300 plug connector shown. In the plug blade contacts 320 are arranged. On both sides of the blade contacts 320 recesses 330 are provided into which the above-described webs 150 can be inserted. For this purpose, the recesses 330 on the truncated pyramidal top sides 152 of the webs adapted oblique receiving openings 332. Each of a printed circuit board (not shown) SMT pads 322 of the blade contacts 320 are provided.

Also at the in Fig. 3 shown plugs strain relief elements 200 'are provided, which are formed as sheet metal parts and a substantially extending in the direction of insertion R part 210 ', in turn, by latching elements 211', 212 'on a web 350, which, in contrast to the spring bar, however, projects into the interior of the plug housing 310, can be fastened, and a substantially right-angled portion 220' have. In this case, again, a recess 351 is provided, so that the strain relief element 200 'does not protrude laterally beyond the plug housing 310. Again, the webs 350 serve the reverse polarity protection. They also serve the optimal attachment of the strain relief elements 200 'by means of the locking connections. Only by the webs 350 is a fastening means of locking elements 219 ', 212' possible, which could otherwise protrude into the interior of the plug housing 310. The bent part 220 'is in this case bent so that it does not protrude laterally beyond the connector housing 310, but is turned inwards towards the SMT pads 322 of the blade contacts 320. However, this does not have to be the case. Rather, the bent part 220 'may also be bent outwards, as described above in connection with Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 described. In the Fig. 3 The solution presented provides for a particularly compact construction of the plug. The strain relief formed by the rectangular surface 220 'of the strain relief element 200' projects slightly beyond the lateral boundary surfaces of the plug.

In Fig. 4 are one in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 shown female connector of a plug according to the invention and an arranged above male connector of a connector according to the invention shown just before mating. In Fig. 4 also recognizable are centering pins 359, which engage in correspondingly formed openings in the circuit board (not shown). These centering pins are also formed in a corresponding manner in the spring strip and provided there with reference numeral 159 (see FIG. Fig. 2 ).

Again Fig. 4 Furthermore, it can be seen particularly well, the webs 150 on the lateral boundary surfaces 112, 113 of the connector housing 110 via. This serves the reverse polarity protection. In addition, this increases the stability of the plug, in particular also the stability of the strain relief of the strain relief elements 200 arranged on the webs 150,

In Fig. 5 Finally, the mated state of knife and socket is shown. Due to the inventive design of the strain relief elements 200, 200 'a maximum nesting of male and female connector is possible. The male connector 300 can be plugged into the spring strip 100 so far that its upper side rests on the laterally projecting angled part 220 of the strain relief elements 200. Since this protruding part 220 consists of an angled sheet metal part, which can be made very thin without the stability suffers from this, a maximum nesting of male and female connector and thus a very good Überstecksicherheit while optimally strain relief both connector parts, the male connector and the spring bar, possible because the SMT area, which is formed by the angled portion 220, is large.

Claims (4)

1. Electric plug (100) having a plurality of contact elements arranged in a plug housing and having strain relief elements (200) arranged on the housing (110), wherein both the contact elements and the strain relief elements are fixable to a printed circuit board using SMT technology, wherein the strain relief elements (200) are sheet metal elements that can be fixed to parts of the plug housing and are bent off substantially at a right angle on its side facing the printed circuit board, thereby forming a supporting surface (220) for SMT fastening, characterised in that the sheet metal elements are able to be fastened to webs (150) used for a reverse polarity protection by means of latching connections (211, 212), the webs (150) are arranged laterally on the housing (110), protrude beyond the side surfaces (112, 113) delimiting the plug housing (110) both in the plug-in direction (R) and also transversely to the plug-in direction and have protrusions (152) in the form of truncated pyramids on their upper side which are suitable for introduction into recesses (330) in a corresponding housing part (310).
2. Electric plug according to claim 1, characterised in that the sheet metal elements have four latching connections which are subdivided into two groups of two latching elements (211, 212; 211', 212') each, wherein the first group (211, 211') is arranged as close as possible to the upper side of the plug and the second group (212, 212') is arranged as close as possible to the printed circuit board.
3. Electric plug according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the sheet metal elements which are bent off at a right angle and form the strain relief elements (200, 200') form a rectangular supporting surface (220, 220') which extends perpendicularly to the plug-in direction (R) and parallel to the printed circuit board protruding beyond the sides of the housing.
4. Electric plug according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the sheet metal elements forming the strain relief elements (200, 200') are bent punched parts.

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