EP2658040B1 - Plug - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a connector.

A plug regularly has a plug connector or plug head, which is used to connect the plug to a socket or socket. The connector is connected to a cable, which usually consists of one or more electrical lines or lines and is surrounded by insulation, which can consist of an elastic polymer.

The electrical lines of the cable are contacted with corresponding connections in the connector. The electrical lines are connected to corresponding connections in the socket via the plug connector.

When connecting the cable to the connector, problems regularly arise in that the connection between the cable and the connector is stressed both when the connector is plugged in and unplugged and during operation when there is a tensile load on the cable. The connection between the cable and the connector primarily aims at the electrical contact between the lines in the cable and the corresponding contact points in the connector. Mechanical stress, in particular a pull on the cable, can interrupt both the mechanical connection between the cable and the plug and the electrical contact.

document DE 20 2007 002 130 U1 relates to a connector of a microphone. The connector consists of a main body, a plurality of terminals, which is arranged inside the main body, a housing which is hollow and can be placed on the main body of the connector, a cable clamp and a rear insert which is hollow and made of slightly flexible material is. They are on the rear part of the housing Snap parts arranged. A perforation is provided on the rear part of the rear insert part and a snap-in part is arranged on its front part. This allows the rear insert to be advanced until the latch of the rear insert and the latch of the housing snap into each other when the main body of the connector and the cable clamp are located inside the housing.

The document US 7,476,817 B1 relates to a connector for connecting a cable to an electrical junction box. The connector is constructed cylindrically and has legs which can be locked outwards at a connecting end and with which the connector can be locked in an opening of the distribution box.

The document DE 103 19 656 A1 relates to a plug device in which a contact carrier of a connector is attached to a cable and has a strain relief.

The document FR 2 710 786 relates to a connector with an inner and outer housing, wherein an insulated plate is provided with a strain relief. The invention has for its object to provide a connector with a strain relief that reduces the problems mentioned above.

This object is solved by the features of claim 1. Further advantageous embodiments of the invention can be found in the subclaims.

According to one aspect, a plug has a plug connector that is connected to it is provided and designed to insert the plug into a socket or a socket. Furthermore, the connector has a cable that is connected to the connector. A clip has at least one connecting element for connecting the clip to the connector, and at least one clamping element for establishing a clamp connection of the clip with the cable. Furthermore, the plug has a cap which, in an installation position, at least partially encompasses the clip in such a way that the cap both fixes the connecting element in a receptacle of the connector and also fixes the clamping element in a clamping connection with the cable. This connector provides strain relief between the connector and the cable from the connector via the connecting element of the clip and via the clamping element of the clip. A mechanical load, in particular a tensile load on the cable, does not therefore directly stress the mechanical and electrical connection between the cable and the connector, but is instead conducted from the cable via the clip into the connector.

The installation position of the connector is the position in which the components of the connector, namely connectors, cables, clips and caps, are fixed together in the use position. The strain relief is provided in the installation position and the plug can be used with a reduced risk of interruption between the cable and the connector. The plug can consist of several individual parts that can be assembled, plugged together, screwed together and / or otherwise connected to one another. If the connector is not yet connected, the individual parts of the connector are not in the installation position.

The strength of the strain relief is u. A. determined by the mechanical strength of the clip. Therefore, the clip is preferably made of a stable material that can withstand elastic deformation. Instead of a single connecting element and / or a single clamping element, the clip can have a plurality of connecting elements and / or clamping elements have, which improves both the connection of the clip with the connector and the clamping connection of the clip with the cable.

In the installation position, the cap at least partially encompasses the clip. The cap acts on the clip from the outside in such a way that the connecting element of the clip is held in a receptacle of the connector. The cap prevents the connecting element from escaping from the receptacle of the connector. Furthermore, the cap acts on the clamping element of the clamp from the outside in such a way that the clamp is held in clamp connection with the cable. The cap can act on the clamping element from the outside radially to the central axis of the cable. In particular, a mechanical force can be provided by the cap on the clamping element in the installation position.

According to one embodiment, the clip has a ring section which surrounds the cable and which is designed to be displaceable relative to the cable against and in the direction of cable propagation. The central ring axis of the ring section essentially coincides with the central axis of the cable. Because the clip is designed to be displaceable, the position of the clip relative to the cable and to the connector connected to the cable can be optimally adjusted. The clip can only be moved until the plug is assembled in its installation position. In the installation position, the clip is in a clamp connection with the cable and is therefore no longer displaceable relative to the cable.

The connecting element can point from the ring section to the plug connector and have an engagement section which engages in the receptacle of the plug connector in the installation position. Due to the displaceable design of the clip, the clip can be pushed as far as the connector in the direction of cable propagation so that the engagement section engages in the receptacle of the connector. The engagement section can be hook-shaped, so that the engagement section is in the installation position in the receptacle of the connector hooked. The engagement section can be held in the receptacle by the cap.

According to one embodiment, the clamping element has a hook section which is pressed into the cable by the cap in the installation position. As a result, the cap fixes the clamp in a clamp connection with the cable.

According to one embodiment, the cap is essentially cylindrical, the cylinder axis of the cap essentially coinciding with the central axis of the cable. In particular, the cap can have the shape of a hollow cylinder, the volume of the hollow interior being matched to the size of the clip such that the cap can be pushed over the clip and is in mechanical contact with the clip in the installation position.

According to one embodiment, the cap is displaceable relative to the cable when the plug is not in the installation position. In the installation position, all components of the plug are fixed relative to one another. Due to the displaceable design of the cap, the cap can be pushed over the clip in such a way that both the cap and the clip are fixed in the installation position.

According to one embodiment, the cap has a conical section which, in the installation position, presses on the clamping element from the outside in such a way that the clamping element provides a clamping connection between the clip and the cable. From the outside means radially inwards to the cable. The conical section is at a distance between the cap and the cable which is essentially continuously reduced. In the installation position, the cap with the narrowing conical section is pushed onto the clamping element until the clamping element is pressed towards the cable.

The clamping element is designed to be elastically deformable, so that it is designed to be bendable in the direction of the cable.

In one embodiment, the clip has at least one latching element and the Cap at least one locking section for locking the cap with the clip. This provides a snap connection between the bracket and the cap. The snap connection serves to fix the cap relative to the clip. In particular, the cap is locked with the clip in the installation position. The snap connection holds the cap in the installation position so that the cap both fixes the connecting element in the receptacle of the connector and also the clamping element in clamping connection with the cable. The latching connection can be designed such that the latching connection counteracts a displacement of the cap relative to the cable in the direction away from the connector.

According to one embodiment, the connecting element and the clamping element are offset from one another in the sheath direction of the cable. Even in the case of a plurality of binding elements and clamping elements, these are offset from one another in the sheath direction of the cable. The offset in the jacket direction causes a good distribution of the points of attack both for the connection of the clip with the connector and for the clamp connection of the clip with the cable. This distribution of the points of attack results in improved statics and thus a higher load capacity of the train connection.

According to the invention, the connecting element enters into a positive connection with the plug connector in the installation position. This can be done for example by a hook-shaped design of the connecting element which is hooked into the receptacle of the connector.

According to one embodiment, the cap exerts a normal force on the clamping element in the installation position such that a non-positive connection is provided between the clip and the cable. The normal force acts radially from the outside towards the cable. The clamping element can be pressed into the cable by the normal force. The non-positive connection is particularly effective if the cable has an elastic layer or insulation is surrounded, such as an elastic material made of polymers.

Fig. 1

eine perspektivische Ansicht eines Steckers, bevor er in einer Installationsposition zusammengesetzt ist;

Fig.2

eine Schnittdarstellung durch den in Fig. 1 gezeigten Stecker;

Fig. 3

eine schematische Ansicht einer Klammer des in Fig. 1 gezeigten Steckers;

Fig. 4

eine perspektivische Darstellung des in Fig. 1 gezeigten Steckers in einer Installationsposition;

Fig. 5

eine Schnittdarstellung des in Fig. 4 gezeigten Steckers und

Fig. 6

eine Schnittdarstellung durch den in Fig. 4 gezeigten Stecker durch eine Schnittebene, die zu der Schnittebene der Fig. 5 parallel versetzt ist.

Individual embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to figures. Individual features of the embodiments shown in the figures can be combined with other embodiments. Show it:

Fig. 1

a perspective view of a connector before it is assembled in an installation position;

Fig. 2

a sectional view through the in Fig. 1 shown connector;

Fig. 3

a schematic view of a bracket of the in Fig. 1 shown connector;

Fig. 4

a perspective view of the in Fig. 1 shown connector in an installation position;

Fig. 5

a sectional view of the in Fig. 4 shown connector and

Fig. 6

a sectional view through the in Fig. 4 shown connector through a cutting plane that to the cutting plane of the Fig. 5 is offset in parallel.

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a connector 10. The connector 10 is in Fig. 1 not shown in its installation position, but in the installation position shortly before assembly.

The plug 10 has a connector 20, a cable 30, a clip 40 and a cap 50. The connector 20 is designed as a plug head, which is intended to be connected to a socket or socket. In Fig. 1 the connector 10 is designed as an RJ connector. RJ means 'Registered Jack', e.g. an Ethernet connector. In alternative embodiments, the plug can be designed as any other plug that is used to establish at least one electrical contact between at least one within the cable arranged metallic line with an electrical contact of a socket is used.

Figure 2 shows a sectional view through the in Fig. 1 shown connector 10. The cable 30 has a first cable end 31 which is connected to the connector 10. The first cable end 31 makes electrical contact with the connector 20. The connector 20 has a neck section 22, into which the first cable end 31 is inserted. The neck section 22 is essentially ring-shaped and serves to receive the cable 30. The neck section 22 has an inside diameter which essentially corresponds to the outside diameter of the cable 30.

The cable 30 runs through the bracket 40, which is a single component in FIG Figure 3 is shown. The clip 40 is designed in the form of a crown which has a ring section 43. The ring section 43 has an inner diameter which is sufficiently large that the cable 30 can be guided through the ring section 43. In the Figures 1 and 2 the cable 30 is laid through the ring section 43 of the bracket 40 such that the cylinder axis of the ring section 43 essentially coincides with the central axis of the cable 30. The inside diameter of the ring section 43 is so large that the clamp 40 can be displaced in the direction of propagation of the cable 30 relative to the cable 30 threaded through the ring section 43.

The clamp 40 has four connecting elements 41, which are essentially elongated and extend from the ring section 43 to the plug connector 20. The connecting elements 41 contact in the in Figures 1 and 2 shown position of the plug 10 not the plug head 20 and are arranged contact-free to the neck portion 22 of the connector 20. In each case two connecting elements 41 are arranged on opposite sides with respect to the cable 30. Each connecting member 41 has an inward engaging portion 41A. The engagement section 41A is hook-shaped and faces the cable, in particular the cable center axis.

Furthermore, each connecting element 41 has latching elements 41B which consist of a plurality of latching lugs located one behind the other in the direction of propagation of the cable. The latching elements 41B are arranged on each connecting element 41 in such a way that they face the engagement section 41A and point outward from the connecting element 41 and away from the cable.

In an alternative embodiment, the locking elements can also be arranged at a different position of the clip.

Furthermore, the clamp 40 has four clamping elements 42, of which two clamping elements 42 are located opposite one another with respect to the cable 30 or are arranged opposite one another. The clamping elements 42 point away from the ring section 43 substantially parallel to the direction of cable propagation from the plug connector 20.

The connecting elements 41 and the clamping elements 42 are each elongated and point from the ring section 43 in opposite directions. This results in the crown-like shape of the clip 40. In contrast to a normal crown, the clip 40 has "crown points" not only in one direction but in two opposite directions. The connecting elements 41 and the clamping elements 42 are offset from one another in the jacket direction of the cable 30 or in the ring direction of the ring section 43. In the exemplary embodiments shown in the figures, each with four connecting elements and four clamping elements, the connecting elements 41 are offset from the clamping elements 42 by 45 ° to one another.

In general, the displacement of the connecting elements 41 and the clamping elements 42 in the jacket direction of the cable corresponds essentially to 360 ° divided by the total number of connecting elements and clamping elements.

An even number of clamping elements is preferred since one is static due to pairs of clamping elements lying opposite one another with respect to the cable good clamp connection can be established.

Each clamping member 42 has a hook portion 42A formed at the end of the clamping member 42 opposite to the ring portion 43. The hook portions 42A face inward toward the cable 30.

Both the connecting elements 41 and the clamping elements 42 are designed to be movable radially inwards and / or outwards at the spreading end, which lies opposite the ring section 43, so that the hook sections 42A and the engagement sections 41B are movable inwards and / or outwards.

The clamping element 40 can be formed from plastic, plastic, metal or a metal alloy.

Figures 1 and 2 furthermore show the cap 50. The cap 50 is essentially cylindrical and comprises the cable 30. The inside diameter of the cap 50 is larger than the outside diameter of the cable 30, so that the cable 30 can be easily inserted into the cap 50. In contrast to the diameter of the neck portion 22 and the inner diameter of the ring portion 43, a cavity is formed between the cable 30 and the cap 50, which cavity is designed and intended to receive both the cable 30 and the clip 40.

The central axis of the cap 50 essentially coincides with the axis of propagation of the cable 30. The cap 50 can be easily moved relative to the direction of propagation of the cable.

On the inside of the cap 50, a latching section 52 is formed, which faces the cable 30 and is designed as a ring pointing radially inwards. The size of the locking section 52 is matched to the size of the locking elements 41B. The detent portion 52 is located closer to the cylinder end of the cap 50 facing the connector 20 than the opposite end of the cap 50.

At the end of the cap 50, which faces away from the plug connector 20, the cap 50 has a conical section 51, at which the inside diameter of the cap 50 narrows when viewed against the direction of insertion of the plug 10.

Figure 4 shows the in Fig. 1 shown connector 10 in an installation position. In the installation position, the cap 50 is pushed over the clip 40 in the direction of the plug connector 20 such that the plug connector 20, the clip 40, the cap 50 and the cable 30 are fixed relative to one another.

Figure 5 shows in a sectional view a sectional view through the plug 10, as in Fig. 4 is shown in the installation position. The locking section 52 of the cap 50 is locked with the locking elements 41B of the connecting elements 41. The latching connection in particular provides a positive connection against the plug direction of the plug 10.

The cap 50 is arranged with the connecting elements 41 pushed up to the plug connector 20. The engaging portions 41A of the connecting elements 41 are arranged in receptacles 21 of the neck portion 22. The receptacles 21 are formed in the neck section 22 of the connector 20. In the installation position, the hook-shaped engagement sections 51a are arranged in the receptacles 21 in such a way that a positive connection is provided against the direction of insertion of the plug 10. The cap 50 encompasses the connecting elements 41 from the outside in such a way that the engagement sections 41A are fixed in the receptacles 21. The cap 50 blocks a release of the positive connection of the clamp 40 to the plug connector 20 by a relative movement of the engagement sections 41A away from the cable.

In Fig. 5 It is shown that from the inside of the cable 30 to the outside, the cable 30 is initially at least partially surrounded by the neck portion 22, which is surrounded by the clip 40 (in particular the connecting elements 41 of the clip 40), which in turn is surrounded by the cap 50 from the outside are surrounded. Due to the snap connection between the cap 50 and the bracket 40 is a Moving the cap 50 blocked in the direction of propagation of the cable away from the connector 20. The cap 50 in turn holds the clamp 40 fixed relative to the connector 20.

Figure 6 shows in a further sectional view a section through the in Fig. 4 shown connector 10. The cutting plane is offset parallel to the cutting plane of the Fig. 5 , In Fig. 6 the plug 10 is shown in its installation position. In the installation position, the conical section 51 of the cap 50 is drawn onto the clamp 40 to such an extent that the clamping elements 42 of the clamp 40 abut the conical section 51. As a result, the clamping elements 42 are pressed radially inward toward the cable 30, the hook sections 42A in particular being pressed into an outer insulation of the cable 30. This creates a clamp connection between the clamp 40 and the cable 30. The conical section 51 of the cap 50 causes a radial normal force on the clamping elements 42, which brings about a non-positive connection between the clamp 40 and the cable 30.

The connector 10 provides strain relief between the connector and the cable via a crown-shaped clip. The cap 50 can be locked on the outside of the clip 40 on the locking elements 41B.

The cap 50 also has recesses 53 for locking with the clip 40. To assemble the connector 10 in its installation position, the clip 40 is easily displaceable, also against the hook direction of the connecting elements 41 and clamping elements 42. The clip 40 is first hooked to the connector 20 as a connector. The cap 50 is then pushed over the clamp 40, so that the conical section 51 of the cap 50 presses the clamping elements 42 into the cable 30 as claws until a suitable latching position between the latching elements 41B and the latching section 52 is reached. The clip 40 to the connector 20 is secured by the cap 50 against opening.

In the embodiment shown in the figures, only two Connection elements 41 held by the cap 50 in the receptacles 21. The two other connecting elements 41 are not surrounded on the outside by the cap 50, which has the cutouts 53 at these points. The plug 10 can thus be opened more easily. At least one of the recesses 53 is used for a nose-groove guide. For this purpose, the plug connector 20 has a groove 23. In the installation position, the groove 23 engages in one of the cutouts 53 in the cap 50.

The plug 10 can be installed easily and without special tools. It can be designed and provided to be able to be opened only with the aid of a special tool. The clip 40 is also designed so that it can be used for a large number of different cable diameters.

Reference list

10

plug

20th

Connectors

21

admission

22

Neck section

23

groove

30

electric wire

31

first cable end

40

clip

41

Fastener

41A

Engagement section

41B

Locking element

42

clamping element

42A

Hook section

43

Ring section

50

cap

51

conical section

52

Rest section

53

Recess

Claims (12)

1. A plug having

   - a connector (20) having an annular neck portion (22),

   - a cable (30) which is connected to the connector (20), wherein a first cable end (31) of the cable (30) is introduced into the neck portion (22) of the connector (20);

   - a bracket (40) having at least one connecting element (41) for connecting the bracket (40) to the connector (20) and at least one clamping element (42) for producing a clamping connection of the bracket (40) with the cable (30), and

   - a cap (50) which, in an installation position, comprises the bracket (40) at least partially so that the cap (50) fixes both an engagement portion (41A) of the connecting element (41) in a receptacle (21) of the neck portion (22) of the connector (20) and fixes the clamping element (42) in a clamping connection with the cable (30).
2. The plug according to Claim 1, wherein the plug (10) is configured as a RJ plug.
3. The plug according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the bracket (40) has an annular portion (43) which surrounds the cable (30) and which is configured to be displaceable relative to the cable (30) against and in the cable expansion direction.
4. The plug according to Claim 3, wherein the connecting element (41) points from the annular portion (43) to the connector (20).
5. The plug according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the clamping element (42) has a hook portion (42A) which is pressed in the installation position from the cap (50) into the cable (30).
6. The plug according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cap (50) is configured in a substantially cylindrical shape, and wherein the cylinder axis of the cap (50) coincides substantially with the central axis of the cable (30).
7. The plug according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cap (50) is displaceable relative to the cable (30) if the plug (10) is not in the installation position.
8. The plug according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cap (50) has a conical portion (51) which, in the installation position, presses from externally onto the clamping element (42) so that the clamping element (42) provides a clamping connection between the bracket (40) and the cable (30).
9. The plug according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the bracket (40) has at least one latching element (41B) and the cap (50) has at least one latching portion (52) for latching the cap (50) to the bracket (40).
10. The plug according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the connecting element (41) and the clamping element (42) are configured offset against one another in the casing direction of the cable (30).
11. The plug according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the connecting element (41) enters a positive connection with the connector (20) in the installation position.
12. The plug according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cap (50), in the installation position, exerts a normal force on the clamping element (42) in such a way that a non-positive connection between the bracket (40) and the cable (30) is provided.

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