Abstract:
A socket housing comprises an inner part and an outer part, the inner part being formed to receive at least one electrically conductive contact element, and a wall of the outer part defining a cavity. Therein, the inner part and the outer part are arranged adjoining one another. An external diameter of the inner part is equal to or less than an internal diameter of the outer part. The socket housing is formed in one piece, the inner part and the outer part being connected via a crosspiece formed as a predetermined breaking point.

Description:
The invention relates to a socket housing in accordance with the preamble of claim  11 . 
     BACKGROUND 
     Socket housings for receiving electrically conductive contact elements and for producing electrically conductive connections are known in a large number of embodiments. Frequently, such socket housings have an inner housing for receiving the contact elements and an outer housing for receiving the inner housing. Frequently a sealing element for producing a tight socket housing may be arranged between the inner housing and the outer housing. A locking hook may be present in the inner housing as second contact securing means for fixing the contact elements. 
     One aim which is of prime importance in the configuration of such socket housings is the possibility of inexpensive manufacture and assembly. This aim can be achieved for example by a reduction in the number of individual components which are necessary. If the components of the socket housing are produced by injection moulding, then each additional component requires its own dies and moulds. In addition, the possibilities of mis-assembly increase with the complexity of the component. 
     DE 298 05 026 U1 describes a housing for an electrical plug. Conductive contact elements can be arranged and fixed by a locking mechanism in the housing. 
     EP 0 164 211 B1 describes a moulded insulator housing made from thermoplastic material, into which an electrically conductive terminal can be inserted. The terminal can be fixed in the housing by means of a terminal lock. 
     EP 0 823 137 B1 describes an electrical connector with electrical contacts which can be fixed in the housing of the connector via primary retaining means and secondary retaining means. The secondary retaining means in this case are initially connected to the housing of the connector by breakable connecting parts. For application of the secondary retaining means, the breakable connecting parts are broken. 
     SUMMARY 
     The object of the present invention is thus to provide a socket housing which is improved compared with known socket housings. This object is achieved by a socket housing having the features of Claim  11 . Preferred developments are set forth in the dependent claims. 
     A socket housing according to the invention comprises an inner part and an outer part, the inner part being formed to receive at least one electrically conductive contact element and a wall of the outer part defining a cavity. In this case, the outer part and the inner part are arranged adjoining one another. Further, an external diameter of the inner part is equal to or less than an internal diameter of the outer part. Furthermore, the socket housing is formed in one piece, the inner part and the outer part being connected via a crosspiece formed as a predetermined breaking point. Advantageously, the one-piece embodiment of the socket housing permits particularly simple and inexpensive production in only one operation. It is likewise advantageous that the assembly of the socket housing is simplified by the one-piece embodiment. 
     Preferably the crosspiece is arranged in circumambient manner, at least in sections, on an end-face end of the wall of the outer part facing the inner part. Advantageously, then the force necessary for breaking the crosspiece can be set within a wide range by the thickness of the crosspiece and the angular range covered by the circumambient arrangement of the crosspiece. 
     Particularly preferably, the crosspiece can be severed by exerting a force which is directed in the direction of the outer part on the inner part and/or a force which is directed in the direction of the inner part on the outer part such that the inner part, at least in sections, can be inserted into the cavity of the outer part. Advantageously this permits particularly simple and rapid assembly of the socket housing. 
     In a development of the socket housing, the inner part has at least one locking hook on its outer surface, and the outer part has at least one locking slot in its wall. In this case, the at least one locking hook and the at least one locking slot are arranged such that the at least one locking hook engages in the at least one locking slot if the inner part is inserted into the cavity of the outer part. Advantageously, inadvertent withdrawal of the inner part from the cavity of the outer part can then be prevented by engaging the at least one locking hook in the at least one locking slot. Furthermore, the engagement of the at least one locking hook in the at least one locking slot can represent a way of checking whether the inner part has been inserted sufficiently far into the cavity of the outer part. 
     In a particularly preferred embodiment of the socket housing, the at least one locking hook has a chamfer which faces the outer part. Advantageously, this chamfer then facilitates engagement of the at least one locking hook in the at least one locking slot. 
     In an additional development of the socket housing, a section of the wall of the outer part forms a snap closure, with an aperture, which closure is connected via at least one spring element to the other sections of the wall, the snap closure being able to be deflected against the other sections of the wall. Furthermore, a section of the wall adjacent to the snap closure forms a stop which limits the deflection ability of the snap closure in at least one spatial direction. Advantageously, the snap closure can then serve for locking a plug, which is to be connected to the socket housing, with the socket housing. One further advantage is that the stop prevents deflection of the snap closure beyond the limits of elastic deformability. This means that damage to the socket housing can be avoided. 
     Preferably the stop has a stop projection facing the snap closure. Advantageously, the stop projection then prevents deflection of the snap closure beyond the limits of elastic deformability. 
     In another development of the socket housing, the inner part has an elastically pivotable lever which can be latched with the inner part, the lever being formed to fix, in the latched position, a contact element which is received in the inner part. Advantageously, the elastically pivotable lever can then serve as a second contact securing means. 
     Preferably the inner part has a sealing region on which a sealing element can be arranged. Advantageously this permits sealing of the socket housing. 
     Preferably the socket housing is produced from a thermoplastic material by injection moulding. Advantageously the manufacture of the socket housing is then particularly inexpensive. 
     The invention will be explained in greater detail below with reference to figures. These show: 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1 : a perspective view of a socket housing obliquely from above; 
         FIG. 2 : a perspective view of a socket housing obliquely from below; 
         FIG. 3 : a section through the socket housing along its longitudinal axis; 
         FIG. 4 : a further perspective view of the socket housing; and 
         FIG. 5 : a perspective view of the socket housing in the assembled state. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  shows a perspective oblique view of a socket housing  100 . The socket housing  100  may serve for receiving electric contact elements which are for example manufactured from copper, and may be provided for connection with a suitably configured plug. The socket housing  100  may for example serve for producing an electrical connection in a motor vehicle. The socket housing  100  is formed in one piece, consists preferably of a thermoplastic material and has preferably been produced by injection moulding. 
     The socket housing  100  comprises an inner part  200  and an outer part  700 . The outer part  700  has a basic form approximately in the form of a cylindrical casing. In this case, the outer part  700  consists by way of example of a wall  730  which surrounds a cavity  720 . The wall  730  comprises a first arcuate wall section  740  and a second arcuate wall section  750  which is located opposite the first arcuate wall section  740 . The arcuate wall sections  740 ,  750  have approximately the form of segments of a cylindrical casing, and their outwards-curved inner sides face each other. The arcuate wall sections  740 ,  750  are connected together by an upper flat wall section  760  and a lower flat wall section  770 . The upper flat wall section  760  and the lower flat wall section  770  are formed approximately flat and oriented plane-parallel to each other. 
     The inner part  200  has an elongate form with a longitudinal axis which is coaxial to the longitudinal axis of the outer part  700  which is substantially in the form of a cylindrical casing. In the direction of the longitudinal axis of the inner part  200 , the inner part  200  can be divided roughly into a first section  400 , a second section  410  and a third section  420 . The sections  400 ,  410 ,  420  in this case directly adjoin each other in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the inner part  200 . A first end face  280  of the first section  400  of the inner part  200  is directly adjacent to a second end face  780  of the outer part  700 . 
     The cavity  720  which is surrounded by the wall  730  of the outer part  700  has an internal diameter  710  in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the outer part  700 . The inner part  200  has an external diameter  210  in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the inner part  200 . The external diameter  210  is smaller than the internal diameter  710 , so that there is space for the inner part  200  in the cavity  720  of the outer part. 
     The outer part  700  and the inner part  200  are for example connected together via a two-part crosspiece  600 . On the outer part  700 , the crosspiece  600  in this embodiment is arranged on the end of the two arcuate wall sections  740 ,  750  which faces the second end face  780 . On the inner part  200 , the crosspiece  600  in this embodiment is arranged on the end of the first section  400  of the inner part  200  which faces the first end face  280 . In the embodiment illustrated, the crosspiece  600  is divided into two sections which are separated from each other, the first of which extends on the first arcuate wall section  740  and the second of which extends on the second arcuate wall section  750 . The crosspiece  600  extends along the entire angular range swept by the first arcuate wall section  740  and the second arcuate wall section  750 . In alternative embodiments, the two sections of the crosspiece  600  may however also be limited to a partial section of the angles covered by the wall sections  740 ,  750 . Alternatively, the crosspiece  600  may also be provided only either on the first arcuate wall section  740  or only on the second arcuate wall section  750 . The crosspiece  600  connects the inner part  200  to the outer part  700  and serves as a predetermined breaking point. The force necessary to break the crosspiece  600  can be established via the length of the crosspiece  600  and the strength of the material forming the crosspiece  600 . The crosspiece  600  can also be referred to as an integral hinge or as a tear seam. 
     In the interior of the inner part  200  there are provided for example two approximately cylindrical cutouts oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis of the inner part  200 , which cutouts serve as contact element receptacles  250 . Alternatively, also only one or more than two contact element receptacles  250  might be provided. Electrically conductive contact elements may be arranged in the contact element receptacles  250 . The contact elements may for example consist of copper. 
     If a force directed in the direction of the outer part  700  is exerted on the inner part  200  while the outer part  700  is held stationary, or if a force directed in the direction of the inner part  200  is exerted on the outer part  700  while the inner part  200  is held stationary, then the crosspiece  600  connecting the inner part  200  to the outer part  700  will break or tear if the force is sufficiently great. Since the external diameter  210  of the inner part  200  is less than the internal diameter  710  of the outer part  700 , the inner part  200  can then be inserted in sections into the cavity  720  of the outer part  700 . The length of the outer part  700  in the longitudinal direction is calculated such that there is space for the first section  400  and the second section  410  of the inner part  200  completely in the cavity  720  of the outer part  700 . The third section  420  of the inner part  200 , projects beyond the end face end of the outer part  700  even when the inner part  200  is inserted into the cavity  720  of the outer part  700 . 
     The upper flat wall section  760  of the wall  730  of the outer part  700  has a first locking slot  810  and a second locking slot  820 . The locking slots  810 ,  820  are formed as elongate apertures which are oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the outer part  700 . The first section  400  of the inner part  200  has a first locking hook  310  and a second locking hook  320 . The locking hooks  310 ,  320  are formed as elongate projections which are arranged parallel to each other and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the inner part  200  on a surface of the first section  400  of the inner part  200 . If the inner part  200  is inserted into the outer part  700  once the crosspiece  600  has been broken, the first locking hook  310  will latch in the first locking slot  810  and the second locking hook  320  in the second locking slot  820 . Due to the latching of the locking hooks  310 ,  320  in the locking slots  810 ,  820 , inadvertent withdrawal of the inner part  200  from the outer part  700  is prevented after the insertion of the inner part  200  into the cavity  720  of the outer part  700 . In order to facilitate the insertion of the inner part  200  into the cavity  720  of the outer part  700 , an edge of the second locking hook  320  which faces the outer part  700  may have a chamfer  325 . The chamfer  325  may however also be dispensed with in a simplified embodiment. In embodiments which are further simplified, one or both locking hooks  310 ,  320  and one or both of the locking slots  810 ,  820  may also be dispensed with. 
     The second section  410  of the inner part  200  forms a sealing region  220  which is delimited with respect to the third section  420  by a circumambient first stop  230  and with respect to the first section  400  by a circumambient second stop  235 . A sealing element, for example a sealing ring, may be arranged in the sealing region  220 . The sealing element arranged in the sealing region  220  may serve to seal off the space between the inner part  200  and the outer part  700  if the inner part  200  has been inserted into the cavity  720  of the outer part  700 . 
     The third section  420  of the inner part  200  has a lever which is connected elastically on one side to the third section  420  of the inner part  200  and may serve as a second contact securing means  240 . This will be explained in greater detail below with reference to  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 2  shows a perspective oblique view of the socket housing  100  from below. It can be seen in  FIG. 2  that the lower flat wall section  770  of the wall  730  of the outer part  700  has cutouts through which a snap closure  830  is exposed in the plane of the lower flat wall section  770  and is connected only via two elastically deformable spring arms  850  to the other sections of the lower flat wall section  770 . The spring arms  850  permit elastic deflection of the snap closure  830  against the other sections of the lower flat wall section  770 . The snap closure  830  furthermore has an aperture  840 . 
     If a plug which fits the socket housing  100  is plugged into the outer part  700  from the side remote from the inner part  200 , a projection located on this plug can latch in the aperture  840  of the snap closure  830  and thereby secure the plug against inadvertent separation from the socket housing  100 . The elastic deformability of the spring arms  850  in this case makes it possible for the projection on the plug to be able to slide past the snap closure  830  during fitting-together and finally to be able to engage in the aperture  840 . 
     Deflection of the snap closure  830  beyond the limits of the elastic deformability of the spring arms  850  can result in damage to the socket housing  100 . Therefore a section of the lower flat wall section  770  which is adjacent to the snap closure  830  in the direction of the inner part  200  forms a stop  860  with a stop projection  870  projecting in the direction of the snap closure  830 . The stop  860  with the stop projection  870  prevents excessive deflection of the snap closure  830  in the direction of the stop  860 . Since the snap closure  830  during fitting together of the socket housing  100  with a plug is deflected principally in the direction of the stop  860 , the stop  860  and stop projection  870  prevent permanent damage to the socket housing  100  which might occur during fitting-together. 
       FIG. 3  shows a section through the socket housing  100  parallel to the longitudinal axis of the socket housing  100 . It can be seen from  FIG. 3  that the second contact securing means  240  has a first end which is connected in elastically deformable manner to the inner part  200 . The elastic connection between the second contact securing means  240  and the inner part  200 , permits pivoting of the second contact securing means  240 . A second end of the second contact securing means  240  has a latch hook  243 . The third section  420  of the inner part  200  has an aperture to the contact element receptacle  250 . By pivoting the second contact securing means  240 , the latch hook  243  of the second contact securing means  240  can be introduced into the aperture of the third section  420  and latched there with a latch projection  246 . As soon as the latch hook  243  is latched to the latch projection  246 , the second contact securing means  240  can no longer be pivoted. Furthermore, the latch hook  243  of the second contact securing means  240  in the latched state projects into the region of the one or more contact element receptacles  250 . If contact elements are arranged in the contact element receptacles  250 , these are fixed in the contact element receptacles  250  by the latch hook  243  of the second contact securing means  240 . 
       FIG. 4  shows a further perspective view of the socket housing  100 . Here, the illustration of  FIG. 4  allows a view from the side of the outer part  700  which is remote from the inner part  200  into the cavity  720  surrounded by the wall  730  of the outer part  700 . At the transition between the outer part  700  and the inner part  200 , the section of the crosspiece  600  arranged on the second arcuate wall section  750  can be seen. The first arcuate wall section  740  has a corresponding section of the crosspiece  600 , but this is not visible in  FIG. 4 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 , the crosspiece extends along the entire angle swept by the second arcuate wall section  750 . In alternative embodiments, the crosspiece  600  may however also be provided merely in a partial angular range of the arcuate wall sections  740 ,  750  or as attachment via crosspieces. 
       FIG. 5  shows a further perspective view of the socket housing  100 . In the illustration of  FIG. 5 , the inner part  200  of the socket housing  100  is inserted into the cavity  720  surrounded by the wall  730  of the outer part  700 . Thus the crosspiece in the illustration of  FIG. 5  is severed or broken or torn apart. The first section  400  and the second section  410  of the inner part  200  are arranged completely in the cavity  720  of the outer part  700 . The third section  420  projects so far beyond the outer part  700  that the end of the second contact securing means  240  which has the latch hooks  243  is arranged directly next to the upper flat wall section  760  of the wall  730  of the outer part  700 . The first end face  280  of the first section  400  of the inner part  200  closes off flush with the end of the wall  730  of the outer part  700  which is remote from the crosspiece  600 . The first locking hook  310  of the inner part  200  is engaged in the first locking slot  810  of the upper flat wall section  760  of the wall  730  of the outer part  700 . The second locking hook  320  is engaged in the second locking slot  820 . 
     The socket housing  100  may be produced in one piece, for example by injection moulding. In this case, the inner part  200  and the outer part  700  are connected together by a crosspiece  600 . During the assembly of the socket housing, the crosspiece  600  is broken by exerting a force on the inner part  200  and the outer part  700 , which separates the inner part  200  and the outer part  700  from each other. At the same time as the breaking of the crosspiece  600 , the inner part  200  is inserted into the outer part  700 , where it latches in its end position. The advantages of this socket housing  100  according to the invention lie in the simple and inexpensive production and the simple, inexpensive possibility of assembly which is not prone to failure.