Abstract:
In order to latch a separable plug-type connection that is composed of an upper housing part and a lower housing part with an axially displaceable unlatching ring that encompasses the upper housing part, the invention proposes to provide the unlatching ring with actuating tabs that act upon latching elements arranged between the upper housing part, the lower housing part and the unlatching ring. When pressure is exerted upon the actuating tabs, the latching mechanism is released first and the interlocking mechanism is released when the connection is separated.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention pertains to a latching device for connector housing halves in the form of an upper housing part and a lower housing part with an axially displaceable unlatching ring that encompasses the upper housing part. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   A latching device of this type is required for positively interlocking two connector housings in the joined state and for preventing an unintentional separation of the connection due to vibrations or tensile forces. 
   DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART 
   DE 42 05 960 C2 discloses a connector with interlockable housing halves, in which the latching elements are provided with springable snap-in pawls that are arranged in a sleeve surrounding the two housing halves in the connected state, wherein the snap-in pawls arranged in one housing half engage into recesses in the other housing half. The snap-in pawls can be levered out of the recesses by pulling on the sleeve such that the connector is unlatched. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention is based on the objective of additionally developing a latching device for connectors of the initially cited type in such a way that an additional latch is provided in addition to the interlocking of the two connectors. 
   This objective is attained in that the unlatching ring features at least one actuating tab that is detached on three sides and can be moved inward, wherein a release pawl with an inwardly directed angled section is integrally formed onto said actuating tab, in that an outwardly directed locking pawl with an angled section is integrally formed onto the upper housing part, and in that the angled section is arranged such that it contacts, in the latched state of the connector, the angled section of the locking pawl that is directed outward from the upper housing part. 
   The advantages attained with the invention can be seen, in particular, in that the proposed connector realizes a combination of an interlock and an additional latch between a connector and a mating connector. 
   In this case, an interlocking mechanism that can be subjected to high loads and is realized in the form of a so-called push-pull interlock is combined with a latch in connector housings that consist of metallic or non-metallic material, wherein said latch is arranged in an unlatching ring that encompasses both housings. 
   Interlocking and latching means are provided in the unlatching ring, wherein it is advantageous that the interlocking and latching means initially produce an interlock and subsequently an additional latch between both connector housings. 
   Actuating tabs provided on the unlatching ring make it possible to release the latching means and, if pulling on the plug in a nearly simultaneous fashion, also the interlocking means of the connector. 
   The latching means consist of the same material as the connector and the unlatching ring, and the interlocking mechanism preferably consists of a metallic material, i.e., it is made of springable sheet metal, while the snap-in tabs are made of the material of the mating connector. 
   In this case, the punched-out interlocking mechanism of sheet metal contains at least one window-like cutout, preferably two separate cut-outs, into which engage corresponding snap-in tabs that are integrally formed onto the mating connector. 
   A metallic interlocking mechanism of sheet metal is advantageous in that the sheet metal of the interlocking mechanism can be utilized as a so-called PE-contact for transmitting the ground reference signal regardless of the connector housing material. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     One embodiment of the invention is described in greater detail below with reference to the figures. The figures show: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective representation of a combined connector; 
       FIGS. 2   a ,  2   b  and  2   c  are several variations of a sheet metal interlocking mechanism; 
       FIG. 3  is an installed sheet metal interlocking mechanism; 
       FIG. 4  is the latching mechanism in the unlatching ring; 
       FIG. 5  is a side view of the interlocking mechanism, and 
       FIGS. 6   a ,  6   b ,  6   c  and  6   d  illustrate the function of the unlatching mechanism. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     FIG. 1  shows a perspective representation of a combined connector  1  that consists of a connector  2  and a mating connector  3  with a mounting flange integrally formed thereon. 
   The connector and the mating connector are referred to as the upper housing part  20  and the lower housing part  30  in the following description. 
   Both housing parts are encompassed by an unlatching ring  10 , wherein the front half of the unlatching ring is not shown such that at least part of the interlocking and latching mechanism is visible in the figure. 
   Within the unlatching ring  10 , one respective interlocking plate  40  is fixed on the upper housing part  20  as shown on both narrow sides of the housing parts. 
   An angled bend  44  of the interlocking plate  40  extends over a peripheral collar  21  on the lower edge of the upper housing part, namely as far as two snap-in tabs  32  that protrude from the lower housing part  30  and engage with the interlocking plate. 
   A narrow strip  22  is arranged above the interlocking plate  40 , wherein an integral part of the upper housing part that is referred to as the locking pawl  25  below protrudes from the center of the interlocking plate a short distance underneath the narrow strip. 
   One aspect that is not clearly visible in the figure is that the locking pawl  25  is integrally formed onto the narrow side  23  such that it is partially spaced apart from the wall and a slot  24  is formed, into which the interlocking plate  40  can be inserted until it is interlocked underneath the strip  22  (in this respect, see also  FIG. 5 ). 
   A few variations of the interlocking plate  40  to be interlocked on both narrow sides  23  of the upper housing part  2  are illustrated in detail in  FIGS. 2   a–c.    
   The interlocking plate is realized in the form of a punched metallic blank and provided with a window-like cutout  42 , wherein the cutout may be realized in the form of a common window or divided into two separate windows (see  FIGS. 2   a ,  2   b ). 
   The lower edge is angled in the form of a bevel  43  such that a ramp is formed that subjects the plate to an excursion when it contacts the snap-in tabs  32  on the lower housing part  3 . 
   In addition, the two vertical braces  44  are bent at an angle approximately in their center such that the lower edge can extend over the collar  21  on the upper housing part  20  and be interlocked with the snap-in tabs  32  of the lower housing part at this location. 
   A holding contour  41  is provided approximately in the center of the interlocking plate  40 , wherein the holding contour fixes the locking plate on the narrow sides  23  of the upper housing part, namely in a slot-shaped recess  24  provided for this purpose. 
   A holding and guiding device  45  is provided on the upper edge of the locking plate and bent at a right angle, wherein this holding and guiding device makes it possible to hold the unlatching ring  10  placed thereover in a stabilizing fashion. 
   In another variation shown in the figures ( FIG. 2   c ), the interlocking plate is realized in the form of a so-called PE-spring contact  46 . 
     FIGS. 2   a–c  also show different holding contours  41  for fixing the interlocking plate on the narrow sides of the upper housing part. 
     FIG. 3  shows a detail of the upper housing part  20  with its narrow side  23 , on which the interlocking plate  40  is engaged. 
   This figure shows how the locking plate is fixed behind an upwardly protruding surface element  28  that is formed of the collar  21  and spaced apart from the narrow side  23 , namely in the thusly formed slot  24 . The locking pawl  25  is arranged on the surface element  28  and integrally formed over a corner of the surface element on two sides while the diagonally opposite corner is detached such that a pocket-like interlocking structure is formed. 
   During the unlatching process, a release pawl  15  engages into this pocket  27  as described further below. 
     FIG. 4  shows an enlarged detail of a perspective representation of the upper housing part  20 , wherein a section of the unlatching ring  10  is omitted in order to show the other components required for realizing the latch. 
   The part of the unlatching ring  10  shown on the left side features a protruding actuating tab  14  that is detached on three sides and onto the inner side of which the release pawl  15  is integrally formed. The locking pawl  25  that protrudes from the narrow side of the upper housing part  20  is arranged above the release pawl  15 . 
   This figure also shows two interlocking elements  12  that protrude from the unlatching ring and serve for respectively connecting or interlocking the second half of the not-shown unlocking ring section. 
     FIG. 5  shows a side view of the two interlocked housing parts  20 ,  30 , the unlatching ring  10  and the arrangement of the interlocking plate  40  on the upper housing part  20 . 
   This figure shows how the interlocking plate  40  is inserted into the slot  24  behind the surface element  28  and secured from sliding out by the strip  22 . 
   In addition, this figure shows the engagement of the interlocking plate  40  on the snap-in tab  32  on the lower housing part  30 , as well as the beveled element  18  that is positioned underneath the bevel  43  and integrally formed onto the unlatching ring  10 . 
   In this respect, it should be noted that the beveled elements  18  are arranged in the corner regions of the unlatching ring and therefore situated outside the arrangement of the snap-in tabs  32  on the lower housing part. 
     FIGS. 6   a–d  show the function of the interlocking and latching mechanism in the form of a special section through the narrow sides  23 ,  33  of the two interconnected housing halves of  20 ,  30 . 
   In the latched state, the two interlocking elements, the locking pawl  25  and the release pawl  15  are arranged directly on top of one another with their angled sections  16 ,  26  that lie perpendicularly opposite of another ( FIG. 6   b ). 
   When pressure is exerted upon the actuating tab  14  on the unlatching ring  10  (in accordance with the arrow D), the lower release pawl  15  is pressed inward into the pocket  27  situated underneath the locking pawl  25  ( FIG. 6   c ). This releases the interlocking mechanism and the unlatching ring  10  can be raised (in accordance with the arrow Z) ( FIG. 6   d ). 
   The beveled elements  18  of the unlatching ring  10  that are arranged on the interlocking plate  40  underneath the bevel  43  simultaneously contact one another such that the lower section of the interlocking plate is pulled laterally outward and the interlock with the snap-in tabs  32  on the lower housing part  30  is disengaged, i.e., the upper housing part  20  or the connector  2  is completely separated from the lower housing part  30  or the mating connector  3 , respectively.