Audio intercom plug connector

Presented and described is, amongst other items, an intercom plug-in connector (10) for audio connections, comprising a cylindrical housing (19) extending in the axial direction (27), in particular with a circular, or essentially circular, cross-section, whose first axial end (20) is formed by a plug-in extension (22) that on its front face (39) has a plurality of sockets (23a, 23b, 23c, 23d), in particular four sockets positioned relative to one another in an approximately V-shape, for contact pins (24a, 24b), and which at its second axial end (21) has a phone jack (25) for a phone plug (14).

The invention relates to an intercom plug-in connector for audio connections.

The applicant has been developing and distributing intercom networks for decades. These take the form of networks for real-time audio communications, with which activities, events, sporting events, etc. can be transmitted, commented upon, and monitored.

Intercom networks can have different members. As a rule, stations are connected directly or by way of mobile end user devices such as belt packs, microphones or headsets to so-called exchanges—as centers of an intercom network.

By way of example only, reference is made here to the following German patent applications of the applicant, in which such intercom networks and their components are described: DE 10 2014 011 963 [US 2016/0050505], DE 10 2014 104 811, DE 10 2016 123 966, and DE 10 2016 123 968.

The headsets and microphones used in the professional intercom field usually have a four-pin plug-in connector that is designed as a female plug-in connector. This is also referred to as an XLR 4-pin female connector.

In particular, the headsets used in the professional intercom field have a connection cable, at the end of which cable is fitted an XLR 4-pin female plug-in connector or plug.

The belt packs or stations to be carried by the operator have a corresponding male connector (housing socket) that is designed to accommodate an XLR 4-pin female plug-in connector.

With the belt pack or the station audio communication can then be carried out with another member of the intercom network, by way of the exchange of the intercom network.

In certain applications, there can be a desire not to connect the belt pack or station to a headset with an XLR 4-pole female connector, but to connect a headset, microphone, or other electrical audio device, that has a plug.

Such a connection to the station is not possible because of the male connector (housing socket) provided.

Based on the prior art as described, the present invention seeks to provide an audio plug-in connector that enables as required an uncomplicated and secure connection of a headset, microphone or other electronic audio device with a phone plug to a station, in particular to a mobile station.

This object is achieved by the invention with the features of claim1.

The principle of the invention is essentially to provide an intercom plug-in connector for audio connections that is of a very compact design. A first axial end of the intercom plug-in connector is designed as an XLR 4-pole female connector, and the opposite axial region is designed as a phone jack or socket for a phone plug.

Four sockets for contact pins are provided on the first axial end; these are positioned relative to one another in an approximate V-shape. The sockets are arranged on the front side on a plug-in extension of a cylindrical housing. The cylindrical housing advantageously has a circular cross section.

A phone jack or socket for a phone plug is arranged on the second axial end of the cylindrical housing. A plurality of contact elements, for example, four contact elements, are assigned to the phone jack for the plug. The number of contact elements corresponds to the number of contact sections on the phone plug that are electrically insulated from one another. The phone plug preferably has four or more contact sections. Similarly in this respect, four contact elements are assigned to the jack for the plug.

A contact element is also respectively assigned to each of the sockets for a contact pin.

In particular, provision can be made for the contact elements to extend from the jack for the phone plug to the sockets for the contact pins. In this way a very advantageous and compact wiring through the body of the cylindrical housing can be achieved.

The housing can be designed to be cast, clipped, screwed or at least essentially hermetically sealed relative to the exterior space.

In accordance with the invention, an intercom plug-in connector is provided which converts an audio headset as a component of an intercom network directly as required in the manner of an adapter from a phone plug to an XLR 4-pole female connector.

The phone jack for the phone plug can have an inside diameter of, for example, 3.5 mm, or alternatively, 2.5 mm. Accordingly the phone jack can serve to accommodate a phone plug with an external diameter of 3.5 mm, or 2.5 mm.

This makes it possible to connect a headset, microphone or another audio device using the phone jack for the phone plug directly to a station of an intercom network, or to another member of an intercom network, or to plug into a housing socket there present. Headsets, microphones or other electrical audio devices often have such plugs.

The inventive intercom plug-in connector comprises a cylindrical housing that extends axially. The housing advantageously has a circular, or an essentially circular, cross-section. By using circular cross-sections, handling is particularly optimized.

The cylindrical housing has a first and a second axial end. The first axial end is designed as a plug-in extension. It can, for example, have an axial length of about 15 millimeters. In particular, the plug-in extension can have an external diameter that is somewhat less than the inside diameter of the XLR male socket (housing socket) arranged on the station. The cylindrical housing can also have an annular end face in the manner of a stop shoulder or stop step.

Four sockets are positioned on the front face of the plug-in extension. These are aligned with one another essentially symmetrically with respect to a central plane, and are positioned relative to one another in an approximate V-shape when viewed in a frontal view. They serve to receive contact pins of the housing socket designed as a XLR 4-pole male plug-in connector. These contact pins can be introduced into the sockets in the course of a relative movement between the intercom plug-in connector and the housing socket, and provide electrical contacts.

A phone jack or socket for a phone plug is provided on a second end of the intercom plug-in connection. Four contact elements are assigned to the latter—corresponding to the number of contact sections on the plug. The contact sections on the phone plug are designed in the manner of annular bodies. The four contact sections are electrically insulated from one another. An insulating material, for example plastic, can be arranged between each pair of contact sections.

When the phone plug is plugged in and the intercom plug-in connector is plugged into the housing socket the electrical contact elements or conductors arranged in the cylindrical housing of the intercom plug-in connection in each case connect electrically with a contact pin located in a socket with, in each case, one or more of the contact sections of the plug.

Provision is advantageously made for the rearmost contact section, in the insertion direction of the plug, to be connected to ground.

In accordance with a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the rearmost contact section, in the insertion direction of the plug, is connected to ground. By this means, particularly safe handling can be achieved.

In accordance with a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the intercom plug-in connector is designed for purposes of connecting an intercom audio device, such as a headset, to an intercom network device, such as stations. By this means, particularly convenient handling of an intercom network can be achieved.

In accordance with a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the plug-in extension has a slightly reduced external diameter compared with the external diameter of the housing socket. By this means, a secure and protected, and, if required, sealed housing of the electrical contact element is ensured. In addition, by this means a kind of stop shoulder can be provided which limits the placement movement axially of an inventive intercom plug-in connection on the housing socket.

In accordance with a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, an axially extending, radially outwardly projecting, rib is arranged on the plug-in extension of the intercom plug-in connection. Here this takes the form of an orientation or guide rib that ensures a secure management of a plug-in connection between the intercom plug-in connection and the housing-side socket by a predetermined circumferential rotational positioning.

In accordance with a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the phone jack or socket for the phone plug has an inside diameter of 3.5 or 2.5 millimeters. Thus with the aid of the inventive intercom plug-in connector a particularly convenient connection of a headset, microphone or other audio device to an intercom network can be achieved.

In accordance with a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the phone plug has an external diameter of 2.5 millimeters. By this means a connection of a belt pack or a microphone unit with a headset, microphone or other electronic audio device with a phone plug to the network can be ensured in a particularly advantageous manner.

Embodiments of the invention are described by way of example in the following description of the figures, also with reference to the drawings. Here, for the sake of clarity—even if different embodiments are involved—identical or comparable parts or elements or regions are designated with the same reference symbols, sometimes with the addition of lower case letters.

Within the context of the invention features that are described only with respect to one example of embodiment can be provided in any other example of embodiment of the invention. Such modified embodiments are covered by the invention, even if they are not shown in the drawings.

All features disclosed are essential to the invention. In the disclosure of the application, the disclosure content of the associated priority documents (copy of the prior application), together with the cited documents and the devices of the prior art described are hereby incorporated in full, also for the purpose of including one or more features of these documents in one or more claims of the present application.

In the drawings the inventive intercom plug-in connector10is designated in its entirety as10.

The inventive intercom plug-in connector10serves to connect a station11with a headset12.

FIG. 6shows—very schematically—a phone plug14that is connected to a connection cable13, shown only in truncated form. The other end of the connecting cable13, not shown inFIG. 6, leads to a headset, also not shown that is located approximately at position12(not shown to scale).

The headset12is to be connected to a station11that is only indicated in a partial manner inFIGS. 6 and 7. The station11is part of an intercom network, not shown that can include a variety of members, including stationary stations and mobile stations. For example, a so-called belt pack is designated as a mobile station; inFIG. 6this is designated as17. Such belt packs have been developed and manufactured by the applicant for some time and represent the state of the art. A belt pack can be worn by an operator; in particular it can be worn on the belt, and can move with the operator. The belt pack usually has a communications module, by means of which it can exchange wireless or wired audio information with other members of the intercom network in duplex audio mode, that is to say, with simultaneous listening and speaking.

In the illustration of the invention, the belt pack17exemplified in the figures is intended to symbolize quite generally a mobile member of an intercom network, a so-called mobile station. However, the invention also includes applications in which the stations11are of a stationary design.

A belt pack17of the conventional type has a housing socket18that is shown inFIGS. 6 and 7. The housing socket18typically has an axial length45and an inside diameter47.

The housing socket18on the belt pack17is designed to receive an XLR plug-in extension. In devices of the prior art, a headset12has a connecting line13that has a so-called XLR plug-in extension instead of the phone plug14shown inFIG. 6. Here in fact, this takes the form of an XLR 4-pole female plug-in extension. The connecting line13has four electrical lines, not shown, in order to enable a duplex hearing-speaking operation via the headset12and the intercom network with other members of the intercom network. Accordingly, an XLR connector of a prior art headset also has four sockets for contact pins.

Accordingly, four contact pins24a,24b,24c,24dare fixedly arranged on the housing bushing18.FIG. 6indicates schematically just two contact pins24a,24b. Here the electrical wiring is not shown in the interests of simplicity. The two contact pins24a,24bare connected to other electrical and electronic components, not shown, within the belt pack17. The inventive intercom plug-in connector10now serves to connect a phone plug14of an audio device, such as a headset, with the housing socket18on the station11.

For this purpose, the inventive intercom plug-in connector10is designed in the manner of an adapter.

It comprises a cylindrical housing19that—as shown for example inFIGS. 3eand 3f—has an essentially circular cross-section. The intercom plug-in connector10further comprises a first axial end20and a second axial end21.

The first axial end20is designed as a plug-in extension22. The plug-in extension22has an axial length46that essentially corresponds to the axial length45of the housing bushing18. The plug-in extension22also has an external diameter41that is slightly smaller than the inside diameter47of the housing bushing18.

In the example of embodiment ofFIG. 1, four sockets23a,23b,23c,23dare arranged on the plug-in extension22, in each of which a contact pin24a,24b,24c,24dis accommodated. In this respect the plug-in extension is designed as a XLR female plug-in extension34.

On the second axial end21of the intercom plug-in connector10is arranged a phone jack25for purposes of receiving the phone plug14. The phone jack25is of an essentially circular cylindrical design and extends along the central longitudinal axis32of the housing19.

As is apparent in particular from the illustration ofFIG. 6, there is an axial overlap33in the axial direction27between the sockets23a,23b,23c,23dfor the contact pins24a,24b,24c,24dand the phone jack25for the phone plug14. In this manner, the overall axial length40of the plug-in connector10can be kept very short.

As evidenced by the illustrations ofFIGS. 4 and 5, for example, it can be seen that the housing10consists of a hollow body, preferably made of plastic, and in any event of an electrically insulating material. Contact elements26a,26b,26c,26dcan be inserted or introduced into this hollow body. As can be seen inFIG. 4, for example, these can be fixed end-wise onto a closure plate42. For axial retention of the closure plate42on the housing19, a cover plug43can be provided that holds the individual parts of the plug-in connector10axially together.FIG. 4also makes it clear that a closure ring44is still provided that seals the plug-in connector10externally.

As can be seen fromFIG. 6, it is clear, for example, that the contact element26acan have a first contact region37a, with which it makes contact with a contact section on the phone plug14. In addition, the same contact elements26acan have a second contact region38athat makes contact with a contact pin24aon the housing bushing18of the belt pack17. By this means, an electrical connection can be made between the corresponding electrical line in the connecting cable13and the corresponding contact pin on the station11, that is to say, the belt pack17.

It should be noted that in order to enable a duplex audio speech communication at least four electrical conductors run in the connecting line13of the headset12, so that two independent current circuits are formed. Accordingly, the phone plug14also has at least four contact sections15a,15b,15c,15d(seeFIG. 5) that are electrically insulated from one another that are each electrically separated from the insulating sections16a,16b,16c,16d.

An equal number of contact elements26a,26b,26c,26dis provided, corresponding to the number of contact sections15a,15b,15c,15dand the phone plug14.

In the embodiments, four contact elements are therefore provided.

The invention also comprises intercom plug-in connectors, not shown that have more than four contact elements.

In order to achieve correct positioning of the plug-in connector10in the housing sleeve18, an outwardly projecting rib28is provided for circumferential positioning. A corresponding recess29is located on the housing bushing18, wherein said recess29is merely indicated inFIG. 7.

The phone jack25for the phone plug14has an inside diameter31that is about the same size or slightly larger than the external diameter30of the phone plug14.

The figures also show an intercom plug-in connector10with an elastic, i.e. resetting design of spring extension46that has a latching nose with a displaceable retaining surface35. When inserting the intercom plug-in connector10into the housing socket18a deflection movement of the spring extension46is brought about by a control surface, so that in the fully inserted state shown inFIGS. 6 and 7, the retaining surface35reaches a holding position shown there, and connects the plug-in connector10to the station11, that is to say, to the belt pack17in an axially latching manner.

For purposes of releasing the plug-in connector10from the belt pack17, that is to say, from the station11, a force, in particular a downward force, can be exerted by the user on the right-hand free end48of the spring extension36as shown inFIG. 7, and the retaining surface35can be released from the locking phone jack on the housing bushing18. By this means, the intercom plug-in connector10is released from the housing bushing18.