Electrical spike connector

The invention relates to an electrical spike connector for electrically contacting a first electrical conducting track of a first electrical line piece (211), said first electrical conducting track being insulated by means of an insulating layer, comprising a socket element (101) having a first conductive spike (105) and comprising a socket mating element (103) for retaining the first electrical line piece, wherein the first conductive spike (105) of the socket element (101) can be pressed against the first electrical line piece retained in the socket mating element (103) in order to pierce the insulating layer and to electrically contact the first electrical conducting track.

PRIORITY

The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §371 to PCT Application PCT/EP2012/076340 filed on Dec. 20, 2012, which claims priority to German Patent Application No. 10 2012 000 079.0, filed on Jan. 4, 2012, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.

The present invention relates to an electrical spike connector for contacting at least one insulated line piece.

In order to electrically contact insulated conducting tracks of electrical line pieces, for example of electrical connection cables, the insulating layer surrounding the electrical conducting track usually has to be removed first. However, this is complex in the industrial environment and therefore costly.

If the electrical conducting tracks are striplines of an LED band, in which the electrical conducting tracks contact LED lamps, the stripping of the conducting tracks, which are generally very flat, is not easy and is associated with a certain risk of damage to a conducting track.

Once the conducting tracks have been stripped, these can be electrically connected, for example by soldering or screwing. After this, the connection generally has to be electrically insulated again so as to avoid the risk of an electrical leak.

A number of complex process steps are thus necessary for the electrical contacting of insulated electrical conducting tracks.

The object of the present invention is therefore to create a simpler concept for the connection of insulated conducting tracks.

This object is achieved by the features of the independent claims. Advantageous developments are disclosed in the dependent claims, the description and the accompanying drawings.

The present invention is based on the finding that the above object can be achieved by a spike connection comprising at least one conductive spike. The conductive spike is used, in one process step, to break through an insulation of an electrical conducting track and to contact the electrical conducting track, for example likewise by breaking through. The stripping and the electrical contacting of the electrical conducting track can thus be performed in a single process step.

If the conductive spike is used for example on a base element, which may be a base plate, and if a base mating element is used to retain an electrical line piece comprising the electrical conducting track, the stripping and the production of the electrical connection can thus be performed in one step by bringing together the base element and the base mating element. If the base element and the base mating element are produced for example from a non-conductive material, such as plastic, an insulation and/or sealing of an electrical connection can thus be performed when these elements are brought together and connected, whereby a further process step can be saved.

In accordance with a first aspect, the invention relates to an electrical spike connector for electrically contacting a first electrical conducting track of a first electrical line piece, said first electrical conducting track being insulated by means of an insulating layer, comprising a base element having a first conductive spike, a base mating element for retaining the first electrical line piece, wherein the first conductive spike of the base element can be pressed against the first electrical line piece retained in the base mating element in order to pierce the insulating layer and to electrically contact the first electrical conducting track.

The electrical conducting track may be a rectangular strip conducting track for example, of which the thickness is smaller than the width thereof.

In accordance with one embodiment a surface of the base element facing the electrical line piece and/or a surface of the base mating element facing the electrical line piece is provided with flowable plastic, in particular with plastic containing silicone, so as to receive the electrical line piece in a manner surrounding said electrical line piece at least partially.

A cut edge of the electrical line piece is thus advantageously insulated with respect to moisture.

By way of example, the base mating element may have a line piece receptacle, which forms a receiving space for an end of a line piece or for ends of line pieces. This receiving space for example can be prefabricated or provided on-site by a user with the flowable plastic, for example by means of injection. When inserting or introducing the respective electrical line piece into the receiving space by the respective end-face cut edge, the flowable plastic is compressed or pushed together and thus surrounds the end-face cut edge of the line piece in an insulating manner.

In accordance with one embodiment the first conductive spike is designed to deform, for example to break through or press into, the first electrical conducting track so as to produce an electrical contact. As a result of the deformation, a contact area is produced between the conductive spike and the first electrical conducting track.

In accordance with one embodiment the first conductive spike has a spike tip for piercing or breaking through the first electrical conducting track so as to produce the electrical contact.

In accordance with an alternative embodiment the first conductive spike is designed to form a breakthrough-free cavity, in particular a breakthrough-free cavity at least partly surrounding the first conductive spike, in the first electrical conducting track so as to produce the electrical contact. The first conductive spike thus presses an indentation into the first electrical conducting track without necessarily breaking through said first electrical conducting track. The side walls, thus produced, of the cavity or of the recess at least partly surround the conductive spike and contact said spike, whereby an electrical connection is produced.

In accordance with one embodiment the first conductive spike can be pressed against the first electrical line piece retained in the base mating element by bringing together the base element and the base mating element. The base element and the base mating element can be pressed against one another manually for example so as to produce the electrical connection.

In accordance with one embodiment the first conductive spike can be pressed against the first electrical line piece retained in the base mating element by bringing together the base element and the base mating element. As a result of the latched connection, a connection is enabled between the base element and the base mating element when these elements are brought together, whereby the connection can be produced particularly easily. The base element and the base mating element can be fabricated from a non-conductive material, for example from plastic, such that, with a connection between the base element and the base mating element, an insulation of the point of contact with the conductive spike can be produced.

In accordance with one embodiment the base element has a spring on each side, wherein the base mating element has a groove on each side, and wherein each spring can be latched into a groove. As a result of the groove/spring connection, a connection that can be clicked into place between the base element and the base mating element is produced on the one hand. On the other hand the base element can be fixed in a manner secured against tipping.

In accordance with one embodiment the base mating element can be fastened laterally on the base element in a foldable manner, in particular by means of at least one resilient connection tab or at least one hinge. The base element and the base mating element can be brought together by means of a rotatable movement of the base mating element or of the base element about the lateral axis of rotation.

In accordance with one embodiment the base mating element is provided with a second electrical conducting track, which is insulated by means of a second insulating layer, in order to retain a second electrical line piece, wherein the base element has a second conductive spike, which can be pressed against the second electrical line piece retained in the base mating element in order to pierce the second insulating layer and in order to electrically contact the second electrical conducting track, wherein the first conductive spike and the second conductive spike are electrically connected and are provided to electrically connect the first electrical conducting track and the second electrical conducting track. A simultaneous electrical contacting of a number of conducting tracks is thus made possible advantageously in a simple manner.

In accordance with one embodiment the first conductive spike and the second conductive spike are arranged opposite one another. The first conductive spike and the second conductive spike are preferably conductively connected in order to produce an electrical connection between each of the contacted conducting tracks.

In accordance with one embodiment the first electrical line piece has an insulated third electrical conducting track, the second electrical line piece has an insulated fourth electrical conducting track, and the base element has a third conductive spike for electrically contacting the insulated third electrical conducting track and a fourth conductive spike for electrically contacting the insulated fourth electrical conducting track, wherein the third and the fourth conductive spike are conductively connected. A simultaneous contacting of a plurality of adjacently arranged conducting tracks of different line pieces is thus advantageously enabled. By way of example, the two conducting tracks of an LED band, by means of which an LED lamp is supplied with electrical energy, can thus be contacted simultaneously.

In accordance with one embodiment the base element has an electrical connector that is conductively connected to the respective conductive spike and is provided for contacting the respective electrical conducting track. An electrical connection is ensured externally by means of the electrical connector.

In accordance with one embodiment the base mating element has at least one guide recess for guiding the respective conductive spike. The guide recess or the guide recesses ensures/ensure that the respective conductive spike either breaks through the electrical conducting track at a predetermined location or deforms the electrical conducting track at a predetermined location.

In accordance with one embodiment the base mating element descends laterally to the respective side in a dome-like manner. An at least partly elliptical cross section of a housing comprising the base element and the base mating element is thus produced.

In accordance with one embodiment the base mating element has a line piece receptacle for receiving the respective electrical line piece. The respective electrical line piece is fixed at a defined location by the line piece receptacle.

In accordance with one embodiment an insertable insulation leaf is provided in order to insulate an end face of the respective electrical conducting track with respect to moisture. As a result of the insulation leaf or as a result of the insulation leaves, cut edges of the respective electrical conducting tracks can be terminated in an insulating manner. The insulation leaf can be formed for example from flowable plastic, which may comprise silicone, so as to surround the end-face cut edges of the respective line piece. When inserted, the end face of the respective line piece partly penetrates the insulation leaf, whereby the insulating effect is achieved.

In accordance with one embodiment the respective conducting track is a strip conducting track.

In accordance with one embodiment the base element and the base mating element form a pocket-shaped housing when brought together, in particular a water-tight housing. To this end, the base element and/or the base mating element may each be provided with an insulating layer, for example with flowable plastic of the aforementioned type, so as to prevent an infiltration of water into the interior of the pocket-shaped housing. The pocket-shaped housing may also act in an electrically insulating manner.

In accordance with a further aspect, the invention relates to the use of the electrical spike connector according to the invention for contacting at least one strip-shaped conducting track of an LED band.

Additional features and advantages of various embodiments will be set forth, in part, in the description that follows, and will, in part, be apparent from the description, or may be learned by the practice of various embodiments. The objectives and other advantages of various embodiments will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the description herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1shows a cross-sectional view of an electrical spike connector, which has a base element101and a base mating element103. The base element101comprises a first conductive spike105, which has a tapered portion107, for example a spike tip. The first conductive spike105is fastened in a spike receptacle109of the base element101. The spike receptacle109can be formed as a pedestal with a recess for receiving a spike end.

The base element101may have a second conductive spike, which is not illustrated inFIG. 1and which is electrically connected to the first conductive spike105. The first conductive spike105and the second conductive spike by way of example may contact conducting tracks of different electrical line pieces.

In accordance with one embodiment the electrical spike connector may contact electrical line pieces having a plurality of adjacently arranged electrical conducting tracks, for example two such conducting tracks. To this end, the base element101comprises a third conductive spike111having a tapered portion113, for example a spike tip. The third conductive spike111is fastened in a spike receptacle115.

The base element101comprises connection portions117,119on each side, which each have a spring121,123for a spring/groove connection or for a latched connection to the base mating element103. To this end, the base element103comprises lateral grooves124,125, with which the springs121,123engage.

The base element103comprises a line piece receptacle127, which is provided to receive a line piece. The line piece receptacle127may have recesses for guiding the conductive spikes105,111. The line piece is guided here in an intermediate space128of the base mating element127. The intermediate space128is delimited upwardly by a wall that descends in a dome-like manner on each side.

The line piece receptacle127forms a receiving space for an end of a line piece or for ends of line pieces. This receiving space for example can be prefabricated or provided on-site by a user with the flowable plastic, for example by means of injection. When the respective electrical line piece is inserted or introduced into the receiving space by the respective end-face cut edge, the flowable plastic is compressed or pushed together and thus surrounds the end-face cut edge of the respective line piece in an insulating manner.

The side portions117,119can be guided through the intermediate space128when the base element101and the base mating element103are brought together, and can be latched into recesses in the wall of the base mating element. To this end, the portions117,119may be positioned externally and can be pressed inwardly for the purpose of latching. The base element101may also have lateral springs129and131. The lateral springs129,131, which can also be formed as detent protrusions, engage with the grooves124,125in the base mating element103when the base element101and the base mating element103are brought together. A stable connection of the base element101and of the base mating element103is thus produced.

FIG. 2shows a cross section of a spike connector in accordance with one embodiment. The spike connector illustrated inFIG. 2is provided for the connection of conducting tracks of different electrical line pieces and comprises the features of the spike connector illustrated inFIG. 1in accordance with one embodiment.

As illustrated inFIG. 2, the spike connector comprises a second conductive spike201, which has a protrusion203, for example a spike tip, and is conductively connected to the first conductive spike105. The second conductive spike201is connected by means of a first guide receptacle205to the base element101.

The base mating element103comprises a second guide receptacle207, which is provided for receiving a second electrical line piece having the electrical conducting track209illustrated by way of example inFIG. 2. The first electrical line piece211, which is positioned by means of the guide receptacle125, likewise comprises at least one electrical conducting track, which by way of example contacts an LED213.

The conductive spikes105and201are tapered by way of example and are provided to break through the conducting tracks of the line pieces so as to electrically contact these. To this end, the base element103comprises guide recesses215,217, through which the conductive spikes105,201are guided. To this end, the base element101and the base mating element103are brought together and are interconnected by means of the spring/groove connection to form a pocket-shaped housing, which can be electrically insulating, as is illustrated inFIGS. 3A,3B and3C.

Portions219, which are guided in guide channels221, can be provided on each side. The portions219may each be terminated by a detent protrusion for the latching of the base element101and of the base mating element103.

FIG. 3Aillustrates a view from beneath,FIG. 3Billustrates a view from the side, andFIG. 3Cillustrates a view from above of the spike connector once the base element101and the base mating element103have been successfully brought together.

The electrical line pieces can be rectangular LED bands for example, which are to be interconnected. Only the first electrical line piece211is illustrated inFIGS. 3A,3B and3C for simplification.

As is illustrated inFIG. 3C, the base mating element on the upper side comprises guide recesses301,303,305and307, which are provided to receive a total of four conductive spikes so as to electrically contact two electrical conducting tracks, running parallel, of line pieces. The conductive spikes opposite one another in the longitudinal direction are preferably electrically connected. Further, recesses302,309for receiving detent protrusions311,319of the portions219are provided laterally.

Elements of the spike connector illustrated inFIG. 2are shown inFIGS. 4A to 4F. As illustrated inFIG. 4A, the base plate101comprises the first conductive spike105, the second conductive spike201, a third conductive spike401and a fourth conductive spike403. The conductive spikes105and201are arranged opposite one another in the longitudinal direction of the base element and for example are conductively connected to form a spike pair. The conductive spikes401and403are likewise connected conductively to form a further spike pair. Two conducting tracks can thus be electrically connected by different line pieces.

The electrical spike connector may further have insulation leaves405,407, which can be inserted and are provided to insulate end faces of the electrical line pieces along the cut edges.

The base plate101may further have portions409,411, which each terminate via a detent protrusion413,415. The detent protrusions413,415latch into the recesses302,309.

FIG. 5shows a spike connector having a base element501, which may have features of the previously described base elements. The base element501is provided with a connector503, which enables electrical contact to the electrical conducting tracks contacted by means of the conductive spikes. To this end, the connector503comprises a first connector terminal505for contacting a first conducting track and a second connector terminal507for contacting a second conducting track. The connector terminals505and507may be provided for example to receive electrical lines. In accordance with one embodiment, the connector terminals505,507are permanently connected to electrical lines.

As also illustrated inFIG. 5, the base element501or the connector503for the detent connection to the base mating element103may have resilient detent protrusions509,511, for example detent lugs, which can engage with apertures in the base mating element103.

The base element501may also have lateral springs513,515, which can engage with lateral grooves124,125in the base mating element103.

FIG. 6shows a side view of the spike connector illustrated inFIG. 1. The connector503is provided with at least one line piece601, which enables the contact to the electrical conducting track of the electrical line piece illustrated by way of example.

Different views of the spike connector illustrated inFIGS. 5 and 6are illustrated inFIGS. 7A,7B and7C. As is illustrated inFIG. 7A, the connector501is provided with two electrical line pieces601,607, which enable a contact to the conducting tracks of the electrical line piece211. The base element501is formed by way of example as a flat plate, to which lateral detent portions603,703are fastened.

As illustrated inFIG. 7C, the base mating element103comprises detent recesses705,707, with which the detent protrusions509,511engage.

Different views of elements of the spike connector illustrated inFIGS. 5 to 7are illustrated inFIGS. 8A to 8F. As illustrated inFIG. 8A, the base element101comprises two conductive spikes105,405, which may have the above-mentioned spike properties. The conductive spikes105,405are provided to contact two parallel conducting tracks of a line piece, for example of an LED band. The base element101further comprises connectors801,805, each of which is connected to one of the conductive spikes105,405and each of which is provided for contacting by means of the connector501.

The electrical spike connector may further have an insulation leaf807in order to terminate end faces of the conducting tracks809,811. As illustrated inFIG. 8B, the conducting tracks809,811are broken through by means of the conductive spikes104,405, whereby electrical contacts are produced. The insulation leaf807is preferably formed such that it can surround an end face of the respective line piece so as to insulate it with respect to moisture. The insulation leaf807for this purpose may be constructed from a flowable plastic, for example from plastic containing silicone. The cut edges or ends of the line piece are thus protected against moisture.

As is illustrated inFIG. 8C, the electrical connector501may have recesses813,815, in each of which force-locked connections, for example clamp connections or screw connections, for line pieces to be received are arranged.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

From the foregoing description, those skilled in the art can appreciate that the present teachings can be implemented in a variety of forms. Therefore, while these teachings have been described in connection with particular embodiments and examples thereof, the true scope of the present teachings should not be so limited. Various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the teachings herein.