Connector assembly with chamber block and contact position assurance

A plug type connector is provided with chamber block. The chamber block includes a receiving chamber and a recess that intersects with the receiving chamber. The receiving chamber extends a length of the chamber block and includes a contact securing member with a catch. The recess includes an opening into which the catch protrudes into.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The invention relates to a connector and, in particular, to a plug type connector.

BACKGROUND

Plug type connectors having a chamber block with a receiving chamber extending through the chamber block to secure an electrical contact element are generally known and are used, for example, in the automotive field, in particular for connecting sensors to control devices of the motor vehicle. In this instance, it is often necessary to construct the plug type connector to be as small as possible and nonetheless to provide it with the contact securing member. In particular, it is difficult to construct the chamber block with small dimensions and with the contact securing member in such a manner that it can be readily removed as an injection-molded component from an injection mold. Removal from the injection mold is often made more difficult by the contact securing member since the member has a concealed undercut. In order to remove the plug type connector or the components thereof from the mold, either the injection mold is constructed in a complex and consequently cost-intensive manner or the plug type connector is removed from the mold in such a manner that the contact securing member is impaired in terms of its function.

SUMMARY

An object of the invention, among others, is therefore to provide a plug type connector which has a contact securing member and which can readily be removed from an injection mold which is constructed in a comparatively simple manner.

The includes chamber block with a receiving chamber and a recess that intersects with the receiving chamber. The receiving chamber extends a length of the chamber block and includes a contact securing member with a catch. The recess includes an opening into which the catch protrudes into.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT(S)

The structure and/or function of a plug type connector according to the invention are first described with reference to the embodiment ofFIG. 1.

As shown inFIG. 1, a plug type connector1according to the invention includes a chamber block2, a fixing member3, a seal4, and a housing5. The components may be pushed into or over each other in the shown sequence so that the components2to5can be arranged inside to perform an assembly of the plug type connector1. Thus, the chamber block2may be inserted into the fixing member3. The housing5can be pushed onto the fixing member3. The seal4can be inserted into the housing5in such a manner that it is arranged at least partially between the housing5and the fixing member3. The components which are each pushed into another component may protrude from the other component, which at least partially surrounds them.

The chamber block2may be configured to join with contact elements of a connecting plug type connector. Contact elements of the plug type connector1may be inserted into the chamber block2and extend parallel with a longitudinal direction L of the plug type connector. The contact elements or the conductors which are fixed thereto extend through the chamber block2, the fixing member3, the seal4and/or the housing5.

Now with reference toFIGS. 2 to 6, the components of the plug type connector will be further described.

As shown inFIG. 2, the chamber block2may be constructed with a substantially parallelepipedal base member6. A plug face7of the plug type connector1may be arranged at an end of the chamber block2directed in the receiving direction A. In the plug face7, a contact opening8for receiving a counter-contact of the connecting plug type connector may be arranged. Alternatively, the contact element which is arranged in the chamber block2may protrude through the contact opening8in a receiving direction A from the chamber block2. The chamber block2may have more than one contact opening8and, for example, two, four or up to six or even more contact openings8.

The plug face7may adjoin, transversely relative to the receiving direction A, a closure collar9which may protrude perpendicularly relative to the receiving direction A from the base member6of the chamber block2. The plug face7and the closure collar9may be part of a closure plate10of the chamber block2that extends transversely relative to the receiving direction A.

The chamber block2may be constructed with keyed and/or coding elements11,12which prevent incorrect insertion, for example, in an incorrect position or with an incorrect mating connector. For example, the keyed and/or coding elements11,12may extend parallel with the receiving direction A and, for example, be constructed as keyed and/or coding grooves which extend through the closure plate10counter to the receiving direction A.

Furthermore, the plug type connector1may have a access opening13which is associated with one of the contact openings8and which may be arranged to be spaced apart therefrom transversely relative to the receiving direction A. Such an access opening13may be associated with each of the contact openings8. The access opening13may be constructed in such a manner that the inside of the chamber block2is accessible through the respective access opening13parallel with and particularly counter to the receiving direction A. For example, the access opening13may be arranged in the closure collar9as a gap which can open transversely relative to the receiving direction A.

A receiving chamber14for a contact element may extend through the chamber block2parallel with the receiving direction A and may terminate at the contact opening8. A receiving chamber14may terminate at one of the contact openings8and open with respect thereto, respectively, the contact opening8being able to have a smaller diameter transversely relative to the receiving direction A than the receiving chamber14which terminates at it.

The receiving chamber14may extend completely through the chamber block2counter to the receiving direction A and may be open in and counter to the receiving direction A. The receiving chamber14may be adapted to receive the contact element which may be constructed, for example, as an electrical contact element.

The parallelepipedal base member6may have a recess15which is constructed in a channel-like manner and is constructed to be open transversely relative to the receiving direction A. The recess15may adjoin the closure collar9in the receiving direction A and extend transversely relative to the receiving direction A through the chamber block2. The recess15may intersect with the a receiving chamber14and in particular extend at least partially through it. A base16of the recess15may extend so deeply through the chamber block2transversely relative to the receiving direction A that it merges in a stepless manner into the receiving chamber14.

If the chamber block2has a plurality of receiving chambers14, at least some of the receiving chambers14may be arranged to be in alignment with each other transversely relative to the receiving direction A. The recess15may be constructed in such a manner that it extends through the receiving chambers14which are in alignment with each other in a substantially uniform manner.

The chamber block2may be constructed with a contact securing member17in the region of the recess15. The contact securing member17may includes a catch18per receiving chamber14. The catch18is constructed as a cantilever member which extends in the receiving direction A and whose free end19protrudes into the receiving chamber14which is associated therewith. The catch18may be resiliently deflectable transversely relative to the receiving direction A and in particular perpendicularly relative to the base16of the recess15.

The chamber block2may be constructed with a securing portion20between the catch18and the closure collar9. The securing portion20prevents undesirable removal of the contact element counter to the receiving direction A. The securing portion20prevents the contact element from being able to be displaced or pulled beyond a predetermined position, for example, when a plug type connection with respect to the connecting plug type connector is disengaged. Movement can be prevented by means of the catch18. The closure plate10or the closure collar9may be constructed with a stop21for the contact element. The stop21is preferably arranged along a rear side22of the closure collar9extending transversely relative to the receiving direction A and directed counter to the receiving direction A. The rear side22may be arranged opposite the plug face7. In particular, the stop21may adjoin the contact opening8and surround it transversely relative to the receiving direction A.

The plug type connector1may further have an additional contact securing member which is provided in a redundant manner with respect to the contact securing member17. For the additional contact securing member, the chamber block2may have an additional recess23which at least partially intersects with the a receiving chamber14. The additional recess23may extend parallel with the recess15and the recesses15,23may be arranged one behind the other in the receiving direction A. In particular, the additional recess23may be arranged upstream of the recess15in the receiving direction A so that a contact element which is pushed into the chamber block2in a receiving direction A first passes the additional recess23on its way to the end position thereof and is pushed into the recess15only afterwards.

The additional recess23may be formed transversely relative to the receiving direction A such that the base24thereof merges in a planar manner into the receiving chamber14. Alternatively, the receiving chamber14may extend in the region of the additional recess23as a channel25through the base24of the additional recess23. The channel25may extend in the receiving direction A as far as the closure collar9, that is to say, also through the base16of the recess15.

The chamber block2may be constructed with a catch26for securing the additional contact securing member. The catch26may be formed, for example, as a catch web which extends transversely relative to the receiving direction A and which protrudes in or counter to the receiving direction A into the additional recess23. The catch26may extend over the a receiving chamber14or, if a plurality of receiving chambers14are provided, over at least two, three or even all the receiving chambers14which are arranged beside each other or in alignment with each other.

Now with reference toFIG. 3, the receiving chamber14has a substantially square cross-section Q transversely relative to the receiving direction A.

A plurality of the receiving chambers14may be arranged beside each other and in particular in alignment with each other along a transverse direction B which extends perpendicularly relative to the receiving direction A. The catch18may also be arranged beside each other in the transverse direction B and may be able to be deflected or deformed perpendicularly relative to the receiving direction A and the transverse direction B. In particular, at least the free ends19of the catch18which are constructed as catch tongues may be able to be resiliently deflected away from the chamber block2transversely relative to the directions A, B.

The free ends19of the catch18may have at least two portions which are arranged one behind the other in the transverse direction B. One of the portions may be formed as a catch portion27and the other portion as an actuation portion28. At least the catch portion27may protrude into the receiving chamber14in the shown rest position P of the catch18. The catch portion27may be constructed with a catch hook29which may protrude into the receiving chamber14with respect to the actuation portion28and transversely relative to the directions A, B. The catch hook29may be constructed counter to the receiving direction A with an inclined introduction member30for the contact element and, in the receiving direction A, may have a retention face31for the contact element that extends substantially transversely relative to the directions A, B. The actuation portion28may also protrude into the receiving chamber14in the rest position of the catch18, but not as far as the catch portion27does.

The actuation portion28may be arranged along the receiving direction A, downstream of and accessible through the access opening13. The connection between the contact securing member17which is constructed as a catch18and the contact element may be released, for example, using a release member. The release member can be inserted through the access opening13and press at least the free end19of the catch18out of the receiving chamber14transversely relative to the directions A, B. Consequently, a contact element which may be defective can be readily exchanged without the plug type connector having to be disassembled.

The receiving chambers14may be separated from each other using partitions32,32′ which extend in the receiving direction A. A partitions32may extend parallel with the directions A, B and separate from each other two groups of receiving chambers14which are each arranged beside each other or in alignment with each other in the transverse direction B. The partitions32′ may extend perpendicularly with respect to the transverse direction B and into the recess15in which they may terminate. Two partitions32′ may flank one of the receiving chambers14in each case.

The keyed and/or coding elements11,12may also extend through partitions32,32′ in a state delimited counter to the receiving direction A by the base member6.

The chamber block2may be constructed with a catch portion33for securing the chamber block2in the plug type connector1upstream of the plug face7. The catch portion33may be provided, for example, along sides34,34′ of the chamber block2and in particular the base member6thereof directed in and counter to the transverse direction B, with catches, for example, with a catch projection33′ or a catch recess.

Now with reference toFIG. 4. the housing5is shown and may include two catch arm(s)35for securing the housing5to one of the other components2to4. The catch arms35may particularly be constructed in such a manner that they can engage with the catch portion33of the chamber block2. In the region of a free end36of the a catch arm35that is directed in the receiving direction A, the catch arm35may be constructed with a catch37which is constructed to produce a catch connection with the catch portion33. In particular, the catch37may be constructed as a catch hook which protrudes in the transverse direction B. If a plurality of catch arms35are provided, the catches which are constructed as catch hooks may protrude, for example, transversely relative to the receiving direction A towards each other or away from each other.

The housing5may engage with the connecting plug type connector. The housing5may be formed with a catch member38. For example, the catch member38may have a catch recess39which extends transversely relative to the receiving direction A and in or counter to the transverse direction B. For uniform transmission of force, the catch member38may have two catch recesses39,39′ which extend away from each other in or counter to the transverse direction A, respectively. The catch recesses39,39′ may open transversely relative to the receiving direction A to form a separation gap40which may extend parallel with the receiving direction A through the housing5. The catch recesses39,39′ are arranged along the separation gap40at the same height or facing each other in the shown embodiment.

The separation gap40can separate two outer shells41,42of the housing5from each other. The housing5may be divided asymmetrically by the separation gap40. According to the embodiment ofFIG. 4, however, the outer shells41,42may also be formed as half-shells. Furthermore, the outer shells41,42may be separated from each other by another separation gap40′ which has an additional catch member38′ in its path.

The separation gap40and also the separation gap40′ may extend through an actuation portion43of the housing5. The actuation portion43may be arranged upstream of the catch member38and also upstream of the catch member38′. The housing5may be constructed in such that compressing the separation gap40,40′ in the region of the actuation portion43leads to opening of the catch member38,38′. To this end, the housing5can have a resiliently deformable material bridge44per separation gap40,40′ which bridges the respective separation gap40,40′ and which can connect the outer shells41,42to each other in an articulating manner. Owing to the material bridge44, the housing5may thus be constructed in a pliers-like manner. The material bridge44may be arranged between the actuation portion43and a catch portion43′ of the housing5. The catch portion43′ may be referred to as a front portion of the housing5and the actuation portion43as a rear portion of the housing5.

Now with reference toFIGS. 5 and 6, the seal4of the embodiment ofFIG. 1will be further discussed.

InFIG. 5, the seal4is provided in order to seal the plug type connector1against the introduction of fluids and foreign substances. The seal4may be constructed with an inner and an outer sealing portion45,46. A sealing groove47may be arranged between the inner and the outer sealing portion45,46and extend round the inner sealing portion45, either at least partially or even completely. A sealing channel48may be provided which may be aligned with the receiving chamber14in the assembled state of the seal4. The sealing channel48may be constructed such that it can receive the contact element or a conductor which is fixed to the contact element at least partially in a sealing manner. The seal4may in particular includes one sealing channel48per receiving chamber14.

A sealing lip49may protrude into the sealing groove47at least from the inner sealing portion45. In addition, the outer sealing portion46may also be constructed with a sealing lip which protrudes into the sealing groove47. Furthermore, the outer sealing portion46may be constructed with a sealing lip50which extends round the seal4. Both the inner and the outer sealing portion45,46may have a plurality of sealing lips49,50.

InFIG. 6, the seal4may have a receiving passageway51which may extend through the seal4and in particular open in the sealing groove47. The receiving passageway51may be adapted to at least partially receive the catch arm35of the housing5. If the housing5has more than one catch arm35, the seal4may be constructed with one receiving passageway51per catch arm35. If the seal4is formed with two receiving passageways51, these may be arranged one behind the other. Furthermore, the a sealing channel48and, for example, also a group of sealing channels48, may be arranged to extend between two receiving passageways51and through the inner sealing portion45.

As shown inFIG. 7, the chamber block2, the fixing member3, the seal4and the housing5may be arranged to be fitted one inside the other, with the chamber block2being at least partially arranged in the fixing member3.

The housing5may be constructed with a contact connection piece52which may include a contact opening53for each receiving chamber14. The contact opening53in the assembled state Z may be in alignment with the receiving chamber14and the sealing channel48so that the contact element and a conductor which is fixed to the contact element can extend in a linear manner through the plug type connector1. It can clearly be seen that the sealing channel48may also have a sealing lip54for sealing the plug type connector1against the introduction of fluids or other foreign substances.

The housing5may be constructed with a base plate55that is orientated transversely relative to the receiving direction A and from which the contact connection piece52can protrude counter to the receiving direction A. The base plate55is fixed only to the material bridges44in order not to have a negative influence on the deformability of the housing5and thereby the function of the catch member38,38′. Alternatively, the base plate55may also be fixed at least partially or even completely at the edge thereof both to the material bridges44and to the outer shells41,42, whereby the rigidity of the housing5and the effective engagement forces of the catch member38,38′ are increased.

The housing5may have a positioning rib56for the seal4downstream of the base plate55. The positioning rib56may be constructed in a substantially complementary manner to the sealing groove47and may be constructed, for example, to be annular or crown-like. The inner sealing portion45of the seal4may be arranged in a receiving space57which is delimited transversely relative to the receiving direction A by the positioning rib56, and the a sealing lip49thereof may abut the positioning rib56in a sealing manner.

The outer sealing portion46may extend round the positioning rib56outside the free receiving space57transversely relative to the receiving direction A. The a sealing lip50of the outer sealing portion46can protrude transversely relative to the receiving direction A away from the inner sealing portion45into a sealing space58for the connecting plug type connector. The sealing space58may be delimited by the positioning rib56and the outer shells41,42transversely relative to the receiving direction A and may be open in the direction of the receiving direction A. The sealing space58may also extend transversely relative to the receiving direction A around the receiving space57.

At least the recess15, but also the additional recess23, may be covered by the fixing member3, when assembled. At least the catch18of the contact securing member17can thereby be protected from damage from components outside the plug type connector1.

In order to prevent the fixing member3from being able to be pushed too far over the chamber block2in the receiving direction A, the closure collar9or the closure plate10may act as a stop for the fixing member3.

The fixing member3may be constructed with a resiliently deformable contact securing arm59which forms an additional contact securing member and which is arranged in the rest position P′ thereof completely outside the chamber block2. The contact securing arm59can be constructed with a securing claw60which is directed inside the fixing member3. The resiliently deformable contact securing arm59can be redirected transversely relative to the receiving direction A in the direction towards the chamber block2so that the securing claw60thereof is pressed into the additional recess23.

If the securing claw60is pressed to the maximum extent in the direction towards the chamber block2, it protrudes through the additional recess23into the receiving chamber14. In this securing position, the securing claw60can prevent inadvertent displacement of the contact element. In order to ensure that the securing claw60does not slip out of the additional recess23, owing to the resilient properties of the contact securing arm59, the securing claw60may have a catch member61which is constructed for engagement with the catch26of the chamber block2. For example, the catch member61may be formed as a catch bar.

Now with reference toFIG. 8, the plug type connector1is shown assembled. It can clearly be seen how the components of the plug type connector1are held together internally. Of the fitted components, the chamber block2may be considered to be the innermost component. The chamber block2may be inserted into the fixing member3at least partially. The fixing member3may in turn be arranged at least partially in the housing5.

The seal4may be arranged between the chamber block2or the fixing member3and the housing5.

In order to prevent the individual components of the plug type connector1from becoming separated, the housing5may be engaged with the catch portion33of the chamber block2by means of the catch arms35. It can thereby be ensured that at least the chamber block2cannot readily be removed from the housing5.

The engagement of the housing5and chamber block2requires a degree of dimensional precision of the catch arms35and the catch portion33. Furthermore, it may be advantageous for the catch connection between the housing5and the chamber block2to be resiliently pretensioned by means of a force which acts counter to the catch connection in the receiving direction A. For this resilient pretensioning and in order to compensate for tolerances, the seal4may be constructed in a resilient manner at least parallel with the receiving direction A and be resiliently compressed by the housing5and the chamber block2or the fixing member3. Furthermore, the seal4can press the fixing member3, which is arranged between the chamber block2and the housing5, resiliently against the closure collar9. The fixing member3is thus prevented from being poorly positioned parallel and from potentially rattling.