Plug-in connector with a sleeve with an unlocking member

A plug-in connector is provided that can be released easily and reliably from an assigned mating connector, and has increased lifetime. The plug-in connector includes a plug head and a sliding sleeve. The plug head has a hollow body with at least one cable connector, and at least two locks located on at least one surface of the body. The locks are connected by a bridge, and extend in a sliding direction. Each lock includes at least one free end. The sliding sleeve includes an opening to receive the plug head in a sliding direction and is movable in an axial direction relative to the plug head. An unlocking element is located on an inner side of the opening and positioned to contact the bridge of the plug head. The unlocking element pushes against the locks when the sliding sleeve moves in the sliding direction.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention concerns a plug-in connector, in particular, to a plug-in connector suitable for a lockable plugging system.

BACKGROUND

Lockable plugging system are known, which protect from unintended release by locking devices such as a plug-in connector and a mating connector that connect axially by a sliding process. The plug-in connector usually includes, in detail, a plug head, on which a sliding sleeve is arranged so that it can move axially, to act as an unlocking device for the plugging system. The sliding sleeve moves in a sliding direction, leading away from the mating connector, to release the locking device of the plugging system. Such a fast lock, which is locked or unlocked by a sliding process, is also known by the term push-pull. The plug head and sliding sleeve of the plug-in connector move against each other by short distances, so that a lock, e.g. in the form of latching hooks and recesses, locks during plugging. For instance, when the plug-in connector moves through the sliding sleeve, by appropriate shaping of the sliding sleeve and the latching hooks of the plug head, the latching hooks lift out of the recesses in the mating connector and unlocking the plug-in connector.

German Patent DE 102 36 275 describes such a plugging system having a known locking device. The described plugging system includes a plug-in connector and a mating connector that can be joined to each other, the plug-in connector having a plug head with an axially movable sliding sleeve. The plug head further includes a hollow body with two locks which extend in the sliding direction, and which have, at their free ends, latching hooks to engage with a latching recess of the mating connector to lock the plugging system. The sliding sleeve includes a recess that corresponds to the lock, and into which the lock extends when the plug head is plugged into the sliding sleeve. The recess of the sliding sleeve is limited by a diagonal surface, the inclination of which corresponds to a sliding diagonal surface of the free end of the locks, so that in the fitted state of the plug-in connector the sliding diagonal surfaces of the lock lie on the diagonal surface of the sliding sleeve. By axial movement of the sliding sleeve, the lock is lifted and put into an unlocked state, so that the plug-in connector can easily be pulled off the mating connector.

However, slight twisting of the sliding sleeve can occur while the sliding sleeve axially moves to release the plug-in connection, resulting in uneven lifting of the locks, resulting from the play which exists between the inner surface of the sliding sleeve and the outer surface of the plug head. Consequently, the latching hook of at least one lock can remain in a locked state, because the latching hook of the lock is not lifted sufficiently out of the latching recess of the mating connector. A locked state here is understood to mean that a latching hook stopper surface is covered by a fastener surface of the latching recess, so that the latching hook and the latching recess cannot move freely in the axial direction relative to each other.

Because of the uneven lifting of the locks and the resulting remaining locked state of at least one lock, the plug-in connector can only be released from the mating connector through a correspondingly greater effort, which overcomes the locked state. This can also result in a break in the region of the latching hook of the lock and/or in a region of the latching recess of the mating connector because of a resulting moment to release the plug-in connection by overcoming the locked state, so that the latching means of the plug-in connection would be damaged, and the plugging system or a corresponding part of the plugging system would have a limited lifetime.

SUMMARY

This invention provides a plug-in connector which can be released easily and reliably from an assigned mating connector and has a greater lifetime.

The plug-in connector includes a plug head and a sliding sleeve. The plug head has a hollow body with at least one cable connector, and at least two locks located on at least one surface of the body. The locks are connected by a bridge, and extend in a sliding direction. Each lock includes at least one free end. The sliding sleeve includes an opening to receive the plug head in a sliding direction and is movable in an axial direction relative to the plug head. An unlocking element is located on an inner side of the opening and positioned to contact the bridge of the plug head. The unlocking element pushes against the locks when the sliding sleeve moves in the sliding direction.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT(S)

An embodiment of the present invention will be described as follows with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1shows an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of a plug-in connector, according to the invention, having a plug head1and a sliding sleeve7. The plug head1includes a hollow body2, which is substantially rectangular and has substantially rounded edges. The body2has at an end a collar10with a projection24and a cable connector3, which is arranged axially thereon. The cable connector3is substantially round and has an outer thread that extends from a free end to the projection24. Additionally, in the cable connector3, an opening, which communicates with an opening which is delimited by the body2, is formed. The cable connector3is made, for example, from a metal. However, the cable connector3can also be made from a different material, e.g. plastic. The projection24is made with the collar10, integrally with the body2, from a material containing plastic, e.g. by an injection molding process.

The body2includes, on each of an upper and a lower surface4, two locks5which extend in an axial direction of the plug head1and are connected to each other via a bridge6, which runs substantially transversely to an axial direction. The locks5each have a free end with a latching hook15, which projects substantially transversely to the axial direction and radially inward. A projecting part of the latching hook15forms a substantially 90 degree angle with a radially inward directed lower side of the locks5and runs in the axial direction radially diagonally outward, to graduate in a front end region of the locks5, through an edge, into the radially outward directed upper side of the locks5. The diagonal surface of the latching hook15which is formed in this way is thus the basis of a guiding surface14, through which the latching hook15, in association with the upper and lower surfaces4, which is assigned to the latching hook surface, of a latching recess of a mating connector (not shown) slides into a recess, which is provided to receive the latching hook15, of the latching recess, so that the plug-in connector is locked to the mating connector.

The body2also includes, on each side surface20adjacent to the upper and lower surfaces4, rail-like outer guides16and a central guide17. The outer guides16and the central guide17are arranged substantially vertically on the side surface20, in such a way that the outer guides16surround the central guide17at a vertical distance from the outer guides16. The central guide17, on the side facing the collar10, forms a substantially right angle with the side surface20, so that a stopper22is formed. On the other hand, a side of the central guide17, facing away from the collar10, runs radially inward, and thus forms a diagonal surface in relation to the side surface20.

The upper and lower surfaces4and the side surface20graduate on the side opposite the collar10into a sliding surface section21, which is carried radially inward in front; the transition from the surface4and the side surface20to the sliding surface section21running radially inclined inward. In front of the sliding surface section21, in the sliding direction, a surrounding groove29is formed, adjacent to the sliding surface section21. Additionally, a surrounding end surface26is formed, in front of the sliding surface section21, in the sliding direction. The surrounding groove29receives, for example, a sealing ring (not shown), preferably an O-ring, to seal an intermediate space, which is formed between the plug head1and the mating connector after latching. The end surface26has the same diameter as the sliding surface section21, and includes, on the side of the body2corresponding to the locks5, slits27which run substantially transversely to the sliding direction. The slits27can receive latching hooks of a plug block (not shown) which can be inserted into the plug head1, to latch the plug block with the plug head1.

The sliding sleeve7with the opening8has an external diameter which corresponds to the collar10of the body2, and a suitable internal diameter to receive the plug head1. The sliding sleeve7includes an unlocking element9on each inner side corresponding to the locks5. The unlocking element9is formed integrally with the sliding sleeve7, and includes a guiding leg12and a lifting leg13, which carries the guiding leg12and which is formed on the side of the guiding leg12facing away from the plug head1to the inner side of the sliding sleeve7, in such a way that the guiding leg12forms an angle α substantially greater than 90 degrees with the lifting leg13. In this way, on the side of the unlocking element9facing the plug head1, a suitable gap to receive the bridge6is formed. The unlocking element9is centered on the inner side of the sliding sleeve7substantially transversely to the sliding direction, and arranged longitudinally to the sliding direction so that with the formed gap, the sliding sleeve7receives the bridge6, so that the bridge6fits closely on the guiding leg12after the sliding sleeve7is pushed onto the plug head1.

During a production process for the sliding sleeve7and plug head1, operations to fix the unlocking element9and locks5, e.g. riveting, gluing or welding, securely on the sliding sleeve7and plug head1respectively, depending on a choice of material for these plug-in connector components, are unnecessary. The plug-in connector is preferably formed by injection molding from an insulating material containing plastic, but the plug-in connector can also be formed of any other material, according to how the plug-in connector is used. Preferably, at least the locks5and/or the unlocking element9are formed of an elastic material, to achieve a preloaded close fit.

The sliding sleeve7also has, on the inner side corresponding to each of the outer guides16and the central guide17, rail-like outer mating guides18and a central mating guide19. The central mating guide19is arranged centrally to the outer mating guides18. The outer mating guides18are formed substantially parallel to the sliding direction with a predetermined length. The outer mating guides18and the central mating guide19are arranged substantially vertically, in such a way that the outer mating guides18, in the fitted state of the plug-in connector, are guided in corresponding gaps of the outer guides16and the central guide17.

The central mating guide19has, on a side facing away from the plug head1, a catch23and a diagonal surface which first runs away from the catch23parallel to the inner side of the sliding sleeve7and then runs radially outward to the inner side of the sliding sleeve7. The diagonal surface, formed in this way, enables the outer guides16, the central guide17, the outer mating guides18, and the central mating guide19to slide in such a way that after the sliding sleeve7is pushed onto the plug head1, the stopper22comes into contact with the catch23in the locked state. In this way, an axial movement of the sliding sleeve7against the sliding direction is limited, so that the sliding sleeve7is fits on the plug head1and cannot be lost. The outer guides16, the central guide17, the outer mating guides18, and the central mating guide19are also in such a form that their surfaces facing the plug head1and the inner side of the sliding sleeve7respectively come into sliding contact with the latter. In this way a close substantially horizontal fit of the sliding sleeve7on the plug head1is achieved.

The sliding sleeve7has, on the outer surface opposite the unlocking element9, handle strips to make pushing the sliding sleeve7manually onto the plug head1and moving the sliding sleeve7axially on the plug head1easier. The sliding sleeve7also includes, on the outer surface between the handle strips and the outer surface edge opposite the handle strips, an indicator31, which is in the form of a protrusion and is integral with the sliding sleeve7. The indicator31assists in orientation of the plug-in connector possible. Here this oriented plugging is understood to mean guided plugging of a plug-in connector with a mating connector, the indicator31, which for instance are arranged on one side of the plug-in connector and on one side of the mating connector, indicating the sides of the plugging system which correspond to each other in proper orientation of a fit together state. Therefore, a user can easily recognize how the plug-in connector is to be plugged into the mating connector. Oriented plugging can also be provided for the plug head1with the sliding sleeve7by suitable arrangement of the indicator31on the plug head1and sliding sleeve7. In general, the indicator31can be in visible and/or tangible form. The indicator31can be an elevation, depression, recess or deposited application such as an adhesive spot, or a similar indicator31, which is formed and provided on the plug-in connector, e.g. on the sliding sleeve7or on the plug head1according to choice, and preferably on the collar10, and on the mating connector, at a suitable position. The indicator31can be, additionally, a fluorescent or phosphorescent indicator31, preferably to make oriented plugging by sight possible for the user even in the dark.

FIG. 2shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the embodiment of the plug-in connector, shown inFIG. 1, in a locked state corresponding to the sliding sleeve7. The end surface26and the slits27of the plug head1project out of the sliding sleeve7in the locked state. The sliding sleeve7, with the radially inward directed surface of the guiding leg12of the unlocking element9, fits closely on the body2. Each of the guiding legs12has, at the end, an essentially rounded end, so that this end acts as a sliding ramp28when the sliding sleeve7is pushed onto the plug head1. It is pushed on in such a way that the outer guides16and the central guide17, with the outer mating guides18and the central mating guide19, make centered guidance of the plug head1in the sliding sleeve7possible. Since the outer mating guides18are guided in the corresponding gaps of the outer guides16and the central guide17, and the plug head1with the outer guides16and the central guide17fits closely without play on the sliding sleeve7, and simultaneously the sliding sleeve7with the outer mating guides18and the central mating guide19fits closely without play on the plug head1, rotation of the sliding sleeve7can be prevented to a very large extent during engagement.

Resulting from easy guidance of the guiding surface14of the guiding leg12over the end surface26of the body2and subsequently over the sliding surface section21, the connection becomes more play-free and tilt-free as the sliding sleeve7is pushed further onto the plug head1. In this case, a radially outward directed side of the guiding leg12first comes into a close fit with the bridge6, without preload. As the sliding sleeve7is pushed further, the guiding leg12is pushed radially outward because of guidance of the sliding ramp28over the shoulder30, so that a preloaded close fit of the bridge6with the unlocking element9and of the unlocking element9with the body2is achieved.

When the stopper22comes into contact with the catch23, the sliding sleeve7is in the locked state, which simultaneously defines an end to the process of pushing the sliding sleeve7onto the body2of the plug head1. The bridge6has, on the side facing away from the collar10and radially directed inward, a diagonal surface, corresponding to the inclination of the lifting leg13. Consequently the bridge6also fits closely on the lifting leg13, so that a vertical close fit of the sliding sleeve7on the plug head1is achieved. The gap which is formed by the guiding leg12and the sliding sleeve7, and which receives the bridge6, has such a height that when the sliding sleeve7moves in the sliding direction to release the plug-in connection, the bridge6lifts the locks5so far that they reach a position corresponding to the unlocked state. During this shifting movement, the sliding sleeve7, as mentioned above, fits horizontally over the outer mating guides18and the central mating guide19, and simultaneously, vertically preloaded, over the unlocking element9on the plug head1, without play. The play-free, preloaded close fit is achieved correspondingly for the plug head1by the outer guides16, the central guide17, the bridge6and the surface4. As a result, rotation of the sliding sleeve7around the movement axis when the sliding sleeve7moves is reliably prevented. The locks5thus lift evenly from the body2by the bridge6, so that the plug-in connection can easily be released.

When the sliding sleeve7is in a locked position, as shown inFIG. 2, the sliding sleeve7, with its end near the collar10, lies on a bracing collar25, which is carried in front of the collar10in the sliding direction. Additionally, a distance between the radially outward facing surface of the locks5and the inner side of the sliding sleeve7(opposite the handle strip), is chosen to be minimal so that in the case of axial movement of the sliding sleeve7, because of a compressive force which is first directed radially inward onto the sliding sleeve7and then axially directed, the effect of the locks5is not affected. This results because the end of the sliding sleeve7near the collar10lies on the bracing collar25. Even if the bracing collar25is shown in surrounding form, the bracing collar25can only be formed on the surfaces of the body2, or be in a similar form which claims a bracing function for the sliding sleeve7for itself.

The unlocking element9of the sliding sleeve7is in such a form that in the case of an axial movement of the sliding sleeve7in the sliding direction from the body2, the bridge6lifts to the unlocked state. Thus a space-saving arrangement of the locks5with respect to the bridge6and the unlocking element9is made possible, since the space to be provided between the body2and the inner side of the sliding sleeve7, in the locked state of the plug-in connector, can be kept small by a compact arrangement of the locks5with the unlocking element9, which is arranged between the locks5.

In the embodiment shown, the unlocking element9in the locked state fits closely on the surface4of the body2. In this way, any play that exists between the sliding sleeve7and the body2of the plug head1can be reduced, so that twisting of the sliding sleeve7to bring the locks5into the unlocked state can be counteracted. Here in particular, the locks5fit closely on the unlocking element9under preload. This preload can be achieved, for instance, by the locks5from their end connected to the body2to their free end being formed to be slightly radially inclined inward, so that the unlocking element9in the locked state lifts the locks5slightly, to use a generated radially inward acting force of the locks5as a preloading force. The preload of the locks5onto the unlocking element9can also be chosen so that the preloading force acts on the body2through the unlocking element9, to allow the unlocking element9to fit closely on the body2under preload when the locked state is reached. In this way a play-free, close fit of the unlocking element9on the body2is reliably ensured, so that the sliding sleeve7also fits closely on the plug head1in the region of the unlocking element9. Additionally, in the embodiment shown, the bridge6is provided in the region of the free end of the locks5. Thus the necessary force to lift the locks5into the unlocked state is reduced, so that a smaller or slimmer shape of the unlocking element9and of the bridge6becomes possible. The collar10, which is provided as a stopper22for the sliding sleeve7, limits the movement of the sliding sleeve7in the sliding direction. Thus an undesired axial movement of the sliding sleeve7in the sliding direction during an unlocking process of the plug-in connector, through a position which damages the bridge6and/or unlocking element9, can be prevented.

Besides these, the configurations described in the above-described embodiment can be selected optionally or can be changed appropriately in to other configurations without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.