Panel Mount Connector Having A Snap-Fit Clip Module

A panel mount connector adapted to be mounted to a panel comprises a housing and snap-fit clip module. The housing includes a collar adapted to abut against the panel and a receptacle. The clip module is arranged within the receptacle and has at least one latching element adapted to generate a snap-fit with the panel.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of European Patent Application No. 22150350.1 filed on Jan. 5, 2022, the whole disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a panel mount connector configured to be mounted to a panel.

BACKGROUND

Panel mount connectors are often used for power and/or signal transmission in electric appliances. Thus, they enable communication between a front of the panel and a rear of the. Traditional fixation systems make use of screws to fix the panel mount connector to a mating connector clamping the panel. However, the assembly of such a connection system is more complicated due to the use of screws, since more parts need to be handled during the assembly operation. For maintenance purposes, simple mounting and dismounting of the panel mount connector is desired.

SUMMARY

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a panel mount connector adapted to be mounted to a panel comprises a housing and snap-fit clip module. The housing includes a collar adapted to abut against the panel and a receptacle. The clip module is arranged within the receptacle and has at least one latching element adapted to generate a snap-fit with the panel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

With reference toFIGS.1and2, a first exemplary embodiment of a panel mount connector1is described.FIG.1shows the first embodiment in a schematic perspective view andFIG.2shows it in a schematic explosive view. The panel mount connector1comprises a housing2having a collar4protruding in a radial direction R. It should be noted that in the context of this description, the term “radial direction” or “radially” is also used for non-circular shapes as is the case in the first embodiment. In this case, the term “radially” means “perpendicular to a peripheral direction” or “laterally”. The collar4protrudes from the remainder of the housing in the radial direction R perpendicular to the peripheral direction U and a mounting direction S. Consequently, the collar4separates a rear end face6and a front-end face8in the mounting direction S, so that the rear end face6and the front-end face8are arranged on different sides of the panel, when the panel mount connector1is mounted to the panel.

A gasket10is provided, extending around the housing2adjoining to the collar4, such that the gasket10is supported on a surface12of the collar4facing the rear end face6. The gasket10may be electrically conductive. For example, the gasket10may be formed from a fluorosilicone that is charged with aluminum and/or silver. In this case, the gasket10may further serve as an electromagnetic shield improving the shielding efficiency of the connector1.

The housing2further comprises a receptacle14for receiving a snap-fit clip module16arranged adjacent to the collar4, as can best be seen inFIG.2. The receptacle14may be formed on a top surface18of the rear end face6and extend from the collar4parallel to the mating direction S away from the collar4. The receptacle14may have a cuboid shape. In particular, the receptacle14may have a rectangular cross section in a plane spanned by the mating direction S and the peripheral direction U.

A radially inwards protruding flap20of the gasket10may be configured to be received in the receptacle1for securing the gasket10to the housing2. Preferably, a second receptacle14is located on an opposite side of the housing2. The second receptacle14may be formed identical to the first receptacle14. In each receptacle14, a separate snap-fit clip module16may be inserted. Preferably, the snap-fit clip modules16are structurally identical. When the snap-fit clip module16is inserted into the receptacle14, the flap20of the gasket10may be received in the receptacle14between the snap-fit clip module16and the collar4.

An exemplary embodiment of the snap-fit clip module16is shown in a schematic perspective view inFIG.3. In this exemplary embodiment, the snap-fit clip module16is formed as an injection molded component having a frame structure22and a latch structure24. The frame structure22comprises beams26forming an essentially rectangular shape defining an opening28.

The latch structure24may preferably be cantilevered, protruding from one side of the frame structure22facing the opening28. In other words, the latch structure24may extend from one beam26into the opening28. For abutment with the panel, the latch structure24may comprise at least one latching element30. In this exemplary embodiment, two parallel latching elements30are shown, which are connected to one another in a motion transmitting manner. In order to achieve the motion transmitting coupling between the two latching elements30, a web32is provided. The web32extends from one latching element30to the other. The latching elements30may extend obliquely from a base33attached to the beam26into the opening28to a free end34such that the latching elements30project radially out of the opening28. Preferably, the free end34does not reach the beam26arranged opposite the base33, such that said beam26does not interfere with the deflection of the latching elements30.

The latching elements30may be rigid in a direction parallel to the mounting direction S, in comparison to a direction parallel to the radial direction R. Therefore, the latching elements30may press against the panel with a high pressing force without strong deformation. To do this, the latching elements30may enclose a volume36, which is preferably solid. The volume36may have a triangular cross section in a plane spanned by the mounting direction S and the radial direction R. In particular, the latching elements30may each comprise a material thickness38in the radial direction R, which gradually increases towards the free end34. The latching elements30may thus each comprise a front face40facing the collar4, when the snap-fit clip module16is inserted into the receptacle14. The front face40has a width42essentially parallel to the peripheral direction U and a depth44essentially parallel to the radial direction R, wherein the depth44is smaller than the width42but at least half the size of the width42.

The snap-fit clip module16may be clipped in the receptacle14as is shown inFIG.1, for example, in order to secure the snap-fit clip module16in the receptacle14. When inserted in the receptacle14, a top surface of the frame may be arranged essentially flush with the top surface18of the part of the housing2surrounding the receptacle14.

The latching elements30may project out of the receptacle14in the radial direction R with an increasing depth towards the free end34. The latching elements30may be elastically deflectable, such that they can be pushed into the receptacle14in the radial direction R, when a force is applied. Preferably, the latching elements30may project out of the receptacle14in an initial, undeformed state45as is shown inFIGS.1-7,9and10. Therefore, the latching elements30automatically snap back into the initial state, when a force causing the deflection is released.

To allow the latching elements30to be deflected, the receptacle14may be provided with a depression46. The depression46may preferably be arranged to receive the front end40and may act as a support for preventing an excessive deflection of the latching elements30. A through hole48may be provided in the receptacle14, adjacent to the depression46in the mounting direction S. The through hole48may allow access to an inner volume surrounded by the housing2, so that hooks of a complementary connector can reach into the through hole48locking the complementary connector to the housing2.

The housing2and the snap-fit clip module16may particularly be formed from the same material. At least the snap-fit clip module16may be electrically isolating. It may, for example, be formed from a dielectric material, particularly a thermoplastic material.

In various applications, specific performance requirements have to be met. For example, the application may have specific requirements concerning the shielding effectiveness and/or surface transfer impedance. To achieve this, the housing2may be provided with a plating50, particularly a multi-layer plating. The housing2may be plated with a copper plating and a nickel plating on top of the copper plating. Particularly, the entire outer surface of the housing may be plated. Preferably, the receptacle14may be plated.

The snap-fit clip module16, on the other hand, is preferably not plated. As the snap-fit clip module16and the housing2are separate components, plating of the housing2may be facilitated. If the housing2and the snap-fit clip module16were formed integrally with one another, additional provisions would be required in order to plate the housing but not the snap-fit clip module.

The fixation of the snap-fit clip module16in the receptacle14is further elucidated with reference to the second exemplary embodiment of the panel mount connector1shown inFIGS.3to6. The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the front-end face8has a different structure. The remainder of the housing2, particularly the receptacle14, and the snap-fit clip module16are identical to the first embodiment. It should be noted that the front-end face8may be adapted for any kind of complementary connector or terminals, for which the first and second embodiment only show different examples.

The snap-fit clip module16comprises a pair of catch elements52in the form of protrusions54protruding parallel to the mounting direction S from the frame structure22. Particularly, the catch elements52and the latch structure24may extend from the same beam26, wherein the latch structure24extends into the opening28and the catch elements52to the outside. The two catch elements52are arranged in the respective corner of the beam26and spaced apart from one another. The housing2comprises complementary catch elements56in the form of slots58opening into the receptacle14. In an initial position60as indicated inFIG.5, the housing2and the snap-fit clip module16may be detached from one another, wherein the catch elements52and the complementary catch elements56form a pivot axis62around which the snap-fit clip module16is held pivotable relative to the housing2from the initial position60to a catch position64(seeFIG.6).

As can be seen inFIG.6, the protrusions54are fully received in the respective slots58such that a movement of the snap-fit clip module16relative to the housing2, at least in the peripheral direction U as well as the radial direction R, is blocked. In addition to the catch elements56, the snap-fit clip module16may be provided with a securing element66protruding in the radial direction R from the beam26arranged opposite the catch elements56. The securing element66protrudes further into the receptacle14and in the catch position64is received in a complementary securing element68, formed as a recess70. The recess70is preferably arranged adjoining the depression46and has a larger depth than the depression46. In the catch position64the securing element66engages the complementary securing element68, pushing the catch elements52further into the slots58. The securing elements66,68block a relative motion of the snap-fit clip module16and the housing2in the mounting direction S, meaning that the catch elements52are locked in the slots58. Therefore, a pivoting motion from the catch position64back into the initial position60(e.g., due to vibrations or the like) may be prevented.

With reference toFIGS.7-10, an exemplary embodiment of an assembly72is shown. The assembly72comprises a panel74having at least one opening76for receiving the panel mount connector1in the mounting direction S. The opening76may be smaller than the collar4but bigger than the rear end face6of the housing2. Thus, the rear end face6of the housing2may be pushed through the opening76without grinding along the edges78of the opening76. Hence, the plating50of the housing2is not scraped off.

As can be seen inFIG.8, when pushing the rear end face6through the opening76, the edge78presses the latching elements30into the recess. An advantage of an un-plated or non-plated snap-fit clip module is that any plating failure may be mitigated. If the snap-fit clip module16is plated, the plating may be damaged during the insertion of the connector into the opening of the panel. Once the latching elements30passes through the opening76, the latching elements30snap back into the initial, undeflected state45, as shown inFIGS.9and10. The panel74is then arranged in a gap80between free end34and the gasket10. The latching elements30press with their front face40against the panel74, clamping the panel between the collar4and the latching elements30. In this case, a beam26of the frame structure22is received in the opening76. Therefore, the panel74overlaps with the beam26further securing the snap-fit clip module16in the receptacle14.

The panel74may have a predetermined material thickness82that is greater than the gap80between front face40and the gasket10. Therefore, the gasket10may be compressed, further ensuring proper sealing of the opening76. For example, the predetermined material thickness may be 1.6 mm and the panel mount connector1may be configured such that when mounted to the panel74, the gasket10is compressed by 0.09 mm.

In addition, those areas in which it is believed that those of ordinary skill in the art are familiar, have not been described herein in order not to unnecessarily obscure the invention described. Accordingly, it has to be understood that the invention is not to be limited by the specific illustrative embodiments, but only by the scope of the appended claims.