# Patent

## Title
Connection apparatus

## Abstract

A connection system, in particular an electrical connection system, having a male connector and having a female connector has a bayonet-type connection for connecting the male connector and the female connector. The bayonet-type connection has at least one axially extending insertion channel and at least one adjoining latching position, which is offset in the circumferential direction with respect thereto, in the female connector, the end side of the female connector, which end side is provided for connection to the male connector, being covered by a cover, which is arranged adjustably in the female connector such that, when the male connector is positioned on it, the opening is released by this male connector in order to produce the connection.

## Background
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application is a divisional of, and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §120 to, co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/816,973 filed Feb. 21, 2006 which is a U.S. National Phase Entry Under 35 U.S.C. §371 of PCT/EP2006/001560, filed Feb. 21, 2006 which designated the United States and at least one other country other than the United States and which claims priority to German Patent Application No. 20 2005 002 921.1, filed Feb. 23, 2005. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/816,973 is expressly incorporated herein by reference in its entirety to form a part of the present disclosure.


BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a connection system, in particular an electrical connection system, having a plug and having a socket, a bayonet-type connection being provided for connecting the plug and socket.
Bayonet-type connections for a secure connection between a plug and a socket are generally known.
In vehicle construction, in particular in motor vehicle construction, mechanical, and above all, also electrical connection systems are increasingly required also in the luggage area, for example in the trunk, in the region of the rear seats and loading area. The known electrical connection systems are inconvenient owing to their design or represent disruptive elements. This applies in particular to the trunk, where if possible no protruding parts are desired. When the known electrical connection systems are not in use, in the prior art the socket is covered by a separate covering element if the connection does not remain completely open. The latter case is particularly prevalent if the covering element is lost.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is therefore based on the object of providing a connection system of the type mentioned at the outset which has a relatively small physical depth and does not become disruptive either in the installed state or when not in use.
This object is achieved according to the invention by virtue of the fact that the bayonet-type connection in the socket has at least one axially running insertion channel and at least one adjoining locking position which is offset in the circumferential direction with respect thereto, the front side of the socket which is provided for connection to the plug being covered by a cover, which is arranged in the socket displaceably such that, when the plug is positioned, the opening is released by said plug for the purpose of producing the connection.
Owing to the fact that the bayonet is designed to have the axial insertion channel and the locking position, which is offset with respect thereto in the circumferential direction, for example a locking channel running in the circumferential direction, firstly a secure connection is provided and secondly, however, only a relatively low physical depth is required. Owing to the arrangement according to the invention of the cover, the socket, when not in use, can be integrated so as not to be disruptive in the area surrounding the socket or can be adapted so as to correspond to said socket. It is thus possible, for example, for it to be installed in a vehicle wall or a loading floor. At the same time, a contamination-proof cover for the electrical contacts is provided, with the result that their functioning is also not impaired in the event of use for a relatively long period of time.
In this case, the socket can be installed into a component surrounding it in such a way that the surface of the socket, together with the cover, is at least approximately flush with the surface of the wall part surrounding the socket. This means that damage to the socket is thus avoided and a loading area is not impaired by protruding parts.
If, in the case of an electrical connection system, the contacts are arranged circumferentially, faultless electrical contact is made, in addition to which, when the electrical connection is led through owing to the rotary movement of the plug in the socket, the contacts are always exposed, as a result of which oxidation is avoided.
The displaceability of the cover and the releasing of the opening of the socket for a connection can take place in a variety of ways. In a simple manner, a spring device may be provided for this purpose which pushes the cover back when the plug is inserted into the bayonet-type connection. Once the plug has been removed, owing to a spring prestress, the cover can if necessary be positioned in front of the free front side again.
In addition to a design as an electrical connection apparatus, the connection system according to the invention can also at the same time be provided for a mechanical connection. It is merely necessary for this purpose for a correspondingly designed connecting element to be provided as the plug, which connecting element is provided, for example, with a hook or an eye in order to be able to suspend the tensioning cable, for example. Likewise, such a fastening element can also be used as a suspension device.



BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Advantageous developments and configurations can be gleaned from the remaining dependent claims and from the exemplary embodiments described in principle below with reference to the drawing, in which:
FIG. 1 shows a perspective illustration of the socket according to the invention;
FIG. 2 shows an exploded illustration of the socket shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 shows a perspective illustration of a plug as a mechanical fastening element;
FIG. 4 shows a perspective illustration of an electrical plug;
FIG. 5 shows a perspective illustration of a socket having an electrical plug;
FIG. 6 shows a perspective illustration of an electrical plug having a connecting element for an electrical load;
FIG. 7 shows a cross section through the socket shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 8 shows a section along the line VIII-VIII in FIG. 7;
FIG. 9 shows a section corresponding to the section shown in FIG. 8 with a partially inserted cover;
FIG. 10 shows a section along the line X-X shown in FIG. 7;
FIG. 11 shows a perspective, exploded illustration of a plug in another configuration;
FIG. 12 shows a perspective illustration of the plug shown in FIG. 11 in the assembled state prior to it being inserted into a socket or into a profiled drilled hole of a wall;
FIG. 13 shows a perspective illustration of the plug inserted into the socket;
FIG. 14 shows a perspective illustration of the plug inserted into the socket, in a locking position.



DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The connection system has a socket 1 and a plug 2, which may be in the form of a mechanical fastening element 2a or in the form of an electrical plug 2b. As can be seen from FIG. 3, the mechanical plug 2a has a knurled disk 3 on its side remote from the connection side. In addition, the knurled disk 3 can be provided with a fastening element in the form of an eye or a hook (not illustrated). The essential feature of the two types of plug is the design for a bayonet-type connection with the socket 1. For this purpose, the plug 2 has a round part 4 in its front part, from which round part two cams or lugs 5 lying opposite one another protrude circumferentially. In the case of the electrical plug 2b, contact elements 6 are arranged on the outside or over the circumference of the two lugs 5, which contact elements lead, in the interior of the plug, to a connection branch 7 of the plug 2b in a manner not illustrated in any more detail, from where, correspondingly, cables (not illustrated) lead to an electrical load.
In order to implement a bayonet-type connection, the socket has, in its circumferential wall 20, two insertion channels 8 lying opposite one another which run in axial direction and are matched in terms of their width and depth to the protruding lugs 5 of the plug. Locking channels 9 running in the circumferential direction in the circumferential wall for a locking position adjoin the two axial insertion channels 8 (see FIGS. 7 and 10). The locking channels 9 can run such that an indentation in the form of a latching position results at the end, in which indentation, when the plug 2 is positioned, the lugs 5 are located in the end position in the indentation. In this way, a latching position securing against unintentional detachment is achieved. In order to detach the plug 2, it is then merely necessary to press the plug slightly further in, with the result that it can be withdrawn from the locking channels 9 and the insertion channels 8 again given a corresponding rotary movement in the opposite direction. Such a latching position can also be achieved by a slightly inclined guidance of the locking channels 9 in the form of a rising ramp with an end region which drops off.
The design of the socket 1 can be seen in more detail in FIG. 2 in conjunction with FIGS. 7 to 10. The exploded illustration shown in FIG. 2 shows a cover 10 having a pin 11, in which a slot is arranged. The pin 11 can be plugged through a drilled hole in a rear base 12 of the socket 1, an arrow-shaped end 13, which is provided with the slot, of the pin 11 being plugged by being correspondingly compressed through the drilled hole.
By means of the arrow-shaped end 13, which has a larger outer diameter than the shaft of the pin 11, in conjunction with the slot, by means of which the pin 11, when pressed together, can be plugged through the drilled hole, a restraining element for the cover 10 is provided. The cover 10 is matched in terms of its shape to the shape of the open front side 14 of the socket 1 and therefore likewise has lug-like protrusions 15 on opposite sides, which are matched to the cutout 8. As can be seen in particular in FIGS. 1 to 5, the open front side 14 of the socket 1 is therefore covered, the cover 10 terminating flush with the surface of the socket 1. A spring device 16 in the form of a helical spring prestresses the cover 10 favoring the closed position, the arrow-like end 13 forming a stop on the base 12 and preventing the cover from falling out. The spring-like device 16 is supported on the base 12 of the socket 1. Mating contacts 17 are arranged opposite one another in the locking channels 9 in the circumferential wall 20 of the socket 1. Lines (not illustrated) lead out of the mating contacts 17 to a current source. As can be seen in the exploded illustration shown in FIG. 2, for installation reasons the housing of the socket 1 is in two parts, namely comprising the circumferential wall 20 and a rear, likewise round socket part 18, which is inserted into the interior of the circumferential wall 20 and also has the base 12.
As can be seen in particular from FIGS. 8, 9 and 10, the socket 1 has a relatively small physical depth and can be inserted completely or virtually completely into a wall 19 surrounding the socket.
As can be seen, the connection system with the socket 1 and the plug 2, depending on the type of plug, can be used both as a mechanical fastening device and as an electrical connection device. The socket 1 accommodates both types of plugs 2a and 2b. In the case of a mechanical connection device with the plug 2a, there is simply no electrical contact connection with the mating contacts 17.
FIG. 8 shows the socket 1 with the cover 10, in which said cover is flush with the front side of the socket 1.
FIGS. 9 and 10 show the position of the cover 10 if the plug 2 (not illustrated here) is positioned on the socket 1.
In place of a cable connection of the plug via the connection branch 7, an electrical load can also be positioned directly on the electrical plug 2b, if desired. This can be seen in FIG. 6. In this case, the plug has a knurled nut 21 on its rear side, via which knurled nut a connection to an electrical load 22 (not illustrated in any more detail) takes place. The electrical load 22 (not illustrated in any more detail) may be, for example, a mobile telephone, a charger or else a small display screen.
It is also possible without a great deal of complexity with the connection system according to the invention to make more than only two electrical contact connections. There are two possibilities for this, namely a plurality of contact elements 6 and mating contact elements 17 arranged one behind the other in the axial direction in the plug 2b and in the socket 1 or else a plurality of contact elements 6 and mating contact elements 17 arranged distributed over the circumference in the plug 2b and in the socket 1.
In an axial arrangement, the lugs 5 need to be extended correspondingly in the axial direction or correspondingly a plurality of rows of lugs need to be arranged one behind the other in the round part 4 (not illustrated). In this case, a plurality of locking channels 9 located at different axial heights need to be provided correspondingly also in the socket 1.
In an arrangement in the circumferential direction, the locking channels 9 need to be extended correspondingly in the circumferential direction and likewise need to be provided correspondingly with further mating contact elements 17. In this case, correspondingly a plurality of lugs 5 need to be arranged at the same axial height such that they are offset with respect to one another correspondingly in the circumferential direction (not illustrated).
FIGS. 11 to 14 illustrate an exemplary alternative embodiment of the connection system according to the invention having a plug 2′ having a different configuration.
In the description below, the same reference symbols have been used for identical or functionally identical parts as in the exemplary embodiment described above.
As shown in FIG. 11, the plug 2′ has a cam carrier 23, at whose front end facing the socket 1′ the round part 4 is provided with the two cams or lugs 5 lying opposite one another.
On the side of the cam carrier 23 which is remote from the socket 1′, a locking part in the form of a locking ring 24 is located which is pushed onto a cylindrical part of the cam carrier 23. Two locking cams 25, which protrude axially out of the locking ring 24, are located opposite one another on the front wall region, which faces the socket 1′, of the locking ring 24. As is shown, the two locking cams 25 are offset in the circumferential direction with respect to the cams or lugs 5 by 90°. A grip part in the form of a grip ring 26 is located on the side remote from the socket 1′. A spring device in the form of a helical spring 27 is arranged between the grip ring 26 and the locking ring 24.
The grip ring 26 has an inner drilled hole, into which a rotary part 28 with a transverse drilled hole 29 is inserted, the rotary part 28 being capable of being rotated with respect to the grip ring 26. A fastening element, for example a retaining eye 30, is provided with a transverse part 31, which is guided through the transverse drilled hole 29. The retaining eye 30 serves the purpose of fastening parts which are intended to be secured, for example, in the trunk of a vehicle. Owing to the fact that the rotary part 28 is capable of rotating, in this case the retaining eye 30 can be positioned in any desired rotary position.
While the grip ring 26 is rigidly connected to the cam carrier 23, the locking ring 24 is capable of being displaced in the axial direction with respect to the cam carrier 23. Owing to the locking cams 25, which protrude into cutouts 32 of a circumferential ring 33 of the cam carrier 23, however, the cam carrier 23 and the locking ring 24 are prevented from rotating or are caused to rotate jointly.
The way in which the connection system with the plug 2′ shown in FIG. 11 functions will become apparent below using descriptions relating to FIGS. 12 to 14.
As FIG. 12 shows, in the first step, the plug 2′ is brought close to the opening 40 of socket 1′ such that the insertion channels 8 are aligned with the lugs 5 and the round part 4 of the plug 2′ is aligned with the round portion 41 of the opening 40 of socket 1′. Owing to the prestress by means of the helical spring 27 tensioned between the grip part 26 and the locking ring 24, the locking ring bears against the circumferential ring 33 of the cam carrier 23, the locking cams 25 protruding in the direction of the socket 1′ forwards through the cutouts 32 over the circumferential ring 33.
FIG. 13 shows the position of the plug 2′ in which the cams 5 have been pushed through the insertion channels 8 of the socket 1′. While the lugs 5 are being pushed through the insertion channels 8, the locking cams 25 abut front side 38 of a wall 34 of the socket 1′ with their front side, which front side 38 of a wall 34 faces the plug 2′. On overcoming the prestress owing to the spring 27, the locking ring 24 is pushed back during the insertion movement of the lugs 5 into the insertion channels 8. As soon as the lugs 5 are located on the rear side 39 of the wall part 34 and therefore the lugs 5 can be rotated in the circumferential direction, the grip ring 26 and therefore also the cam carrier 23, which is rigidly connected to it, can be rotated in the circumferential direction through a desired angle. The angle of the rotary movement depends on the positioning of the locking cams 25 in relation to the lugs 5. Since the angular difference is 90° in this case, a corresponding rotary movement by the operator through 90° takes place on the grip ring 26. Once this rotary movement has ended, the locking cams 25 are therefore in front of the insertion channels 8 and, since they correspond to the channel shapes of the insertion channels 8 in terms of shape and configuration, the locking cams 25 are pressed into the insertion channels 8 by means of the spring 26 which is being relieved of tension, whereby locking and, at the same time, protection against rotation is provided (see FIG. 14). The cams 5, which, as can be seen in FIG. 14, are arranged such that they are offset through 90° with respect to the insertion channels 8, ensure that the plug 2′ cannot be withdrawn from the socket 1 in the axial direction.
In order to release the plug 2′ from the socket 1′, it is merely necessary to manually pull back the locking ring 24 against the force of the spring 27 from the socket 1′ until the locking cams 25 are released from the insertion channels 8. Then, with a back-rotation through 90°, the lugs 5 are again brought in front of the insertion channels 8, and the plug 2′ can be withdrawn.
The rotary movement in the form of 90° is naturally only mentioned by way of example. In practice, other values are also possible here.
The advantage of the exemplary embodiment with the plug 2′ in comparison with the plug 2 described initially consists, inter alia, in that the socket 1′ can have a substantially simpler design. In practice, only one wall 34 is required as the “socket”, which wall is provided with a profiled drilled hole which has cutouts in the form of the insertion channels 8. This means that, if there is a sufficient wall thickness, for example of at least 1 to 2 millimeters, the connection system according to the invention can be introduced in a simple manner at any desired point in available walls, for example in walls of a trunk in a vehicle. If there is a sufficient wall thickness for the wall 34 or if this wall is correspondingly reinforced, it is thus possible with the connection system according to the invention also to attach heavy loads or thereby secure heavy loads on the retaining eye 30 of the plug 2′.
A further advantage in comparison with the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 10 also consists in the fact that, as a result of the ability of the rotary part 28 to rotate in relation to the grip ring 26, the retaining eye 30, which is connected to the rotary part 28, can remain unchanged in the event of a rotation of the plug 2′ during insertion into the socket 1′ for the purpose of locking it in its position. This means that it is not rotated as well and parts located on it or else electrical loads provided in place of the retaining eye 30 remain in their original position. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 10, the electrical load 22 illustrated in FIG. 6 is rotated along when the bayonet-type connection is produced, which could lead to problems in the event of the need for a positionally correct arrangement of the electrical load 22, the retaining eye 30 or another part which is connected to the retaining eye 30 or to the plug 2′ itself.
The cam carrier 23 and the grip ring 26 can be rigidly connected to one another in any desired manner. This can take place, for example, by means of a screw connection or adhesion.

## Claims

1. A connection apparatus, comprising:
a plug for connection to a socket, a bayonet-type connection being provided for connecting the plug and socket, the plug has at least one lug arranged on its circumference, the lug, for the purpose of producing the bayonet-type connection, being screwed into a locking position lying in the circumferential direction with respect to at least one insertion channel wherein said plug further comprises a cam carrier, at least one locking cam, and a locking part, said lug being arranged on said cam carrier, said at least one locking cam being arranged on said locking part, said at least one locking cam being offset in said circumferential direction with respect to said lug.

2. A connection apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said locking part is in the form of a locking ring, said locking ring being connected to said cam carrier such that said cam carrier is fixed against rotation but can be displaced in said axial direction.

3. A connection apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said locking ring is prestressed toward said cam carrier.

4. A connection apparatus as claimed in claim 2 further comprising a grip part connected to said cam carrier, said cam carrier being connected to a grip part, said locking ring being arranged between said cam carrier and said gripping part.

5. A connection apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said grip part comprises a grip ring, and a rotary part mounted for rotation relative said grip ring, said rotary part being adapted to be coupled to a fastening element.

6. A connection apparatus, comprising:
a plug and a socket to which said plug may be detachably attached and locked and from which socket said plug may be unlocked and removed;
said socket being comprised of a wall having an opening completely penetrating said wall in an axial direction, said wall having a front side and a rear side which are mutually spaced from one another in said axial direction, said opening having a round portion and at least one insertion channel adjoining said round portion and extending outwardly from said round portion in a direction transverse to said axial direction;
said plug having a cam carrier, a locking ring mounted on said cam carrier, a grip part rigidly connected to said cam carrier, and a spring interposed between said grip part and said locking ring, said locking ring having a front wall from which at least one locking cam protrudes in said axial direction, at least a portion of said locking cam being capable of being inserted into said locking channel;
said cam carrier having
(i) a cylindrical part which passes axially through said locking ring and upon which said locking ring is mounted such that said locking ring may be moved in said axial direction relative to said cam carrier;
(ii) a round part and at least one lug protruding from said round part in a direction oriented transverse to said axial direction, said round part being capable of passing completely through said round portion of said opening and said lug being capable of passing through said insertion channel;
(iii) a circumferential ring located axially intermediate said cylindrical part and said round part, said circumferential ring being spaced from said round part in said axial direction, said circumferential ring being interrupted by at least one cutout through which said portion of said locking cam passes, and
(iv) a spring disposed between said grip part and said locking ring to forcibly bias said locking ring toward said circumferential ring such that said portion of said locking cam extends from said cutout in the absence of an external force,

whereby, with said plug and said socket being suitably axially aligned, said round part of said plug and said lug may be inserted axially into said round portion and said insertion channel, respectively, permitting said locking cam to abut said front side of said wall such that further axial insertion of said plug overcomes said bias of said spring to move said round part and said lug through said round portion and said insertion channel of said opening thereby allowing said grip part to be rotated to rotate said lug behind said rear side of said wall to attach said plug to said socket and bring said cutout and said locking cam into alignment with said insertion channel thereby permitting said spring to forcibly bias said portion of said locking cam into engagement with said insertion channel to lock said plug to said socket.

7. A connection apparatus as claimed in claim 6, further comprising:
a rotary part rotatably coupled to said cam carrier so as to permit relative rotation between said rotary part and said cam carrier, and
a fastening element connected to said rotary part.

8. A connection apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said fastening element comprises a retaining eye.

9. A connection apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said fastening element includes a transverse part which passes through an opening in said rotary part to connect said retaining eye to said fastening element.

10. A connection apparatus, namely, a plug for making a locking detachable connection with a socket of the type formed as an opening which completely penetrates a wall in an axial direction, the wall having a front side and a rear side which are mutually spaced from one another in the axial direction, the opening having a round portion and at least one insertion channel adjoining the round portion and extending outwardly from the round portion in a direction transverse to the axial direction, said plug comprising:
a cam carrier, a locking ring mounted on said cam carrier, a grip part rigidly connected to said cam carrier, and a spring interposed between said grip part and said locking ring, said locking ring having a front wall from which at least one locking cam protrudes in said axial direction, at least a portion of said locking cam being capable of being inserted into the locking channel;
said cam carrier having
(i) a cylindrical part which passes axially through said locking ring and upon which said locking ring is mounted such that said locking ring may be moved in said axial direction relative to said cam carrier;
(ii) a round part and at least one lug protruding from said round part in a direction oriented transverse to said axial direction, said round part being capable of passing completely through the round portion of the opening and said lug being capable of passing through the insertion channel;
(iii) a circumferential ring located axially intermediate said cylindrical portion and said round part, said circumferential ring being spaced from said round part in said axial direction, said circumferential ring being interrupted by at least one cutout through which said portion of said locking cam passes, and
(iv) a spring disposed between said grip part and said locking ring to bias said locking ring toward said circumferential ring such that said portion of said locking cam extends from said cutout in the absence of an external force.

11. A connection apparatus as claimed in claim 10, further comprising:
a rotary part rotatably coupled to said cam carrier so as to permit relative rotation between said rotary part and said cam carrier, and
a fastening element connected to said rotary part.

12. A connection apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein said fastening element comprises a retaining eye.

13. A connection apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein said fastening element includes a transverse part which passes through an opening in said rotary part to connect said retaining eye to said fastening element.