Abstract:
A plug connector is described which has a displaceably mounted securing element, which fixes the plug connector in latched connection with a plug connector socket in a locking position. To make the structure of the plug connector housing compact, the damping element is arranged in the securing element and may be displaced with the securing element. For a particularly compact structural shape, the damping element is plugged onto the contact elements of the plug connector and arranged displaceably relative to the contact elements.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The invention relates to an electrical connector and in particular an igniter plug connector.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     In automotive technology, plug connectors are used for safety-relevant functions and have securing elements for securing the plug connector into a socket. To this end, the plug connectors comprise plug connector housings, on which a securing element is, for example, mounted displaceably, which element may be slid into a locked position when the plug connector is plugged in. In the locked position, locking elements of the securing element engage between catch elements of the plug connector and/or the socket in such a way that the plug connector is secured against removal from the socket. Due to the sliding function of the securing element, a relatively large housing structure is necessary for the plug connector. In addition, the plug connectors comprise damping elements, through which the electrical conductors of the plug connector pass. The arrangement of the damping element also makes the plug connector housing relatively bulky.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0003]     An object of the invention, among others, is to provide a plug connector, in particular an igniter plug connector for an airbag system, which has a displaceable securing element, a damping element and exhibits a compact structural shape.  
         [0004]     In an embodiment of the invention, the contact element comprises a contact zone which is connected to a connection zone via a conduction portion. In addition, the damping element comprises a passageway, having a cross-section corresponding to the cross-section of the connection zone and of the conduction portion in such a way that the connection zone may be inserted through the passageway. In addition, the damping element may be displaced along the conduction portion and surrounds the conduction portion with a tight tolerance. A securing element comprises a receiving cavity with a resiliently mounted retaining lug. The damping element is inserted in the receiving cavity and is held in the receiving cavity by the retaining lug. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0005]     The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the Figures, in which:  
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a perspective representation of a securing element and a damping element;  
         [0007]      FIG. 2  shows a securing element with inserted damping element;  
         [0008]      FIG. 3  shows a plug connector housing and two contact elements;  
         [0009]      FIG. 4  shows a plug connector housing with fitted contact elements and a securing element with inserted damping element, ready for assembly;  
         [0010]      FIG. 5  shows a plug connector housing with inserted securing element and fitted electrical conductors;  
         [0011]      FIG. 6  shows a strain relief;  
         [0012]      FIG. 7  shows an assembled plug connector housing with electrical conductors and a strain relief prior to assembly;  
         [0013]      FIG. 8  shows a cross-section through a plug connector and a contact socket prior to plugging in of a plug connector;  
         [0014]      FIG. 9  shows a cross-section through a plug connector and a socket, wherein the plug connector is located in a preliminary catch position; and  
         [0015]      FIG. 10  shows a cross-section through a plug connector, which is plugged fully into the contact socket and is secured in the contact position by the securing element. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS  
       [0016]      FIG. 1  is a perspective representation of a securing element  1  and a damping element  2 , which may take the form of a ferrite element. Instead of the ferrite material, other materials may also be used to construct the damping element  2 . The damping element  2  serves to suppress electrical interference signals. The securing element  1  comprises a receiving cavity  3 , which is of substantially rectangular cross-section and is surrounded by a housing wall of the securing element  1 . Adjacent the receiving cavity  3 , there is provided a retaining lug  4  in the housing wall, which is mounted resiliently and comprises a retaining edge  6 . The retaining edge  6  is arranged at the edge of the receiving cavity  3  and is oriented towards the receiving cavity  3 . The damping element  2  consists substantially of a cross-sectionally rectangular ferrite block containing the two passageways  5 . The passageways  5  are of U-shaped cross-section.  
         [0017]      FIG. 2  shows a securing element  1 , into whose receiving cavity  3  the damping element  2  is inserted. In the opening zone of the receiving cavity  3 , the damping element  2  is held in the inserted position by the retaining edge  6  of the retaining lug  4 . So that the damping element  2  cannot be pushed deeper into the securing element  1 , corresponding retaining edges are constructed in the housing wall adjacent the receiving cavity  3 . In this way, the damping element  2  is fixed in the securing element  1 . The securing element  1  comprises first catch hooks  7  on opposing sides, which hooks  7  project from the securing element  1  in an insertion direction and are provided for latching together with a contact socket. In addition, a second catch hook  8  is formed on an upper side, which hook  8  projects from the securing element  1  in the insertion direction and is provided for retaining the securing element  1  in a pre-latched position on a plug connector housing for transportation. In addition, locking arms  38  are provided, which extend out of the securing element  1  in the insertion direction. In an embodiment, the damping element  2  is held on the securing element  1  by means of a bonding layer  39 . The bonding layer  39  may take the form of an adhesive layer or a molded-in enveloping layer. For example, the damping element  2  may be encapsulated therein by injection molding. The retaining lug  4  may then be dispensed with.  
         [0018]      FIG. 3  shows a plug connector housing  9  comprising a contact plate  10 . Adjacent the contact plate  10  there is formed a second receiving cavity  12 , which is defined by a plug connector wall  13 . Two contact receiving openings  11  are formed in the contact plate  10 , which receiving openings  11  are arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis of the plug connector housing  9 , start from the second receiving cavity  12 , and pass through the entire contact plate  10 . The second receiving cavity  12  exhibits a substantially rounded rectangular shape in cross-section.  
         [0019]     In addition,  FIG. 3  shows two contact elements  14 . The contact elements  14  substantially comprise a contact zone  15 , which is connected to a connection zone  17  via a conduction portion  16 . The connection zone  17  serves in the connection of electrical conductors. The connection zone  17  may be a crimp zone, but it is also possible to provide a solder zone or weld zone for connection of the electrical conductor. The contact zone  15  substantially constitutes a contact tube provided to accommodate a contact pin. The conduction portion  16  is substantially rectangular in cross-section and takes the form of a ribbon conductor. Lugs are provided in the crimp zone  17  on opposing sides of the ribbon conductor, which lugs are designed for fixing the conductors of a cable. The contact elements  14  are preferably made in one piece from an electrically conductive plate material by stamping and forming.  
         [0020]      FIG. 4  shows the plug connector housing  9  with inserted contact elements  14 . The contact zones  15  have been inserted into the contact receiving openings  11  and fixed in the contact receiving openings  11  via clamp holders. The conduction portions  16  pass through the second receiving cavity  12  beyond an insertion opening  18  and the connection zones  17  are arranged outside the second receiving cavity  12 . The securing element  1  with inserted damping element  2  is illustrated in front of the insertion opening  18  of the second receiving cavity  12 . For assembly, the securing element  1  is inserted via the insertion opening  18  into the second receiving cavity  12 . The connection zones  17  of the contact elements  14  are then pushed through the passageways  5  in the damping element  2 . In addition, the securing element  1  is latched in a pre-latched position in the plug connector housing  9  by means of the second catch hook  8 .  
         [0021]     The cross-section of the passageways  5  is conformed to the contact elements  14  in such a way that the contact elements  14  may be pushed with one end through the passageways  5  of the damping element  2  and in addition the conduction portion  16 , which is arranged in the damping element  2  when the securing element  1  is assembled, is tightly surrounded by the damping element  2 , such that the electromagnetic attenuation of the damping element  2  on the interference signals flowing in the contact elements  14  is maintained.  
         [0022]      FIG. 5  shows a plug connector with a plug connector housing  9 , with contact elements  14  and with an inserted securing element  1 . Cables  19  with electrical conductors  20  are fixed to the connection zones  17 . The securing element  1  is located in a preliminary catch position and is fixed to the plug connector housing  9  by the second catch hook  8 .  
         [0023]      FIG. 6  shows a strain relief  21 , which comprises a housing body  22 , which comprises an opening  23  on one side. A first plate  24  is connected to the housing body  22  at a first end area, which first plate  24  is connected rigidly to the housing body  22 . A second plate  25  is arranged over the first plate  24 , which second plate  25  is connected foldably to the housing body  22  via a movable hinge  26 . The second plate  25  comprises side walls  27  on opposing longitudinal sides, which side walls  27  comprise inwardly inclined catch projections  28  at the lower edges. On the insides of the first or second plates  24 ,  25 , which face one another, clamping means are provided for clamping two cables  19  in place. Slots  29 ,  30  are formed in an upper side and a lower side of the housing body  22 , which slots extend towards the open side of the housing body  22 . The first and second slots  29 ,  30  allow the securing element  1  to be displaced relative to the housing body  22  in the assembled state.  
         [0024]      FIG. 7  shows the plug connector with the plug connector housing  9  and attached cables  19 , which are fitted to the plug connector housing  9  with a clamping connection by the strain relief  21 . For assembly, the strain relief  21  is urged, with its second plate  25  open, as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , sideways onto the plug connector housing  9 , as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . Next, the second plate  25  is folded downwards, wherein the two cables  19  are clamped firmly between the first and second plates  24 ,  25  and, in addition, the second plate  25  is latched to the first plate  24  by the catch projections  28 . On the outside of the plug connector, actuating surfaces  31  of the securing element  1  are accessible. The actuating surfaces  31  are provided on opposing sides of the plug connector and each comprise a rib  32  extending transversely relative to the guidance direction of the plug connector.  
         [0025]      FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional representation of a plug connector socket  33 , which in this exemplary embodiment takes the form of an igniter socket of an airbag deployment system. Recesses are provided in the plug connector socket  33  for receiving the plug connector. In the plug connector socket  33  there are provided two contact pins  34 , which are provided for insertion into the contact receiving openings  11  of the contact plate  10  and into the contact zones  15  of the contact elements  14  of the plug connector. In the plug connector  35  there is located the securing element  1  in the pre-latched position, in which the damping element  2  is arranged in the upper area, i.e. in the first zone of the second receiving cavity  12 . Between the damping element  2  and the contact plate  10  there is formed an insertion cavity  36 , through which pass the conduction portions  16 .  
         [0026]      FIG. 9  shows a plug connector  35  partially inserted into the plug connector socket  33 , which plug connector takes the form of part of the second receiving cavity  12 , wherein, at the insertion depth illustrated, the second catch hook  8  is moved by an actuating surface  37  of the plug connector socket  33  out of the catch position. In this way, latching of the securing element  1  relative to the plug connector housing  9  is released, such that the securing element  1  may be displaced with the damping element  2  relative to the plug connector housing  9  and relative to the contact elements  14 .  
         [0027]      FIG. 10  shows a plug connector  35  fully inserted into the plug connector socket  33 , in the latched position, wherein the securing element  1  is likewise located in the securing position and the damping element  2  has been inserted into the insertion cavity  36 . In the securing position, the locking arms  38  of the securing element  1  are positioned in such a way that the latch connection between the plug connector  35  and the plug connector socket  33  cannot be released. In the catch position, the securing element  1  is held on the plug connector housing  9  and/or on the plug connector socket  33  by means of catch means, not shown. The latch connection of the securing element  1  may be released again by corresponding actuation of the catch means. Only after release of the catch means and sliding of the securing element  1  upwards relative to the plug connector housing  9  can the plug connector  34  be pulled out of the plug connector socket  33  again.  
         [0028]     The plug connector according to the invention has the advantage that the plug connector housing has a compact structural shape. This advantage is achieved in that the damping element is mounted in the securing element.  
         [0029]     The contact element of the plug connector preferably passes through the damping element. An even more compact structural shape is thus achieved, since the damping element is arranged in the vicinity of the contact zones of the contact element.