Abstract:
The invention relates to an electrical spike connector for electrically contacting a first electrical conducting track of a first electrical line piece ( 211 ), said first electrical conducting track being insulated by means of an insulating layer, comprising a socket element ( 101 ) having a first conductive spike ( 105 ) and comprising a socket mating element ( 103 ) for retaining the first electrical line piece, wherein the first conductive spike ( 105 ) of the socket element ( 101 ) can be pressed against the first electrical line piece retained in the socket mating element ( 103 ) in order to pierce the insulating layer and to electrically contact the first electrical conducting track.

Description:
PRIORITY 
     The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §371 to PCT Application PCT/EP2012/076340 filed on Dec. 20, 2012, which claims priority to German Patent Application No. 10 2012 000 079.0, filed on Jan. 4, 2012, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties. 
     The present invention relates to an electrical spike connector for contacting at least one insulated line piece. 
     In order to electrically contact insulated conducting tracks of electrical line pieces, for example of electrical connection cables, the insulating layer surrounding the electrical conducting track usually has to be removed first. However, this is complex in the industrial environment and therefore costly. 
     If the electrical conducting tracks are striplines of an LED band, in which the electrical conducting tracks contact LED lamps, the stripping of the conducting tracks, which are generally very flat, is not easy and is associated with a certain risk of damage to a conducting track. 
     Once the conducting tracks have been stripped, these can be electrically connected, for example by soldering or screwing. After this, the connection generally has to be electrically insulated again so as to avoid the risk of an electrical leak. 
     A number of complex process steps are thus necessary for the electrical contacting of insulated electrical conducting tracks. 
     The object of the present invention is therefore to create a simpler concept for the connection of insulated conducting tracks. 
     This object is achieved by the features of the independent claims. Advantageous developments are disclosed in the dependent claims, the description and the accompanying drawings. 
     The present invention is based on the finding that the above object can be achieved by a spike connection comprising at least one conductive spike. The conductive spike is used, in one process step, to break through an insulation of an electrical conducting track and to contact the electrical conducting track, for example likewise by breaking through. The stripping and the electrical contacting of the electrical conducting track can thus be performed in a single process step. 
     If the conductive spike is used for example on a base element, which may be a base plate, and if a base mating element is used to retain an electrical line piece comprising the electrical conducting track, the stripping and the production of the electrical connection can thus be performed in one step by bringing together the base element and the base mating element. If the base element and the base mating element are produced for example from a non-conductive material, such as plastic, an insulation and/or sealing of an electrical connection can thus be performed when these elements are brought together and connected, whereby a further process step can be saved. 
     In accordance with a first aspect, the invention relates to an electrical spike connector for electrically contacting a first electrical conducting track of a first electrical line piece, said first electrical conducting track being insulated by means of an insulating layer, comprising a base element having a first conductive spike, a base mating element for retaining the first electrical line piece, wherein the first conductive spike of the base element can be pressed against the first electrical line piece retained in the base mating element in order to pierce the insulating layer and to electrically contact the first electrical conducting track. 
     The electrical conducting track may be a rectangular strip conducting track for example, of which the thickness is smaller than the width thereof. 
     In accordance with one embodiment a surface of the base element facing the electrical line piece and/or a surface of the base mating element facing the electrical line piece is provided with flowable plastic, in particular with plastic containing silicone, so as to receive the electrical line piece in a manner surrounding said electrical line piece at least partially. 
     A cut edge of the electrical line piece is thus advantageously insulated with respect to moisture. 
     By way of example, the base mating element may have a line piece receptacle, which forms a receiving space for an end of a line piece or for ends of line pieces. This receiving space for example can be prefabricated or provided on-site by a user with the flowable plastic, for example by means of injection. When inserting or introducing the respective electrical line piece into the receiving space by the respective end-face cut edge, the flowable plastic is compressed or pushed together and thus surrounds the end-face cut edge of the line piece in an insulating manner. 
     In accordance with one embodiment the first conductive spike is designed to deform, for example to break through or press into, the first electrical conducting track so as to produce an electrical contact. As a result of the deformation, a contact area is produced between the conductive spike and the first electrical conducting track. 
     In accordance with one embodiment the first conductive spike has a spike tip for piercing or breaking through the first electrical conducting track so as to produce the electrical contact. 
     In accordance with an alternative embodiment the first conductive spike is designed to form a breakthrough-free cavity, in particular a breakthrough-free cavity at least partly surrounding the first conductive spike, in the first electrical conducting track so as to produce the electrical contact. The first conductive spike thus presses an indentation into the first electrical conducting track without necessarily breaking through said first electrical conducting track. The side walls, thus produced, of the cavity or of the recess at least partly surround the conductive spike and contact said spike, whereby an electrical connection is produced. 
     In accordance with one embodiment the first conductive spike can be pressed against the first electrical line piece retained in the base mating element by bringing together the base element and the base mating element. The base element and the base mating element can be pressed against one another manually for example so as to produce the electrical connection. 
     In accordance with one embodiment the first conductive spike can be pressed against the first electrical line piece retained in the base mating element by bringing together the base element and the base mating element. As a result of the latched connection, a connection is enabled between the base element and the base mating element when these elements are brought together, whereby the connection can be produced particularly easily. The base element and the base mating element can be fabricated from a non-conductive material, for example from plastic, such that, with a connection between the base element and the base mating element, an insulation of the point of contact with the conductive spike can be produced. 
     In accordance with one embodiment the base element has a spring on each side, wherein the base mating element has a groove on each side, and wherein each spring can be latched into a groove. As a result of the groove/spring connection, a connection that can be clicked into place between the base element and the base mating element is produced on the one hand. On the other hand the base element can be fixed in a manner secured against tipping. 
     In accordance with one embodiment the base mating element can be fastened laterally on the base element in a foldable manner, in particular by means of at least one resilient connection tab or at least one hinge. The base element and the base mating element can be brought together by means of a rotatable movement of the base mating element or of the base element about the lateral axis of rotation. 
     In accordance with one embodiment the base mating element is provided with a second electrical conducting track, which is insulated by means of a second insulating layer, in order to retain a second electrical line piece, wherein the base element has a second conductive spike, which can be pressed against the second electrical line piece retained in the base mating element in order to pierce the second insulating layer and in order to electrically contact the second electrical conducting track, wherein the first conductive spike and the second conductive spike are electrically connected and are provided to electrically connect the first electrical conducting track and the second electrical conducting track. A simultaneous electrical contacting of a number of conducting tracks is thus made possible advantageously in a simple manner. 
     In accordance with one embodiment the first conductive spike and the second conductive spike are arranged opposite one another. The first conductive spike and the second conductive spike are preferably conductively connected in order to produce an electrical connection between each of the contacted conducting tracks. 
     In accordance with one embodiment the first electrical line piece has an insulated third electrical conducting track, the second electrical line piece has an insulated fourth electrical conducting track, and the base element has a third conductive spike for electrically contacting the insulated third electrical conducting track and a fourth conductive spike for electrically contacting the insulated fourth electrical conducting track, wherein the third and the fourth conductive spike are conductively connected. A simultaneous contacting of a plurality of adjacently arranged conducting tracks of different line pieces is thus advantageously enabled. By way of example, the two conducting tracks of an LED band, by means of which an LED lamp is supplied with electrical energy, can thus be contacted simultaneously. 
     In accordance with one embodiment the base element has an electrical connector that is conductively connected to the respective conductive spike and is provided for contacting the respective electrical conducting track. An electrical connection is ensured externally by means of the electrical connector. 
     In accordance with one embodiment the base mating element has at least one guide recess for guiding the respective conductive spike. The guide recess or the guide recesses ensures/ensure that the respective conductive spike either breaks through the electrical conducting track at a predetermined location or deforms the electrical conducting track at a predetermined location. 
     In accordance with one embodiment the base mating element descends laterally to the respective side in a dome-like manner. An at least partly elliptical cross section of a housing comprising the base element and the base mating element is thus produced. 
     In accordance with one embodiment the base mating element has a line piece receptacle for receiving the respective electrical line piece. The respective electrical line piece is fixed at a defined location by the line piece receptacle. 
     In accordance with one embodiment an insertable insulation leaf is provided in order to insulate an end face of the respective electrical conducting track with respect to moisture. As a result of the insulation leaf or as a result of the insulation leaves, cut edges of the respective electrical conducting tracks can be terminated in an insulating manner. The insulation leaf can be formed for example from flowable plastic, which may comprise silicone, so as to surround the end-face cut edges of the respective line piece. When inserted, the end face of the respective line piece partly penetrates the insulation leaf, whereby the insulating effect is achieved. 
     In accordance with one embodiment the respective conducting track is a strip conducting track. 
     In accordance with one embodiment the base element and the base mating element form a pocket-shaped housing when brought together, in particular a water-tight housing. To this end, the base element and/or the base mating element may each be provided with an insulating layer, for example with flowable plastic of the aforementioned type, so as to prevent an infiltration of water into the interior of the pocket-shaped housing. The pocket-shaped housing may also act in an electrically insulating manner. 
     In accordance with a further aspect, the invention relates to the use of the electrical spike connector according to the invention for contacting at least one strip-shaped conducting track of an LED band. 
     Additional features and advantages of various embodiments will be set forth, in part, in the description that follows, and will, in part, be apparent from the description, or may be learned by the practice of various embodiments. The objectives and other advantages of various embodiments will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the description herein. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Further exemplary embodiments will be explained with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows a cross section along the line A-A of an electrical spike connector; 
         FIG. 2  shows a cross section of a spike connector according to one embodiment; 
         FIG. 3A  shows a view of the spike connector; 
         FIG. 3B  shows a view of the spike connector; 
         FIG. 3C  shows a view of the spike connector; 
         FIGS. 4A to 4F  show elements of the spike connector illustrated in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 5  shows a spike connector with a base element; 
         FIG. 6  shows a side view of the spike connector illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIGS. 7A ,  7 B and  7 C show views of the spike connector illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6 ; 
         FIGS. 8A to 8F  show views of elements of the spike connector illustrated in  FIGS. 5 to 7 . 
       It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only, and are intented to provide an explanation of various embodiments of the present teachings. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  shows a cross-sectional view of an electrical spike connector, which has a base element  101  and a base mating element  103 . The base element  101  comprises a first conductive spike  105 , which has a tapered portion  107 , for example a spike tip. The first conductive spike  105  is fastened in a spike receptacle  109  of the base element  101 . The spike receptacle  109  can be formed as a pedestal with a recess for receiving a spike end. 
     The base element  101  may have a second conductive spike, which is not illustrated in  FIG. 1  and which is electrically connected to the first conductive spike  105 . The first conductive spike  105  and the second conductive spike by way of example may contact conducting tracks of different electrical line pieces. 
     In accordance with one embodiment the electrical spike connector may contact electrical line pieces having a plurality of adjacently arranged electrical conducting tracks, for example two such conducting tracks. To this end, the base element  101  comprises a third conductive spike  111  having a tapered portion  113 , for example a spike tip. The third conductive spike  111  is fastened in a spike receptacle  115 . 
     The base element  101  comprises connection portions  117 ,  119  on each side, which each have a spring  121 ,  123  for a spring/groove connection or for a latched connection to the base mating element  103 . To this end, the base element  103  comprises lateral grooves  124 ,  125 , with which the springs  121 ,  123  engage. 
     The base element  103  comprises a line piece receptacle  127 , which is provided to receive a line piece. The line piece receptacle  127  may have recesses for guiding the conductive spikes  105 ,  111 . The line piece is guided here in an intermediate space  128  of the base mating element  127 . The intermediate space  128  is delimited upwardly by a wall that descends in a dome-like manner on each side. 
     The line piece receptacle  127  forms a receiving space for an end of a line piece or for ends of line pieces. This receiving space for example can be prefabricated or provided on-site by a user with the flowable plastic, for example by means of injection. When the respective electrical line piece is inserted or introduced into the receiving space by the respective end-face cut edge, the flowable plastic is compressed or pushed together and thus surrounds the end-face cut edge of the respective line piece in an insulating manner. 
     The side portions  117 ,  119  can be guided through the intermediate space  128  when the base element  101  and the base mating element  103  are brought together, and can be latched into recesses in the wall of the base mating element. To this end, the portions  117 ,  119  may be positioned externally and can be pressed inwardly for the purpose of latching. The base element  101  may also have lateral springs  129  and  131 . The lateral springs  129 ,  131 , which can also be formed as detent protrusions, engage with the grooves  124 ,  125  in the base mating element  103  when the base element  101  and the base mating element  103  are brought together. A stable connection of the base element  101  and of the base mating element  103  is thus produced. 
       FIG. 2  shows a cross section of a spike connector in accordance with one embodiment. The spike connector illustrated in  FIG. 2  is provided for the connection of conducting tracks of different electrical line pieces and comprises the features of the spike connector illustrated in  FIG. 1  in accordance with one embodiment. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the spike connector comprises a second conductive spike  201 , which has a protrusion  203 , for example a spike tip, and is conductively connected to the first conductive spike  105 . The second conductive spike  201  is connected by means of a first guide receptacle  205  to the base element  101 . 
     The base mating element  103  comprises a second guide receptacle  207 , which is provided for receiving a second electrical line piece having the electrical conducting track  209  illustrated by way of example in  FIG. 2 . The first electrical line piece  211 , which is positioned by means of the guide receptacle  125 , likewise comprises at least one electrical conducting track, which by way of example contacts an LED  213 . 
     The conductive spikes  105  and  201  are tapered by way of example and are provided to break through the conducting tracks of the line pieces so as to electrically contact these. To this end, the base element  103  comprises guide recesses  215 ,  217 , through which the conductive spikes  105 ,  201  are guided. To this end, the base element  101  and the base mating element  103  are brought together and are interconnected by means of the spring/groove connection to form a pocket-shaped housing, which can be electrically insulating, as is illustrated in  FIGS. 3A ,  3 B and  3 C. 
     Portions  219 , which are guided in guide channels  221 , can be provided on each side. The portions  219  may each be terminated by a detent protrusion for the latching of the base element  101  and of the base mating element  103 . 
       FIG. 3A  illustrates a view from beneath,  FIG. 3B  illustrates a view from the side, and  FIG. 3C  illustrates a view from above of the spike connector once the base element  101  and the base mating element  103  have been successfully brought together. 
     The electrical line pieces can be rectangular LED bands for example, which are to be interconnected. Only the first electrical line piece  211  is illustrated in  FIGS. 3A ,  3 B and  3 C for simplification. 
     As is illustrated in  FIG. 3C , the base mating element on the upper side comprises guide recesses  301 ,  303 ,  305  and  307 , which are provided to receive a total of four conductive spikes so as to electrically contact two electrical conducting tracks, running parallel, of line pieces. The conductive spikes opposite one another in the longitudinal direction are preferably electrically connected. Further, recesses  302 ,  309  for receiving detent protrusions  311 ,  319  of the portions  219  are provided laterally. 
     Elements of the spike connector illustrated in  FIG. 2  are shown in  FIGS. 4A to 4F . As illustrated in  FIG. 4A , the base plate  101  comprises the first conductive spike  105 , the second conductive spike  201 , a third conductive spike  401  and a fourth conductive spike  403 . The conductive spikes  105  and  201  are arranged opposite one another in the longitudinal direction of the base element and for example are conductively connected to form a spike pair. The conductive spikes  401  and  403  are likewise connected conductively to form a further spike pair. Two conducting tracks can thus be electrically connected by different line pieces. 
     The electrical spike connector may further have insulation leaves  405 ,  407 , which can be inserted and are provided to insulate end faces of the electrical line pieces along the cut edges. 
     The base plate  101  may further have portions  409 ,  411 , which each terminate via a detent protrusion  413 ,  415 . The detent protrusions  413 ,  415  latch into the recesses  302 ,  309 . 
       FIG. 5  shows a spike connector having a base element  501 , which may have features of the previously described base elements. The base element  501  is provided with a connector  503 , which enables electrical contact to the electrical conducting tracks contacted by means of the conductive spikes. To this end, the connector  503  comprises a first connector terminal  505  for contacting a first conducting track and a second connector terminal  507  for contacting a second conducting track. The connector terminals  505  and  507  may be provided for example to receive electrical lines. In accordance with one embodiment, the connector terminals  505 ,  507  are permanently connected to electrical lines. 
     As also illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the base element  501  or the connector  503  for the detent connection to the base mating element  103  may have resilient detent protrusions  509 ,  511 , for example detent lugs, which can engage with apertures in the base mating element  103 . 
     The base element  501  may also have lateral springs  513 ,  515 , which can engage with lateral grooves  124 ,  125  in the base mating element  103 . 
       FIG. 6  shows a side view of the spike connector illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The connector  503  is provided with at least one line piece  601 , which enables the contact to the electrical conducting track of the electrical line piece illustrated by way of example. 
     Different views of the spike connector illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6  are illustrated in  FIGS. 7A ,  7 B and  7 C. As is illustrated in  FIG. 7A , the connector  501  is provided with two electrical line pieces  601 ,  607 , which enable a contact to the conducting tracks of the electrical line piece  211 . The base element  501  is formed by way of example as a flat plate, to which lateral detent portions  603 ,  703  are fastened. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 7C , the base mating element  103  comprises detent recesses  705 ,  707 , with which the detent protrusions  509 ,  511  engage. 
     Different views of elements of the spike connector illustrated in  FIGS. 5 to 7  are illustrated in  FIGS. 8A to 8F . As illustrated in  FIG. 8A , the base element  101  comprises two conductive spikes  105 ,  405 , which may have the above-mentioned spike properties. The conductive spikes  105 ,  405  are provided to contact two parallel conducting tracks of a line piece, for example of an LED band. The base element  101  further comprises connectors  801 ,  805 , each of which is connected to one of the conductive spikes  105 ,  405  and each of which is provided for contacting by means of the connector  501 . 
     The electrical spike connector may further have an insulation leaf  807  in order to terminate end faces of the conducting tracks  809 ,  811 . As illustrated in  FIG. 8B , the conducting tracks  809 ,  811  are broken through by means of the conductive spikes  104 ,  405 , whereby electrical contacts are produced. The insulation leaf  807  is preferably formed such that it can surround an end face of the respective line piece so as to insulate it with respect to moisture. The insulation leaf  807  for this purpose may be constructed from a flowable plastic, for example from plastic containing silicone. The cut edges or ends of the line piece are thus protected against moisture. 
     As is illustrated in  FIG. 8C , the electrical connector  501  may have recesses  813 ,  815 , in each of which force-locked connections, for example clamp connections or screw connections, for line pieces to be received are arranged. 
     LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS 
     
         
           101  base element 
           103  base mating element 
           105  first conductive spike 
           107  tapered portion 
           109  spike receptacle 
           111  third conductive spike 
           113  tapered portion 
           115  spike receptacle 
           117  connection portion 
           119  connection portion 
           121  spring 
           123  spring 
           124  lateral groove 
           125  lateral groove 
           127  line piece receptacle 
           128  intermediate space 
           129  lateral spring 
           131  lateral spring 
           201  second conductive spike 
           203  taper 
           205  receptacle 
           207  guide receptacle 
           209  electrical conducting track 
           211  first electrical line piece 
           213  LED 
           215  guide recess 
           217  guide recess 
           219  portion 
           221  guide channel 
           301  guide recess 
           302  recess 
           303  guide recess 
           305  guide recess 
           307  guide recess 
           309  recess 
           401  third conductive spike 
           403  fourth conductive spike 
           405  insulation leaf 
           407  insulation leaf 
           409 ,  411  portions 
           413 ,  415  detent protrusions 
           501  base element 
           503  connector 
           505  first connector terminal 
           507  second connector terminal 
           509  detent lug 
           511  detent lug 
           513  spring 
           515  spring 
           601  line piece 
           701  line piece 
           705  detent recess 
           707  detent recess 
           801  connector 
           805  connector 
           807  insulation leaf 
           809  conducting track 
           811  conducting track 
           813  recess 
           815  recess 
       
    
     From the foregoing description, those skilled in the art can appreciate that the present teachings can be implemented in a variety of forms. Therefore, while these teachings have been described in connection with particular embodiments and examples thereof, the true scope of the present teachings should not be so limited. Various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the teachings herein.