Abstract:
A plug connector device ( 10 ) for multicore flat cables ( 15 ), has a plug ( 11 ) which can be fixedly joined to one end of a flat cable in a mechanical fashion, and a plug socket ( 12 ) which can be run through by the flat cable ( 15 ) such that, with their first contact ends ( 62 ), contact elements of the plug socket ( 12 ) engaging in the plug ( 11 ) can be electronically connected to the flat cable at their other contact ends ( 63 ) using IDC technology. To assure that the plug connector device is robust and has high contacting reliability, provision is made that plug ( 11 ) is provided with contact elements ( 18 ), whose first contact ends ( 38 ) are configured for the electrical connection to the first contact ends ( 62 ) of the contact elements ( 19 ) of the plug socket ( 12 ), and whose other contact ends ( 36 ) are configured for the connection to the flat cable ( 15 ) using IDC technology.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This is a Continuation-In-Part of PCT/EP2004/013438 filed 26 Nov. 2004 which designated the US and which claimed priority from German patent application 203 19 849.2 filed 22 Dec. 2003. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to a plug connector device for multicore flat cables in accordance with the preamble of Claim  1 .  
         [0003]     Connector devices of this type are used in connection with multicore flat cables, for example, in designing a network of components out of doors such as detonators for civilian explosions, such that these components can be driven in a controlled manner both spatially as well as temporally via the flat cable and the plug connector devices. For this purpose, the plug connector devices must be not only robust but also sealed, so that they maintain the electrical connection, i.e., the contact, under any circumstances.  
         [0004]     In one known plug connector device of this type, the plug socket at the insertion end of its cylindrical plug receptacle has a partition that is fitted with contact elements that are arranged in an upright position, the contact elements, on the one hand, extending beneath the partition into a flat cable receiving space and, on the other hand, extending into the receiving space for the plug. In this context, both ends of the contact elements are executed using IDC technology, which means that in the space between the partition and the base, both ends are electrically connected to the flat cable, which passes through this space, i.e., to its individual cores. In this context, the other contact end is also produced using IDC technology. The plug of this known plug connector device has a cylindrical hollow space, in which the flat cable is inserted in a li-shape, abutting the interior side of a base of this hollow space.  
         [0005]     The end in question of the flat cable is mechanically fixed in position by a support that is introduced into the cylindrical hollow space. From the exterior side of the plug, the base is provided with recesses, through which the other contact ends of the contact elements executed using IDC technology extend, thus being able, in the plug, to contact the cores of this inserted end of the flat cable.  
         [0006]     One disadvantage of this known plug connector device, apart from the insufficient seal, is the fact that the contacting of the plug connector device is not as reliable as might be hoped, because the assignment of contact bore holes in the plug, on the one hand, and the configuration of the IDC contact ends, on the other hand, must be very precise due to the minimal flexibility and elasticity of the individual contact surfaces.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     It is an object of the present invention, to provide a plug connector device that is robust and has great contacting reliability for multicore flat cables of the type mentioned above. To achieve this objective, in a plug connector device for multicore flat cables of the type cited above, the features indicated in Claim  1  are provided.  
         [0008]     As a result of the measures according to the present invention, a reliable contacting between plug and plug socket is achieved due to the use of additional contact elements in the plug. Therefore, the IDC technology is used only where a check test is possible after the flat cable is mounted on the plug or plug socket, but not for achieving the plug connection in designing an appropriate drive network for the devices in question, e.g., detonators.  
         [0009]     For simple adjustments of the contact elements o 1  plugs and plug sockets to the various positions of the individual cores of the flat cable, the features according to Claim  2  and those according to Claim  5  are advantageously provided. In one advantageous embodiment of the contact elements of the plug, the features according to Claim  3  and/or  4  are provided.  
         [0010]     The contact elements of plugs and plug sockets can be easily manufactured in accordance with the features of Claim  6  and/or  7 .  
         [0011]     A robust and reliable type of contacting between the plug and the plug socket is assured if the features according to Claim  8  are provided, the more so since it is a contacting that has been proven effective in other plug connector devices.  
         [0012]     A robust and sealed configuration of the plug and of the plug socket is provided by the design of the specific plastic housing in accordance with the features of Claim  9  and those of Claim  13 .  
         [0013]     In this context, in a further configuration of the plug housing, the features according to Claim  10  and/or  11  and/or I′), and in a further configuration of the plug socket housing, the features according to one or more of Claims  14  to  17  are provided. In this context, on the one hand, it is assured that the specific contact elements can be introduced into the housing from one side and that, on the other hand, the flat cable in the plug socket housing has sufficient tensile strength and the plug connection itself is especially well sealed from humidity.  
         [0014]     For a more reliable mechanical connection, the features according to Claim  18  are provided.  
         [0015]     As a result of the possibility of introducing the contact elements of the plug and the plug socket from one end or one side of the housing, it is possible according to the features of Claim  19  to provide the plug and the plug socket with an individually selected covering through the contact elements.  
         [0016]     The present invention also relates to a unit made up of a plug connector device, having the features according to Claim  1  and, where appropriate, having the features of one or more of the following Claims, and of a multicore flat cable, the unit being characterized by the features according to Claim  20 . This makes possible a very simple drive network that can be set up on virtually any surface for specific devices, such as detonators.  
         [0017]     Further details of the present invention can be derived from the following description, in which the present invention is described and explained in greater detail on the basis of the exemplary embodiment that is depicted in the drawing.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0018]      FIG. 1  depicts a plug connector device, including a flat cable, according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention, in the unplugged state;  
         [0019]      FIG. 2  depicts the plug connector device according to  FIG. 1 , in the plugged-in state;  
         [0020]      FIG. 3  depicts a sectional view along the line III-III in  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0021]      FIG. 4  depicts a sectional view along the line IV-IV in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0022]      FIG. 5  in a perspective cutaway view depicts the plug of the plug connector device according to  FIG. 1 , but in a state during the assembly of the contact elements;  
         [0023]      FIG. 6  in a perspective partially cutaway view depicts the plug socket having exposed contact elements of the plug connector device-according to  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0024]      FIG. 7  in a perspective view depicts the plug socket of the plug connector device after the assembly of contact elements and flat cable, but before the attaching of the cover part, and  
         [0025]      FIG. 8  depicts a perspective view similar to that of  FIG. 7 , with the cover part still off. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0026]     A plug connector device  10  that is depicted in the drawing in accordance with one preferred exemplary embodiment has a plug  11  having electrical contact elements  18 , and a plug socket  12  having electrical contact elements  19 , which are configured to produce a sealed, robust, and contact—reliable electrical connection. Plug  11  is mechanically and electrically connected to an end section  14  of a multicore flat cable  15 , in this case, having four cores, whereas plug socket  12  receives flat cable  15  in a slide-through arrangement, so that a lead-in section  16 , a-lead-out section  17 , and a contact section  20  are created in accordance with FIGS.  1  and - 1 . In a manner that is not depicted in detail, a unit is made up of a plug connector device  10 , in the form of plug  11  and plug socket  12 , which are arranged separately  17  from each other and are not to be connected to each other, and a flat cable  15 , such that end section  14 , which leads into plug  11 , over a longer or shorter piece of flat cable  15  passes over into lead-in section  16  of a plug socket  12 , and then in contact section  20  is connected to plug socket  12  and after lead-out section  17  and a further longer or shorter piece of flat cable  15  proceeds to an undepicted device to be driven, such as a detonator. A plurality of units of this type can be connected to form a network of devices to be driven, for example detonators, such that plug socket  12  of a first unit can be connected to a plug  11  of a second unit of plug connector device  10 , etc.  
         [0027]     Plug  11  has a housing  21  made of thermoplastic elastomer, the housing being designed to include in one component a base part  22  and a plug part  23 . Plug housing  21  in a top view is roughly in the shape of a somewhat elongated rectangle having rounded off ends. In comparison to base part  22 , which is provided with a bottom  24 , plug part  23  is smaller in overall surface, i.e., it is both shorter as well as narrower. Plug part  23  has a plurality of sealing ribs  25  that are axially arranged next to each other and are situated on the exterior periphery.  
         [0028]     Base part  22  from the point of view of a narrow side is provided with a somewhat elongated oval blind hole recess  26 , which runs parallel to bottom  24  and ends before the opposite end of base part  22 . The cross section of recess  26  corresponds roughly to the cross section of flat cable  15 ; this means that end section  14  of flat cable  15  is inserted into base part  22  of plug housing  21  up to the end of blind hole recess  26 . According to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , in a manner that is not depicted in detail, a bushing  27  is molded onto base part  22 , the bushing being able to hold inserted flat cable  15  in a friction-locking manner for strain relief.  
         [0029]     Plug part  23  at its free end surface  28  facing away from base part  22  is provided with a plurality of cutouts  29  that are arranged in longitudinal extension next to each other and that extend from end surface  28  through plug part  23  into base part  22  and terminate in flat cable blind hole recess  26 . In the area of plug part  23 , cutouts  29  are rectangular, almost square, and in the area of base part  22  pass over into narrower slot-shaped openings. Cutouts  29  on one side have a bar-like offset  31  that runs axially, and that, like slotshaped cutout extension  31 , receives in each case one part of contact elements  18  of plug  11 .  
         [0030]     Contact elements  18  of plug  11  have a first contact end  36  that is produced using IDC (Insulation Displacement Contact) technology to create the electrically contacting connection with relevant cores  35  of flat cable  15 , as well as a second contact end  38  that faces away from this first contact end  36  and that functions to provide the electrically contacting connection to the relevant part of contact element  19  of plug socket  12 . This second contact end  38 , arranged in plug part  23 , is configured as a sliding contact having elastic spring properties. Between first contact end  36  and second contact end  38 , a connecting part  37  or  37 ′ or  37 ″, etc., is arranged, which has a specific width, depending on the position of core  35  of flat cable  15  that is to be contacted. In other words, connecting part  37 ,  37 ′,  37 ″, in extension of a longitudinal edge, is provided with axially protruding first contact end  36  and, on its opposite longitudinal edge in an area diametrically opposite this first contact end  36 , is provided with second contact end  38 , which is bent at a 90° angle from the plane of connecting part  37 . Each contact element  18  is stamped from one metal piece as a single piece and is imprinted. First contact end  36 , which is configured using IDC technology and is situated in the plane of connecting part  37 , has the shape of two parallel prongs  39 , which are provided with a cutting point and form between themselves a contacting slot  41  to receive a core  35  of flat cable  15 . Depending on the position of core  35 ,  35 ′,  35 ″, etc., of flat cable  15 , connecting part  37 ,  37 ′,  37 ″, etc., is configured so as to be correspondingly wide, i.e., contact ends  36  and  38 , which axially face away from each other, have a correspondingly selected distance [from each other] in the transverse direction of contact element  18 .  
         [0031]     As can be ascertained from  FIG. 5 , individual contact elements  18 ,  18 ′,  18 ″, etc., are inserted into identically configured cutouts  29  of plug housing  21 , until they contact insulation  34  of flat cable  15 . Thereupon, the contact elements are inserted further so that IDC contact ends  36  extend through prepared bore holes in insulation  34  of flat cable  15  and, in their contact slots  41 , receive relevant core  35 ,  35 ′,  35 ″, etc., between themselves  17  in an electrically contacting manner ( FIG. 4 ). In this assembled position, sliding contact ends  38  are situated in offsets  31  of cutouts  29 . As can also be ascertained from  FIGS. 4 and 5 , at least one of contact elements  18 ,  18 ′,  18 ″, in extension of second contact end  38  and parallel to first contact end  36 , has a holding-down clamp  42 , which functions as an insertion limit stop and which in the assembled state sits on a longitudinal area of insulation  34  of flat cable  15 .  
         [0032]     Plug socket  12  has a two-part housing  46 , whose main component integrally includes a plug receiving part  47  and a lead-in lower part  48  for receiving flat cable  15 . The second component is formed by a cover  49 , which constitutes the lead-in upper part and which covers the lead-in for flat cable  15  and seals it off by being welded to lead-in lower part  48 .  
         [0033]     In  FIG. 6 , the main component is shown in a cutaway view in the area of plug receiving part  47 . From  FIG. 6 , together with  FIGS. 1 and 8 , it can be seen that plug socket housing  46  also has, overall, an elongated rectangular shape with rounded off ends and that plug receiving part  47  has an oval recess  50 , for receiving plug part  23  of plug housing  21 , and plug projections  52  that are arranged centrally in the longitudinal direction next to each other and that fit into cutouts  29  in plug part  23  of plug housing  21 . Plug projections  52  go from bottom  53  of plug receiving part  47 , which separates plug receiving part  47  from lead-in lower part  48 . Lead-in lower part  48  has a bearing surface  54  that is connected on both sides to a lead-in half shell  55 , which is provided with strain-relief ribs  56 . In the exemplary embodiment depicted, in bearing surface  54  an insulating pin  57  is molded that is arranged in perpendicular fashion. Contact elements  19  of plug socket  12  have a flat contact bar  61 ,  61 ′, and  61 ″, etc., which, at its second contact end  62 , which is arranged in the area of plug projections  52 , functions to contact relevant sliding contact end  38  of contact elements  18  of plug  11 . The end of contact bar  61 ,  61 ′,  61 ″, etc., facing away from this second contact end  62  is configured having a first contact end  63  using IDC technology. This IDC contact end  63  extends at a longitudinal edge area of contact bar  61  and perpendicular to its longitudinal direction. Contact bar  61  is configured in one piece, IDC contact end  63  being bent at a right angle. As can be discerned from  FIG. 6 , contact bars  61 ,  61 ′,  61 ″, etc., are arranged such that IDC contact ends  63  protrude at right angles from bearing surface  54  of lead-in lower part  48  and, because contact bars  61 ,  61 ′,  61 ″, etc., are of varying lengths in accordance with the position of cores  35  of flat cable  15  to be contacted, they are provided in various parallel positions on surface  54 . In the exemplary embodiment depicted, for example, IDC contact ends  63  of first and fourth contact bars  61  are situated in alignment with insulating pin  57 , whereas IDC contact ends  63  of both contact bars  61 ′ and  61 ″ are situated in parallel lines that are different therefrom. In a manner that is not depicted in detail, plug projections  52  are provided with a channel  51 , and bottom  53  of plug socket housing  46  is provided with slots  64  that terminate in channels  51 , through which contact bars  61 ,  61 ′,  61 ″ can be led in from the side of bearing surface  54  of lead-in lower part  48 , until at their first contact ends  62 , which are slightly bent to the inside, they come to rest in an offset on plug projection  52 , so that they reach the position depicted in  FIG. 6 .  
         [0034]     In the assembled position represented in  FIG. 6 , flat cable  15 , in the manner shown in  FIG. 7 , is placed onto lead-in lower part  48 , IDC contact ends  63  being pressed through prepared bore holes in insulation  34  of flat cable  15  and being visible on the other side of flat cable  15 . The same applies to insulation pin  57 , which penetrates a bore hole in flat cable  15 , this bore hole severing one core  35 ″ of flat cable  15 . While fourth core  35 ′″ in the exemplary embodiment depicted is led through plug socket  12  without contacting and without being separated, other cores  35 ,  35 ′,  35 ″ are held in IDC contact ends  63  in an electrically contacting manner. In this context, IDC contact ends  63  are provided with V-shaped contact surfaces between two prongs  65 .  
         [0035]     After this assembly procedure, in accordance with  FIG. 8 , the cover, or lead-in upper part  49 , is placed onto lead-in lower part  48  and is welded to it and to plug receiving part  47  all around. Due to the through holes and due to insulation pin  57 , arranged so as to be offset in the transverse extension, strain relief for flat cable  15  is provided, along with assuring the non-invertability of flat cable  15 .  
         [0036]     As can be derived from  FIG. 3 , when plug  11  is inserted into plug socket  12 , the plug connection is not only sealed due to ribs  25  of housing  21 , which is made of thermoplastic, the ribs correspondingly contacting the interior wall of recess  50  of plug receiving part  47  of plug socket  12  in a sealing manner, but the plug connection also forms a mechanical latch due to an interior circumferential offset  66  within plug part  23  of the plug and a corresponding projection  67  on one or more of plug projections  52 .  
         [0037]     As can be seen from the design of contact elements  19  and  19  and that of the recesses of plug housing  21  and plug socket housing  46  that receive these contact elements  18  and  19 , contact elements  18  and  19 , which are employed for contacting selected cores  35  of flat cable  15 , can be selected and employed in any fashion. In other words, the plug and plug socket  12  can be equipped in varying ways in accordance with the desired circuitry of individual cores  35  of flat cable  15 . Therefore, in contrast to the exemplary embodiment depicted, contact elements  18  having varyingly wide connecting parts  37  and/or contact elements  19  having their contact bars  61  of different lengths can be introduced in the housing in question in any conceivable arrangement, one behind the other, in plug  11  and in plug socket  12 .  
         [0038]     Of course, plug connector device  10  can also be configured for fewer or more cores  35  of flat cable  15  than the four that are depicted here.