Abstract:
A plug connector to connect electrical conductors, comprising a housing of the plug connector formed as a single piece and provide an unlocking mechanism in the housing which is triggered by operating a tab on a cable connection side. 
     A latching mechanism which is located on the exterior of the housing can be shifted into the housing by triggering the unlocking mechanism, forming a latch with a mating plug.

Description:
This is a national stage of PCT/DE11/075,185 filed Aug. 3, 2011 and published in German, which has a priority of German no. 10 2010 055 434.0 filed Dec. 21, 2010, hereby incorporated by reference. 
     BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     The invention consists of a plug connector for connecting electrical conductors, consisting of a housing which possesses a plug side formed using a conductor plate and a cable connection side, and possesses latching mechanisms intended to latch into a mating plug. 
     Such a plug connector is required to create a detachable connection between the veins of a cable with contacts located in a mating plug. Herein, it must be ensured that both the electrical and the mechanical contact between the plug connector and the mating plug is guaranteed, and that it is possible to release the connection in a simple manner. 
     STATE OF THE ART 
     A cable connector for insertion into a plug-in module is known from U.S. Pat. No. 7,297,028 B2, wherein the cable connector has a protrusion with which the cable connector latches into the plug-in module. An unlocking lever is located on the exterior of the cable connector; when it is operated, it elastically alters the shape of part of the plug-in module, thereby unlocking the cable connector. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,690,939 B2 furthermore describes an electronic module which possesses a housing with a latching mechanism, wherein the latching mechanism consists of a sliding element and a lever. The module is inserted into a cage and latched into a spring element of the cage by means of a latching tab. Operating the lever axially shifts the sliding element, thereby raising the spring element of the cage and consequently releasing the lock of the module. 
     It is a disadvantage in the state of the art that the mechanical elements of the device are mounted on the exterior of the modules or plugs. The effects of external influences such as dust or dirt may lead to a situation in which the mechanical interplay of these elements can no longer be guaranteed. This may result in failure of the unlocking mechanism, meaning that the module or plug cannot be unlocked and removed. 
     PROBLEM 
     The invention is therefore based on the problem that a plug connector must be formed in such a manner that following automatic locking with a mating plug, it is no longer guaranteed that the plug connector can be unlocked with simple handling. Furthermore, easy assembly of the unlocking mechanism and the plug connector should be possible, with few components. 
     This problem is solved by forming the housing as a single piece, whose interior contains an unlocking mechanism which is triggered by a tab; that the unlocking mechanism acts on the external latching mechanism from the interior of the housing; and that the unlocking mechanism possesses a gliding element which can move along the longitudinal axis of the plug connector, as well as an unlocking element which can be moved vertically in relation to the longitudinal axis of the plug connector, wherein the gliding element and the unlocking element are connected to each other in a movable manner and interact so that the motion of the gliding element along the longitudinal axis of the plug connector causes the unlocking element to move vertically in relation to the longitudinal axis of the plug connector. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are described in the sub-claims. 
     The invention consists of a plug connector which is formed by a housing which possesses a plug side and an opposing cable connection side. The plug side of the housing is formed by a conductor plate which represents the contacts of the plug connector. When the plug connector is connected to a mating plug, the conductor plate makes contact with the contacts located in the mating plug, thereby creating an electrical connection between the plug connector and the mating plug. 
     On the cable connection side of the housing, a cable which must be connected leads into the housing of the plug connector. The veins of the connected cable are separated into individual veins in the housing and are connected to the conductor plate in an electrically conductive manner. On the exterior of the housing, latching mechanisms which ensure mechanical latching of the plug connector into a mating plug are mounted. The latching mechanism, which is flat on the plug side, latches into an opening when the plug connector is connected to the mating plug; this opening is located in a spring element of the mating plug. 
     The advantages obtained with the invention particularly lie in that the housing of the plug connector is formed as a component with only one part. It is furthermore a special advantage that the unlocking mechanism which makes it possible to disconnect the plug connector from a mating plug is contained in the interior of the housing. A tab which is connected to the unlocking mechanism and leads out of the housing is provided for unlocking the mechanism. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the unlocking mechanism which is located inside the housing acts on the latching mechanism which lies against the exterior surface of the housing. Due to a motion of the tab which is located on the cable connection side of the housing, against the plug direction of the plug connector, the latching mechanism is shifted from its position on the outside of the housing into the housing. This releases the latch connection with the spring element of the mating plug, thereby enabling the plug connector to be disconnected from the mating plug. 
     In a feasible embodiment, the unlocking mechanism is formed by two elements within the interior of the plug connector. A first element is positioned along the longitudinal axis of the plug connector and can be moved along a specific path. The second element of the unlocking mechanism is positioned vertically in relation to the longitudinal axis of the plug connector and can be moved along a specific path. The latching mechanism to latch with the mating plug is preferably mounted on the second, U-shaped element which is integrated into the exterior of the housing. Due to a mobile connection of the first element with the second element, the movement of the first element along the longitudinal axis of the plug connector causes a movement of the second element vertically in relation to the longitudinal axis of the plug connector, into the housing. 
     An advantageous embodiment of the unlocking mechanism provides that the first element possesses guiding grooves which guide guiding tabs that are mounted on the second element. The guiding grooves of the first element are arranged at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the plug connector in such a manner that they move away from the second element from the cable connection side to the plug side. 
     In another preferred embodiment, the tab for operating the unlocking mechanism is mounted on the cable connection side of the plug connector on the first element of the unlocking mechanism. The tab, which extends along the connected cable, can be mounted above or below the cable. For this purpose, it is intended to mount the tab along its longitudinal axis, rotated by 180°. 
     In order to guarantee that the plug connector latches into a mating plug, a feasible embodiment provides a spring in the interior of the housing which acts on the unlocking mechanism. The spring, which preferably acts on the first element, causes the unlocking mechanism to lock automatically. 
     Further embodiments of the invention are described in the sub-claims. 
     EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT 
     An exemplar embodiment of the invention is shown in the diagram and is explained in further detail below. The following show: 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1   a  a plug connector in a spatial view; 
         FIG. 1   b  a plug connector with a tab which has been mounted in the rotated position, in a spatial view; 
         FIG. 2  a plug connector which is plugged into a mating plug, in a spatial view; 
         FIG. 3  a plug connector without a housing, in a spatial view; 
         FIG. 4  an individual carrier element, in a spatial view; 
         FIG. 5  an individual gliding element of the unlocking mechanism, in a spatial view; 
         FIG. 6  a plug connector in a spatial explosion view; 
         FIG. 7   a  a detailed view of the unoperated unlocking mechanism; 
         FIG. 7   b  a detailed view of the operated unlocking mechanism; 
         FIG. 8   a  a detailed view of a second embodiment of the unoperated unlocking mechanism; and 
         FIG. 8   b  a detailed view of the second embodiment of the operated unlocking mechanism. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1   a  shows a plug connector  1  shown in a spatial view, with a plug side  2  and a cable connection side  3 . The plug connector  1  consists of a housing  5  within which a conductor plate  60  is located on the plug side  2 ; the plug connector  1  can be connected to a mating plug  70  via this conductor plate. On the cable connection side  3  of the plug connector  1 , a cable  50  which is to be connected leads into the plug connector  1 . In this embodiment, an anti-kink device  52  is provided on the cable connection side  3  to protect the cable  50 . On the cable connection side, a tab  40  which serves to trigger an unlocking mechanism leads into the housing  5 . A grip end  41  of the tab  40  is herein located above the connected cable  50 . On the housing  5 , a ground strap  45  is also mounted in a groove  7 ; this allows a ground contact from the plug connector  1  to the mating plug  70 . 
       FIG. 1   b  shows the plug connector  1  as shown in  FIG. 1   a , wherein the tab  40  for operating the unlocking mechanism is rotated by 180° along its longitudinal axis in this embodiment as it leads into the housing  5 . Due to this, the grip end  41  of the tab  40  is located below the connected cable  50 . 
       FIG. 2  shows the plug connector  1  connected to a mating plug  70 . The plug connector  1  possesses a latching mechanism  33  which is latched into a spring element  71  in the mating plug  70 , wherein the spring element  71  is arrayed within the mating plug  70 . 
       FIG. 3  shows the plug connector  1  in a spatial view, without the housing  5 . On the conductor plate  60  which forms the plug side  2  of the plug connector  1 , plug connectors  61  are provided to create an electrical contact with the mating plug  70 . On the opposing side, the conductor plate  60  is fastened to a carrier element  10  and possesses cable connection contacts  62  with which veins  55  of the connected cable  50  make contact. The veins  55  of the cable  50  are held in pairs in a cable separator  15  using a clamping bracket  17 . On the cable connection side  3 , the carrier element  10  possesses a strain relief device  51  and an anti-kink device  52  for the connected cable  50 . 
     The carrier element  10  furthermore ensures that the conductor plate  60 , the veins  55  and the cable  50  can be fixed in relation to each other. It is not possible to shift the conductor plate  60 , the veins  55  and the cable  50  in relation to each other, and it is easy to perform the assembly and fastening of the veins  55  on the cable connection contacts  62  of the conductor plate  60 . 
     The unlocking mechanism which is shown in  FIG. 3  and which is arrayed in the central area of the carrier element  10  is formed out of two parts: 
     a gliding element  20  and an unlocking element  30 . In the direction of the cable connection side  3 , the tab  40  is mounted on the gliding element  20  in accordance with the invention, to operate the unlocking mechanism. In this embodiment, the tab  40  is mounted so that the grip end  41  of the tab  40  is located above the connected cable  50 . 
       FIG. 4  shows a carrier element  10  in a spatial view. In the frontal area of the carrier element  10  on the plug side, fastenings are provided for the conductor plate  60 ; in this embodiment, these consists of two pins  11 ,  11 ′ which are received by two drilled holes  63 ,  63 ′ in the conductor plate  6 . In the direction of cable connection, a cable separator  15  is arrayed on the carrier element  10  behind the pins  11 ,  11 ′; here, this consists of two recesses  16 ,  16 ′ which extend in the longitudinal plug direction. Each of the recesses  16 ,  16 ′ is provided to receive one of the double veins of cable  50 . 
     The central area of the carrier element  10  is provided to receive the gliding element  20  and the unlatching element  30  of the unlocking mechanism. 
     On the rear, cable connection side of the carrier element  10 , two spring recesses  12 ,  12 ′ are provided in the axial direction. The end of the carrier element  10  is formed out of a strain relief device receiving opening  13  and an anti-kink device receiving opening  14  to fasten the strain relief device  51  and the anti-kink protection device  52 . 
       FIG. 5  shows a gliding element  20  in a spatial view from the direction of the cable connection side  3 . The gliding element  20  is formed as a U-shaped extruded part from two shanks  25 ,  25 ′, wherein the connected cable  50  is led between the two shanks  25 ,  25 ′. In accordance with the invention, the gliding element  20  possesses two guiding grooves  21 ,  21 ′ which are angled in relation to the longitudinal plug axis. The guiding grooves  21 ,  21 ′ are formed as oblong holes in shanks  25 ,  25 ′ of the gliding element  20  in this embodiment. In the assembled state, guiding tabs  32 ,  32 ′ of the unlatching element  30  are arrayed in the guiding grooves  21 ,  21 ′. 
     It is practical for the gliding element  20  to also possess two T-shaped recesses  23 ,  23 ′ on the outsides of the two shanks  25 ,  25 ′ on the cable connection side. These are intended for fastening the tab  40 . Furthermore, a pin shaped spring receiving recess  24 ,  24 ′ is provided on the cable connection side on each of the shanks  25 ,  25 ′. 
     A spatial explosion view of the plug connector  1  is shown in  FIG. 6 . On the housing  5 , one can see the groove  7  which receives the ground strap  45  in the assembled state. The ground strap  45  possesses contact fingers  46  which point against the plug direction, unfixed on three sides, and bent outwards in a barrel shape, which enable an electrical contact of the ground potential of the plug connector  1  to the mating plug  70 . 
     For the final assembly of the carrier element  10  with the elements which are attached to it in the housing  5 , two screws  53 ,  53 ′ which are used to affix the carrier element  10  in the housing  5  are provided in this embodiment. 
     On the conductor plate  60 , plug contacts  61  for contacting in a mating plug  70  can be seen on the plug side. On the cable connection side of the conductor plate  60 , there are cable connection contacts  62  for connecting individual veins  55  of the cable  50  which is to be connected. Furthermore, the conductor plate  60  contains two drill holes  63 ,  63 ′ in order to connect the conductor plate  60  to the carrier element  10 . To allow the problem-free connection of the veins  55  to the conductor plate  60 , the cable separator  15  is arrayed directly behind the cable connection contacts  62  on the carrier element  10 . The cable separator  15  consists of (here) two recesses  16 ,  16 ′ which extend in the longitudinal direction of the plug and which each receive a double vein  55  of the cable  50  which is to be connected. The veins  55  which are placed in the recesses  16 ,  16 ′ are clamped into the cable separator  15  by means of the clamping bracket  17 . 
     Furthermore,  FIG. 6  shows the tab  40  which is formed out of a grip end  41  and two fastening ends  42 ,  42 ′. The fastening ends  42 ,  42 ′ which are T-shaped here grip into the correspondingly T-shaped recesses  23 ,  23 ′ in the gliding element  20  of the unlocking mechanism from the cable connection side  3  herein. 
     There are two recognizable lateral guiding grooves  21 ,  21 ′ in the gliding element  20  which are inclined towards the longitudinal axis of the plug connector. The guiding grooves  21 ,  21 ′ lie at the rear end towards the cable connection, close to the unlocking element  30 , and run forward, towards the end on the plug side, away from the unlocking element  30 . Guiding tabs  32 ,  32 ′ of the unlocking element  30  laterally grip into the two guiding grooves  21 ,  21 ′. The guiding tabs  32 ,  32 ′ connect the gliding element  20  with the unlocking element  30  in a moveable manner. 
     Out of a linear motion of the gliding element  20  along the plug connector axis, this results in a linear motion of the unlocking element  30  vertically in relation to the plug connector axis. The unlocking element  30  is herein guided within an opening  6  in the housing  5  which is provided for this purpose, in a linear direction. For practical purposes, the opening  6  is formed as a slit which is formed on three sides in the housing  5 . 
     In order to ensure automatic locking when plugging the plug connector  1  into a mating plug  70  using the unlocking mechanism, the invention provides for two springs  54 ,  54 ′. These grip into the spring receiving recesses  24 ,  24 ′ of the gliding element  20  and the spring receiving recesses  12 ,  12 ′ of the carrier element  10 , and apply force to the gliding element  20  in the plug direction. 
       FIG. 6  furthermore shows the strain relief device  51  which is provided in this embodiment. The connected cable  50  is clamped herein, which avoids traction pressure on the cable separator  15  as well as the cable connection contacts  62 . The pressure relief device  51  is screwed into the carrier element  10  in the pressure relief device recess  13  using the screws  53 ,  53 ′. 
       FIGS. 7   a  and  7   b  show detailed views of the plug connector  1  in a sectional view, showing the unlocking mechanism. 
       FIG. 7   a  shows the housing  5  and the carrier element  10  which is located within it. The gliding element  20  and the unlocking element  30  of the unlocking mechanism are arrayed on the carrier element  10 , as well as a shown spring  54 . The spring  54  presses the gliding element  20  into a frontal locking position A in the shown position. Accordingly, the guiding tabs  32  of the unlocking element  30  are located in a lower end position in the guiding grooves  21  of the gliding element  20 . Consequently, the unlocking element  30  is located in a lock position A′, so that the latching mechanism  33  which is located outside the housing  5  on the unlocking element  30  can latch into the spring element  71  of the mating plug  70 . 
       FIG. 7   b , in accordance with  FIG. 7   a , shows the unlocking mechanism of the&#39; plug connector  1  in the unlocked state. By pulling the tab  40 , the gliding element  20  is shifted into a rear unlocking position B against the force applied by the springs  54 . The guiding tabs  32  of the unlocking element  30  are located in an upper end position in the guiding grooves  21  of the gliding element  20 . The unlocking element  30  is thereby shifted into an unlocking position B′ in such a manner that the latching mechanism  33  is shifted into the housing and a latch with the spring element  71  of a mating plug  70  is released. By releasing the tab  40 , the springs  54  force the unlocking mechanism to return to the locking position A, A′ in accordance with  FIG. 7   a.    
       FIGS. 8   a  and  8   b  represent a second embodiment of the unlocking mechanism shown in  FIGS. 7   a  and  7   b  in the locking position A, A′ and the unlocking position B, B′. The function of the unlocking mechanism is identical to the function in  FIGS. 7   a  and  7   b . In this embodiment, however, the gliding element  20  possesses guiding tabs  22 ,  22 ′ which grip into guiding grooves  31 ,  31 ′ of the unlocking element  30 . In accordance with the exemplary embodiment of  FIGS. 7   a  and  7   b , there are both locking positions A, A′ and unlocking positions B, B′ of the gliding element  22  and the unlocking element  26 . 
     REFERENCES 
     Plug Connector 
     
         
           1  Plug connector 
           2  Plug side 
           3  Cable connection side 
           5  Housing 
           6  Unlocking element opening 
           7  Groove 
           10  Carrier element 
           11 ,  11 ′ Pins 
           12 ,  12 ′ Spring receiving recess 
           13  Strain relief device recess 
           14  Anti-kink protection device recess 
           15  Cable separator 
           16 ,  16 ′ Recesses 
           17  Clamping bracket 
           20  Gliding element 
           21 ,  12 ′ Guiding grooves 
           22 ,  22 ′ Guiding tabs 
           23 ,  23 ′ Recesses, T-shaped 
           24 ,  24 ′ Spring receiving recesses 
           25 ,  25 ′ Shanks 
           30  Unlocking mechanism 
           31 ,  31 ′ Guiding grooves 
           32 ,  32 ′ Guiding tabs 
           33  Latching mechanism 
           40  Tab 
           41  Grip end 
           42 ,  42 ′ Fastening ends, T-shaped 
           45  Ground strap 
           46  Contact fingers 
           50  Cable 
           51  Strain relief device 
           52  Anti-kink protection device 
           53 ,  53 ′ Screw 
           54 ,  54 ′ Spring 
           55  Vein 
           60  Conductor plate 
           61  Plug contacts 
           62  Cable connection contacts 
           63 ,  63 ′ Drill hole 
           70  Mating plug 
           71  Spring element