Patent Publication Number: US-9899775-B2

Title: Connector insert and connector for data transmission in automobiles

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of the filing date under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a)-(d) of German Patent Application No. 102015200722.7, filed Jan. 19, 2015. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a connector, and more particularly, to a plug connector for data transmission in automobiles. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Data transmission via two-conductor systems is widely used in automobiles. In the two-conductor systems, two twisted conductors without shielding are used to transport data. This solution is simple and cost-effective. In addition, in two-conductor systems, cables with large cross-sections can be used which are better suited to the tough operating conditions in an automobile. However, the two-conductor systems are at a particular danger of breakdown in the region of plug connections. 
     SUMMARY 
     An object of the present invention, among others, is to improve the durability of a data-transmitting connector insert. The disclosed connector insert has a cable including a plurality of wires, a plurality of plug contacts, a housing including at least one reception chamber defining an inlet, and a stabilizer including a first fastening location at which the stabilizer is attached to the housing and a second fastening location at which the stabilizer is attached to the cable. Each plug contact is attached to a wire, and the reception chamber accepts the plug contacts through the inlet. The stabilizer is composed of a dimensionally stable material. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying figures, of which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a connector insert according to the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of a cable and housing of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a top view of a second embodiment of a connector insert according to the invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  is an exploded side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a top view of the embodiment of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of an unsecured connector of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a secured connector of  FIG. 11 ; 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view of another embodiment of a connector; 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective view of another embodiment of a connector with several connectors of  FIG. 12 ; and 
         FIG. 15  is a perspective view of a secured position of the embodiment of  FIG. 14 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT(S) 
     The invention is explained in greater detail below with reference to embodiments of a connector insert. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete and still fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. 
     A connector insert  1  according to an embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to  FIGS. 1-4 . The connector insert  1  has a housing  2 , a two-core cable  6 , and a stabilizer  22 . The major components of the invention will now be described in greater detail. 
     At the end opposite the cable  6  in the longitudinal direction  12 , the housing  2  has a plug face  20 . As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , the housing  2  has at least one shoulder  32  which has a stop surface  34  which points in or counter to the longitudinal direction  12 . An inlet  59  defined in a reception chamber  58  in an end of the housing  2  extends along the longitudinal direction  12 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . The housing  2  is optionally made of plastics material. 
     The wires  4  of a two-core cable  6  in this embodiment lead into the housing  2 . In a region  8 , before the wires  4  enter the housing  2 , a sheathing  10  of the cable  6  is removed and the wires  4  are exposed. The length of the region  8  in the longitudinal direction  12  of the wires  4  or of the connector insert  1  may be around 10 mm. In the region  8 , the wires  4  are still equipped with their insulations  14 ; conductors  16  of the wires  4  are only exposed within the housing  2 . 
     The wires  4  can be stripped of their insulation at their ends so that the conductors  16  are exposed. Each wire  4  is firmly connected to a plug contact  18  in a conductive and mechanical manner, as shown in  FIG. 2 , for example by crimping. The plug contacts  18  can be configured as bushings or pins, and are insulated from one another in the housing  2 . The plug contacts  18  may be equipped with catching means  42  in the form of apertures. 
     The stabilizer  22  is made from a dimensionally stable material, such as sheet metal, for example, or other stable materials known to those with ordinary skill in the art. The stabilizer  22  may be a stamped bent part made of these materials. The stabilizer  22  has two crimping wings  28  which are situated opposite one another at fastening location  24 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . Instead of the two opposing crimping wings  28 , it is obviously also possible for only one single, but longer, crimping wing to be employed. In the embodiment shown, there are also two crimping wings  28  at the fastening location  26  at the cable. The crimping wings  28  at the fastening location  26  can, for example, taper in the direction of their free end, such that they become narrower, when viewed in the circumferential direction  30  of the wires  4 . The side walls  38  of the stabilizer  22  merge towards the end at the housing into the crimping wings  28  of the fastening location  24 . At the end at the cable, the side walls  38  can continue into the crimping wings  28  of the fastening location  26 . The cross-section of the stabilizer  22  is U-shaped transverse to the longitudinal direction  12 , formed by its trough shape and the side walls  38 . The crimping wings  28  of the stabilizer  22  can run parallel to one another or in a splayed manner before mounting. 
     In the depicted configuration of  FIGS. 1-4 , the connector insert  1  serves to transmit data in an automobile by means of a two-wire system, as shown by the two wires  4  of the cable  6 . A connector  1 , as would be appreciated by one with ordinary skill in the art, can also receive more than two wires  4 , in which case only the number of plug contacts  18  increases and the geometry of the housing  2  and of the stabilizer  22  must be appropriately adapted. 
     The wires  4  are twisted in the cable  6  so that they have only low interference sensitivity. This twisting is removed in the region  8  so that not only the mechanical sensitivity but also the sensitivity to electromagnetic interference fields is increased there. 
     After the cable  6  is ready for use at its end pointing towards the housing  2 , i.e. the sheathing  10  is removed in the region  8  so that the wires  4  are exposed and their insulation  14  is removed at the end of the wires  4  and the conductors  16  are exposed, the plug contacts  18  are connected to the wires  4 . One plug contact  18  is fastened to each wire  4 , the conductors  16  also being conductively connected to the plug contact  18 . The fastening can be produced by one or more crimp connections. Then the plug contacts  18  are pushed in a push-in direction  41  through the inlet  59  in a reception chamber  58  in the housing  2 . The plug contacts  18  can be equipped with catching means  42  in the form of apertures for receiving catching lugs at the housing or (as in the embodiment shown) in the form of resiliently deflectable catching protrusions which engage in apertures at the housing. The plug contacts  18  engage automatically as soon as they are pushed sufficiently deeply into the housing  2 . 
     To additionally secure the plug contacts  18  in the housing  2 , a contact securing member can be present in further configurations. Such a contact securing is described in greater detail below in connection with a different example of a configuration of a connector insert  1 . 
     After the plug contacts  18  are secured in the housing  2 , the stabilizer  22  is, as shown in  FIG. 3 , pushed in a joining direction  44  transverse to the longitudinal direction  12  onto the housing  2  and the cable  6 , as indicated by the arrow. As further shown in  FIG. 1 , the stabilizer  22  can be arranged in a recess or hollow  40  of the housing  2 , such that it does not project out of the cubic volume of the housing  2 . This ensures a backward compatibility of the connector insert  1 , such that it can be widely used despite the additional stabilizer. In this configuration, the stabilizer  22  forms a trough-shaped channel into which the housing  2  and the cable  6  are laid. 
     The stabilizer  22  has at least one fastening location  24  at the housing and at least one fastening location  26  at the sheathing  10  of the cable  6 . In particular at the fastening location  24  at the housing, the stabilizer  22  can be retained in a force-fitting manner, for example, by a crimping and/or in a form-fitting manner. At fastening location  24 , two crimping wings  28 , in a circumferential direction  30  running around the longitudinal direction  12 , enclose the housing  2  in the crimped state at at least three sides, or generally in a wrapping of more than 180°. To form a form-fit restricting motion in the longitudinal direction  12 , the shoulder  32  and stop surface  34  of the housing  2  are situated opposite the corresponding mating surfaces of the stabilizer  22 . These mating surfaces can be formed by the crimping wings  28 , for example. The shoulders  32  can act as guides which facilitate the exact assembly of the arrangement with the housing  2  and cable  6 . 
     Crimping wings  28  at fastening location  26  can be configured such that they overlap each another in the longitudinal direction and each have a wrapping angle of more than 360°. As a result, each single crimping wing  28  secures the stabilizer  22  independently of the other crimping wing  28  on the cable  6 .  FIG. 4  shows how the cable  6  and the housing  2  are laid in the stabilizer  22 . The crimping wings  28  are then folded over, as indicated by the arrows  47 , to produce the configuration shown in  FIG. 1 . The stabilizer  22  acts as protection for the wires  4  and as relief from pulling, so that the exposed wires  4  are retained in a manner which is secured against pulling and protected from kinking. 
     The region  8 , in which the wires  4  are exposed, is bridged by the stabilizer  22  by a section which forms a type of trough  36  for the wires  4 . The wires  4  do not necessarily have to rest on the base of the trough. However, the trough  36  has, on both sides, side walls  38  which optionally extend to above the wires  4 . The trough  36  broadens from the cable  6  to the housing  2 . The trough  36  can be open at its end at the cable and/or its end at the housing. The housing  2  can be placed into the trough  36 , just like the cable  6 . 
     The u-shape of the stabilizer  22  not only protects the wires  4 , but due to this cross-section shape is also very stiff, such that it can compensate for forces which act transverse to the longitudinal direction  12  on the cable  6 . When such transverse forces take effect, the crimping wings  28  at the fastening location  24  at the housing can be supported on the shoulders  32  and thus form torque supports. The form-fit consequently strengthens the crimp connection at the fastening location  24  at the housing. 
     The stabilizer  22  increases not only the mechanical strength, but rather, if it is made, for example, from a magnetically soft and optionally ferromagnetic material, shields the wires  4  in the region  8  by overlapping the cable sheathing  10  in a region in which the wires  4  are twisted. At the housing  2 , the stabilizer  22  overlaps the plug contacts  18  located there. A high wrapping angle of the stabilizer  22  also increases the shielding effect in addition to the mechanical strength. 
     The plug face  20  is formed in order to produce a plug connection of the plug contacts  18  with the mating contacts (not shown) of a mating plug which is also not shown. 
     Another embodiment of a connector insert  1  is depicted in  FIG. 6 . For the sake of conciseness, only the differences relative to the preceding embodiment are discussed below. 
     The embodiment of  FIG. 6  differs from the connector insert  1  of the first embodiment in particular in terms of the configuration of the two fastening locations  24 ,  26  of the stabilizer  22  and the configuration of the housing  2 . The housing  2  is equipped with a securing groove  48  which runs transverse to the longitudinal direction  12 . The two side walls  50  of the securing groove  48  point in and counter to the longitudinal direction  12 , respectively. 
     The securing groove  48  can in particular extend continuously over the entire width  52 , so that it is open at its two ends. The plug contacts  18  can run at the base  54  of the securing groove  48 . The plug contacts  18  can be situated in particular in recesses of the housing  2 , such that they do not project beyond the portion of the base  54  formed by the housing  2  into the securing groove  48 . 
     The plug contacts  18  are accessible in the securing groove  48  from outside, in particular from a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction  12 . The securing groove  48  can in this manner serve as a testing aperture  56  through which a measurement device can electrically contact the plug contacts  18 . This makes it possible to test the connection between the conductors  16 , shown in  FIG. 1 , and the plug contacts  18  when the connector insert  1  is complete. 
     Alternatively or in addition, a further testing aperture  56 ′ can offer access from the outside to a region of the plug contacts  18 . In particular, a separate testing aperture  56  can be provided for each plug contact  18 . This further testing aperture  56 ′ can be arranged at the other side of the stabilizer  22  closer to the end of the housing  2  opposite the cable  6 , i.e. closer to the plug face  20 . The additional testing aperture  56 ′ can at the same time represent an aperture at the housing, in which the latching means  42  of the plug contacts  18  latches. 
     The securing groove  48  can in particular extend through one or more reception chambers  58  of the housing  2 , in which the plug contacts  18  are received. A securing protrusion  60  of the plug contacts  18 , which is at least approximately in alignment with one of the side walls  50 , optionally the side wall which points toward the cable  6 , is adjacent the securing groove  48 . A further securing protrusion can be present on the opposite wall  50  of the securing groove  48 . The plug contact  18  can be additionally secured in the housing  2  by the two securing projections  60  if a locking body (not shown in  FIGS. 5 to 10 ) is inserted into the securing groove  48 . The locking body situated in the securing groove  48  forms a form-fit, acting in the longitudinal direction  12 , with the protrusions  60  which prevents the plug contacts  18  from being pulled out and/or excessively pressed in. 
     The shape of the crimping wings  28  and of the recess  40  of the housing  2  differs in the embodiment of  FIG. 6 . 
     On the fastening location  26  at the cable, the crimping wings  28  are equipped with form-fitting elements  62  which are complementary to one another and which engage in one another when the crimping connection is complete. For example, one form-fitting element can be formed as a protrusion projecting in the circumferential direction  30  ( FIG. 1 ) and the other form-fitting element  62  can be formed as a cavity which is configured in a correspondingly complementary manner. When the crimping connection is complete, the protrusion is in the cavity. The form-fitting elements ensure an exact crimping connection and secure the two crimping wings  28  in their crimped position against one another. 
     Furthermore, the wrapping angle of the crimping wings  28  at the fastening location  26  at the cable is smaller than in the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , where the free ends of the wings  28  come to rest opposite the base  46  of the stabilizer  22 . 
     At the fastening location at the housing too, the crimping wings  28  in the embodiment of  FIG. 6  are configured differently than in the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . Thus, the crimping wings  28  have, in particular at their free ends, lugs  64  which protrude in the longitudinal direction  12 . The lugs  64  are received in complementary pockets  66  of the housing  2 . The lugs  64  and pockets  66  can, for example, have a rectangular, in particular square, surface area. The lugs  64  can be present on at least three sides of the housing  2 . 
     At the housing&#39;s upper side which is opposite the base  46  of the stabilizer  22 , the lugs  64  can protrude in the opposite direction from the crimping wings  28 . In this case, the free end of each crimping wing  28  is equipped with a lug  64  in each case. The lugs  64  of the two crimping wings  28  can, with regard to the longitudinal direction  12 , protrude in the opposite direction. 
     At the other two side surfaces  68  of the housing  2 , one lug or a pair of lugs  66  can protrude in the direction away from the base  46  of the crimping wing  28 . This at least one wing  64  is also received in a pocket  66 . Each wing  64  is optionally retained in a form-fitting manner in at least two, or in some embodiments at least three, directions by the pocket  66  which is complementary to it. 
     The lugs  64  act in particular as torque supports in the event of bending and torsion loads on the cable  6 . At the same time, during preassembly they ensure that the stabilizer  22  fits accurately at the housing  2 . 
     Modifications are conceivable in the embodiment of  FIG. 5 . For example, the lugs  64  at the side walls  68  may not protrude transverse to the longitudinal direction  12  as shown, but rather in or counter to the longitudinal direction  12 . However, this would hamper the insertion of the housing  2  into the stabilizer. The lugs  64  at the side walls  68  may extend in the direction  44 , shown in  FIG. 3 , in which the stabilizer  22  is placed on the housing and cable. The lugs  66  at the side walls  68  can further facilitate the application of a crimping tool (not shown) and thus the assembling. 
     In the embodiment of  FIG. 5 , the stabilizer  22  and the housing  2  are ultimately latched to one another by at least one latching means  70 . For example, in the region of the crimping wings  28  there may be holes through which the latching protrusions of the housing  2  project when the stabilizer  22  is latched. Alternatively, at the stabilizer  22 , above all in the region of the side surfaces  68 , there can be stamped tongues which catch in corresponding apertures of the housing. Optionally, at least one, and occasionally also two, catching means  70  are provided at both opposing side surfaces  68 . 
     At the region covered by the stabilizer  22 , the housing  2  can further have a housing protrusion  72  which extends through the stabilizer and protrudes outwardly over the stabilizer  22 . The housing protrusion  72  guides the stabilizer  22  during insertion into a connector (not shown in  FIGS. 5 to 10 ) and additionally secures it in the longitudinal direction  12 . At the same time, it serves to latch the housing  2  if the connector insert  1  is inserted into a connector  80 . 
     The production of a connector insert  1  according to the embodiment of  FIG. 6  is described below with reference to  FIGS. 5 and 7-10 . Here too, again for the purpose of conciseness, as far as possible only the differences from the embodiment of  FIG. 1  or its production method according to  FIGS. 2 to 4  are discussed. 
     As depicted in  FIG. 7 , the stabilizer  22  is pushed onto the housing  2  and cable  6  in arrow direction  44  and in the process is guided by the lugs  64  and pockets  66  and the shoulders  34  onto the side surfaces  68  and the housing protrusion  72  in the direction of the arrow  44 , transverse to the longitudinal direction  12 . 
     The crimping wings  28  at the fastening location  24  at the housing abut the side surfaces  68 . In a latching position or pre-assembly position, if the housing  2  is positioned on the base  46 , the latching means  70  of the housing  2  and stabilizer  22  are latched onto one another. The stabilizer  22  is therefore stably retained in the pre-assembly. This state is shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 . Now the crimping wings  28  at the housing only have to be bent until the lugs  64  lie in the pockets  66  (see  FIGS. 5 and 10 ), before finally the crimping wings  28  at the cable are then bent. The connector insert, as depicted in  FIG. 6 , is then finished. The crimping sequence can obviously also be reversed, i.e. first the crimping wings  28  at the cable, and then the crimping wings at the housing. It is also possible for the crimping wings  28  at the housing and at the cable to be crimped simultaneously. 
     In  FIG. 10 , the embodiment of  FIG. 6  is depicted once again for illustration in a schematic perspective view, wherein the fastening location  26  at the cable is not yet crimped. The form-fitting means  62 , which are complementary to one another, for form-fitting to the crimping wings  28  of the fastening location  26  at the cable can be clearly recognized. Purely by way of example, they are formed as an at least approximately triangular protrusion  62  and an at least approximately triangular cavity  62 . 
     In this depiction it is possible to also recognize the reception chambers  58  of the connectors  18  and the plug face  20 . As further shown in  FIG. 10 , it is possible to dispense with pockets  66  for the lugs  64  on the side surfaces  68  as long as at least one side of the lugs  64  is supported on a shoulder  34 . 
     In this embodiment too, the stabilizer  22  is situated completely in a recess  40  so that it does not project out of the cubic volume of the housing  2 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 11 and 12 , a connector  80  is described below, into which a connector insert  1  in particular according to the second embodiment of  FIG. 6  can be inserted. The connector insert  1  is depicted merely by way of example in the state depicted in  FIG. 10 , with the fastening location  26  at the cable not yet complete. The connector  80  can have one or more receptacles for one or more connector inserts  1 . 
     The connector inserts  1  can in particular extend through the entire connector  80  and form a part of the plug face  20  of the connector  80  at the end of the connector  80  facing the cable  6 . Various standardized plug forms can be combined with one another in the plug face  20  of the connector  80 . At least some of these standardized plug types can be formed by connector inserts  1 . 
     The connector  80  has a retaining lug  82  which is movable into the securing groove  48  of the connector insert  1  and is optionally able to be arrested there. The retaining lug  82  acts as a locking body which secures the connector insert  1  and the plug contact  18  in the connector insert  1  at the same time. In addition to this securing, the connector insert  1  can also be latched in the connector  80 . Thus, the connector insert  1  can be connected in a form-fitting manner, for example can be latched, to the connector housing  84  via the housing protrusion  72 . 
     The retaining lug  82  can be arranged at a housing element  86  which is in particular foldably articulated to the connector housing  84 . The articulation can ensue by means of an integral hinge  88 , produced by injection moulding, at a side of the housing  84  facing the cable  6 . 
     The connector housing  84  can have a housing groove  90  which is at least approximately in alignment with the securing groove  48  of the at least one connector element  1  and which can extend up to a side wall  92  of the housing  84 . The housing  84  latches with the housing element  86 , when the retaining lug  82  is completely introduced into the securing groove  48  of the at least one connector insert  1 . For example, a protrusion  94  at the housing  84  can, in the latched state, engage, from behind, a protrusion  96  of the retaining lug  82 , which protrusion  96  protrudes in particular in the direction of the cable  6 . The retaining lug  82  may be automatically driven into the securing groove  48 . 
       FIG. 12  shows the connector  80  with the latched housing element  86 . The housing element  86  forms an outer wall of the connector  80 . The connector  80  can now, for example, be fastened to a console (not shown) or can be plugged together with a mating plug retained at such a console. 
     The connector  80  with a corresponding configuration can receive alongside one another a plurality of connector inserts  1  which are orientated at least approximately in alignment with their securing grooves  48 . Through a correspondingly wider retaining lug  82 , by shutting the housing element  86 , a plurality of connector inserts  1  can then be simultaneously secured to the plug contacts  18  received therein. 
       FIG. 13  shows a simplified connector insert  1  without the stabilizer  22 . Except for the missing stabilizer  22 , this connector insert  1  corresponds to the connector inserts described above. 
     The connector insert of  FIG. 13  can, like the connector inserts of  FIG. 6 , be used in a variant of the connector  80 , as is depicted in  FIGS. 14 and 15  and may be the subject-matter of its own invention independent of a shape stabilizer  22 . The connector  80  of  FIG. 13  is configured only for viewing purposes for receiving three connector inserts  1 . However, it can also be configured for receiving only one single connector insert  1  or any desired number of connector inserts  1 . Here again too, only the differences from the preceding embodiment of the connector  80  will be discussed. 
     In contrast to the connector  80  of  FIGS. 11 and 12 , the connector inserts  1  are not inserted in the longitudinal direction  12 , but rather in an insertion direction  100 , which runs transverse to the longitudinal direction  12 , into the connector  80  or into the receptacle  102  which is complementary to the connector insert  1 .  FIG. 14  shows the three connector inserts  1  in different phases of insertion. The connector insert  1  to the far right is already completely inserted into the corresponding receptacle  102 , whilst the other two connector inserts  1  are remote from the connector  80  to different extents. 
     In contrast to the embodiment of  FIG. 11 , the connector inserts  1  are not orientated in alignment with their securing grooves  48 . On the contrary, the securing grooves  48  in the case of each connector insert  1  run parallel to the insertion direction  100 . 
     The connector  80  thus has retaining lugs  82  which can be configured to be identical to the retaining lugs  82  of the connector  80  of  FIGS. 11 and 12 . However, these retaining lugs  82  are a firm and immobile part of the connector housing  84 . The retaining lug extends in the push-in direction  100  such that, when a connector insert  1  is inserted into a receptacle  102 , the retaining lug  82  is pushed into the securing groove  48  and secures the connector insert  1  together with the plug contacts  18  arranged therein in the longitudinal direction  12 . In addition, the connector insert  1  can be secured in the respective receptacle  102  by a latch  104 . The latch  104  extends over the entire width of the housing  2  transverse to the longitudinal direction  12  and secures the connector insert  1  against removal from the receptacle  102  against the direction of insertion  100 . 
     The form-fitting securing of the connector insert  1  by the retaining lug  82  can be supported by the housing protrusion  72  which is supported at a shoulder  106  against pulling on the cable  6 . The shoulder  106  is formed by a pocket  108 , which is open counter to the push-in direction  100 , for receiving the housing protrusion  72 . 
     In contrast to the preceding embodiment, the securing groove  48  can have an undercut  110 , for example at the side wall  50  which is at the cable and which is engaged from behind by a corresponding protrusion  96  of the retaining lug  82 . 
     The connector housing  80  of  FIG. 14  is also provided with a foldable housing element  86 . However, the housing element  86  is optionally articulated on the side of the plug face  20  of the connector  80  so that the connector inserts  1  can be laid into the receptacle  102  without any problems. 
     The housing element  86  is provided with protrusions  112  which block the latch  104  when the housing element  86  is folded in, and thus secure the connector insert  1  in the housing even when strong transverse forces act on the cable  6 . For this purpose, the receptacle  102  is equipped with a pocket  114  which is situated behind the latch  104  and in which the protrusion  112  is received when the housing element  86  is folded shut. As a result, the protrusion  112  prevents the unintentional releasing of the latch  104  by blocking this in a form-fitting manner. 
     In the folded-shut state, the housing element  86  is latched at a front face  116  of the connector  80 , which front face points towards the cable  6 . Further catching means  118  of the connector  80  can be used for fastening to a mating plug or a console. 
     As would be appreciated by one with ordinary skill in the art, the housing element  86  does not have to be articulated. The housing element  86  can also be a separate component which is simply placed onto the housing  84 . 
     In  FIG. 15 , the housing element  86  is shown in the folded-shut and latched state. The housing element  86  forms an outer surface of the connector  80 . A viewing window  120  enables visual inspection of the latch  104  from the outside. 
     It should be noted that in the embodiment of  FIGS. 11 and 14  the retaining lug  82  in each case can only be introduced into the securing groove  48  of the connector insert  1  if the plug contacts  18  are correctly mounted in the housing  2  of the connector insert  1  and are in their end position. If this is not the case, the protrusions  60  of the plug contacts  18  are situated in the securing groove  48  and block them. The same applies to the embodiments of  FIGS. 1 to 10 . 
     The protrusions  112  of the housing  86  can only be introduced into the pockets  114  if the latch  104  is correct. If the latching  104  is not carried out correctly, the pocket  114  situated behind it is not sufficiently large to receive the protrusion  112 .