Patent Publication Number: US-2021184400-A1

Title: Lock for plug-in connector

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a U.S. National Phase application under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of International Application No. PCT/EP2018/079363, filed on Oct. 26, 2018, and claims benefit to German Patent Application No. DE 10 2017 125 915.5, filed on Nov. 7, 2017. The International Application was published in German on May 16, 2019 as WO 2019/091795 under PCT Article 21(2). 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The invention relates to a plug-in connector part that can be connected to a mating connector part so as to form a plug-in connection. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Such a plug-in connector part is used for connecting line ends, in particular electrical lines. 
     Such a plug-in connector part comprises a housing and an elastically deformable locking component, which is embodied separately from the housing and is designed to reversibly engage with a locking contour of the mating connector part when the plug-in connection is formed. 
     In conventional plug-in connector parts of this type, as described in DE 2 323 180, the plug-in connector part and the mating connector part have different parts of an annular groove on the inside of their housings, which parts align with one another when the plug-in connection is formed and thus form a continuous annular groove. A snap ring is then inserted into the annular groove in order to interlock the plug-in connection. In these plug-in connector parts, the fact that the snap ring is provided separately from a housing of the plug-in connector part can result in disadvantages. This can make handling them more difficult. In addition, there is increased risk of loss of the snap ring. In addition, the snap ring surrounds the plug-in connector part on an outer side of the housing, so that the snap ring is exposed to weathering and corrosion without protection, and thus the service life of the plug-in connector part can be shortened. 
     Other plug-in connector parts reduce the aforementioned problems by having, instead of a snap ring, a plastic housing with one or more latching elements formed thereon which detachably engage with corresponding latching receptacles in a plastic housing of the mating connector part. However, the deformation of the latching elements required in this method places high mechanical stresses on the housing material, which must often also satisfy electrical and environmental requirements. These requirements on the housing material are often quite difficult to fulfill simultaneously. 
     Therefore, there is a need for a plug-in connector part that alleviates or avoids the aforementioned problems. 
     SUMMARY 
     In an embodiment, the present invention provides a plug-in connector part connectable to a mating connector part so as to form a plug-in connection, comprising: a housing; and an elastically deformable locking component embodied separately from the housing, which is configured to reversibly lock to a locking contour of the mating connector part during a creation of the plug-in connection, wherein the locking component is at least partially arranged in the housing of the plug-in connector part and has a section that is curved around a longitudinal axis of the plug-in connector part, which is parallel to the plug-in direction, and has at least one locking region and at least one unlocking region, and wherein the locking component is prestressed in a closed position and is elastically radially outwardly expandable into an open position in the locking region by an action of a radially inwardly oriented force on the unlocking region. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention will be described in even greater detail below based on the exemplary figures. The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments. Other features and advantages of various embodiments of the present invention will become apparent by reading the following detailed description with reference to the attached drawings which illustrate the following: 
         FIG. 1 : A schematic representation of a perspective view of a plug-in connector part in accordance with an exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 2A : A schematic representation of a cross-sectional view of a plug-in connector part when the locking component is in the closed position; 
         FIG. 2B : A schematic representation of a cross-sectional view of a plug-in connector part when the locking component is in the open position; 
         FIG. 3A : A schematic representation of a cross-sectional view of a plug-in connector part when the locking component is in the closed position according to a further exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 3B : A schematic representation of a cross-sectional view of a plug-in connector part when the locking component is in the open position according to a further exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  A schematic representation of a perspective view of a mating connector part according to an example; 
         FIG. 5  A schematic representation of a side view of a plug-in connector according to an exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 6  A schematic representation of a perspective view of two plug-in connectors according to a further exemplary embodiment with a tool inserted into the housing from different directions. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In an embodiment, the locking component is at least partially arranged in the housing of the plug-in connector part and has a section which is curved around a longitudinal axis of the plug-in connector part which is parallel to the plug-in direction and has at least one locking region and at least one unlocking region. The locking component is prestressed when in a closed position and can be elastically expanded in a radially outward direction into an open position in the locking region by the action of a radially inward force on the unlocking region. 
     The locking component can be designed such that, when the plug-in connection is formed and before engagement, it expands elastically into the open position in the locking region by means of the locking contour of the mating connector part. In this case, the locking component can have a beveled profile in the locking region. 
     When in the prestressed position, the locking component can have a greater curvature in the unlocking region than in the locking region. In the open position, the curvature of the locking component in the locking region can be increased relative to the closed position. In the open position, the curvature of the locking component in the unlocking region can also be reduced relative to the closed position. 
     The locking component can be at least essentially annular. In this case, the locking component can be at least essentially oval. In addition, one unlocking region can be arranged in each case at the vertices of a long diameter of the locking component in each case and one locking region can be arranged in each case at the vertices of a short diameter of the locking component. 
     Alternatively, the locking component may be circular. In a further alternative, the locking component can be arc-shaped. The locking component can further be arranged concentrically to the longitudinal axis of the plug-in connector part in the housing. Alternatively, the locking component can be arranged eccentrically to the longitudinal axis of the plug-in connector part in the housing. 
     The housing of the plug-in connector part can at least essentially enclose the locking component in the radial direction. In addition, the housing of the plug-in connector part can have housing openings near the unlocking region of the locking component, which allow the insertion of a tool for exerting a radially inward force on the unlocking region. In this case, the housing can have a plurality of openings near the unlocking region, which permit insertion of the tool from different directions. 
     Alternatively, the housing of the plug-in connector part may incompletely enclose the locking component near the unlocking region. The housing can be designed in such a way that the manual, tool-free exertion of a radially inward force on the unlocking region is possible. In this case, when in the closed position, the locking component can protrude beyond an outside of the housing through one or more openings in the housing near the unlocking region. 
     In a region which engages with the mating connector part, the housing of the plug-in connector part can have an at least essentially rotationally symmetrical form around a longitudinal axis parallel to the plug-in direction. 
     The housing of the plug-in connector part and the locking component may comprise materials different from each other. In this case, the housing of the plug-in connector part can comprise a more rigid material than the locking component. The housing of the plug-in connector part may comprise plastic. The locking component may comprise a less rigid plastic than the housing and/or a flexible metal. 
     In another aspect, a plug-in connector is presented. The plug-in connector comprises a plug-in connector part of the type presented here and a mating connector part, to which the plug-in connector part can be reversibly connected to form a plug-in connection. 
     The locking contour of the mating connector part may comprise an annular groove. The locking contour can additionally have a protruding region. 
     The locking contour of the mating connector part may have a beveled region. The beveled region may be arranged in the protruding region of the locking contour. 
     In a region which engages with the housing of the plug-in connector part, the mating connector part can have an at least essentially rotationally symmetrical form around a longitudinal axis parallel to the plug-in direction. 
       FIG. 1  shows a schematic representation of a perspective view of a plug-in connector part  100 . The plug-in connector part  100  is provided for forming a plug-in connection with a mating connector part. The plug-in connector part  100  comprises a housing  110  having a housing region  112  that engages with the mating connector part. In the example shown, the housing region  112  that engages with the mating connector part is designed rotationally symmetrically around a longitudinal axis of the plug-in connector part  100  parallel to the plug-in axis S. The housing  110  surrounds an electrical contact region  130  of the plug-in connector part  100 , which is provided for making contact with a mating contact region of the mating connector part. In the example shown, the housing  110  also comprises a plurality of housing openings  114 . 
     The plug-in connector part  100  further comprises a locking component  120  formed separately from the housing  110  for reversibly locking a plug-in connection to a mating connector part. For this purpose, the locking component  120  comprises a plurality of locking regions  122  and a plurality of unlocking regions  124 . The locking component  120  also has a beveled profile  126  in the locking regions  122 . 
     The plug-in connector part  100  is designed to form a plug-in connection with a mating connector part, for example, the mating connector part  400  as shown in  FIG. 4 , as will be described in more detail below. To this end, the locking component  120  is elastically deformable and prestressed in a closed position. When a mechanical force acts in one or both of the unlocking regions  124  in a direction pointing radially inward to the longitudinal axis of the plug-in connector part  100 , the locking component  120  is elastically deformed in such a way that the curved locking component  120  is widened in the locking regions  122  and thus transitions into an open position. In the mating connector part  400  in  FIG. 4 , for example, each of the locking regions  122  protrudes into an annular groove  420  of the mating connector part  400  when a plug-in connection is established and the locking component  120  is in the closed position. In this way, the mating connector part  400  is held in the connected position and the plug-in connector is locked to it. On the other hand, if the locking component  120  is expanded in the locking regions  122 , for example as a result of a force acting on one or both of the unlocking regions  124 , the locking regions  122  are moved out of the annular groove  420  of the mating connector part  400  and the plug-in connection is thereby detachably unlocked. 
     The beveled profile  126  of the locking component  120  in the locking regions  122  aids the formation of a plug-in connection without the locking component  120  initially being required for this through exertion of a force on the unlocking region or regions  124  for opening the locking component  120 . In particular, the beveled profile  126  promotes bending of the locking component  120  by a locking contour of the mating connector part when the plug-in connection is formed. 
     In the example shown, the locking component  120  is embodied as annular, in particular essentially oval. In this case, the unlocking regions  124  are each located at a vertex of the long diameter of the oval, while the locking regions  122  are each located at a vertex of the short diameter of the oval. The locking component  120  is also arranged concentrically to the longitudinal axis of the plug-in connector part  100 . The plug-in connector part  100  is further arranged in the housing  110  in such a way that the housing openings  114  are each located near one of the unlocking regions  124  of the locking component  120 . 
     In the example shown in  FIG. 1 , the housing  110  encloses the locking component  120  in the radial direction. In this way, tool-free manual access to the unlocking regions  124  of the locking component  120  is prevented, avoiding, for example, an inadvertent or unintentional release of the plug-in connection. At the same time, the locking component  120  is effectively protected against external influences such as weather or UV radiation. This effectively increases the service life of many elastic materials usable for the locking component  120 , such as an elastic plastic or a flexible metal. 
     At the same time, the housing openings  114  allow the insertion of a tool, for example a screwdriver, in approximately the tangential direction to the longitudinal axis of the plug-in connector part  100  so as to exert a radially inward force on the unlocking regions  124 . In some examples, the locking component  120  is formed so as to be sufficiently strongly deformed with respect to a provided mating connector part  400  to already to reach the open position through exertion of a force on only one of the unlocking regions  124 . 
     The housing  110  also partially encloses the locking component  120  in the axial direction. This prevents the locking component  120  from falling out of the housing and thus in particular prevents the locking component  120  from being lost. In other examples, the locking component  120  is secured against loss by other means. For example, it can be fastened to the housing  110  at one or more connection points. 
     Given that the housing  110  and the locking component  120  are formed separately, the plug-in connector part  100  favors the use of different materials for the housing  110  and the locking member  120 . In particular, a more rigid and weatherproof material can be used for the housing  110  than for the locking component  120 , corresponding to the different functional requirements of the housing  110  and the locking component  120 . At the same time, as described above, the service life of the locking component  120  is also increased by its arrangement within the housing  110 . This particularly applies when typically weather-sensitive elastic materials are used for the locking component  120 . 
     The invention has been described above using the example of a plug-in connector part  100  having a rotationally symmetrical region  112  which engages with the mating connector part and a centrally arranged, closed annular, in particular oval, locking component  120 . However, it goes without saying that the described advantages can also be achieved with embodiments of the plug-in connector part  100  that differ from this. Specifically, a connecting region of the plug-in connector part  100  is not rotationally symmetric in other examples. In addition, in further examples, the locking component  120  is circular. In still further examples, the locking component  120  is arc-shaped, so that it describes a part of a ring, for example a part of an oval. In this case, the locking component  120  has, for example, a number that deviates from two unlocking regions  124  and two locking regions  122  for at least one of these types of regions. What these examples have in common is that the locking component has at least one curved section having at least one unlocking region and at least one locking region and is designed such that, as a result of exertion of an inward force on the unlocking region, the curvature of the locking component is changed such that the locking region or regions is or are elastically moved with respect to a provided mating connector part  400  from a prestressed position corresponding to a closed position into a position corresponding to an open position. 
       FIG. 2A  shows a cross-sectional view of the plug-in connector part  100 . The cross-sectional plane lies in the region of the locking component  120 . The same reference signs as in  FIG. 1  denote the same features as described in connection with  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 2A  shows the plug-in connector part  100  when the locking component  120  is in the closed position. In this case, the locking component  120  has a greater curvature in the unlocking regions  124  than in the locking regions  122 . In addition, the locking component  120  extends closer to a longitudinal axis of the plug-in connector part  100  in the locking regions  122 . In this case, the distance between each of the locking regions  122  and the longitudinal axis is less than the outer radius of a locking contour  420  of a provided mating connector part  400 . 
       FIG. 2B  shows another cross-sectional view of the plug-in connector part  100 . The cross-sectional plane is the same as in  FIG. 2A . In contrast to  FIG. 2A ,  FIG. 2B  shows the plug-in connector part  100  when the locking component  120  is in an open position. 
     A tool W, for example a screwdriver, is inserted into the housing  110  through one of the housing openings  114 . In this case, a radially inward force is exerted on the corresponding unlocking region  124 . Aided by the shape of the housing  110 , which prevents the locking component  120  from escaping as it would otherwise, the locking component  120  thus expands in the locking regions  122 . 
       FIG. 3  shows a cross-sectional view of a plug-in connector part  300  according to another example. Unless otherwise stated below, the previous statements concerning the plug-in connector part  100  apply equivalently to the plug-in connector part  300 . A mating connector part  400  that has formed a plug-in connection with the plug-in connector part  300  is also shown. 
     The plug-in connector part  300  comprises a housing  310  and a locking component  320  arranged at least essentially within the housing  310 . The housing  310  has housing openings  314  through which the locking component  320  partially protrudes when in the closed position shown. In particular, operating regions  328  of the locking component  320  extend outwards through the housing openings  314  through an outside of the plug-in connector part  300 . In the closed position shown, the locking regions  322  also extend into a locking contour  420 , for example into an annular groove, of the mating connector part  400 . 
     Unlike in the plug-in connector part  100  in  FIG. 1 , in the plug-in connector part  300 , the locking component  320  is not completely enclosed by the housing  310  in the radial direction. The plug-in connector part  300  thus allows manual operation without tools. In particular, the locking component  320  can be opened by manually pressing on at least one of the operating regions  328 . 
       FIG. 3B  shows a further cross-sectional view of the plug-in connector part  300 . The cross-sectional plane is the same as in  FIG. 3A . In  FIG. 3B , the locking component  320  is in the open position, which differs from the position shown in  FIG. 3A . In this case, both operating regions  328  are pressed radially inward and consequently the locking component  320  is expanded as much as possible in the locking regions  322 . As can be seen from  FIG. 3B , unlike in the position in  FIG. 3A , no region of the locking component  320  extends into the locking contour  420  of the mating connector part  400 . 
     The plug-in connector part  300  provides reduced protection against unintentional or inadvertent operation compared to the plug-in connector part  100 . In some examples, weather protection of the elastic parts of the locking component  320  is also less than in plug-in connector part  100 . Nevertheless, even in plug-in connector part  300 , the housing still offers extensive protection for the locking component, while at the same time facilitating operation this is simpler, in particular without tools. 
       FIG. 4  shows a schematic representation of a perspective view of a mating connector part  400 . The mating connector part  400  is designed, for example, to form a plug-in connection with a plug-in connector part  100 ,  300  as described above. To this end, the mating connector part  400  has a region  410  which engages with the housing of the plug-in connector part and a locking contour  420  to lock the plug-in connection. For this purpose, the locking contour  420  is designed for a locking component of the plug-in connector part to engage with the locking contour  420 . The mating connector part  400  further comprises a mating electrical contact area  430  for making contact with a suitable contact area, for example the contact area  130  of the plug-in connector part  100 , when a plug-in connection is established. 
     In the example shown, the region  410  that engages with the housing of the plug-in connector part along with the locking contour  420  are formed in a rotationally symmetric manner. This makes it possible, for example, for the connected plug-in connector parts to be rotatable relative to one another around a longitudinal axis of the plug-in connection when the plug-in connection is established. The mating connector part  400  also has a beveled region  422  in the region of the locking contour  420 . Similarly as described for the beveled profile  126  of the plug-in connector part  100 , the beveled region  422  facilitates the expansion of the locking component by the locking contour  420  when the plug-in connection is formed. 
       FIG. 5  shows a schematic representation of a side view of a plug-in connector  500 . The plug-in connector  500  comprises a plug-in connector part  300  as described in connection with  FIGS. 3A and 3B  and a mating connector part  400  as described in connection with  FIG. 4 .  FIG. 5  shows the plug-in connector  500  in a connected position. In this case, the locking component of the plug-in connector part  300  is also in the closed position, as can be seen from the operating regions  328  protruding beyond the outside of the housing. 
       FIG. 6  shows a schematic representation of a perspective view of two plug-in connectors  500 ′ according to another example. Unlike the plug-in connector  500 , the plug-in connectors  500 ′ comprise a plug-in connector part  100  as described in connection with  FIG. 1  in addition to a mating connector part  400  in each case. In addition, a tool W, a screwdriver in each of the examples shown, is inserted into a housing opening  114  in each of the plug-in connectors  500 ′. As a result, in both plug-in connectors  500 ′, the plug-in connector  100  is in an open position as described in connection with  FIG. 2B . Additionally or alternatively to the depicted housing openings  114  and possible insertion directions of the tool W, other examples of the plug-in connector  500  have further or different housing openings  114  that allow the insertion of a tool from further or different directions. 
     While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive. It will be understood that changes and modifications may be made by those of ordinary skill within the scope of the following claims. In particular, the present invention covers further embodiments with any combination of features from different embodiments described above and below. Additionally, statements made herein characterizing the invention refer to an embodiment of the invention and not necessarily all embodiments. 
     The terms used in the claims should be construed to have the broadest reasonable interpretation consistent with the foregoing description. For example, the use of the article “a” or “the” in introducing an element should not be interpreted as being exclusive of a plurality of elements. Likewise, the recitation of “or” should be interpreted as being inclusive, such that the recitation of “A or B” is not exclusive of “A and B,” unless it is clear from the context or the foregoing description that only one of A and B is intended. Further, the recitation of “at least one of A, B and C” should be interpreted as one or more of a group of elements consisting of A, B and C, and should not be interpreted as requiring at least one of each of the listed elements A, B and C, regardless of whether A, B and C are related as categories or otherwise. Moreover, the recitation of “A, B and/or C” or “at least one of A, B or C” should be interpreted as including any singular entity from the listed elements, e.g., A, any subset from the listed elements, e.g., A and B, or the entire list of elements A, B and C. 
     LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS 
     
         
           100 ,  300 -Plug-in connector part 
           110 ,  310 -Housing 
           112 -Housing region that engages with mating connector part 
           114 ,  314 -Housing opening 
           120 ,  320 -Locking component 
           122 ,  322 -Locking region 
           124 ,  324 -Unlocking region 
           126 -Beveled profile of locking component 
           130 -Contact area 
           328 -Operating region 
           400 -Mating connector part 
           410 -Region that engages with housing of plug-in connector part 
           420 -Locking contour ( 420 ) 
           422 -Beveled region 
           430 -Mating contact area 
           500 ,  500 ′-Plug-in connectors 
         S-Plug-in direction 
         W-Tool