Patent Description:
It is known that a plug-in connector for fuse element can be equipped with a handle part to enable to plug or unplug it from terminal blocks. Such handles type to be easily maneuverable should have a sufficient size even when the plug-in connector is small.

This implies geometrical constraints that can be difficult to deal with as other elements such as markings or light indicator could also be necessary for such plug-in connectors.

It is for example known from <CIT> to have a plug-in connector for a fuse element including a label holder integrally formed with a body of the plug-in connector.

The present invention aims to solve all or some of the disadvantages mentioned above.

For this purpose, the present invention relates to a plug-in connector configured to cooperate with a terminal block, the plug-in connector comprising a body including a cooperation assembly configured to mechanically secure the plug-in connector on the terminal block in a mounted position, the body having a compartment adapted for accommodating a fuse element.

The plug-in connector comprises two plug contacts received within the compartment, the two plug contacts being each configured to be connected to a corresponding terminal of the fuse element, each of the two plug contacts presenting a corresponding contact tongue extending outside the compartment, each contact tongue being included in the cooperation assembly and configured to be electrically secured to a corresponding bus bar of the terminal block in the mounted position.

The plug-in connector comprises a handle part provided with an actuating portion and a linking portion, the linking portion being attached to the body and extending according to a linking axis that is coincident to or parallel to an insertion axis of a pin of the cooperation assembly, the actuating portion presenting an actuating surface extending transversally to the insertion axis and being configured to cooperate with a marking element that is disposed along the actuating surface.

The handle part has a dual purpose. First, it serves as handle that can be used to insert the plug-in connector in the terminal block to reach the mounted position. The user has to push the actuating surface according to the insertion axis.

The actuating portion of the handle can also be grabbed by a user with between its forefinger and thumb to withdraw the plug-in connector from the terminal block.

Second, a marking element can be added on the actuating surface without disturbing the functioning of the handle part. Indeed, as this part is generally planar, the actuating portion is thicker but has the same geometrical features. Besides, the marking element is well located on the summit of the plug-in connector to be easily visible.

This arrangement allows combining a handle part for a fuse plug and an extra marking area without additional space needed for this marking.

According to an aspect of the invention, the pin is a central pin of the cooperation assembly. According to an aspect of the invention, the marking element is a label element and preferably a planar label element. In particular, the planar label element is disposed parallel to the actuating surface.

According to an aspect of the invention, adapted for accommodating a fuse element also means adapted for accommodating other components that have a comparable size and connection means, in particular components that are conductive.

According to an aspect of the invention, the compartment includes an arrangement configured for receiving a light indicator, the body having an opening for viewing the light indicator from outside, the opening being made in a transversal wall of the body on which the linking portion is added, the handle part being outside an area defined in front of the opening according to a direction parallel to the insertion axis.

This construction of the arrangement and the opening for the light indicator enables to have an easily visible indicator for a user as the handle part is not hiding it. According to an aspect of the invention, the light indicator is arranged for functioning when the fuse has blown.

According to an aspect of the invention, the plug-in connector comprises a light indicator. Preferably, the light indicator includes a LED.

According to an aspect of the invention, the plug-in connector comprises a translucent light guide located at least partially in the opening.

According to an aspect of the invention, the linking portion is configured to be breakable.

This arrangement allows limiting the longitudinal size of the plug-in connector that is to say according to the insertion axis if the handle part is no more needed. According to an aspect of the invention, the linking portion has a strip form configured to be cut.

According to an aspect of the invention, the cooperation assembly is symmetrical relative to a reversing plan wherein the insertion axis is comprised such that two reversed mounted positions can be defined by turning the plug-in connector around the insertion axis according to an angle of <NUM>°.

This arrangement enables to have two geometrical options for plugging the plug-in connector depending of the construction constraints.

According to an aspect of the invention, the body presents two portions with different widths such that two plug-in connectors mounted on two adjacent terminal blocks in reversed mounted positions with respect to each other present an overall width corresponding to the width of the two terminal blocks.

In other terms, the two portions with different widths comprise a first portion with a first width smaller than and a second portion with a second with larger than a corresponding terminal block width. The sum of the first width and the second width corresponds to the overall width of the two adjacent terminal blocks.

According to an aspect of the invention, the second portion is arranged to receive the fuse element. The arrangement therefore allows using terminal blocks that have a lower width than the size of the fuse element without limiting the use of the adjacent terminal block.

According to an aspect of the invention, the actuating surface presents at least one recess arranged to cooperate with a corresponding lug of the marking element.

This arrangement enables to use the actuating surface as a pushing surface for the thumb when mounting the plug-in connector is on the terminal block. According to an aspect of the invention, no element of the actuating portion extends beyond the actuating surface according to the insertion axis.

According to an aspect of the invention, the at least one recess comprises two recesses each presenting a final transverse section opening outside the actuating portion according to opposite directions.

In particular, the opposite directions are transverse to the insertion axis.

This arrangement enables to easily connect the marking element on the actuating portion and to disconnect it easily by turning it according to an axis parallel to the insertion axis.

According to an aspect of the invention, each recess has another end section opposed to its final transverse section and that is ended by an abutment made in the actuating portion.

According to an aspect of the invention, the body presents at least one additional recess arranged to cooperate with a corresponding lug of the marking element.

This allows having several marking elements on the same plug-in connector. According to an aspect of the invention, the at least one additional recess comprises two additional recesses. Preferably, the two additional recesses each presents an additional final transverse section opening outside the body according to additional opposite directions. In particular, the additional opposite directions are transverse to the insertion axis.

According to an aspect of the invention, each additional recess has another additional end section opposed to its additional final transverse section and that is ended by an additional abutment made in the body.

According to an aspect of the invention, the two recesses and the two additional recesses are arranged so that two installed marking elements extend transversally relative to each other.

According to an aspect of the invention, the or each recess is a groove and/or the or each additional recess is an additional groove.

According to an aspect of the invention, the handle part presents a reinforcing rib extending in a plan transverse to an extension plan of the actuating surface.

This arrangement allows preventing the displacement of the actuating portion when a user is pushing on it or pulling it. According to an aspect of the invention, the handle part present a "T" shape and the reinforcing rib is located on a right-angled corner of the "T". Preferably, the handle part comprises two reinforcing ribs. In particular, each right-angled corner of the handle part comprise a corresponding reinforcing rib.

According to an aspect of the invention, the body presents a grip member located on an external wall of the body oriented in a different direction than the orientation direction of the actuating surface to enable to seize by hand the plug in connector.

By oriented or orientation, it has to be understood that the direction of a normal relative to the corresponding surface. According to an aspect of the invention, the grip member has a series of parallel ribs.

The different aspects defined above that are not incompatible can be combined.

The invention will be better understood with the aid of the detailed description which is set out below with reference to the appended drawing in which:.

In the following detailed description of the figures defined above, the same elements or the elements that are fulfilling identical functions may retain the same references so as to simplify the understanding of the invention.

As illustrated in <FIG>, two plug-in connectors <NUM> are cooperating with two adjacent terminal blocks <NUM>. The plug-in connectors <NUM> are identical and mounted in reversed positions on their corresponding terminal blocks <NUM>.

As also illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the plug-in connector <NUM> comprises a body <NUM> including a cooperation assembly <NUM> configured to mechanically secure the plug-in connector <NUM> on the terminal block <NUM> according to two reversed mounted positions as illustrated in <FIG> wherein the plug-in connectors <NUM> are in reversed positions. The body <NUM> also comprises a cover <NUM> that has been removed in <FIG>.

The body <NUM> has a compartment <NUM> adapted for accommodating a fuse element or other components that have a comparable size and connection means, in particular components that are conductive.

The plug-in connector <NUM> comprises two plug contacts <NUM> received within the compartment <NUM>, the two plug contacts <NUM> being each configured to be connected to a corresponding terminal of the fuse element.

Each of the two plug contacts <NUM> presents a corresponding contact tongue <NUM> extending outside the compartment <NUM>, each contact tongue <NUM> being included in the cooperation assembly <NUM> and configured to be electrically secured to a corresponding bus bar of the terminal block in the two mounted positions.

The plug-in connector <NUM> comprises as well a handle part <NUM> provided with an actuating portion <NUM> and a linking portion <NUM>, the linking portion <NUM> being attached to the body <NUM> and extending according to a linking axis <NUM> that is coincident to or parallel to an insertion axis <NUM> of a pin <NUM> of the cooperation assembly <NUM>. The pin <NUM> is a central pin <NUM> of the cooperation assembly <NUM>.

The actuating portion <NUM> presents an actuating surface <NUM> extending transversally to the insertion axis <NUM> and being configured to cooperate with a marking element <NUM> that is disposed along the actuating surface <NUM>.

The marking element <NUM> is a label element and preferably a planar label element that is disposed parallel to the actuating surface <NUM>.

The handle part <NUM> presents two reinforcing rib <NUM> extending in a plan <NUM> transverse to an extension plan of the actuating surface <NUM>. The handle part <NUM> presents a "T" shape and the reinforcing ribs <NUM> are located on right-angled corners of the "T".

The compartment <NUM> includes an arrangement <NUM> configured for receiving a light indicator, the body <NUM> having an opening <NUM> for viewing the light indicator from outside.

The opening <NUM> is made in a transversal wall <NUM> of the body <NUM> on which the linking portion <NUM> is added, the handle part <NUM> being outside an area defined in front of the opening <NUM> according to a direction parallel to the insertion axis <NUM>.

The light indicator is arranged for functioning when the fuse has blown. The plug-in connector <NUM> comprises the light indicator and the light indicator includes a LED. The plug-in connector <NUM> comprises a translucent light guide <NUM> located at least partially in the opening <NUM>.

The linking portion <NUM> is configured to be breakable to limit the longitudinal size of the plug-in connector <NUM> that is to say according to the insertion axis <NUM> if the handle part <NUM> is no more needed. To this end, the linking portion <NUM> has a strip form configured to be cut.

The cooperation assembly <NUM> is symmetrical relative to a reversing plan <NUM> wherein the insertion axis <NUM> is comprised such that two reversed mounted positions can be defined by turning the plug-in connector around the insertion axis <NUM> according to an angle of <NUM>°. This defines the two geometrical options for plugging the plug-in connector <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG>.

The body <NUM> presents two portions with different widths such that two plug-in connectors <NUM> mounted on two adjacent terminal blocks <NUM> in reversed mounted positions with respect to each other present an overall width corresponding to the width of the two terminal blocks.

In other terms, the two portions with different widths comprise a first portion with a first width <NUM> smaller than and a second portion with a second width <NUM> larger than a corresponding terminal block width.

The sum of the first width <NUM> and the second width <NUM> corresponds to the overall width of the two adjacent terminal blocks <NUM>. The second portion is arranged to receive the fuse element.

The actuating surface <NUM> presents at least one recess <NUM> arranged to cooperate with a corresponding lug <NUM> of the marking element <NUM> so that the actuating surface <NUM> is configured as a pushing surface for the thumb when mounting the plug-in connector <NUM> is on the terminal block <NUM>.

Thus, no element of the actuating portion <NUM> extends beyond the actuating surface <NUM> according to the insertion axis <NUM>.

The at least one recess <NUM> comprises two recesses <NUM> each presenting a final transverse section <NUM> opening outside the actuating portion <NUM> according to opposite directions. The opposite directions are transverse to the insertion axis <NUM>.

The marking element <NUM> is therefore configured to be installed on the actuating portion <NUM> and to be disconnected easily by turning it according to an axis parallel to the insertion axis <NUM>. Each recess <NUM> has another end section <NUM> opposed to its final transverse section <NUM> and that is ended by an abutment <NUM> made in the actuating portion <NUM>.

In addition, the body <NUM> presents at least one additional recess <NUM> arranged to cooperate with a corresponding lug <NUM> of the marking element <NUM>. The at least one additional recess <NUM> comprises two additional recesses <NUM>. The two additional recesses <NUM> each presents an additional final transverse section <NUM> opening outside the body <NUM> according to additional opposite directions. The additional opposite directions are transverse to the insertion axis <NUM>.

Each additional recess <NUM> has another additional end section <NUM> opposed to its additional final transverse section <NUM> and that is ended by an additional abutment <NUM> made in the body <NUM>.

The two recesses <NUM> and the two additional recesses <NUM> are arranged so that two installed marking elements <NUM> extend transversally relative to each other. Each recess <NUM> is a groove and each additional recess <NUM> is an additional groove.

The body <NUM> presents a grip member <NUM> located on an external wall of the body <NUM> oriented in a different direction than the orientation direction of the actuating surface <NUM> to enable to seize by hand the plug-in connector <NUM>.

By oriented or orientation, it has to be understood that the direction of a normal relative to the corresponding surface. The grip member <NUM> has a series of parallel ribs <NUM>.

As it appears from the features disclosed above, the handle part <NUM> has a dual purpose. First, it serves as handle that can be used to insert the plug-in connector <NUM> in the terminal block <NUM> to reach the mounted position. The user has to push the actuating surface according to the insertion axis <NUM>. The actuating portion <NUM> of the handle can also be grabbed by a user with between its forefinger and thumb to withdraw the plug-in connector <NUM> from the terminal block <NUM>.

Second, a marking element <NUM> can be added on the actuating surface <NUM> without disturbing the functioning of the handle part <NUM>. Indeed, as this part is generally planar, the actuating portion is thicker but has the same geometrical features. Besides, the marking element <NUM> is well located on the summit of the plug-in connector to be easily visible.

In addition, the opening <NUM> for the light indicator enables to have an easily visible indicator for a user as the handle part is not hiding it.

Claim 1:
Plug-in connector (<NUM>) configured to cooperate with a terminal block (<NUM>), the plug-in connector (<NUM>) comprising:
- a body (<NUM>) including a cooperation assembly (<NUM>) configured to mechanically secure the plug-in connector (<NUM>) on the terminal block (<NUM>) in a mounted position, the body (<NUM>) having a compartment (<NUM>) adapted for accommodating a fuse element,
- two plug contacts (<NUM>) received within the compartment (<NUM>), the two plug contacts (<NUM>) being each configured to be connected to a corresponding terminal of the fuse element, each of the two plug contacts (<NUM>) presenting a corresponding contact tongue (<NUM>) extending outside the compartment (<NUM>), each contact tongue (<NUM>) being included in the cooperation assembly (<NUM>) and configured to be electrically secured to a corresponding bus bar of the terminal block (<NUM>) in the mounted position,
- a handle part (<NUM>) provided with an actuating portion (<NUM>) and a linking portion (<NUM>), the linking portion (<NUM>) being attached to the body (<NUM>) and extending according to a linking axis (<NUM>) that is coincident to or parallel to an insertion axis (<NUM>) of a pin (<NUM>) of the cooperation assembly (<NUM>), the actuating portion (<NUM>) presenting an actuating surface (<NUM>) extending transversally to the insertion axis (<NUM>) and being configured to cooperate with a marking element (<NUM>) that is disposed along the actuating surface (<NUM>), the actuating surface (<NUM>) being configured to be pushed according to the insertion axis (<NUM>) for inserting the plug-in connector (<NUM>) in the terminal block (<NUM>) to reach the mounted position.