Patent Description:
Electrical elements, e.g. elements comprising or carrying at least one electrical component, are applied in various environments and may comprise a plate member supporting the electrical component. Various means for fixing said plate member in the electric component are known. Known fixation approaches, however, are cumbersome, require several process steps and are prone to assembly errors. <CIT> describes an electronic control device that houses a circuit board by sliding it along a pair of guide grooves.

One aspect of the present invention is therefore to render the assembly of electrical elements easier and less error-prone. The invention is as defined by claim <NUM>.

The present invention improves prior art electrical elements by comprising a first housing part, a plate member, and a second housing part, wherein the first housing part comprises a plate insertion section, the plate insertion section being adapted to guide an insertion of the plate member along an insertion direction into a mounting position of the plate member at the first housing part, wherein the second housing part comprises at least one locking element that forms a locking with a corresponding counter locking element of the first housing part, and wherein the second housing part further comprises at least one latching element adapted to engage a corresponding counter latching element of the plate member, the at least one latching element and the corresponding counter latching element, in an engaged state, form a latching.

The inventive electrical element thus has the advantage over prior art solutions that no cumbersome, difficult and time-consuming fixation is necessary. The inventive electrical element is thus easier assembled and prevents assembly errors.

The inventive electrical element may be improved by specific embodiments, which will be described in the following.

The plate member may be an electric plate member, i.e. a plate that provides an electric device or part, such as, and not limiting, a connector interface and/or any kind of sensor such as an optical sensor, temperature sensor, humidity sensor, magnetic sensor, eddy current sensor, current sensor or the like.

The plate member may be a printed circuit board or a printed circuit board assembly.

The inventive electrical element is clearance free, i.e. the first housing part receiving the plate member may be attached to the second housing part without the need of gluing, screwing, hot stamping, riveting or the like, the electrical element further being resistant against vibrations.

The first and the second housing part may be provided as separate pieces or may be connected to each other by a hinge, e.g. a film hinge.

The insertion direction may correspond to a direction of a linear movement of the second housing part towards the first housing part. If a hinge is provided between the first and the second housing part, an assembly direction may be described by a sector of a circle, indicating a tilting movement of the second housing part with respect to the first housing part.

The assembly direction along which the second housing part is moved towards the first housing part may correspond to the insertion direction of the plate member. The assembly direction may be oriented perpendicular to the insertion direction in a different embodiment of the electrical element. The assembly direction may be oriented perpendicular to the inserted plate member, such that the second housing part may be attached to the first housing part along a second possible assembly direction (for instance a downward direction) or along a third possible assembly direction (for instance an upward direction). If the first and second housing part are attached to each other along the second or third assembly direction, the latching element and the counter latching element may be brought into engagement with each other in a sliding movement. Positioning of the latching element and the counter latching element may be provided by chamfers of the corresponding elements. In case a hinge connects the first and the second housing part, a direction of the tilting movement of the second housing part with respect to the first housing part may approach the insertion direction prior to the engagement of the latching.

The locking and the latching both describe fixation principles, wherein a locking (German: Gesperre), once engaged, may not be released by a force (without destruction of the elements forming the locking), whereas a latching (German: Gehemme), once engaged may be released by a force that overcomes a latching force, a latching friction or the like. Both, locking and latching, may be based on a positive fit between at least two elements.

The latching may require a tool to be released. The locking may, however, also be released if locking elements are dislocated from the counter locking elements. This dislocating movement may require a tool as well.

The electrical element may thus be in an unassembled state, in which the plate member is not yet received within the plate insertion section, and neither the locking nor the latching are engaged. The electrical element may be in a pre-assembly state if the plate member is received in the plate insertion section and the locking is engaged. Finally, if the plate member is received in the plate insertion section and the locking and latching are engaged, the electrical element may be in an assembled state.

The locking element, the counter locking element, the latching element and the counter latching element may be provided twice, thrice or more than three times, wherein preferably each of the locking elements has a corresponding counter locking element and, accordingly, each latching element has a counter latching element. Within this disclosure, mentioning features or functions of only one of the above elements does not exclude the presence of one or more elements having the same features or functions. Similarly, if the plural form of elements is applied, the features and/or functions described within the context of an embodiment of the electrical element comprising two locking or latching elements does not exclude another embodiment of the inventive electrical element comprising one single locking or latching element, one single counter locking or counter latching element having the same features and/or functions.

The electrical element may have a cuboid shape, wherein the plate insertion section may be provided close to a first surface of the cuboid. In the pre-assembly state and the assembled state, arms of the second housing part may at least partially surround the first housing part. The arms of the second housing part may be provided at or close to a respective further surface of the cuboid, the first surface may be oriented perpendicular to the further surface. The locking elements and/or the counter locking elements and/or the latching elements and/or the counter latching element may be provided pairwise at opposing sides of the first or second housing part.

The electrical element may be improved in that the plate insertion section comprises at least one slot for guiding the plate member. A slot has the advantage of easily guiding a plate member.

The slot may be formed or defined by guiding recesses or guiding protrusions that extend along the insertion direction, e.g. a slotted hole or a guidance formed by an elongated extended structure. The slot and side edges of the plate member may engage in a form fit that may prevent a movement of the plate member relative to the slot in any direction perpendicular to the insertion direction, wherein a residual degree of freedom of moving the plate member in or against the insertion direction into or out of the slot may remain.

Also, the plate member may comprise a slot, such that a guidance similar to a dovetail guidance is formed.

The at least one slot may comprise guiding members that are arranged sectionwise that are spaced apart from each other along the insertion direction. The guiding members may extend or may be formed by one side surface of the first housing part along a direction perpendicular to the insertion direction and may be bent towards an opposite surface, such that a projection overhang may limit the slot. Along the insertion direction, the guiding members may be provided only on one side or preferably pairwise on opposing sides of the first housing part. Along the insertion direction, at least two guiding members may be provided per side.

A further embodiment of the inventive electrical element may be improved in that the plate insertion section comprises a stop limiting the insertion of the plate member along the insertion direction and defining the mounting position. The mounting position is thus easily arrived at when the plate member is received in the insertion section. The stop may comprise a pocket into which the plate member is at least partially inserted in the mounting position. Such a pocket may have two functions, namely to stop further insertion of the plate member into the plate insertion section and to prevent the plate member from being removed from the plate receiving section in a direction perpendicular to the inserting direction, and thus further securing the positioning of the plate member within the plate insertion section.

The plate member being in the mounting position may thus have an outer surface accessible from outside the electrical element and an inner surface facing away from the outside and not accessible therefrom. In addition or alternatively to the pocket, the electrical element may comprise an internal spring pressing against the inner surface of the plate member, which in turn presses against guiding members of the slot. Such an internal spring may further increase the stability and vibration resistance of the plate member received and fixed in between the first and second housing part.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the inventive electrical element, the latching element comprises a spring member. The spring member may be deflectable along a direction perpendicular to the insertion direction. The spring member may comprise a rest state, also referred to as stable state, and a latched state, also referred to as metastable state. The rest state represents the initial state of the spring member without interaction with further elements or parts of the plate member or to first housing part. The latched state may only be maintained upon interaction with a further element of the plate member or the first housing part. In another embodiment, the spring member may be a bistable spring member.

The spring member may be in the rest state in the unassembled state of the electrical element and in the pre-assembly state of the electrical element. In the assembled state of the electrical element, the spring member may be in a latched state.

That is, the spring member is in a latched state if the plate member is in the mounting position and the latching is engaged. The latched state of the spring member may be reached in particular only if the plate member is in the mounting position.

In this latched state, the spring member may be deflected with respect to a rest state of the spring member. Changing the state of the spring member is thus performed by a deflection, in particular by a tilting movement of arms of the second housing part that comprise the spring member. The spring member may thus be formed by a surface of the second housing part that may connect the latching elements to a body of the second housing part.

In a further embodiment of the inventive electrical element, the counter latching element may be formed by a counter latching surface, wherein, when the latching is engaged, the at least one latching element of the second housing part presses against the counter latching surface, thereby pressing the plate member in the mounting position. Thereby, fixing the plate member in the mounting position is assured.

The counter latching surface of the plate member may be a shoulder being oriented essentially perpendicular to the insertion direction. The counter latching surface may further comprise a slope or inclination in the insertion direction, i.e. that at least sectionwise, portions of the counter latching surface may be located closer to a center of the plate member, said portions also being located further in the insertion direction.

The electrical element may be further improved by the counter latching surface comprising a curvature in or opposite to the insertion direction. The curvature of the counter latching surface may be convex and a curvature of the latching member of the second housing part may be concave. In another embodiment of the electrical element, those curvatures may be inverse. Further, the shape of the surface may correspond to a 'V', a 'U', or may simply comprise a slope having a shape similar to a saw tooth. It is also conceivable that the counter latching surface has the shape of a 'U' or 'V' and the latching elements of the second housing part having a convex curvature.

The latching member and the counter latching member may provide an acoustical and/or haptic feedback when the latching is engaged. Engaging the latching may generate an acoustic feedback in the form of a clack sound similar to the one produced by a crack-frog. The engagement may further generate a shockwave that may be sensed as haptic feedback of the engagement of the latching.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the inventive electrical element, the latching elements are resiliently connected to a body of the second housing member by a push force member adapted to hold the latching elements resiliently along the insertion direction. In order to engage the latching, it may be necessary that an initial barrier provided by the counter latching surface is overcome. The initial barrier may result in an initial deflection force necessary to deflect the latching elements in a direction opposite the insertion direction by compressing the push force member in the same direction. The deflection of the latching member of the second housing part allows moving the latching member past an edge of the counter latching surface, wherein the push force member is at least partially released after passing said edge.

The push force member may be provided by an elastic portion of a sidewall of the second housing part, said elastic portion connecting the body of the second housing part with the latching elements. The push force member may have a ring-shaped or S-shaped structure or web.

Further different shapes of the push force member are conceivable, for instance and not limiting an anti-S-form, a V-shape, a z-shape, an L-shape or simply a bending bar. The push force member may be a flexible or elastic element with a structure similar to a meander structure.

The spring member may comprise an intermediate state between the rest state and the latched state, in which the push force member exerts an intermediate push force onto the plate member in the insertion direction. During switching from the rest state to the latched state of the spring member, an initial force has to be overcome to engage the latching. Prior to reaching the latched state, when the latching is engaged, the spring member is in the intermediate state. The intermediate state being non-stable, i.e. the latching elements automatically move further towards the latched state.

It is particularly advantageous for an embodiment of the electrical element if the push force member exerts a permanent push force onto the plate member in the insertion direction in the latched state of the spring member. The permanent push force is preferably smaller than the intermediate push force. This permanent push force may guarantee a clearance-free lifetime fixation without the need for other fixation methods, such as e.g. gluing.

In the electrical element, if the at least one latching element is engaged with the corresponding counter latching element, the at least one locking element is pressed against the corresponding counter locking element. Accordingly, two (three, four, N) locking elements may engage with two (three, four, N) corresponding counter locking elements. Additionally, any number of latching elements and the corresponding number of counter latching elements may be provided, which may be pressed against each other with the latching engage. The at least one latching element engaging the corresponding counter latching element may engage in a press-fit.

In another advantageous embodiment of the inventive electrical element, the first housing part comprises two plate insertion sections. Additionally or alternatively, at least one or both plate insertion sections may comprise a slot each. Each slot may be provided on opposing sides of the first housing part. Accordingly, two individual plate members may be received, one plate member in each of the plate insertion sections. Additionally or alternatively, the plate member may be a bent plate member. Such a bent plate member may have two ends. At least one plate member, or two plate members or the two ends of the bent plate member may be embodied as an elongated printed circuit board, briefly: PCB, or as a printed circuit board assembly, briefly: PCBA. The PCB or PCBA may comprise two ends or end sections. Advantageously, each of the plate insertion sections may be adapted to guide an insertion of one individual plate member or one end of the bent plate member into the first housing part, and wherein each individual plate member or each end of the bent plate member may comprise at least one counter latching element adapted to engage a corresponding latching element of the second housing part.

The two ends may be connected by an intermediate section. The two ends may also be electrically connected to each other. The intermediate section may comprise curved sections with a lower thickness than the ends. These curved sections may provide a flexibility and a spring-like behavior. If the electrical element is assembled, the ends of the PCB may be fixed and the intermediate section may be pressed in an assembly direction, thereby exerting a force onto the curved sections, that act as pre-tensioned springs, thereby holding the PCB in place in the electrical element. The electrical element may be applied as an eBrake sensor providing detection means. Some embodiments of this electrical element may comprise at least one Hall sensor, preferably provided on one end of the PCB, and may further additionally or alternatively comprise contact pads for contacting the sensor on the opposite end of the PCB. The above features may be individually provided with any previously described embodiment of the inventive electric connector.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the inventive electrical element, the second housing part may comprise at least one pair, preferably at least two pairs of opposing latching elements. In another embodiment, at least two latching elements may be provided on one side of the second housing part being connected to each other by a synchronization member that is adapted to be deflected in a direction perpendicular to the insertion direction, thereby moving the latching elements provided on one side of the second housing part from the stable position to the second position.

The electrical element may comprise an S-shaped push force member. Said member may generate the permanent push force. In particular, the first housing part may have four locking members. Accordingly, the second housing part may have four counter locking elements.

In one embodiment, each end of the PCB may have two counter latching elements. Thus, four of such sections/members may be provided. Accordingly, the second housing part may have four latching members that may be connected by a bar.

In particular, locking elements and latching elements may be provided on opposite sides of the first and/or second housing part.

The first housing part and the second housing part may be connected to each other by approaching both housing parts towards each other along the insertion direction.

Alternatively, if a hinge is present, engagement of the first and second housing part may occur in a tilting movement.

In one alternative embodiment, the second housing part may be engaged with the first housing part from top to bottom. Here, alternative latching elements have to be provided, respectively the previously described latching elements (e.g. locking beaks) have to be reconfigured. The latching elements provided at the second housing part need to be adapted to this alternative movement, e.g. by a chamfer. This embodiment does not give an acoustic or haptic feedback as the curved bar is directly slided along the curved section of the plate member.

As outlined above, the electrical element may comprise one or more plate insertion sections, one or more locking elements, counter locking elements, latching elements or counter latching elements as well as one or more plate members.

In the following, the invention will be described using exemplary embodiments, which are shown in the accompanying figures.

The embodiments that will be shown merely represent exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

All technical features having the same technical effect will be denoted with the same reference numeral. A repetitive description of already described technical features will be omitted. The described embodiments are to be understood as not limiting the scope of protection, which is defined by the claims.

In <FIG> an electrical element <NUM> is shown in an exploded view <NUM>. The electrical element <NUM> comprises a first housing part <NUM>, a plate member <NUM> and a second housing part <NUM>.

The first housing part <NUM> may have a cuboid or cubic shape but is not limited to those shapes and may comprise a rounded or curved outside shape.

The first housing part <NUM> comprises a plate insertion section <NUM>, which comprises, respectively is formed by a slot <NUM> in the embodiment shown in the figures. The slot <NUM> having a slot width 13a corresponding or being at maximum <NUM>% larger than a thickness <NUM> of the plate member <NUM>. The plate member <NUM> is adapted to provide electrical components as for instance a printed circuit, a printed circuit assembly, connector elements, sensors or the like. In <FIG> an electrical component <NUM> is schematically shown and is to be understood as being representative for possible further connector elements not limited by the list given above.

The plate insertion section <NUM> is adapted to guide an insertion of the plate member <NUM> along an insertion direction <NUM> into a mounting position <NUM> that is shown in <FIG>.

The plate member <NUM> has a longitudinal shape with a front side 7a and a rear side 7b, wherein the plate member <NUM> is inserted into the plate insertion section with the front side 7a. In different embodiments of the inventive electrical element <NUM>, a Poka-yoke feature (inadvertent error prevention feature, not shown in the figures) may be provided, e.g. in the form of a cross-section of the slot <NUM> not showing rotational symmetry.

The second housing part <NUM> comprises a body <NUM> and two arms <NUM> extending from the body <NUM>. In the body <NUM>, two locking elements <NUM> are provided. In different embodiments of the inventive electrical element <NUM>, only one locking element <NUM> may be provided. The two locking elements <NUM> are embodied as locking recesses 27a and one of them is hidden by the body <NUM>.

The second housing part <NUM> has a U-shape, the basis of the U being formed by the body <NUM>.

The locking elements <NUM> of the second housing part <NUM> form a locking (see <FIG>) with a corresponding counter locking element <NUM> of the first housing part. In the embodiment shown, the counter locking element <NUM> is embodied as a locking beak 29a.

The second housing part <NUM> further comprises two latching elements <NUM> that are provided at the arms <NUM>. In different embodiments of the electrical element <NUM>, the latching elements <NUM> may be provided at different positions and connected to the body <NUM> via different members. In another embodiment, only one latching element <NUM> may be provided. The latching elements <NUM> of the embodiment shown are connected and/or held to/at the body <NUM> by a push force member <NUM>. The push force member <NUM> is compressible by deforming to ring sections 33a of the push force member <NUM>, as shown in the sketch <NUM> below the second housing part <NUM>.

The latching elements <NUM> of the second housing part <NUM> are adapted to engage corresponding counter latching elements <NUM> of the plate member <NUM> to engage a latching (not shown, see <FIG>). In the embodiment shown, the counter latching elements <NUM> of the plate member <NUM> are embodied as counter latching surfaces <NUM>.

In <FIG>, the electrical element <NUM> is shown in a pre-assembled state <NUM>, in which the plate member <NUM> is inserted into the plate insertion section <NUM> along the insertion direction <NUM> until the mounting position <NUM> is reached. The mounting position <NUM> is defined by a stop <NUM> that limits the insertion of the plate member <NUM> along the insertion direction <NUM>. In the embodiment shown, the stop <NUM> is provided by a front wall <NUM> of the first housing part <NUM>.

In a next step during the assembly of the inventive electrical element <NUM>, the second housing part <NUM> is moved along the insertion direction <NUM>, such that the locking elements <NUM> of the second housing part <NUM> engage the counter locking elements <NUM> of the first housing part <NUM>. This locking is performed such that the body <NUM>, in particular the arms <NUM> of the second housing part <NUM> abut the locking beak 29a and are deflected outwards, such that an inner surface of the body <NUM> slides along the locking beak 29a, until the locking beak 29a reaches the locking recess 27a. Here, the deflected arms <NUM> return to their initial position shown in <FIG>.

The insertion direction <NUM> may correspond to an assembly direction <NUM>, along which the second housing part <NUM> is assembled to the first housing part <NUM>.

In different embodiments of the inventive electrical element <NUM>, the assembly direction <NUM> may be oriented perpendicular to the insertion direction <NUM>. Possible further assembly directions <NUM> are a second possible assembly direction 20a and a third possible assembly direction 20b. Further assembly directions <NUM> are not excluded.

In case the second housing part <NUM> is latched to the first housing part <NUM> along the second 20a or third possible assembly direction 20b, the locking beaks 29a shown in <FIG> may comprise a modified slope or chamfer that may at least partially face against the chosen further assembly direction 20a or 20b. Those modified locking beaks 29a are not shown in the figures.

In <FIG> the electrical element <NUM> is shown in an assembled state <NUM>, in which the locking elements <NUM> form a locking <NUM> with the corresponding counter locking elements <NUM> of the first housing part <NUM> and, additionally, the latching elements <NUM> of the second housing part <NUM> engage a latching <NUM> with the counter latching elements <NUM> of the plate member <NUM>. Is to be noted that the latching <NUM> is only possible if the plate member <NUM> is in the mounting position <NUM>.

In the following <FIG> another embodiment of the inventive electrical element <NUM> is described.

<FIG> shows the electrical element <NUM> without the second housing part <NUM>.

In this embodiment, the plate insertion section <NUM> is formed by sectionwise arranged guiding members <NUM>, which are spaced apart from each other along the insertion direction <NUM>.

Further, the stop <NUM> additionally comprises two pockets <NUM> (in other embodiments, only one pocket <NUM> may be provided), in which a front side 7a of the plate member may be at least partially received.

The guiding members <NUM> extend from a side wall <NUM> of the first housing part <NUM> and form an overhang structure <NUM>, a free space <NUM> between opposing overhang structures <NUM> is smaller than a plate width <NUM>. The overhangs structures <NUM> will hold the plate member <NUM> in the plate insertion section <NUM> and prevent it from being moved out of the plate insertion section <NUM> in a z-direction.

Further, in the embodiment shown, a second plate insertion section <NUM> is provided in a lower part of the first housing part <NUM>. This second plate insertion section <NUM> is formed similarly as the upper plate insertion section <NUM>, i.e. also with guiding members <NUM>. The two plate insertion sections <NUM> may be embodied identical or different, i.e. for instance also being formed by a slot <NUM> as shown in <FIG> of the first embodiment of the inventive electrical element <NUM>.

The plate member <NUM> shown in this embodiment has a U-shape and comprises two ends <NUM>, a first end 65a and a second end 65b, which distinguish from each other by their front side 7a that is different to prevent incorrect mounting of the plate member <NUM> into the first housing part <NUM>. Both ends 65a and 65b are connected to each other by an intermediate section <NUM> that may connect both ends <NUM> mechanically and/or electrically with each other. The plate member <NUM> shown may be pre-bent. The intermediate section <NUM> comprises two curved sections 66a in the embodiment shown. These curved sections 66a have a low relaxation and due to a thickness (not shown) smaller than the thickness of the ends 65a and 65b, provide a spring behavior that will be described with reference to <FIG>.

In <FIG>, the plate member <NUM>, more precisely the two ends <NUM> of the plate member <NUM>, are each received within the corresponding plate insertion section of the first housing part <NUM>. As can be seen, the overhangs structures <NUM> prevent the ends <NUM> from being moved out of the corresponding plate insertion sections <NUM> along, respectively opposite to the z-direction.

The only remaining degree of freedom for moving the plate member <NUM> is opposite to the insertion direction <NUM>.

Finally, <FIG> shows the inventive electrical element <NUM> in the assembled state <NUM>. In the assembled state <NUM>, the plate member <NUM> is in the mounting position <NUM> and partially received in pockets <NUM> of the stops <NUM>. The locking <NUM> between locking elements <NUM> of the second housing part <NUM> and counter locking elements <NUM> of the first housing part <NUM> is engaged, in the embodiment shown, each side provides two engaged locking <NUM>. Further, also the latching <NUM> is engaged between latching elements <NUM> of the second housing part <NUM> and counter latching elements <NUM> of the plate member <NUM>. For each end <NUM> of the plate member <NUM> latching <NUM> is engaged between two latching elements <NUM> and two counter latching elements <NUM>. Latching <NUM> will be described in more detail in the next figure.

In the assembled state <NUM>, the ends <NUM> of the plate member <NUM> are fixed and the intermediate section <NUM> (not visible) is pressed in the assembly direction <NUM> by means of the second housing part <NUM>. The curved sections 66a (see <FIG>) act as a compressed spring 66b because of a deformation 66c thereof. The deformation 66c is schematically shown in a second circle 80a in comparison with an undeformed state 66d of the curved section 66a shown in a first circle <NUM>. because of the curved sections 66a acting as compressed spring 66b, the plate member <NUM> is additionally fixed between the first housing part <NUM> and the second housing part <NUM>.

With reference to <FIG> it is noted that the push force member <NUM> of the second embodiment of the inventive electrical element <NUM> is formed by an S-shaped spring member <NUM>. In the embodiment shown, four push force members <NUM> are provided, wherein in other embodiments a different number of push force members <NUM> is conceivable, e.g. one, two, three, five or more. It is preferable that push force members <NUM> are provided pairwise for achieving symmetric latching.

<FIG> illustrates a working principle of the latching <NUM> and shows the latching element <NUM> of the second housing part <NUM> and the counter latching element <NUM> of the plate member <NUM> in more detail. <FIG> shows said details in top view.

As can be seen, the latching element <NUM> has a convex surface <NUM> and the counter latching element <NUM>, being a counter latching surface <NUM>, has a concave surface <NUM>.

The second housing part <NUM> comprises a spring member <NUM> that connects the latching element <NUM> with the body <NUM> (not shown here) of the second housing part <NUM>. In the left panel a), the spring member <NUM> is in a rest state <NUM> and the plate member <NUM> is in the mounting position <NUM>.

The spring member <NUM> may be a bistable spring member 73a.

The latching <NUM> may be engaged by exerting a latch force <NUM> in an x-direction. It is noted that the latch force <NUM> for engaging the latching <NUM> of the opposing latching element <NUM> with the opposing counter latching element <NUM> is directed opposite the x-direction shown here. Because of the latch force <NUM>, the convex surface <NUM> of the latching element <NUM> abuts a comer <NUM> of the counter latching element <NUM>, which, due to a curvature <NUM>, exerts a compression force <NUM> in a y-direction onto the spring member <NUM>. This compression force <NUM> deforms the push force member <NUM> as shown in sketch <NUM> in <FIG>.

The corner <NUM> may be a touch point of looking <NUM>. From this touch point of looking <NUM> the concave surface <NUM> spans and angle <NUM> larger or equal <NUM>°.

The compression force <NUM> is the largest when an apex <NUM> of the convex surface <NUM> surpasses the corner <NUM>. Upon further moving, e.g. deflecting the spring member <NUM> in x-direction, the necessary latch force <NUM> as well as the generated compression force <NUM> decrease.

Finally, as shown in panel c), the convex surface <NUM> of the latching element <NUM> and the concave surface <NUM> of the counter latching element <NUM> engage latching <NUM>, which may in particular be based on positive locking <NUM> and more particular represent a press-fit <NUM>.

In panel b), the spring member <NUM> is in an intermediate state <NUM> and in panel c), the spring member <NUM> is in a latched state <NUM>.

If latching <NUM> is engaged, i.e. the spring member <NUM> is moved from the intermediate state <NUM> of panel b) to the latched state <NUM> of panel c), an acoustic and/or haptic feedback is generated that indicates correct latching <NUM>.

By a remaining latch force <NUM>, the spring member <NUM> holds the plate member <NUM> in the mounting position <NUM>, the plate members at the stop <NUM> against the first housing part, wherein the residual latch force <NUM> is also, at least partially, exerted from the locking element <NUM> of the second housing part onto the counter locking element <NUM> of the first housing part. Thus, locking <NUM> as well as a latching <NUM> is secured by a permanent push force <NUM> being equal to the latch force <NUM> of panel c).

In <FIG>, another embodiment of the inventive electrical element <NUM> is shown. This embodiment differs from the previously shown embodiments in the shape of the first housing part <NUM>, the plate member <NUM> and the second housing part <NUM>. The plate member <NUM> does for instance provide ends <NUM> of different lengths. The other features like the arms <NUM> and their behavior with respect to deflection, flexibility and the like are similar to a corresponding features of the previous embodiments.

Also in this embodiment, guiding members <NUM> are provided that at least partially form the slots <NUM>. in this embodiment, also the front wall <NUM> of the first housing part <NUM> comprises an overhang structure <NUM>. Each slot <NUM> comprises, in addition to the guiding members <NUM>, a roof member <NUM> that forms or limits the slot <NUM>. In the embodiment shown in <FIG>, the locking element <NUM> of the second housing part <NUM> is formed as a locking beak 29a and the counter locking element <NUM> of the first housing part <NUM> is formed as a locking recess 27a, wherein locking and counter locking elements <NUM>, <NUM> are arranged in a plane (not shown) perpendicular to the arrangement of the latching element and the counter latching element <NUM> and <NUM>.

Because of the roof members <NUM> and two connecting features <NUM> that connect the roof members <NUM>, the arms <NUM> of the second housing part and <NUM> may not deflect the way from the plate member <NUM> any longer if the second housing part is moved in the assembly direction <NUM> so far that the latching elements past the connecting features <NUM>. The latching <NUM> thus is guided and no bistable locking movement of the arms <NUM> is necessary in this embodiment. Latching <NUM> and the block a movement of the arms <NUM> is shown in two third circles 80b in <FIG>.

The roof members <NUM> therefore have two functions, namely to provide a guiding for the latching elements <NUM> and to provide the counter locking elements <NUM>.

In <FIG>, the plate member <NUM> is in the mounting position <NUM>, i.e. received within the slots <NUM> of the first housing part <NUM>. The plate member <NUM> is secured by the roof member <NUM>, the guiding members <NUM> and the overhang feature <NUM> of the front wall <NUM>. The only remaining degree of freedom along which the plate member <NUM> may be moved is in or opposite to the insertion direction <NUM>.

The second housing part <NUM> will subsequently be assembled to the first housing part <NUM> along the assembly direction <NUM> that corresponds to the insertion direction <NUM>. It is noted that this embodiment does not allow assembly along the second 20a or the third possible assembly direction 20b indicated in <FIG>.

In <FIG>, the electrical element <NUM> this in the assembled state <NUM>. The locking <NUM> between the locking elements <NUM> of the second housing part <NUM> and the counter locking elements <NUM> of the first housing part <NUM> is engaged. Similarly, the latching <NUM> is engaged as well. The latching elements <NUM> and the counter latching elements <NUM> are not visible in <FIG>.

In order to engage the locking <NUM>, the roof members <NUM> may be resiliently deflectable away from the second housing part <NUM> upon approaching of a bar section <NUM> of the roof member <NUM> towards the locking beaks 29a.

<FIG> shows yet another embodiment of the inventive electrical element <NUM>, wherein the first housing part <NUM> is monolithically connected to the second housing part <NUM> by means of a hinge <NUM>, in particular a film hinge <NUM>. The second housing part <NUM> is thus may be understood as a functional element <NUM> of the first housing part <NUM>. The functional element <NUM> is composed of a first functional portion <NUM> and a second functional portion <NUM>, wherein the first functional portion <NUM> comprises a locking recess 27a and the second functional portion <NUM> comprises a locking beak 29a.

In the embodiment shown, each of the functional elements <NUM> comprise two latching elements <NUM>. Further, <FIG> does not show a plate member <NUM> for the sake of visibility. The embodiment of the inventive electrical element <NUM> of <FIG> may receive a plate member as shown in <FIG>. During assembly of the electrical element <NUM> the functional portions <NUM>, <NUM> are moved towards each other along a tilting direction <NUM>. The tilting direction <NUM> is different for the two functional portions <NUM>, <NUM>. The process of receiving a plate member <NUM> (not shown) into the first housing part <NUM> of the embodiment shown in <FIG> is similar to the process of receiving the plate member <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG>.

Claim 1:
Electrical element (<NUM>), comprising
- a first housing part (<NUM>);
- a plate member (<NUM>); and
- a second housing part (<NUM>),
wherein the first housing part (<NUM>) comprises a plate insertion section (<NUM>), the plate insertion section (<NUM>) being adapted to guide an insertion of the plate member (<NUM>) along an insertion direction (<NUM>) into a mounting position (<NUM>) of the plate member (<NUM>) at the first housing part (<NUM>),
wherein the second housing part (<NUM>) comprises at least one locking element (<NUM>) that forms a locking (<NUM>) with a corresponding counter locking element (<NUM>) of the first housing part (<NUM>), and
characterised by
the second housing part (<NUM>) further comprises at least one latching element (<NUM>) adapted to engage a corresponding counter latching element (<NUM>) of the plate member (<NUM>), the at least one latching element (<NUM>) and the corresponding counter latching element, in an engaged state, form a latching (<NUM>).