Patent ID: 12224519

First of all, it is to be noted that in the different embodiments described, equal parts are provided with equal reference numbers and/or equal component designations, where the disclosures contained in the entire description may be analogously transferred to equal parts with equal reference numbers and/or equal component designations. Moreover, the specifications of location, such as at the top, at the bottom, at the side, chosen in the description refer to the directly described and depicted figure and in case of a change of position, these specifications of location are to be analogously transferred to the new position.

FIG.1shows by way of example a first embodiment of a built-in plug connector according to the invention in the form of a chassis socket for a data plug, in particular an RJ45 data plug, in a perspective view. Of course, the structure according to the invention can also be transferred to other types of built-in plug connector, which is explained by way of example with the further exemplary embodiment ofFIGS.9and10, which show an XLR chassis socket.

In the following description, equal reference numbers and/or component designations are used for equal parts. In order to avoid unnecessary repetitions, it is pointed to/reference is made to detailed description already given.

The exemplary embodiments show possible embodiment variants, and it should be noted in this respect that the invention is not restricted to these particular illustrated embodiment variants of it, but that rather also various combinations of the individual embodiment variants are possible and that this possibility of variation owing to the technical teaching provided by the present invention lies within the ability of the person skilled in the art in this technical field. The electrical built-in plug connector ofFIG.1, shown in detail in an exploded view inFIG.3, comprises a housing1with an insertion opening2for a complementary plug connector (not shown). On the insertion-side end, on the front side of the housing1, a projecting connecting flange3is provided, which protrudes in a preferably orthogonal manner from the housing1and preferably over its entire circumference. The connecting flange3also has passage openings or partially open through holes4, through which fastening means5, typically fastening screws, rivets, or the like, for the built-in plug connector can be fed, in order to fasten it on a device wall G, a control panel, or similar elements (in this regard, seeFIG.6). The through holes4are preferably positioned in two corners of the connecting flange3, which is rectangular here, opposite one another with respect to a central axis of the insertion opening2. Of course, other silhouettes of the connecting flanges3are also possible, for example a circular outline, a polygonal chain, or the like. It is also possible for passage openings4to be present in all corners of the connecting flange3.

At other points of the connecting flange3, there are retaining bores6, which are bounded by rings7rising above the front side of the connecting flange3. Typically, two retaining bores6are positioned in two corners of the connecting flange3opposite one another with respect to a central axis of the insertion opening2. In these retaining bores6, complementary retaining elements of other components can be inserted. These retaining bores6are preferably provided in the center of rings7rising over the connecting flange3.

Finally, in or on the housing1, a locking arrangement8,9is also positioned, the at least one locking element9of which may also be unlocked by means of an actuating element8. This actuating element8protrudes beyond the insertion-side end of the housing1towards the front, so a user can reach it well.

In the assembled state of the built-in plug connector, a flange plate10on the insertion side is located opposite the front side of the connecting flange3of the housing1. This flange plate10has an insertion opening11for the complementary plug connector in a coaxial arrangement relative to the insertion opening2of the housing1. Moreover, mounting bores12are formed in the flange plate10, positioned coaxially to the through holes4in the connecting flange3and designed for feeding through fastening means5for the built-in plug connector for connecting to a device wall, a control panel, or the like. At that location at which the actuating element8is arranged, a recess13directed radially outwards extends from the insertion opening11, through which recess13the actuating element8can protrude towards the front side of the flange plate10.

The outer edge14of the flange plate10is bent up towards the housing1and overlaps—this can be seen better in the rear view of the built-in plug connector inFIG.2and in the cross-section ofFIG.4—the outer edge of the connecting flange3. On the rear side of the flange plate10, the mounting bores12preferably have socket-shaped extensions15in the direction towards the connecting flange3and preferably extend up to the contact with this connecting flange3.

At positions which correspond to the retaining bores6of the connecting flange3, the flange plate10has retaining pins16protruding towards the housing1. Their ends are designed for insertion and fixation in the retaining bores6of the connecting flange3. They may possibly also be inserted into the retaining bores6completely and until contacting the housing wall, control panel, or the like, and act as a spacer.

A preferably plate-shaped seal17for sealing against the device wall G, the control panel, or the like is inserted directly between the flange plate10and the connecting flange3of the housing1and held clamped between said components. This seal17has a central cutout30, which corresponds at least to the insertion opening2in size and which is arranged coaxially thereto. This central cutout30is bounded by a circumferential sealing lip18, which protrudes radially into the insertion opening2and seals the annular gab of the insertion opening2when the complementary plug connector is plugged in.

The edge19of the seal17is bent up towards the housing1in the region of the flange plate10and the connecting flange3and overlaps the outer circumferential edge of the connecting flange3with said bent-up edge strip19. On the other hand, the bent-up edge19of the seal17itself is overlapped by the bent-up outer edge14of the flange plate10. The relative thicknesses of the seal17and connecting flange as well as the height of the outer edge14are selected such that, in the assembled state, the circumferential edge14of the flange plate10extends at maximum to the height of the rear side of the connecting flange3of the housing1, and the edge19of the seal17protruding towards the housing1is higher than the rear surface of the connecting flange3over the entire circumference of said connecting flange3and is ultimately pressed against the wall of the device housing, the control panel, or the like and fulfills the sealing function when the built-in plug connector is installed.

At the location of the mounting bores12of the flange plate and/or the through holes4of the connecting flange3, passage openings20are formed in the seal17, as well.

As can be seen well inFIGS.6and7, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, the inner side of the bent-up edge14of the flange plate10is designed so as to be slanted outwardly. The seal17, as well, or rather its bent-up edge19, is also designed to be slanted outwardly, preferably so as to complement the slanting of the flange plate10. As shown inFIG.7, when tightening the fastening screw5during mounting of the built-in plug connector, the edge19of the seal17is pressed on the device wall G, the control panel, or the like, wherein the seal, however, is preferably completely covered and protected by the flange plate10. As an alternative thereto, a construction according toFIG.11could also be selected, in which, in the assembled state, the circumferential edge14of the flange plate10ends before the height of the rear side of the connecting flange3of the housing1, and a circumferential sealing edge31projecting outwards covers at least a part of the thickness of the edge14, which is bent up towards the housing1, of the flange plate10.

As is also clearly shown inFIGS.6to8, according to a preferred embodiment, the seal17has sealing grommets21integrally formed onto the seal17at the locations of the mounting bores12, which sealing grommets21protrude upwards towards the rear side of the flange plate10. These sealing grommets21extend, in the assembled state, inside the mounting bores12of the flange plate10, in particular also inside their socket-shaped extension15, wherein their outer diameter preferably corresponds to the inner diameter of the mounting bores12and/or the extension15. Here, the inner diameter is determined in that section, in which the shaft of the fastening means, that is preferably the threaded section of a fastening screw5, is accommodated in the mounting bore12.

In an unloaded state, the sealing grommets21end—as shown inFIG.6—slightly above the lower edge of the accommodating region for the head of the fastening screw5in the mounting bore12. After tightening the fastening screw5, the material of the sealing grommets21is squeezed between the fastening screw5, which is tightened until stop on the inner side of the mounting bore12of the flange plate10, and the flange plate10and thereby seals the region of the screw head.

The inner diameter of the sealing grommets21preferably is to be greater than the outer diameter of the fastening means, in particular the fastening screws5, wherein this outer diameter is the nominal diameter of the thread. At minimum, the inner diameter of the passage opening20of the sealing grommets21is to correspond, in the unloaded state, to the outer diameter of the fastening screws5, as shown inFIG.6. However, if the fastening screw5is tightened completely, the sealing grommet5is compressed, and the material of the sealing grommet21clings to the inner wall of the mounting bore12and enters between the threads of the fastening screw5, whereby the state shown inFIG.7comes about. In combination with the positive locking connection in the region of the screw head, this results an optimal sealing effect across the entire height of the sealing grommet21.

At the positions of the retaining bores6on the connecting flange3, the seal17preferably has domes22rising above its surface, which domes22, in the assembled state of the built-in plug connector, overlap the rings7in an abutting manner. For feeding through the retaining pins16of the flange plate10, the domes22have central openings23, the diameter of which is preferably slightly smaller than the diameter of the retaining bore6and/or of the section of the retaining pin16to be inserted into the retaining bore6.

As a further structure rising above the surface of the seal17, a ridge24or protuberance is present, which surrounds the sealing lip18for the insertion opening2and the central cutout30radially outside. In the assembled state of seal17and flange plate10, this ridge24is received in a corresponding groove25, which coaxially surrounds the insertion opening11.

In the region, in which, in the assembled state, the actuating element8protrudes through the flange plate10, the ridge24terminates in a dome26, which also rising above the surface of the seal17and, in its height, even further over the height of the ridge24. This dome26advantageously formed integrally with the seal17also protrudes beyond the front side of the flange plate10and allows the user to actuate the actuating element8and thus the release of the locking of the complementary plug connector plugged into the built-in plug connector, which plug connector is held in the insertion opening2of the housing1by the locking arrangement9until then.

In addition to the sealing of the insertion opening2by means of the sealing lip18of the seal17when the complementary plug connector is plugged in, a possibility for sealing in an unplugged state was also desired. For this purpose, at least one radially protruding connecting strip is integrally formed onto the seal17, projecting out from under the edge region14of the flange plate10bent towards the housing1. Preferably, — as shown in the figures—two such connecting strips27are integrally formed onto the seal17in an approximately parallel or slightly V-shaped arrangement. At the outer end of these connecting strips27, a sealing plug28is fastened, the outer diameter of which corresponds at maximum to the inner diameter of the insertion openings2,11and which preferably is slightly greater than the inner diameter of the sealing lip18of the seal17sealing the insertion opening2. Preferably, the sealing plug28has a pot-shaped design.

For easier handling of the sealing plug28, a full-surface gripping lug29protrudes on the side of the sealing plug28opposite the connecting strip27. Preferably, this gripping lug29also has an open pot-shaped design, wherein its opening is oriented in the same direction as the dome26sealing the actuating element8and is positioned in one line with this dome26and the central axis of the insertion opening2. When folding the connecting strips27for inserting the sealing plug28into the insertion opening2, this results that the dome26is simultaneously covered and protected by the pot-shaped gripping lug29.

FIG.11shows a cross-section through a further embodiment of a built-in plug connector, with a sealing edge chamfered in a stepped manner.

By pressing the built-in plug connector onto the housing wall, the control panel, or the like until the edge of the flange plate abuts on said wall, the edge of the seal that is higher than the connecting flange in the rear is pressed tightly onto the wall and is squeezed so as to fill the volume between the connecting flange and the edge of the flange plate. Here, the seal is located between the connecting flange and the flange plate so as to be protected against damage before, during, and after installation. The insertion opening is sealed by the circumferential sealing lip when the complementary plug is plugged in, while the sealing against the housing of the device or the control panel is ensured by the bent-up edge of the seal protected by the flange plate. The components flange plate, seal, and housing with connecting flange may be plugged together at the factory and may be used by the end user as a component that can be handled as one joint part.

The scope of protection is determined by the claims. Nevertheless, the description and drawings are to be used for construing the claims. Individual features or feature combinations from the different exemplary embodiments shown and described may represent independent inventive solutions. The object underlying the independent inventive solutions may be gathered from the description.

Finally, as a matter of form, it should be noted that for ease of understanding of the structure, elements are partially not depicted to scale and/or are enlarged and/or are reduced in size.

List of reference numbers1Housing2Insertion opening3Connecting flange4Through hole5Fastening screw6Retaining bore7Ring8Actuating element9Locking element10Flange plate11Insertion opening12Mounting bore13Recess14Bent-up edge15Socket-shaped extension16Retaining pin17Seal18Sealing lip19Bent-up edge20Passage opening21Sealing grommet22Dome23Central opening24Ridge25Groove26Dome27Connecting strip28Closing plug29Gripping lug30Central cutout31Sealing edge32333435363738394041424344454647484950515253545556575859606162636465GDevice wall