Patent ID: 7448918

Claim:
Plug-in connector with a connector housing ( 12 ) having at least one rearwardly open contact cavity ( 30 , 40 , 50 , 60 , 70 , 80 ) which comprises at least one contact element receiving means ( 31 , 51 , 71 a , 71 b ) for receiving a contact element ( 11 a , 11 b , 11 c ), and at least one guide groove ( 32 a , 32 b , 42 a , 42 b , 52 a , 52 b , 52 c , 52 d , 62 a , 62 b , 62 c , 62 d , 72 a , 72 b , 72 c , 72 d , 82 a , 82 b , 82 c , 82 d ) for guiding a contact element locking means ( 21 a , 21 b , 21 c ) provided on the contact element ( 11 a , 11 b , 11 c ), wherein a first guide groove ( 32 a , 42 a , 52 a , 62 a , 72 a , 82 a ) is arranged on one side of the contact element receiving means ( 31 , 51 , 71 a , 71 b ), which is provided on its forward end with a first abutment ( 34 a , 44 a , 54 a , 64 a , 74 a , 84 a ) for a forward contact shoulder ( 22 a , 22 b , 22 c ) of the contact element locking means ( 21 a , 21 b , 21 c ), and a further guide groove ( 32 b , 42 b , 52 b , 52 c , 52 d , 62 b , 62 c , 62 d , 72 b , 72 c , 72 d , 82 b , 82 c , 82 d ) is provided on at least one further side of the contact element receiving means ( 31 , 51 , 71 a , 71 b ), which groove is likewise provided on its forward end with a further abutment ( 34 b , 44 b , 54 b , 54 c , 54 d , 64 b , 64 c , 64 d , 74 b , 74 c , 74 d , 84 b , 84 c , 84 d ) for the forward contact shoulder ( 22 a , 22 b , 22 c ), for alternative assembly of the contact element ( 11 a , 11 b , 11 c ) in a position rotated by 90 degrees/180 degrees, wherein the strength of the first abutment ( 34 a , 44 a , 54 a , 64 a , 74 a , 84 a ) is defined so that when the contact element ( 11 a , 11 b , 11 c ) is being pulled off a forward contact shoulder ( 22 a , 22 b , 22 c ) of the contact element locking means ( 21 a , 21 b , 21 c ) will bend or break the first abutment ( 34 a , 44 a , 54 a , 64 a , 74 a , 84 a ), wherein the contact element locking means ( 21 a , 21 b , 21 c ) has a rear beveled portion ( 23 a , 23 b , 23 c ) and wherein the strength of at least one further abutment ( 34 b , 44 b , 54 b , 54 c , 54 d , 64 b , 64 c , 64 d , 74 b , 74 c , 74 d , 84 b , 84 c , 84 d ) and the rear beveled portion ( 23 a , 23 b , 23 c ) are adjusted one to the other so that when fitting the contact element ( 11 a , 11 b , 11 c ) from the front ( 15 ) of the plug-in connector ( 10 ) the rear beveled portion ( 23 a , 23 b , 23 c ) will bend the further abutment ( 34 b , 44 b , 54 b , 54 c , 54 d , 64 b , 64 c , 64 d , 74 b , 74 c , 74 d , 84 b , 84 c , 84 d ).