Robert Bosch

Uwe Steinhauser

Stefan Fenger

Peter Zweigle

Waldemar Ernst

Willy Bentz

An electric plug-and-socket device having a fixation device and having a closed position of the plug-and-socket device that is discernable readily from the outside and is securable. The plug-and-socket device, which is composed of a first plug connector and a second plug connector which can be joined to it, is provided with a control slide mounted on the first plug connector as part of the fixation device. This control slide is convertable from an unlocked position in which it assumes a first position with respect to a mark to a locked position in which it assumes a second position with respect to the mark only when the two plug connectors have been joined completely. The closed position of the plug-and-socket device is discernable readily by the second position of the control slide with respect to the mark and is additionally securable by the control slide.

Electrical plug-and-socket device comprising a fixing unit

A plug connection having a first connector, which can be sealingly coupled to a second connector, is designed such that contact elements of the first connector are secured axially and the unit volume of the plug connection is small. The first connector has contact elements , which, in an end area that is facing the second connector, support locking bodies, which can be overlapped axially in a form-locking manner by a locking element that is movably supported on the first connector. A seal that generates the seal between the two connectors is mounted in the locking element axially downstream and therefore in the spatial vicinity of the end area, as a result of which a pot-shaped plug-in receptacle of the second connector that overlaps the seal is of small axial dimensions. The locking element, if not correctly inserted may block mating of the first and second connectors. This plug connection may advantageously be used in motor vehicles in cramped installation circumstances.

Electrical plug-in connection

A four-pole electric connector is designed so that the contact elements can be easily locked to their axial fastening. The connector has a slide for coupling with a mating connector, which slide can be inserted in receptacles of a contact carrier of the connector transversally to the direction of insertion of contact elements and moved longitudinally. The slide contains a seat for a locking element, which is provided for axially securing the contact elements. The locking element is brought together and joined with the contact elements through an insertion motion of the slide until a closing position is reached, where the locking element engages with the contact carrier. When the slide is moved in the opposite direction to an open position, the locking element is removed from the seat in a similar manner, while it remains on the contact carrier and the contact elements.

Four-pole electric connector

A multi-plug electrical connector includes an interlocking element. The connector is coupled to a mating connector, such that the interlocking forces of the interlocking element are independent of the unlocking forces of the interlocking element when the connector is released from the mating connector. For this purpose, the interlocking element is actuated to interlock and, to release the interlocking arrangement in directions that differ from one another. Flexural regions and walls, as well as webs of the interlocking element are resiliently deformed. The connector is preferably used in automobile manufacturing under conditions of high stress due to shaking.

Multi-plug electrical connector

An electrical plug connector for electrically connecting and mechanically interlocking with a mating connector, including a connector housing having an outer support member. The outer support member is positioned substantially in the middle of the connector housing. The plug connector also includes a snap-on surface and a snap-fit device which is pre-molded to the connector housing. The snap-fit device includes a U-shaped bending bar which has a first limb and a second limb. The first limb is secured to the outer support member with a first connecting end and the second limb includes an unattached end and an orifice. The orifice is positioned substantially at the unattached end for engaging with a snap-on surface of the mating connector when the electrical plug connector is inserted into an opening of the mating connector. The plug connector is intended for use in electronic control instruments in motor vehicles.

Electrical plug connector

The locking lever of a detachable electrical plug connection can be produced cost-effectively and makes it possible to lock the plug connection securely. The locking lever is manufactured completely from a sheet-metal part, first guide elements, by means of which the locking lever is mounted on a plug housing such that it can rotate, being produced on the one hand, and second guide elements, by means of which the locking lever engages in guide tracks of a plug receptacle, being produced, for example via a deep-drawing or thermoforming process on the other hand. For functionally secure guidance of the locking lever, the first guide elements preferably have stamped projections as an axial withdrawal protection device, which secure the position of the locking lever even when forces are applied in this position which are directed transversely with respect to the pivoting direction. The locking lever is preferably used in the case of multipole elongated electrical plug connections.

Detachable plug connection

Securing mechanisms are employed in known plug connections, which have components designed in a complicated way, the manufacture and assembly of which entails high cost and which result in bulky plug connectors. The plug connection in accordance with the invention is designed in such a way that a securing ring (18) formed in one piece on a second part (11) has stop shoulders (29) which, for securing the plug connection, grip, stationary detents (46) of a first part (41). The securing ring (18) has the shape of a convexly closed polygon (24), the corner points (26) of which have a reduced wall thickness in comparison with the polygon lines (27). The polygon lines (27) can be kinked at the corner points (26) by means of squeezing pressure forces acting on the securing ring (18), which allows the disconnection of the securing of the plug connection. This results in a plug connection of low mass which can be manufactured in a cost-effective manner. This plug connection is preferably employed in motor vehicles which are subject to oscillation increases during operation.

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Filderstadt, Germany

Uwe Steinhauser