DE102023118401A1 - connecting element, connector housing system, connector and connector system - Google Patents

Abstract

A connecting element is intended to make the assembly and/or installation of plug connectors easier and/or more flexible for the customer. The connecting element (1, 1') is used for the detachable fastening of a plug insert (2, 2') in the plug connector housing (3, 3') and is designed to latch a plug insert (2, 2') inserted into the plug connector housing (3, 3') onto the connecting element (1, 1'). The connecting element (1, 1') can enable latching both when the plug insert (2, 2') is inserted in a first insertion direction (E1) and when the plug insert (2, 2') is inserted in a second insertion direction (E2), the second insertion direction (E2) being opposite to the first insertion direction (E1).

Description

The invention is based on a connecting element according to the preamble of independent claim 1

Furthermore, the invention is based on a connector housing system, comprising a connector housing and the connecting element according to claim 1.

The invention further relates to a connector comprising the connector housing system according to claim 13 and a connector insert.

In addition, the invention is based on a connector system comprising the connector according to claim 18 and at least one further connector housing.

Such connecting elements are required to lock plug inserts into connector housings.

State of the art

In the state of the art, there are efforts to replace the complex screw fastening of plug inserts in connector housings with a much more convenient snap-in fastening.

The publication DE 20 2013 012 812 U1 discloses a connector for mechanical and electrical connection to a corresponding mating connector. The connector has a housing, two individual protective conductor bridges and a plug insert. The protective conductor bridges are held on the housing and each have two connection areas for connection to the plug insert. The plug insert is held on the connection areas of the protective conductor bridges, wherein the two connection areas of the protective conductor bridge are formed on axial end areas of the protective conductor bridge.

Each protective conductor bridge has an elongated bridge main body on which the connection areas are formed on the sides. The housing has a plug opening with two opposite sides. One of the protective conductor bridges is attached to each of the two opposite sides, with the plug insert being held jointly on both protective conductor bridges.

This document also discloses that the connector is designed in such a way that the at least one connection area has fastening means for connecting the protective conductor bridge to the housing. It is also disclosed that the fastening means are designed as latching means in order to latch onto corresponding latching means of the housing. The latching means of the protective conductor bridges can be designed as latching lugs or tongues, for example. The housing has a guide groove with a latching lug as a counter-latching means, into which the latching tongue can be inserted and latched.

The publication DE 10 2014 109 351 B3 discloses a connector for mechanical and electrical connection to a corresponding mating connector, comprising a housing, a protective conductor bridge, a holding frame and a plug insert. The holding frame can be screwed to the plug insert and can be locked together with it in the housing.

The disadvantage of these variants is that the connecting elements - i.e. protective conductor bridges or holding frames - must first be screwed onto the plug inserts in order to then be able to be locked together with them in the connector housing.

The publication DE 10 2015 017 352 B3 discloses an assembly of a connector part, with a holding frame for receiving at least one modular contact insert and a housing part in which the holding frame can be locked. This technical teaching has the disadvantage that no conventional plug inserts available on the market, which can usually be screwed into commercially available, usually metallic, connector housings with a PE (protective earth) connection, can be used.

However, in the area of connector manufacturing, a very advantageous basic concept to strive for is what is known as "modularity", i.e. as many connector components as possible should be usable in combination with one another. Accordingly, components newly introduced onto the market should be as "backwards compatible" as possible with as many other components already on the market as possible.

task

The object of the invention is to provide a connecting element which facilitates and/or makes more flexible the assembly and/or installation of connectors by the customer.

The problem is solved by the subject matter of independent claim 1.

A connecting element is used for the detachable fastening of a plug insert in the connector housing and is designed to latch a plug insert inserted into the connector housing onto the connecting element.

A connector housing system has a connector housing, in particular a sleeve or attachment housing, and a connecting element of the aforementioned type inserted therein and fastened thereto.

A connector has a connector housing system of the aforementioned type and a plug insert that is locked or at least lockable to it. The plug insert has a contact carrier made of an electrically insulating material and several plug contacts arranged therein or at least to be arranged therein and two PE (Protective Earth) elements attached to the contact carrier opposite one another. Each of these two PE elements has at least one fastening flange. The plug insert is locked or at least lockable to the fastening flanges on the connecting element.

A connector system has a connector of the aforementioned type and at least one further connector housing, which has screw openings for fastening the connector insert to the connecting flanges of its PE elements using several screws. The connector insert can either be locked into the connector housing or screwed onto the further connector housing, i.e. it can be inserted into the further connector housing and screwed onto it using the screws when inserted.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the subclaims and the following description.

A key advantage of the invention is its user-friendliness. The customer no longer needs to laboriously screw the plug insert into the connector housing, but simply needs to insert it into the connector housing so that the plug insert automatically locks into the connecting element.

Another significant advantage of the invention is that the connector housing system is downwards compatible with the connector inserts available on the market. A connector insert that is usually intended to be screwed onto another connector housing can easily snap into place in the connector housing system with its fastening flanges. In particular, it is not necessary for the customer to make any changes to the existing connector insert. In particular, it is not necessary for a frame or similar to be screwed onto the connector insert, which would otherwise ultimately result in undesirable, inconvenient screwing.

Alternatively, the connector insert with its mounting flanges can also be screwed into the additional (“conventional”) connector housing. This fulfills the desired downward compatibility criterion.

A further advantage of the invention is that connector housings that have already been tried and tested on the market and are mass-produced can also be used, possibly with minor modifications. For example, it may be sufficient to mill off the internal screw formations of one of the other connector housings completely or partially, perhaps only slightly, in order to make a connector housing according to the invention and at the same time ensure that the plug height of the plug insert is retained overall. The usability of existing, i.e. the other ("conventional") connector housings reduces the manufacturing costs and preserves the other advantages of these connector housings gained through experience. Such changes, such as the aforementioned milling, are of course carried out by the connector manufacturer in the factory. The customer benefit of convenient operation is not affected by this.

In a preferred embodiment, the connecting element can be designed to enable the said locking of the plug insert both when the plug insert is inserted in a first insertion direction and when the plug insert is inserted in a second insertion direction, wherein the second insertion direction is opposite to the first insertion direction.

This is particularly advantageous if the connector housing is designed as a so-called add-on housing. Such an add-on housing is intended for installation in wall openings and essentially has a frame shape with an outer flange usually molded onto it.

In a preferred embodiment, the connecting element can have several locking areas, each locking area having at least two locking tabs. In particular, the locking area can have exactly two locking tabs. The large number of locking areas has the advantage that the holding force which the connecting element exerts on the plug insert is distributed as homogeneously as possible over the connecting element. The at least two locking Tabs per locking area advantageously enable the locking/holding of the plug insert inserted in the two aforementioned insertion directions.

For this purpose, it is particularly advantageous if each locking tab has a locking means to which the plug insert locks or is at least potentially able to lock. The locking means can be designed, for example, in the form of a locking edge or a locking embossing. In other designs, the locking means can also be designed as a locking nose, locking bend, locking window and/or locking formation.

In an advantageous embodiment, one locking tab can point essentially in the first insertion direction and another locking tab can point essentially in the second insertion direction for each locking area. Both locking tabs can then have locking edges. This opposite orientation is advantageous because it is easy to produce, while at the same time ensuring that the introduction of the contact carrier in the first or second insertion direction enables elastic deformation with subsequent locking on the respective locking edge.

A particularly advantageous alternative embodiment provides that one locking tab has a locking means in the form of a locking edge and another locking tab has a locking embossing as a locking means for fixing the inserted plug insert. This has the advantage that at least one of the locking tabs is easier to manufacture because an edge that can be used as a locking edge is naturally present. The locking embossing of the other locking tab has the advantage that this locking tab can point in the same direction as the aforementioned locking tab because the locking embossing is basically able to act as a locking mechanism in both insertion directions. The two locking tabs can therefore point in a common direction, e.g. opposite to the first insertion direction, i.e. in the direction of the second insertion direction.

In a preferred embodiment, the plug insert can latch with at least one of its fastening flanges on the connecting element, in particular on at least one of the locking means of a locking tab of the connecting element. This is particularly advantageous because the fastening flanges are already present on many plug inserts already on the market, have at least one screw hole and are usually intended for screwing onto, for example, the said additional plug connector housing.

Furthermore, it is particularly advantageous if at least one latching tab has an end-side actuating section that extends beyond the latching means. This is particularly advantageous because it enables the plug insert to be released from the sleeve housing.

Particularly preferably, the connecting element can have a surrounding connecting frame. This connecting frame can have a rectangular cross-section and thus have two longitudinal side walls lying parallel to one another and two narrow side walls at right angles to them.

In a preferred embodiment, the connecting element has at least four, in particular exactly four, locking areas. This has the advantage that the holding force is distributed very homogeneously across the connecting element and thus across the connector housing on the one hand and the contact carrier on the other.

In a further advantageous embodiment, each of the two long side walls and each of the two narrow side walls can each have two end sections, with each of the end sections of the long side walls adjoining an end section of a narrow side wall. In particular, these two end sections can each form an angled locking area together. This locking area then has a rectangular shape due to the rectangular cross section of the connecting frame. In particular, the locking tabs pointing in the first insertion direction can then be arranged in the end sections of the long side walls and the locking tabs pointing in the second insertion direction can then be arranged in the end sections of the narrow side walls.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the connecting element is designed as a single piece. This facilitates production, particularly if the connecting element is made of sheet metal and is particularly preferably designed as a stamped and bent part.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the connecting element can have at least one pair of fastening tabs. “At least one pair of fastening tabs” means that two fastening tabs associated with one another are provided. These can run at right angles to the two insertion openings, with at least one through-opening being arranged as a fastening opening in each fastening tab. Furthermore, the connector housing can have at least two fastening surfaces which are in a fastening connection with the fastening tabs. For example, the connecting element can be screwed to the connector housing at its fastening tabs.

In a further preferred embodiment, the connector housing is a bulkhead housing and the fastening tabs are directed outwards. In particular, the fastening tabs can point away from one another.

In another preferred embodiment, the connector housing is a sleeve housing and the fastening tabs are directed inwards. In particular, the fastening tabs can point towards each other.

A particularly great advantage of the connecting element is that it can be used in both bulkhead housings and sleeve housings with only very minor modifications, namely the aforementioned change to the aforementioned type of its fastening tabs.

In a further preferred embodiment, the connector housing can be made of plastic or of a zinc and/or aluminum alloy.

In a further preferred embodiment, the connecting element has at least one PE connecting tab for each of the two PE elements of the plug insert, which electrically contacts the respective PE element in order to establish an electrical connection of the PE elements to the connecting element and, via this, to the connector housing and/or to each other, i.e. to the other PE element. This is advantageous in two respects: If the connector housing is made of metal, the connecting element enables proper earthing. If, on the other hand, the connector housing is made of plastic, the connecting element has the function of electrically connecting the two PE elements to each other. After all, a protective conductor is usually only connected to one of the two PE elements. The other PE element should also be earthed for safety reasons, either to compensate for a faulty connection or simply because the other PE element is a metal part that must be earthed properly. The main problem, however, is the transfer of earthing to a mating connector if the other PE element is possibly connected to the protective conductor.

It is particularly advantageous if the PE connecting tab has a contact edge and an outwardly curved sliding section that protrudes beyond the contact edge, because this provides a particularly large contact surface with the PE element and at the same time a sliding option for the two opposing insertion directions. In particular, this sliding section can also enable the PE connecting tab to slide onto the respective PE element if the PE connecting tab points against the respective insertion direction of the plug insert.

embodiment

• 1a ein erstes Verbindungselement, aufweisend einen Verbindungsrahmen und nach außen gerichtete Befestigungslaschen;
• 1b ein zweites Verbindungselement, aufweisend einen Verbindungsrahmen und nach innen gerichtete Befestigungslaschen;
• 2a, b ein Steckereinsatz ohne und mit Schrauben;
• 2c das zweite Verbindungselement aus einer etwas anderen Perspektive;
• 2d das zweite Verbindungselement mit dem darin eingeführten Steckereinsatz;
• 3a - c das zweite Verbindungselement mit dem darin eingeführten Steckereinsatz in verschiedenen Schnittdarstellungen;
• 4a ein Anbaugehäuse mit dem ersten Verbindungselement;
• 4b ein Tüllengehäuse mit dem zweiten Verbindungselement.

An embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawings and is explained in more detail below. They show:

• 1a a first connecting element comprising a connecting frame and outwardly directed fastening tabs;
• 1b a second connecting element comprising a connecting frame and inwardly directed fastening tabs;
• 2a , b a plug insert without and with screws;
• 2c the second connecting element from a slightly different perspective;
• 2d the second connecting element with the plug insert inserted into it;
• 3a - c the second connecting element with the plug insert inserted therein in various sectional views;
• 4a an attachment housing with the first connecting element;
• 4b a grommet housing with the second connecting element.

The figures contain partly simplified, schematic representations. In some cases, identical reference symbols are used for identical, but possibly not identical, elements. Different views of the same elements may be scaled differently. Directional information such as "left", "right", "top" and "bottom" are to be understood with reference to the respective figure and may vary in the individual representations compared to the object shown.

The 1a and 1b show a first 1 and a second 1' connecting element, whereby these two connecting elements 1, 1' differ only in the type of their fastening tabs 126, 128. Therefore, in the following, both connecting elements 1, 1' are meant when speaking of the connecting element 1, 1'. The first 1 and the second 1' connecting elements are shown here rotated by 180° in the vertical direction.

The connecting element 1, 1' consists of sheet metal and is designed as a stamped and bent part.

The connecting element 1, 1' is basically designed to enable a locking of a plug insert 2, 2' shown below both when the plug insert 2, 2' is inserted in a first insertion direction E1 and when the plug insert 2, 2' is inserted in a second insertion direction E2, wherein the second insertion direction E2 is opposite to the first insertion direction E1.

The connecting element 1, 1' has a circumferential connecting frame 14 which, viewed parallel to the first insertion direction E1, has a rectangular cross-section. The connecting frame 14 thus has two longitudinal side walls 11 lying parallel to one another and two narrow side walls 12 at right angles thereto.

The first connecting element 1 has two outwardly directed fastening tabs 126 which are bent at right angles away from each other from the narrow side walls 12, whereby in this illustration only one fastening tab 126 is completely visible because the other is almost completely covered by the rear narrow side wall 12.

As a result, the first connecting element 1, which is intended for installation in an attachment housing 3 (cf. 4a) , also ideal for inserting the plug insert 2, 2' in the second insertion direction E2, i.e. coming from below in the drawing.

The second connecting element 1' has two inwardly directed fastening tabs 128 which are aligned at right angles from the narrow side walls 12 to each other, whereby in this illustration only one fastening tab 128 is completely visible because the other is covered by the front narrow side wall 12.

As a result, the second connecting element 1', which is intended for installation in a sleeve housing 3' (cf. 4b) , at least less suitable for introducing the plug insert 2, 2' in the second insertion direction E2, i.e. coming from below in the drawing. The inward-facing fastening tabs 128 can, depending on the design, make it difficult or even impossible to introduce the plug insert 2, 2' in the second insertion direction E2. However, with a little skill - depending on the design - it may also be possible to introduce the plug insert 2, 2' in the second insertion direction E2. This introduction in the second insertion direction E2 is, as will be explained below, generally not useful, at least in the sleeve housing 3'.

Each fastening tab 126, 128 has at least one through-opening as a fastening opening 120. This allows the connecting element 1, 1' to be fastened, e.g. screwed or riveted, in the respective connector housing 3, 3'.

The connecting element 1 has a locking area 13 on each of the four corner areas of its connecting frame 14, i.e. a total of four locking areas 13, wherein each locking area 13 has at least two locking tabs 131, 132, namely one locking tab 131 arranged on the wide side and one locking tab 132 arranged on the narrow side. The locking tab 131 arranged on the wide side has a locking edge 137 (cf. 2c ) and the locking tab 132 arranged on the narrow side has a locking embossing 133 for locking or holding the inserted plug insert 2, 2'.

Two of the locking tabs 132 arranged on the narrow side each have an actuating section 134 extending beyond their respective locking embossing 133. These actuating sections 134 serve to unlock the plug insert 2, 2' in the installed state.

When in the 1a In the first connecting element 1 shown, the two locking tabs 132 arranged on the narrow side, each of which has an actuating section 134, are shown at the rear, ie they belong together to the narrow side wall 12 shown at the rear in the drawing.

When in the 1b In the second connecting element 1' shown, the two locking tabs 132 arranged on the narrow side, each of which has an actuating section 134, are shown at the front, ie they belong to the narrow side wall 12 shown at the front.

In addition, the connecting element 1, 1' has at least one PE ("Protective Earth") connecting tab 15 in each locking area 13 for mechanically and electrically contacting at least one PE fastening flange 253 of a PE element 25 shown below.

The PE connecting tab 15 has a contact edge 156, which is not clearly visible from this perspective and therefore not shown here, but in the 2b , is explicitly designated. Furthermore, the PE connecting tab 15 has an outwardly curved sliding section 151 that projects beyond the contact edge 156. This provides a sliding option for the two opposing insertion directions E1, E2. In particular, the sliding section 151 enables the PE connecting tab 15 to slide onto the respective PE element 25 can also be made possible if the plug insert 2, 2' is inserted from below in the drawing, i.e. in the second insertion direction E2 and thus opposite to the direction in which the PE connecting tab 15 points.

The 2a and 2b show a female connector insert 2 with and without screws 27.

The female plug insert 2, as well as the male plug insert 2' shown below, has a contact carrier 24 made of an electrically insulating material. The contact carrier 24 of the respective plug insert 2 has through openings as contact chambers 240, 240' and several female or male plug contacts arranged therein or at least to be arranged therein, which are not shown in the drawing.

Furthermore, the respective plug insert 2, 2' has two PE elements 25 which are fastened opposite one another on the narrow sides of the contact carrier 24 and which each have at least one fastening flange 253.

The 2c shows the second connecting element 1', into which the plug insert 2, 2' can be inserted in the first insertion direction E1.

The 2d shows the second connecting element 1' together with the female plug insert 2 inserted in the first insertion direction E1. The male plug insert 2' could also have been used in the same way. When inserted, the respective plug insert 2, 2', as will be explained in more detail below, locks with its fastening flanges 253 on the locking embossings 133 of the locking tabs 132 arranged on the narrow side, which temporarily bend elastically outwards during this process due to the mechanical contact of the locking embossings 133 with the fastening flanges 253 of the plug insert 2, 2'. In the drawing below, the plug insert 2 is held by the locking edges 137 of the locking tabs 131 arranged on the wide side.

The vector arrows V1, V2, V3 show the movements that are necessary for manually unlocking the plug insert 2 from the second connecting element 1'.

First, the two front locking tabs 132 arranged on the narrow side are pulled outwards on their actuating sections 134, i.e. in the direction of the vector arrows V1. Then - or at the same time - the plug insert 2, 2' is pushed in the opposite direction, i.e. in the direction of the arrow V2, so that the locking tabs 132 of the opposite narrow side wall 12 also bend elastically outwards. The mechanical play thus generated is sufficient to pivot the plug insert 2 out of the connecting frame 14 at its front end out of the connecting element, as indicated by the vector arrow V3. In particular, the movements V1 and V2 can be carried out very easily with two hands, which apply force and counterforce. The unlocking process is therefore extremely convenient.

Conversely, the plug insert 2, 2' can also be inserted in its first insertion direction E1 to a comparable extent, i.e. first pivoted in largely against the direction of the arrow V3 and thereby pressed in the direction of the arrow against the rear locking tabs 132 arranged on the narrow side and pivoted in completely while the front locking tabs 132 are simultaneously pulled in the direction V1.

This method, in which an elastic deformation of the locking tabs 132 of both narrow side walls 12 is necessary for the unlocking of the plug insert 2, 2' from the second connecting element 1', ensures significantly increased security against accidental unlocking of the plug insert 2, 2' from the connecting element 1, 1'.

The 3a - c illustrate in sectional views using a male plug insert 2', which is intended to accommodate male plug contacts, the PE contacting of the fastening flanges 253 of the PE element 25 by means of the contact edges 156 of the PE connecting tabs 15 of the second connecting element 1'. The female plug insert 2 could also be used in the same way. Furthermore, these representations illustrate the locking of this and the aforementioned plug insert 2, 2' by means of the fastening flanges 253 of its PE elements 25 to the locking impressions 133 of the locking tabs 132 arranged on the narrow side or to the locking edges 137 of the locking tabs 131 arranged on the wide side. It therefore does not matter whether the plug insert 2, 2' is male or female.

If the plug insert 2, 2' is inserted into the second connecting element 1' from below, i.e. in the second insertion direction E2, the fastening flanges 253 initially push the locking tabs 131 arranged on the broad side outwards in order to then lock them into place at their locking edge 137. At the same time, they are prevented from moving further in the second insertion direction E2 by the locking embossings 133.

If the plug insert 2, 2' is instead inserted from above, i.e. in the first insertion direction E1, into the second connecting element 1', The fastening flanges 253 are located behind the locking impressions 133 of the locking tabs 132 arranged on the narrow side and are simultaneously prevented from moving further in the first insertion direction E1 by the locking edges 137 of the locking tabs 131 arranged on the wide side.

The insertion and locking of the respective plug insert 2, 2' into the second connecting element 1' can therefore be carried out without any problems in both insertion directions E1, E2.

Finally, in the 4a and 4b Connector housing systems are shown. These connector housing systems each have a connector housing 3, 3' and a connecting element 1, 1' built into it.

The 1a The connector housing shown with a view of the plug opening 30 is designed as a mounting housing 3 and has a mounting flange 36, e.g. for fastening to a wall opening in a housing wall. The mounting housing 3 is equipped with the first connecting element 1, so that the plug insert 2, 2' can advantageously be inserted without any problems in both insertion directions E1, E2, i.e. if necessary from both sides of the housing wall or similar.

The 1b The connector housing shown with a view of the plug opening 30 is designed as a sleeve housing 3', i.e. it has a cable outlet opposite its plug opening 30 (not shown here), and is equipped with the second connecting element 1'. It is easy to see that due to the shape of the housing, it only makes sense to insert the plug insert 2, 2' in the first insertion direction E1.

Even if different aspects or features of the invention are shown in combination in the figures, it is clear to the person skilled in the art - unless otherwise stated - that the combinations shown and discussed are not the only possible ones. In particular, corresponding units or feature complexes from different embodiments can be exchanged with one another.

list of reference symbols

1, 1'

connecting element

11

long side wall

12

narrow side wall

120

mounting hole

126

outward-facing fastening tabs

128

inward-facing fastening tabs

13

rest area

131

locking tab arranged on the broad side

132

locking tab arranged on the narrow side

133

embossing

134

operating section

137

locking edge

14

connecting frame

15

PE connecting strap

151

slip section

156

contact edge

2, 2'

female / male connector insert

24

contact carrier

240, 240'

contact chambers for female, male plug contacts

25

PE element

253

mounting flange

27

screws

3, 3'

bulkhead housing, sleeve housing

36

mounting flange

E1, E2

first, second insertion direction

V1, V2, V3

vector arrows

QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of documents listed by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 20 2013 012 812 U1 [0007]
• DE 10 2014 109 351 B3 [0010]
• DE 10 2015 017 352 B3 [0012]

Claims (21)

Connecting element (1, 1') for the detachable fastening of a plug insert (2, 2') in a connector housing (3, 3'), characterized in that the connecting element (1, 1') is designed to latch the plug insert (2, 2') inserted into the connector housing (3, 3') on the connecting element (1, 1'). Connecting element (1, 1') according to claim 1 , characterized in that the connecting element (1, 1') is designed to enable said locking both when inserting the plug insert (2, 2') in a first insertion direction (E1) and when inserting the plug insert (2, 2') in a second insertion direction (E2), wherein the second insertion direction (E2) is opposite to the first insertion direction (E1). Connecting element (1, 1') according to claim 2 , characterized in that the connecting element (1, 1') has a plurality of locking regions (13), wherein each locking region (13) has at least two locking tabs (131, 132). Connecting element (1, 1') according to claim 3 , characterized in that each of the locking tabs (131, 132) has a locking means in the form of a locking edge (137) or a locking embossing (133) for locking the inserted plug insert (2, 2'). Connecting element (1, 1') according to claim 4 , characterized in that for each latching region (13) at least one of the latching tabs (131, 132) has a latching edge (137) and at least one other of the latching tabs (132) has a latching embossing (133). Connecting element (1, 1') according to claim 5 , characterized in that at least one of the locking tabs (132) of the connecting element (1, 1') has an actuating section (134) extending beyond its locking means (133). Connecting element (1, 1') according to one of the Claims 3 until 6 , characterized in that the connecting element (1, 1') has a circumferential connecting frame (14). Connecting element (1, 1') according to claim 7 , characterized in that the connecting frame (14) has a substantially rectangular cross-section and has two longitudinal side walls (11) lying parallel to one another and two narrow side walls (12) at right angles thereto. Connecting element (1, 1') according to claim 8 , characterized in that the connecting element (1, 1') has at least four locking areas (13). Connecting element (1, 1') according to claim 9 , characterized in that each of the two longitudinal side walls (11) and each of the two narrow side walls (12) each has two end sections, wherein each of the end sections of the longitudinal side walls (11) adjoins one end section of a narrow side wall (12), wherein these end sections together form the locking regions (13), whereby the locking regions (13) are angled. Connecting element (1, 1') according to one of the Claims 2 until 10 , characterized in that the connecting element (1, 1') is made in one piece. Connecting element (1, 1') according to one of the Claims 2 until 10 , characterized in that the connecting element (1, 1') consists of sheet metal and is designed as a stamped and bent part. Connector housing system comprising a connector housing (3, 3') and a connecting element (1, 1') inserted therein and fastened thereto according to one of the Claims 2 until 12 . Connector housing system according to claim 13 , characterized in that the connecting element (1, 1') has at least one pair of fastening tabs (126, 128) which run at right angles to the two said insertion directions (E1, E2), wherein in each fastening tab (126, 128) at least one through-opening is arranged as a fastening opening (120), and wherein the connector housing (3, 3') has at least two fastening surfaces which are in fastening operative connection with the fastening tabs (126, 128). Connector housing system according to claim 14 , wherein the connector housing is a mounting housing (3) and wherein the fastening tabs (126) are directed outwards. Connector housing system according to claim 14 , wherein the connector housing is a sleeve housing (3') and wherein the fastening tabs (128) of the connecting element (1') are directed inwards. Connector housing system according to one of the Claims 13 until 16 , characterized in that the connector housing (3, 3') made of plastic or a zinc and/or aluminum alloy. Connector comprising a connector housing system according to one of the Claims 13 until 17 , and a plug insert (2, 2') latched thereto or at least latchable thereto, comprising a contact carrier (24) made of an electrically insulating material and a plurality of plug contacts arranged therein or at least to be arranged therein and two PE (Protective Earth) elements (25) fastened opposite one another to the contact carrier (24), each having at least one fastening flange (253), wherein the plug insert (2, 2') is latched or at least latchable to the connecting element (1, 1') by means of at least one of its fastening flanges (253). Connectors according to claim 18 , wherein the connecting element (1, 1') has at least one PE connecting tab (15) for each PE ("Protective Earth") element (25), which electrically contacts the respective PE element (25) in order to establish an electrical connection of the PE elements (25) to the connector housing (3, 3') and/or to one another. Connectors according to claim 19 , characterized in that the PE connecting tab (15) has a contact edge (156) and an outwardly curved sliding section (151) projecting beyond the contact edge (156). Connector system comprising a connector according to one of the Claims 18 until 20 and at least one further connector housing, which has screw openings for fastening the connector insert (2, 2') to the connecting flanges (253) of its PE elements (25) by means of several screws (27), wherein the connector insert (2, 2') can optionally be locked in the connector housing (3, 3') by means of the connecting element (1, 1') and can also be screwed onto the further connector housing.

Images