DE29613737U1 - Contact pin - Google Patents

Abstract

The electrical contact pin (1) is produced as a metal forming from bar material and has sections (4) that engage the contact zones of a U shaped spring element (5). The contact sections of the pin are such that one half of the pin is deformed to contact one side of the contact element and the other half is deformed in the opposite direction. The tip of the pin (6) is fitted with a protective isolating element (7) that has lugs formed to engage in recesses on the pin. The insulation layer may also be formed by moulding or by dipping the pin in a suitable fluid.

Description

In modern electrical connection technology, for example, series terminals, clamp connectors and the like are increasingly used, which are also provided with contact pins for creating plug connections. The plug connection partners then have tulip-shaped socket contacts. While the latter are normally located inside insulating housings and are therefore protected against contact, this often does not apply to the contact pins. Here, too, however, there is a desire for protection against contact. The present invention is therefore based on the object of creating a contact pin with finger safety without impairing the contact function. The solution according to the invention consists in the contact pin having a free end section starting from a contact zone which is smaller in cross-sectional dimensions than the contact zone and which is connected to a protective element made of insulating material located within the cross-sectional contour of the contact zone.

is bound.

The protective element ensures protection against contact for the operator's fingers. The contact function remains completely unaffected, since the contact zone is not affected by the protective element and because the protective element

LOESENBECK ^ STBACKE - PATENT ATTORNEYS - BIELEFELD

7 August 1996

Weidmüiler Description Sheet

'■■'it: &Ggr;
J I'" I .rk"'■; ■

;; ; ' with its dimensions within the cross-sectional contour within the contact

;;" zone remains, from the protective element also the contact zone together with

i j j effective socket contact is not affected, especially possibly damaged

; " or can be expanded too far.

» : i 5" In a further practical embodiment, the protective element is connected to the free

&iacgr;;i|'i ^! End section of the contact pin is positively connected in order to ensure high safety

1 ] to prevent the protective element from being pulled out when the contact pin is pulled out.

&iacgr; f the contact socket remains.

ii([|'■;■■;■■ ...■■.■■ ■

f In another very practical design, the protective element is on the outside

- Jf 10 tig on an area not interacting with the contact socket with a

j 1 [: locking projection which engages with a locking recess in the housing of the

I'·ji!"''; ¹ ",;' ¹ socket contact carrying component can cooperate to provide an additional

&iacgr; to form a pull-off barrier. Further preferred embodiments are described in the sub-

•&iacgr;: marked with sayings.

■ j Ei is An embodiment of a contact pin according to the invention is shown below

&iacgr;; described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawing.

&Ggr; ¹ I ¹ '''''! ¹ tsp'''
■!'&iacgr;'&iacgr; ^h "^ '

|||;"v'' Showing:

Figure 1 shows a contact pin according to the invention in narrow side view with

j a protective element in sectional view,

iit 20 Figure 2 the contact pin according to Figure 1 seen on its broad side, with the

I ' Protective element in sectional view.

¹ !'!If'.: ¹ · „&eegr; ¹¹ , ^:

&iacgr; if In the illustrated embodiment, a contact pin 1 is provided, which is spaced

Il j has a contact zone 2 from its free end, which in contact directions in

&igr;&iacgr;&iacgr;!$■!; ■■■. - ^! ' : ■ .

{!'[25 their cross-sectional dimensions compared to the contact pin thickness in the rest

j"'iff'· ]■■"■' ■' ■ ■ ■

'ij ;·. is widened. This is achieved by the fact that in the contact zone 2 the contact pin

' material is cut approximately in the middle from one side to the other side

|. and the material areas next to section 3 are in opposite directions, so that

I &igr;! I corresponding characteristics 4 result. The outer surfaces of these characteristics

: ;! so embossings 4, which then interact with the approximately tulip-shaped socket contact 5 indicated in Figure 1. As the view of Figure 1 shows, this also results in a contact-direction-sized

[KU..;: LOESENBECK & STRAcke-Patent Attorneys-BIELEFELD 7 August 1996

-;||&idiagr;&iacgr;;;&igr;,&iacgr;·: Weidmüller , ,, *, ,. .. Description Sheet

i Free end section 6 of the contact pin reduced in size compared to the contact zone 2

■!" 1·

!I It is also advisable to use a cross-direction to the contact direction, viewed across the

;i side of the contact pin 1, the free end section 6 in its dimensions in the

S &Igr;» &dgr; ratio to contact zone 2 reduced.

The free end section 6, which is thus reduced in size compared to the cross-sectional contour of the contact zone 2 = f j '', is now covered with a protective element 7 made of insulated

Ifling material which, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, with its

||i·! external dimensions remain within the cross-sectional contour of the contact zone 2

j :|| i; ib' and thus does not protrude outwards beyond the features 4, particularly in the contact direction, but also remains suitably within the contour in the other direction (Figure 2).

I The protective element 7 can, for example, be a sleeve-like injection-molded part that

li||| jb'; is snapped onto the free end section 6 of the contact pin 1. In a suitable embodiment, the protective element 7 is in a form-locking connection with the free end section 6 of the contact pin 1. In the illustrated embodiment, a locking recess 8 is provided at one point in the free end section 6 of the contact pin 1 and a locking device is located on the inside of the protective element 7.

^! '-&ngr;' jump 9, which can snap into the locking recess 8. In this way,

f !2O ensure that when the contact pin is pulled out, the protective element 7 does not

I Socket contact 5 gets stuck.

f!{ In a further expedient embodiment, the protective element 7 can also be on the outside

;if)j tig, preferably at a location that does not come into contact with the socket contact 5

v| ! can occur, must be provided with a locking projection. In the insulating housing

Ij; 25 of the component that carries the socket contact 5 can then be connected to the corresponding

j! I A locking recess for the locking projection 10 must be provided. This

] i ; locking mechanism acts as an additional removal lock for the plug connection.

!iliiiji'r'lr ''_; .

&iacgr;&iacgr; Deviating from the illustrated and described embodiment

■ } the protective element can also be manufactured in another way and connected to the free

so end section of the contact pin 1 can be connected, for example by immersing the free end section 6 of the contact pin 1 in a plastic bath, by wrapping the free end section with a layer of insulating material or by directly spraying the insulating material onto the free end section.

LOESENBECK & STRAcke-Patent Attorneys _: BIELEFELD 7 August 1996

Claims (1)

Protection claims 1. Contact pin, characterized in that it has, starting from a contact zone (2), a free end section (6) which is smaller in cross-sectional dimensions than the contact zone and which is connected to a contact pin within the cross-sectional , 5 protective element (7) made of insulating material lying in the sectional contour of the contact zone (2) rending material". 2. Contact pin according to claim 1, characterized in that the protective element (7) is positively connected to the free end portion (6) of the contact pin (1). ' 3. Contact pin according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the protective element (7) is provided on the outside with a locking projection (10). 4. Contact pin according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the protective element (7) is cap-shaped and has a locking hook (9) on the inner wall, for which a locking recess (8) is provided in the material of the free end section (6) of the contact pin (1). 5. Contact pin according to claim 4, characterized in that the cap-shaped protective element (7) snaps onto the free end portion (6) of the 20 contact pin (1) is snapped on. LOESENBECK & STRACKE - PATENT ATTORNEYS - BIELEFELD 7 August 1996 iUli: ji : iff* itiiiil Weidmüfter .. _# . .. _{t# ##} Protection claims sheet 6. Contact pin according to one of claims 1 - 4, characterized in that the protective element (7) is formed by immersion in a plastic bath at the free end portion (6). 7. Contact pin according to one of claims 1 - 4, characterized in that the free end section (6) of the contact pin (1) is wound with the protective element (7). Uli,}* ; &igr;;,: LOESENBECK ^c STRACKE - PATENT ATTORNEYS - BIELEFELD 7 August 1996