The invention relates to an arrangement for electrical contacting and a plug type connection comprising such an arrangement. The invention further relates to a method for joining an arrangement for electrical contacting to a counter-arrangement.

An object of the invention is to provide an arrangement for electrical contacting in which the risk of damage is as low as possible.

This object is achieved with an arrangement for electrical contacting which comprises a resiliently redirectable contact arm having a contact face and a counter-element which can be displaced parallel with the contact arm, the counter-element being displaced with respect to a start position in a contact position and the contact arm thereby being resiliently redirected transversely relative to the displacement direction of the counter-element.

In the solution according to the invention, the contact arm is remote from a counter-contact in the start position and is only redirected by the displacement of the counter-element onto the counter- contact face. In methods according to the invention, at least one contact face is placed on a counter-contact face of the counter-contact arrangement, preferably by the contact arm being redirected transversely relative to the displacement direction and being pressed onto the counter-contact. The contact face and also the counter-contact face thereby become less scratched and/or scraped or not at all scratched and/or scraped, which reduces the risk of damage. In particular, damage can be avoided which occurs when the contact face is being slid over an edge of a board/printed circuit board, over the board/printed circuit board itself or over an edge of a counter-contact face before it reaches the counter-contact face.

The solution according to the invention can be further improved by means of the following developments and embodiments which are advantageous per se and which can be freely combined with each other.

The counter-element may be displaceably retained on the contact arm in order to enable joining together in the most simple manner possible. It can be displaceably retained directly or indirectly on the contact arm. It may be displaceably retained on a housing of the arrangement. In particular, the counter-element may be displaceably retained on the contact arm in a non- releasable manner. In another embodiment, the counter-element may be arranged on a counter- arrangement, for example, a counter-connector or a printed circuit board. The counter-element may be arranged on an intermediate element which can be fitted between the arrangement and a counter-arrangement.

The arrangement may have a contact element, which has the contact arm and side walls which cover the contact arm in the start position. The side walls serve to protect the contact arm, in particular when the contact element is pushed together with a counter-arrangement or when the contact element is introduced into a connector. To this end, the side walls may project beyond the contact arm laterally and/or in a downward direction and in an upward direction. In the contact position, at least one contact face may protrude beyond the side walls.

Alternatively or in addition, the arrangement may comprise a contact element which has the contact arm and a protection element which, in the start position, covers the contact face when viewed in an insertion direction and/or in a displacement direction. The contact face is thereby protected from damage in the insertion direction and/or in the displacement direction, that is to say, in a forward direction, when the contact element is introduced, for example, into a connector housing and when the counter-element is advanced. In the contact position, at least the contact face may no longer be covered by the protection element and may produce a contact laterally. The protection element may, for example, be constructed as a protection wall. This may be formed in a simple manner from a metal sheet, for instance, by means of bending.

A contact element having a contact arm may comprise a contact housing, the contact arm being located inside the contact housing in the start position. The contact housing can protect the contact arm towards one or more sides. In particular, it may protect it in the direction of all the sides. The contact housing may protect the contact arm when it is connected to a counter- arrangement or when the contact element is introduced into a connector. The contact housing may in particular have the above-mentioned side walls and the protection element. In a start position, the contact arm may be located inside a cubing of the contact housing. In the contact position, at least the contact face may protrude from the housing, in particular from a cubing of the housing, in order to be able to produce an electrical contact.

The side walls, the protection element and/or the contact housing may be integral with the contact arm. For example, it may be a punched and bent contact element.

In order to achieve automatic redirection, the contact arm may have a redirection portion which extends in an oblique manner relative to the displacement direction and which can be redirected relative to a base, the counter-element being advanced onto the redirection portion in the contact position. Owing to the advance of the counter-element, the redirection portion and the contact arm are resiliently redirected transversely relative to the displacement direction of the counter-element, placed on the counter-contact and a contact is thereby produced.

The redirection portion can be located partially or completely in a contact housing in the start position. In the contact position, the redirection portion may be located at least partially outside the contact housing.

The contact face may be connected to the redirection portion, or be arranged thereon. For example, it may be located at an end of the redirection portion.

The contact arm may have a pivot portion which is articulated to a base by means of a curved portion. This may be located in the contact housing in the start position and the contact position. A pivoting and consequently redirection of the contact face and the contact arm may be facilitated by means of the pivot portion. The pivot portion may adjoin a redirection portion, for example, may be articulated thereto by means of a curved portion. The pivot portion may be arranged between the redirection portion and the base. In particular, the pivot portion may extend in a direction counter to a redirection portion. The pivot portion may, for example, also extend in an oblique manner, but with an opposing angle relative to the displacement direction. It may, for example, extend substantially perpendicularly relative to the redirection portion.

The redirection portion and the pivot portion may together form a V-shape whose tip faces the contact face transversely relative to the displacement direction. Owing to the V shape, a compact construction is achieved. At the tip of the V, at least in the contact position, a redirection of the contact arm may be carried out. With a correspondingly formed counter-face which extends parallel with the displacement direction, the contact face in the contact position is redirected to a uniform extent and with a consistent force, regardless of whether a counter- arrangement is displaced to a greater or lesser extent in the displacement direction relative to the arrangement. In an alternative embodiment, a counter-face may also extend in an oblique manner so that the contact face is pressed to an increasing or decreasing extent as the displacement increases.

The arrangement may have a connection portion for connection to a cable. In particular, such a connection portion may be constructed as a crimp portion. A simple connection is thereby possible. The arrangement may have two contact arms, the contact faces in the start position being spaced further apart from each other than in the contact position. With an arrangement which is constructed in this manner, a counter-arrangement can be introduced between the contact faces without the counter-arrangement and the contact faces becoming mutually damaged during the introduction operation. Only shortly before reaching the contact position, the contact arms and the contact faces can be redirected transversely relative to the insertion direction and pressed onto the counter-arrangement. In an advantageous embodiment, the contact arms face each other with respect to the displacement direction. In the contact position, the two contact arms can at least partially perform a retention function by clamping the counter-arrangement.

When two contact arms are present, both contact arms can be redirected with the same counter- element. A simple production and assembly is thereby achieved. Such a counter-element may, for example, be sleeve-like or carriage-like. It may, for example, be displaceably arranged between the counter-arrangement and the arrangement. Alternatively, for example, it may be arranged on the counter-arrangement in a rigid manner. In particular, two contact arms whose contact faces are spaced further apart from each other in the start position than in the contact position, for example, two contact arms which face each other with respect to the displacement direction, may be redirected by the same counter-element. Owing to the displacement of the counter-element, a counter-arrangement can then be clamped.

The counter-element may be rigidly connected to a securing device, in particular a contact securing means. In particular, it may be integral with the counter-element. Such a counter- element may thus perform a dual function and be used not only to redirect the contact arm, but also for securing, for example, in a connector housing.

The counter-element may be received moveably transversely to the displacement direction or in a compensation direction within a guidance extending in parallel to the displacement direction. The counter-element may thereby be received in the guidance with a clearance in a thickness of the board measured in parallel to the displacement direction. Consequently, the counter-element may quasi floatingly center itself in a vertical position along a height direction, i.e. in parallel to the thickness of the board measured with respect to its central axis. Even with boards positioned asymmetrically transversely to the displacement direction in the counter-arrangement and asymmetrical outer contours of the counter-arrangement, respectively, this enables a symmetrical orientation of the contact arms arranged above and below the board. The contact arms may thereby be relieved and hence designed smaller as well as simpler compared to arrangements without clearance because there are less prone to be loaded unequally strong as well as possibly excessively due to an asymmetrical displacement of the board with respect to the counter-arrangement in the height direction. Therefore, the floating support of the counter- element in the guidance enables a compensation of geometrical and thermic tolerances, whereby the contacts arms are spared. The guidance may be formed e.g. at the connector housing and at least section-wise by the retention arm and/or an outer wall of the housing. Two guidances being arranged mirror-symmetrically with respect to the central axis of the arrangement or the connector, respectively, may be provided, which guidances may accordingly interact with a contact securing means of the counter-element being designed and arranged complementarily thereto, in order to guide the counter-element along the displacement direction under a clearance transverse to the displacement direction.

The counter-element may have an inlet contour which is curved opposite to the displacement direction in a direction towards the contact arm. Thereby, the contact arms and in particular their curved portions, respectively, may be urged as gently as possible along a rounded off trajectory in a direction towards the counter-contact faces, in that they are guided e.g. with their tip along the inlet contour onto the counter-face. In particular with a counter-element designed symmetrically with respect to the central axis, the inlet contours may form a sort of intake funnel for the contact elements being likewise arranged symmetrically with respect to the central axis, along an inner contour of which intake funnel the contact elements may glide onto the counter- faces.

The arrangement according to the invention may be part of an electrical connector. The connector may, for example, further have other elements, such as a connector housing. A plug-type connection according to the invention comprises an arrangement and a counter- arrangement.

In an advantageous embodiment of a plug type connection, the counter-element is rigidly connected to a stop for the counter-arrangement. When the plug type connection according to the invention is joined together, the counter-arrangement may be in abutment with the stop. In the event of further displacement, owing to the rigid connection, the counter-element is automatically also displaced and the contact arm is automatically redirected. A contact is thereby automatically produced during the displacement.

With a method according to the invention for joining an arrangement for electrical contacting to a counter-arrangement, at least one contact face of the arrangement is placed on a counter- contact face of the counter-arrangement. In this instance, the contact faces of the arrangement can contact the counter-contact faces of the counter-arrangement, without being scraped. Nonetheless, in an advantageous embodiment of the method, the contact face of the arrangement may wipe over the counter-contact face of the counter-arrangement during contacting counter to the displacement direction, for example, in order to carry away contamination which occurs during the production process. If desirable, the contact face can also move with relatively high pressure over the counter-contact face and rub against it. It is thereby possible to remove, for example, thin oxide layers.

The invention is explained in greater detail below by way of example with reference to advantageous embodiments and with reference to the drawings. The embodiments described are only possible embodiments, in which, however, the individual features, as described above, can be combined or omitted independently of each other. In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a schematic cross-section through an arrangement according to the invention as part of a connector together with a counter-arrangement in a start position;

Figure 2 is a schematic cross-section through the arrangement and counter-arrangement of Figure 1 in an intermediate position; Figure 3 is a schematic cross-section through the arrangement and counter-arrangement of Figures 1 and 2 in a contact position;

Figure 4 is a schematic perspective view of a contact element according to the invention;

Figure 5 is another schematic, perspective view of the contact element of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a schematic longitudinal section through the contact element from Figures 4 and 5;

Figure 7 is a schematic side view of a further embodiment of a counter-arrangement;

Figure 8 is a schematic cross-section of the counter-arrangement shown in Figure 7 with a further embodiment of a connector according to the present invention in a contact position; Figure 9 is a detail V from Figure 8;

Figure 10 is a schematic cross-section of a counter-element in a upper end stop position received vertically displaceably in a guidance of the connector from Figure 8; and Figure 1 1 shows the counter-element illustrated in Figure 9 in a lower end stop position.

Figure 1 shows an arrangement 1 for electrical contacting at the right-hand side. It is part of a connector 2. The arrangement can be connected to a counter-arrangement 3 which is illustrated in this instance by a printed circuit board 4. To this end, the counter-arrangement 3 is introduced into the connector 2 in a displacement direction M. Figure 1 shows a start position A in which the arrangement 1 is not yet in contact with the counter-arrangement 3.

The arrangement 1 comprises a plurality of contact arms 5 which can be resiliently redirected transversely relative to the displacement direction M. The contact arms 5 are located facing each other with respect to the displacement direction M. They are associated with two different sides of the printed circuit board 4.

The arrangement 1 further comprises a counter-element 6 which is displaceably retained on the contact arms 5 parallel with the contact arms 5 which extend in the displacement direction M.

The counter-element 6 is rigidly connected to contact securing means 7. The contact securing means 7 prevent retention arms 8 which serve to retain contact elements 9 in a connector housing 10 from being redirected. In the start position A shown, the counter-element 6 is not yet completely inserted into the connector housing 10 and the contact securing means 7 do not yet engage behind or block the retention arms 8. The contact securing means 7 thus do not yet secure the contact elements 9.

The connector 2 further has a seal 11 , with which the inner side of the connector 2 is sealed when the connector 2 is connected to the counter-arrangement 3.

Figure 2 illustrates an intermediate position Z. In the intermediate position Z, the counter- arrangement 3 is partially inserted into the connector 2. A piece of the counter-arrangement 3 fills a recess 12 of the arrangement 1 and strikes a counter-stop 13. However, the counter- element 6 has not yet moved in the displacement direction M with the counter-arrangement 3. The contact arms 5 are still in the same position as in the start position A from Figure 1. In the previous displacement operation, the contact arms 5 have not yet touched the counter- arrangement 3. Contact faces 15 which are arranged at the ends of the contact arms 5 are still not yet in contact with counter-contact faces 14 on the counter-arrangement 3. The contact faces 15 are still inside the contact elements 9. In Figure 3, the arrangement 1 is illustrated together with the counter-arrangement 3 in a contact position K. The counter-arrangement 3 is connected to the arrangement 1. Together, they form a plug type connection 40. The counter-arrangement 3 has been pushed in the displacement direction M into the connector 2 and has carried the counter-element 6 on the stop 13 in the displacement direction M. Two redirection portions 16 which extend in an oblique manner with respect to the displacement direction M have been redirected onto the counter-arrangement 3 transversely relative to the displacement direction M by two counter-faces 18 of a counter- element 6 which also extend in an oblique manner with respect to the displacement direction M. The contact faces 15 which are arranged at the ends of the redirection portions 16 now contact the counter-contact faces 14 on the counter-arrangement 3.

The redirection portions 16 are connected to pivot portions 17 by means of curved portions 20. The pivot portions 17 are in turn fitted to a base 22 by means of curved portions 21.

The pivot portion 17 and the redirection portion 16 together form a V-shape. This configuration is particularly compact in a direction transverse relative to the displacement direction M. Furthermore, the configuration of an inner counter-face 19 in a manner parallel with the displacement direction M ensures together with the tip 23 of the V that the contact arm 5 applies a contact force to the counter-contact face 14 that remains consistent over a specific portion since a small displacement of the counter-element 6 from the contact position K does not lead to a changed redirection of the contact arm 5.

In the contact position K shown here, the contact faces 15 of the contact arms 5 are less spaced apart from each other than in the start position A and in the intermediate position Z. In the method according to the invention for joining together, the contact faces 15 of the arrangement 1 are contacted on the counter-contact faces 14 of the counter-arrangement 3 without previously being scraped or abraded at the edges of the printed circuit board 4, the printed circuit board 4 itself or the edges of the counter contact face 14. The contacting is carried out transversely relative to the displacement direction M. The contact faces 15 are placed on the counter-contact faces 14. Nonetheless, the contact faces 15 can still be displaced counter to the displacement direction M during the contacting and wipe dirt from the counter-contact faces 14 or rub against them. During this wiping movement, the free end of the contact arms 5 is moved with the contact faces 15 counter to the displacement direction on the counter-contact faces 14. In this instance, the angle of the V-shape which is formed by the pivot portion 17 and the redirection portion 16 increases. The opposing base 22 is supported in a fixed manner. A contacting can thereby take place with little resistance.

In the contact position K, and also in the intermediate position Z, the inner side of the connector 2 is sealed by the seal 11. Furthermore, the counter-element 6 performs a dual function in the contact position K since the contact securing means 7 which are integral with the counter-element 6 and which may be understood to be part of the counter-element 6 secure the contact elements 9 against falling out in the connector housing. To this end, the contact securing means 7 engage behind the retention arms 8 at least partially and block a redirection of the retention arms 8 transversely relative to the displacement direction M.

The counter-element 6 serves at the same time to redirect the two contact arms 5. It is pushed in the manner of a carriage or a sleeve over the contact elements 9.

The drawings of Figures 1 to 3 show two contact elements 9 with a contact arm 5, respectively. Of course, more contact elements 9 or only one contact element 9 may also be fitted in the connector 2. These may, for example, be located with respect to the plane of the drawing in front of or behind the contact elements 9 shown. Advantageously, the counter-element 6 redirects all the contact elements 9 at the same time.

Figures 4 to 6 illustrate a contact element 9 according to the invention with a contact arm 5 individually.

In Figure 4, the contact element 9 can be seen from below. In an insertion direction E, the contact element 9 may, for example, be inserted into a connector housing 10. This insertion direction E may extend parallel and counter to the displacement direction M, along which the counter-element 6 is displaced. In order to protect the contact face 15 during the insertion operation and when the counter-element 6 is fitted, the contact element 9 has a protection element 24 which covers the contact face 15, when viewed in the insertion direction E and in the displacement direction, at least in the start position A. The protection element 24 is constructed as a protection wall in this instance. In the contact position K, the contact face 15 may project beyond the protection element 24 transversely relative to the insertion direction E and the displacement direction M.

In order to further protect the contact arm 5, the contact element 9 has side walls 25 which cover the contact arm 5 in the start position A.

The protection element 24 and the side walls 25 are part of a contact housing 26 which protects the contact arm 5. In the start position A, the contact arm 5 is located inside the housing 26. In particular, it is located inside a cubing of the housing 26, that is to say, a surrounding face. In the contact position K, the contact arm 5, in particular the contact face 15, may protrude from the housing 26, that is to say, from the cubing of the housing 26.

The contact housing 26 is integral with the contact arm 5. The entire contact element 9 is a punched portion which has been punched from a metal sheet and which has been shaped by means of bending.

In Figure 5, the contact element 9 can be seen from above. The contact element 9 is connected to a cable 28. A connection portion 29 is constructed as a crimp portion, which retains strands 30 of the cable 28.

It is also possible to see the redirection portion 16 which extends in an oblique manner with respect to the displacement direction M and on which the counter-element is advanced in the contact position K. The redirection portion 16 is also protected by means of the side walls 25.

Figure 6 is a sectioned illustration of the contact element 9. The pivot portion 17 is articulated to a base 22 by means of a curved portion 21. The redirection portion 16 is in turn articulated to the pivot portion 17 by means of a curved portion 20. Owing to this embodiment, the redirection portion 16 can be redirected in a simple manner transversely relative to the displacement direction M. The contact arm 5 is thereby compact transversely relative to the displacement direction M. Owing to the tip 23 which faces the contact face 15, in the event of abutment with a counter-face 19 which extends parallel with the displacement direction M, a consistent contact force and redirection are ensured. Figure 7 shows a further embodiment of a counter-arrangement 3' in a schematic side view. The counter-arrangement 3' comprises a printed circuit board 4' which extends away from the counter-arrangement 3' in the displacement direction M and has an overall thickness d ₄ ' which is measured transversely to the displacement direction M and in parallel to a height direction, vertical direction or transverse direction V, respectively. The printed circuit board 4' comprises a board body 4a on which the counter-contact faces 14 are arranged, and a protective layer 4b which is applied to the board body 4a and may at least section-wise cover the counter-contact surfaces 14. The protective layer 4b may for example be formed of a potting compound and/or a protective coating. The board body 4a has a thickness ά ₄ · measured in parallel to the height direction V. The protective layer 4d has a thickness d _4d measured in parallel to the height direction V. A central axis C _4a of the board body 4a may be superimposed with a central axis 0 ₃ · of the counter-arrangement 3'. A central axis C ₄ - of the entire printed circuit board comprising the board body 4a and the protective layer 4b may be displaced in the height direction V with respect to the central axes C4 _a and C3' of the board body 4a and the counter-arrangement 3', respectively. Hence, the entire counter-arrangement 3' is asymmetric in the height direction V.

Figure 8 shows the counter-arrangement 3' with the printed circuit board 4' in the contact position K with a further embodiment of a connector 2' according to the present invention in a schematic cross-sectional view in a cross-sectional plane extending in parallel to the height direction V and to the displacement direction M. The connector 2' and the counter-arrangement 3' are part of a further embodiment of an arrangement 1 ' according to the present invention. The arrangement V or for example the connector 2' of which, respectively, comprises a further embodiment of a counter-element 6' according to the present invention. The counter-element 6' has contact securing means 7' which are received displaceably in the displacement direction M in guidances 41 ' running essentially in parallel to the displacement direction M formed at the connector 2'. The guidances 41 ' may at least section-wise be formed by retention arms 8' which may be formed integrally with the connector 2' or the housing 10' thereof, respectively. The guidances 41 ' may be formed between the retention arms 8' and an outer wall 43' of the housing 10'. Further, the counter-element 6' has inlet contours 42' which may be formed arched or curved and may cause a tapering of an inner contour of the counter-element 6' in the direction opposite to the displacement direction M.

Figure 9 shows a detail V from Figure 10. Here it becomes apparent that the counter-element 6' is received in the guidances 41 ' displaceably in a compensation direction D running in parallel to the height direction V. Thereby, tolerance variations or symmetry variations of the printed circuit board 4' with respect to the central axis C may be compensated, in the that the counter-element 6' moves in parallel to the compensation direction D or in or opposite to the height direction V with respect to the central axis C, respectively. Further, in Figure 9 it becomes apparent, that the inlet contours 42' are formed and arranged symmetrically to the central axis C and form a funnel- like guidance for the contact arms 5 which are likewise arranged symmetrically to the central axis C. The contact arms 5 may be guided along sections of the retention arms 8' running in parallel to the displacement direction M via the inlet contours 42' onto counter-faces 18' and 19' of the counter-element 6'.

Figure 10 shows the arrangement 1 ' in a further cross-sectional view in the contact position K, in particular the upper contact securing means T received in the guidance 41 ' in an upper end stop position. In the end stop position shown in Figure 10, the contact securing means T abuts the outer wall 43' in the height direction V and the compensation direction D, respectively, that is to say at an upper limitation predefined by the guidance 41 ', and is thereby arranged under a distance from the retention arm 8'with an entire vertical clearance d of the counter-element downwards, that is to say opposite to the height direction V. Such a compensation may be necessary for example if a symmetry of the printed circuit board 4' is displaced in the height direction V in a maximally admissible manner. Figure 11 shows the arrangement 1 ' in a further schematic cross-sectional view, wherein in contrast to Figure 10, the counter-element 6' is maximally deflected opposite to the height direction V in the compensation direction D. Here the clearance d is located above the contact securing means T between the contact securing means 7' and the outer wall 43'. The contact securing means 7' abuts the retention arm 8' opposite to the height direction V. In comparison to the maximal upper compensation position of the arrangement V and the counter-element 6', respectively, illustrated in Figure 10, it becomes apparent, that the contact arm 5 is held essentially in the same position unaffected of the relative position between the counter-element 6' and the connector housing 10'. Hence, the clearance d also enables a compensation of symmetry variation of the printed circuit board 4' existing opposite to the height direction V. The guidances 41 ' may be designed to be wider measured in the height direction V and the compensation direction D, respectively, by the clearance d than the contact securing means 7' in order enable a tolerance compensation by a vertical displacement of the counter-element 6'.

List of reference numerals

1 , r Arrangement

2, 2' Connector

3, 3' Counter-arrangement

4, 4' Printed circuit board

4a Board body

4b Protective layer

5 Contact arm

6, 6' Counter-element

7, T Contact securing means

8, 8' Retention arm

9 Contact element

10, 10' Connector housing

1 1 Seal

12 Recess

13 Stop

14 Counter-contact face

15 Contact face

16 Redirection portion

17 Pivot portion

18, 1 i 3' Counter-face

19, 19' Counter-face

20 Curved portion

21 Curved portion

22 Base

23 Tip

24 Protection element

25 Side wall

26 Contact housing

28 Cable

29 Connection portion

30 Strands

40 Plug type connection

41 , 41 ' Guidance

42, 42' Inlet contour

43, 43' 0uter wall

A Start position

c central axis

d clearance

d ₄ ^< Thickness of the printed circuit board d _4a Thickness of the board body

d ₄ b Thickness of the protective layer

D Compensation direction

E Insertion direction

K Contact position

M Displacement direction

V Height direction/transverse direction

Z Intermediate position