Contact device and contact system The invention relates to a contact device according to Claim 1 and a contact system according to Claim 12.

A contact device, having a first contact unit and a second contact unit, is known, wherein the first contact unit has a plug cage with first plug contacts and the second contact unit has a second plug cage with second plug contacts, whereby the contact unit is connected to the second contact unit. The contact device has a material tapering between the first contact unit and the second contact unit, for plugging on a mating contact unit. This configuration has the

disadvantage that the contact device is curved, in particular in the case of a large longitudinal extent of the contact device. This curvature has a disadvantageous effect on an automatic fitting of the pin strip onto the printed circuit board. It has hitherto been attempted to minimise this curvature by frequently making several corrections to the production tools.

The problem of the invention is to provide an improved contact device and an improved contact system.

This problem is solved by means of a contact device according to Claim 1 and by means of a contact system according to Claim 12. Advantageous embodiments are specified in the dependent claims.

It has been recognised that an improved contact device and an improved contact system can be provided in that the contact device has a first contact unit and a second contact unit, wherein the first contact unit has a first orientation and the second contact unit has a second orientation, wherein the first orientation is different from the second orientation, wherein the first contact unit is connected to the second contact unit. The contact device further has a connecting unit, wherein the connecting unit is arranged between the first contact unit and the second contact unit and

elastically connects the first contact unit to the second contact unit, wherein the connecting unit is elastically deformable such that the first orientation and the second orientation may be aligned identically.

This configuration has the advantage that the first contact unit can be displaced and/or pivoted and/or rotated relative to the second contact unit, such that a first orientation of the first contact unit relative to a second orientation of the second contact unit can be altered in a simple manner after production of the contact device and thus errors that occur in the injection moulding of the contact device can be compensated in a simple manner. As a result the contact device and the contact system can be produced in a

particularly simple and low-cost manner. Furthermore, a longitudinal extent of the contact device can be selected to be particularly large.

In a further embodiment, the first contact unit has a first housing section and the second contact unit has a second housing section, wherein the first housing section has a first material and the second housing section has a second material, wherein the connecting unit has a third material, wherein the third material has a greater elasticity than the first material and/or the second material. The first material and the second material are preferably identical. This configuration has the advantage that the contact device can be produced in a particularly simple and low-cost manner in a two-component injection moulding method.

In a further embodiment, the first housing section and/or the second housing section has at least one of the following first and/or second materials: fibre-reinforced plastics material, thermoplast, polybutylene terephthalate, polyamide, liquid crystal polymer, PBT-GF20 , PA66-GF30, LCP-GF40. The connecting unit has at least one of the following third materials: silicone, 2-component silicone, thermoplastic elastomer, thermoplastic elastomer ether ester block

copolymer.

In a further embodiment, the first contact unit has a first orientation and the second contact unit has a second

orientation, the first orientation being different from the second orientation. The connecting unit is elastically deformable such that the first orientation and the second orientation can be aligned identically. The elastic

deformation advantageously takes place reversibly. Damage to the contact device can thereby be avoided.

In a further embodiment, the first contact unit has a first arrangement of first contact elements and the second contact unit has a second arrangement of second contact elements, each of the first contact elements having a first pin section for engaging in the printed circuit board, the first pin sections being aligned parallel to one another and have the first orientation. Each of the second contact elements has a second pin section for engaging in the printed circuit board, the second pin sections being aligned parallel to one another and having the second orientation. The first pin section is arranged obliquely inclined and/or offset in at least one spatial direction relative to the second pin section. The connecting unit is elastically deformable such that the first pin section can be aligned parallel to the second pin

section.

In a further embodiment, the first housing section has a first frame section and a first chamber wall, the first chamber wall surrounding a first receiving chamber on the inside. The first receiving chamber at least partially receives the first arrangement of first contact elements. The first frame section is arranged on the outside of the first chamber wall and supports the first chamber wall. The second housing section has a second frame section and a second chamber wall, the second chamber wall surrounding a second receiving chamber on the inside, the second arrangement of second contact elements being at least partially arranged in the second receiving chamber. The second frame section is arranged on the outside of the second chamber wall and supports the second chamber wall. The connecting unit is arranged between the first frame section and the second frame section and/or the first chamber wall and the second chamber wall. This configuration has the advantage that a great number of contact elements can be accommodated in the contact device. The contact device simultaneously has a great width. In a further embodiment, the first frame section has, on the end side, a first end surface section, the second frame section has, on the end side, a second end surface section, and the connecting unit has, on the end side, a third end surface section, with the first end surface section, the second end surface section and the third end surface section being formed steplessly relative to one another. The first pin section projects over the first end surface section and the second pin section projects over the second end surface section. Through this configuration, a sealing element can be arranged at the end surface sections, which sealing element reliably seals through the stepless configuration of the end surface sections.

In a further embodiment, the first end surface section is aligned inclined relative to the second end side section.

Additionally or alternatively, the first end surface section is arranged offset relative to the second end surface

section. Additionally or alternatively, the first end surface section is aligned rotated relative to the second end surface section. In a further embodiment, the connecting unit has a connecting bar, a first side surface of the connecting bar being

connected to the first chamber wall and a second side

surface, arranged opposite the first side surface, of the connecting bar being connected to the second chamber wall.

In a further embodiment, the first receiving chamber has, on the end side, a first opening, and the second receiving chamber has, on the end side, a second opening, wherein a gap is arranged between the connecting unit and the first opening and/or the second opening. The gap ensures that sufficient space for movement is created so that the first contact unit can be moved smoothly relative to the second contact unit. In a further embodiment, the connecting unit has a third frame section, said third frame section being arranged on a side which faces the end surface section and being connected to the connecting bar, said connecting bar being connected to the third frame section at one side, the connecting bar being aligned inclined, preferably perpendicular, relative to the third frame section.

In a further embodiment, the first contact unit has a first housing section and the second contact unit has a second housing section, the connecting unit, the first housing section and the second housing section being formed in one piece and of the same material, the connecting unit having a material thinning. Also as a result of this, the orientation of the first contact unit relative to the second contact unit can be altered, such that the contact unit can be reliably adapted in a simple manner in order to be mounted easily on the printed circuit board.

In a further embodiment, the contact system has a printed circuit board and a contact device, said contact device being formed as described above, the contact device being attached to the printed circuit board, the first orientation and the second orientation preferably being substantially identical. The connecting unit can thus be formed to be compressed and/or sheared and/or bent and enable the identical

orientation .

The invention will be explained in more detail hereafter with reference to figures. In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows a side view of a contact system with a

contact device according to a first embodiment;

Figure 2 shows a perspective depiction of the contact device shown in Figure 1 with a view of the contact device from below;

Figure 3 shows a plan view of the contact device shown in

Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 4 shows a sectional view along a section plane A-A, shown in Figure 3, through the contact device shown in Figure 3;

Figure 5 shows a cut-out of the perspective depiction shown in Figure 2;

Figure 6 shows a side view of the contact device shown in

Figures 1 to 5 in the unmounted state in a first form;

Figure 7 shows a side view of the contact device shown in

Figures 1 to 5 after the injection moulding process in the unmounted state in a second form; Figure 8 shows a plan view of the contact device shown in

Figures 1 to 5 in the unmounted state in a third form; Figure 9 shows a plan view of the contact device shown in Figures 1 to 5 in the unmounted state in a fourth form; Figure 10 shows a side view, rotated by 180°, of the contact device shown in Figures 1 to 5 in the unmounted state in a fifth form;

Figure 11 shows a side view, rotated by 180°, of the contact device shown in Figures 1 to 5 in the unmounted state in a sixth form;

Figure 12 shows a side view, rotated by 180°, of the contact device shown in Figures 1 to 5 in the unmounted state in a seventh moulding;

Figure 13 shows a sectional view along a section plane B-B, shown in Figure 3, through a contact device according to a second embodiment.

Hereafter, a coordinate system 5 is referred to in the figures. The coordinate system 5 is formed as a right-handed trihedron and has an x-axis (longitudinal direction) , a y- axis (transverse direction) and a z-axis (vertical

direction) .

Figure 1 shows a side view of a contact system 10 with a contact device 15 according to a first embodiment. In addition to the contact device 15, the contact system 10 comprises a printed circuit board 20 which is schematically represented in Figure 1 by means of dashed lines. The printed circuit board 20 is formed to be plate-shaped, for example, and extends in an xy-plane, for example. The printed circuit board 20 preferably has a plurality of pin receptacles 25

(indicated with dashed lines) which, for example, are formed as bores in the printed circuit board 20 and extend in the z- direction. The pin receptacle 25 is formed as a through opening in the printed circuit board 20. A configuration as a blind-hole bore would also be conceivable. The contact device 15 has a first contact unit 30, a second contact unit 35 and a connecting unit 40. The first contact unit 30 is arranged spaced apart from the second contact unit 35 in the x-direction. The connecting unit 40 is arranged in the longitudinal direction between the first contact unit 30 and the second contact unit 35. In the embodiment, only two contact units 30, 35 are provided by way of example. Of course, several, for example three, four or five contact units 30, 35 can be arranged spaced apart from one another in a row or in a grid, with, in each case, one connecting unit 40 being arranged respectively between two contact units 30, 35 arranged adjacently.

The first contact unit 30 has a first housing section 45 and a first arrangement 50 of first contact elements 55. The first contact element 55 is formed in the embodiment as a plug contact. Of course, it is also conceivable that the first contact element 55 is also formed as a socket contact. The first contact element 55 has a first pin section 60 on a side which faces the printed circuit board 20. The first pin sections 60 of the first arrangement 50 are aligned parallel to one another. The first pin section 60 in each case engages in the associated pin receptacle 25 of the printed circuit board 20, and provides an electrical connection between a conductor track (not depicted) of the printed circuit board 20 and the first contact element 55. Additionally, (not depicted) the first pin section 60 can be soldered to the printed circuit board 20. The first pin section 60 has a first orientation in space. In the mounted state of the contact device 15 on the printed circuit board 20, the first orientation of the first pin section 60 is aligned such that the first pin section 60 is aligned in the z-direction, i.e. running parallel to the z-axis. The second contact unit 35 has a second housing section 65 and a second arrangement 70 of second contact elements 75. The second contact element 75 is formed, by way of example, identically to the first contact element 55. The second contact element 75 can also be formed different from the first contact element 55. The second contact element 75 has a second pin section 80, the second pin section 80 engaging in an associated pin receptacle 25 of the printed circuit board 20 and providing an electrical connection between the

conductor track and the second contact element 75. The second pin section 80 can additionally also be soldered onto the printed circuit board 20. The second pin section 80 has a second orientation in space. In the mounted state of the contact device 15 on the printed circuit board 20, the second orientation and the first orientation are identical, such that the second pin section 80 runs parallel to the first pin section 60 and thus in the z-direction. The pin sections 60, 80 are also arranged substantially at the same height. The orientation of the pin section 60, 80 is intended to be understood to mean both an inclination and a positioning of the pin section 60, 80 in the space.

The connecting unit 40 has a first side surface 85 and a second side surface 90. In the embodiment, by way of example in the mounted state of the contact device 15 on the printed circuit board 20, the side surfaces 85, 90 are aligned parallel to one another.

In the mounted state of the contact device 15 on the printed circuit board 20, the second housing side surface 100 is aligned parallel to the first housing side surface 95. The first housing side surface 95 and the second housing side surface 100 each extend in yz-planes arranged offset in the x-direction, and are arranged opposite respective facing sides of the housing sections 45, 65. The first side surface 85 is connected in a cohesive manner to a first housing side surface 95 of the first housing section 45. The first side surface 85 and the first housing side surface 95 abut against one another in a planar manner. The second side surface 90 is connected in a cohesive manner to a second housing side surface 100.

The first housing section 45 has a first material. The second housing section 65 has a second material. The first material and the second material can be identical. The first material and the second material can also be different. The first housing section 45 and/or the second housing section 65 has at least one of the following first and/or second materials: fibre composite plastics, glass-fibre-reinforced plastics material, thermoplast, polybutylene terephthalate, polyamide, liquid crystal polymer, PBT-GF20 , PA66-GF30, LCP-GF40.

The connecting unit 40 has a third material. The third material has a greater elasticity than the first material and/or the second material. The connecting unit 40 has at least one of the three materials: silicone, 2-component silicone, thermoplastic elastomer, thermoplastic elastomer ether ester block copolymer. The first housing section 45 has a first frame section 105 and a first chamber wall 110. The first chamber wall 110 delimits a first receiving chamber 115 on the inside

(indicated in Figure 1 by means of dot-dash lines) . The first arrangement 50 of first contact elements 55 is, in sections, arranged in the first receiving chamber 115.

The first chamber wall 110 extends in the vertical direction over the entire height of the first housing section 45 and is surrounded on the outside adjacent to a underside 116 of the contact device 15 by the first frame section 105. The first frame section 105 serves to reinforce the first housing section 45. At least one first attachment opening 120, for example, is arranged in the first frame section 105, in order to mechanically attach the contact device 15 to the printed circuit board 20 by means of attachment means which are not depicted .

The first receiving chamber 115 has, on the end side, a first opening 125 on a side which faces away from the underside 116. The first opening 125 serves, for example, to insert a first section 126 of a further contact device 127 (plotted by means of dashed lines) into the first receiving chamber 115.

The second housing section 65 of the second contact unit 35 is formed nearly identical to the first housing section 45. The second housing section 65 has a second chamber wall 130 and a second frame section 135. The second chamber wall 130 forms a hollow body and delimits a second receiving chamber 140 on the inside (plotted by means of dot-dash lines in Figure 1) . The second arrangement 70 of second contact elements 75 is arranged partially in the second receiving chamber 140. The second receiving chamber 140 has a second opening 145 on an upper side which faces away from the underside 116. A second section 141 of the further contact device 127 can be inserted into the second receiving chamber 140 via the second opening 145, in order to provide an electrical contacting of the second arrangement 70 of the second contact elements 75.

The second frame section 135 is arranged on the outside, circumferentially around the second chamber wall 130 and serves to reinforce the second housing section 65.

Furthermore, at least one second attachment opening 136 can be provided in the second frame section 135 in order to ensure attachment option for attaching the contact device 15 to the printed circuit board 20. The first and second

attachment openings 120, 136 run in the z-direction as bores. The first opening 125 and the second opening 145 are arranged in a common xy-plane and thus end at the same height in the z-direction. A gap 150 is provided between the first chamber wall 110 and the second chamber wall 130. The gap 150 extends between the openings 125, 145 downwards in the z-direction towards an upper end 155 of the connecting unit 40.

Figure 2 shows a perspective depiction of the contact device 15 shown in Figure 1 with a view from below of the contact device 15 in the unmounted state.

The first frame section 105 has a first end surface section 165 at the underside 116 on a side which faces away from the first receiving chamber 115. The first end surface section 160 is interrupted, for example, by a reinforcement section 165 of the first frame section 105, with which, for example, a region around the first through opening 120 is reinforced. The reinforcement section 165 projects downwards beyond the first end surface section 160 and is formed rib-shaped.

Furthermore, the first end surface section 160 is arranged partially circumferentially around the first chamber wall 130 and spaced apart from the first chamber wall 130 at the first frame section 135. The first end surface section 165 is formed, by way of example, planarly adjacent to the connecting unit 40. In the x-direction, offset relative to the first end surface section

165, the second housing section 65 has a second end surface section 170 at the underside 116. The second end surface section 170 is likewise interrupted by a further rib-shaped reinforcement section 166, in order to reinforce the second frame section 135 in the region of the second attachment opening 131 by means of the further reinforcement section

166. The further reinforcement sections 166 project beyond the second end surface section 170 on the underside. The second end surface section 170 is likewise formed planarly adjacent to the connecting unit 40. Furthermore, the second end surface section 170 is arranged, in sections, circumferentially around the second chamber wall 130, spaced apart from the second chamber wall 130 at the first frame section 135.

The first frame section has a first rib arrangement 177 between the first chamber wall 110 and the first end surface section 160. The first rib arrangement 177 connects the first end surface section 160 to the first chamber wall 110. The second frame section 135 has a second rib arrangement 178 between the second chamber wall 130 and the second end surface section 170. The second rib arrangement 178 connects the second end surface section 170 to the first chamber wall 130.

The connecting unit 40 has a third end surface section 175 at the underside 116. The first end surface section 165, the second end surface section 170 and the third end surface section 175 are formed steplessly relative to one another. Furthermore, the first pin section 60 or first pin sections

60 project beyond the first end surface section 165 in the z- direction. The second pin section 80 or second pin sections 80 projects beyond the second end surface section 170 in the z-direction .

On the outside, the end surface sections 160, 170, 175 are delimited by a circumferential edge 176 which projects beyond the end surface sections 160, 170, 175. A sealing element (not depicted) which is formed ring-shaped, for example, can be arranged at the end surface sections 160, 170, 175. The sealing element can seal, on the underside, a space arranged between the printed circuit board 20 and the contact device 15. Figure 3 shows a plan view of the contact device 15 shown in Figures 1 and 2, wherein, however, the depiction of the contact elements 55, 75 has been partially dispensed with for reasons of clarity.

The first housing section 45 has a first receiving base 180 at a side which faces away from the first opening 125, which receiving base extends in an xy-plane perpendicular to the first chamber wall 110. The first chamber wall 110 forms a hollow body and delimits the first receiving chamber 115 on the inside. The first chamber wall 110 and the first

receiving base together form a pot shape or a pan shape.

At least one first holding receptacle 185 is provided in the first receiving base 180, in which holding receptacle the first contact element 55 engages in order to attach the first contact element 55 in the first housing section 45. In the mounted state of the first contact element 55 (not depicted in Figure 3) in the first housing section 45, the first contact element 55 extends with a first contact section from the first receiving base 180 in the direction of the first opening 125.

The second housing section 65 of the second contact unit 35 is formed nearly identically. The second housing section 65 also has a second receiving base 190 which is arranged offset relative to the second opening 145 on a side directed

downwards from the viewer, the second receiving base 190 being aligned running perpendicular to the second chamber wall 130. The second chamber wall 130 and the second

receiving base 190 together form a pot shape or a pan shape. At least one second holding receptacle 195 is also provided in the second receiving base 190, into which holding

receptacle the second contact element 75 engages in order to attach the second contact element 75 in the second housing section 65.

In the embodiment, the connecting unit 40 runs in a plane, preferably a yz-plane between the first contact unit 30 and the second contact unit 35 The connecting unit 40 can also be formed to be curved and run in an arc shape, for example.

Figure 4 shows a sectional view along a section plane A-A, shown in Figure 3, through the contact device 15 shown in Figure 3.

The connecting unit 40 has a connecting bar 200 and a third frame section 205. The third frame section 205 has

substantially the contour of the first and/or second frame section 105, 135, such that, in the mounted state, the contours of the third frame section 205 and of the first and second frame sections 105, 135 are substantially flush. The third frame section 205 is arranged adjacent to the underside 116 and has the third end surface section 175 at the

underside 116. The frame section 105, 135, 205 is formed to be tiered, such that the frame section 105, 135, 205 becomes narrower from the underside 116 upwards in a step-like manner in the y-direction.

The third frame section 205 is connected to the connecting bar 200 on the top side. The connecting bar 200 is formed to be plate-shaped and extends between the first chamber wall 110 and the second chamber wall 130. In the y-direction, the connecting bar 200 is formed thinner than the third frame section 205. The connecting bar 200 is arranged perpendicular to the third frame section 205, such that the basic shape of the connecting unit 40 is substantially formed to be T- shaped .

Figure 5 shows a cut-out of the perspective depiction shown in Figure 2.

The contact device 15 has a reinforcement 210, said

reinforcement 210 being arranged between the first chamber wall 110 and the second chamber wall 130. The reinforcement 210 has one or more ribs 215 which are formed to be plate- shaped and extend between the two chamber walls 110, 130, by way of example with a long rim, in the x-direction.

In the embodiment, the reinforcement 210 has a plurality of ribs 215 which are arranged at regular intervals to one another in the y-direction and which connect the two chamber walls 110, 130 to one another. The reinforcement 210 is arranged between the frame section 105, 135, 205 in the transverse direction and connects the two chamber walls 110, 130 to one another.

The first housing section 45 has a first rib section 225 and the second housing section 65 has a second rib section 230. The connecting unit 40 has a third rib section 235, wherein, in the mounted state, the third rib section 235, together with the first and second rib sections 225, 230, are arranged in a common xz-plane.

Figure 6 shows a side view of the contact device 15 shown in Figures 1 to 5 in the unmounted state in a first form.

The contact device 15 is preferably produced in a two- component injection moulding method. By way of the

configuration, which is particularly long in the longitudinal direction, of the contact device 15 and the gap 150, the contact device 15 has the tendency that the first pin section 60, in its first orientation, and the second pin section 80, in its second orientation, are orientated differently.

Similarly, in Figure 6, the first contact unit 30, by way of example, is tilted about the y-axis relative to the second contact unit 35, such that the gap 150 tapers upwards. The greater the longitudinal extent of the contact device 15, the more likely it is that the first and the second pin sections 60, 80 are orientated differently in the manufacturing of the contact device 15. However, in order to be able to mount the contact device 15 at the printed circuit board 20, preferably in an automated manner, it is necessary that the first pin section 60 and the second pin section 80 are identically orientated .

In the examples shown in Figure 6, the contact device 15 is not mounted on the printed circuit board 20, such that the second pin section 80 is tilted about the y-axis by way of example, relative to the second orientation. That means that the first pin section 60 is at an acute angle to the second pin section 80.

In order to mount the contact device 15 on the printed circuit board after the injection moulding process the first contact unit 30 and the second contact unit 35 are moved, by means of an alignment tool 240, relative to one another through an elastically reversible deformation such that the first pin section 60 and the second pin section 80 are identically orientated. In the embodiment, the gap 150 is expanded while the third frame section 205 is compressed. The housing sections 45, 65 are also aligned parallel to one another.

In particular, the elastic configuration of the connecting unit 40 guarantees that the contact units 30, 35 can be mutually tilted and/or displaced and/or rotated, such that the orientation of the contact units 30, 35, in particular the pin sections 60, 80, are identical.

The housing section 45, 65 can have a particularly long extent in the x-direction through the elastic configuration of the connecting unit 40. Furthermore, a mould for injection moulding the contact device 15 can be configured in a simple manner. In particular, a range of tolerance for producing the contact device 15 can be increased, such that overall the contact device 15 can be produced in a low-cost and simple manner. Figure 7 shows a side view of the contact device 15 shown in Figures 1 to 5 after the injection moulding process in the unmounted state in a second form. In contrast to the orientation of the pin sections 60, 80 shown in Figure 6, the pin sections 60, 80 are orientated such that the tips face one another. As a result, the gap 150 widens upwards, since the first and second housing sections 45, 65 are also mutually arranged tilted mutually about the y-axis.

In order to orientate the contact units 30, 35 or the pin sections 60, 80 for contacting in the printed circuit board 20 and for mounting the contact device 15 on the printed circuit board 20, a rotational movement of the contact units 30, 35 is carried out in the opposite arrow direction by means of the alignment tool 240, such that the pin sections 60, 80 have an identical orientation when plugging the pin sections 60, 80 into the pin receptacle 25 and run parallel to one another. In the embodiment, the gap 150 is thus reduced while the third frame section 205 is elongated in the x-direction. The housing sections 45, 65 are also aligned parallel to one another. A catching of one or more pin sections 60, 80 at the printed circuit board 20 or a bending of the pin section 60, 80 when being inserted into the pin receptacle 25 is thereby prevented.

Figure 8 shows a plan view of the contact device 15 shown in Figures 1 to 5 in the unmounted state in a third form.

In the unmounted state, the first contact unit 30 is arranged displaced in the y-direction relative to the second contact unit 35 and, at the same time, the contact units 30, 35 are arranged rotated relative to one another about the z-axis (identified symbolically in Figure 8 by means of arrows) . In order to be able to mount the contact device 15, shown in Figure 8, on the printed circuit board 20, the contact units 30, 35, by means of the alignment tool 240, opposite to the direction of the arrow shown in the Figures, are each rotated about the z-axis and, at the same time, displaced in the y- direction, such that the first orientation of the first contact unit 30 is identical to the second orientation of the second contact unit 35. In this case, the elastic connecting unit 40 is subjected to shearing and torsion, but it

continues to connect the two contact units 30, 35 to one another. The gap width of the gap 150 is maintained.

Figure 9 shows a plan view of the contact device 15 shown in Figures 1 to 5 in the unmounted state in a fourth form.

In Figure 9, the first contact unit 30 is arranged displaced and rotated relative to the second contact unit 35 in the opposite direction compared to Figure 8, in the unmounted state. In order to mount the contact device 15 in Figure 9, a movement is carried out in the opposite arrow direction, such that the pin sections 60, 80 can be introduced into the pin receptacles 25 and the pin sections 60, 80 are identically orientated . Figure 10 shows a side view, rotated about 180°, of the contact device 15 shown in Figures 1 to 5 in the unmounted state in a fifth form.

In this case, the first pin section 60 is arranged offset downwards relative to the second pin section 80 in the z- direction. In order to compensate for this offset, a movement is carried out against the arrow direction shown in Figure 10, such that the first contact unit 30 is displaced upwards and/or the second contact unit 35 is displaced downwards, such that the pin sections 60, 80 are arranged at the same height in the z-direction. In this case, the connecting unit 40 is sheared and enables the height compensation between the two contact units 30, 35. It is also ensured that the end surface sections 165, 170, 175, instead of having an offset as shown in Figure 11, are arranged together in an xy-plane. A rotation, as shown in Figures 6 to 9, of the first contact unit 30 relative to the second contact unit 35 is not

necessary in Figure 10.

Figure 11 shows a side view, rotated about 180°, of the contact device 15 shown in Figures 1 to 5 in the unmounted state in a sixth form.

The pin sections 60, 80 are orientated relative to one another such that the second pin section 80 is arranged deeper than the first pin section 60. In order to compensate for this, the second contact unit 35 moves upwards against the arrow direction shown in Figure 11 and/or the first contact unit 30 moves downwards by means of the alignment tool 240, such that the pin sections 60, 80 have the same orientation and can reliably engage in the pin receptacles 25. Here, too, the connecting unit 40 is sheared. Such movements between the contact units 30, 35 can be compensated by the high elasticity of the third material.

Figure 12 shows a side view, rotated about 180°, of the contact device 15 shown in Figures 1 to 5 in the unmounted state in a seventh form.

In Figure 12, the first contact unit 30 is rotated about the x-axis relative to the second contact unit 35, in the

unmounted state. In order to mount the contact device 15, the contact units 30, 35 are rotated in opposite directions about the x-axis by means of the alignment tool 240, such that the end surface sections 165, 170, 175 are arranged in a common xy-plane and the pin sections 60, 80 are aligned parallel to one another. The configuration of the contact device 15 shown in Figures 1 to 12 has the advantage that the contact device 15 can be mounted on the printed circuit board 20 in a particularly simple and low-cost manner by the preferably reversibly elastic connecting unit 40. Furthermore, a centring plate can be dispensed with such that the contact device 15 is formed in a particularly easy and low-cost manner.

Furthermore, the contact device 15 can be brought to market particularly quickly after a reconstruction or new

construction, since a smaller number of correction loops is necessary in order to adapt the configuration of the

injection mould for the contact device 15 and a method for producing the contact device 15 correspondingly to the newly constructed or altered construction of the contact device 15.

Furthermore, a sealing element can be provided or attached in a simple manner at the end surface sections 165, 170, 175, in order to seal the contact device 15 to the printed circuit board 20.

Moreover, an influence on the shape of the contact device 15 when individual contact elements 55, 75, encodings or a colour change are omitted is avoided since the shape of the contact device 15 is first established definitively prior to the plugging of the pin sections 60, 80 into the pin

receptacles 25 and is fixed by the connection to the printed circuit board 20. The forces for holding the contact device 15 in the final shape are particularly low due to the elastic configuration of the connecting unit 40, such that it is possible to reliably avoid damage to the contact system 10 through the tensioning of the contact device 15 at the printed circuit board 20. Figure 13 shows a sectional view along a section plane B-B, shown in Figure 3, through a contact device 15 according to a second embodiment. Unless otherwise explained, the contact device 15 is formed substantially identical to the contact device 15 shown in Figures 1 to 5. However, the first housing section 45, the connecting unit 40 and the second housing section 65 are formed in one piece and from the same material, and have the first material.

The connecting unit 40 has a material thinning 300. The first housing section 45 has a first minimal housing thickness di adjacent to the connecting unit 40. The second housing section 65 has a second minimal housing thickness d2 adjacent to the connecting unit 40. The first minimal housing

thickness di and/or the second minimal housing thickness d2 are thicker, preferably thicker at least by a factor of 2 to 10, than a third minimal thickness d3 of the material

thinning 300. As a result, the connecting unit 40 forms a folding joint such that the first contact unit 30 is

connected in a simple manner to the second contact unit 35 through the elastic connecting unit 40.

In the embodiment, the material thinning 300 is formed by indentations 305, 310 which are arranged on both sides of the connecting unit 40. The material thinning 300 can also be formed on only one side by an indentation 305, 310. Instead of the indentations 305, 310 shown in Figure 13, recesses, in particular groove-shaped recesses, can also be provided in order to also guarantee the displaceability, in the z- direction, of the contact units 30, 35. It is noted that the configurations shown in Figures 1 to 13 can of course also be combined with one another. List of reference numbers 5 Coordinate system

10 Contact system

15 Contact device

20 Printed circuit board

25 Pin receptacle

30 First contact unit

35 Second contact unit

40 Connecting unit

45 First housing section

50 First arrangement

55 First contact element

60 First pin section

65 Second housing section

70 Second arrangement

75 Second contact element

80 Second pin section

85 First side surface

90 Second side surface

95 First housing side surface

100 Second housing side surface

105 First frame section

110 First chamber wall

115 First receiving chamber

116 Underside

120 First attachment opening

125 First opening

126 First section of the further contact device

127 Further contact device

130 Second chamber wall

135 Second frame section

140 Second receiving chamber

141 Second section of the further contact device

145 Second opening 150 Gap

155 Upper end of the connecting unit

160 First end surface section

165 Reinforcement section

170 Second end surface section

175 Third end surface section

176 Edge

177 First rib arrangement

178 Second rib arrangement

180 First receiving base

185 First holding receptacle

190 Second receiving base

195 Second holding receptacle

200 Connecting bar

205 Third frame section

210 Reinforcement

215 Rib

225 First rib section

230 Second rib section

235 Third rib section

240 Alignment tool

300 Material thinning

305 Indentation

310 Indentation