The invention relates to a contact spring for an electrical switching element, in particular for a cradle relay with a cradle, wherein the contact spring has at least one contact site and at least one hook- shaped attaching mechanism. The invention also relates to a cradle for an electrical switching element, in particular for a cradle relay with an armature-side end and a spring-side end, wherein at least one attaching means is provided at the spring-side end for a contact spring. Moreover, the invention relates to a cradle relay with a cradle and with at least one contact spring, wherein the cradle has a spring-side end with at least one attaching means and the at least one contact spring has a hook-shaped attaching mechanism.

Contact springs, cradles and cradle relays are known in the prior art. The cradles are usually at least partly insulating connecting elements between a relay armature and at least one contact spring. A problem of the cradle is therefore to transmit the armature movement to at least one contact spring. In this case, in a mounted state, the attaching mechanism of the at least one contact spring is connected to the cradle's attaching means. The known contact springs generally have hook-shaped attaching mechanisms in order to connect to a cradle. These are frequently formed as projections extending away from the contact spring. During mounting, the cradle, the at least one attaching means of which can be formed by a slot-shaped aperture, is placed onto the at least one hook-shaped attaching mechanism. To thread the hook-shaped attaching mechanisms of the contact springs generally already arranged in a housing into the cradle's attaching means, the cradle must execute a pivoting movement so that the attaching mechanisms can penetrate into the apertures. This type of mounting is, however, complex and makes it necessary for there to be sufficient space in a housing of an electrical switching element for the pivoting movement of the cradle. This can impede a compact design of an electrical switching element.

The problem of the invention is therefore to make available a contact spring, a cradle and a cradle relay which solve the above-mentioned problem and allow simple mounting of the components without additional space being required for threading movements of a cradle. For the contact springs of the above-mentioned type, the problem according to the invention is solved in that the hook-shaped attaching mechanism has at least one material tongue which is bent back towards the contact site at least in sections.

Here, bent back means that, in the bent back section, the material tongue points at least in sections towards the contact site of the remaining contact springs, for example. If the material tongue extends away from the contact site, it must be bent by more than 90° in order to point backwards again. This configuration allows a cradle to be placed onto the contact spring in a straight-lined movement, the hook-shaped attaching mechanism, particularly the bent-back region, being intended to be elastically deflectable, in order to form a snap-fit hook for form-fitting snap-on connection with the cradle. In this case, the bent-back material tongue can represent a guide and/or a safety device or catch mechanism for a corresponding attaching means of the cradle.

For a cradle for an electrical switching element of the type mentioned above, the problem according to the invention is solved in that the at least one attaching means has a contact spring shaft which extends perpendicular to a connecting line between the armature-side end and the spring-side end.

In particular, the contact spring shaft can serve to connect the cradle to an attaching mechanism of a contact spring. Since the contact spring shaft runs perpendicular to the connecting line between the armature-side and the spring-side end, the cradle can be connected to a contact spring by a straight-line movement parallel to the contact spring shaft. In this case, a contact spring attaching mechanism can be inserted into the contact spring shaft. A threading movement or a pivoting of the cradle is therefore not required. The cradle can thus simply be placed onto the already premounted spring.

For a cradle relay mentioned above, the problem according to the invention is solved in that the hook- shaped attaching mechanism of the contact spring is received in an attaching means' contact spring shaft which extends in a straight line perpendicular to a connecting line between the armature-side end and the spring-side end of the cradle, with the hook-shaped attaching mechanism and the attaching means forming a form fit in an undetachable manner.

The cradle relay according to the invention therefore offers the advantage that the cradle can be connected to the contact spring by a straight-line movement. For mounting, the cradle and at least one contact spring can be moved towards one another in a straight line, such that the hook-shaped attach- ing mechanism of the at least one contact spring is inserted and pushed into the contact spring shaft until it is received, at least in sections, in the contact spring shaft. A snap-on connection between the contact spring shaft and the hook-shaped attaching mechanism, which forms the form fit, can particularly preferably provide an undetachable connection of the cradle to the at least one contact spring.

The solution according to the invention can be further improved by way of various respectively individually advantageous configurations able to be combined with one another as desired. These configurations and the advantages connected thereto shall be explored hereafter.

According to a first advantageous configuration, a cross-section of the hook-shaped attaching mechanism can be tapered heading away from the rest of the contact spring. As a result, a particularly good insertion of the attaching mechanism into a corresponding aperture in a cradle is possible.

The bent-back section of the material tongue can extend up to a free end of the material tongue.

The hook-shaped attaching mechanism preferably protrudes upwards and forwards. Here, upwards means in a direction away from the rest of the contact spring. Upwards means perpendicular thereto. The upwardly protruding section of the hook-shaped attaching mechanism is preferably within a plane of the contact spring in the region of the attaching mechanism and the section projecting upwards extends out of this plane.

The hook-shaped attaching mechanism can have two material tongues which are bent back at least in sections onto the contact site and thereby project in opposite directions. In this manner, a doubled snap-fit hook can be obtained. Alternatively, a material tongue can be bent such that it projects at both sides of the contact spring.

A particularly simple mounting of a contact spring according to the invention on a cradle can be achieved in that the hook-shaped attaching mechanism configures an elastically deformable snap-fit hook. In this case, particularly the material tongue can be elastically deflectable at least in sections. The material tongue is able to be deflected towards the contact site or is able to be elastically compressible. By compressing the hook-shaped attaching mechanism this can be introduced into a correspondingly configured aperture of a cradle. Alternatively, it is possible that the hook-shaped attaching mechanism is rigidly configured. This configuration can be of use, for example, if an attaching means of a cradle is elas- tically configured to connect to the hook-shaped attaching mechanism.

The hook-shaped attaching mechanism can be configured to be monolithic with the contact spring. The monolithic configuration can entail several advantages. On the one hand, particularly simple and inexpensive manufacture is possible. The hook-shaped attaching mechanism can in particular be configured by stamp-bending out of the material of the contact spring. This type of manufacture is less complex than producing a hook-shaped attaching mechanism separately and then connecting it to the contact spring. A further advantage is that the contact spring material which is generally a thin-walled sheet- metal plate has an elasticity sufficient for an elastically deflectable material tongue. As a result, an elas- tically deformable snap-fit hook can be formed particularly simply.

According to a further advantageous configuration, the material tongue can be bent more than once and can be bent back on itself in an end section. This can have the advantage that no sharp edges protrude from the hook-shaped attaching mechanism. As a result, on the one hand the insertion of the hook-shaped attaching mechanism into an aperture on a cradle can be facilitated. In particular it is possible to reduce the risk of the hook-shaped attaching mechanism sticking upon insertion into a cradle or damaging the cradle. On the other hand, the configuration can offer an advantage during operation of a relay with the contact spring according to the invention. The material tongue which is bent back on itself in the end section can provide a guiding surface through which a part of a cradle can be guided during operation. In particular, the end section can run, at least in sections, perpendicular to the rest of the contact spring at least in the region of the hook-shaped attaching mechanism. The end section of the material tongue can then run substantially parallel to a cradle's direction of movement. During operation of a relay, a cradle can then abut the end section at least by a part of an attaching means and slide along it, because the end section is arranged parallel to the cradle's direction of movement. As a result, also during operation of a relay, a hooking of the cradle on the hook-shaped attaching mechanism or damaging of the attaching mechanism and/or cradle can be avoided.

In order to make it possible that a material tongue which is bent more than once and which is bent back on itself in an end section has a sufficient stroke, the end section of the material tongue can be spaced apart from the contact spring. In particular, the end section can be spaced apart from the material tongue itself. Preferably, the end section is spaced apart from a material tongue section extending out of the rest of the contact spring in a straight line. The spacing between the end section of the material tongue and the contact spring can determine the maximum stroke of the material tongue in the direction of the rest of the contact spring.

The expression "bent" is intended to encompass a change of shape of the material tongue, in which a bend takes place around a radius, and also a buckling or folding.

At the base of the hook-shaped attaching mechanism, there can be at least one shoulder. The shoulder can in particular be formed by one side of the contact spring, from which the hook-shaped attaching mechanism protrudes. The shoulder can serve as a stop element and as a result can define the maximal depth, how far the hook-shaped attaching mechanism can be introduced into a cradle.

In order to be connected to a cradle in a mounted state in a switching element, without being damaged by the cradle and/or damaging the cradle, the at least one shoulder can have at least one support surface which, in the direction of the material thickness of the contact spring, is greater than the material thickness. Contact springs generally have a continuous material thickness. If this is not the case, the support surface can be greater in the direction of the material thickness than the material thickness in the region of the shoulder.

The at least one support surface can be spaced apart laterally from the hook-shaped attaching mechanism. In this manner, a particularly broad connection region for a connection to a cradle can be created by a hook-shaped attaching mechanism and the at least one support surface.

A recess in the shoulder can be arranged between the at least one support surface and the hook-shaped attaching mechanism. The recess can form space for elements of a cradle which do not bear on the at least one support surface.

In order to provide a particularly large support surface which can be manufactured as simply as possible, the at least one support surface can be formed by a material tongue bent away from the rest of the contact spring. The bent material tongue can be bent substantially at a right angle from the rest of the contact spring. The material tongue is preferably bent by more than 90° so that it is to some extent bent back onto the rest of the contact spring. As a result, a rounded bearing region pointing away from the contact spring can be formed which particularly advantageously can prevent a tilting with a bearing era- die. The bent material tongue preferably protrudes in the same direction as the material tongue of the hook-shaped attaching mechanism. The bent material tongue in this case preferably protrudes upwards with a shorter section and forwards with a longer section. The shorter section which protrudes forwards can in this case determine the support surface's distance from the rest of the contact spring. The for- wardly protruding section is preferably longer in order to form a support surface which is as large as possible.

The contact spring can have at least one elongate subcomponent and the at least one hook-shaped attaching mechanism can be arranged on a long side of the longitudinal subcomponent. The arrangement on the long side can be advantageous in order to manufacture a particularly compact switching element, A further advantage of the arrangement on a long side of the contact spring is that a force effect by a cradle onto the contact spring in the region of the attaching mechanism can firstly lead to a twisting of the contact spring around a longitudinal axis of the elongated subcomponent. This twisting can be desired in order to facilitate the detaching of the contact sites of the contact spring from counter-contacts.

Alternatively to the arrangement of the at least one hook-shaped attaching mechanism on a long side, the arrangement can also take place on a short side of the elongate subcomponent of a contact spring. The hook-shaped attaching mechanism can then protrude upwards from the contact spring parallel to the longitudinal direction of the elongate subcomponent.

In the region of the at least one hook-shaped attaching mechanism in which a cradle can engage to move the contact spring, the contact spring can have at least one stiffening element. As a result, if desired, a particularly stiff contact spring can be formed. The stiffening element can preferably run parallel to a longitudinal direction of the contact spring. If the hook-shaped attaching mechanism to such a contact is arranged on a long side, the contact spring can be stiffened by the stiffening element in the longitudinal direction, but rotation about the longitudinal direction can however nevertheless still be possible.

The at least one stiffening element is preferably formed as a seam. A seam can be manufactured particularly simply, for example by stamping.

In order to provide a contact spring for a particularly compact electrical switching element, the contact spring can be bent at a right angle so that two legs come into being. One of these legs can have the at least one contact site and the at least one hook-shaped attaching mechanism and an attaching leg can be provided with an attaching device for attaching the contact spring in a housing of the electrical switching element.

The cradle according to the invention can be further improved by the at least one attaching means having at least one stop surface which delimits the contact spring shaft and which extends perpendicularly away from the connecting line and which is formed by a jaw-shaped projection. The stop surface can serve to transmit a movement of an armature of the relay onto a contact spring.

The contact spring shaft can possess an insertion aperture at an insertion end and a receiving chamber at a catching end opposite the insertion end, to which receiving chamber the at least one jaw is relocated from an inner space of the contact spring shaft. The insertion end releases the contact spring shaft preferably in a direction perpendicular to the connecting line between the armature-side end and the spring-side end of the cradle. The receiving chamber can in particular serve to receive a hook-shaped attaching mechanism of a contact spring, such that the cradle is undetachably connected to a contact spring. A cross-section of the contact spring shaft is in this case preferably narrower than a hook-shaped attaching mechanism of a contact spring. When a hook-shaped attaching mechanism is inserted through the contact spring shaft, the attaching mechanism can be elastically compressed and can relax again when at least the elastically compressed section is arranged in the receiving chamber. In this way, a snap-fit connection can be formed between a contact spring and the cradle.

Alternatively or in addition to this, an inner wall of the contact spring shaft can be elastically deflectable. When a hook-shaped attaching mechanism of a contact spring is inserted, then alternatively or in addition to the elastic compression of the attaching mechanism the contact spring shaft can be widened elastically until the attaching mechanism is arranged in the receiving chamber. In this way, a snap-fit connection can also be produced between a contact spring and the cradle.

In order to avoid damaging the cradle through contact with a contact spring and/or damage to a contact spring, the cradle can have at least one support jaw beside, and outside of, the contact spring shaft. The at least one support jaw in this case extends preferably perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the contact spring shaft. The at least one support jaw can in particular serve the purpose of bearing on a support surface of a contact spring. The cradle relay according to the invention can be further improved by the cam relay having at least one contact spring according to the invention and at least one cradle according to the invention.

The position of the hook-shaped attaching mechanism on the long side of an introduced contact spring can define a point of action for the cradle. For example, in the case of a defined scope of movement of the cradle, a deflection of the contact spring, in particular in the region of the contact sites, can be set according to the lever principles through the position of the hook-shaped attaching mechanism.

When the at least one contact spring is moved by the cradle, a force transmission of the cradle onto the at least one contact spring preferably takes place via the at least one stop surface of the cradle. The stop surface can, when the cradle is in the mounted state, abut the contact spring by at least one contact spring and thus transmit a force uniformly onto the contact spring without thereby damaging the contact spring. Since the stop surface preferably delimits the contact spring shaft itself, the stop surface, in the region of an attaching mechanism of a contact spring, act on this in a force-transmitting manner.

In the mounted state, the hook-shaped attaching mechanism preferably does not project beyond an upper side of the cradle. This can be advantageous for an unimpeded movement of the cradle in the relay.

The cradle, by its at least one support jaw, preferably bears on the at least one support surface of the at least one contact spring. In this case, the support jaw of the cradle and the support surface of the contact spring have sections which are preferably parallel to one another in sections, such that a movement of the cradle is possible relative to the contact spring without damage to the cradle and/or the contact spring being caused at a contact site between the support jaw and the support surface.

A depth of the hook-shaped attaching mechanism is preferably greater than the depth of the contact spring shaft. As a result, the hook-shaped attaching mechanism can be elastically compressed in the insertion shaft. As soon as the hook-shaped attaching mechanism is arranged in the receiving chamber, it can relax again and assume its original depth, since the receiving chamber is deeper than the rest of the contact spring shaft. The depth of the specified elements in this case extends parallel to the connecting line between the armature-side and spring-side ends of the cradle. In the region of the receiving chamber, the cradle preferably has lateral delimiting ridges which laterally delimit the contact spring shaft. The lateral delimiting ridges preferably extend downwards, i.e. in the direction of the at least one jaw-shaped projection, deeper than the receiving chamber. The lateral delimiting ridges can be arranged, when the relay is in the mounted state, in the recesses in the shoulder of the hook-shaped attaching mechanism of the contact spring. In this manner, the cradle and the contact spring can be prevented from touching in this region. Alternatively, the contact spring shaft can also have an individual lateral delimiting ridge which is then arranged in a recess in the shoulder of the contact spring.

Hereinafter, the invention is explained in greater detail by way of example using advantageous embodiments with reference to the drawings. The combinations of features depicted by the embodiments by way of example can be supplemented by additional features accordingly for a particular application in accordance with the comments above. It is also possible, also in accordance with the comments above, for individual features to be omitted in the described embodiments, if the effect of this feature is not important in a concrete application.

In the drawings, the same reference signs will always be used for elements with the same function and/or the same structure.

In the drawings:

Fig. la shows a perspective view of a first advantageous embodiment of a contact spring according to the invention;

Fig. lb shows an enlarged depiction of a hook-shaped attaching mechanism of the contact spring from Fig. la;

Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of a first advantageous embodiment of a cradle according to the invention;

Fig. 3 shows a section through a contact spring shaft of the cradle from Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 shows a section through a contact spring shaft of the cradle from Figs. 2 and 3 with an introduced contact spring of the first embodiment; Fig. 5 shows a side view through the cradle of the first embodiment in the region of a support jaw;

Fig. 6 shows a section through a second embodiment of a cradle according to the invention with an introduced contact spring according to a second embodiment.

All of the following figures depict a coordinate system which is defined using the directions of the contact spring according to the invention, which are described with reference to Fig. 1.

Fig. la shows a first embodiment of a contact spring 1 according to the invention. The contact spring 1 can be bent at a right angle, such that it has an attaching leg 3 and a switching leg 5. The attaching leg 3 preferably possesses an attaching apparatus 7 for attaching the contact spring 1 to a housing of an electrical switching element. A set of holes 9 are depicted as attaching apparatus 7 merely by way of example in the embodiment shown.

The switching leg 5 has an overall elongate shape which extends along the longitudinal direction L. The longitudinal direction L runs parallel to the depicted Y-axis. Contact sites 11 are arranged on the switching leg 5. The contact sites 11 are preferably formed by contacts. The contact sites 11 are preferably arranged on the end 13 of the contact spring 1 facing away from the attaching leg 3. The contact spring 1 according to the invention can just as well have more than two contact sites 11 or even just one single contact site 11. The contact spring 1 according to the invention is likewise not restricted to a shape which is bent at a right angle. The contact spring 1 can have any shape suitable for a contact spring 1. In particular, the contact spring 1 can also have an overall elongate shape, or rather only consist of a continuous elongate body.

The switching leg 5 forms the elongate subcomponent 15. The elongate subcomponent 15 runs along the longitudinal direction L. The elongate subcomponent 15 has two long sides 17, 19 and two short sides 21 and 23. The short side 21 is formed by the bend 25 between the attaching leg 3 and the switching leg 5. The opposite short leg 23 has the contact sites 11. The contact sites 11 are preferably flush with the short side 23.

A hook-shaped attaching mechanism 27, described in detail with reference to Fig. lb, is arranged on the long side 17. Fig. lb shows an enlarged depiction of the hook-shaped attaching mechanism 27 and its immediate surroundings. The hook-shaped attaching mechanism 27 projects upwards and forwards from the contact spring 1. The attaching mechanism 27 preferably projects from the long side 17. In the figures, upwards is in the Z-direction and forwards is in the X-direction. The part which projects upwards is substantially formed by a shaft 29. The shaft 29 extends substantially upwards in a straight line. At its lower end 31, the shaft 29 is widened in the longitudinal direction L.

The shaft 29 forms the starting section of a material tongue 33. The material tongue 33 is preferably formed to be monolithic with the contact spring 1. The material tongue 33 is formed into the hook- shaped attaching mechanism 27. The material tongue 33 has the section 35 bent back onto the contact site 11. The bent-back section 35 forms the forwardly projecting part of the hook-shaped attaching mechanism 27.

The bent-back section 35 is preferably bent such that an angle a between the shaft 29 and the bent- back section 35 is 30° to 50°. The angle a is particularly preferably 40° ± 5°. The bent-back section 35 is thus bent by more than 90° from a plane E of the contact spring 1 in the region of the hook-shaped attaching mechanism 27. At an angle a of 40° ± 5°, the bent-back section 35 is thus bent 140° ± 5° out of the plane E which runs parallel to the Z-direction. The transition region between the shaft 29 and the bent-back section 35 forms the first bend 37.

The material tongue 33 preferably has a second bend 39. The second bend 39 is found at the lower end 41 of the bent-back section 35. Through the second bend 39 there is formed an end section 43 which is bent back on the material tongue 33 itself. The end section 43 preferably points at least partially upwards. The end section 43 therefore preferably projects into an intermediate space 45 between the shaft 29 and the bent-back section 35. In this manner, it is possible to obtain a hook-shaped attaching mechanism 27 which has no sharp edges which can lead to tilting or damage when the attaching mechanism 27 is introduced into a cradle.

The end section 43 is preferably spaced apart from the contact spring 1. As a result, the end section 43 is spaced apart from the shaft 29. The distance 47 between the end section 43 and the contact spring 1 is preferably greater than a material thickness M of the contact spring 1. The bent-back section 35, together with the end section 43, can be deflected towards the contact spring 1, or rather the shaft 29 by the distance 47. Since the material 49 of the contact spring 1 is generally elastic, the bent-back section 35, together with the end section 43, can be elastically deflected toward the shaft 29. A snap-fit hook 51 is formed as a result. The hook-shaped attaching mechanism 27 therefore forms the elastically deform- able snap-fit hook 51.

The shoulders 55 and 57 are located at the base 53 of the hook-shaped attaching mechanism 27. A contact-side shoulder 55 has the support surface 59. The support surface 59 is greater than the material thickness M in the direction 61 of the material thickness M.

The support surface 59 is formed by a bent material tongue 63. An overall width 65 of the material tongue 63 in the direction 61 of the material thickness M is greater than the material thickness M. The material tongue 63 has a straight shaft section 67, which extends upwards away from the contact spring 1, and a bent section 69. The bent section 69 is preferably bent out of the plane E of the contact spring 1 by more than 90°, such that an angle β between the bent section 69 and the shaft section 67 is preferably less than 90°, particularly preferably 70° ± 5°. This pronounced bend is therefore advantageous because an end section 71 of the bent section 69 thus does not protrude further upwards than the highest point 73 of the support surface 59. Damage to a laid-on cradle or tilting therewith can be avoided as a result.

The support surface 59, or material tongue 63, is laterally spaced apart from the hook-shaped attaching mechanism 27. In the exemplary embodiment, lateral means in the longitudinal direction L, i.e. within the plane E of the contact spring 1. There is a recess 75 between the support surface 59 and the hook- shaped attaching mechanism 27. A second recess 77 is arranged on the second shoulder 57, at which there is no support surface in the described exemplary embodiment. The recesses 75 and 77 protrude downwards into the switching leg 5. The recesses 75 and 77 can serve to receive parts of a cradle, without touching taking place at this point between the cradle and the contact spring 1.

Alternatively or in addition to the support surface 59, the second shoulder 57 can have a support surface.

Fig. 2 shows a perspective depiction of a cradle 79 according to the invention and Fig. 3 shows a longitudinal section parallel to the X-axis through the cradle 79 from Fig. 2. The cradle 79 has a cradle body 81 which has an overall elongate shape. The cradle 79 possesses an armature-side end 83 and a spring-side end 85. The body 81 extends in a substantially elongate manner along a connecting line 87 between the armature-side end 83 and the spring-side end 85. In the figures, the connecting line 87 is depicted parallel to the X-direction of the coordinate system.

The cradle 79 preferably has a substantially continuous straight upper side 105. The upper side 105 is preferably configured without upwardly protruding elements. As a result, it can be possible, for example, that the cradle 79 can slide along a surface in the direction of the connecting line 87. For example, the cradle 79 can slide along a housing wall of an electrical switching element, in order to be guided by it.

The cradle 79 has the armature connection element 89 at its armature-side end 83. The armature connecting element 89 can be configured such that, when the cradle 79 is mounted perpendicular to the connecting line 87, it can be connected to an armature. The armature connection element 89 has hooklike projections 91 for connection to an armature. An armature can engage in the hook-like projections 91 in order to pull the cradle 79 at its armature-side end 83 along the connecting line 87. For this purpose, the armature connecting element 89 can have stop surfaces 93 for an armature.

The cradle has an attaching means 95 for a contact spring at its spring-side end 85. Alternatively, the cradle 79 can also have several attaching means 95 for the simultaneous actuation of several contact springs. Several attaching means 95 can for example be arranged beside one another transverse to the connecting line 87 and/or behind one another along the connecting line 87.

The cradle 79 is preferably formed to be monolithic with the armature connecting element 89 and the at least one attaching means 95. Particularly preferably, the cradle 79 is produced in an injection molding process from an isolating material such as plastic.

The attaching means 95 has a contact spring shaft 97. The contact spring shaft 97 extends perpendicular to the connecting line 87 and defines the insertion direction 99. In the figures, the insertion direction 99 is arranged parallel to the Z-direction. The contact spring shaft 97 possesses an insertion end 118 and a catching end 122 opposite to the insertion end. The insertion end 118 is preferably arranged at the end of the contact spring shaft 97 pointing away from the upper side 105, while the catching end 122 is preferably flush with the upper side 105. The contact spring shaft 97 is delimited in the direction of the connecting line 87 by two jaw-shaped projections 101 and 103. The jaw-shaped projections 101 and 103 project downwards.

The jaw-shaped projections 101 and 103 are situated behind one another along the connecting line 87. In this case, the jaw-shaped projection 103 situated further away from the armature-side end 83 forms a pulling element 107 of the cradle 79 for a contact spring. The jaw-shaped projection 101 arranged between the pulling element 107 and the armature-side end 83 forms an abutting element 109 for a contact spring. If the cradle 79 described is used for an electrical switching element in which an armature pulls the cradle in the direction of the armature-side end 83 when a magnetic force comes to bear, the pulling element 107 can pull a contact spring in the same direction. When the magnetic drive force on the armature abates, a contact spring can move the cradle 79 forwards, or in the direction in which the spring-side end 85 points, through a spring restoring force onto the pulling element, or onto the jaw- shaped projection 103 along the connecting line 87. In contrast, if the cradle 89 is used in an electrical switching element in which the cradle 79 is moved in the direction of the spring-side end 85 through the action of a magnetic force on the armature, a contact spring can be moved through the abutting element 109 and thus can trigger a switching process. After the action of a magnetic force ceases, a contact spring can exert a pressure onto the abutting element 109 again through its restoring force and can move the cradle 79 in the direction of the armature-side end 83.

In an electrical switching element in which a magnetic drive force moves the cradle in the direction of the armature-side end 83, a cradle 79 according to the invention preferably has a jaw-shaped projection 103 which extends further downwards than the jaw-shaped projection 101. As a result, the jaw-shaped projection 103 can represent an extensive pulling element 107.

For a transmission of force between the jaw-shaped projection 103 and a contact spring, the jaw-shaped projection 103 forms a stop surface 111. In this case, a surface normal 113 of the stop surface 111 parallel to the connecting line 87 points in the direction of the armature-side end 83. The stop surface 111 delimits the contact spring shaft 97 in the direction of the spring-side end 85.

The jaw-shaped projection 101 forms a second stop surface 115. The second stop surface 115 runs preferably substantially parallel to the stop surface 111. A surface normal 117 of the second stop surface 115 can point parallel to the connecting line 87 in the direction of the spring-side end 85. At the insertion end 118, the insertion aperture 119 extends between the jaw-shaped projections 101 and 103. The insertion aperture 119 can serve to insert an attaching mechanism of a contact spring into the contact spring shaft 97. For the facilitated insertion of an attaching mechanism, the contact spring shaft 97 can be widened downwards in the region of the insertion aperture 119.

At the catching end 122 opposite the insertion end 119, the contact spring shaft 97 has the receiving chamber 123. The receiving chamber 123 can serve to receive an attaching mechanism of a contact spring. In particular, the receiving chamber 123 can be used to receive a snap-fit hook or another attaching mechanism of a contact spring, and in particular a snap-fit hook can be received in the receiving chamber 123 in a relaxed state when it has been elastically compressed when passing through the contact spring shaft 97.

A depth 125 of the receiving chamber 123 is greater than a depth 127 of the contact spring shaft 97. In this case, the depths 125 are each defined parallel to the connecting line 87. In order to form the receiving chamber, the jaw-shaped projection 103 is relocated in the region of the receiving chamber 123 from the inner space 129 of the contact spring shaft 97. In this case, a relocated section 132 of the jaw- shaped projection 103 is displaced from the inner space 129 in the direction of the armature-side end 83. The relocated section 131 defines the height 133 of the receiving chamber 123.

In the region of the receiving chamber 123, the contact spring shaft 97 is delimited by the lateral delimiting ridges 135. The lateral delimiting ridges 135 preferably extend downwards deeper than the receiving chamber 123. This means that a height 137 of the delimiting ridges 135 is preferably greater than the height 133 of the receiving chamber 123. Both the delimiting ridges 135 and the receiving chamber 123 are preferably flush with the upper side 105 of the cradle 79.

In order to increase the stability of the jaw-shaped projection 103, the jaw-shaped projection 3 can have a stiffening rib 139. The stiffening rib 139 extends perpendicular to the stop surface 11 forwards away from the jaw-shaped projection 103. The stiffening rib 139 extends in the direction of the spring-side end 85. In this case, the stiffening rib 139 is preferably supported on a floor 141 of the receiving chamber 123. The stiffening rib 139 is preferably formed to be monolithic with the jaw-shaped projection 103 and the floor 141 of the receiving chamber 123. An upper end 143 of the stiffening rib 39 is preferably flush with a front end of the cradle 79 at the height of the receiving chamber 123. In the region of the receiving chamber 123, the cradle 79 has the at least one support jaw 145. The at least one support jaw 145 extends preferably laterally and forwards from the jaw-shaped projection 101. Downwards, i.e. in the direction of the jaw-shaped projections 101 and 103, the at least one support jaw has the support surface 147. The support surface 147 can be used to place the cradle 79 on a contact spring.

Fig. 4 shows a longitudinal section through a contact spring 1 according to the invention and a cradle 79 according to the invention, both according to the first embodiment, which are described with reference to Figs. 1 to 3. In this case, only the region around the contact spring shaft 97 and the hook-shaped attaching mechanism 27 is depicted.

The cradle 79 and the contact spring 1 can be part of an electrical switching element (not shown) according to the invention, in particular of a cradle relay. The electrical switching element can in this case also have several cradles 79 and/or contact springs 1 according to the invention.

The contact spring 1 and the cradle 79 are shown in Fig. 4 in a mounted state A. In this case, the hook- shaped attaching mechanism 27 sits in the receiving chamber 123.

To achieve the mounted state A, the contact spring 1, or the hook-shaped attaching mechanism 27, is inserted along the straight-lined insertion direction 99 into the contact spring shaft 97. Due to the configuration of contact spring 1 and the cradle 79 which is described with reference to Figs. 1 to 3, the insertion through a straight-line movement of the cradle onto the hook-shaped attaching mechanism 27 can take place. A pivoting or tipping of the cradle 79, or rather a threading movement of the cradle 79, are not required in this case. The hook-shaped attaching mechanism 27 in this case penetrates through the insertion aperture 119 into the contact spring shaft 97. The depth 149 of the hook-shaped attaching mechanism 27 is preferably greater than the depth 127 of the contact spring shaft 97. As a result, the hook-shaped attaching mechanism 27 can be elastically compressed in the contact spring shaft 97. In addition or alternatively, also at least one of the two hook-shaped projections 101 and 103 can be configured elastically, such that they are deflected elastically from the hook-shaped attaching mechanism 27 to the outside of the contact spring shaft 97. However, preferably exclusively the hook-shaped attaching mechanism 27 is configured elastically. As soon as the hook-shaped attaching mechanism 27 is arranged in the receiving chamber 123, it can relax again and assume its depth 149. In the mounted state A, the hook-shaped attaching mechanism 27 is then secured, by the end section 43 of the material tongue 33 which runs substantially parallel to a lower inner floor 151 of the receiving chamber 123, against a renewed penetration into the contact spring shaft 97. Preferably, an outer spacing 153 between the end section 43 of the material tongue 33 and the first bend 37 is smaller than the height 133 of the receiving chamber. As a result, the hook-shaped attaching mechanism 27, in the mounted state A, can be prevented from projecting over the upper side 105 of the cradle.

In the mounted state A, the jaw-shaped projection 103 preferably extends up to the height of the contact site 11. The jaw-shaped projection 103 is preferably laterally spaced apart from the contact sites 11, such that it cannot directly bear upon one of the contact sites 11.

Fig. 5 shows a side view of the combination of a contact spring 1 according to the invention and a cradle 79 according to the invention described with reference to Fig. 4.

In the mounted state A, the support jaw 145 bears on the support surface 59 of the contact spring 1. Since the support surface 59 of the contact spring 1 is preferably formed from a bent material tongue 63, with the material tongue 63 being bent back onto the rest of the contact spring 1, the support jaw 140 bears on the highest point 73 of the material tongue 63 and thus on a rounded region. As a result, it is possible to prevent a material abrasion from being generated at the point of contact between the support jaw 145 and the support surface 59 when the cradle 79 moves relative to the contact spring 1.

In the mounted state A, the lateral delimiting ridges 135 can protrude into the recesses 75 and 77, such that material abrasion between the cradle 79 and contact spring 1 can also be avoided at these points.

Fig. 6 shows a longitudinal section through a contact spring 1 according to the invention in the region of the hook-shaped attaching mechanism 27 and through a cradle 79 according to the invention in the region of the contact spring shaft 97, with both the contact spring 1 and the cradle 79 being formed in accordance with a second embodiment. For the sake of brevity, here we shall only explore the differences from the first embodiments of the contact spring 1 and the cradle 79 which are described with reference to Figs. 1 to 5.

The contact spring 1 has a stiffening element 155. The stiffening element 155 is formed as a seam 156 and runs in an elongate manner perpendicular to the connecting line 87. The stiffening element 155 preferably runs parallel to the longitudinal direction L of the elongate subcomponent 15 of the contact spring 1.

The second embodiment of the cradle 79 according to the invention has a jaw-shaped projection 103 which extends downwards over the stiffening element 155 of the contact spring 1. As a result, when the cradle 79 moves in the direction of the armature-side end, the stop surface 111 can strike the stiffening element 155 and, as a result, move the contact spring 1. The stiffening element 155 can in this case prevent the contact spring from bending through in the region of the abutting jaw-shaped projection 103 and at the same time uniformly distribute the force of the contact spring 1 onto this. Alternatively, or as in the first embodiment of the contact spring described with reference to Figs, la and lb, a slight bend- ing-through of the contact spring 1 when a force takes effect through the jaw-shaped projection 103 can also be desired in order to facilitate a detaching of the contact sites 11 from counter-contacts.

The jaw-shaped projection 101 can be formed such that the second stop surface 115 runs in a sloping manner away from the inner space 129 of the contact spring shaft 97. As a result, the insertion aperture 119 widens downwardly, as a result of which an insertion of the hook-shaped attaching mechanism 27 can be facilitated.

Reference Signs contact spring

attaching leg

switching leg

attaching mechanism

holes

contact sites

end facing away from the attaching leg

elongate subcomponent

long side

long side

short side

short side

bend

hook-shaped attaching mechanism

shaft

lower shaft end

material tongue

bent-back section

first bend

second bend lower end of the bent-back section end section

intermediate space

space between end section and contact spring contact spring material

snap-fit hook

base

shoulder

shoulder

support surface

direction of the material thickness material tongue

overall width

shaft section

bent section

end region

highest point

recess

recess

cradle

cradle body 83 armature-side end

85 spring-side end

87 connecting line

89 armature connecting element

91 projections

93 armature stop surfaces

95 attaching means

97 contact spring shaft

99 insertion direction

101 jaw-shaped projection

103 jaw-shaped projection

105 upper side

107 pulling element

109 abutting element

111 stop surface

113 surface normal

115 second stop surface

117 surface normal

118 insertion end

119 insertion aperture

122 catching end 123 receiving chamber

125 depth of the receiving chamber

127 depth of the contact spring shaft

129 inner space

131 relocated section

133 height of the receiving chamber

135 lateral delimiting ridges

137 height of the delimiting ridges

139 stiffening rib

141 floor of the receiving chamber

143 upper end of the stiffening rib

145 support jaw

147 support surface

149 depth of the hook-shaped attaching mechanism

151 inner floor of the receiving chamber

153 outer spacing

155 stiffening element

156 seam

A mounted state

a angle

β angle plane

material thickness longitudinal direction