Electrical contact device

The invention relates to an electrical contact device, in particular an electrical pin terminal or an electrical tab terminal for an electrical connector. The invention relates also to an electrical contact means, in particular an electrical pin terminal or an electrical tab terminal for an electrical connector. The invention relates further to an electrical connector in particular for the land vehicle field, and also to an electrical entity likewise in particular for the land vehicle field.

In the electrical field (electronics, electrical engineering, electrics, electrical power engineering etc.) there are known a large number of electrical connector devices or connector means, socket, pin and/or hybrid connectors etc. - referred to hereinbelow as (electrical) connectors (also: mating connectors) - which serve to transmit electrical currents, voltages, signals and/or data with a large bandwidth of currents, voltages, frequencies and/or data rates. In the low-, medium- or high-voltage and/or -current field, and in particular in the vehicle field, such connectors must ensure the transmission of electrical power, signals and/or data in mechanically loaded, warm, optionally hot, contaminated, damp and/or chemically aggressive environments permanently, repeatedly and/or at short notice after a comparatively long period of inactivity. Owing to a large spectrum of applications, a large number of specially designed connectors is known.

Such a connector, and optionally its associated (e.g. in the case of a connector device or a connector means) or superordinate (e.g. in the case of a connector means) housing, can be fitted to an electrical line, a cable, a cable harness etc. - referred to hereinbelow as a terminated (electrical) cable -, or to/in an electrical means or device, such as, for example, to/in a housing, to/on a lead frame, to/on a printed circuit board etc., of a (power) electrical, electrooptical or electronic component or of a corresponding assembly etc. (electrical entity).

If a connector (with/without a housing) is located on a cable, a line or a cable harness, it is also referred to as a floating (plug) connector or a plug, a socket or a coupling; if it is located on/in an electrical, electrooptical or electronic component, assembly etc., then it is also referred to as a connector means, such as, for example, a (built-in/externally mounted) connector, a (built-in/externally mounted) plug or a (built-in/externally mounted) socket. Furthermore, a connector on such a means is often also referred to as a (plug) receptacle, pin tray, pin strip or header. Within the context of electrical power engineering (generation, conversion, storage, transport and transmission of high-voltage electrical current in electrical networks, preferably with high-voltage alternating current transmission), the term cable fittings is used, because of the comparatively complex structure thereof.

Such a connector must ensure trouble-free transmission of electricity, wherein mutually corresponding and partially complementary connectors (connector and mating connector) in most cases have locking means and/or fastening means for permanently but generally releasably locking and/or fastening the connector to/in the mating connector or vice versa. Furthermore, an electrical connecting means for a connector, for example having or comprising an actual contact device (terminal; in most cases in materially one-piece or integral form, e.g. a contact element etc.) or a contact means (terminal; in most cases in multi-part, two-part, one-piece, materially one-piece or integral form, e.g. a one- or multi part (crimp) contact means) must be securely received therein. In the case of a (pre- )terminated electrical cable, such a connecting means can be provided in the form of a connector (see above), that is to say without a housing, for example floating.

Increasing hybridization and electrification of the drive trains of vehicles as well as increasing electrification of ancillary units and equipment of the vehicles result inter alia in problems of installation space, so that affected units, ancillary units and equipment are to be made smaller where possible. This affects inter alia electrical plug connections in a vehicle and the peripheral equipment thereof. Attempts are therefore being made to improve electrical connectors and their terminals, in particular to design them more effectively and also to make them and/or the production thereof more cost-effective.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved electrical contact device and/or contact means, in particular an improved electrical pin terminal and/or an improved electrical tab terminal for an electrical connector. The contact device or contact means is in particular to be capable of being made smaller and/or in particular is to have lower installation tolerances, so that a connector that is smaller overall can be produced with such a contact device or contact means. It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved electrical connector and also an improved electrical entity.

The object of the invention is achieved according to the independent claims by means of an electrical contact device, in particular an electrical pin terminal or an electrical tab terminal for an electrical connector; by means of an electrical contact means, in particular an electrical pin terminal or an electrical tab terminal for an electrical connector; by means of an electrical connector in particular for the land vehicle field; and by means of an electrical entity likewise in particular for the land vehicle field. Advantageous further developments, additional features and/or advantages of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims and the following description.

The contact device according to the invention extends with its thickness in a longitudinal direction and a width direction of the contact device, wherein the contact device comprises an electromechanical contact region, preferably for electrically contacting an electromechanical mating terminal, and, adjacent thereto in the longitudinal direction, a mechanical fastening region, preferably for fixing the contact device to/in a holder. According to the invention, at least one mechanical fastening means of the contact device protrudes from the contact device, from the fastening region, in a thickness direction of the contact device.

The thickness of course extends in the thickness direction of the contact device, wherein the longitudinal direction, the width direction and the thickness direction are in each case perpendicular to one another ("coordinate system"). The thickness of the contact device can thereby be substantially constant over the entire contact device or optionally vary. A holder can be configured, for example, as a block, a tray, a housing, a printed circuit board etc. A (single) fastening means thereby comprises at least one fastening device, such as, for example, a fastening tooth or the like (see below).

The fastening region, preferably apart from its fastening means or its multiple fastening means, can preferably be configured in such a manner that it serves merely to centre the contact device on/in the holder (inhibition of substantially all rotational degrees of freedom in conjunction with the holder). The fastening means can be configured in such a manner that it serves to fix the contact device on/in the holder in a single longitudinal direction (inhibition of substantially a single translational degree of freedom in conjunction with the holder) or in both longitudinal directions (inhibition of substantially the remaining two translational degrees of freedom in conjunction with the holder).

In the invention, a mechanical lateral fastening means (prior art) for the contact device can of course protrude from the contact device, from the fastening region, in the width direction. In embodiments, the fastening means according to the invention can not protrude or can protrude ^substantially, only in the width direction, from the fastening region. That is to say, the fastening means according to the invention is not flush with the contact device in the width direction; in particular, the outer sides of the fastening means extending in the longitudinal direction and width direction are not flush with the outer sides of the contact device extending in the longitudinal direction and width direction.

In embodiments, the fastening means according to the invention can not protrude or can protrude ^substantially, in at least one corner region of the fastening region only in the width direction and/or only in the transverse direction. The fastening means thereby naturally (also) extends in the longitudinal direction in each case. Furthermore, it is preferred that the fastening means according to the invention is not arranged solely in one corner region or a multiplicity of corner regions of the contact device or of the fastening region. According to the invention, the fastening means can extend on the fastening region substantially in the width direction. Furthermore, the fastening means can extend on the fastening region substantially in the longitudinal direction.

In embodiments, the fastening means can protrude from precisely, at least one, in particular precisely two, of the larger longitudinal sides of the contact device. Furthermore, a mechanical carrier strip connection of the contact device for a carrier strip and the fastening means can overlap in the longitudinal direction at least in some regions. The carrier strip connection and the fastening means are thereby of course at a mutual distance from one another.

On the other side from the contact region and substantially directly adjacent to the fastening means or to the fastening region, a stitching shoulder can be arranged in the contact device. A transition region, for example, for bridging the distance between the fastening region and the stitching shoulder can thereby be arranged in the contact device. Furthermore, on the other side from the contact region and substantially directly adjacent to the fastening region or the stitching shoulder, an electromechanical connection region can be arranged in the contact device. A transition region, for example, for bridging the distance between the fastening region or the stitching shoulder and the connection region can thereby again be arranged in the contact device. The connection region can be configured, for example, as a press-fit region, a solder region, a further electromechanical contact region (e.g. electrical connector in the form of an adapter) etc.

In embodiments, a ratio of a thickness to a width of the contact region and/or of the fastening region can be less than: 1 to 1.0; 1 to 1.2; 1 to 1.4; 1 to 1.5; 1 to 1.6; 1 to 1.8; 1 to 2; 1 to 2.25; 1 to 2.5; 1 to 2.75 or 1 to 3. According to the invention, the/a carrier strip connection can be arranged wholly within the fastening means in the longitudinal direction. Furthermore, a mechanical carrier strip connection of the contact device for a carrier strip can be arranged wholly outside the fastening means in the longitudinal direction. The contact device can of course have a mechanical carrier strip region on the other side from the fastening means or on the other side from the fastening region. This can be applied, for example, in the case of contact devices in which sufficient installation space is available.

In embodiments, the fastening region can have a fastening means on a longitudinal side which extends in the longitudinal direction and width direction or thickness direction, and can be without a fastening means on the diametrically opposite side. The fastening means can thereby be provided on a single longitudinal side. Alternatively, a fastening means can be provided on each of two longitudinal sides, wherein those two longitudinal sides must then not be diametrically opposite one another.

Furthermore, the fastening region can in embodiments have the fastening means on only a single longitudinal side (square cross-section of the fastening region) or on only one of its two larger longitudinal sides (rectangular cross-section of the fastening region). The opposite longitudinal side of the fastening region in the thickness direction can be configured as a substantially preferably smooth, preferably flat and/or preferably planar locating surface. Such a locating surface orients the contact device in conjunction with an inner surface, which is at least partially complementary thereto, of a fastening recess for the contact device in the carrier (see Fig. 4 with Fig. 8).

According to the invention, the fastening means can comprise a toothing, in particular a type of rasp toothing. Such a toothing or rasp toothing has, for example, a single fastening tooth, cut or the like, or a multiplicity (two or more) or plurality (more than two) of fastening teeth, cuts or the like. That is to say, the fastening means has at least one fastening tooth, cut or the like. Furthermore, the fastening means can be provided on/in the fastening region by a method of punching, embossing, impressing, cutting or beating.

In embodiments, a fastening tooth of the fastening means can be worked from a material layer of the fastening region in particular by chip forming (and not chip removing). During the working of the fastening tooth from the material layer of the fastening region, a material recess is formed in the fastening region preferably directly at a flank of the fastening tooth. In the chip-forming working of the fastening tooth, the fastening tooth that is formed and that has formed remains integrally (see below) connected to the fastening region.

The contact device can be in materially one-piece or integral form. A materially (adhesively) one-piece form is understood as meaning a form of the contact device in which the individual parts are fixed to one another by material bonding (welding, soldering, adhesive bonding etc.) and which preferably cannot be separated into its individual parts without damaging one of its individual parts. Coherence can further be produced by means of a force-based and/or interlocking connection (not in the case of an integral form). This is the case in particular also for the contact means according to the invention which is in at least two- part form (see below).

An integral form is understood as meaning a form of the contact device in which there is only a single component which can be divided only by being destroyed. The component is manufactured from a single original piece (sheet metal, blank etc.) and/or a single original composition (molten metal), which for its part is of necessity integral. Internal coherence is produced by means of adhesion and/or cohesion. The fastening means is preferably arranged integrally (see above) in the fastening region.

The contact means according to the invention has a first electrical contact device and a second electrical contact device, wherein the first contact device is configured according to the invention. The contact means is thereby formed at least in two parts from the two contact devices, wherein the contact devices can be connected to one another by an interlocking, force-based and/or material-bonded connection. An integral form of the contact means is ruled out, this is referred to as a contact device in the present terminology.

The connector according to the invention has a holder and at least one electrical contact device and/or at least one electrical contact means, wherein the contact device and/or the contact means is or are configured according to the invention. The contact device and/or the contact means is thereby in particular arranged fastened to/in the holder. The holder is configured, for example, as a block, a tray, a housing, a printed circuit board etc.

The fastening region of the contact device can thereby be without a fastening means on one of its, for example its two larger, longitudinal sides, and can be seated or rest in an interlocking manner, at least in some regions, with that longitudinal side on an inner surface of a fastening recess in the holder (see Fig. 8). Alternatively, the fastening region of the contact device can have a fastening means on both its longitudinal sides, for example its larger longitudinal sides, and can engage in a force-based manner (friction- based manner), at least in some regions, with those longitudinal sides on or into inner surfaces of a fastening recess in the holder. High extraction forces can thereby readily be counteracted.

The entity according to the invention has an electrical connector, wherein the connector is configured according to the invention. Such an entity is configured, for example, as an electrical device, an electrical means, a terminated electrical cable, an electrical assembly, an electrical printed circuit board, an electrical component, an electrical module, an electrical appliance, an electrical instrument, an electrical unit, an electrical installation, an electrical system etc.

The invention is explained in greater detail hereinbelow by means of exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying schematic drawing, which is not true to scale. Portions, elements, structural parts, units, components and/or schemes which have an identical, univocal or analogous form and/or function are identified with the same reference numerals in the description of the figures (see below), the list of reference numerals, the patent claims and in the figures (Fig.) of the drawing. A possible alternative that is not explained in the description of the invention (see above), not shown in the drawing and/or not exhaustive, a static and/or kinematic reversal, a combination etc. in respect of the exemplary embodiments of the invention or of a component, a scheme, a unit, a structural part, an element or a portion thereof can further be inferred from the list of reference numerals and/or the description of the figures.

In the invention, a feature (portion, element, structural part, unit, component, function, size etc.) can be positive, that is to say present, or negative, that is to say absent. In this specification (description (description of the invention (see above), description of the figures (see below)), list of reference numerals, patent claims, drawing), a negative feature is not explicitly discussed as a feature unless it is important according to the invention that it is absent. That is to say, the invention that is actually made and not an invention constructed by the prior art consists in omitting that feature.

A feature of this specification can be applied not only in a given manner and/or way, but also in a different manner and/or way (isolation, combination, replacement, addition, extraction, omission etc.). In particular, it is possible, by means of a reference numeral and a feature associated therewith, or vice versa, in the description, the list of reference numerals, the patent claims and/or the drawing, to replace, add or omit a feature in the patent claims and/or the description. Moreover, a feature in a patent claim can thereby be interpreted and/or specified in greater detail.

The features of the description can (in view of the (initially mostly unknown) prior art) be interpreted as optional features; that is to say, any feature can be interpreted as an optional, arbitrary or preferred, that is to say a non-binding, feature. Accordingly, it is possible to extract a feature, optionally including its periphery, from an exemplary embodiment, whereby that feature can then be transferred to a more generalized inventive concept. The absence of a feature (negative feature) in an exemplary embodiment shows that the feature is optional in relation to the invention. Furthermore, a type term for a feature can also be read as a generic term for the feature (optionally further hierarchical organization into sub-genus etc.), whereby, for example with respect to equivalent action and/or equivalence, a generalization of the feature is possible.

In the figures, which, apart from Fig. 7, are two-dimensional and merely by way of example:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a first embodiment of two electrical contact devices according to the prior art, incorporated into a carrier strip for a plurality of such contact devices,

Fig. 2 is a plan view (left) and a side view (right) of an embodiment of an electrical connector according to the prior art, having a plurality of contact devices according to Fig.

1 bent at a 90° angle,

Fig. 3 is a plan view, broken away at the bottom, of a second embodiment of an electrical contact device according to the prior art, incorporated into a carrier strip for a plurality of such contact devices,

Fig. 4 is a highly schematic and cutaway side view of two contact devices according to the prior art arranged in a holder subject to tolerance in the thickness direction,

Fig. 5 and 6 are views (Fig. 5: plan view, Fig. 6: side view), broken away at the bottom, of a first embodiment of an electrical contact device according to the invention, incorporated into a carrier strip for a plurality of such contact devices,

Fig. 7 is a perspective plan view, broken away at the top and bottom, of a second embodiment of an electrical contact device according to the invention, and

Fig. 8 is a highly schematic and cutaway side view of two contact devices arranged in a holder with tolerance compensation in the thickness direction according to the invention. The invention is explained in greater detail hereinbelow by means of exemplary embodiments of three embodiments (Fig. 5 and 6, Fig. 7, Fig. 8) of a variant of an electrical contact device 10 for an electrical (mating) connector 1 for the motor vehicle field. Although the invention is described and illustrated in greater detail by means of preferred exemplary embodiments, the invention is not limited by the disclosed exemplary embodiments but is more fundamental in nature. Other variations can be derived therefrom and/or from the above (description of the invention) without departing from the scope of protection of the invention.

Accordingly, the invention is also applicable generally to an electrical component and/or in a non-vehicle field, such as, for example, a power electronics field, an electrical engineering field etc., and very generally in engineering. That is to say, the invention is generally applicable in an electrical entity 0 (see above). An exception here is ground- based electrical power engineering and its derivatives in vehicles. The drawings show only those spatial portions of an object of the invention that are necessary for understanding the invention. Terms such as connector and mating connector, terminal and mating terminal etc. are to be interpreted synonymously, that is to say are optionally mutually interchangeable.

Fig. 1 to 4 show an example of the prior art, starting from which the invention was created. Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of two contact devices 10 (pin terminals 10) according to the prior art, wherein the contact devices 10 are integrally incorporated into a carrier strip 2 (reel). Such a contact device 10 comprises, integrally connected in series one behind the other in its longitudinal direction Lr: an electromechanical contact region 110, a mechanical fastening region 120, a mechanical carrier strip region 130 having a stitching shoulder 132 (caused by production), a mechanical bridging region 140 and an electromechanical connection region 150.

The contact region 110 serves for electrical contacting of an electromechanical mating terminal (not shown), the fastening region 120 serves for fixing the contact device 10 to/in a holder 20 (see Fig. 2 and 4), the carrier strip region 130 serves for mutually holding together a plurality of contact devices 10 for simple transport and simple further processing of the contact devices 10 in the form of a reel, the bridging region 140 serves for adjusting a length of the contact device 10 (see Fig. 2 on the right, right-hand contact device(s) 10), and the connection region 150 serves for electrical contacting of a printed circuit board (not shown). These details, apart from the carrier strip region 130, are applicable analogously to the invention.

Fig. 3 shows the second embodiment of a contact device 10 according to the prior art in the form of a tab terminal 10. In the two embodiments according to the prior art, only narrow longitudinal sides are used for punched fastening geometries (lateral fastening means 121) of the contact devices 10. The same applies for embossed fastening geometries of contact devices (not shown), which are used in the narrow corner regions of the contact devices. The carrier strip 2 and the stitching shoulder 132 must thereby be positioned offset in the longitudinal direction Lrwith respect to the fastening region 120.

When considered ex post, this lengthens and enlarges the contact devices 10, which can lead to installation space problems of a carrier 20 having such contact devices 10 (see Fig. 2, pos. 130). Longer contact devices 10, in particular longer narrow contact devices 10, are additionally susceptible to damage. Furthermore, contact devices 10 with only lateral fastening means 121 can assume comparatively highly slanted positions (see Fig. 4) in a carrier 20 relative to an orientation of their fastening recesses 210 and accordingly have a comparatively poor position tolerance.

According to the invention, the carrier strip region 130 according to the prior art can be omitted from a contact device 10. A fastening geometry (lateral fastening means 121) of a contact device 10 from the prior art is thereby moved from a narrow longitudinal side to at least one of the two larger longitudinal sides. It is of course possible according to the invention to use a carrier strip region 130 according to the prior art, if permitted, for example, by an installation space and/or other requirements. Furthermore, it is of course possible according to the invention to use a fastening geometry (lateral fastening means 121) from the prior art in addition to the fastening geometry according to the invention.

The contact device 10 extends with its thickness D (in the thickness direction Dr) in a longitudinal direction Lr and a width direction Br of the contact device 10. An overall length (in the longitudinal direction Lr) of the contact device 10 is thereby in most cases the largest overall dimension of the contact device 10, an overall thickness (in the thickness direction Dr) of the contact device 10 is in most cases the smallest overall dimension of the contact device 10, and an overall width (in the width direction Br) of the contact device 10 is in most cases the middle overall dimension (between the overall length and the overall thickness) of the contact device 10. The contact device 10 according to the invention (see Fig. 5 to 8) comprises at least a contact region 110 and a fastening region 120. The contact device 10 can further have a bridging region 140 and/or a connection region 150.

According to the invention, a mechanical fastening means 125 (dashed oval) is arranged at/in/on the fastening region 120, which fastening means protrudes away from the contact device 10 and/or into the contact device in a thickness direction Dr on at least one of the two larger long sides of the contact device 10, which can be applied in all variants of the invention. That is to say, the fastening means 125 can be provided at/on precisely or at least one of the larger longitudinal sides of the contact device 10. The fastening means 125 thereby extends on the fastening region 120 preferably substantially in the width direction Br and/or substantially in the longitudinal direction Lr.

According to the invention, a mechanical carrier strip connection 123 of the contact device 10 at or for a carrier strip 2 and the fastening means 125 can touch or overlap one another in the longitudinal direction Lr. In the present case, the carrier strip connection 123 is arranged wholly within the fastening means 125 in the longitudinal direction Lr. The connection region 150 is preferably arranged in the contact device 10, optionally apart from a transition region 140, substantially directly adjacent to the fastening region 120 or to a stitching shoulder 132.

According to the invention, the fastening means 125 in all embodiments can be formed over a large area as a large-area fastening means 125. Individual fastening devices 126 can thereby together constitute a single fastening means 125 of one of the larger longitudinal sides of the contact device 10. Such a fastening device 126 can be configured, for example, as a latching device 126 and in particular as a tooth 126, a cut 126, a shoulder, a recess etc. Preferably, the fastening means 125 is configured as a toothing 125 or rasp toothing 125.

In one embodiment of the invention (see Fig. 6), the fastening region 120 has the fastening means 125 on only one of the two larger longitudinal sides. An opposite longitudinal side of the fastening region 120 in the thickness direction Dr is thereby preferably smooth and/or flat. By means of such a form according to the invention of the two larger longitudinal sides, installation tolerances of the contact device 10 can be reduced (see below). The invention is applicable very generally to electrical terminals 10,

... , for example to pin terminals, tab terminals, socket terminals etc., as (one-part) contact devices 10, (multi-part) contact means having contact devices 10 according to the invention etc. By the use according to the invention (see Fig. 5 to 8) of one or both larger longitudinal sides of a contact device 10 for the (multiple) fixing means 125 thereof, it is possible to use the narrower longitudinal sides for the carrier strip 2 and the stitching shoulder 132.

An overall size, in particular an overall length, of the contact devices 10 can thereby be reduced, which significantly diminishes the problems of the prior art mentioned above. Furthermore, the invention permits higher holding forces also within a fastening recess 210 which is smaller in the longitudinal direction Lr, which is very useful in particular in the case of comparatively large HV contact devices 10, HV contact means and HV connectors 20.

In the case of a one-sided arrangement of the fastening means 125 on/in a contact device 10 (see Fig. 8), the contact device 10 in question, in a fastened state inside the carrier 20, is pressed against an inside wall of the fastening recess 210 of the carrier 20. The contact device 10 thereby assumes a significantly less inclined position, compared to the prior art (see Fig. 4), with respect to an orientation of its fastening recess 210 and accordingly has significantly improved position tolerance in comparison with the prior art.

In summary - this and the following is applicable cumulatively and/or alternatively to all embodiments of the invention - the fastening means 125 or the at least one fastening device 126 is according to the invention formed by primary forming in particular from a material of the fastening region 120. That is to say, the fastening means 125 or fastening device 126 is in particular not produced by a re-forming method, such as, for example, the forming of a bead in the fastening region 120. As a result, an opposing negative, with respect to the thickness direction Dr of the fastening region 120, to the positively formed fastening means 125 or fastening device 126 can be avoided.

In particular, the production of the fastening means 125 or of the at least one fastening device 126 takes place in such a manner that, on a relevant side of the fastening region 120, there is both a removal of material (material recess(es) 127) for the fastening means 125 or fastening device 126 and an accumulation of material as the fastening means 125 or fastening device 126. An opposite side of the fastening region 120 in the thickness direction Dr has nothing to do with that accumulation of material, that is to say that side of the fastening region 120 could be of any desired form without influencing a constitution of the removal of material (127) and the accumulation of material (125, 126). A fastening device 126, a fastening tooth 126 or a cut 126 can be formed as follows. By means of a chip-forming but not chip-removing movement of a tool, material is worked from the relevant upper side of the fastening region 120, for example stripped, without thereby working, in particular punching, from the opposite side of the fastening region 120 in the thickness direction Dr in any way. Punching can lead to material deformations and losses of symmetry of a contact device 10. Accordingly, it is also preferred overall not to deform the fastening region 120 in its predominantly or substantially entire extent in the width direction Br and/or longitudinal direction Lr as compared with a main extent of the contact device 10 (thickness D in the longitudinal direction Lr and width direction Br), in order thus to obtain a fastening means or fastening device.

That is to say, further, that a fastening device 126, a fastening tooth 126 or a cut 126 can be arranged at/in the fastening region 120 to protrude from the contact device 10 in the thickness direction Dr in such a manner that a material of the fastening region 120 is removed at a specific point, wherein a material recess 127 is formed (see Fig. 5 and 7). This removed material is accumulated to form the fastening device 126, the fastening tooth 126 or the cut 126, wherein an accumulation of material protruding from the fastening region 120 piles up, for example, in an upwardly tapering manner (that is to say in the width direction Br away from the fastening region 120). This can be carried out, for example, by a method of impressing, cutting or beating.

If the fastening means 125 is arranged at/in the fastening region 120 on only one side, then it is preferred that the opposite side thereof in the thickness direction Dr is free of a positive and/or negative shaping of a fastening means 125 or of at least one fastening device 126. That is to say, this opposite side serves substantially for centring/positioning the contact device 10 and is flat and preferably smooth in form. That is to say, the fastening region 120 here has substantially no signs of a positive and/or negative shaping of a fastening means 125 or fastening device 126.