The invention relates to a socket contact for plugging in a plug contact, with a receptacle for the plug contact, said receptacle being at least in sections surrounded by a base body, with a contact element for contacting the plug contact and with a spring device for creating a contact normal force at the attached contact element.

Socket contacts in which the plug contact is contacted by a spring arm are known, for example. The disadvantage of such a solution, however, is that manufacture is complicated.

The aim of the invention is to provide a solution in which manufacture is easier.

This is solved according to the invention by means of a socket contact for plugging in a plug contact, with a receptacle for the plug contact, said receptacle being at least in sections surrounded by a base body, with a contact element for contacting the plug contact and with a spring device for creating a contact normal force at the attached contact element, wherein the spring device is formed at least by parts of the base body that surrounds the contact element, wherein the socket contact comprises at least two separate parts and the spring device is arranged at a first part and the contact element is arranged at a second part.

With this solution, manufacture is easier. Furthermore, production of contact is disconnected from creation of the spring force and the two parts can be optimised independently of each other.

The solution according to the invention can be further improved with the following configurations and further developments which are themselves each advantageous and which can be combined with one another as desired.

Advantageously, the contact element is arranged in the receptacle. A simple and secure contact is thereby possible.

In order to be able to match the properties to the respective requirements as well as possible, the base body can be made of a different substance than the contact element.

The contact normal force can be directed into the receptacle in order to allow stable contacting.

By way of example, the base body can be made of a metallic substance in order to allow good stability and ease of manufacture. For the attainment of good spring properties, the base body can be made of a material having good mechanical properties, in particular a spring steel. High hardness or high tensile strength are desirable, for example, such that the base body can take over the mechanical functions of the socket contact. The contact element can be made of a material having good electrical properties, in particular a copper substance, such that good electrical conduction on the contact element is possible. Low transition resistance and/or low internal resistance are desirable, for example, such that the contact element and the part with the base body can take over the electrical functions of the socket contact.

In a particularly space-saving configuration, the spring device can be part of a side wall. In an advantageous configuration, at least one side wall of the base body can be designed as a spring device. Such a configuration can be particularly compact, since the side wall then fulfils a double function.

The spring device can be lengthenable, in order to be compatible with various plug contacts. In particular, the spring device can be lengthenable along the direction of the contact normal force, for example in order to be connectable to plug contacts of various thickness.

In order to achieve good stability, an upper side and/or an underside of the base body can be rigid.

The spring device can connect an upper side and an underside, the contact normal force running perpendicular to the upper side and to the underside. This allows a compact configuration with a defined direction of force. In order to create as much space in the receptacle as possible, the spring device can be arranged at an outer side of the contact arrangement.

The spring device can have a plurality of spring sections that are connected in parallel and/or in series. By way of ideal arrangement and layout, a desired contact normal force can be formed as a result. For this purpose, the spring sections can be arranged one behind the other and/or next to each other with respect to the contact normal force.

The spring device can have at least two interconnected limbs, which lie one behind the other along the direction of the contact normal force. In this way, space can be saved in a lateral direction which runs perpendicular to the direction of the contact normal force. The spring device can therefore have two interconnected limbs which overlap in the direction of the contact normal force.

In a configuration that is simple to implement, the spring device can have at least two

interconnected limbs, which lie against each other in the neutral state and are substantially elastically deflected in relation to each other in the deflected state. In addition to the elastic deflection, an at least partial plastic deformation can also take place.

The spring device can have at least two interconnected limbs, which, in the deflected state, are separated from each other by a gap or cut. Such a configuration can be particularly simple.

It is sufficient in each case if one of the limbs moves, i.e. is deflected. The other limb can remain stationary. A part of a wider area, onto which a narrower limb abuts, can also be understood to be a limb.

In order to prevent a crack from forming as a result of the gap or cut widening, the gap or cut can end in a round hole.

The limbs can be connected directly to each other, in order to achieve as well defined a spring action as possible. Both limbs can merge, for example at a bend or curve.

In one configuration, which is compact in a lateral direction, the spring device can have a planar limb which lies in a plane that lies parallel to the direction of the contact normal force. In particular the limb can be part of a metal sheet, such that easy manufacture is possible. If a plurality of limbs are present, these can in each case be planar and all limbs can lie in a plane, in order to allow a compact configuration.

In order to allow contacting on both sides, the socket contact can have two contact elements with variable spacing, between which the receptacle is situated, wherein the contact elements are interconnected via the spring device.

Advantageously, the contact elements are connected rigidly to the base body. Such a configuration is simple to produce.

Hereinafter, the invention is explained in greater detail by way of example using advantageous configurations with reference to the drawings. The advantageous further developments and configurations depicted in this instance are each independent of one another and can be freely combined with one another, depending on how this is necessary in the specific application.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a first configuration of a socket contact;

Fig. 2 shows a schematic view of the part of the socket contact from Fig. 1, which comprises the contact elements;

Fig. 3 shows a schematic perspective view of a second configuration of a socket contact;

Fig. 4 shows a schematic view of the part of the socket contact from Fig. 3, which comprises the contact element;

Fig. 5 shows a schematic depiction of a first configuration of a spring device;

Fig. 6 shows a schematic perspective view of a third configuration of a socket contact;

Fig. 7 shows a schematic front view of the third configuration of a socket contact from Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 shows a schematic depiction of a second configuration of a spring device;

Fig. 9 shows a schematic depiction of a third configuration of a spring device.

Fig. 1 depicts a first configuration of a socket contact 1.

The socket contact 1 has a receptacle 4, into which a plug contact 2, which is shown only schematically, can be plugged along a plug-in direction S. A plurality of contact elements 5 provide contacting, these contact elements exerting a contact normal force 7 onto the inserted plug contact 2 along a direction K, which runs perpendicular to the plug-in direction S. To produce the contact normal force 7, the socket contact 1 has a plurality of spring devices 6, which are formed by parts of a base body 3 of the socket contact 1. The base body 3 here surrounds the contact elements 5.

The spring devices 6 are part of a side wall 31 of the base body 3, wherein the side walls 31 are each attached to outer sides 34 of the base body 3. The spring devices 6 connect an upper side 32 of the base body 3 to an underside 33 of the base body 3. The contact normal force 7 runs in each case perpendicular to the upper side 32 and to the underside 33 and parallel to the side wall 31.

The base body 3 is arranged at a first part 11 of the socket contact 1. The contact elements 5 are arranged at a second part 12 of the socket contact 1. The first part 11 and the second part 12 are two separate elements, which have been joined together in a manufacturing process. Since there are two separate elements, different materials can be used respectively for the contact elements 5 and the base body 3, and the properties of the materials can be adapted to the application. The material for the contact elements 5 can be copper or a copper-containing substance which has good electrical conducting properties, but which is comparatively easy to deform mechanically. The base body 3 can consist of a mechanically stable material, for example a spring steel, and can take on the mechanical functions. The base body 3 does not necessarily have to have good electrical conductivity, since a flow of current takes place by way of the second part 12 with the contact elements 5.

All parts of the socket contact 1 are made from a metal sheet 74, such that manufacture can take place by way of die-cutting and embossing.

The spring device 6 has a plurality of spring sections 110, which are connected in parallel and in series. For this purpose the spring sections 110 lie side-by-side and behind one another with respect to the direction K of the contact normal force 7. A desired contact normal force 7 can be produced as a result.

The spring device 6 comprises a plurality of limbs 61, 62, 63, whereby in each case two limbs 61, 62, 63 lie next to each other in the neutral state N shown and, in the deflected state, are deflected elastically in relation to each other. The limbs 61, 62, 63 are connected to each other in pairs and lie along a longitudinal direction L, which runs parallel to the direction K of the contact normal force 7, behind one another and overlap in this direction. The spring device 6 is thereby lengthenable in the longitudinal direction L. In the deflected state, in each case two limbs 61, 62, 63 are separated by a gap 70. At the end of the gap is located in each case a hole 71 which is configured as a circle and prevents the possibility of the material beginning to tear when the limbs 61, 62, 63 are deflected in relation to each other.

The limbs 61, 62, 63 are in each case planar in design, and lie within a common plane E, such that a compact configuration is possible in a transverse direction Q which is perpendicular to the plug-in direction S and perpendicular to the direction K of the contact normal force and the longitudinal direction L, respectively.

The contact elements 5 have adjustable spacing relative to each other and are interconnected by means of the spring device 6.

In Fig. 2, the second part 12 can be seen in an as yet unfolded state. The second part 12 or the separate part 120, which forms the second part 12, comprises two contact elements 5 which are connected to each other by means of a connecting spring 122 and are attached to a base 124, which also serves as a retaining section 121 for retention within the base body.

Fig. 3 shows a second configuration of a socket contact 1. As before, a plug contact 2, which is shown only schematically, can be introduced into a receptacle 4 of the socket contact 1, in order to produce an electrical contact. The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment by the fact that only a single contact element 5, 52 is present at the second part 12. A further contact element 5, 51 is situated at the base body 3. Both contact elements 5, 51, 52 lie opposite each other again in relation to a direction K of the contact normal force 7 and enclose the plug contact 2 in the inserted state, such that contacting of the plug contact takes place from two sides.

In the case of the example shown, the contact element 5, 51 located at the first part 11 can, however, have poorer electrical conductivity than the contact element 5, 52 arranged at the second part 12, since the base body 3 is composed of a material that is mechanically more stable but electrically poorly conductive.

Furthermore, a connecting section 15 is shown schematically, with which the socket contact 1 can be connected electrically to a further element, for example a cable.

In Fig. 4 the second part 12 is depicted in the form of a separate element 120 in an as yet unbent state. Again a contact element 5 is attached to a base 124 which serves simultaneously as a retaining section 121.

One possible configuration of the spring device 6 is depicted in Fig 5. A plurality of limbs 61, 62, 63 again lie one behind the other along a longitudinal direction L and are separated from each other by gap 70. The gaps 70 each end in a circular hole 71. Depending on the desired spring force and spring characteristic, the spacings D2, D3, Zl, Z2, Z3, the width Dl of the connection, the total width BT and the length LT of the spring device 6 can be varied.

The shown configuration of the spring device 6 is mirror symmetrical in the plug-in direction S, in order to achieve a uniform distribution of force. Here too, a plurality of spring sections 110 of the spring device 6 lie behind and next to one another, which spring sections produce a desired contact normal force by means of an ideal arrangement and layout.

Fig. 6 shows a further configuration of a socket contact 1. This socket contact 1 has a relatively large extension in the transverse direction Q, such that a relatively wide plug contact 2 can be inserted, for example in order to transfer relatively high currents.

As already in the case of the second embodiment, contact elements 5 are formed both at the base body 3 and also at a separate element 12, which is connected to the base body 3 or inserted in the latter. The contact elements 5 are again connected rigidly to the base body 3 and cannot be deflected elastically in relation to the base body 3, as was the case with previous spring arms. Fig. 7 shows a front view of the embodiment from Fig. 6.

Figures 8 and 9 depict further configurations of a spring device 6. Unlike the configurations in Figures 1, 3 and 5, the gaps 70 do not end in a circular hole 71. Such a configuration can be easier to produce and can be sufficient where there are only small deflections.

The widths VI, V2 of the connecting sections between the limbs 61, 62, 63 and, respectively, the widths Ul, U2 of the transition sections between the limbs 61, 62, 63 can be configured larger or smaller depending on the specific application.

List of reference symbols socket contact

plug contact

base body

receptacle

contact element

spring device

contact normal force

first part

second part

connection section

side wall

upper side

underside

outer side

first contact element

second contact element

limb

limb

limb

gap

hole

metal sheet 110 spring section

120 part

121 retaining section

122 connecting spring

124 base

Bl width

BT total width

DT width

D2 spacing

D3 spacing

E plane

K direction of the contact normal force

L longitudinal direction

LT length spring device

N neutral state

Q transverse direction

S plug-in direction

Ul width transition region

U2 width transition region

VI width connection region

V2 width connection region

Zl spacing

Z2 spacing

Z3 spacing