U.S. patent application number 17/189423 was filed with the patent office on 2021-06-17 for plug with an over-molded, non-rotatable plug connector and four connectors, in particular an is4/df4 plug.
The applicant listed for this patent is BIOTRONIK SE & Co. KG. Invention is credited to Carsten Fruendt, Gordon Hillebrand, Detmar Jadwizak, Dajana Kaiser.
Application Number | 20210184414 17/189423 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005429837 |
Filed Date | 2021-06-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20210184414 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Jadwizak; Detmar ; et
al. |
June 17, 2021 |
PLUG WITH AN OVER-MOLDED, NON-ROTATABLE PLUG CONNECTOR AND FOUR
CONNECTORS, IN PARTICULAR AN IS4/DF4 PLUG
Abstract
A method for producing a plug, and to a plug. It is provided, in
particular, that a plug connector and three plug contact rings are
arranged in a casting mold, wherein the plug connector extends
along a longitudinal axis and has a contact portion and a fastening
portion connected integrally to the contact portion, and wherein a
plug housing is formed by introducing a casting material into the
casting mold so that the fastening portion is surrounded
form-fittingly by the casting material and the contact portion
protrudes out from the plug housing at a first end of the plug
housing in the direction of the longitudinal axis.
Inventors: |
Jadwizak; Detmar; (Erkner,
DE) ; Kaiser; Dajana; (Berlin, DE) ; Fruendt;
Carsten; (Berlin, DE) ; Hillebrand; Gordon;
(Berlin, DE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
BIOTRONIK SE & Co. KG |
Berlin |
|
DE |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000005429837 |
Appl. No.: |
17/189423 |
Filed: |
March 2, 2021 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
16560403 |
Sep 4, 2019 |
10965082 |
|
|
17189423 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01R 13/465 20130101;
H01R 43/24 20130101; H01R 2201/12 20130101; H01R 2107/00 20130101;
H01R 24/38 20130101; H01R 13/5224 20130101; H01R 24/58
20130101 |
International
Class: |
H01R 43/24 20060101
H01R043/24; H01R 24/58 20060101 H01R024/58; H01R 24/38 20060101
H01R024/38; H01R 13/46 20060101 H01R013/46 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 2, 2018 |
DE |
102018124307.3 |
Claims
1-15. (canceled)
16. A plug, comprising: a plug housing, which extends along a
longitudinal axis, a plug connector extending along the
longitudinal axis and which comprises a contact portion and a
fastening portion connected integrally to the contact portion,
wherein the fastening portion is cast form-fittingly in the plug
housing so that the fastening portion is surrounded form-fittingly
by a casting material and the contact portion protrudes out from
the plug housing at a first end of the plug housing in the
direction of the longitudinal axis, and three plug contact rings
arranged coaxially with respect to the longitudinal axis, wherein
the plug contact rings each have an outer side, and wherein the
plug contact rings are cast in the plug housing so that the outer
sides of the plug contact rings are each arranged in an exposed
manner on an outer side of the plug housing and are electrically
contactable.
17. The plug according to claim 16, wherein end portion of each
conductor extends in the direction of the longitudinal axis, and
wherein the second end portions are each arranged at the same
distance from the longitudinal axis in a radial direction running
perpendicularly to the axial direction.
18. The plug according to claim 16, wherein the plug housing
surrounds an inner lumen, wherein the inner lumen is fluidically
connected to a lumen of the plug connector, where in the lumen of
the plug connector is aligned with the inner lumen.
19. The plug according to claim 16, wherein the plug housing has a
protrusion formed at the second end of the plug housing, which
protrusion surrounds an end portion of the inner lumen.
20. The plug according to claim 16, wherein the plug housing has
coding for distinguishing between the conductors.
21. The plug according to claim 16, wherein the casting material is
one of the following materials: PEEK or another plastic, wherein
the particular plastic material has a hardness that is greater than
75 Shore D.
22. The plug according to claim 16, wherein the fastening portion
of the plug connector and the plug contact rings are electrically
conductively connected to a first end portion of an electrical
conductor each, wherein each conductor is cast in the plug housing
and protrudes out from the plug housing at a second end of the plug
housing via a second end portion, wherein the second end portion of
each conductor forms a contact for electrically contacting the
corresponding conductor.
23. The plug according to claim 22, wherein the electrical
conductor connected to the fastening portion of the plug connector
is cast together with the fastening portion form-fittingly in the
plug housing so that the plug connector is fixed in the plug
housing non-rotatably with respect to a rotation about the
longitudinal axis.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This patent application is a divisional application claiming
priority to co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/560,402,
filed Sep. 4, 2019, which claims the benefit of and priority to
German Patent Application No. DE 10 2018 124 307.3, filed on Oct.
2, 2018 in the German Patent Office, both of which are hereby
incorporated by reference in their entireties.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates to a plug, in particular for a
medical implant, in particular an IS4/DF4 plug, and to a method for
producing such a plug.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Plugs of this kind are disclosed, for example, in U.S.
Publication No. 2010/0210146 and in U.S. Publication No.
2015/0165216. In U.S. Publication No. 2010/0210146, circumferential
plug contact rings, for example, are contacted with a cable each,
which extends through the plug body, wherein the plug connector by
contrast is contacted via a helical conductor, which can extend in
a central lumen of the plug connector.
[0004] Furthermore, in U.S. Publication No. 2015/0165216 A1 as
well, the plug connector is contacted via a conductive core, which
is connected to a separate plug connector.
[0005] The present invention is directed at overcoming one or more
of the above-mentioned problems.
SUMMARY
[0006] Proceeding here from, an object of the present invention is
to create a method for producing a plug of the kind described in
the introduction and also such a plug that has a comparatively
simple design and, in particular, allows particularly simple
electrical attachment to the plug, for example, in the case of use
of a coradial coil or a 4-wire system.
[0007] At least this object is achieved by a method for producing a
plug having the features of claim 1 and by a plug having the
features of claim 10 and of claim 11. Advantageous embodiments of
the individual aspects of the present invention are specified in
the corresponding dependent claims and will be described
hereinafter.
[0008] According to claim 1, a method for producing a plug is
disclosed, in particular an IS4/DF4 plug, wherein a plug connector
and three plug contact rings are arranged in a casting mold,
wherein the plug connector extends along a longitudinal axis and
has a contact portion and a fastening portion connected integrally
to the contact portion, and wherein a plug housing is formed by
introducing a casting material into the casting mold so that the
fastening portion is surrounded form-fittingly by the casting
material and the contact portion protrudes out from the plug
housing at a first end of the plug housing in the axial
direction.
[0009] Inclusive of electrical attachments of the plug contact
rings and of the plug connector, the plug therefore advantageously
has only four components that are to be arranged in the casting
mold, wherein in particular the casting material can be cast over
or molded around said components to form the plug housing and in
order to fix the components to one another.
[0010] The fastening portion of the plug connector is preferably
hereby integrally connected to the contact portion. Within the
scope of the present invention this means, in particular, that the
plug connector forms a monolithic body comprising the contact
portion and the fastening portion, which monolithic body is cast or
extruded as a cohesive unit, is milled from solid material, or is
otherwise formed into a monolithic body. In particular, the contact
portion in accordance with one embodiment has a homogeneous
structure. In particular, the plug connector--in contrast to the
prior art--is not formed by an integrally bonded connection of two
or more separate bodies (for example, by joining, in particular
welding, a separate contact portion to a separate fastening
portion), but is preferably provided or formed from the outset as
an individual, cohesive body.
[0011] In accordance with an embodiment of the method, it is
provided that the fastening portion and the three plug contact
rings are electrically conductively connected (in particular in
each case by way of a welded or a soldered connection) to a first
end portion of an electrical conductor each, prior to the
introduction of the casting material (and in particular prior to
the insertion of the plug connector) into the casting mold, wherein
each conductor has a second end portion, which forms a contact of
the plug in order to electrically contact the corresponding
conductor.
[0012] Furthermore, it is provided in accordance with an embodiment
of the method that the four conductors are enclosed in the plug
housing by the introduction of the casting material into the
casting mold, so that the second end portions or contacts of the
conductors protrude out from the plug housing at a second end of
the plug housing.
[0013] In accordance with a further embodiment of the method, it is
provided that the second end portion of each conductor extends
along the longitudinal axis, wherein the second end portions
preferably each are arranged at the same distance from the
longitudinal axis of the plug connector in a radial direction
running perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis.
[0014] The present invention thus advantageously makes it possible
for all four conductors or contacts thereof to lie over the same
radius and therefore to be contacted identically.
[0015] In accordance with a further embodiment of the method, it is
provided that the plug contact rings each have an outer side,
wherein the plug housing is formed by introducing the casting
material into the casting mold such that the outer sides of the
plug contact rings are each arranged in an exposed manner on an
outer side of the plug housing. Here, the outer sides of the plug
contact rings can be formed flush with an outer side of the plug
housing.
[0016] It is furthermore provided in accordance with an embodiment
of the method, that each conductor electrically conductively
connected to a plug contact ring is electrically conductively
connected via the first end portion to an inner side of the plug
contact ring. In particular, the plug contact rings and the plug
connector are electrically insulated from one another by the plug
housing.
[0017] It is furthermore provided in accordance with an embodiment
of the method, that, in order to form a protrusion of the plug
housing at the second end of the plug housing, which protrusion is
extended along the longitudinal axis, and/or in order to form an
inner lumen of the plug housing extending along the longitudinal
axis, an appropriate core is arranged in the casting mold prior to
the introduction of the casting material into the casting mold.
[0018] The protrusion produced in this way, which, in particular,
surrounds an end portion of the inner lumen, is also referred to as
a heel and is designed to shield the contacts of the conductors
provided at the end portions against liquid in the inner lumen of
the plug or plug housing. Once the casting material has cured, the
core can be removed in order to clear the inner lumen.
[0019] Said protrusion can have a cylindrical first portion and a
second portion connected to the first portion, wherein the second
portion has four side walls, wherein each side wall is opposite a
second end portion or contact of a conductor. Said side walls of
the second portion can be straight, concave or convex.
[0020] It is furthermore provided in accordance with an embodiment
of the method, that the plug connector also surrounds a lumen which
is fluidically connected to the inner lumen of the plug housing
once the plug housing has been formed and in particular is aligned
therewith. The plug thus has a continuous lumen for receiving a
guide wire or a mandrel.
[0021] It is furthermore provided in accordance with an embodiment
of the method, that the plug housing is cast from the casting
material such that the plug housing has a coding for distinguishing
between the conductors or the contacts of the conductors. The
coding can be formed at a circumferential edge of an end face of
the plug housing, wherein it protrudes from the end face of said
protrusion of the plug housing. The coding is preferably formed on
said edge by a flattened portion of the plug housing, which
flattened portion can be predefined by the casting mold.
Alternatively, the coding can also be formed by a groove or an
elevation, for example in the form of a point.
[0022] It is furthermore provided in accordance with an embodiment
of the method, that the casting material is one of the following
materials: PEEK or another plastic, wherein the hardness of the
particular plastic material is greater than 75 Shore D, and wherein
the particular plastic material has a mean roughness (Ra) which is
less than 0.8 .mu.m.
[0023] The plug connector and/or the plug contact rings is/are
preferably formed from one of the following materials or
comprises/comprise one of the following materials: stainless steel,
MP35N (composition defined in ASTM F562) platinum, platinum/iridium
with a composition of 70 to 95% platinum and 5 to 30% iridium,
gold, gold alloys.
[0024] In accordance with an embodiment of the method, the casting
material is introduced into the casting mold by way of injection
molding, wherein the casting material is injected into the casting
mold under pressure in a liquefied state and the casting material
transitions by cooling into the solid state and is then removed
from the casting mold.
[0025] A further aspect of the present invention relates to a plug
which has been produced by means of the method according to the
invention.
[0026] The present invention furthermore relates to a plug
comprising:
[0027] a plug housing, which extends along the longitudinal
axis,
[0028] a plug connector extended along the longitudinal axis and
which comprises a contact portion and a fastening portion connected
integrally to the contact portion, wherein the fastening portion is
cast form-fittingly in the plug housing so that the contact portion
protrudes out from the plug housing at a first end of the plug
housing in the direction of the longitudinal axis,
[0029] three plug contact rings arranged coaxially with respect to
the longitudinal axis, wherein the plug contact rings each have an
outer side, and wherein the plug contact rings are cast (embedded)
in the plug housing so that the outer sides of the plug contact
rings are each arranged in an exposed manner on an outer side of
the plug housing and are electrically contactable,
[0030] wherein the fastening portion of the plug connector and the
plug contact rings are electrically conductively connected to a
first end portion of an electrical conductor each, wherein each
conductor is cast in the plug housing and protrudes out from the
plug housing at a second end of the plug housing via a second end
portion, wherein the second end portion of each conductor forms a
contact for electrically contacting the corresponding conductor,
and wherein in particular the electrical conductor connected to the
fastening portion of the plug connector is cast together with the
fastening portion form-fittingly in the plug housing so that the
plug connector is fixed in the plug housing non-rotatably with
respect to a rotation about the longitudinal axis.
[0031] With regard to the term "integrally connected", reference is
made to the comments above.
[0032] In accordance with an embodiment, the fastening portion can
have a circumferential recess, so that the plug housing can engage
in said recess. The plug connector, as a result, cannot be removed
from the plug housing in the direction of the longitudinal
axis.
[0033] In accordance with an embodiment of the plug, it is provided
that the second end portion of each conductor extends in the
direction of the longitudinal axis, wherein the end portions are
each arranged at the same distance from the longitudinal axis of
the plug connector in a radial direction running perpendicularly to
the axial direction.
[0034] It is furthermore provided in accordance with an embodiment
of the plug, that each conductor electrically conductively
connected to a plug contact ring is electrically conductively
connected via the first end portion to an inner side of the
relevant plug contact ring.
[0035] Each conductor furthermore preferably has a middle portion,
via which the first and the second end portion of the particular
conductor are connected to one another. The first end portion of
each conductor can be angled or curved in order to facilitate
connection to the inner side of the associated plug contact ring or
in order to facilitate connection to a circumferential outer side
of the fastening portion of the plug connector.
[0036] It is preferably provided that the middle portion and the
second end portion connected thereto of each conductor extend along
the longitudinal axis, wherein, in particular, the middle portions
of the conductors run parallel to one another, and wherein, in
particular, the second end portions of the conductors run parallel
to one another.
[0037] It is furthermore preferably provided that the conductors
are arranged further inwardly in the radial direction than the plug
contact rings (hereby facilitating an electrically conductive
connection to the inner sides of the plug contact rings). The plug
contact rings are arranged adjacently along the longitudinal axis,
wherein, in particular, a first plug contact ring extends in the
circumferential direction of the plug connector around the
fastening portion of the plug connector and around the conductor
that is electrically conductively connected via its first end
portion to the inner side of the first plug contact ring.
[0038] It is furthermore provided, in particular, that a second
plug contact ring, which is arranged along the longitudinal axis
between the first plug contact ring and a third plug contact ring,
extends around those conductors that are electrically conductively
connected to the fastening portion of the plug connector, the first
plug contact ring, or the second plug contact ring.
[0039] It is furthermore provided, in particular, that the third
plug contact ring extends around all four conductors.
[0040] In accordance with a further embodiment of the plug, the
plug connector protrudes via its fastening, portion into the first
plug contact ring and ends in the direction of the longitudinal
axis between the first plug contact ring and the second plug
contact ring. In other words, the plug connector does not protrude
into the second or the third plug contact ring. This advantageously
relatively short design of the plug connector in the direction of
the longitudinal axis is possible by the contacting of the plug
connector by means of the associated conductor, which at the same
time causes the plug connector to be secured against a rotation
with respect to the plug housing about the longitudinal axis (see
above).
[0041] In accordance with a further embodiment of the plug, it is
provided that the plug housing surrounds an inner lumen (for
example, for receiving a guide wire or a mandrel), wherein the
inner lumen is fluidically connected to a lumen of the plug
connector, wherein, in particular, the lumen of the plug connector
is aligned with the inner lumen.
[0042] In accordance with a further embodiment of the plug, it is
provided that the plug housing has a protrusion formed at the
second end of the plug housing, which protrusion surrounds an end
portion of the inner lumen. The protrusion is designed in
particular to shield the contacts of the conductors provided at the
end portions against a liquid in the lumen of the plug or plug
housing.
[0043] In accordance with a further embodiment of the plug, it is
provided that the protrusion has a cylindrical first portion, which
at the end face has an opening, via which the inner lumen is
accessible. Furthermore, the protrusion can have a second portion
connected to the first portion, wherein the second portion has four
side walls, wherein each side wall is opposite an end portion or
contact of a conductor. Said side walls of the second portion can
be straight, concave or convex.
[0044] In accordance with a further embodiment of the plug, it is
provided that the plug housing has a coding for distinguishing
between the conductors. The coding can be formed on a
circumferential edge of an end face of the plug housing, wherein
the coding protrudes from the end face of said protrusion of plug.
The coding is preferably formed by a flattened portion of the plug
housing on said edge. Alternatively, the coding can also be formed
by a groove or an elevation, for example in the form of a
point.
[0045] Lastly, a further aspect of the present invention relates to
a medical implant, for example, an implantable electrode lead,
which has a plug according to the present invention. By means of
the plug, the implantable electrode lead can be attached to an
active implant, for example, to an implantable cardiac pacemaker,
an implantable cardioverter/defibrillator (ICD) or to an
implantable neurostimulator.
[0046] Additional features, aspects, objects, advantages, and
possible applications of the present invention will become apparent
from a study of the exemplary embodiments and examples described
below, in combination with the Figures, and the appended
claims.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0047] Further features, advantages and embodiments of the present
invention will be explained hereinafter with reference to the
Figures, in which:
[0048] FIG. 1 shows a side view of an embodiment of a plug
according to the present invention;
[0049] FIG. 2A shows a sectional view of the plug shown in FIG.
1;
[0050] FIG. 2B shows an alternative design of the contact portion
of the plug connector;
[0051] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the plug shown in FIGS. 1
and 2;
[0052] FIG. 4 shows a plan view of the second end or an end face of
the plug housing of the plug shown in FIGS. 1 to 3; and
[0053] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the plug connector of the
plug contact rings and of the conductors of the plug shown in FIGS.
1 to 4 without the surrounding plug housing.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0054] FIG. 1 shows, in conjunction with FIGS. 2 to 5, an
embodiment of a plug 1 according to the present invention. The plug
1 has a plug housing 5, which extends along a longitudinal axis x,
and a monolithic plug connector 10 extended along the longitudinal
axis x and which has a contact portion 10a and a fastening portion
10b connected integrally to the contact portion 10a. The contact
portion is used to electrically contact the plug connector 10. To
this end the contact portion 10a can be inserted into a
correspondingly shaped socket (not shown). By contrast, the
fastening portion 10b is cast form-fittingly in the plug housing 5
so that the contact portion 10a protrudes out from the plug housing
5 at a first end 5a of the plug housing 5 in the direction of the
longitudinal axis x.
[0055] The plug 1 also has three plug contact rings 30, 31, 32,
which are arranged coaxially with respect to the longitudinal axis
x and which are likewise used to electrically contact the plug 1,
wherein each plug contact ring 30, 31, 32 has an outer side 30b,
31b, 32b. The plug contact rings 30, 31, 32 are embedded or cast in
the plug housing 5 so that the outer sides 30b, 31b, 32b of the
plug contact rings 30, 31, 32 are each arranged in an exposed
manner on an outer side 50 of the plug housing 5 and are
electrically contactable. Here, the outer sides 30b, 31b, 32b can
be formed flush with an outer side 50 of the plug housing 5.
[0056] The fastening portion 10b of the plug connector 10 and the
plug contact rings 30, 31, 32 are each electrically conductively
connected to a first end portion 40a of an associated electrical
conductor 40, for example, in each case via a welded connection,
which, for example, is produced by means of a laser, wherein each
conductor 40 is cast in the plug housing 5 and protrudes out from
the plug housing at a second end 5a or an end face 5c of the plug
housing 5 via a second end portion 40c. The second end portions 40c
of the conductors 40, which are each connected via a middle portion
40b to the corresponding first end portion 40a, each form a contact
for electrically contacting the corresponding conductor 40 and thus
the plug connector 10 and the plug contact rings 30, 31, 32.
[0057] The connection between the fastening portion 10b of the plug
connector 10 and the corresponding conductor 40 ensures a
non-rotatable connection between the fastening portion 10b and the
plug housing 5 following the casting of the plug connector 10 and
of the plug connectors 30, 31, 32 and conductors 40 in the plug
housing 5.
[0058] Furthermore, the fastening portion 10b can have a
circumferential recess 10d (see FIG. 2A) so that the plug housing 5
can engage in said recess 10d. The plug connector 10 is hereby
better held in the plug housing 5 in the direction of the
longitudinal axis x.
[0059] FIGS. 2A and 2B show two alternative designs for the contact
portion 10a, wherein FIG. 2A shows the design of the contact
portion 10a of an IS4 plug 1 and FIG. 2B shows the contact portion
10a of a DF4 plug.
[0060] As can be seen in particular from FIG. 5, it is preferably
provided that the conductors 40 are each arranged further inwardly
than the plug contact rings 30, 31, 32 in a radial direction R
running perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis x. Here, the first
end portion 40a of each conductor 40 is electrically conductively
connected to an inner side 30a, 31a, 32a of the associated plug
contact ring 30, 31, 32 or to an outer side 10c of the connector
portion 10. The first end portions 40a of the conductors 40 can be
angled or curved for this purpose, so as to facilitate a connection
to the inner side 30a, 31a, 32a of the associated plug contact ring
30, 31, 32 or to the circumferential outer side 10c of the
fastening portion 10b of the plug connector 10.
[0061] The middle and second end portions 40b, 40c of the
electrical conductors 40 extend preferably parallel to the
longitudinal axis x, wherein the middle portions 40b and the end
portions 40c of the conductors 40 are each arranged at the same
distance from the longitudinal axis x in a radial direction R, i.e.
are arranged over the same radial circle. This enables simple
contacting of all conductors 40 or of the plug connector and the
plug contact rings 30, 31, 32 at the second end 5b of the plug
housing 5.
[0062] The plug contact rings 30, 31, 32 are arranged adjacently
along the longitudinal axis x, wherein, in particular, a first plug
contact ring 30 extends in the circumferential direction of the
plug connector 10 around the fastening portion 10b of the plug
connector 10 and around the conductor 40 that is electrically
conductively connected via its first end portion 40a to the inner
side 30a of the first plug contact ring 30. It is furthermore
provided, in particular, that the second plug contact ring 31,
which is arranged along the longitudinal axis x between the first
plug contact ring 30 and the third plug contact ring 32, extends
around those conductors 40 that are electrically conductively
connected to the fastening portion 10b of the plug connector 10,
the first plug contact ring 30, or the second plug contact ring 31.
It is furthermore provided, in particular, that the third plug
contact ring 32 extends around all four conductors 40.
[0063] It is also clear from FIG. 5 that the plug connector 10
protrudes via its fastening portion 10b preferably into the first
plug contact ring 30, i.e. into an opening defined or surrounded by
the first plug contact ring 30, wherein the plug connector ends
here in the direction of the longitudinal axis x between the first
plug contact ring 30 and the second plug contact ring 31. This
advantageously relatively short design of the plug connector 10 in
the direction of the longitudinal axis x is made possible by the
contacting of the plug connector 10 by means of the associated
conductor 40.
[0064] It is furthermore preferably provided (see FIG. 2A) that the
plug housing 5 surrounds an inner lumen 70, wherein the inner lumen
70 is fluidically connected to a lumen 71 of the plug connector 10.
In this way, the plug 1 has a continuous lumen 70, 71, which for
example is used to receive a guide wire or a mandrel.
[0065] Furthermore, the plug housing 5 of the plug , as is clear,
in particular, from FIGS. 3 and 4, can have a protrusion 60 formed
at the second end 5b of the plug housing 5, which protrusion
surrounds an end portion 70a of the inner lumen 70. The protrusion
60 can protrude from an end face 5c of the plug housing 5, which
faces away from the plug connector 10. The protrusion 60 is
designed in particular to protect the contacts of the conductors 40
provided at the end portions 40c against a liquid in the lumen 70
of the plug 1 or plug housing 5.
[0066] The protrusion 60 can have a cylindrical first portion 61,
which, at the end face, has an opening 61a via which the inner
lumen 70 is accessible. Furthermore, the protrusion 60 has a second
portion 62 connected to the first portion 61, wherein the second
portion 62 has four concave side walls 62a, wherein each concave
side wall 62a is opposite an end portion 40c or contact of a
conductor 40. Said side walls 62a of the second portion 62 can
alternatively also be straight or convex.
[0067] Lastly, the plug 1 can have a coding 51, which is used to
distinguish between the conductors 40 so that the contacts 40c
thereof can be correctly contacted. The coding 51 can be formed
here at a circumferential edge 5d of the end face 5c of the plug
housing 5 from which said protrusion 60 of the plug 1 protrudes.
The coding 51 is preferably formed by a flattened portion of the
plug housing 5 at said edge 5d. Alternatively, the coding 51 of the
plug 1 can also be formed by a groove or by an elevation, for
example, in the form of a point, at said edge 5d.
[0068] In order to produce the plug 1, it can be provided in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention that the
plug connector 10 and also the three plug contact rings 30, 31, 32
are arranged in a casting mold, wherein the plug housing 5 is
formed by introducing a casting material into the casting mold so
that the fastening portion 10b of the plug connector 10 is
surrounded form-fittingly by the casting material and the contact
portion 10a protrudes out from the plug housing 5 in the direction
of the longitudinal axis x at a first end 5a of the plug housing
5.
[0069] The positioning of the plug connector 10 with respect to the
plug contact rings 30, 31, 32 during the casting, in particular
injection molding, of the plug housing 5 is evident from FIG. 5.
FIG. 5 furthermore shows the position of the conductors 40
connected to the plug connector 10 or to the plug contact rings 30,
31, 32, which conductors are cast in the plug housing 5 together
with the plug connector 10 and the plug contact rings.
[0070] The lumen 70 of the plug housing 5 can be formed by
inserting an appropriate core into the casting mold, which core can
be removed once the plug housing 5 has been formed.
[0071] The casting material can be, for example, PEEK or another
plastic, wherein the hardness of the particular plastic material is
greater than 75 Shore D, and wherein the particular plastic
material has a mean roughness (Ra) that is less than 0.8 .mu.m.
[0072] The present invention advantageously makes it possible to
produce a simple and economical plug housing, wherein in particular
simple electrical attachment to the plug is possible, since all
electrical contacts of the conductors are identically contactable
(on account of the positioning over the same radial circle). This
has proven to be favorable in respect of manufacture and
cost-reducing. Furthermore, there is no need for additional
anti-twist means of the plug connector, and play of the plug
connector (pin play) is largely avoided since the plug connector is
fixedly embedded in the plug housing. Furthermore, there is no
axial offset between the plug connector and the plug housing, since
the parts are fixedly connected to one another and there is no need
for separate assembly. Lastly, there is no need for any additional
components in order to seal off the inner lumen.
[0073] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that
numerous modifications and variations of the described examples and
embodiments are possible in light of the above teachings of the
disclosure. The disclosed examples and embodiments may include
sonic or all of the features disclosed herein. Therefore, it is the
intent to cover all such modifications and alternate embodiments as
ma come within the true scope of this invention, which is to be
given the full breadth thereof. Additionally, the disclosure of a
range of values is a disclosure of every numerical value within
that range, including the end points.
* * * * *