Holding frame for a plug-type connector

A holding frame for a plug-type connector for installing in a metallic plug-type connector housing, the holding frame comprising:

• a rigid die-cast metal frame including longitudinal sidewalls and transverse end walls that define a rectangular frame structure that is configured to receive a plurality of connector modules, each of the longitudinal sidewalls including a plurality of upwardly extending protrusions that are arranged to define open recesses spaced apart along a longitudinal length at an upper end of the longitudinal sidewall between the upwardly extending protrusions which are configured to receive lugs of the connector modules that extend transversely toward the longitudinal sidewall when the connector modules are received in the rectangular frame structure, a lower end of each of the open recesses being defined by the upper end of the longitudinal sidewall and opposing sides of each of the open recesses being defined by lateral sides of the upwardly extending protrusions, and wherein each of the open recesses extends completely through the longitudinal sidewall;
• and
• cheek parts made of resilient sheet metal, the cheek parts being distinct from each other and distinct from but coupled to the rigid die-cast metal frame to extend along opposing exterior sides of the longitudinal sidewalls of the rigid die-cast metal frame to provide a multi-layer sidewall structure, and each of the cheek parts having an upper portion with at least one detent window which is aligned with a respective one of the open recesses such that the detent window at least partially overlaps with one of the open recesses when viewing the holding frame perpendicular to the longitudinal sidewalls, and wherein the upper portion of each of the resilient parts is configured to flex outwardly to an insertion state to receive one of the lugs of the plurality of connector modules and to return to a holding state to lock the connector module in place within the rigid die-cast metal frame.

A holding frame for a plug-type connector for installing in a metallic plug-type connector housing, the holding frame comprising:

• a rigid metal frame including longitudinal sidewalls and transverse end walls that define a rectangular frame structure that is configured to receive a plurality of connector modules, each of the longitudinal sidewalls including a plurality of upwardly extending protrusions that are arranged to define open recesses spaced apart along a longitudinal length at an upper end of the longitudinal sidewall between the upwardly extending protrusions which are configured to receive lugs of the connector modules that extend transversely toward the longitudinal sidewall when the connector modules are received in the rectangular frame structure, a lower end of each of the open recesses being defined by the upper end of the longitudinal sidewall and opposing sides of each of the open recesses being defined by lateral sides of the upwardly extending protrusions, and wherein each of the open recesses extends completely through the longitudinal sidewall;
• and
• cheek parts made of resilient sheet metal, the cheek parts being distinct from each other and distinct from but coupled to the rigid metal frame to extend along opposing exterior sides of the longitudinal sidewalls of the rigid metal frame to provide a multi-layer sidewall structure, each of the cheek parts having an upper portion with at least one detent window which is aligned with a respective one of the open recesses such that the detent window at least partially overlaps with one of the open recesses when viewing the holding frame perpendicular to the longitudinal sidewalls, and wherein the upper portion of each of the cheek parts is configured to flex outwardly to an insertion state to receive one of the lugs of the plurality of connector modules and to return to a holding state to lock the connector module in place within the rigid metal frame, and wherein portions of each of the cheek parts on each of opposing sides of the at least one detent window provided in the cheek part are immediately adjacent to a respective one of the longitudinal sidewalls of the rigid metal frame without any intermediate structure between each of the cheek parts and the respective one of the longitudinal sidewalls when the connector modules are received in the rigid metal frame and the cheek parts are in the holding state.