# US 12,009,617 B2 · Fixation device for affixing a contact element in a housing of a connector > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,009,617 B2 - Document ID: US12009617B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/496,067 - Filed: 2021-10-07 - Published: 2022-04-14 - Granted: 2024-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2020-10-09 - Assignees: TE Connectivity Germany GmbH - Applicants: TE Connectivity Germany GmbH - Inventors: Thomas Schmitt; Jens Nickel; Walter Saenger; Christian Gregor; Martin Listing; Rolf Jetter; Christoph Kosmalski; Wolfgang Balles - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12009617B2 ## CPC - H01R 13/426: Securing by a separate resilient retaining piece supported by base or case, e.g. collar {or metal contact-retention clip} - H01R 13/5812: {the cable clamping being achieved by mounting the separate part on the housing of the coupling device} - H01R 13/502: composed of different pieces (H01R13/514 takes precedence) - H01R 13/533: Bases, cases made for use in extreme conditions, e.g. high temperature, radiation, vibration, corrosive environment, pressure (H01R13/52 takes precedence) - H01R 2201/26: for vehicles - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS ## Abstract A fixation device for fixing a contact element within a connector. The device includes a housing defining a contact element receptacle for receiving a contact element and a support face defining a deflection surface for supporting the contact element within the housing, and a clamping device for clamping the contact element in the contact element receptacle with a clamping force directed in a clamping direction. The deflection surface is oriented at an angle relative to the clamping direction such that it deflects a component or portion of the clamping force acting upon the contact element in a direction transverse to the clamping direction. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A fixation device for fixing a contact element within a connector, comprising: a housing including the contact element receptacle for receiving a contact element, and a support face defining a deflection surface for supporting the contact element within the housing; and a clamping device for clamping the contact element in the contact element receptacle with a clamping force directed in a clamping direction, the deflection surface oriented at an angle relative to the clamping direction such that the deflection surface deflects a component of the clamping force acting upon the contact element in a direction transverse to the clamping direction. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The fixation device of claim 1, wherein the support face supports the contact element on a side thereof opposite to and facing away from the clamping device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The fixation device according to claim 1, wherein the clamping device includes a clamping body and a slide slidable relative to the clamping body along a sliding direction, the slide pressing the clamping body in the clamping direction and against the contact element when the slide slides along the sliding direction. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The fixation device according to claim 3, wherein the deflection surface extends parallel to the sliding direction. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The fixation device according to claim 3, wherein the sliding direction runs parallel to a plug-in direction along which the contact element is plugged into the contact element receptacle. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The fixation device according to claim 5, wherein the deflection surface extends parallel to the plug-in direction. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The fixation device according to claim 5, wherein an insertion direction along which the clamping device is inserted into the contact element receptacle is parallel to the plug-in direction. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The fixation device according to claim 5, wherein the clamping device secures the contact element along the plug-in direction. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The fixation device according to claim 5, wherein a plugging direction along which the connector is plugged to a mating connector runs parallel to the plug-in direction. ### Claim 10 (depends on 3) The fixation device according to claim 3, wherein the clamping body rotates relative to the housing when the slide slides relative to the clamping body. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The fixation device according to claim 1, wherein a width of the clamping device measured in a transverse direction corresponds to a width of the contact element. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The fixation device according to claim 1, wherein the deflection surface extends obliquely from at least one inner surface of the contact element receptacle. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The fixation device according to claim 12, wherein the deflection surface extends obliquely from and between two inner surfaces of the contact element receptacle. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The fixation device according to claim 13, wherein the two inner surfaces of the contract receptacle are perpendicular inner surfaces and the deflection surface connects the two perpendicular inner surfaces of the contact element receptacle to one another. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The fixation device according to claim 12, wherein the deflection surface has an angle of 30 to 60 degrees relative to the clamping direction. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The fixation device according to claim 12, wherein, as a result of the deflection of the component of the clamping force by the deflection surface, the contact element is clamped in two spatial directions within the contact element receptable by the clamping device. ### Claim 17 An electrical connector, comprising: a fixation device including: a housing including a contact element receptacle for receiving a contact element and, a support face defining a deflection surface; and clamping device for clamping the contact element in the contact element receptacle with a clamping force directed in a clamping direction, the clamping device including a clamping body and a slide slidable relative to the clamping body along a sliding direction, the clamping body rotates relative to the housing on at least one bearing surface as the slide moves relative to the clamping body; and a contact element surrounding a conductor of a cable on at least three sides in the region of the clamping device, the contact element resting on the support face of the housing, the deflection surface oriented at an angle relative to the clamping direction such that the deflection surface deflects a component of the clamping force acting upon the contact element in a direction transverse to the clamping direction, the slide pressing the clamping body in the clamping direction and against the contact element when the slide slides along the sliding direction. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The electrical connector of claim 17, wherein the clamping device includes pressing elements projecting into a receptacle of the contact element. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The electrical connector of claim 17, wherein the clamping body defines a ramp surface engaging with the slide, the ramp surface extending at an angle relative to the sliding direction. ### Claim 20 A fixation device for fixing a contact element within a connector, comprising: a housing including a contact element receptacle for receiving the contact element, and a support face defining a deflection surface for supporting the contact element within the housing; and a clamping device for clamping the contact element in the contact element receptacle with a clamping force directed in a clamping direction, the deflection surface oriented at an angle relative to the clamping direction such that the deflection surface deflects a component of the clamping force acting upon the contact element in a direction transverse to the clamping direction, the clamping device includes a clamping body and a slide slidable relative to the clamping body along a sliding direction, the slide pressing the clamping body in the clamping direction and against the contact element when the slide slides along the sliding direction, one of the clamping body or the slide defines a ramp surface therebetween, the ramp surface extending at an angle relative to the sliding direction.