# US 12,113,314 B2 · Adapter plug with play compensation

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- Number: US 12,113,314 B2
- Document ID: US12113314B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/619,543
- Filed: 2020-07-24
- Published: 2022-08-25
- Granted: 2024-10-08
- Earliest claimed: 2019-07-26
- Assignees: Hirschmann Automotive GmbH
- Applicants: Hirschmann Automotive GmbH
- Inventors: Manuel Linseder; Daniel Breuss; Michael Hofer
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12113314B2

## CPC

- H01R 13/6315: {allowing relative movement between coupling parts, e.g. floating connection (for coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, H01R12/91 takes precedence)}
- H01R 13/514: composed as a modular blocks or assembly, i.e. composed of co-operating parts provided with contact members or holding contact members between them
- H01R 31/06: Intermediate parts for linking two coupling parts, e.g. adapter (with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/94)
- H01R 13/74: Means for mounting coupling parts in openings of a panel
- H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS

## Abstract

Adapter (1) having two socket housings (3, 4) which are connected to one another by means of lines (12) with, for example, crimped-on contact partners (11), such as socket contacts (10) or the like, wherein the contact partners (11) are arranged in the socket housings (3, 4) and can be connected to plugs, wherein the socket housings (3, 4) are arranged in a holder (2) and wherein the plugs and/or socket housings (3, 4) are designed such that they can be displaced in a play-compensating manner in relation to the holder (2) in the X and/or Y direction transversely to the holder (2).

## Claims

### Claim 1

An adapter plug comprising:
a housing having an opening;
two sockets;
conductors for connecting together the sockets, having contacts in recesses of the sockets, and connectable to external plugs;
a U-section holder containing the sockets;
retaining clips on the holder, spaced around the opening, and fixing the holder in the opening of the housing, the plugs and/or sockets being displaceable relative to the holder in the X- and/or Y-direction transversely to the holder in a play-compensating manner; and
angularly extending decoupling slots between the holder clips and the recesses of the sockets in the holder.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The adapter plug according to claim 1, wherein the sockets have latching lugs engaging into respective latch apertures in the holder, and the latch apertures are larger in the Y-direction than the latching lugs in order to compensate for play in the Y-direction.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The adapter plug according to claim 1, wherein, for play compensation in the X-direction, contacts formed as pins are formed narrower in at least one socket and/or on the plugs than the width of associated female contacts on the plugs and/or on at least one of the sockets.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The adapter plug according to claim 1, wherein the conductors extended along arcs in the holder.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The adapter plug according to claim 1, wherein at least one projecting mounting ear and at least one latching wedge are provided on the holder in order to axially fix the adapter plug in a housing and can be brought into operative connection with an abutment on the housing.

### Claim 6

In combination with a housing having an opening, an adapter comprising:
a generally tubular holder fitting snugly in the opening, extending along a Z-axis, and having axially oppositely open ends;
respective sockets each in a respective one of the ends;
respective axially contacts fixed in each of the sockets;
interengaging formations on the holder and the sockets preventing axial movement of the sockets in the holder while permitting transverse X- and Y-movement of the sockets and their contacts in the holder; and
respective flexible and nonstraight conductors each connected to and extending axially between a respective one of the contacts of one of the sockets and a respective one of the contacts of the other of the sockets.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The combination according to claim 6, wherein the formations include a pair of diametrally opposite and radially outwardly projecting lugs on each of the sockets and a complementary respective radially inwardly open apertures receiving the lugs and each of a dimension in a transverse X- or Y-direction greater than a dimension in the transverse X- or Y-direction of the respective lug, whereby each lug can move transversely in the respective aperture.