# US 9,437,951 B2 · Apparatuses and methods for a plug connector > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,437,951 B2 - Document ID: US9437951B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/880,763 - Filed: 2015-10-12 - Published: 2016-02-04 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2012-12-05 - Assignees: E.G.O. Elektro-Geraetebau GmbH - Applicants: E.G.O. Elektro-Geraetebau GmbH - Inventors: Holger Koebrich; Uwe Koegel - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9437951B2 ## CPC - H01R 13/04: Pins or blades for co-operation with sockets - H01R 4/02: Soldered or welded connections {(H01R4/625, H01R4/723, H01R12/59 take precedence)} - H01R 12/57: surface mounting terminals - H01R 12/7082: {Coupling device supported only by cooperation with PCB} - H01R 12/716: {Coupling device provided on the PCB} - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS ## Abstract A plug connector has a housing and a plurality of metallic plug connections in the housing together with a plurality of contact feet which project from the bottom face of the housing in order to make electrical contact and be mechanically fixed to a support of a heating apparatus which is electrically connected to the plug connector. A contact foot has a U-shaped foot end with two limbs and with a cutout in-between, an upper limb merging with the contact foot, and a lower limb being provided on that side which faces away from the housing. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A plug connector comprising: a housing; a plurality of metallic plug connections in said housing; and a plurality of contact feet which project from a bottom face of said housing in order to make electrical contact and to be mechanically fixed to a support of an apparatus which is electrically connected to said plug connector, wherein one contact foot has a U-shaped foot end with an upper limb and a lower limb, said upper limb merging with said contact foot, with a cutout between said upper limb and said contact foot, and said lower limb being provided on a side of said contact foot facing away from said housing, wherein said cutout in said foot end faces inward between the limbs into a space in said bottom face of said housing in such a way that said foot end faces outward with a bend, and wherein at least two contact feet are provided on opposing lateral sides of said housing, wherein said at least two contact feet have opposing longitudinal directions. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The plug connector according to claim 1, wherein a length of said lower limb is at least 100% to 300% of a maximum height of said cutout or of an intermediate space in said foot end. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The plug connector according to claim 1, wherein said cutout has a height of between 50% and 150% of a height of said contact foot up to a point in front of said foot end. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The plug connector according to claim 1, wherein said cutout has a constant height over a major part of its length. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The plug connector according to claim 1, wherein said cutout is tapered. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The plug connector according to claim 1, wherein a rounded enlarged opening is provided in said cutout in a direction of said bend, a diameter or clear height of said opening being greater than a maximum height of said cutout. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The plug connector according to claim 1, wherein a bottom face of said lower limb is inclined inward toward said housing or toward a centre longitudinal axis of said housing. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The plug connector according to claim 1, wherein said bottom face of said lower limb is inclined inward toward said housing and toward a centre longitudinal axis of said housing at an angle in relation to a plane which touches all of said contact feet and is formed by said contact feet, said angle being between 5° and 30°. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The plug connector according to claim 1, wherein a radius or a rounded portion is provided on a bottom face of the lower limb at a transition to an outwardly facing bend. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The plug connector according to claim 9, wherein said radius or said rounded portion is formed on a projection which projects beyond a rest of said bottom face of said lower limb. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The plug connector according to claim 1, wherein a lateral recess or a depression for increasing flexibility in respect of a fixing of said contact feet is provided in one said contact foot. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The plug connector according to claim 11, wherein said lateral recess or said depression is provided in said contact foot in a region of said foot end just in front of said upper limb of said foot end. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The plug connector according to claim 1, wherein at least one said contact foot protrudes in its longitudinal direction over a lateral side of said housing. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The plug connector according to claim 13, wherein said contact foot protrudes over said lateral side of said housing with said lower limb and said cutout. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) An apparatus having a plug connector according to claim 1 for making electrical contact by way of a plug connection, said contact feet of said plug connector or of said plug connections bearing against contact areas on a support of said apparatus, wherein a contact surface of said contact areas is planar or convexly curved. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the apparatus comprises a heating apparatus and comprises at least one heating device which is fitted on said support. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said plug connector is firmly soldered to said contact areas of said support by way of said contact feet or said foot ends.