IP Library › Granted Patent US 12683318
Granted Patent B2
US 12683318 · App. 18/296,431 · Granted Jul 14, 2026

Screw for a touch-proof plug connection

Inventors: Ron Buchholz (Bensheim, DE); Manuel Eheim (Bensheim, DE); Alexander Weber (Bensheim, DE); Marcus Wolf (Bensheim, DE); Bjoern Hoffmann (Bensheim, DE); Patrick Distler (Bensheim, DE)
Assignee: TE Connectivity Germany GmbH
H01R13/44
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12683318
App. No.
18/296,431
Granted
Jul 14, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A screw for a touch-proof plug connection includes a screw body and a touch protection device. The screw body has a screw head and a screw shank extending from the screw head along a screw-in direction to a screw tip. The screw tip has a connecting element. The touch protection element has a connection device on a coupling side. The connection device is a connection counterpart to the connecting element and connects the touch protection element to the screw body. The touch protection element has an electrically insulating surface on a front side that points in the screw-in direction in a connected state of the screw body and the touch protection element.

Claims (16)

1 . A screw for a touch-proof plug connection, comprising:

a screw body having a screw head and a screw shank extending from the screw head along a screw-in direction to a screw tip, the screw tip has a connecting element; and

a touch protection element having a connection device on a coupling side, the connection device is a connection counterpart to the connecting element and connects the touch protection element to the screw body, the touch protection element has an electrically insulating surface on a front side that points in the screw-in direction in a connected state of the screw body and the touch protection element in which the screw body and the touch protection element are separated from a mating connector that is matable with the screw body along the screw-in direction, the touch protection element has a touch protection body and an insulating element that is attachable to the front side of the touch protection body.

2 . The screw of claim 1 , wherein the touch protection element is connected to the screw body by a positive-fit, frictionally engaged, and/or adhesive bond between the connection device and the connecting element.

3 . The screw of claim 1 , wherein the touch protection element is releasably connected to the screw body.

4 . The screw of claim 1 , wherein the touch protection element does not protrude beyond the screw shank when connected to the screw body.

5 . The screw of claim 1 , wherein the screw tip has a cavity receiving the coupling side of the touch protection element.

6 . The screw of claim 1 , wherein the connecting element has a thread or a latching device.

7 . The screw of claim 5 , wherein the cavity has an internal thread.

8 . The screw of claim 1 , wherein the touch protection element is made from an electrically insulating material.

9 . The screw of claim 1 , wherein the touch protection body is coated with an electrically insulating material at least on the front side.

10 . The screw of claim 9 , wherein the touch protection body is covered on all sides by the electrically insulating material.

11 . The screw of claim 1 , wherein the insulating element has an attachment device connecting the insulating element to the touch protection body.

12 . The screw of claim 11 , wherein the insulating element is connected to the touch protection body in a positive-fit and/or force-fit manner.

13 . The screw of claim 1 , wherein the insulating element is an insulating cap.

14 . The screw of claim 9 , wherein the touch protection body is made from metal.