Plug-in component

Claim 1

A diode plug-in component for a contact strip, said contact strip having a planar surface defined with two adjacent end portions, one end portion being fitted with at least one flat plug having a flat shape with a lateral width and a height projecting in a vertical direction from said planar surface primarily for forming a stable mechanical connection, and the adjacent other end portion having a plurality of plug contacts arranged in a matrix thereon, said plug contacts having a different shape from said at least one flat plug and projecting in the vertical direction primarily for forming respective electrical connections, said diode plug-in component comprising: a housing of said diode plug-in component having side walls forming an insulated enclosure and a contact surface adapted for being placed in contact with the contact strip, contact elements in said housing for forming desired connections with the plug contacts of said contact strip, at least one locking flat plug receptacle arranged at one end portion of said contact surface adapted for receiving and locking said at least one flat plug of said contact strip therein, and a plurality of slotted holes arranged at another end portion of said contact surface having openings facing the contact strip adapted for receiving respective ones of said plugs contacts of said contact strip therein; and a plurality of diodes arranged in said housing and being connected in an electrically conductive fashion with the contact elements to be connected with the plug contacts, and wherein the arrangement of the at least one flat plug receptacle and the slotted holes of said diode plug-in component corresponds with the arrangement of the at least one flat plug and the plug contacts of said contact strip, whereby the connection of the at least one flat plug in the locking flat plug receptacle is used primarily to form a stable mechanical connection for said diode plug-in component in conjunction with the connection of the plug contacts in the slotted holes used to form electrical connections, and the diodes are arranged to be self-contained with the contact elements in the housing.