HOLDING FRAME FOR A PLUG CONNECTOR AND METHODS OF POPULATING SAME

The present invention relates to the field of holding frames (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) for modules (9) and in particular of holding frames (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) for a plug connector for receiving similar and/or different modules (9). In order to provide a holding frame (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) that can be populated in an installed state with little of no additional space around the holding frame (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7), a base frame (111, 211, 311, 411, 511, 611, 711) which defines a plane transverse to an insertion direction of the module (9) into the holding frame (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) and which has mutually opposite end faces (112, 212, 312, 412, 512, 612, 712) and mutually opposite side walls (113, 213, 313, 413, 513, 613, 713) is proposed, as is a fixing member (120, 220, 320, 420, 520, 620, 720) which is attached to a side wall (113, 213, 313, 413, 513, 613, 713) of the base frame (111, 211, 311, 411, 511, 611, 711) and which allows deformation between an insertion state that allows the module (9) to be inserted into the holding frame (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) in the insertion direction and a holding state in which an inserted module (9) is fixed in place, along the insertion direction at least, by a latching lug (91) of the module (9) and by the fixing member (120, 220, 320, 420, 520, 620, 720), wherein the fixing member (120, 220, 320, 420, 520, 620, 720) is so designed that the deformation includes movement of at least one fixing arm (121, 221, 321, 421, 521, 621, 721) of the fixing member (120, 220, 320, 420, 520, 620, 720) in the longitudinal direction of the side wall (113, 213, 313, 413, 513, 613, 713).