EP0108477A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Keying system for connector families
Assignee: Whitaker LLC
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Filing: 1983-09-06
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2003-09-06
Abstract
Abstract Electrical connector assembly (2) comprises a plug (4) and a receptacle (6). A primary keying system (78, 84) is provided which permits insertion of the plug (4) into the opening (52) of the receptacle (6) but which precludes insertion of a similar, but more narrow, plug (4) into the opening (52). A secondary keying system (86,88) is provided for specifically keying the plug (4) and a receptacle (6) to each other and prevents insertion of another properly sized plug (4) into the opening (52). The primary keying system (78, 84) is advantageous when a series or family of connector assemblies (2) are produced with the different assemblies of the family being generally similar but having increasing numbers of terminals (62) and therefore increasing width. The plug (4) and receptacle (6) can be provided with sheet metal shielding enclosures (98, 100).
Inventors
- 👤 Wayne Samuel Davis
- 👤 Daniel Brian Lazarchik
- 👤 Robert Charles Swengel Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 20:01
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/64; H01R13/648; H01R13/658; H01R13/6591; H01R13/6596; H01R2201/00; H01R2201/16; H01R24/00; H01R24/60; H01R24/62
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
498 words
A series of electrical connector assemblies (2), - each assembly comprising a plug (4) and a receptacle (6), each plug (4) and each receptacle (6) comprising a molded insulating housing having a mating end (8, 34) and a rearward end (10, 36) and having oppositely facing external housing sidewalls (12, 14, 38, 40) and oppositely facing external housing endwalls (16, 42) extending from the mating end to the rearward end, each of the receptacles (6) having a trough-like plug-receiving opening (52) extending into its mating end (34), the plug-receiving opening (52) in each receptacle having opposed plug opening sidewalls (56, 58) which are proximate to the external housing sidewalls (38, 40) and opposed plug opening endwalls (60) which are proximate to the external housing endwalls (42), the plug (4) of each connector assembly having a forward portion (54) which extends from its mating end (8) partially towards its rearward end (10) and which is dimensioned to be received in the plug-receiving opening (52) of the receptacle (6) of the same assembly, a plurality of plug contacts (30) in the plug (4) of each assembly and a like plurality of receptacle contacts (62) in the receptacle (6) of the same assembly, the receptacle contacts (62) being within the plug receiving opening (52) and being arranged in a row which extends between the plug opening endwalls (60), the plug contacts (30) of each plug (4) being proximate to the mating end (8) of the plug and being arranged in a row which extends between the plug housing endwalls (16), the plug-receiving openings (52) of the receptacles (6) of the series being of increasing width, as measured between the plug opening endwalls (60), with increasing numbers of receptacle contacts (62) in the receptacles, the plugs (4) of the series similarly being of increasing width, as measured between the plug housing endwalls (16), with increasing numbers of plug contacts (30) in the plugs, the height of the plug openings (52), as measured between the plug opening sidewalls (56, 58), being uniform for all receptacles (6) in the series, the series of electrical connectors being characterized in that: a primary keying system is provided on the connector assemblies (2) of the series, the primary keying system comprising, on each assembly of the series, at least one primary key (78) on the receptacle (6) of each assembly and at least one . primary keyway (84) in the plug (4) of the same assembly (2), each primary key (78) of the receptacle (6) being aligned with a corresponding primary keyway (84) of the plug (4') of the same assembly, the primary keys (78) and primary keyways (84) of the connector assemblies (2) having greater numbers of contacts (30, 62) being selectively located, relative to the locations of the primary keys and primary keyways of assemblies having lesser numbers of contacts, to prevent insertion of a plug (4) having a lesser number of contacts (30) into a receptacle (6) having a greater number of contacts (62).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
498 words
A series of electrical connector assemblies (2), - each assembly comprising a plug (4) and a receptacle (6), each plug (4) and each receptacle (6) comprising a molded insulating housing having a mating end (8, 34) and a rearward end (10, 36) and having oppositely facing external housing sidewalls (12, 14, 38, 40) and oppositely facing external housing endwalls (16, 42) extending from the mating end to the rearward end, each of the receptacles (6) having a trough-like plug-receiving opening (52) extending into its mating end (34), the plug-receiving opening (52) in each receptacle having opposed plug opening sidewalls (56, 58) which are proximate to the external housing sidewalls (38, 40) and opposed plug opening endwalls (60) which are proximate to the external housing endwalls (42), the plug (4) of each connector assembly having a forward portion (54) which extends from its mating end (8) partially towards its rearward end (10) and which is dimensioned to be received in the plug-receiving opening (52) of the receptacle (6) of the same assembly, a plurality of plug contacts (30) in the plug (4) of each assembly and a like plurality of receptacle contacts (62) in the receptacle (6) of the same assembly, the receptacle contacts (62) being within the plug receiving opening (52) and being arranged in a row which extends between the plug opening endwalls (60), the plug contacts (30) of each plug (4) being proximate to the mating end (8) of the plug and being arranged in a row which extends between the plug housing endwalls (16), the plug-receiving openings (52) of the receptacles (6) of the series being of increasing width, as measured between the plug opening endwalls (60), with increasing numbers of receptacle contacts (62) in the receptacles, the plugs (4) of the series similarly being of increasing width, as measured between the plug housing endwalls (16), with increasing numbers of plug contacts (30) in the plugs, the height of the plug openings (52), as measured between the plug opening sidewalls (56, 58), being uniform for all receptacles (6) in the series, the series of electrical connectors being characterized in that: a primary keying system is provided on the connector assemblies (2) of the series, the primary keying system comprising, on each assembly of the series, at least one primary key (78) on the receptacle (6) of each assembly and at least one . primary keyway (84) in the plug (4) of the same assembly (2), each primary key (78) of the receptacle (6) being aligned with a corresponding primary keyway (84) of the plug (4') of the same assembly, the primary keys (78) and primary keyways (84) of the connector assemblies (2) having greater numbers of contacts (30, 62) being selectively located, relative to the locations of the primary keys and primary keyways of assemblies having lesser numbers of contacts, to prevent insertion of a plug (4) having a lesser number of contacts (30) into a receptacle (6) having a greater number of contacts (62).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
82 words
A series of electrical connector assemblies (2) as set forth in claim 1 characterised in that the receptacle contacts (62) in each receptacle (6) of the series extend from a first sidewall (58) of the plug receiving opening (52) at a location proximate to the mating end (34) of the receptacle, the receptacle contacts being spring contacts which extend obliquely into the plug receiving opening (52), the primary keys (78) of each receptacle being molded integrally on the second opening sidewall (56).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
A series of electrical connector assemblies (2) as set forth in either of claims 1 or 2 characterised in that a secondary keying system (86, 88) is provided on the connector assemblies (2) of the series for keying specifically a specific plug (4) of the series to a specific receptacle (6).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
51 words
A series of electrical connector assemblies (2) as set forth in claim 3 characterised in that the secondary keying system comprises secondary keys (86) in the receptacles (6) and secondary keyways (88) in the plugs (4), the secondary keyways (88) being dimensioned to preclude entry of a primary key (78) therein.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
115 words
A series of electrical connector assemblies (2) as set forth in claim 2 characterised in that a secondary keying system is provided on the connector assemblies of the series for specifically keying a specific plug (4) of the series to a specific receptacle (6), the secondary keying system comprising secondary keys (86) in the receptacles (6) and secondary keyways (88) in the plugs (4), the secondary keys (86) being integrally molded on the second opening sidewall (56), the secondary keys (86) and keyways (88) being between primary keys (78) and keyways (84) in at least some of the receptacles (6), the secondary keyways (88) being dimensioned to preclude entry of a primary key (78) therein.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
89 words
A series of electrical connector assemblies (2) as set forth in claim 5 characterized in that at least one composite key (94) is provided in at least one receptacle (6) of the series (2), the composite key comprising a primary key and a secondary key which is immediately adjacent to the primary key, the intervening space between the primary key and the secondary key being filled with molded material, the complementary keyway for the composite key being a composite keyway which is dimensioned to receive the composite key (94).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
465 words
A series of electrical connector assemblies (2), each assembly comprising a plug (4) and a receptacle (6), each plug (4) and each receptacle (6) comprising a molded insulating housing having a mating end (8, 34) and a rearward end (10, 36) and having oppositely facing external housing sidewalls (12, 14, 38, 40) and oppositely facing external housing endwalls (16, 42) extending from the mating end to the rearward end, each of the receptacles (6) having a trough-like plug-receiving opening (52) extending into its mating end .(34), the plug-receiving opening (52) in each receptacle having opposed plug opening sidewalls (56, 58) which are proximate to the external housing sidewalls (38, 40) and opposed plug opening endwalls (60) which are proximate to the external housing endwalls (42), the plug (4) of each connector assembly having a forward portion (54) which extends from its mating end (8) partially towards its rearward end (10) and which is dimensioned to be received in the plug-receiving opening (52) of the receptacle (6) of the same assembly, a plurality of plug contacts (30) in the plug (4) of each assembly and a like plurality of receptacle contacts (62) in the receptacle (6) of the same assembly, the receptacle contacts (62) being within the plug receiving opening (52) and being arranged in a row which extends between the plug opening endwalls (60), the plug contacts (30) of each plug (4) being proximate to the mating end (8) of the plug and being arranged in a row which extends between the plug housing endwalls (16), the plug-receiving openings (52) of the receptacles (6) of the series being of increasing width, as measured between the plug opening endwalls (60), with increasing numbers of receptacle contacts (62) in the receptacles, the plugs (4) of the series similarly being of increasing width, as measured between the plug housing endwalls (16), with increasing numbers of plug contacts (30) in the plugs, the height of the plug openings (52), as measured between the plug opening sidewalls (56, 58), being uniform for all receptacles (6) in the series, the series of electrical connectors being characterised in that: plug shields (98) and receptacle shields (100) are provided on the plugs (4) and the receptacles (6) of the series, and a keying system is provided comprising at least one keyway on each plug of the series and one key on each receptacle, the plug shield overlapping the forward portions of each plug and extending from the forward portions to the rearward portions thereof, the forward portions having an unshielded section, the keyway being in the unshielded section, the receptacle shield being on the mating end- of each receptacle and extending into the plug-receiving opening, the key in the receptacle being within the plug receiving opening and being spaced from the receptacle shield.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
465 words
A series of electrical connector assemblies (2), each assembly comprising a plug (4) and a receptacle (6), each plug (4) and each receptacle (6) comprising a molded insulating housing having a mating end (8, 34) and a rearward end (10, 36) and having oppositely facing external housing sidewalls (12, 14, 38, 40) and oppositely facing external housing endwalls (16, 42) extending from the mating end to the rearward end, each of the receptacles (6) having a trough-like plug-receiving opening (52) extending into its mating end .(34), the plug-receiving opening (52) in each receptacle having opposed plug opening sidewalls (56, 58) which are proximate to the external housing sidewalls (38, 40) and opposed plug opening endwalls (60) which are proximate to the external housing endwalls (42), the plug (4) of each connector assembly having a forward portion (54) which extends from its mating end (8) partially towards its rearward end (10) and which is dimensioned to be received in the plug-receiving opening (52) of the receptacle (6) of the same assembly, a plurality of plug contacts (30) in the plug (4) of each assembly and a like plurality of receptacle contacts (62) in the receptacle (6) of the same assembly, the receptacle contacts (62) being within the plug receiving opening (52) and being arranged in a row which extends between the plug opening endwalls (60), the plug contacts (30) of each plug (4) being proximate to the mating end (8) of the plug and being arranged in a row which extends between the plug housing endwalls (16), the plug-receiving openings (52) of the receptacles (6) of the series being of increasing width, as measured between the plug opening endwalls (60), with increasing numbers of receptacle contacts (62) in the receptacles, the plugs (4) of the series similarly being of increasing width, as measured between the plug housing endwalls (16), with increasing numbers of plug contacts (30) in the plugs, the height of the plug openings (52), as measured between the plug opening sidewalls (56, 58), being uniform for all receptacles (6) in the series, the series of electrical connectors being characterised in that: plug shields (98) and receptacle shields (100) are provided on the plugs (4) and the receptacles (6) of the series, and a keying system is provided comprising at least one keyway on each plug of the series and one key on each receptacle, the plug shield overlapping the forward portions of each plug and extending from the forward portions to the rearward portions thereof, the forward portions having an unshielded section, the keyway being in the unshielded section, the receptacle shield being on the mating end- of each receptacle and extending into the plug-receiving opening, the key in the receptacle being within the plug receiving opening and being spaced from the receptacle shield.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
57 words
A series of electrical connector assemblies (2) as set forth in claim 7 characterised in that the receptacle shield (100) of each receptacle of the series is of stamped and formed sheet metal, the shield contact portions being cantilever springs (130) which are integral with the receptacle shield and which extend diagonally into the plug-receiving opening (52).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
70 words
A series of electrical connector assemblies (2) as set forth in claim 8 characterised in that the keying system comprises at least one primary key (78) integrally molded on one of the plug opening sidewalls (56) of each receptacle and a primary keyway (84) in the corresponding plug external sidewalls (12), the primary keys and keyways functioning to prevent insertion of a smaller size plug into a larger size receptacle.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
64 words
A series of electrical connector assemblies (2) as set forth in claim 9 characterised in that the keying system comprises at least one secondary key integrally molded on one of the plug opening sidewalls of each reeceptacle and at least one secondary keyway in the corresponding plug external sidewalls, the secondary keys and keyways functioning to key a sspecific plug to a specific receptacle.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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