Connector keying system

Electrical connectors – With insulation other than conductor sheath – Plural-contact coupling part

Patent

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Details

439341, H01R 1364

Patent

active

052734625

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to the field of electrical connectors and more particularly to the keying of matable connector housings.


BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various conventional keying arrangements utilize keying projections on one of a pair of matable connector housings which are received into corresponding keying grooves or channels of the other of the housings. Such keying arrangements permit mating of the appropriate corresponding connectors while preventing the mating of similar appearing connectors which are not intended to be mated. Certain prior art connectors include keying projections which are fabricated integrally with the housing at preselected locations, which necessitates manufacture of a plurality of housings different only in their particular keying projection arrangements. Other prior art connectors are first fabricated without keying projections, and separate key members are secured at desired locations in a further procedure, requiring the handling of many pieces and the time and labor of an operator to insure that the proper keying arrangement is incorporated.
Several connectors have incorporated programmable keying members therein. As shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,832,625, plug and receptacle connector housings are molded with a plurality of deflectable members proximate their mating faces along housing side walls which become adjacent each other upon connector mating. The deflectable members are joined to respective housing side walls so that the deflectable members are deflectable thereinto if desired, enabling customizing of the connector housing to provide a system of keying particular plug housings with particular receptacle housings. Although this type of keying arrangement does not require additional pieces to be used, the operator must program the deflectable keying members prior to mating the plug with the receptacle. The programming of the members is time consuming, and can be particularly difficult if the connector halves are positioned in an environment in which space is at a premium.
It would therefore be advantageous to provide a programmable keying system in which the programming of the keying occurred automatically as the connector halves were mated together. This would eliminate the input from the operator, and insure for the reliability of the keying system.


SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is directed to a programmable keying system in which the programming of the keying occurs as the connectors are mated together. A connector housing with mating surface provided thereon, is provided with a keying means receiving recess proximate an end thereof. A keying means is provided in the recess.
The keying means has a first keying member and a second keying member. The first keying member is secured to the connector housing by first securing means, and the second keying member is frictionally maintained in cooperation with the first keying member. This insures that the second keying member is retained in position relative to the connector housing. The second keying member has second securing means which extend therefrom, and are provided to cooperate with a mating connector housing.
The invention is also directed to a keying device for use with an electrical connector. The electrical connector has a first mating portion and a second mating portion, the second mating portion being movable relative to the first mating portion.
The keying device has a first keying means which is provided to cooperate with the first mating portion of the connector. The first keying means has first securing means which engage the first mating portion to retain the first keying means in the first mating portion. A second keying means is provided to cooperate with the first keying means and the second mating portion of the connector. The second keying means has a holding means which engage the first keying means to retain the second keying means in cooperation with the first keying means as required, and a second securing means which engages the second matin

REFERENCES:
patent: 3617985 (1971-11-01), Kehl
patent: 3714617 (1973-01-01), Bright et al.
patent: 3969796 (1976-07-01), Hodsdon et al.
patent: 4082400 (1978-04-01), Gansent
patent: 4159862 (1979-07-01), Funck et al.
patent: 4929184 (1990-05-01), Emadi et al.
patent: 4934950 (1990-06-01), Green et al.
patent: 5000701 (1991-03-01), Norden

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