ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY HAVING AT LEAST TWO KEYING ARRANGEMENTS
First Claim
1. An electrical connector assembly comprising:
- a first and a second electrical connector connectable along an axis, each electrical connector including a housing configured and dimensioned for receiving a pair of electrical contact housings, each electrical contact housing having electrical contacts therein, wherein each electrical contact of said first electrical connector contacts a corresponding contact of said second electrical connector during connection thereof, a first keying arrangement for polarizing to assure proper orientation of said first electrical connector with said second electrical connector during connection thereof, and a second keying arrangement for inhibiting said connection except for connecting a first electrical connector to a designated second electrical connector, comprising;
a first keying wall defined by said first electrical connector housing and a second keying wall defined by said second electrical connector housing, where the first and second keying walls are substantially complementary with respect to each other for enabling connection of said first and second electrical connector housings along said axis when said housings are in axial alignment, a portion of said first keying wall of said first electrical connector housing defining a pair of openings and a portion of said second keying wall of said second electrical connector housing defining a corresponding pair of openings, each opening defining a key-receiving axis therealong parallel to the axis so that when said housings are connected said pair of openings in said first electrical connector housing are in axial alignment with said corresponding pair of openings in said second electrical connector housing.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electrical connector assembly is disclosed having a first and a second electrical connector. Each electrical connector includes a housing having electrical contacts therein wherein each contact of the first electrical connector mates or connects with a corresponding contact of the second electrical connector. A keying arrangement is provided having keying walls for inhibiting the mating except for mating a first electrical connector to a designated second electrical connector. Another keying arrangement is provided by two pairs of electrical contact housings fitted within interior cavities of the first and second electrical connectors. Each electrical contact housing includes a key sized to slip fit into an opposing opening of an electrical contact housing fitted within an interior cavity of either the first or second electrical connector. Each key is arranged so that the first and second electrical connector housings will mate only when the four keys are in mating alignment with their respective opening.
30 Citations
25 Claims
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1. An electrical connector assembly comprising:
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a first and a second electrical connector connectable along an axis, each electrical connector including a housing configured and dimensioned for receiving a pair of electrical contact housings, each electrical contact housing having electrical contacts therein, wherein each electrical contact of said first electrical connector contacts a corresponding contact of said second electrical connector during connection thereof, a first keying arrangement for polarizing to assure proper orientation of said first electrical connector with said second electrical connector during connection thereof, and a second keying arrangement for inhibiting said connection except for connecting a first electrical connector to a designated second electrical connector, comprising;
a first keying wall defined by said first electrical connector housing and a second keying wall defined by said second electrical connector housing, where the first and second keying walls are substantially complementary with respect to each other for enabling connection of said first and second electrical connector housings along said axis when said housings are in axial alignment, a portion of said first keying wall of said first electrical connector housing defining a pair of openings and a portion of said second keying wall of said second electrical connector housing defining a corresponding pair of openings, each opening defining a key-receiving axis therealong parallel to the axis so that when said housings are connected said pair of openings in said first electrical connector housing are in axial alignment with said corresponding pair of openings in said second electrical connector housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An electrical connector assembly comprising:
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a first and a second electrical connector connectable along an axis, each first and second electrical connector including a housing configured and dimensioned for receiving an electrical contact housing having at least one electrical contact therein, wherein each contact of said first electrical connector contacts a corresponding contact of said second electrical connector during connection thereof;
a first keying arrangement for polarizing to assure proper orientation of said first electrical connector with said second electrical connector during connection thereof; and
a second keying arrangement for inhibiting said connection except for connecting a first electrical connector to a designated second electrical connector, comprising;
a first keying wall defined by said first electrical connector housing and a second keying wall defined by said second electrical connector housing, where the first and second keying walls are substantially complementary with respect to each other for enabling connection of said first and second electrical connector housings along said axis when said housings are in axial alignment, a portion of said first keying wall of said first electrical connector housing defining an opening and a portion of said second keying wall of said second electrical connector housing defining a corresponding opening, each opening defining a key-receiving axis therealong parallel to the axis so that when said housings are connected said opening in said first electrical connector housing is in axial alignment with said corresponding opening in said second electrical connector housing. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An electrical connector system comprising:
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a plurality of electrical connectors each having at least two identical dimensions and a particular electrical rating selected from a plurality of electrical ratings, each of said plurality of electrical connectors including a housing configured and dimensioned for only connecting to a housing of at least one electrical connector of said plurality of electrical connectors having the same electrical rating such that each of the plurality of electrical connectors includes a specific housing from a plurality of different housings, each housing further defining at least one cavity for axially aligning with at least one cavity defined by another housing during connection of said housings;
wherein the plurality of electrical connectors provide a plurality of electrical connector assemblies, each electrical connector assembly comprising;
a first and a second electrical connector connectable along an axis, each first and second electrical connector including said housing configured and dimensioned for receiving an electrical contact housing having at least one electrical contact therein, wherein each contact of said first electrical connector contacts a corresponding contact of said second electrical connector during connection thereof, a first keying arrangement for polarizing to assure proper orientation of said first electrical connector with said second electrical connector during connection thereof, and a second keying arrangement for inhibiting said connection except for connecting a first electrical connector to a designated second electrical connector, comprising;
a first keying wall defined by said first electrical connector housing and a second keying wall defined by said second electrical connector housing, where the first and second keying walls are substantially complementary with respect to each other for enabling connection of said first and second electrical connector housings along said axis when said housings are in axial alignment, a portion of said first keying wall of said first electrical connector housing defining an opening and a portion of said second keying wall of said second electrical connector housing defining a corresponding opening, each opening defining a key-receiving axis therealong parallel to the axis so that when said housings are connected said opening in said first electrical connector housing is in axial alignment with said corresponding opening in said second electrical connector housing. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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25. An electrical connector assembly comprising:
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a first and a second electrical connector connectable along an axis, each first and second electrical connector including a housing configured and dimensioned for receiving a pair of electrical contact housings, each electrical contact housing having electrical contacts therein, wherein each electrical contact of said first electrical connector contacts a corresponding contact of said second electrical connector during connection thereof;
a first keying arrangement for polarizing to assure proper orientation of said first electrical connector with said second electrical connector during connection thereof, the first keying arrangement including a cantilever beam for locking the first and second electrical connectors with respect to each other during connection thereof; and
a second keying arrangement for inhibiting said connection except for connecting a first electrical connector to a designated second electrical connector, comprising;
a first keying wall defined by said first electrical connector housing and a second keying wall defined by said second electrical connector housing, where the first and second keying walls are substantially complementary with respect to each other for enabling connection of said first and second electrical connector housings along said axis when said housings are in axial alignment, a portion of said first keying wall of said first electrical connector housing defining an opening and a portion of said second keying wall of said second electrical connector housing defining a corresponding opening, each opening defining an axis therealong parallel to the axis so that when said housings are connected said opening in said first electrical connector housing is in axial alignment with said corresponding opening in said second electrical connector housing.
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Specification