Connector keying device

• US 4,350,409 A
• Filed: 03/30/1981
• Issued: 09/21/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/1978
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Amphenol Corporation
• Original Assignee: Bunker Ramo Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Igarashi, Yoshiaki, Suzuki, Toshiaki, Ohtsuki, Tomonari, Saito, Tsukasa, Kato, Matsuo
• Primary Examiner(s): MCQUADE, JOHN P
• Application Number:
  US06/248,799
• Time in Patent Office: 540 Days
• Field of Search: 339/184 R, 339/184 M, 339/186 R, 339/186 M, 339/176 MP
• US Class Current: 439/681
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6456 comprising keying elements at different positions along the periphery of the connector

Abstract

This invention relates to the field of electrical connectors, and particularly concerns electrical connectors with multiple contacts requiring keying of the mating connector parts. With prior art devices, when more than one connector pair is used in a system, different connector parts must be chosen which have a different keying configuration for the key and groove. With another prior art device, which uses a single type connector part, it is necessary to sacrifice one contact position in the connectors. The present invention overcomes the deficiencies of the prior art noted above by providing a keying device which permits manufacture and production of a single type of male or female connector part and yet does not require the sacrifice of contact positions within the connector parts to effectuate the keying. The invention therefore provides an improved connector keying device for keying mating first and second connector parts to assure proper connection between the parts and to prevent connection to other connector parts of unlike keying. In accordance with the invention, there is provided a key mount affixed to the first connector part and adapted to receive a key member mounted thereto. An appropriate key member is removably attached to the key mount. A key member receiver is mounted on the second connector part and has a key member-receiving slot therein aligned with and slidingly receiving the key member when the first and second connector parts are mated.

Claims

1. A connector keying arrangement for keying mating first and second connector parts to assure proper connection between the parts and to prevent connection to other connector parts of unlike keying comprising:

a key mount affixed to the first connector part, said key mount having means for mounting a key member thereto;

a key member removably attached to said key mount;

a key receiver mounted on the second connector part and having a key member-receiving slot therein aligned with and slidingly receiving said key member when the first and second connector parts are mated;

said key mount comprising a generally U-shaped protrusion on one face of the first connector part defining a key member mounting passageway between the interior of said protrusion and said one face, said passageway extending in the direction of connection of said first and second connector parts;

said key member comprising a base, a key projecting from said base, and a mounting leg projecting from said base parallel to said key;

said mounting leg being sized to snugly fit into said passageway, and said key lying against the exterior surface of said U-shaped protrusion.

2. The connector keying arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein said key member-receiving slot is defined by a relatively wide key mount slot conformed and sized to receive said U-shaped key mount, and a relatively narrow and deeper key slot conformed and sized to receive said key.

3. The connector keying arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said passageway extends completely through said U-shaped protrusion to define end faces on said U-shaped protrusion of U-shaped cross-section; and

said key member is mounted on said U-shaped protrusion with said mounting leg in said passageway and said base butted against one of said end faces.

4. The connector keying arrangement as claimed in claim 3, wherein said key includes a hook-shaped key latch at its free end opposite said base, said latch having a lateral face located from said base a distance corresponding to the distance between said end faces of said U-shaped protrusion, thereby effecting a tight and secure mounting of said key member on said key mount with said base pressed against one of said end faces and said lateral face pressed against the other of said end faces.

5. The connector keying arrangement as claimed in claim 3, wherein said key projects from the center of one side of said base.

6. The connector keying arrangement as claimed in claim 3, wherein said key projects from said base laterally displaced along said base relative to said mounting leg.

7. The connector keying arrangement as claimed in claim 2, wherein said key slot is centered at one side of said key receiver.

8. The connector keying arrangement as claimed in claim 2, wherein said key slot is off center of said key receiver.

9. The connector keying arrangement as claimed in claim 6, wherein said key member is mountable on said key mount from either of said end faces.

10. A connector keying arrangement for keying mating first and second connector parts to assure proper connection between the parts and to prevent connection to other connector parts of unlike keying comprising:

a key mount affixed to the first connector part, said key mount having means for mounting a key member thereto;

a key member removably attached to said key mount;

a key receiver mounted on the second connector part and having a key member-receiving slot asymmetrically located therein, aligned with and slidingly rreceiving said key member when the first and second connector parts are mated, said key member-receiving slot being adapted to receive said key member from the front or back of said key receiver;

said key receiver comprising means for removably mounting said key receiver to the second connector part;

the second connector part comprising cooperating means for accommodating said key receiver mounting means;

said means for removably mounting said key receiver and said copperating means comprising a pair of elongated channel means and a pair of elongated projections respectively received therein, one of said pairs being on opposite sides of said key receiver and the other of said pairs being on opposite sides of an opening in one face of said second connector part;

said key receiver being reversibly mountable in said opening with said elongated projection on either side slidably received in said elongated channel means on either side, whereby said asymmetrically located key member-receiving slot is locatable in two different key member-receiving positions, by reverse-mounting said key receiver upon said second connector part, so as to receive two different key member configurations with a single type of key receiver.

11. The connector keying arrangement as claimed in claim 10 wherein:

said key member is asymmetrical;

said key member and key mount are adapted for reversible mounting of said key member upon said first connector part; and

said key member when reversed mates with said key receiver;

whereby either one of said two different key member configurations may be achieved by reversing said key member.

12. The connector keying arrangement as claimed in claim 11 wherein said second connector part comprises at least two of said openings for removably and reversibly mounting said key receiver to said second connector part;

and

duplicates of said key receiver are simultaneously mounted in opposite orientations within said openings respectively;

whereby said two different key member configurations, when located at two corresonding locations on said first connector part, will mate with said duplicate key receivers respectively.

13. The connector keying arrangement as claimed in claim 12 wherein:

said first connector part comprises at least two of said key mounts at said corresponding locations; and

duplicates of said key member are simultaneously mounted in opposite orientations on said key mounts respectively;

whereby said two different key member configurations are achieved with said oppositely oriented duplicate key members.