Electrical connector assembly with polarization means

• US 5,885,088 A
• Filed: 07/14/1997
• Issued: 03/23/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Molex Incorporated (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Molex Incorporated (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Brennan, Denise, O'Sullivan, Donagh, Wilhite, Matthew
• Primary Examiner(s): VU, HIEN D
• Application Number:
  US08/892,413
• Time in Patent Office: 617 Days
• Field of Search: 439/680, 439/681, 439/378, 439/677
• US Class Current: 439/680
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/64 Means for preventing incorrect coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/16 for telephony
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/26 for vehicles

Abstract

An electrical connector assembly includes a first connector having a dielectric housing mounting a plurality of terminals. The first connector has a conventional DC jack socket with a central contact pin adapted for receiving a conventional DC jack plug. A second connector mates with the first connector and includes a dielectric housing mounting a plurality of terminals for electrical connection to the terminals of the first connector. The second connector has a locating peg insertable into the DC jack socket of the first connector. The locating peg is generally hollow to accommodate the central contact pin of the DC jack socket.

Claims

1. An electrical connector assembly, comprising:

a first connector including an elongated dielectric housing having a receptacle portion with a generally centrally located array of terminals, a conventional DC jack socket nearer one edge of the elongated housing outside one end of the array of terminals and adapted for receiving a conventional DC jack plug, with the DC jack socket including a central contact pin, and a polygonal locating socket nearer an opposite edge of the elongated housing outside an opposite end of the array of terminals, said DC jack socket and polygonal locating socket having a different cross sectional shape; and

a second connector inserted in the first connector and including an elongated dielectric housing having a plug portion extending outwardly from a front face of the elongated housing, a generally centrally located array of terminals positioned in said plug portion for electrical connection to the terminals of the first connector, the second connector having a locating peg extending outwardly from said front face of the elongated housing nearer one edge of the elongated housing outside one end of the array of terminals and having an outer cross sectional shape adapted for insertion into the DC jack socket of the first connector, the locating peg being generally round and hollow to accommodate the central contact pin of the DC jack socket, and a polygonal locating post extending from said front face of the elongated housing nearer an opposite edge of the elongated housing outside an opposite end of the array of terminals and having an outer cross sectional shape adapted for insertion into the polygonal locating socket of the first connector, the locating peg and locating post extending from the housing a distance further than the plug portion extends.

2. The electrical connector assembly of claim 1 wherein said locating peg of the second connector is generally C-shaped in cross-section.

3. The electrical connector assembly of claim 1 wherein said polygonal locating socket and said polygonal locating post are generally rectangularly shaped in cross-section.

4. An electrical connector assembly, comprising:

a first connector including a dielectric housing having a receptacle portion with an array of terminals therein, a conventional DC jack socket on the housing spaced from the array of terminals and adapted for receiving a conventional DC jack plug, with the DC jack socket including a central contact pin, and a polygonal locating socket spaced from the DC jack socket and being of a different configuration therefrom; and

a second connector for inserted in the first connector and including a dielectric housing having a plug portion extending outwardly from a front face of the housing, an array of terminals for electrical connection to the terminals of the first connector, the second connector having a locating peg extending outwardly from said front face of the housing and having an outer cross sectional shape adapted for insertion into the DC jack socket of the first connector, the locating peg being generally round and hollow to accommodate the central contact pin of the DC jack socket, and a locating post extending from said front face of the housing spaced from the locating peg and being of a configuration for insertion into the locating socket of the first connector, the locating peg and locating post extending from the housing a distance further than the plug portion extends.

5. The electrical connector assembly of claim 4 wherein said locating peg of the second connector is generally C-shaped in cross-section.

6. The electrical connector assembly of claim 4 wherein said polygonal locating socket and said polygonal locating post are generally rectangularly shaped in cross-section.