EP0179585B1 - Electrical connector assemblies - Google Patents

Electrical connector assemblies Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0179585B1
EP0179585B1 EP85307071A EP85307071A EP0179585B1 EP 0179585 B1 EP0179585 B1 EP 0179585B1 EP 85307071 A EP85307071 A EP 85307071A EP 85307071 A EP85307071 A EP 85307071A EP 0179585 B1 EP0179585 B1 EP 0179585B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
series
sidewalls
plug
keyway
plugs
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
EP85307071A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0179585A1 (en
Inventor
Brian Jones
Graeme Stuart Allan
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
British Telecommunications PLC
Original Assignee
British Telecommunications PLC
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by British Telecommunications PLC filed Critical British Telecommunications PLC
Priority to AT85307071T priority Critical patent/ATE38745T1/de
Publication of EP0179585A1 publication Critical patent/EP0179585A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0179585B1 publication Critical patent/EP0179585B1/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
    • H01R13/64—Means for preventing incorrect coupling
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R2201/00—Connectors or connections adapted for particular applications
    • H01R2201/16—Connectors or connections adapted for particular applications for telephony

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a series of electrical connector assemblies and in particular those comprising a socket and a corresponding plug which is received in the socket.
  • Connector assemblies of this general type are now commonly used for connecting subscribers telephone apparatus to the public network; use of a socket and plug allowing easy movement of replacement of the telephone.
  • plugs and sockets having 4 or 6 terminals in plugs and sockets of the same overall sizes are usually used.
  • Such assemblies can be easily mass produced using injection moulding and automatic assembly techniques.
  • the present invention provides a series of electrical connector assemblies, each assembly comprising a socket and a corresponding plug, one member of each assembly having a single coding key, the other member of said assembly having a single keyway which is complementary to said single coding key; each plug having an engageable portion for engaging in a predetermined direction within a recess formed in said corresponding socket with said single coding key in mating engagement with said single keyway, said engageable portion comprising a first pair of opposed plug sidewalls and a second pair of opposed plug sidewalls disposed transversely to said first pair of plug sidewalls, said first and second pairs of sidewalls extending in said predetermined direction, said recess comprising a first pair of opposed recess sidewalls and a second pair of opposed recess sidewalls disposed transversely to said first pair of recess sidewalls, the width of said engageable portions and said corresponding recesses, as measured between said first pairs of sidewalls, being different for each of the assemblies of the series, characterised in that the height
  • the series of assemblies need only have one coding key and keyway, visual inspection to determine whether a plug will fit a particular socket is rendered easy.
  • the design of the plugs and sockets is also rendered simple since they each require only one coding key and keyway.
  • the height of the plugs and sockets together with the cross-sectional dimensions of the keys and keyways may in combination prevent mismatching of narrower plugs with wider sockets.
  • the heights of the engageable portions of the narrower plugs are greater than the heights of the recesses of the wider sockets as measured between each of their second pairs of sidewalls so that the height referred to above prevents mismatching of narrower and wider members of the series.
  • the cross-sectional dimensions of the coding keys and keyways as viewed in the direction of the engagement of the plug and socket and optionally their location may, however, be the same for all members of the series and no further coding provided.
  • the coding key and keyway may have different cross-sectional dimensions as viewed in the direction of engagement of said plug and socket to prevent insertion of plugs of assemblies of said sub-series in other sockets of said sub-series.
  • cross-sectional dimensions of the coding ..keys and keyways are varied their position on the sidewall they are located on may be varied for each of the members of the series to prevent plugs of members of this further sub-series from being inserted into sockets of other members of the further sub-series.
  • the cross-sectional dimensions of the coding key and keyway may be made different for each member of the series of assemblies in order to fulfil this function.
  • the coding key may be provided on either the plugs or recesses of the assemblies. If it is provided on the plugs one or more of the cross-sectional dimensions of the keys and keyways are larger for the narrower plugs than for the wider sockets of the series. Conversely, if the keys are provided on the sockets one or more of the cross-sectional dimensions of the keys and keyways are smaller for the narrower plugs than for the wider sockets of the series.
  • the cross-sectional dimensions of the keys and keyways may be varied as above whilst preferably keeping the heights of the engageable portions and recesses as measured between their second pairs of sidewalls the same. This height though may be allowed to vary within certain limits if the variation in cross-sectional dimensions of the coding keys and keyways is always sufficient to prevent narrower plugs fitting into wider sockets.
  • the height of the coding key and keyway as measured in the direction between the second pairs of sidewalls may be made different for all members of the series.
  • the keys and keyways are of greater height for those assemblies with narrower sockets.
  • the keys and keyways are of greater height for those assemblies with wider sockets.
  • the width of the coding key and keyway may also be varied as measured in the direction betwen said first pairs of sidewalls.
  • the keys and keyways are preferably of greater width for those assemblies with narrower sockets.
  • the keys and keyways are of greater width for those assemblies with wider sockets.
  • a further level of coding may be provided when the cross-sectional dimensions of the coding key and keyway are used to prevent mismatching of narrower plugs with wider sockets by forming for each member of the series of assemblies a sub-series of assemblies wherein the coding key and keyway is located at a different position on one of the sidewalls for each member of the sub-series to prevent insertion of plugs of assemblies of the sub-series into sockets of the assemblies of the sub-series.
  • Such an arrangement enables a single coding key and keyway to provide two levels of coding.
  • This dual coding system is considerably simpler than any system using a plurality of different sets of keys and keyways to provide two such levels of coding and the design and manufacture of plugs according to the present invention is thus greatly simplified.
  • the keys located either on the plugs or in the sockets.
  • the keys are provided on the plugs to enable the plug's engageable portion to be reduced in height to the minimum required by the cable to be inserted into the plug and connected to the terminals. It is also possible to locate the keys and keyways on either the first or second pairs of sidewalls provided always that narrower plugs are prevented from being inserted into wider sockets by the height of the engageable portion of the plug and or the cross-sectional dimensions of the key and keyway.
  • FIG. 1 an end-on view of the engageable portion of a plug or alternatively of the corresponding socket recess opening is shown. Details such as terminals, catches and the like have been omitted for clarity and only the disposition of the sidewalls and key or keyway are shown.
  • the engageable portion of the plug and the socket recess are preferably of constant cross-section though this is not essential providing the plugs can be readily inserted into and removed from their corresponding sockets.
  • the sidewalls in Figure 1 are shown as flat surfaces. Whilst this is preferable it is not essential and other suitable contours may be used as required.
  • the key or keyway is shown as being trapezoidal, whilst this shape is preferable it is not essential and other suitable cross-sections may be used.
  • the views shown will be referred to as plugs. It is to be understood though, that the views are equally those of the recesses corresponding to the engageable portions of the plugs.
  • FIG 2 a series of plugs 1, 2,3,4 are shown for which the height hp increases with decreasing width Wp.
  • the key cross-sectional dimensions are constant the narrower plugs eg 1 are prevented from insertion into sockets corresponding to the wider plug eg 2, 3, 4 by the variation in hp.
  • two further sub-series of plugs may be defined by changing the position of the key on the upper sidewall or by changing it's cross-sectional dimensions.
  • the plugs 4, 5, 6 and 7 for example, are all of the same width Wp but will not fit into each others sockets due to the varying location of their keys along the upper second sidewall.
  • Plugs 7, 8 and 9 again are all of the same width but will not fit into each other's sockets even though their keys are located at the same place along the upper second sidewall. This is because the cross-sectional dimensions of their keys are different. In this instance the width W k of the keyway increases as the height h k of the keyway decreases. Other suitable variations in the key cross-section may be used though to achieve the same effect.
  • FIG. 3 a series of plugs are shown all having the same height hp.
  • the narrower plugs eg 10 are prevented from insertion into the sockets of the wider plugs eg 11, 12, 13 by their key heights h k increasing as their width Wp decreases.
  • narrower plugs can be prevented from insertion into wider sockets by the width W k of the keyway being increased as the plug width Wp decreases.
  • Such a series of plugs are 13, 14 and 15.
  • a further sub-series of coding may be provided by altering the position of the keyway on the upper second sidewall as shown by plugs 15, 16 and 17 and also 10, 18 and 19.
  • plugs 20 and 21 are two plugs of different widths with keyways provided on the recess lower second sidewall. Plug 20 cannot be inserted into the recess corresponding to plug 21 since the keyway in plug 20 is not of the same height h k as that of the key in the recess 21.
  • the key height hi is thus increased with increasing plug width Wp.
  • plug 22 shows that to prevent narrower plugs from being inserted into wider plugs by variation of the key width W k the key width W k must be decreased with decreasing plug width Wp.
  • Figure 5 shows plugs where the key is located on one of the first sidewalls. This is quite acceptable for plugs where insertion of narrower plugs into wider sockets is prevented by variation of the plug height hp eg 23, 24.
  • the plugs and sockets are of the same height though eg 25, 26 the key width W k may need to be unacceptably large.
  • Plugs 24 and 25 show that differentiation between plugs of the same width may still be achieved by varying the location of the key on the sidewall it is located on. The scope for such variation is restricted though when compared with that available when the key is located on the second sidewall.
  • the second sidewall is generally longer than the first sidewall partly due to the common use of ribbon cables in the applications for which the connectors are primarily intended and mainly due to the linear arrangement of the terminals in the engageable portion of the plug.
  • the key and keyway are preferably always located on one of the second pairs of sidewalls.

Landscapes

  • Details Of Connecting Devices For Male And Female Coupling (AREA)
  • Coupling Device And Connection With Printed Circuit (AREA)
  • Cable Accessories (AREA)
  • Connector Housings Or Holding Contact Members (AREA)
  • Inorganic Insulating Materials (AREA)
  • Connections Arranged To Contact A Plurality Of Conductors (AREA)
  • Switches With Compound Operations (AREA)
  • Insulated Conductors (AREA)
  • Pharmaceuticals Containing Other Organic And Inorganic Compounds (AREA)
  • Thermistors And Varistors (AREA)
  • Absorbent Articles And Supports Therefor (AREA)
  • Slot Machines And Peripheral Devices (AREA)
  • Diaphragms For Electromechanical Transducers (AREA)
EP85307071A 1984-10-09 1985-10-02 Electrical connector assemblies Expired EP0179585B1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AT85307071T ATE38745T1 (de) 1984-10-09 1985-10-02 Elektrische verbindungsanordnungen.

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB848425447A GB8425447D0 (en) 1984-10-09 1984-10-09 Electrical connector assemblies
GB8425447 1984-10-09

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0179585A1 EP0179585A1 (en) 1986-04-30
EP0179585B1 true EP0179585B1 (en) 1988-11-17

Family

ID=10567899

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP85307071A Expired EP0179585B1 (en) 1984-10-09 1985-10-02 Electrical connector assemblies

Country Status (10)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0179585B1 (da)
JP (1) JPS61114482A (da)
AT (1) ATE38745T1 (da)
AU (1) AU581258B2 (da)
CA (1) CA1239675A (da)
DE (1) DE3566331D1 (da)
DK (1) DK163159C (da)
GB (1) GB8425447D0 (da)
NO (1) NO164628C (da)
NZ (1) NZ213752A (da)

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2533715Y2 (ja) * 1988-10-26 1997-04-23 日本電気株式会社 薄型電子機器
US5342221A (en) 1993-01-08 1994-08-30 Molex Incorporated Keying system for electrical connectors
JP5501166B2 (ja) * 2010-09-03 2014-05-21 株式会社フジクラ 光コネクタ及び光通信システム
JP6133119B2 (ja) * 2013-04-25 2017-05-24 日本航空電子工業株式会社 コネクタ組立体

Family Cites Families (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE616550C (de) * 1933-02-08 1935-07-31 Siemens Schuckertwerke Akt Ges System von mehrpoligen Flachstiftsteckvorrichtungen
DE706495C (de) * 1939-05-16 1941-05-28 Siemens Schuckertwerke Akt Ges Unverwechselbare Mehrfachsteckvorrichtungen
FR1318542A (fr) * 1961-04-19 1963-02-15 Hubbell Inc Harvey Dispositif de connexion électrique
DE7226323U (de) * 1972-07-14 1973-12-20 Krone Gmbh Stecker fur vielpohge Steckvor richtung
DE2243825A1 (de) * 1972-09-07 1974-03-14 Heil Ohg O Elektrische-spezial-steckverbindung
JPS5166794U (da) * 1974-11-22 1976-05-26
DE2615353C3 (de) * 1976-04-08 1980-09-04 Cannon Electric Gmbh, 7056 Weinstadt Elektrische Steckvorrichtung
JPS5865782U (ja) * 1981-10-28 1983-05-04 富士通株式会社 コネクタ誤接続防止構造

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
NO164628B (no) 1990-07-16
DK163159B (da) 1992-01-27
DE3566331D1 (en) 1988-12-22
NO164628C (no) 1990-10-24
AU581258B2 (en) 1989-02-16
JPH0511391B2 (da) 1993-02-15
JPS61114482A (ja) 1986-06-02
NO853854L (no) 1986-04-10
NZ213752A (en) 1988-10-28
DK461885D0 (da) 1985-10-09
GB8425447D0 (en) 1984-11-14
DK461885A (da) 1986-04-10
AU4835985A (en) 1986-04-17
EP0179585A1 (en) 1986-04-30
DK163159C (da) 1992-06-22
ATE38745T1 (de) 1988-12-15
CA1239675A (en) 1988-07-26

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