The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 06, 1994
Filed:
Sep. 20, 1993
Billy E Olsson, New Cumberland, PA (US);
The Whitaker Corporation, Wilmington, DE (US);
Abstract
A keying arrangement for electrical connectors is disclosed for preventing the inadvertent mating of a plug to the wrong receptacle. The opposing walls (28,30;18,20) of the mating plug (14) and receptacle (12) have openings (52,53;36,37) formed therein that contain opposing keys (40,51;54,56,58). One key has a projection (44) and the other key (54,56,58) has a groove (62,70). The groove is in alignment with the projection where the plug and receptacle are designated to mate. The keys are used in pairs, one key at each end of the connector to prevent partial mating and the resulting potential damage. The keys are in diagonally opposite positions to prevent inadvertent partial mating along an edge of the connector. The keys are removable and replaceable so that keying configurations can be changed in the field.