Keying system for electrical connectors

Abstract

A keying system is provided for a plurality of electrical connectors having different numbers of terminals. The connectors include at least four sets of mating connectors, such as a male and female connector in each set. Each set of connector is adapted for mounting at least one pair of interengaging terminals, with the numbers of pairs of terminals in any given set of connectors being different from that of any other set of connectors, and with the number of mating terminals in the at least four sets of mating connectors increasing in a predetermined progression. The connectors in each respective set thereof have complementary interengaging mating portions. The respective mating portions of the sets of connectors are constructed such that either connector in any given set thereof cannot mate with a connector of any other set thereof. The mating portions of the connectors are formed by silos and receptacles having generally rectangular cross-sections and arranged in at least one row on their respective connectors. One side of the rectangular silos and receptacles in the row being oriented in a common line along the length of the respective connectors, and flattened corners of the silos and receptacles are located only on an opposite side thereof providing keying means for the connectors.

I claim:  
     
       1. A keying system for a plurality of electrical connectors having different numbers of terminals, comprising: 
       a plurality of male connectors each having an elongate housing with a plurality of silos projecting from the housing in only two parallel rows longitudinally of the housing, the silos of first and second rows of said parallel rows, each having generally rectangular cross-sections defining opposite first and second sides running longitudinally along the housing, the first sides of the silos of each row being in a common line generally parallel to said rows, and a plurality of terminals mounted within the housing of said male connectors with contact portions of the terminals projecting into the silos;  
       a plurality of female connectors each having an elongate housing with a plurality of receptacles in only two rows for mating with the silos of the male connectors, the receptacles of first and second rows having generally rectangular cross-sections defining opposite first and second sides running longitudinally along the housing, the first sides of the receptacles of each row being in a common line generally parallel to said rows, and a plurality of terminals mounted in the housing of said female connectors with contact portions located in the receptacles for mating with the terminals of the male connectors;  
       said mating male and female connectors being provided in sets of connectors with a male and female connector in each set, there being at least four sets of said mating connectors, each set of said connectors being adapted for mounting at least two pairs of mating terminals, with number of mating terminals in any given set of connectors being different from the number of any other set of connectors, and the number of mating terminals in the at least four sets of mating connectors increasing in a predetermined progression such that the connectors have increasing lengths as a function of the number of mating terminals on the respective connectors; and  
       at least some of said silos of the male connectors and said receptacles of the female connectors including flattened corners only on said second sides thereof such that either connector in any given said set of connectors cannot mate with a connector of any other set thereof, and wherein any given receptacle and its mating silo of any given said set of mating connectors having only one flattened corner on the second side thereof.  
     
     
       2. The keying system of claim  1  wherein at least sections of the contact portions of the terminals which project into said silos have generally U-shaped transverse profiles defining generally rounded bottoms of the terminals adjacent the second sides of the silos. 
     
     
       3. The keying system of claim  1  wherein any given receptacle and its mating silo of any given said set of mating connectors has only one flattened corner on the second side thereof. 
     
     
       4. The keying system of claim  1  wherein one set of mating connectors is adapted for mounting at least twenty-four pairs of mating terminals.