Claims
- 1. A programmable key receiving member for an electrical connector, the connector including a housing with a mating face and an assembly face and an aperture, the aperture extending between the mating face and the assembly face and having a plurality of detents spaced circumferentially therearound, said member comprising:a body having first and second opposed sides and a key receiving slot, the slot extending into said body from the first side and adapted to receive a key of a mating connector; and a plurality of compliant beams extending from said second body side away from said first body side, at least one of said beams including a locking protrusion extending radially outward therefrom and configured to be received in detents upon full insertion of said member into said aperture; whereby upon inserting said key receiving member into said housing aperture from said mating face, said beams are compressed inwardly, said beams resiling outwardly upon full insertion into said aperture and said locking protrusion being received in one of said detents thereby defining a first position, said key receiving member being rotatable while remaining fully inserted in said housing aperture until said locking protrusion is received in a second one of said plurality of detents.
- 2. The programmable key receiving member of claim 1 wherein said aperture of said housing has a first portion having a first diameter and a second portion having a second diameter greater than said first diameter and defining a retention ledge therebetween, and wherein at least one of said beams includes a retention projection extending outwardly from a leading end of the beam and dimensioned to engage said retention ledge to secure said key receiving member in said aperture.
- 3. The programmable key receiving member of claim 2 wherein at least one of said plurality of beams include retention projections.
- 4. The programmable key receiving member of claim 2 wherein said plurality of detents within said aperture is defined on said retention ledge.
- 5. The programmable key receiving member of claim 4 wherein said locking protrusion is formed integrally with said retention projections.
- 6. The programmable key receiving member of claim 1 wherein at least one of said plurality of beams includes a locking protrusion.
- 7. The programmable key receiving member of claim 6 wherein said aperture of said housing has a first portion having a first diameter and a second portion having a second diameter greater than said first diameter and defining a retention ledge therebetween, and wherein at least one of said beams includes a retention portion extending outwardly from a leading end of the beam and dimensioned to engage said retention ledge to secure said key receiving member in said aperture.
- 8. The programmable key receiving member of claim 7 wherein at least one of said plurality of beams includes a retention projection.
- 9. The programmable key receiving member of claim 7 wherein said plurality of detents within said aperture are defined on said retention ledge.
- 10. The programmable key receiving member of claim 9 wherein at least one of said retention projections includes said locking protrusion.
- 11. The programmable key receiving member of claim 1 wherein said locking protrusion and said detents are dimensioned to provide a tactile feel as said key receiving member is rotated from one position to another.
- 12. The programmable key receiving member of claim 1 wherein said locking protrusion and said detents are dimensioned to provide an audible sound as said key receiving member is rotated from one position to another.
- 13. The programmable key receiving member of claim 1 wherein said locking protrusion and said detents are dimensioned to provide both a tactile feel and an audible sound as said key receiving member is rotated from one position to another.
- 14. The programmable key receiving member of claim 1 wherein said key slot is configured to receive a tool for rotating said key from one position to another within said aperture.
- 15. The programmable key receiving member of claim 1 wherein said member is configured to be rotatable in both a clockwise and a counterclockwise direction.
- 16. An electrical connector comprising:a housing with a mating face and an assembly face and an aperture extending between the mating face and the assembly face, said aperture having a plurality of detents spaced circumferentially therearound; a programmable key receiving member including a body having a key receiving slot adapted to receive a key of a mating connector on one side thereof; and a plurality of compliant beams extending downwardly from an opposite side of said body and adapted to be retained in said aperture of said housing, at least one of said beams including a locking protrusion extending outwardly therefrom and configured to be received in one of said detents within said aperture upon full insertion of said member into said aperture defining a first position; whereby upon inserting said key receiving member into said housing aperture from said mating face, said beams are compressed inwardly, said beams resiling outwardly upon full insertion into said aperture and said locking protrusion being received in said detent of said first position, said key receiving member being movable to a second desired position while remaining fully inserted in said housing aperture upon rotating said member until said locking protrusion is received in a selected second of said plurality of detents within said aperture.
- 17. The electrical connector of claim 16 wherein said aperture of said housing has a first portion having a first diameter and a second portion having a second diameter greater than said first diameter and defining a retention ledge therebetween.
- 18. The electrical connector of claim 17 wherein at least one of said beams includes a retention portion extending outwardly from a leading end of the beam and dimensioned to engage said retention ledge to secure said key receiving member in said aperture.
- 19. The electrical connector of claim 18 wherein said plurality of detents within said aperture is defined on said retention ledge.
- 20. The electrical connector of claim 19 wherein at least one of said retention projections includes said locking protrusion.
Parent Case Info
This application claims benefit of Ser. No. 60/129,158 Apr. 14,1999.
US Referenced Citations (8)
Foreign Referenced Citations (3)
Number |
Date |
Country |
0 033 286 A2 |
Aug 1981 |
EP |
1066672A |
Apr 1967 |
GB |
WO8902169 |
Mar 1989 |
WO |
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60/129158 |
Apr 1999 |
US |