# US 2013/0280950 A1 · A connection assembly having multi-contact connectors with a polarizing system using keys > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0280950 A1 - Document ID: US20130280950A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/865,295 - Filed: 2013-04-18 - Published: 2013-10-24 - Earliest claimed: 2012-04-18 - Assignees: Radiall - Applicants: Radiall - Inventors: Patrice BECAVIN - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130280950A1 ## CPC - H01R 13/64: Means for preventing incorrect coupling - H01R 13/465: {Identification means, e.g. labels, tags, markings (H01R9/2475, H01R9/2683 take precedence)} - H01R 13/639: Additional means for holding or locking coupling parts together, after engagement, {e.g. separate keylock, retainer strap} - H01R 13/641: by indicating incorrect coupling; by indicating correct or full engagement - H01R 13/6453: {comprising pin-shaped elements, capable of being orientated in different angular positions around their own longitudinal axes, e.g. pins with hexagonal base} - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS ## Abstract A connection assembly includes a first connector and a second connector, each with a housing extending along an axis and having a connection face, being connected together via their connection faces. Also included is, at least, one coupled-together pair of polarizing keys, each key being of elongate shape along an axis and projecting from one of the housings beyond its connection face. Each key includes at each one of its ends a portion with a peripheral surface that is provided with at least one projecting and/or hollow shape. Each end portion of one of the two keys is adapted to engage via complementary shapes with a single end portion of the other of the two keys along their coinciding axes and in only one relative angular position between them. Each polarizing key is fastened via one of its end portions to the housing of one of the connectors. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A connection assembly comprising: a first connector, in particular a multi-contact connector; a second connector, in particular a multi-contact connector, of type complementary to the first connector, the first and second connectors each comprising a housing extending along an axis and having a connection face, the first and second connectors being connected together via their connection faces; and at least one coupled-together pair of two polarizing keys, each key being of elongate shape along an axis and projecting from one of the housings beyond its connection face; wherein each key includes at each one of its ends a portion with a peripheral surface that is provided with at least one projecting and/or hollow shape, by the fact that each end portion of one of the two keys is adapted to engage via complementary shapes with a single end portion of the other of the two keys along their coinciding axes and in only one relative angular position between them, and by the fact that each polarizing key is adapted to be fastened via one or the other of its end portions to the housing of the first and/or the second connector in a plurality of given angular positions relative to the axis. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A connection assembly according to claim 1, including a pair of two coupled-together polarizing keys, each key projecting from only one of the lateral ends of a housing beyond the connection face of the housing. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A connection assembly according to claim 1, wherein one end portion of a key includes at its end or on its outer periphery a first visual indicator that is distinct from the visual indicator of the other end portion of the same key, each first visual indicator being visible from outside the housing when the corresponding key is fastened in the housing. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A connection assembly according to claim 3, wherein the end portion of one of the two keys of the pair has the same first visual indicator as the end portion of the other one of the two keys of the pair with which it is adapted to engage. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) A connection assembly according to claim 3, wherein the first visual indicators are letters. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) A connection assembly according to claim 3, wherein the first visual indicators are made by marking the keys. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A connection assembly according to claim 1, wherein the housings of the first and second connectors, respectively, are adapted to enable each key to be installed and removed manually. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A connection assembly according to claim 7, wherein a key includes a fastener collar in its central portion between its two end portions, the collar co-operating by snap-fastening with at least one elastically deformable fastener tab arranged in a housing of the first or second connector in order to fasten the key in the housing. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) A connection assembly according to claim 7, wherein each housing includes a shoulder against the rear of the fastener collar comes into abutment, while the front of the collar is snap-fastened with the tab(s). ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) A connection assembly according to claim 7, wherein the collar includes on its outer periphery a plurality of second visual indicators defining a plurality of angular positions of the key relative to the axis, and by the fact that a lateral end of a housing includes a viewing window for viewing one of the second visual indicators when the corresponding key is fastened in the housing. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) A connection assembly according to claim 7, wherein the collar is of polygonal external section transversely to the axis of the key, and by the fact that the housing defines around the tab(s) a recess of polygonal internal section complementary to the section of the collar, the housing and the collar co-operating by mutual engagement of the complementary polygonal sections in order to define one of the plurality of given angular positions for the key relative to the axis X of the housing. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) A connection assembly according to claim 7, wherein the collar is of octogonal external section. ### Claim 13 (depends on 7) A connection assembly according to claim 7, wherein the plurality of second visual indicators is a succession of digits. ### Claim 14 (depends on 7) A connection assembly according to claim 7, wherein at least the collars of the two keys have the same transverse dimensions, and by the fact that the housings of the first and second connectors are adapted to receive equally well a portion of a key of male type or of female type. ### Claim 15 (depends on 7) A connection assembly according to claim 7, wherein at least the collars of the two keys are of transverse dimensions that are different, and by the fact that the housing of the first connector is adapted to receive only the female type portion of the key having the larger collar when snap-fastened by the tab(s), while the housing of the second connector is adapted to prevent said key having the larger collar from being snap-fastened by the tab(s). ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) A connection assembly according to claim 1, wherein the key includes a collar in its central portion with a plurality of second visual indicators on its outer periphery and wherein the first and second visual indicators together define a polarizing code having a plurality of combinations. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) A connection assembly according to claim 1, wherein a key portion of female type is constituted by a cylinder having at least one rectilinear slot formed therein along the cylinder, whereas a key portion of male type is constituted by a cylinder having at least one rectilinear spline formed thereon along the cylinder, complementary to the slot. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) A connection assembly according to claim 1, wherein it is adapted to be mounted on a panel ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) A connection assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first and second connectors are advantageously adapted to be locked together. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) A set of polarizing keys for use in a connection assembly according to claim 1, the set comprising at least one pair of two polarizing keys each key being of elongate shape along an axis and including at each of its ends a portion having a peripheral surface that is provided with at least one projecting and/or hollow shape, and by the fact that each end portion of one of the two keys in a given pair is adapted to engage by complementary shapes with a single end portion of the other one of the two keys of the same pair along their coinciding axes and in only one relative angular position between them.