# US 2014/0193996 A1 · Electrical connector plug with key to avoid contact damage

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- Number: US 2014/0193996 A1
- Document ID: US20140193996A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/115,582
- Filed: 2012-05-03
- Published: 2014-07-10
- Earliest claimed: 2011-05-03
- Assignees: Cardioinsight Technologies, Inc.
- Applicants: Cardioinsight Technologies, Inc.
- Inventors: William A. Walters; Larry M. Crofoot
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140193996A1

## CPC

- H01R 13/6456: {comprising keying elements at different positions along the periphery of the connector}
- H01R 12/7005: {Guiding, mounting, polarizing or locking means; Extractors (for printed circuit boards H05K)}
- H01R 13/64: Means for preventing incorrect coupling
- H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS

## Abstract

Uniquely positioned slots are provided in the receptacle and uniquely positioned bosses are provided in the plug of a connector pair. These features are designed to prevent the plug from being inserted midspan and damaging the exposed contacts of the receptacle. The bosses may be located near outside corners of the plug, and may protrude sufficiently from the face of the plug to prevent the corners of the plug from being inserted into the receptacle, except when the bosses are aligned with the boss-receiving slots in the receptacle.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A device comprising:
a receptacle connector; and
a plug that mates with the receptacle connector by insertion of an insert portion of the plug into an opening of the receptacle connector;
wherein the receptacle connector has a pair of boss-receiving slots at opposite ends of the opening.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the boss-receiving slots are on an edge of the connector that abuts the opening.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the receptacle connector also has one or more polarization slots for receiving one or more polarization keys of the plug.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The device of claim 3,
wherein the boss-receiving slots are on an edge of the connector that abuts the opening; and
wherein the one or more polarization slots are on an edge of the receptacle connector that is opposite the edge that includes the boss-receiving slots.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The device of claim 3, wherein the receptacle connector has a pair of the polarization slots.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the plug includes a pair of bosses at opposite ends of the insert portion.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The device of claim 6, wherein the bosses are on the same side of the insert portion.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The device of claim 6, wherein the bosses function as stops that prevent corners of the insert portion from being inserted into the opening so as to damage contacts of the receptacle connector.

### Claim 9 (depends on 6)

The device of claim 6, wherein the bosses are circular.

### Claim 10 (depends on 6)

The device of claim 6, wherein the bosses prevent substantial insertion of the insert portion except when one of the bosses is aligned with one of the boss-receiving slots.

### Claim 11 (depends on 6)

The device of claim 6, wherein the plug also has polarization keys on the plug insert portion.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The device of claim 11, wherein the receptacle connector also has polarization slots for receiving the polarization keys.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The device of claim 11, wherein the polarization keys are on an opposite side of the insert portion than the bosses.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The device of claim 13, wherein the polarization keys have substantially the same shape as the bosses.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

The device of claim 12, wherein the polarization keys have curved side surfaces.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The device of claim 15, wherein the curved side surfaces have different curvatures for the proximal curved sides surfaces and the distal curved side surfaces.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The device of claim 15, wherein the curved side surfaces are configured to allow the polarization keys to enter the polarization slots when the plug is pivoted about one of the bosses that has been inserted into one of the boss-receiving slots.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1,
wherein the boss-receiving slots are on an edge of the connector that abuts the opening;
wherein the plug includes a pair of bosses at opposite ends of the insert portion;
wherein the bosses are on the same side of the insert portion;
wherein the bosses function as stops that prevent corners of the insert portion from being inserted into the opening so as to damage contacts of the receptacle connector; and
wherein the bosses prevent substantial insertion of the insert portion except when one of the bosses is aligned with one of the boss-receiving slots.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The device of claim 18, wherein the bosses are circular.