Polarizing system for connectors

A system for polarizing and keying the mating engagement of a receptacle electrical connector with a plurality of modular plug electrical connectors comprising:

• a plurality of modular plug connector means each including a dielectric housing means having a plurality of first electrical contacts secured therein having first contact sections proximate a first mating face, each said housing means being elongate and having elongated opposing major sides and opposing minor sides extending rearwardly from said first mating face, one of said major sides having an elongate polarizing recess extending therealong rearwardly from said first mating face from proximate one said minor side to proximate the other said minor side, each said housing means further including at least one key-receiving passageway adapted to receive thereinto from said first mating face a forwardly extending keying section of a corresponding second key member arranged in a corresponding keying orientation;
• and
• a receptacle connector means including a dielectric housing means having a plurality of second electrical contacts secured therein having second contact sections proximate a second mating face and adapted to mate with corresponding ones of said first electrical contacts to establish an electrical connection therebetween when said modular plug and receptacle connector means are mated, said receptacle housing means having a hood section extending forwardly from said second mating face and about the periphery thereof defining a receptacle section, said receptacle section having elongate opposing major sides associated with said major sides of said modular plug connector means and further having opposing minor sides associated with said minor sides of said modular plug connector means, said receptacle section including a like plurality of plug-receiving cavities parallel to said elongate major sides of said receptacle section and each associated with a selected one of said plurality of modular plug connector means;
• each said plug-receiving cavity including near each end thereof proximate a said minor side at least one said forwardly extending keying section of a said second key member secured in said corresponding keying orientation in said receptacle housing means extending forwardly from said second mating face at a location appropriate for entering a said key-receiving passageway of said selected one of said modular plug connector means having a said first key member therein, each said plug-receiving cavity including associated therewith and being partially defined by a polarizing wall portion along one major side thereof extending forwardly from said second mating face and extending parallel to said receptacle section major sides from proximate one said minor side thereof to proximate the other said minor side and being adapted to enter a respective said polarizing recess along said one major side of said selected one of said modular plug connector means, said plug-receiving cavity having a dimension parallel to a said minor side at any location therealong just greater than the width of said selected one of said modular plug connector means at a corresponding location, and a forward end of said polarizing wall portion of each said plug-receiving cavity extending farther forwardly than forward ends of any of said forwardly extending keying sections and said second contact sections, whereby
• each said polarizing wall portion entering a said corresponding polarizing recess permits a said modular plug connector means to be moved farther axially forwardly into said respective plug-receiving cavity when said modular plug connector means is in a properly polarized orientation with respect to said plug-receiving cavity, and said forwardly extending keying sections of said second key members entering said corresponding key-receiving passageways of said modular plug connector means containing keying sections of corresponding said first key members permit said modular plug connector means to be moved still farther axially forwardly into said plug-receiving cavity for full mating when said first key members are secured in said modular plug connector means in respective proper keying orientations with respect to corresponding ones of said second key members, and said polarizing walls and recesses prevent mating of connectors having keying arrangements symmetrically opposed from the desired keying arrangements, all whereby each said plug-receiving cavity of said receptacle connector means permits entry of only an appropriately keyed and polarized one of said plurality of modular plug connector means for mating therewith.