High density electrical connector assembly with improved alignment/guide means

In an electrical connector assembly for connecting a first set of insulated wires to a second set of insulated wires, said connector assembly including:

• a cylindrical male plug connector having a mating face and including a protruding insulating plug housing with a plurality of passageways formed therein, a plurality of pin contacts mounted in the passageways extending generally parallel to the plug connector axis toward the plug mating face, a key proximate the plug mating face integrally formed with and projecting radially outwardly from the protruding insulating plug housing, and a coupling ring rotatably mounted on the protruding insulating plug housing;
• and
• a cylindrical female receptacle connector having a mating face and including a recessed shell for receiving the protruding insulating plug housing and for mechanically and electrically engaging the coupling ring, a keyway formed on an inside surface of the recessed shell adjacent the receptacle mating face adapted to interengage the integrally formed key of the protruding insulating plug housing, an insulating receptacle housing disposed within the shell, and a plurality of socket contacts mounted in the insulating receptacle housing extending generally parallel to the receptacle connector axis toward the receptacle mating face adapted to interengage the pin contacts,
• whereby the key and keyway insure proper initial alignment of the male plug connector with respect to the female receptacle connector;
• wherein the improvement comprises:
• a guide pin mounted in the insulating receptacle housing extending generally parallel to the socket contacts past the receptacle mating face;
• a guide hole formed in the protruding plug housing portion of the plug connector adapted to receive the guide pin;
• the pin contacts of the plug connector are recessed from the plug mating face to protect the pin contacts from damage upon mating;
• and
• the socket contacts of the receptacle connector extend past the receptacle mating face,
• wherein the guide pin extends past the mating face of the receptacle connector a distance further than the socket contacts,
• whereby the guide pin and guide hole are configured for interengagement after interengagement of said key and keyway and before interengagement of the pin and socket contacts.