Polarizing adapter sleeves for electrical connectors

摘要

A first adapter sleeve snaps onto an outside portion of the plug component of an electrical connector and a second adapter sleeve snaps over an outside portion of the coupling ring which is part of the receptacle component of the connector. The first adapter sleeve has formed therein a number of keyways having a particular angular spacing. In order for the components to be mated or coupled together, the second sleeve must have formed thereon a number of keys corresponding to the number of keyways formed in the first sleeve and also have the same angular spacing. In this way, a plurality of first and second adapter sleeves having different key and keyway patterns can be provided so as to prevent the mismating of otherwise identical connector components.