Patent ID: 9537235
Date: 2017-01-03
CPC Classifications: H01R

Claim:
1. Configurable guide hardware for aligning two associated connectors that are mounted on different circuit cards, the guide hardware comprising: a guide receptacle mounted to one of the circuit cards, the guide receptacle including a housing that defines a channel therein, the housing extending between a mating end and an opposite end, the channel being open at the mating end and extending towards the opposite end, the guide receptacle further including a keyway ring having a first side and a second side and defining a central opening therethrough between the first and second sides, the keyway ring held in the channel such that the first and second sides are both located axially between the mating end and the opposite end of the housing, the central opening of the keyway ring aligning with the channel, the guide receptacle being configured to receive a pin of a guide plug in the channel through the central opening of the keyway ring, the keyway ring including a receptacle keying feature along an inner perimeter that defines the central opening, the keyway ring being selectively positionable to locate the receptacle keying feature in multiple pre-defined angular orientations relative to the housing.