Electrical connectors – Self aligning contact – Contact mounted in floating nonconductive holder
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-03
2001-11-13
Patel, Tulsidas (Department: 2839)
Electrical connectors
Self aligning contact
Contact mounted in floating nonconductive holder
C439S353000, C439S355000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06315590
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention generally relates to the art of connector assemblies and, particularly, a connector assembly for mounting through an aperture in a panel and having floating movement relative to the panel.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Fiber optic connectors of a wide variety of designs have been employed to terminate optical fiber cables and to facilitate connection of the cables to other cables or other optical fiber transmission devices. A typical fiber optic connector includes a ferrule which mounts and centers an optical fiber or fibers within the connector. The ferrule may be fabricated of such material as ceramic. A ferrule holder or other housing component of the connector embraces the ferrule and may be fabricated of such material as molded plastic. A spring may be disposed within the housing or ferrule holder such that the ferrule is yieldably biased forwardly for engaging another fiber-mounting ferrule of a mating connecting device.
A pair of fiber optic connectors or a connector and another optical fiber transmission device often are mated in an adapter which centers the fibers to provide low insertion losses. The adapter couples the connectors together so that their encapsulated fibers connect end-to-end. The adapter may be an in-line component, or the adapter can be designed for mounting in an aperture in a panel, backplane, circuit board or the like. The adapter may be mounted on a printed circuit board such as a motherboard, and one of the connectors received by the adapter may be mounted to a daughterboard.
When the adapter and connector assemblies are mounted through an aperture in a panel, it often is desirable to mount the connector assembly so that it has some degree of limited movement or “float” relative to the panel or other chassis. For instance, the chassis or panel and its mounted connector may be assembled in relation to another frame component or a printed circuit board, backplane or the like. By providing some degree of floating movement for the connector, accommodation is made for manufacturing tolerances when the entire system is assembled.
On the other hand, if a connector is mounted in a panel with floating movement relative thereto, it often is difficult to mate a complementary connector with the panel-mounted connector because the panel-mounted connector shifts around due to its floating movement. The present invention is directed to a new and improved latch-release system wherein an adapter and a panel-mounted connector is fixed against any floating movement relative to the panel to allow easy mating of a second connector, and the panel-mounted connector is released upon mating to allow limited floating movement of the connector assembly relative to the panel. Of course, the concepts of the invention are not limited to this particular adapter/connector arrangement.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object, therefore, of the invention is to provide a new and improved connector assembly for mounting through an aperture in a panel, the aperture defining an axis, and the assembly providing for floating movement when the connector arrangement is fully mated.
In the exemplary embodiment of the invention, the connector assembly includes a first connecting device mountable in the aperture in the panel. A second connecting device is insertable axially into the first connecting device. One of the connecting devices includes two portions relatively movable in an axial direction, with one portion being mateable with the other of the connecting devices. Complementary interengaging first latch means are provided between the two portions of the one connecting device to prevent the relative axial movement therebetween. Complementary interengaging second latch means are provided between the other of the connecting devices and the one portion of the one connecting device when the other connecting device is mated therewith. Release means are provided on the other of the connecting devices for releasing the first latch means between the two portions of the one connecting device to allow the mated other connecting device to float relative to the panel.
As disclosed herein, the complementary interengaging first latch means include at least one flexible latch arm on the one relatively movable portion of the one connecting device engageable with a latch member on the other portion. Preferably, a pair of the flexible latch arms and respective latch member are provided on opposite sides of the connector assembly. A pair of the latch members are spaced axially of the other portion of the one connecting device for each flexible latch arm and between which the latch arm floats when the connecting devices are mated.
The complementary interengaging second latch means comprise at least one flexible latch arm on the other of the connecting devices engageable with a latch member on the one relatively movable portion of the one connecting device. Generally, the invention contemplates that the release means and the second latch means comprise a single component. Therefore, the flexible latch arm on the other connecting device includes a portion thereof defining the release means for engaging and releasing the first latch means. As disclosed herein, the flexible latch arm includes a chamfered distal end for engaging and releasing the first latch means generally transversely of the axis. The flexible latch arm includes a latch hook spaced axially of the chamfered distal end for engaging the latch member on the one relatively movable portion of the one connecting device.
The first connecting device is shown herein in the form of a two-part adapter mountable in the aperture in the panel. The second connecting device is fixed to a substrate such as a printed circuit board. However, the invention is not limited to this precise connector assembly.
Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.
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Belenkiy Yuriy
Grois Igor
Szilagyi B. Daniel
Molex Incorporated
Patel Tulsidas
Peschel Charles J
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