Patent ID: 6176738
Filing Date: 2001-01-23
Classification: H01R

Abstract:
An electrical connector for mounting to a panel having first and second sides and having a cutout having opposed side edges and opposed first and second end edges, comprising:an insulative housing having a first face and a second face corresponding to said first and second sides, said housing having opposed side walls and opposed first and second end walls and being dimensioned smaller than said cutout;said side walls each including at least one first flange extending outwardly therefrom proximate said first face corresponding to a recess in said cutout with said at least one first flange defining a coplanar panel-abutting surface facing said second face, and said side walls further each including a ledge extending outwardly therefrom closer to said second face than said at least one first flange and spaced from said at least one first flange a distance at least as great as a thickness of said panel to define a panel-receiving gap between said at least one first flange and said ledge, said ledge defining a coplanar panel-abutting surface facing said first face that extends beyond side edges of said at least one first flange to abut said second side beside said recess when said connector is inserted through said panel from said second side;said housing having a length between said opposed first and second end walls substantially less than a corresponding dimension of said cutout between said first end edge and said second end edge such that said housing is translatable laterally toward said second end edge after insertion into said cutout after said at least one first flange has passed through said recess until said at least one first flange is disposed adjacent said first side while said ledge remains adjacent said second side;said housing including a resilient beam extending outwardly from said first end wall spaced from said first face of said housing farther than said at least one first flange, to a free end defining a stop surface, and said stop surface being aligned with said first end edge when said resilient beam is undeflected, and said resilient beam having a length from said housing to said stop surface sufficient to be disposed between said first end edge and said first end wall when said resilient beam resiles after said housing is inserted through said cutout,whereby at least said free end of said resilient beam abuts and is deflected by a portion of said second side when said housing is initially inserted through said cutout, and resiles after said housing is translated laterally toward said second end edge thereby aligning said stop surface with said first end edge to prevent substantial inadvertent movement of said housing laterally toward said first end edge, thereby retaining said housing in said cutout while permitting incremental floating movement of said housing within said cutout to self-align with a mating connector during mating.