Patent ID: 7628628
Filing Date: 2009-12-08
Classification: H01R

Abstract:
1. A connector assembly having a floating structure, comprising: a cradle housing; and a connector moveably mounted in the cradle housing, the connector including a portion configured for connecting to and detaching from a coupling connector; wherein: the cradle housing further comprises a connector-mounting window for receiving an attachment base of the moveably-mounted connector, the moveably-mounted connector is freely moveable within a spacing defined between the connector-mounting window and the attachment base, an elastic member of flexible material is provided on the exterior of a connector housing of the moveably-mounted connector, the elastic member being configured to deform to permit the moveably-mounted connector to move a lateral distance from an uncoupled position to a coupling position for alignment and coupling with the coupling connector, the lateral distance falling within the spacing between the connector-mounting window and the attachment base, the connector housing provided with the elastic member closely contacts and is housed in a housing part formed in the cradle housing, an elastic member restoring force is generated in the elastic member when the moveably-mounted connector and the coupling connector are coupled and the elastic member is deformed, the elastic member restoring force operating when coupling between the moveably-mounted connector and the coupling connector is released to return the attachment base of the moveably-mounted connector to the uncoupled position within the connector-mounting window, on the exterior of the connector housing of the moveably-mounted connector, the elastic member comprises a secondary molding including flexible material that has elasticity, and further comprises a plurality of protrusions on an exterior surface of the secondary molding, and the connector housing is housed such that the protrusions are in close contact with an interior surface of the housing part.