Connection device and floating connection assembly

A connection device and a floating connection assembly are provided. The floating connection assembly includes a floating connector and an assembling module. The floating connector includes a floating module and a main body. The floating module defines an assembling region and a plurality of holding regions that are distributed around the assembling region. The main body is inserted into the assembling region of the floating module. The assembling module is retained by the floating module through the holding regions. The floating module and the assembling module are jointly configured to movably clamp a panel, and are jointly movable relative to the panel.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority to China Patent Application No. 202010474108.X, filed on May 29, 2020 in People's Republic of China. The entire content of the above identified application is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates to a connector, and more particularly to a connection device and a floating connection assembly.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

A conventional floating connector assembled onto a panel can be used to absorb or decrease a deviation by making some components thereof to be slightly floatable. However, the structure of the conventional floating connector has been limited by an existing technical prejudice (e.g., the floating mechanism cannot be related to the panel), so that the conventional floating connector is difficult to be significantly changed and improved.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

In response to the above-referenced technical inadequacies, the present disclosure provides a connection device and a floating connection assembly to effectively improve on the issues associated with conventional floating connectors.

In one aspect, the present disclosure provides a connection device, which includes a panel and a floating connection assembly. The panel has a first thru-hole and a plurality of second thru-holes that are arranged around the first thru-hole. The floating connection assembly includes a floating connector and an assembling module. The floating connector includes a floating module and a main body. The floating module defines an assembling region and a plurality of holding regions that are distributed around the assembling region and that respectively correspond in position to the second thru-holes. The main body is inserted into the assembling region of the floating module and passes through the first thru-hole. The assembling module passes through the second thru-holes and is retained by the floating module through the holding regions. The floating module and the assembling module are jointly configured to movably clamp the panel. The main body is spaced apart from an inner wall of the first thru-hole by a distance, and a portion of the assembling module arranged in any one of the second thru-holes is spaced apart from an inner wall of the corresponding second thru-hole by a distance, so that the floating connector and the assembling module are jointly movable relative to the panel.

In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a floating connection assembly, which includes a floating connector and an assembling module. The floating connector includes a floating module and a main body. The floating module defines an assembling region and a plurality of holding regions that are distributed around the assembling region. The main body is inserted into the assembling region of the floating module. The assembling module is retained by the floating module through the holding regions, and the floating module and the assembling module are jointly configured to movably clamp a panel, and are jointly movable relative to the panel.

Therefore, the floating connector and the assembling module of the floating connection assembly in the present disclosure are jointly used in cooperation with the panel so as to provide the floating connection assembly with a floating function for overcoming the existing technical prejudice. Specifically, the main body of the floating connector can be floated (or moved) along different directions to effectively improve (or absorb) a deviation generated from the floating connector, so that the floating connector can be precisely inserted into the mating connector.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Referring toFIG. 1toFIG. 10, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a connection device1000including a panel200and a floating connection assembly100that is movably assembled to the panel200(shown inFIG. 1toFIG. 3). As shown inFIG. 4andFIG. 5, the panel200has a first thru-hole201and a plurality of second thru-holes202that are arranged around the first thru-hole201. The first thru-hole201is substantially arranged at a central portion of the panel200. Moreover, the floating connection assembly100in the present embodiment is fastened to the first thru-hole201and the second thru-holes202of the panel200, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, in other embodiments of the present disclosure, the floating connection assembly100can be independently used (e.g., sold) or can be used in cooperation with other components. The following description describes the structure and connection relationship of each component of the floating connection assembly100.

As shown inFIG. 5toFIG. 7, the floating connection assembly100includes a floating connector1and an assembling module2that is configured to fasten the floating connector1to the panel200. The floating connector1includes a main body11, a floating module12assembled to the main body11, and a plurality of elastic components13that are abutted against and arranged between the main body11and the floating module12. Moreover, the main body11in the present embodiment is a high density cable connector, and each of the elastic components13is a compression spring. The mode of the main body11and the mode and quantity of the elastic component13can be adjusted or changed according to design requirements, and are not limited to the present embodiment.

In the present embodiment, as shown inFIG. 6toFIG. 8, the main body11includes an insulating housing111, a plurality of conductive terminals112fastened to the insulating housing111, a supporting housing113sleeved around an outer side of the insulating housing111, two pressing boards114sandwiched between the supporting housing113and the floating module12(or arranged between the supporting housing113and the elastic components13), and a plurality of cables115that are respectively connected to the conductive terminals112.

The insulating housing111has an insertion end1111and an assembling end1112that is opposite to the insertion end1111. The conductive terminals112are inserted into the insulating housing111. The supporting housing113surrounds the insulating housing111, and the insertion end1111and the assembling end1112of the insulating housing111are arranged in the supporting housing113, and the insertion end1111of the insulating housing111is configured to be connected to a mating connector (not shown in figures) along an insertion direction P. The assembling end1112of the insulating housing111is substantially coplanar with an adjacent surface of the supporting housing113.

Moreover, the main body11has a plurality of perforation holes1131formed in the supporting housing113. The perforation holes1131in the present embodiment are arranged in two rows that are respectively arranged on two opposite sides of the supporting housing113adjacent to the assembling end1112. The two pressing boards114are abutted against the assembling end1112of the insulating housing111and the adjacent surface of the supporting housing113so as to fix the insulating housing111into the supporting housing113. The two pressing boards114in the present embodiment are respectively disposed on two portions of the supporting housing113that respectively have the two rows of the perforation holes1131, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. In addition, the cables115are respectively connected to portions of the conductive terminals112adjacent to the assembling end1112, and the cables115are exposed from the insulating housing111(or the assembling end1112of the insulating housing111) and the supporting housing113and are substantially located between the two pressing boards114.

In other embodiments of the present disclosure, ends of the two pressing boards114can be connected to jointly form a ring-shaped structure, so that the quantity of the pressing board114of the main body11can be only one. In other words, the quantity of the pressing board114of the main body11can be at least one, and the at least one pressing board114is abutted against the insulating housing111so as to fix the insulating housing111into the supporting housing113.

The floating module12defines an assembling region1211and a plurality of holding regions1212that are distributed around the assembling region1211. The main body11is inserted into the assembling region1211of the floating module12, and the elastic components13are arranged or disposed in the assembling region1211and are elastically deformable along the insertion direction P. Moreover, two ends of each of the elastic components13are respectively abutted against the floating module12and the main body11, so that the main body11can be movable along the insertion direction P relative to the floating module12through at least one of the elastic components13.

Accordingly, the floating connector1in the present embodiment can be precisely inserted into the mating connector by having the elastic components13that are abutted against the floating module12and the main body11and by having the main body11that is movable along the insertion direction P relative to the floating module12(as shown inFIG. 9) through at least one of the elastic components13.

It should be noted that the floating module12can be any structure satisfying the above features. In other words, the floating module12can be provided in many different structures. In order to describe the present embodiment, the following description describes the floating module12provided in one of the different structures, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

In the present embodiment, the floating module12includes a floating housing121, a plurality of guiding rods122fixed to the floating housing121, and a plurality of restricting components123(e.g., screw nuts) that are respectively assembled to the guiding rods122. The floating housing121is formed with the assembling region1211and the holding regions1212. In the present embodiment, a trough-like space formed by the floating housing121is defined as the assembling region1211, and each corner of the floating housing121is formed with (or has) one of the holding regions1212.

Moreover, the floating module12includes an abutting surface1213arranged on the floating housing121and a plurality of protrusions1214that extend from the abutting surface1213, and the protrusions1214are respectively arranged in the holding regions1212. The abutting surface1213is a surface of the floating housing121away from the restricting components123, and a substantial center portion of the abutting surface1213of the floating housing121has an accommodating hole1215in spatial communication with the assembling region1211. The floating module12has a plurality of concavities1216respectively recessed in the protrusions1214. In other words, the concavities1216are respectively arranged in the holding regions1212, and each of the concavities1216in the present embodiment is a penetrating screw hole, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

A portion of the main body11(e.g., the insertion end1111of the insulating housing111and adjacent parts of other components of the main body11) protrudes from the accommodating hole1215of the floating housing121, and another portion of the main body11(e.g., the assembling end1112of the insulating housing111and adjacent parts of other components of the main body11) is arranged in the assembling region1211of the floating module12.

Specifically, a portion of the supporting housing113protrudes from the accommodating hole1215of the floating housing121. Another portion of the supporting housing113(e.g., the perforation holes1131), portions of other components arranged therein, and the two pressing boards114are arranged in the assembling region1211of the floating module12.

Moreover, the guiding rods122sequentially pass through the floating housing121, the perforation holes1131of the supporting housing113, the two pressing boards114, the elastic components13, and the restricting components123along the insertion direction P. End portions1221of the guiding rods122are respectively arranged in (or engaged with) and fixed to portions of the floating housing121that are respectively located at two opposite sides of the accommodating hole1215. The guiding rods122respectively pass through the perforation holes1131of the supporting housing113. The end portion1221of each of the guiding rods122is limited or retained by the floating housing121, so that the end portion1221of each of the guiding rods122is not rotated relative to the corresponding perforation hole1131.

In addition, the guiding rods122respectively pass through the elastic components13one to one along the insertion direction P, and an end (e.g., the end portions1221) of the guiding rods122are assembled to the floating housing121(e.g., the abutting surface1213). The restricting components123are respectively fixed to another end of the guiding rods122, and are respectively butted against an end of the elastic components13. The main body11is movably assembled to the guiding rods122along the insertion direction P, and the main body11(e.g., the pressing boards114) is abutted against another end of the elastic components13(e.g., the main body11and each of the restricting components123are configured to jointly clamp one of the elastic components13), so that the elastic components13are configured to tend to maintain the main body11abutting against the floating housing121.

The main body11passes through the first thru-hole201of the panel200, and the holding regions1212respectively correspond in position to the second thru-holes202of the panel200. The assembling module2passes through the second thru-holes202and is retained by the floating module12through the holding regions1212, so that the floating module12and the assembling module2can be jointly configured to movably clamp the panel200(as shown inFIG. 10). Moreover, the main body11is spaced apart from an inner wall of the first thru-hole201by a distance (e.g., a first distance), and a portion of the assembling module2arranged in any one of the second thru-holes202is spaced apart from an inner wall of the corresponding second thru-hole202by a distance (e.g., a second distance), so that the floating connector1and the assembling module2can be jointly movable relative to the panel200. Specifically, the first distance defined by the main body11and the inner wall of the first thru-hole201can be equal to or not equal to the second distance that is defined by the portion of the assembling module2arranged in any one of the second thru-holes202and the inner wall of the corresponding second thru-hole202, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

Accordingly, the floating connector1and the assembling module2of the floating connection assembly100are jointly used in cooperation with the panel200so as to provide the floating connection assembly100with a floating function for overcoming the existing technical prejudice. Specifically, the main body11of the floating connector1can be floated (or moved) along different directions to effectively improve (or absorb) a deviation generated from the floating connector1, so that the floating connector1can be precisely inserted into the mating connector.

It should be noted that the assembling module2can be any structure satisfying the above features. In other words, the assembling module2can be provided in many different structures. In order to describe the present embodiment, the following description describes the assembling module2provided in one of the different structures that is only used in cooperation with the above floating module12of the present embodiment, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

As shown inFIG. 4,FIG. 5, andFIG. 8, the assembling module2in the present embodiment includes a baffle21and a plurality of retainers22(e.g., screw nails) that pass through the baffle21. Moreover, the panel200is sandwiched between the abutting surface1213of the floating connector1and the baffle21of the assembling module2, a part of the main body11(e.g., the supporting housing113, the insertion end1111of the insulating housing111, and adjacent parts of other components of the main body11) protrudes from the first thru-hole201of the panel200and the baffle21, and the retainers22are fixed to the holding regions1212by respectively passing through the second thru-holes202. In other words, the retainers22are respectively screwed into the concavities1216by passing through the second thru-holes202. Specifically, the part (e.g., the portion of the supporting housing113) of the main body11protruding from the first thru-hole201is spaced apart from an inner wall of the first thru-hole201by the first distance, and the portion (e.g., the retainers22) of the assembling module2arranged in any one of the second thru-holes202is spaced apart from an inner wall of the corresponding second thru-hole202by the second distance, so that the floating module12and the baffle21are jointly configured to movably clamp the panel200by the first distance and the second distance.

Specifically, the baffle21partially covers one side of the first thru-hole201and one side of the second thru-holes202(e.g., the lower side the first thru-hole201and the lower side of the second thru-holes202shown inFIG. 8away from the abutting surface1213) along the insertion direction P, and the abutting surface1213covers another side of the first thru-hole201and another side of the second thru-holes202(e.g., the upper side the first thru-hole201and the upper side of the second thru-holes202shown inFIG. 8adjacent to the abutting surface1213) along the insertion direction P. The end portion1221of each of the guiding rods122is restricted along the insertion direction P by the panel200.

Moreover, the protrusions1214are abutted against the baffle21and are respectively arranged in the second thru-holes202. Each of the protrusions1214is spaced apart from the inner wall of the corresponding second thru-hole202by a distance (e.g., a third distance). Specifically, the second distance can be equal to or not equal to the third distance. In other words, the concavities1216respectively correspond in position to the second thru-holes202along the insertion direction P, and an inner diameter of each of the concavities1216is smaller than an inner diameter of the corresponding second thru-hole202. A thickness of each of the protrusions1214is equal to or greater than that of the panel200, so that the abutting surface1213can be maintained to be spaced apart from the baffle21by a predetermined interval, and the floating module12and the baffle21are jointly configured to movably clamp the panel200.

Specifically, the floating module12and the assembling module2that is retained by the floating module12can be jointly movable relative to the panel200(along a parallel direction of the panel200) by at least one of the first distance, the second distance, the third distance, and the predetermined interval.

In conclusion, the floating connector and the assembling module of the floating connection assembly in the present disclosure are jointly used in cooperation with the panel so as to provide the floating connection assembly with a floating function for overcoming the existing technical prejudice. Specifically, the main body of the floating connector can be floated (or moved) along different directions to effectively improve (or absorb) a deviation generated from the floating connector, so that the floating connector can be precisely inserted into the mating connector.

Moreover, the elastic components in the present disclosure are abutted against the floating module and the main body, so that the main body can be movable along the insertion direction relative to the floating module through at least one of the elastic components. Accordingly, the floating connector or the floating connection assembly in the present disclosure can be precisely inserted into a mating connector.