Floating mounting means for electrical connector assembly

Abstract: A floating first electrical connector (11) such as a receptacle has a plurality of contacts adapted to mate with complementary contacts carried by a second electrical connector (21) (such as a plug). The receptacle (11) has a limited floating movement within the plane of an opening (12) in a panel (13) of a power supply or other electrical apparatus and a retaining clip (17) is snapped over the receptacle (11) (from externally of the power supply) to releasably secure the receptacle (11) on the panel (13), yet accommodate the limited floating movement of the receptacle (11). The receptacle (11) is retained by the retaining clip (17), externally of the power supply, but the receptacle (11) is only accessibly internally of the power supply. The arrangement permits a smooth engagement between the contacts on the plug (21) and receptacle (11), respectively, either by an axial sliding movement or by a relative angular movement therebetween. A flange (31) on the retaining clip covers the opening in the panel (13) and precludes access interiorly of the panel.

Description: The present invention relates to floating electrical connectors, and more particularly, to a floating electrical connector having a plurality of contacts adapted to matingly engage a plurality of complementary contacts on another electrical connector, such that the connectors are self-aligning with respect to each other. In the prior art relating to electrical apparatus, cooperating electrical connectors (which, for instance, may constitute a plug and a receptacle, respectively) are well known. In the manufacture and assembly of the electrical apparatus, tolerance accumulations may be encountered which tend to interfere with the smooth slidable reception of one electrical connector into the mating electrical connector. For example, the electrical apparatus may be carried on a slidable drawer as part of a rack of electronic equipment, and the drawer may have some degree of misalignment within the rack. In an effort to alleviate this problem, the prior art has resorted to a type of "floating" mounting means for electrical connectors. Such a floating mounting means is exemplified by United States Letters Patent No. 4,647,130 ( Blair et al ) In this Blair et al '130 patent, the unthreaded shank portions of shoulder screws extend through mounting holes formed in the plug (and/or receptacle) such that each shoulder screw has a head portion which is larger than a respective mounting hole. Each mounting hole has a pair of opposed projections extending forwardly therefrom; and an elastomeric member is disposed elastically around the opposed projections across each mounting hole. Each elastomeric member has an elongated shape with respective sides elastically engaging the unthreaded shank portion of a respective shoulder screw, and each shoulder screw extends through its respective mounting hole and is secured to a respective panel by means of a cooperating threaded nut. With this arrangement, the plug (with its female contacts) has an initial floating mount. Guide pins extend forwardly of the plug housing and are received in respective alignment recesses in the receptacle housing, thereby tending to cam the plug into alignment with the receptacle. This camming action is accommodated by the resilient mounting of the plug; and once the plug is received into the receptacle, the nuts are thereafter tightened on the respective shoulder screws to solidly retain the plug and connector (and its associated respective electrical apparatus). Moreover, in U.S. Patent No. 4,761,144 ( Hunt et al. ) the housing for an electrical connector (having female contacts) is provided with opposed transverse slots for receiving the respective edges of a panel, thereby longitudinally retaining the connector on the panel while permitting a limited lateral movement of the connector with its female contacts. The "I.B.M Technical Disclouser Bulletin" Vol.28 No 7 December 1985 discloses a connector socket with a "floating" attachement to a bus bar. The connector socket has an integral flange on the power supply side of the bus and a separable flange on the other side that is held on the socket by a retention clip that fits into an outer annular groove on the socket. While these prior art arrangements are perfectly satisfactory for the purposes intended, nevertheless, a need exists for providing a limited (radial) floating movement of an electrical connector, wherein the floating electrical connector is retained in its respective electrical assembly and is only accessible internally thereof. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a floating electrical connector having a plurality of contacts adapted to mate with complementary contacts carried by a second electrical connector, such that the respective electrical connectors are inherently self-aligning with respect to each other, thereby accommodating a blind mating therebetween. The present invention consists in a floating electrical connector a retainer for mounting in a panel of an electrical apparatus, wherein the connector has a plurality of contacts and is received through an opening in the panel from a first side thereof and extends beyond a second side thereof; and wherein the opening in the panel is larger than the outer contours of the connector, such that the connector may float within the plane of the panel within the limits of the opening formed therein; characterized in that the retainer has at least a portion thereof received through the opening in the panel from the second side thereof and extending beyond the first side of the panel for releasably engaging the connector, thereby retaining the connector in the panel, but accommodating a limited floating movement of the connector in the plane of the panel, the retainer having a flange covering the opening in the panel, such that the interior of the electrical apparatus is not accessible from the second side of the panel. With the invention, the floating electrical connector has a limited floating movement substantially in a plane which is transverse to the mating engagement of its contacts with the complementary contacts of a second electrical connector, such that the respective electrical connectors are substantially self-aligning and substantially accommodate a blind mating therebetween. Moreover, the retainer precludes access past the floating electrical connector to the interior of the electrical apparatus, and it is releasable only from the interior of the electrical apparatus. While the teachings of the present invention are not necessarily confined thereto, the floating electrical connector (in one embodiment) comprises a receptacle having a plurality of male contacts. Preferably, the retainer comprises a retainer clip having a pair of spaced ears, each of which is provided with a downwardly-projecting hook; and the floating electrical connector has a rearward face engaged by the respective hooks as the retaining clip is passed through the opening in the panel and is snapped over the floating electrical connector. Additionally, a cooperating guide means may be associated with the floating electrical connector and a cooperating connector, thereby assuring a substantially smooth engagement between the complementary mating contacts on the respective connectors. The floating electrical connector may comprise a floating receptacle in a power supply, and a second or cooperating electrical connector may comprise a plug carried by a backplane adapted to be energized by the power supply, wherein the floating receptacle has a plurality of male contacts adapted to mate with complementary female contacts carried by the plug connector. One embodiment of the present invention comprises a first electrical apparatus (such as a power supply) having a floating electrical connector (such as a receptacle) provided with a plurality of contacts; and a second electrical apparatus (such as a backplane) having a plug provided with a plurality of complementary contacts adapted to engage the contacts on the floating receptacle. A retainer releasably engages the receptacle from externally of the first electrical apparatus, such that the receptacle (and the retainer secured thereto) is accessible only from the interior of the first electrical apparatus. The receptacle extends beyond the retainer outwardly of the first electrical apparatus for slidably receiving the plug, whereby the floating receptacle and the contacts carried thereby accommodate tolerance accumulations between the first and second electrical apparatuses, respectively. An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- FIGURE 1 is an exploded perspective view of an electrical apparatus embodying the present invention, including the following major components: a floating receptacle (or first electrical connector) having a plurality of contacts; a panel of the electrical apparatus having an opening formed therein to receive the floating receptacle; a retainer clip adapted to be snapped into place over the receptacle from externally of the electrical apparatus; and a plug (or second electrical connector) having a plurality of complementary contacts adapted to mate with the respective contacts in the floating receptacle. FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the panel, the floating receptacle within the opening in the panel, and the retaining clip snapped over the receptacle to prevent the receptacle from being dislodged transversely of the panel, yet accommodating a limited floating movement of the receptacle within the plane of the opening in the panel. FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view, taken along the lines 3-3 of Figure 2, and illustrating the limited floating movement of the receptacle (and the retaining clip releasably secured thereto) within the confines of the opening in the plane of the panel, the broken lines illustrating how the flange on the retaining clip covers the opening in the panel and prevents access to the interior of the electrical apparatus (such as a power supply) having the floating receptacle (or other floating electrical connector thereon). FIGURES 4 and 5 are further cross-sectional views, corresponding substantially to Figure 3, but further illustrating the limited floating movement of the receptacle. FIGURE 6 is an exploded longitudinal section of the major components of electrical apparatus embodying the present invention. FIGURE 7A is a perspective of the preferred retaining clip for the present invention, showing the spaced latching tabs with their respective hooks to releasably engage the floating receptacle. FIGURE 7B is a further perspective view of the preferred retaining clip, viewed from its opposite side. FIGURE 8 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the retaining clip as it is being assembled over the floating receptacle. FIGURE 9 corresponds to a portion of Figure 8 and illustrates how the respective downwardly-projecting hooks on the spaced-apart ears on the retaining clip are snapped over the rearward face of the floating receptacle, thereby preventing dislodgement of the receptacle transversely of the opening in the panel, yet accommodating the limited floating movement of the receptacle within the opening in the panel. FIGURE 10 is a further longitudinal cross-sectional view of the assembled receptacle and retaining clip, showing in exploded relationship the plug as it is being slidably guided into the floating receptacle. FIGURE 11 corresponds to Figure 10, but illustrates how the floating receptacle will shift within the plane of the opening in the panel, as the plug engages the receptacle, thereby accommodating tolerance accumulations between the plug and its mating receptacle. FIGURE 12 is a further exploded cross-sectional view, showing how the plug and the floating receptacle may engage each other at a relative angular relationship (as well as by an axial sliding movement, as previously illustrated). It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the teachings of the present invention are equally applicable to a wide variety of electrical apparatus; as for example, the following: drawers in a rack; cable-to-cabinet connectors; cabinet-to-cabinet connections; modular electrical (or electronic) equipment; and the like. Moreover, it will also be appreciated that the teachings of the present invention are equally applicable to electrical and optical transmission members, which use electrical power and signal transmission or fibers for optical signal transmission. Finally, the invention is applicable to a floating electrical connector for either one (or both) of the mating electrical connectors, such as a cooperating plug and receptacle. With this in mind, and with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, the floating mounting means 10 embodying the present invention includes a floating receptacle connector 11 having a limited floating movement within an opening 12 formed in a panel 13. The panel 13, for example, may be part of a power supply (which, being conventional, has been omitted for ease of illustration). The respective dimensions of the opening 12 are slightly larger than the outer dimensions, contours or configuration of the receptacle 11, such that the receptacle 11 (as shown more clearly in Figures 3-5) may have a limited floating movement within the opening 12 in the panel 13. The floating receptacle 11 is received through the opening 12 in the panel 13, from a first (interior) side 14 of the panel 13, and extends beyond a second (exterior) side 15 of the panel 13, as shown more clearly in Figure 2. The floating receptacle 11 has a plurality of contacts 16 that have a conjoint floating movement with the receptacle 11. In the embodiment shown herein, the receptacle 11 has a plurality of male contacts 16. A retaining clip 17, as shown in Figures 6, 7A and 7B, has an opening 18 suitably configured to allow a portion of the receptacle 11 to extend therethrough externally of the panel 13. The retaining clip 17 has a pair of inwardly-extending latching tabs or ears 18, each of which is provided with a downwardly-extending hook 19. Each tab 18 flexes outwardly as the retaining clip 17 is slidably received over the receptacle 11, as shown in Figure 8, such that the hooks 19 are received over the rearward face 20 of the receptacle 11, as the retaining clip 17 is "snapped" over the receptacle 11 to thereby releasably secure the receptacle 11 within the panel 13, as shown more clearly in Figures 8 and 9. It is to be understood that configuration of the tabs or latching member shown is representative of a variety of possible designs. With this arrangement, the receptacle 11 is retained against dislodgement from the panel 13 in a direction transverse to the panel 13, yet the retaining clip 17 accommodates a limited floating movement of the receptacle 11 within the plane of the opening 12 in the panel 13. Moreover, it will be appreciated that the receptacle 11 enters the opening 12 in the panel 13 externally thereof; such that while the floating receptacle 11 is engageable by the retaining clip 17 externally of the power supply, (or other electrical apparatus) the floating receptacle 11 may only be removed from the power supply internally thereof. Moreover, the retaining clip 17 has a flange 31 which covers the opening 12 in the panel 13. With this arrangement, and once the retaining clip 17 is snapped into place, the interior of the power supply (or other electrical apparatus) is not accessible from externally thereof. The floating receptacle 11 (with its male contacts 16) cooperates with a "header" or plug connector 21 having a plurality of female contacts 22. While not limited thereto, in the preferred embodiment the plug 21 is carried by a backplane (which, being conventional, has been omitted for ease of illustration). The plug 21 is provided with a pair of spaced-apart guide pins or posts 23. Each guide post 23 has a first portion 24 formed substantially as a semi-cylinder; and each guide post 23 further has a second portion 25 integral with the first portion 24, extending forwardly therefrom, and having a conical or tapered configuration (as shown more clearly in Figure 1). These guide posts 23 cooperate with complementary formed semi-cylindrical recesses 26 formed within the floating receptacle 11. It will be understood, however, that other forms of guide means may be employed. As shown more clearly in Figures 10 and 11, as the plug 21 is slidably received within the receptacle 11, the guide posts 23 align the floating receptacle 11 with the plug 21 and, if necessary, cam the floating receptacle 11 into alignment with the plug 21, such that the contacts 22 on the plug 21 smoothly receive the complementary contacts 16 on the floating receptacle 11 (and vice-versa). The cooperating plug 21 and receptacle 11 may engage by means of an axial sliding movement, such as a drawer in a rack as illustrated in Figures 10 and 11, or by a relative angular movement therebetween (as shown more clearly in Figure 12). The receptacle 11, retaining clip 17 and plug 21 may be molded from a suitable dielectric material. Preferably, the receptacle 11 has two pairs of projecting tabs 27 constituting a locating or positioning means for cooperating with the flange 31 on the retaining clip 17 (as shown more clearly in Figure 2) to assure that when hooks 19 on the ears 18 of the retaining clip 17 engage the floating receptacle 11, that there is some "play" (transversely of the plane of the panel 13) so that the retaining clip 17 does not rigidly bind the receptacle 11 within the opening 12 of the panel 13 but, rather, accommodates the limited floating movement of the receptacle 11 within the plane of the panel 13. Additionally, flange 28 of the floating receptacle 11 has a raised portion 29 received within a keyhole slot 30 communicating with the opening 12 in the panel 13. The keyhole slot 30 provides clearance for the raised portion 29 and thus assures that the floating receptacle 11 will be properly oriented within the opening 12 and not laterally reversed in an alternate 180 o orientation.

Claims: A floating electrical connector (11) with a retainer (17) for mounting in a panel (13) of an electrical apparatus, wherein the connector (11) has a plurality of contacts (16) and is received through an opening (12) in the panel (13) from a first side (14) thereof and extends beyond a second side (15) thereof; and wherein the opening in the panel is larger than the outer contours of the connector (11), such that the connector may float within the plane of the panel within the limits of the opening formed therein; characterized in that the retainer (17) has at least a portion thereof received through the opening (12) in the panel (13) from the second side (15) thereof and extending beyond the first side (14) of the panel for releasably engaging the connector (11), thereby retaining the connector in the panel, but accommodating a limited floating movement of the connector in the plane of the panel, the retainer (17) having a flange (31) covering the opening (12) in the panel (13), such that the interior of the electrical apparatus is not accessible from the second side (15) of the panel. The floating electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the retainer (17) comprises a retaining clip having a pair of latching ears (18) carried thereby and projecting therefrom through the opening (12) in the panel (13), each of the ears having a downwardly-projecting hook (19) formed thereon, and wherein the connector (11) has a rearward face engaged by the hooks (19) on the respective ears (18), as the retaining clip is snapped over the connector, thereby releasably securing the connector (11) to the panel, but accommodating a floating movement of the connector within the opening in the panel. The floating electrical connector of claim 1 or 2, wherein a portion of the connector (11) extends through the opening (12) in the panel (13) and beyond the second side (15) thereof, and a plurality of locating tabs (27) on the connector engage the retaining clip (17) for limiting the extent to which the connector extends beyond the panel (13), whereby the connector and the retaining clip (17) releasably secured thereto have a limited movement in a direction transverse to the plane of the panel (13), thereby avoiding a binding of the connector (11) relative to the panel (13) and facilitating the limited floating movement of the connector within the plane of the opening in the panel. The floating electrical connector of claim 1, 2 or 3, including means for keying (29) the connector in the panel opening (12). The floating electrical connector of claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, in combination with a second electrical connector (21) of a second electrical apparatus, said second electrical connector having complementary contacts adapted to mate with the contacts of the floating connector (11), whereby the connectors (11,21) are substantially self-aligning and accommodate a substantially blind mating therebetween. The combination of claim 5, wherein the floating electrical connector comprises a floating receptacle (11) having a plurality of male contacts (16), and the second electrical connector comprises a plug (21) having a plurality of female contacts (22). The combination of claim 5 or 6, including a pair of spaced guide posts (25) carried by the plug (21), and the receptacle having a pair of complementary spaced openings (26) formed therein to receive the guide posts (25) on the plug (21), thereby accommodating an alignment between the plug (21) carrying the female contacts and the floating receptacle carrying the male contacts, as the plug (21) is slidably received into the receptacle. Electrical apparatus comprising a power supply including a panel (13) having an opening (12) formed therein, and a floating electrical connector (11) as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3 or 4 mounted within the panel (13).

Inventors: FLEAK DAVID SCOTT, ROSE WILLIAM HENRY, TAYLOR ATTALEE SNARR, FLEAK, DAVID SCOTT, ROSE, WILLIAM HENRY, TAYLOR, ATTALEE SNARR
Applicants: WHITAKER CORP, THE WHITAKER CORPORATION
Application year: 1989
Main classification: H01R13
IPC codes: H01R13