Abstract:
A connector assembly includes a floatable mounting apparatus that enables the connector assembly to correct for misalignment between mounting structures. The connector assembly also includes a connector housing having peripheral surfaces with an outer contour shaped to loosely fit in an inner contour of a mounting structure, such as a card, panel, circuit board, bulk head, rack assembly and the like. The connector housing is slidably inserted into the opening through the mounting structure. A chamber is provided in the connector housing adapted to securely retain contacts. At least one latch beam is formed with the connector housing and aligned to engage the mounting structure. A float gap is located between the inner contour of the opening through the mounting structure and the outer contour of the connector housing to enable relative movement therebetween. Guide pins are provided on a receptacle connector and guide pockets are provided on a plug connector to facilitate alignment therebetween during a mating operation. At least one of the receptacle and plug connectors are provided with a pattern of contact receiving cavities therein, in which the cavities are formed in staggered overlapping rows to afford a compact connector envelope while enabling large blades and large wire gauges to be used.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to electrical connector assemblies. At least one embodiment generally relates to a floating connector assembly movably mounted to a support structure permitting connection even when the supporting structure are misaligned. At least one embodiment of the present invention generally relates to a staggered contact pattern to afford a compact connector envelope while maintaining large contacts and wire gauge. 
     Today, connector assemblies are utilized in a variety of applications and fields. Exemplary fields including, but are not limited to, telecommunications, internet applications, personal computers and the like. Exemplary applications include, but are not limited to, connecting components, boards and cards in computers, servers, networks and the like. One exemplary style of connection involves interconnecting rack and panel assemblies, also referred to as “drawer connectors.” 
     Often, connector assemblies are utilized with a plug connector mateable with a receptacle connector, each of which is mounted to some form of support structure. By way example only, one of the plug or receptacle connectors may be mounted to a subassembly, component, card, panel or circuit board, while the other connector may be mounted to a bulkhead or rack assembly that holds the card, panel, board, component or subassembly. Alternatively, the plug and receptacle connector halves may both be mounted to panels, cards or circuit boards. As a further exemplary alternative, one connector half may be provided on a rack, while the other connector half may be provided on a panel. The rack assembly may have slots or carriages that receive panels, cards or boards carrying signal and/or power components. The slots or carriages may loosely receive the panel, card or board and not necessarily guide a panel, board or card in a close tolerance along a slot or carriage path. The loose tolerance within the slot or carriage permits the board, card or panel to move slightly in the lateral and vertical directions transverse to the length of the slot or carriage path. The panels, cards and boards may also become slightly turned when loaded into the slot or carriage. Consequently, when panels, cards or boards are slid into a rack assembly, the connector on the panel, card or board may not precisely align with the mating connector on the rack assembly. 
     Heretofore, misalignment has been addressed by mounting the connector assemblies to the rack assembly via an intermediary separate mounting apparatus. The mounting apparatus permits the connector mounted on the rack assembly to move relative to the rack assembly within a limited tolerance. The limited motion offered between the rack assembly and a connector thereon may also be referred to as “float”. The connector mounted to the rack assembly may be a plug, a receptacle or any other type of connector component. The connector mounted to the panel, card or board is directly, fixedly and rigidly secured in a non-floating arrangement. The rigid connection of the connector to a panel, card or board is simply referred to as “board mounted”. 
     However, conventional mounting apparatus that permit float between a connector and a rack assembly require additional hardware, in addition to, and separate and apart from, the connector housing. For instance, the mounting apparatus may include one or more brackets with oversized holes provided therein. Nuts and bolts or screws secure the bracket to the connector and to the rack assembly. The holes through the bracket are larger than the bolts or screws to permit movement therebetween, thereby affording float. In addition, conventional mounting apparatus often utilize springs to bias the connector to one extreme position along a float range, while still permitting the connector to move. The additional hardware of the brackets, springs, nuts, bolts and screws in rack and panel or drawer connections is disadvantageous. 
     Moreover, the power and signal requirements of connector assemblies continue to grow more demanding, as does the requirement for smaller and more compactly designed contact layouts. Conventional connectors that utilize multiple contacts typically arrange the contacts in a pattern, in which the contacts are aligned next to one another with a set, uniform amount of insulated housing material provided between adjacent contacts. Exemplary patterns include contacts arranged in rows and columns. The contacts in each row are provided in cavities that are separated by the insulated housing material of a desired thickness. The contact cavities in each column are also separated by insulated housing material of a desired thickness. 
     In conventional contact pattern layouts, the overall envelope of the connector assembly is defined in part by the number of cavities, the dimensions of each cavity, and the number and size of the gaps between cavities in each row and column. For example, the width of a conventional contact envelope is at least equal to the width of each cavity times the number of cavities in one row plus the width of each insulated space between cavities times the number of spaces between the cavities. Similarly, the height of a conventional contact envelope is at least equal to the cavity height times the number of cavities in a column plus the thickness of the spaces between cavities in a column times the number of spaces in a column. The contact size in part determines the height and width of the cavities, as well as determining the size or gauge of wire connectable thereto. 
     In the past, in order to reduce the size of the connector envelope, it was necessary to use smaller contacts and smaller gauge wire. The contact size and wire gauge limit the power delivery capability of the connector. Hence, in high-power applications, it is desirable to maintain the contact and wire size as large as possible. It is also preferable to provide contact layouts that have high heat dissipation properties, such as for use in high current applications. 
     In addition, past connector designs have attempted to minimize the connector envelope by using multiple contact shapes and configurations within a single connector housing. However, it was necessary to develop separate tooling for each contact shape and configuration. 
     A connector assembly is needed that affords self-alignment between the receptacle and plug when the support structures are mis-aligned, without requiring separate connector mounting apparatus. A contact pattern is needed that is compact, yet is able to afford larger contacts connectable to a large gauge wire, thereby affording high power capacity and beneficial heat dissipating qualities. A connector design is also needed that affords symmetric mating areas that allow one contact design to be used to populate all positions in the connector housing. 
     The goals and objectives of at least certain embodiments of the present invention are to satisfy the needs and overcome the problems discussed above, as well as additional problems that will become apparent from the foregoing explanation and following detailed description, claims, abstract and drawings. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A connector assembly is provided that is floatably mounted to a mounting structure. The connector assembly includes a mounting structure having a connector opening therein that includes an inner contour. A connector housing is provided with peripheral surfaces having an outer contour shaped to loosely fit in the inner contour of the mounting structure. The connector housing is slidable inserted into the opening in the mounting structure. A chamber is provided in the connector housing that is adapted to securely retain at least one contact. At least one latch beam is formed with the connector housing. The latch beam engages the opening in the mounting structure and floatably secures the connector housing to the opening in the mounting structure. A float gap is provided between the inner contour of the opening and the outer contour of the connector housing to enable relative movement therebetween. 
     In accordance with at least one embodiment, the latch beam is formed integral with, and projects outward from at least one peripheral surface of the connector housing. Optionally, a plurality of latch beams may be spaced about the peripheral surfaces of the connector housing. Alternatively, a pair of latch beams may be raised on opposite sides of the connector housing and oriented diagonally opposed from one another. 
     In accordance with one embodiment, guide pockets are located within and arranged along side the chamber that retains the contacts. The guide pockets are adapted to receive guide pins formed on the mating connector housing. The guide pins and pockets cooperate to ensure proper alignment during connection. 
     Optionally, the connector housing includes a backside having at least one flange laterally extending outward from one peripheral surface. The flange engages one side of the mounting structure. The latch beam engages an opposite side of the mounting structure. The flange and latch beam retain the connector housing within the mounting structure. 
     In accordance without another embodiment, a connector assembly is provided having first and second connector housings having first and second mating faces and sidewalls defining outer perimeters thereof. First and second cavities are provided to retain contacts in the first and second connector housings, respectively. The contacts in the first and second connector housings are mateable with one another when joined. A first mounting structure is included with a connector opening having an inner perimeter that accepts the first connector housing. A space is provided between the inner perimeter of the connector housing and the outer perimeter of the first connector housing. The space permits lateral movement between the first connector housing and mounting structure. A latch assembly is formed with the first connector housing to retain the first connector housing in the connector opening while permitting movement between the first connector housing and the mounting structure. 
     In accordance with one alternative embodiment, the latch assembly includes latch beams formed integral with sidewalls and projecting outward and rearward from the side walls. 
     In accordance with at least one alternative embodiment, an electrical connector assembly is provided having a connector housing with a mating face and a wire receiving face. A mating cavity is formed in the mating face and a plurality of chambers are provided in the connector housing with each chamber having a front end opening onto the mating face and a rear end opening onto the wire receiving face. A plurality of contacts are provided, in which each contact is secured in one of the chambers. The chambers are arranged in at least two rows with chambers in adjacent rows being staggered with respect to one another. Optionally, the rows are shifted laterally with respect to one another. The distance that the rows are shifted may be approximately half of the width of a chamber. 
     Optionally, each chamber may include a body section and a notched slot extending along, and projecting outward from, one wall of the main body. The notched slots of the chambers in adjacent rows are directed toward and overlapping one another. Optionally, the chambers in a first row may extend into a space between chambers in a second row that are adjacent to the first row of chambers. The chambers in the first and second rows form a partial, overlapping pattern. Optionally, chambers in an upper row include notched slots extending downward into insulated spacers between chambers in a lower row located immediately below and adjacent the upper row of chambers. 
     Optionally, a power contact may be provided with a base portion securely retained within a corresponding chamber and a lead portion extending from the base portion into the cavity and a wire retention barrel extending rearward from the base section that is adapted to be securely crimped to a power wire. Optionally, a plurality of contacts may be securely retained in the chambers with each contact including a wire crimping barrel and each contact formed with a substantially similar shape and configuration. 
     Optionally, contacts may be provided that include wire crimping barrels extending from rear ends thereof. Contacts in a first row of chambers may be oriented, such that the wire crimping barrels are located near the bottom of the contacts and contacts in a second row may be oriented with the wire crimping barrels located toward the top of the contacts. 
     In accordance with at least one embodiment, an electrical connector system is provided having first and second connectors with first and second mating faces, respectively, mateable with one another. Contact cavities are formed in the first and second connectors and have at least one opening at the first and second mating faces. Contacts are secured in the contact cavities. The contact cavities are arranged with at least one upper and one lower contact cavity. The upper contact cavity contains a contact that is oriented with respect to a housing vertical axis in a first direction, while the lower cavity includes a contact oriented in a second direction with respect to the housing vertical axis that differs from the first direction. 
     Optionally, the contact secured in the first connector may include blade sections that are oriented in a first direction with the contacts turned upright when mounted in a first set of cavities and oriented in a second direction with the contacts turned downward when provided in a second set of cavities. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the present invention, there is shown in the drawings, embodiments that are presently preferred. It should be understood, however, that the present invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentality shown in the attached drawings. 
     FIG. 1 illustrates an isometric view of a connector assembly formed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention and connected to first and second mounting structures. 
     FIG. 2 illustrates an isometric view of a plug connector snapably engaged in a support structure in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 illustrates a front isometric view of a plug connector formed in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 illustrates a rear isometric view of a plug connector formed in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 illustrates a front isometric view of a receptacle connector formed in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 6 illustrates a rear isometric view of a receptacle connector formed in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 7 illustrates an isometric view of a blade contact formed in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 8 illustrates an isometric view of a receptacle contact formed in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 9 illustrates an isometric view of a plug connector formed in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1 illustrates an isometric view of a connector assembly  10  formed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The connector assembly  10  includes a plug connector  12  aligned with a receptacle connector  14  in a pre-mated, aligned position. The plug connector  12  is floatably secured to a first support structure  16  (only a cut-away portion of which is shown). The receptacle connector  14  is rigidly secured to a second support structure  18  (only a cut-away portion of which is shown). By way of example only, the first and second support structures  16  and  18  includes, but is not limited to; circuit boards, cards, panels, a rack assembly, drawer connectors and alike. In the example of FIG. 1, the plug connector  12  is snapably engaged in an opening  20  in the first support structure  16 , while the receptacle connector  14  is rigidly, securely and directly affixed to the second support structure, such as through soldering to plated through holes  22  and alike. 
     The plug connector  12  includes a plug housing  24  having a mating face  26 , top surface  28 , side walls  30 , a bottom surface  32  and a rear face  34 . The rear face  34  includes lateral flanges  35  extending outward along both sides of the plug connector  12 . The flanges  35  engage the backside of the first support structure  16 , while permitting vertical and lateral movement therebetween. A pair of latch beams  36  is formed on the plug housing  24 . The latch beams  36  include projections  38  formed on outer ends thereof with ramped surfaces  40  provided on leading sides and latching surfaces  42  provided on trailing sides thereof. Outer ends of the latch beams  36  include tab fingers  44  extending in directions substantially parallel to the length of the latch beams  36 . The latch beams  36  are provided along the side walls  30  and extend from the mating face  26  rearward toward the rear face  34 . The latch beams  36  flare outward from the side walls  30  to define a gap  46  therebetween permitting the latch beams  36  to be deflected inward when the plug connector  12  is snapped into the opening  20  in the first support structure  16 . 
     To install the plug connector  12  on the first support structure  16 , the mating face  26  of the plug connector  12  is pushed through the opening  20  in the first support structure  16 . The latch beams  36  deflect inward until the perimeter of the opening  20  rides over the ramped surfaces  40 . Once the ramped surfaces  40  clear the perimeter of the opening  20 , the latch beams  36  return to a normally outward biased position in which the latching surfaces  42  and tab fingers  44  engage the inner perimeter  48  of the opening  20 . The inner perimeter  48  of the opening  20  has a shape that substantially follows the shape of the outer contour of the plug housing  24 . However, the inner perimeter  48  is larger than the plug housing  24  to provide gaps  47  and  49  (FIG. 2) therebetween. The gaps  47  and  49  between the inner perimeter  48  and plug housing  24  permits the plug connector  12 , after being snapped into position, to float within a desired range of motion within, and with respect to, the first support structure  16 . 
     By way of example only, if it is desirable to afford the plug housing  24  0.050″ of movement laterally with respect to the first support structure  16 , the gap  47  is configured such that opposite side edges of the opening  20  are spaced apart a distance at least 0.050″ greater than the width of the plug housing  24 . Similarly, if it is desirable to afford the plug housing  24  0.050″ of movement vertically with respect to the first support structure  16 , the gap  49  is configured such that the top and bottom edges of the opening  20  are spaced apart a distance at least 0.050″ greater than the height of the plug housing  24 . 
     During a connector mating operation, the plug connector  12  may experience lateral and/or vertical forces from guide pins  152  on the receptacle connector  14 . When experiencing lateral forces, the plug housing permits the plug connector  12  to move laterally within the opening  20 . When experiencing vertical forces, the lateral flanges  35 , tab fingers  44  and latching surfaces  42  slide vertically along the side edges of the opening  20  to permit the plug connector  12  to move vertically within the opening  20 . 
     In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the latch beams  36  are integral with the plug housing  24 , however, the latch beams  36  may be constructed separately and then combined during assembly with the plug housing  24 . For example, the latch beams  36  may be formed non-integrally on the plug housing  24  through gluing, lamination, press fitting and the like. Alternatively, the latch beams  36  may be fabricated with a rectangular band shaped to closely fit around the top surface  28 , bottom surface  32  and side walls  30  through press-fitting. 
     FIG. 2 illustrates the plug connector  12  as secured within the first support structure  16 . The mating face  26  includes a face opening  50  having a contour that substantially follows the outer contour of the receptacle connector  14 . The opening  50  may be beveled to facilitate the initial mating operation of the receptacle connector  14 . In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the face opening  50  has a main section with a substantially rectangular shape and includes a pair of guide pockets  52  provided on opposite sides of the rectangular main section. The guide pockets  52  are semi-circular in shape and are located diagonally opposed from one another at opposite corners of the main section. Locating the guide pockets  52  in a diagonally opposed manner balances mating forces. 
     Optionally, a single guide pocket  52  may be provided. Alternatively, more than two guide pockets  52  may be provided. The guide pockets  52  need not be semicircular in shape, but instead may be rectangular, triangular, notched, and alike. Alternatively, the guide pockets  52  may be located on the top and bottom surfaces of the opening  50  or centered on all four sides of the opening  50 . As yet a further alternative, the guide pockets  52  need not necessarily be formed as part of the opening  50 . Instead, the guide pockets  52  may be formed on the outside of the plug housing  24  such as by providing notched channels along one or more of the top surface  28 , sidewalls  30 , or bottom surface  32 . Alternatively, the guide pockets  52  may be provided as self-contained openings in the mating face  26 , separate and apart from the opening  50 . 
     FIG. 3 illustrates a front isometric view of the plug connector  12  in accordance with one embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3, the opening  50  expands into a chamber  54  containing lead portions of a plurality of contacts  56  that are securely retained in the connector housing  24 . In the embodiment of FIG. 3, the contacts  56  are divided into two groups. A central group of contacts  56  includes nosepieces  58  that are longer than nosepieces  60  on contacts  56  in an outer group. The longer nosepieces  58  are configured to engage mating receptacle contacts before the shorter nosepieces  60  to maintain a make-first-break-last type of connection. Optionally, all of the contacts  56  may have the same length nosepieces or none at all. 
     FIG. 4 illustrates a rear isometric view of a plug connector  12  formed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The rear face  34  is provided on a tail section  64  of the plug housing  24 . The lateral flanges  35  are located forward of the tail section  64 . The lateral flanges  35  are located at a point along the length of the plug housing  24  to position the plug connector  12  with respect to the first support structure  16  at a desired insert depth in order that only a desired portion of the plug connector  12  projects through the opening  20 . The plug housing  24  includes a plurality of cavities  66  having rear ends that open onto the rear face  34 . The cavities  66  extend forward and include front ends that communicate with the chamber  54 . 
     In the example of FIG. 4, the cavities  66  are arranged in upper and lower rows  68  and  70 . The cavities  66  in each of the upper and lower rows  68  and  70  are spaced apart from one another by an insulated cavity spacer  72 . The cavities  66  retain contacts  56  that extend in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis  74  of the plug housing  24 . The upper and lower rows  68  and  70  of cavities  66  are aligned in a direction substantially parallel to the lateral axis  76  of the plug housing  24 . The contacts  56  are oriented in a plane substantially parallel to a vertical axis  78  of the plug housing  24 . 
     Each cavity  66  includes a main cavity body  80  having a generally rectangular shape and a notch  82  communicating with one side of the cavity body  80 . In the example of FIG. 4, the notches  82  are staged stepwise to include a wide notch section  84  and a narrow notch section  86 . In the lower row  70  of cavities  66 , upper surfaces  88  include the notches  82  therein. In the upper row  68  of cavities  66 , the lower surfaces  90  include the notches  83  therein. The notches  82  extend upward into the insulated cavity spacer  72  provided between the cavities  66  in upper row  68 . The notches  83 , that direct downward from the cavities  66  in the upper row  68 , extend into the insulated cavity spacers  72  between the cavities  66 . 
     The cavities  66  in the upper row  68  are staggered with respect to the cavity  66  in the lower row  70  in order to enable the upwardly and downwardly directed notches  82  and  83 , respectively, to align with the insulated cavity spacers  72  and  73 . By configuring the upper and lower rows  68  and  70  of cavities  66  in a staggered, offset manner, a compact pattern is provided without requiring the overall envelope of the plug housing  24  to be unnecessarily expanded. Insulation layers  92  and  93  are maintained between the notches  82  and  83  and adjacent cavities  66  to ensure proper electrical operation. Optionally, the upper and lower rows  68  and  70  may be shifted in the direction of lateral axis  76  by ½ of the width of a cavity  66  with respect to one another. 
     FIG. 5 illustrates a front isometric view of a receptacle connector  14  formed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The receptacle connector  14  includes a receptacle housing  124  having a mating face  126 , top surface  128 , side walls  130 , a bottom surface  132  and a rear face  134 . The rear face  134  is adapted to be rigidly, securely and directly affixed to the second support structure  18  as explained above. Guide pins  152  are formed (integral or otherwise) along opposite side walls  130  and are located diagonally opposed from one another. The guide pins  152  are located on the receptacle housing  124  to align with the guide pockets  52 . At least one of the guide pins  152  is formed with a semicircular channel  154  notched in an exterior side thereof. The opposite guide pin  152  includes a hole  156  (FIG. 6) provided therein. The lead ends  158  of the guide pins  152  are tapered to facilitate acceptance of the guide pins  152  into the guide pockets  52  on the plug connector  12  even when misaligned. 
     During a mating operation, tips  160  on the guide pins  152  enter the guide pockets  52 . As the receptacle connector  14  is slid into the opening  50  in the plug connector  12 , the tapered surfaces on the lead ends  158  of the guide pins  152  induce biasing forces onto the guide pockets  52 , thereby biasing the plug housing  24  laterally and/or vertically to afford proper alignment between the plug and receptacle connectors  12  and  14 . 
     The top and bottom surfaces  128  and  132  on the receptacle housing  124  include notched channels  136  and  138 , respectively. The notched channels  136  and  138  have outer beveled ends  140  and  142 , respectively. The notched channels  136  and  138  are engaged by a tool used to mount the receptacle housing  124  on the second support structure  18 . 
     The mating face  126  includes a series of openings  150  aligned substantially parallel to one another. The openings  150  communicate with chambers  151  that securely retain receptacle contacts  100  (FIG.  8 ). 
     As illustrated in FIG. 6, the rear face  134  of the receptacle housing  124  includes a plurality of slots  144  therein, through which contact tails  112  extend. The contact tails  112  are received in plated through holes  22  in the second support structure  18  and are secured thereto either through press fitting, soldering and the like. 
     As illustrated in FIG. 8, the receptacle contact  100  includes a central bar portion  102  having a leading edge  104  and a trailing edge  106 . The tails  112  are formed with and extend rearward from the trailing edge  106 . Optionally, the pins  112  may be compliant tails, such that each tail includes a central flared portion  110  extending in a direction transverse to the plane of the receptacle connector  100 . The flared portions  110  afford a secure frictional fit into the plated through holes  22  in the second support structure  18 . 
     The receptacle contact  100  also includes a contact assembly  108  extending forward from the leading edge  104 . The contact assembly  108  may include a central cantilevered beam  114  having an outer flared end  116 . The contact assembly  108  also includes a U-shaped contact beam  118  formed with first and second spring legs  120  and  121 . Outer ends of the spring legs  120  and  121  are joined by a cross beam  119 . Optionally, convex surfaces  117  may be formed on outer ends of the U-shaped contact arm  118 . Optionally, convex surfaces may be formed on the flared end  116  of the cantilever beam  114 . The convex surfaces  117  and the cantilever beam  114  maintain an electrical connection between the receptacle contact  100  and the contact  56  when the plug and receptacle connectors  12  and  14  are fully mated. The spring legs  120  and  121  include bent portions  113  to facilitate the biases of the U-shaped contact arm  118 . 
     FIG. 7 illustrates a contact  56  formed in accordance with one embodiment. The contact  56  fits into any of cavities  66  in the upper and lower rows  68  and  70 . When in the upper rows  68 , the contact  56  is oriented as shown in FIG.  7 . When provided in the lower row  70 , the orientation of the contact  56  is inverted 180°. 
     The convex surfaces or dimples  117  on the receptacle contact  100  increase the reliability of the interconnection between the receptacle contact  100  and the contacts  56  after a hot plugging sequence. A hot plugging sequence may be as follows. First, one of sides  167  and  169  on the nose piece  168  of the contact  56  will contact surface  119  on the receptacle contact  100 . Next, the opposite of sides  167  and  169  will engage surface  115  on the beam  114  on the receptacle contact  100 . Next, the first of sides  167  and  169  of the contact  56  will engage the dimples  117 . The dimples  117  are located, in the example of FIG. 8, upon the spring legs  120  and  121 . Hence, outer lateral portions of the knife section  166  would engage the dimples  117 . The additional contact points offered by dimples  117  provide reliable contact points and avoid damage due to arcing since arcing occurs at the nose piece  168  during the hot plugging operation. Typically, hot plugging may damage the contacts  56  and  100  by melting the plating and base material on the contacts  56  and  100  to a certain degree. 
     The contact  56  includes a main body section  162  formed with a lower leg  164  and a knife section  166 . The front end of the knife section  166  may include a nose piece  168 . Edges of the nose piece  168  and knife section  166  may be beveled and chamfered, such as at a 45° angle, to facilitate connection. The main body section  162  includes a central cut-out  170  with a cantilevered beam  172  provided therein. The beam  172  securely engages a corresponding recess inside the plug housing  24  to retain the contact  56  in an engaged and secured position. The main body section  162  includes an upper edge  174  and a lower edge  176 . When the contacts  56  are inserted into the lower row  70  of cavities  66 , the contacts  56  are oriented with the upper edge  174  directed upward toward the top surface  28  of the plug housing  24 , while the lower edge  176  is directed downward toward the bottom surface  32 . The lower leg  164  is received in the lower row  70  of cavities  66 . 
     The contacts  56  are inverted when provided in the upper row  68  of cavities  66 . When inverted, the contacts  56  are oriented with the lower edge  176  directed upward toward the top surface  28  and with the upper edge  174  directed downward toward the bottom surface  32  of the plug housing  24 . When in the inverted position, the lower leg  164  is received in the upper row of cavities. 
     The lower leg  164  includes a wire retention assembly  178  formed thereon and extending rearward therefrom. The wire retention assembly  178  extends backward from the rear edge  173  of the main body section  162 . The wire retention assembly  178  includes at least one set of flared wire crimps  180 . Optionally, the wire retention assembly  178  may also include a pair of flared insulation crimps  182 . The contact  56  is secured to a wire (not shown) by providing a bare portion of the wire inside of the wire crimps  180  which are then clamped down onto the wire. The insulation crimps  182  may similarly be clamped onto the insulated portion of the wire to provide added support. The contact  56  provides a large flat section that offers significant heat dissipation characteristics. The contact  56  is formed with a symmetrical configuration such that a single contact design may be used in the cavities in both the upper and lower rows  68  and  70 . 
     While the contact  56  is illustrated with a lower leg  164  projected down from the main body section  162 , optionally, the main body section  162  may extend downward along the front portion of the lower leg  164  to provide an even larger contact surface. Optionally, the wire retention assembly  178  may be moved upward along the rear edge  173  or downward toward the bottom of the lower leg  164 . Optionally, more than one wire retention assembly may be provided on the single contact. As a further alternative, the wire retention assemblies need not use wire crimps. Instead, the wire retention assemblies  178  may be soldered to corresponding wires. 
     While at least some of the embodiments discussed above concern a plug connector  12  that is floatable with a rigid receptacle connector  14 , the present invention is not so limited. Instead, the receptacle connector may be provided with the floatable mounting assembly and movable vertically or laterally with respect to the attached support structure, while the plug contact may be directly, rigidly and securely mounted to the support structure. As a further alternative, both the plug and receptacle connectors may be provided with floating connections to provide even additional tolerance for misalignment. In one alternative embodiment, both the plug and receptacle would be movable laterally and vertically to correct for misalignment. 
     FIG. 9 further illustrates the details of at least one embodiment of the plug connector  12 . The chamber  54  includes an inner face  200  having a plurality of notches  202  formed therein. The notches  202  includes rectangular central body portions  204  with upper and lower slots  206  and  208 , respectively communicating therewith. The upper and lower slots  206  and  208  securely receive the upper edge  174  and the lower leg  164  of contacts  56 . As explained above, alternate contacts are inverted with respect to one another and thus, the upper slots  206  on alternate notches  202  receive the upper edges  174  of contacts  56 . The upper slots  206  of the intervening notches  202  receive the lower legs  164  of the inverted contacts  56 . 
     The notches  202  communicate with the cavities  66  (FIG.  4 ). 
     Optionally, the number of cavities and the configuration of cavities may differ from the illustration of FIG.  4 . For example, only two cavities may be provided, one in the upper row and one in the lower row. Alternatively, more than two cavities may be provided in each of the upper and lower rows. As a further alternative, more than two rows of connectors may be provided. For example, if a third row of connectors is provided below the lower row  70 , the third row of cavities would be oriented with the notches extending upward toward notches  83 . Hence, the notches of the third row may extend into insulated cavity spaces  73  and be located below the notches  83 . Any number of additional rows and columns of cavities may be provided. 
     Optionally, the cavities  66  may be aligned in a direction other than vertically. For instance, the cavities may be oriented horizontally or diagonally or in a circular pattern. When oriented in a horizontal pattern, the cavities would be rotated 90 degrees and the notches  82  and  83  would be aligned horizontally to form columns of cavities  66  offset or staggered (vertically) with respect to one another. Similarly, the contacts  56  would be rotated 90 degrees to lay in planes substantially parallel to the plane formed by the longitudinal and lateral axes  74  and  76 , respectively. 
     While particular elements, embodiments and applications of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be understood, of course, that the invention is not limited thereto since modifications may be made by those skilled in the art, particularly in light of the foregoing teachings. It is therefore contemplated by the appended claims to cover such modifications as incorporate those features which come within the spirit and scope of the invention.