Abstract:
In a connector to be coupled to a housing and for coupling a mating connector in a predetermined direction, a connector element is held by a sub module which is held by the housing to be slidable in the predetermined direction. The sub module includes a floating spring portion. The floating spring portion includes a contacting portion for being brought into contact with the housing and an operated portion connected to the contacting portion. Responsive to movement of the mating connector in the predetermined direction, the operated portion separates the contacting portion from the housing.

Description:
This application claims priority to prior Japanese patent application JP 2006-25126, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to a connector and, in particular, to a connector (hereinafter called a “floating connector”) capable of performing floating movement (free movement) in a connector fitting direction and in a direction perpendicular to the connector fitting direction. 
     FIGS. 1 and 2  show an existing floating connector. 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , a female connector  20  is disposed in a housing  60  and supported by a pair of floating spring portions  101 . A reference numeral  80  represents a cap. In case where the floating spring portions  101  are set to be hard, the female connector  20  can be excellently positioned with respect to a male connector  51  upon fitting. However, a reactive force of the hard floating spring portions  101  continuously applies a load upon the housing  60 . 
   If the floating spring portions  101  are set to be soft as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the load applied upon the housing  60  is reduced. However, a positioning error tends to occur upon fitting the male and the female connectors  51  and  20 . This brings about a trouble in fitting. 
   Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication (JP-A) No. 2000-348829 discloses a floating connector apparatus comprising a first connector, a second connector, unlatching means, and resetting means. 
     FIG. 3  shows a state where the second connector  118  disclosed in JP 2000-348829 A is going to be fitted to the first connector  116  in a direction depicted by an arrow C.  FIG. 4  shows a state where the second connector  118  is completely fitted to the first connector  116 .  FIG. 5  shows a state where the second connector  118  further moves towards the first connector  116  in the direction depicted by the arrow C. 
   Referring to  FIG. 3 , in the floating connector apparatus  110 , the unlatching means  146  comprises a triangular stopper boss  148  disposed between the first connector  116  and an adapter  114 , integrally formed with the first connector  116 , and protruding from both of upper and lower surfaces of the first connector  116 . The stopper boss  148  moves between a pair of stopper surfaces  152  formed on distal inner ends of a pair of unlatching arms  154 , respectively. 
   Herein, the magnitude of a force required to push the stopper boss  148  over the stopper surfaces  152  under a bending force of the arms  154  is determined by an angle of a pair of stopper surfaces  150  of the stopper boss  148 . The angle is an angle such that a force greater than a fitting force of the first and the second connectors  116  and  118  is required in order to move the stopper boss  148  over the stopper surfaces  152  of the arms  154 . Therefore, the first and the second connectors  116  and  118  are fitted to each other before the first connector  116  can perform floating movement with respect to the adapter  114 . 
   The latching/unlatching means  146  is formed so that the first connector  116  is latched against the floating movement in a fitting direction and that the second connector  118  can be fitted to the first connector  116  with a predetermined fitting force without the floating movement. 
   When the first and the second connectors  116  and  118  are fitted to each other, the latching/unlatching means  146  unlatches latching of the first connector  116  in response to a force greater than the fitting force. As a result, the first and the second connectors  116  and  118  fitted to each other are allowed to perform the floating movement in an axial direction with respect to the adapter  114  and the panel. 
   On the other hand, the resetting means is disposed between the first connector  116  and the adapter  114  in order to reset the unlatching means  146  in response to a resetting force smaller than a fitting releasing force given to the second connector  118  in a fitting releasing direction (opposite to the arrow C in FIG.  4 ). The resetting means is formed simply by shaping the boss  148  into a diamond shape to form a pair of stopper surfaces  160  faced to a direction opposite to the stopper surfaces  150 . 
   Next, description will be made of an operation of the connector apparatus illustrated in  FIGS. 3 to 5 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 3 , in the state before the second connector  118  is fitted to the first connector  116  in the direction depicted by the arrow C, a locking member is engaged with a front part of a locking hole. Therefore, the first connector  116  can not move frontward. In addition, since the boss  148  is engaged with the stopper surfaces  152  of the arms  154 , the connector  116  can not move rearward also. Therefore, the first connector  116  does not float. 
   Referring to  FIG. 4 , in the state where the second connector  118  is completely fitted to the first connector  118 , the triangular boss  148  of the unlatching means  146  does not move over the stopper surfaces  152  of the arms  154 . The force required to move the boss  148  over the stopper surfaces  152  is greater than the fitting force between the first and the second connectors  116  and  118  so that the first connector  116  is not yet allowed to perform the floating movement. 
   Referring to  FIG. 5 , in the state where the second connector  118  further moves towards the first connector  116  in the direction depicted by the arrow C, a force greater than the fitting force is applied to the second connector  118  and the triangular boss  148  of the first connector  116  moves over the stopper surfaces  152  of the arms  154  of the adapter  114 . Consequently, the first and the second connectors  116  and  118  fitted to each other are allowed to perform floating movement in the fitting direction with respect to the adapter  114  and the panel within a range defined by the locking member  130  located in the locking hole  128  of the adapter  114  to lock the first connector  116 . 
   As is obvious from  FIGS. 3 to 5 , the stopper surfaces  160  of the resetting means form an angle smaller than that formed by the stopper surfaces  150  in the fitting and the fitting releasing directions. In this state, the boss  148  can be returned outward over the stopper surfaces  152  of the arms  154  with a force smaller than the fitting releasing (fitting) force. Therefore, when the fitting releasing force is applied to the second connector  118  in a direction opposite to the arrow C in  FIG. 5 , the boss  148  returns to a position illustrated in  FIG. 4  outward from the stopper surfaces  152  of the arms  154  without releasing the second connector  118  from the first connector  116 . 
   Then, the first and the second connectors  116  and  118  can be completely released from each other as shown in  FIG. 3 . The first connector  116  is no longer allowed to perform floating movement in the fitting direction. 
   The above-mentioned connector apparatus  110  is disadvantageous in that, even in case where a designed maximum number of contacts are not used, for example, in case where the connector apparatus  110  is used with only 60 contacts inserted in a housing designed for 100 contacts, a fitting force for the maximum number of contacts is required. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a floating connector improved in floating function. 
   It is another object of this invention to provide a floating connector capable of preventing a positioning error of a level such that a trouble is caused in fitting. 
   It is still another object of this invention to provide a floating connector capable of reducing a load imposed upon a housing by a floating spring portion. 
   It is yet another object of this invention to provide a connector in which the connector and a mating connector fitted to each other are locked at a fitting distance assuring an excellent relationship therebetween so that fitting is completed with a fitting force corresponding to the number of contacts and a floating state is started. 
   Other objects of the present invention will become clear as the description proceeds. 
   According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a connector to be coupled to a housing and for coupling a mating connector in a predetermined direction, the connector comprising a sub module to be held by the housing and a connector element held by the sub module to be slidable in the predetermined direction, the sub module comprising a floating spring portion, the floating spring portion comprising a contacting portion for being brought into contact with the housing and an operated portion connected to the contacting portion and responsive to movement of the mating connector in the predetermined direction for separating the contacting portion from the housing. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic plan view of an existing floating connector; 
       FIG. 2  is a schematic plan view of another existing floating connector; 
       FIG. 3  is a view showing an existing floating connector apparatus in a state before a first connector and a second connector are fitted to each other; 
       FIG. 4  is a view showing the existing floating connector apparatus in  FIG. 3  in a state where the second connector is completely fitted to the first connector; 
       FIG. 5  is a view showing the existing floating connector apparatus in  FIG. 3  in a state where the second connector further moves towards the first connector in a fitting direction; 
       FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view of a floating connector according to a first embodiment of this invention; 
       FIG. 7  is a partially-cutaway perspective view of the floating connector in  FIG. 6  in a state where a sub module is mounted to a housing of the connector; 
       FIG. 8  is a partial perspective view showing a fitting direction floating spring portion of the sub module in  FIG. 7 ; 
       FIG. 9  is a partial perspective view showing a horizontal/vertical direction floating spring portion of the sub module in  FIG. 7 ; 
       FIG. 10  is a view showing the housing as seen from a fitting direction; 
       FIG. 11  is a schematic plan view for describing a floating structure of the connector received in the housing in  FIG. 6 , where the housing is shown in section; 
       FIG. 12  is a schematic plan view similar to  FIG. 11 ; 
       FIG. 13  is a plan view for describing a fitting operation; 
       FIG. 14  is a plan view similar to  FIG. 13 ; 
       FIG. 15  is a partial perspective view for describing the fitting operation; 
       FIG. 16  is a plan view similar to  FIG. 13 ; 
       FIG. 17  is a partial perspective view for describing the fitting operation; 
       FIG. 18  is a plan view similar to  FIG. 13 ; 
       FIG. 19  is an exploded perspective view of a floating connector according to a second embodiment of this invention; 
       FIG. 20  is a perspective view of a sub module of the floating connector illustrated in  FIG. 19 ; 
       FIG. 21  is a partial perspective view showing a state before fitting; 
       FIG. 22  is a partial perspective view showing an unlocked state; 
       FIG. 23  is a partial perspective view showing a state after fitting; 
       FIG. 24  is a partial plan view, partially in section, showing the state after fitting; 
       FIG. 25  is a partial perspective view for describing a method of incorporating a female connector, showing a state during assembling; 
       FIG. 26  is a partial perspective view similar to  FIG. 25 , showing a state after completion of incorporating; 
       FIG. 27  is a partial perspective view showing a floating structure; 
       FIG. 28  is a schematic perspective view of a floating spring; 
       FIG. 29  is a partial perspective view showing the floating structure in a state before fitting; 
       FIG. 30  is a view similar to  FIG. 29  in a state after fitting; 
       FIG. 31  is a partial perspective view showing a state before a male connector and the female connector are released from each other; 
       FIG. 32  is a partial perspective view showing a state after the male connector and the female connector are released from each other; 
       FIG. 33  is a partial perspective view of a modification of the floating connector according to the second embodiment of this invention in a state where a male connector and a female connector are released from each other; and 
       FIG. 34  is a partial perspective view similar to  FIG. 33  in a state where the male connector and the female connector are released from each other. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Now, description will be made of a few embodiments of this invention with reference to the drawing. In the following, description is directed to a floating connector equipped in an ECU (Electronic Control Unit)-BOX mounted to an automobile or the like. However, it will readily be understood that this invention is not limited to the floating connector used in the ECU-BOX of the automobile or the like. 
   Referring to  FIG. 6 , the floating connector comprises a sub module  10  provided with a female connector  20 . The sub module  10  comprises a base portion  11  and a pair of guide portions  12  formed on opposite sides of the base portion  11  and extending frontward in a connector fitting direction or a predetermined direction A 1 . The base portion  11  has a hole  11   a  allowing a cable (not shown) to be inserted into a cable slot (not shown) formed on a rear side of the female connector  20  and to be connected to a plurality of contacts of the female connector  20 . 
   The female connector  20  has a fitting portion  21  provided with the contacts disposed in a plurality of holes formed on a female housing  25  in upper and lower rows, a pair of contacting portions  22  formed on opposite sides of the fitting portion  21 , and a pair of guide grooves  23  formed outside the contacting portions  22 . On opposite sides of the female housing  25 , a pair of sliding portions  5  slidable and movable in the fitting direction together with the female housing  25  are formed. 
   To the fitting portion  21  of the female connector  20 , a male connector  51  is fitted. The male connector  51  is disposed on one end of an ECU case  52  of an electronic apparatus  50  as a mating connection object and has a pair of guide portions  54  formed on opposite sides of the male connector  51 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 7 , the sub module  10  is disposed in a housing  60  called an ECU-BOX. 
   The mating electronic apparatus  50  is disposed in the ECU case  52  receiving a substrate  53  called an ECU board. The male connector  51  is attached to one end of the substrate  53  and seals one end of the ECU case  52 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 8  in addition, inside each of the guide portions  12  of the sub module  10 , the sliding portion  5  of a T shape extends from the female housing  25  of the female connector  20  towards an inner wall of the guide portion  12 . Outside the sliding portions  5 , fitting direction floating spring portions  1  having free ends bent outward in a horizontal direction are formed. Each of the fitting floating spring portions  1  has a fitting-side end  1   a , a triangular protrusion  1   b  formed inside the fitting-side end  1   a  and having a slant surface inclined frontward in the fitting direction, and an engaging portion  1   c  formed at a rear side and protruding inward. 
   Upon fitting, the protrusions  1   b  are pushed by the guide portions  54  on opposite sides of the male connector  51 . As a result, the floating spring portions  1  are widened outward. 
   Normally, the engaging portions  1   c  are engaged with protruding portions  5   a  of the sliding portions  5  to be prevented from rearward movement. When the fitting floating spring portions  1  are displaced to be widened outward during fitting, the engagement is released so that the fitting floating spring portions  1  are slidable rearward. A reference numeral  4  represents a guide rod for guiding rearward movement of the female housing  25 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 9 , each of the guide portions  12  is provided with a locking portion  13  formed on its rear side. The locking portion  13  comprises a leaf spring portion  13   a  and a generally wedge-like protrusion  13   b  which is formed at an end portion of the leaf spring portion  13   a  to be attached to the housing  60 . The guide portion  12  is provided with first and second horizontal/vertical direction floating spring portions  2  and  3  formed on its front side. The first horizontal/vertical direction floating spring portion  2  has a protruding portion  2   a  integrally formed with a wall portion of the guide portion  12 . The first horizontal/vertical direction floating spring portion  2  has one end formed at the center of the guide portion  12  as a supporting portion  12   b , extends from the one end towards the other end in the fitting direction to cut the guide portion  12 , and protrudes outward at the other end as the protruding portion  2   a  in a generally truncated pyramidal shape. The second horizontal/vertical direction floating spring portion  3  similarly has a protruding portion  3   a  formed integral with the guide portion  12 . The second horizontal/vertical direction floating spring portion  3  has one end formed at the center of the guide portion  12  as the supporting portion  12   b , extends from the one end towards the other end rearward in the fitting direction to cut the guide portion  12 , and protrudes outward at the other end as the protruding portion  3   a  in a generally truncated pyramidal shape. The first and the second horizontal/vertical direction floating spring portions  2  and  3  have base portions shifted in position from each other. 
   Next, description will be made of an operation of the floating connector described in conjunction with  FIGS. 6 to 9 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 10 , the sub module  10  is supported by an inner wall  62  of the housing  60 . Specifically, the sub module  10  is supported by recessed portions  61  formed on the inner wall  62  via the locking portions  13  protruding outward from the sub module  10 . The sub module  10  is allowed to perform floating movement in a direction depicted by an arrow  65 , i.e., in a thickness direction of the connector. 
   Referring to  FIG. 11 , the mating electronic apparatus  50  is inserted into the housing  60  from the side of the male connector  51  so that the male connector  51  is fitted to the female connector  20 . Before and while the male connector  51  is fitted to the female connector  20 , the protruding portions  2   a  and  3   a  at the ends of the first and the second horizontal/vertical direction floating spring portions  2  and  3  on left and right sides are brought into contact with the inner wall  62  of the housing  60 . Therefore, in presence of a reactive force of the first and the second horizontal/vertical direction floating spring portions  2  and  3 , the female connector  20  is allowed to perform floating movement in a direction depicted by an arrow  66 , i.e., in a widthwise direction of the connector. 
   Referring to  FIG. 12 , after the male connector  51  of the mating electronic apparatus  50  is fitted to the female connector  20  in the housing  60 , operated portions of the first horizontal/vertical direction floating spring portion is engaged with an end portion of the guide portions  54  of the male connector  51  illustrated in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , so that the protruding portions  2   a  and  3   a  formed at the ends of the first and the second horizontal/vertical direction floating spring portions  2  and  3  on the left and the right sides are retreated inward and separated from the inner wall  62  of the housing  60 . Therefore, without being applied with the reactive force of the first and the second horizontal/vertical direction floating spring portions  2  and  3 , the mating electronic apparatus  50  is allowed to perform floating movement in the direction depicted by the arrow  66 , i.e., in the widthwise direction of the connector. 
   Referring to  FIG. 13 , before and while the male connector  51  and the female connector  20  are fitted to each other, the protruding portions  2   a  and  3   a  at the ends of the first and the second horizontal/vertical direction floating spring portions  2  and  3  are brought into contact with the inner wall  62  of the housing  60 . Therefore, in presence of the reactive force of the first and the second horizontal/vertical direction floating spring portions  2  and  3  as depicted by arrows  69  and  70 , the female connector  20  is allowed to perform floating movement in the widthwise direction of the connector. 
   Referring to  FIG. 14 , in the state during fitting, a first floating releasing operation is performed. The first horizontal/vertical direction floating spring portion  2  is retreated inward following the movement of the male connector  51 . On the other hand, the second horizontal/vertical direction floating spring portion  3  is kept as it is and the reactive force is kept applied as depicted by the arrow  70 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 15  in addition, the first floating releasing operation will be described in detail. Each of the guide portions  54  on lateral sides of the male connector  51  has a wedge-like end portion  54   a  and a groove  54   b  extending rearward from the end portion  54   a . This part is engaged with a boss portion  2   b  as an operated portion formed inside the protruding portion  2   a  of the first horizontal/vertical direction floating spring portion  2  and protruding in a L shape. Following advancing movement of the male connector  51 , the boss portion  2   b  is drawn towards the male connector  51  along the groove  54   b . Therefore, the first horizontal/vertical direction floating spring portion  2  is displaced inward in the widthwise direction and is released from the state where the protruding portion  2   a  is brought into contact with the inner wall  62  of the housing  60 . Thus, the first floating releasing operation is performed. 
   Referring to  FIG. 16 , in the state where the female connector  20  is retreated or moved rearward during fitting, the second horizontal/vertical direction floating spring portion  3  is drawn inward following the movement of the male connector  51 . Thus, a second floating releasing operation is performed. 
   Referring to  FIG. 17  in addition, the second floating releasing operation will be described in detail. When the male connector  51  further advances, the female connector  20  is retreated or moved rearward. In the female connector  20 , each of the sliding portions  5  has opposite rear ends  5   b  in a wedge-like shape which form an operating portion, and a guide groove  5   c  continuous therefrom and extending frontward. This part is engaged with a boss portion  3   b  as an operated portion formed inside the protruding portion  3   a  of the second horizontal/vertical direction floating spring portion  3  and protruding in a L shape. Following advancing movement of the male connector  51 , the sliding portion  5  is retreated, moves in the guide groove  5   c , and is drawn inward. Therefore, the second horizontal/vertical direction floating spring portion  3  is displaced inward and is released from the state where the protruding portion  3   a  is brought into contact with the inner wall  62  of the housing  60 . Thus, the second and restrained floating releasing operation is performed under the spring reactive force. 
   Referring to  FIG. 18 , in the state after fitting, the protruding portions  2   a  and  3   a  at the ends of the first and the second horizontal/vertical direction floating spring portions  2  and  3  on left and right sides are retreated inward and separated from the inner wall  62  of the housing  60  as described above. Therefore, floating movement is possible in a state where the reactive force of the first and the second horizontal/vertical direction floating spring portions  2  and  3  is not applied. 
   Next referring to  FIGS. 19 to 31 , description will be made of a floating connector according to a second embodiment of this invention. Similar parts are designated by like reference numerals. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 19 and 20 , a sub module  10  is disposed in a housing  60  of an ECU-BOX. A mating electronic apparatus  50  is disposed in an ECU case  52  receiving an ECU board in the manner similar to that illustrated in  FIG. 7 . A male connector  51  having a pair of guide portions  55  on its opposite sides is disposed at one end of the ECU board and seals one end of the ECU case  52 . 
   Like in the first embodiment, the sub module  10  has a base portion  11  and a pair of guide portions  12  on opposite sides of the base portion  11 . At a rear end of a female housing  25 , a plurality of cables are connected through a hole  11   a  formed on the base portion  11  although not shown in the figure. 
   A lever  30  connects a front end of the base portion  11  and an upper surface of a female connector  20 . The lever  30  has one end fixed to the female connector  20  by a rotary shaft pin  31  and the other end as a free end provided with a pin  32 . The lever  30  has a long hole  33  engaged with a guide pin  34  formed on the upper surface of the female connector  20 . Thus, the movement of the lever  30  is guided by the guide pin  34 . The lever  30  serves to adjust a moving distance and a moving position of the female housing  25  in a fitting direction and has an effect of reducing an inserting force and a removing force into and from the female housing  25  by the principle of leverage. Therefore, the lever  30  is called a toggle mechanism. 
   Inside the guide portions  12  of the sub module  10 , T-shaped sliding portions  5  extend outward from the female housing  25  towards the guide portions  12 . Inside the guide portions  12  and outside the sliding portions  5 , one and the other pairs of fitting direction floating spring portions  6  are formed, respectively. In each pair, the fitting direction floating spring portions  6  are formed upside and downside and faced to each other. The fitting direction floating spring portions  6  in each pair have first protruding portions  6   a  protruding downward and upward to face each other and second protruding portions  6   b  protruding inward. 
   Referring to  FIG. 21 , before fitting, triangular protrusions  5   d  formed at opposite ends of the sliding portions  5  on opposite sides of the female connector  20  are engaged with the second protruding portions  6   b  of the fitting direction floating spring portions  6  to inhibit rearward movement of the female connector  20  in the fitting direction and to prevent displacement from a standby position. 
   Referring to  FIG. 22 , the male connector  51  is provided with the guide portions  55  formed on opposite sides thereof and having ends  55   a  and platform portions  55   b  higher than the ends  55   a . When the male connector  51  and the female connector  20  are located at a predetermined distance from each other, slant surfaces between the ends  55   a  and the platform portions  55   b  are brought into contact with the first protruding portions  6   a  of the fitting direction floating spring portions  6 . With the progress of fitting, the slant surfaces widens ends of the fitting direction floating spring portions  6 . Then, the second protruding portions  6   b  are disengaged from the protruding portions  5   d  of the sliding portions  5  so that the female connector  20  is released from a locked state. 
   Referring to  FIG. 23 , with the further progress of fitting, the first protruding portions  6   a  sink into groove portions  55   c  of the guide portions  55  of the male connector  51  inward in a vertical direction so that the fitting direction floating spring portions  6  are recovered into an undeformed state. 
   Referring to  FIG. 24 , the female connector  20  is supported in the housing  60  of the ECU-BOX by the fitting direction floating spring portions  6 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 25 , the guide portions  12  are provided with supporting springs  9  for displacing support portions of the fitting direction floating spring portions  6 . When the female connector  20  is inserted into the sub module  10  in a direction depicted by an arrow  74 , protruding portions  9   c  formed on the supporting springs  9  to protrude inward are engaged with step portions of protruding portions  5   e  protruding outside the sliding portions  5 . Therefore, as illustrated in  FIG. 26 , the female connector  20  is locked by the sliding portions  5  to be prevented from being released. 
   As illustrated in  FIG. 27 , each of the guide portions  12  of the sub module  10  is provided with first and second horizontal/vertical direction floating spring portions  7  and  8  having ends connected to each other to form a series of hard rod-like springs. The first and the second horizontal/vertical direction floating spring portions  7  and  8  are provided with first and second protruding portions  7   a  and  8   a  formed outside, respectively. Further, the guide portion  12  is provided with the supporting spring  9  having one end connected to a connecting portion of the above-mentioned ends of the first and the second horizontal/vertical direction floating spring portions  7  and  8  and arranged adjacent to the first horizontal/vertical direction floating spring portion  7 . 
   Below the second horizontal/vertical direction floating spring portion  8 , the locking portions  13  are formed as fixing springs for fixation to the housing  60 . Each of the locking portions  13  has a protruding portion  13   b  formed at its end and extends forward to a base portion formed around a center portion of the guide portion  12 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 28 , each of the first and the second horizontal/vertical direction floating spring portions  7  and  8  may be formed into a simple rod-like shape. 
   Referring to  FIG. 29 , in the state before fitting, the protruding portion  5   e  of each guide portion  5  of the female connector  20  supports a supporting portion  9   a  of the supporting spring  9  illustrated in  FIGS. 25 and 26 . In this state, floating movement under the spring reactive force is allowed as illustrated in  FIG. 24 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 30 , after fitting and when the female connector  20  is retreated or moved rearward, contact between the protruding portion  5   e  of each sliding portion  5  and the supporting spring  9  is released. Therefore, floating movement is allowed in the widthwise direction of the connector without the reactive force. 
   Next, description will be made of a removing operation of the floating connector described in conjunction with  FIGS. 19 to 30  after fitting. 
   Referring to  FIG. 31  in addition, upon removal, the protruding portions  5   e  of the sliding portions  5  on opposite sides of the female connector  20  fitted to the male connector  51  push the first and the second horizontal/vertical direction floating spring portions  7  and  8  upward via the supporting portions  9   a  of the supporting springs  9  by the use of slant surfaces  5   f.    
   Referring to  FIG. 32 , after removal, starting points of the supporting springs  9  of the first and the second horizontal/vertical direction floating spring portions  7  and  8  climb up the protruding portions  5   e  of the sliding portions  5 . A reference numeral  9   d  represents a base portion of each supporting spring  9 . In this state, floating movement under the spring reactive force is allowed. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 33 and 34 , description will be made of a modification of the floating connector according to a second embodiment of this invention. Similar parts are designated by like reference numerals. 
   Referring to  FIG. 33 , the floating connector has a pair of supporting springs  15  to sandwich the first and the second horizontal/vertical direction floating spring portions  7  and  8 . The supporting springs  15  extend rearward together with the second horizontal/vertical direction floating spring portion  8 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 34 , the male connector and the female connector are released from each other. The supporting springs  15  are symmetrical with each other as shown in the figure. With this structure, it is possible to suppress twisting of the first and the second horizontal/vertical direction floating spring portions  7  and  8 . The supporting springs  15  of the first and the second horizontal/vertical direction floating spring portions  7  and  8  are always placed on the protruding portion  5   e  of the sliding portion  5  of the female connector. Therefore, it is possible to prevent breakage of the first and the second horizontal/vertical direction floating spring portions  7  and  8  due to undesired sticking. 
   While the present invention has thus far been described in connection with a few embodiments thereof, it will readily be possible for those skilled in the art to put this invention into practice in various other manners. For example, although a pair of the floating spring portions are formed on each of a pair of the guide portions in the foregoing, one floating spring portion may be formed on the guide portion and the floating spring portion or portions may be formed on only one of the guide portions. In the foregoing, the floating spring portions are integrally formed with the guide portion made of resin. However, the floating spring portions may be a separate member made of metal or the like and fixed to the guide portion.