Patent Publication Number: US-2011065300-A1

Title: Floating connector

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Present Invention 
     The Present Invention relates, generally, to a floating connector, and, more particularly, to a two-piece floating connector capable of compacting the reach range of the floating members. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     An example of a conventional floating connector is disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. HEI 7-18356, and represented at FIG. 11 b . Typically, conventional floating connectors have a rotating portion larger in diameter than a housing, disposed on the back side thereof. The rotating portion is floatably supported within a connector insertion hole formed in a panel. Further, a plate spring radially extends from the rotating portion, and a retainer plate is positioned on a back side of the rotating portion, are disposed. Finally, the panel is sandwiched between those members to support the rotating portion. 
     However, in the conventional floating connector, the plate spring and the retainer plate, disposed so that the rotating portion does not fall out of the connector insertion hole, are floated together with the housing. Therefore, a reach range of the floating member becomes necessarily enlarged. When the reach range of the floating members is enlarged, it is difficult to arrange a plurality of floating connectors in proximity to each other. 
     SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     The Present Invention has been developed in view of the above circumstances, and therefore, one object is to provide a floating connector which is capable of compacting the reach range of the floating members. To solve the above-stated disadvantages, the Present Invention provides a floating connector having a housing; an adapter having a through-hole into which the housing is inserted; a first projection portion projecting laterally outward and abuting against a periphery of an opening of the through-hole to regulate a movement in an insertion direction; and a second projection portion inserted into the through-hole to regulate a movement in a direction opposite to the insertion direction with a stopper portion also disposed within the through-hole. 
     The Present Invention further provides a floating connector including a housing having a concave portion formed on a front surface for housing a counterpart connector and an insertion hole formed on a rear surface for inserting a terminal connected to the counterpart connector. The housing includes a first projection portion that projects laterally outward from the concave portion side; a second projection portion that projects laterally outward from the insertion hole side; an outer edge positioned inward of the first projection portion; and an adapter that houses the housing. The housing is formed with a through-hole that extends from the front surface side toward the rear surface side in which the second projection portion is inserted from an opening on a front surface side of the through-hole. The front surface of a periphery of the opening abuts against a rear surface of the first projection portion to regulate a movement in an insertion direction. The adapter includes a stopper portion abutting against a front surface of the second projection portion to regulate a movement in an opposite direction to the insertion direction. 
     According to the Present Invention, a main portion of the housing (i.e., the portions that are thinner than the first and second projection portions) can float within the through-hole of the adapter. Further, the first and second projection portions are used as retainers with respect to the adapter. Therefore, the Present Invention is capable of suppressing the length of the floating members which project laterally, thereby enabling the reach range of the floating members to be compacted as compared with a configuration in which the plate spring and the retainer plate for sandwiching the panel extend radially from the rotating portion in order to floatably support the rotating portion that is larger in diameter than the housing within the connector insertion hole of the panel as in the conventional floating connector. 
     According to an aspect of the Present Invention, the insertion hole side of the housing is thinner than the concave portion side, and the stopper portion of the adapter is arranged laterally outward of the insertion hole side of the housing. As a result, since the stopper portion, which abuts against the front surface of the second projection portion, can be arranged more inwardly, the adapter can be compacted. 
     According to an aspect of the Present Invention, the adapter includes projection portions, a part of an outer side surface of which projects laterally outward of other parts, which have opposed surfaces directed toward a front or rear surface side. The adapter is fitted to the panel in a state where a front surface of a periphery of a mounting opening, which is defined in the panel, faces the opposed surfaces. A peripheral edge of the mounting opening reaches a base end side of the projection portions. As a result, when an external force is applied to the adapter in the insertion direction or its opposite direction, the opposed surfaces of the projection portions abut against the front surface of the panel, thereby enabling the movement of the adapter to be regulated. Further, because the peripheral edge of the mounting opening of the panel reaches the base end side of the projection portions, a stress that is generated at the base end side of the projection portions can be reduced, thereby effectively preventing damage as compared with a configuration in which the stress that is applied from the panel is exerted on only a leading end side of the projection portions. 
     According to an aspect of the Present Invention, the rear surface of the first projection portion of the housing, and the front surface of a periphery of the opening of the adapter which faces the rear surface, are formed with a protrusion on one of the front surface and the rear surface, and a hole portion that is larger laterally than the protrusion, into which the protrusion is inserted, on another one of the front surface and the rear surface, and a lateral movement of the housing, is regulated when the protrusion abuts against an inner wall of the hole portion. Thus, a floating amount of the housing can be defined by the projection portion and the hole portion. 
     According to an aspect of the Present Invention, at least a part of the front surface side of the concave portion which is formed in the housing spreads toward the front surface side up to a region including at least a part of a base end side of the first projection portion. As a result, the spread of the concave portion on the front surface side can be increased by using a region where the first projection portion projects. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       The organization and manner of the structure and operation of the Present Invention, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following Detailed Description, taken in connection with the accompanying Figures, wherein like reference numerals identify like elements, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing a floating connector according to an embodiment of the Present Invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the floating connector, shown fitted to a panel; 
         FIG. 3A  is a perspective view of the flowing connector, showing a housing according to an embodiment of the Present Invention; 
         FIG. 3B  is a front view of the housing; 
         FIG. 3C  is a rear view of the housing; 
         FIG. 3D  is a cross-sectional view of the housing; 
         FIG. 4A  is a perspective view of the floating connector, showing an adapter according to the embodiment of the Present Invention; 
         FIG. 4B  is a front view of the adapter; 
         FIG. 4C  is a rear view of the adapter; 
         FIG. 4D  is a cross-sectional view of the adapter; 
         FIG. 4E  is a side view of the adapter; 
         FIG. 4F  is a side view of the adapter; 
         FIG. 5A  is an explanatory diagram related to the assembly of the housing and the adapter; 
         FIG. 5B  is an explanatory diagram related to the assembly of the housing and the adapter; 
         FIG. 6A  is a perspective view of the panel of the floating connector; 
         FIG. 6B  is a front view of the panel; 
         FIG. 7A  is an explanatory diagram related to the assembly of the floating connector and the panel; 
         FIG. 7B  is an explanatory diagram related to the assembly of the floating connector and the panel; 
         FIG. 7C  is an explanatory diagram related to the assembly of the floating connector and the panel; 
         FIG. 8  is a diagram showing a region where the adapter abuts against a front surface of the panel; 
         FIG. 9A  is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view showing the region where the adapter abuts against the front surface of the panel; 
         FIG. 9B  is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view showing the region where the adapter abuts against the front surface of the panel; 
         FIG. 10  is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view showing a front surface side of a concave portion defined in the housing; 
         FIG. 11A  is a diagram for explaining the advantages of the Present Invention; and 
         FIG. 11B  is a diagram for explaining the conventional art. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     While the Present Invention may be susceptible to embodiment in different forms, there is shown in the Figures, and will be described herein in detail, specific embodiments, with the understanding that the disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the principles of the Present Invention, and is not intended to limit the Present Invention to that illustrated. 
     In the embodiments illustrated in the Figures, representations of directions such as up, down, left, right, front, rear and the like, used for explaining the structure and movement of the various elements of the Present Invention, are not absolute, but relative. These representations are appropriate when the elements are in the position shown in the Figures. If the description of the position changes, it is presumed that these representations are to be changed accordingly. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-2 , floating connector  1  is illustrated as fitted to panel  8 . In this embodiment, the vertical direction of floating connector  1  corresponds to the vertical direction of  FIGS. 1-2 . Further, the upside of floating connector  1  is called the “front surface side,” while the downside is called the “rear surface side.” 
     Floating connector  1  is preferably configured as a female connector of a substantially rectangular configuration, in which housing  2  and adapter  3 , which are made of an insulating material, are combined together. Concave portion  21 , which houses counterpart male connector  6 , is formed on front surface  2   a  of housing  2 . Also, terminals (not shown), which are crimped to the leading ends of cables  7 , are inserted from rear surface  2   b  side of housing  2  and electrically connected to terminals that are disposed on counterpart male connector  6 , which is housed in concave portion  21 . On the other hand, adapter  3  is fixed to the peripheral edge of mounting opening  81 , defined in panel  8 , and floatably supports housing  2 , that has been housed by adapter  3  in an in-plane direction (i.e., a direction orthogonal to the vertical direction) of panel  8 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3A-D , front surface  2   a  of housing  2  is formed with concave portion  21  recessed downward from front surface  2   a.  Counterpart male connector  6  is inserted into concave portion  21  downward from above. Also, tapered surfaces  213 ,  215 , which spread upward, are formed on portions close to front surface  2   a.  Further, terminal insertion holes  252 , which extend upward from rear surface  2   b  and communicate with the interior of concave portion  21 , are formed on rear surface  2   b  of housing  2 . The terminals that are crimped to the leading ends of cables  7  are inserted into terminal insertion holes  252  upward from below. Also, partition portion  232 , for partitioning the terminals that reach the interior of concave portion  21 , from terminal insertion hole  252  rises upward from a bottom portion within concave portion  21 . 
     In this embodiment, terminal insertion holes  252  are preferably arranged in a plurality of lines. Consequently, concave portion  21  is spread along a direction in which the lines of terminal insertion holes  252  extend (i.e., a direction along which a large number of terminal insertion holes  252  are arranged). Also, housing  2  preferably has a configuration that extends in that direction as a whole. Hereinafter, that direction is called the “longitudinal direction.” Further, a direction along which the lines of terminal insertion holes  252  are arranged (i.e., a direction along which a small number of terminal insertion holes  252  are arranged) is called the “lateral direction.” 
     In housing  2 , front side main body portion  23  of a substantially rectangular configuration in which concave portion  21  is defined, and rear side main body portion  25  of a substantially rectangular configuration smaller than front side main body portion  23  in width in both of the longitudinal direction and the lateral direction in which terminal insertion holes  252  are defined, are arranged in the vertical direction. Front side main body portion  23  is laterally larger than rear side main body portion  25  due to concave portion  21 , into which counterpart male connector  6  is inserted is formed. 
     Further, housing  2  is formed with first projection portion  27  projecting laterally outward from the upper end of front side main body portion  23 . First projection portion  27  largely projects toward both sides in the longitudinal direction, rather than the lateral direction, with respect to front side main body portion  23 . Also, the front surface of first projection portion  27  forms front surface  2   a,  and both sides of first projection portion  27  in the longitudinal direction are formed with cylindrical hole portions  274  that extend upward from rear surface  27   b.    
     Housing  2  is also formed with second projection portion  29  projecting laterally outward from the lower end of rear side main body portion  25 . Second projection portion  29  largely projects toward both sides in the longitudinal direction, rather than the lateral direction, with respect to front side main body portion  23 . Also, second projection portion  29  is formed such that the outer edges thereof are positioned inward of first projection portion  27 . Further, a length that extends from a base portion to the outer edge is also smaller than that of first projection portion  27 . In this embodiment, second projection portion  29  projects to the same degree as that of the outer side surface of front side main body portion  23 . The rear surface of second projection portion  29  forms rear surface  2   b  of housing  2 . Wrong insertion prevention keys  291 , slightly extending laterally outward, are formed at positions that deviate from the center in the longitudinal direction on ends of second projection portion  29  in the lateral direction. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4A-F , adapter  3  preferably has a configuration of a substantially rectangular configuration, and is formed with through-hole  31  of a rectangular cross section which extends from front surface  3   a  to rear surface  3   b.  A portion of housing  2 , which is lower than first projection portion  27 , is inserted into through-hole  31 . Through-hole  31  has such a configuration and size that second projection portion  29 , rear side main body portion  25  and front side main body portion  23  of housing  2  can, and first projection portion  27  cannot, be inserted thereinto. Specifically, through-hole  31  is so set as to have the configuration and the size in which through-hole  31  is apart from the outer side surface of front side main body portion  23  of housing  2  by a length corresponding to a desired floating amount. 
     Thick portions  331 ,  332 , which extend toward both sides in the longitudinal direction and are thickened in the vertical direction, are formed on front surface  3   a  of adapter  3  in communication with first projection portion  27  of housing  2 . The front surfaces of thick portions  331 ,  332  form front surface  3   a  of adapter  3 . Also, columnar protrusions  334 , which extend upward and are inserted into cylindrical hole portions  274  formed in first projection portion  27  of housing  2 , are formed on the front surfaces of thick portions  331 ,  332 . Cylindrical hole portions  274  are also preferred to have configurations and sizes in which cylindrical hole portions  274  are apart laterally outward from the outer side surface of columnar protrusions  334  by a length corresponding to a desired floating amount. 
     Stopper portions  39 , which extend downward from thick portions  331 ,  332  to an area of rear surface  3   b,  and whose lower ends are slightly bent toward the inner side, are formed in adapter  3 . Also, wrong insertion prevention key grooves  391  that vertically extend are formed at positions corresponding to wrong insertion prevention keys  291  which are formed in second projection portion  29  of housing  2 , on the inner surface of side wall portions  35 , which are formed on both sides of adapter  3  in the lateral direction. 
     Preferably, the outer side surface of adapter  3  is so configured as to be engaged with panel  8 . Specially, groove portion  355 , which retreats inward in the longitudinal direction from the outer side surface of thick portion  331 , and retreat surface  356  are formed below thick portion  331  formed on one side of adapter  3  in the longitudinal direction. That is, thick portion  331  is a projection portion that projects outward in the longitudinal direction from the bottom surface of groove portion  355  and has opposed surface  331   b  which is directed toward rear surface  3   b.  Further, thick portion  332 , formed on another side of adapter  3  in the longitudinal direction, projects toward both sides in the lateral direction, and groove portions  353 , which retreat inward in the lateral direction from the outer side surface of thick portion  332 , are formed on both sides below thick portion  332 . That is, thick portion  332  is a projection portion that projects outward in the lateral direction from the bottom surface of groove portion  353  and has opposed surfaces  332   b  directed toward rear surface  3   b  on both sides in the lateral direction. 
     Projection portions  351  are preferably slightly projected laterally outward and formed in the vicinity of thick portion  331  on the outer side surfaces of side wall portions  35  formed on both sides of adapter  3  in the lateral direction. Projection portions  351  have opposed surfaces  351   a  that are directed toward front surface  3   a,  respectively. Further, side wall portions  35 , that are formed at both sides of adapter  3  in the lateral direction, are formed with portions whose upper ends are recessed downward in the vicinity of thick portion  332 . The upper end surface of that portion is opposed surface  35   a  directed toward front surface  3   a.  Opposed surface  35   a  extend up to the lower side of thick portion  332 . 
     Groove portions  353 ,  355  and opposed surfaces  331   b,    332   b,    351   a,    35   a  can abut against the peripheral edge of mounting opening  81  when adapter  3  is fitted to panel  8 . Also, engagement piece  37 , for being engaged with panel  8 , is elastically supported by the leading end of elastic support frame  371 , which extends outward in the longitudinal direction from retreat surface  356  below thick portion  331  formed on one side of adapter  3 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5A-B , housing  2  is inserted into through-hole  31  defined in adapter  3  from rear surface  2   b.  Specifically, second projection portion  29 , rear side main body portion  25  and front side main body portion  23 , which are smaller in width than through-hole  31 , are inserted into through-hole  31 . On the other hand, first projection portion  27 , which is larger in width than through-hole  31 , are not inserted into through-hole  31 , and rear surface  27   b  abuts against front surfaces  3   a  of thick portions  331 ,  332 . In this way, the movement of housing  2  in the insertion direction is regulated. Further, protrusions  334  formed on front surfaces  3   a  of thick portions  331 ,  332  of adapter  3  are inserted into hole portions  274  formed in rear surfaces  27   b  of first projection portion  27  when housing  2  is inserted into through-hole  31  of adapter  3 . 
     Further, second projection portion  29  of housing  2  moves downward while pushing and widening stopper portions  39  outward, whose lower ends are slightly bent inward and which are arranged on both sides in the longitudinal direction, when housing  2  is inserted into insertion hole  31  of adapter  3 . Then, when second projection portion  29  exceeds the lower ends of stopper portions  39 , the pushed and widened stopper portions  39  return to an original position so as to abut against the front surface of second projection portion  29 . Thus, the movement of housing  2  in the opposite direction (upward) of the insertion direction is regulated. Further, in this embodiment, a length that extends from front surfaces  3   a  of adapter  3  to the lower ends of stopper portions  39  in the vertical direction is comparable with a length between first and second projection portions  27 ,  29  in the vertical direction. With the above configuration, housing  2  does not move vertically. 
     Housing  2  and adapter  3  thus assembled together constitute floating connector  1  in which housing  2  is floatable laterally with respect to adapter  3  (i.e., in a direction orthogonal to the vertical direction). That is, the inner surface of through-hole  31  of adapter  3  surrounds the outer side surface of a portion disposed between first and second projection portions  27 ,  29  in housing  2 , which are thinner than those portions; that is, the main body portion of housing  2  (front and rear side main body portions  23 ,  25 ) with a region that is laterally larger than the outer side surface. The main body portion of housing  2  is laterally movable inside through-hole  31 . 
     Further, the inner walls of hole portions  274 , which are defined in first projection portion  27  of housing  2 , also surround the outer side surfaces of protrusions  334  of adapter  3 , which are inserted into hole portions  274  with a region laterally larger than the outer side surfaces. Protrusions  334  are preferably laterally movable inside hole portions  274 . In this embodiment, gaps defined between the outer side surfaces of protrusions  334  and the inner walls of hole portions  274  are set to be slightly smaller than gaps defined between the outer side surface of housing  2  and the inner surface of through-hole  31 . Thus, the lateral movement of housing  2  is mainly regulated when protrusions  334  abut against the inner walls of hole portions  274 . 
     Further, tapered surfaces  213 ,  215  are formed on front surface  2   a  of concave portion  21  of housing  2 . Therefore, even if counterpart male connector  6  is to be inserted into a position displaced from concave portion  21 , counterpart male connector  6  abuts against tapered surfaces  213 ,  215 , thereby making it possible to move housing  2  laterally so that concave portion  21  comes to the front side of counterpart male connector  6 . Here, tapered surface  213  spreads in the longitudinal direction to a region including the base end portion of first projection portion  27  as shown in a partially enlarged cross sectional view of  FIG. 10 . That is, tapered surface  213  spreads toward first projection portion  27  over a line that extends from the outer side surface of front side main body portion  23 . For that reason, a relatively large tapered surface  213  can be formed using the region in which first projection portion  27  is projected. 
     The terminals of cables  7  are inserted into terminal insertion holes  252  (referring to  FIG. 3C ) on rear surface  2   b  of housing  2  after housing  2  has been assembled with adapter  3 . Alternatively, the terminals can be inserted into terminal insertion holes  252  after floating connector  1  has been fitted to panel  8 , or the terminals have been inserted into housing  2  in advance, and housing  2  that is connected with cables  7  can be fitted to adapter  3  after adapter  3  has been fitted to panel  8 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 6-7 , peripheral edge  83  of mounting opening  81 , formed in panel  8 , has a configuration corresponding to the contour (referring to  FIG. 4B ) of adapter  3  on front surface  3   a  so that floating connector  1  can be inserted into mounting opening  81 . Specifically, one side of peripheral edge  83  in the longitudinal direction is formed with corresponding surfaces  835 ,  837 , which are inserted into groove portion  355  formed below thick portion  331 . Also, notch  851 , vertically passing through panel  8 , is defined in the vicinity of central corresponding surface  837 . On the other hand, another side of peripheral edge  83  in the longitudinal direction is formed with insertion grooves  831  and opposed surfaces  833  corresponding to thick portion  332  and the vicinity thereof on both sides in the lateral direction. 
     As shown in  FIG. 7A , floating connector  1  is inserted into mounting opening  81  from rear surface  8   b  of panel  8 . In this situation, floating connector  1  is first inserted into mounting opening  81  from first projection portion  27  of housing  2 . Also, in floating connector  1 , thick portion  332  that projects toward the lateral direction of adapter  3  passes through insertion grooves  831  corresponding to thick portion  332 , and is inserted into mounting opening  81 . 
     Then, as shown in  FIG. 7B , the movement of floating connector  1  into panel  8  in the insertion direction is regulated by abutting panel  8  against opposed surfaces  35   a,    351   a  of adapter  3  when adapter  3  is inserted into panel  8  by a given amount subsequent to first projection portion  27  of housing  2 . Thereafter, as shown in  FIG. 7C , floating connector  1  is slid toward notch  851 , and engagement piece  37  that is formed in adapter  3  is fitted to notch  851  that is formed in panel  8 , and is engaged with engagement piece  852  that is formed between mounting opening  81  and notch  851 . In this way, the lateral movement of floating connector  1  in the longitudinal direction is regulated. In this way, the fitting of floating connector  1  to panel  8  can be conducted by such simple operation that housing  2  and adapter  3  which have been assembled into one piece are inserted from rear surface  8   b  of panel  8 , and laterally slid. 
     Also, thick portions  331 ,  332  of adapter  3  run on front surface  8   a  of panel  8  in a state where floating connector  1  is engaged with panel  8 . That is, rear surfaces  331   b,    332   b  of thick portions  331 ,  332  of adapter  3  face front surface  8   a  of panel  8 . The opposed region in this situation is shown in  FIG. 8 . In this way, rear surfaces  331   b,    332   b  of thick portions  331 ,  332  of adapter  3  abut against front surface  8   a  of panel  8 , thereby regulating the movement of floating connector  1  in a direction opposite to the insertion direction (downward) into panel  8 . 
     A state in which thick portions  331 ,  332  of adapter  3  run on front surface  8   a  of panel  8  is shown in partially enlarged cross sectional views of  FIGS. 9A and 9B . As shown in  FIG. 9A , rear surface  331   b  of thick portion  331  faces front surface  8   a  of panel  8 . Also, the portions of corresponding surfaces  835 ,  837  in peripheral edge  83  of panel  8  are inserted into groove portion  355  defined below thick portion  331 . The portions of corresponding surfaces  835 ,  837  are inserted up to the base end side of thick portion  331  projected with respect to groove  355 . The portions of corresponding surfaces  835 ,  837  can abut against the bottom surface of groove portion  355 , or can form gaps with the bottom surface of groove portion  355 . 
     Likewise, as shown in  FIG. 9B , rear surface  332   b  of thick portion  332  faces front surface  8   a  of panel  8 , and rear surface  8   b  faces opposed surface  35   a,  which is an upper end surface of the portion that is recessed below side wall portion  35 . Also, the portion of corresponding surface  833  in peripheral edge  83  is inserted into groove portions  353  defined between the lower portion of thick portion  332  and opposed surface  35   a.  The portion of corresponding surface  833  is inserted up to the base end side of thick portion  332 , projected with respect to groove portions  353 . The portion of corresponding surface  833  can abut against the bottom surface of groove portion  353 , or can form gaps with the bottom surface of groove portion  353 . 
     With the above configuration, when an external force is applied to adapter  3  downward (insertion direction of housing  2 ), rear surfaces  331   b,    332   b  of thick portions  331 ,  332  of adapter  3  abut against front surface  8   a  to thereby regulate its movement. On the other hand, when the external force is applied to adapter  3  upward, opposed surfaces  35   a,    351   a  abut against rear surface  8   b  of the panel to thereby regulate its movement. Also, because peripheral edge  83  reaches the base end sides of thick portions  331 ,  332  that are projected with respect to groove portions  353 ,  355 , a stress that is developed on the base end sides of thick portions  331 ,  332  can be reduced. This is effective in the damage prevention. 
     In order to illustrate the advantages of the Present Invention, described above, a schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure of floating connector  1  is shown in  FIG. 11A . For comparison, a schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure of conventional floating connector  9 , described above,  1  is shown in  FIG. 11B . Housing main body  93  of conventional floating connector  9  is identical in width with front side main body portion  23  of housing  2  of the Present Invention. Also, rotating portion  95 , larger in diameter than housing main body  93  in conventional floating connector  9 , is identical in width with first projection portion  27  of housing  2  of the Present Invention. Also, retainer plate  96  and plate spring  97  in conventional floating connector  9 , which radially spread from rotating portion  95 , are represented by the minimum lengths in order to prevent rotating portion  95  from falling off. In fact, retainer plate  96  and plate spring  97  are longer than those shown in the drawings. 
     In floating connector  1  of the Present Invention, because front side main body portion  23 , narrower in width than first projection portion  27 , is floating within the through-hole of adapter  3 , as fixed to panel  8 , when it is assumed that a distance between the inner peripheral surface of the through-hole of adapter  3  and the outer side surface of front side main body portion  23  is floating amount S, a reach range of first projection portion  27  is a range obtained by adding floating amount S to the periphery of first projection portion  27  at the center position. 
     On the contrary, in conventional floating connector  9 , because rotating portion  95 , larger in diameter than housing main body  93 , is floatably supported within the connector insertion hole of panel  98 , retainer plate  96  and plate spring  97  radially spread from rotating portion  95 . For that reason, when same floating amount S as that of floating connector  1  of the Present Invention is intended to be obtained, the minimum lengths of retainer plate  96  and plate spring  97  are twice as large as floating amount S. Further, when retainer plate  96  and plate spring  97  are floating together with rotating portion  95 , a reach range of retainer plate  96  and plate spring  97  is a range obtained by adding floating amount S to the periphery of retainer plate  96  and plate spring  97  at the center position. Accordingly, when being considered on the basis of rotating portion  95 , the reach range of retainer plate  96  and plate spring  97  are obtained by adding three times floating amount S to the periphery of rotating portion  95  at the center position. Thus, as described above, floating connector  1  of the Present Invention is capable of compactifying the reach range of the floating member as compared with conventional floating connector  9 . 
     While a preferred embodiment of the Present Invention is shown and described, it is envisioned that those skilled in the art may devise various modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the foregoing Description and the appended Claims.