Patent ID: 8920045

Claim:
A float mechanism for controlling an optical connector comprising: a pin having a first end and a second end; a first shaft assembly and a second shaft assembly; a base disposed at a distance from the optical connector such that the base is not in direct contact with the optical connector, the base comprising: a first cantilever and a second cantilever; and a housing having a first side and a second side, the first side connected to the first cantilever and the second side connected to the second cantilever, the housing defining an opening configured to receive the pin and the housing further defining a plurality of threads configured to receive securing pins for securing the float mechanism to a substrate; the base defining a first shaft assembly opening for receiving the first shaft assembly and a second shaft assembly opening for receiving the second shaft assembly, the first and second shaft assembly openings positioned on the opposite ends of the first and second cantilevers from the first and second housing sides, respectively; and a tab comprising a first and second preload surface, a first and second float force surface, a first and second residual force surface and a first and second preload chamfer, the tab configured to receive the first end of the pin; wherein the float mechanism is configured to control the optical connector by receiving the tab and the first end of the pin within the housing so that, when the optical connector is pushed in the direction of the float mechanism, the tab interacts with the first and second shaft assemblies by pushing the first and second shaft assemblies outward from the tab, causing the cantilevers to flex outward and provide a biasing inward force that pushes the first end of the pin back toward the optical connector while the second end of the pin interacts with components of the optical connector distant from the base.