Floating connector assembly

(19)

(11)

EP 0 967 693 A3

(12)	EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88)	Date of publication A3:
	06.12.2000 Bulletin 2000/49

(43)	Date of publication A2:
	29.12.1999 Bulletin 1999/52

(21)	Application number: 99111647.6

(22)	Date of filing: 16.06.1999

(51)	International Patent Classification (IPC)⁷: H01R 13/74, H01R 13/631

(84)	Designated Contracting States:
	AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE
	Designated Extension States:
	AL LT LV MK RO SI

(30)

Priority:

22.06.1998 EP 98401524

(71)	Applicant: THE WHITAKER CORPORATION
	Wilmington, Delaware 19808 (US)

(72)	Inventor:
	Jodon de Villeroche, Francois 78170 La Celle Saint Cloud (FR)

(74)	Representative: Heinz-Schäfer, Marion
	AMP International Enterprises Limited AMPèrestrasse 3 9323 Steinach (SG) 9323 Steinach (SG) (CH)

(54)	Floating connector assembly

(57) A connector (4) is floatably mounted to a panel (6) which has a cutout (44) receiving the connector therethrough. In the unmated condition, the mating face (16) of the connector is biased away from the panel (6) by a spring (30), and widened portions (50) of the connector are received in complementary recesses (52) of the panel cutout. The engagement of the widened portions (50) in the recesses (52) centers the connector (4) with respect to the panel cutout. During coupling with a complementary connector (8), the first connector (4) is biased in the mating direction (M) such that the widened portions (50) disengage from the complementary recesses (52) thereby allowing floating movement of the first connector (4) with respect to panel (6), in the plane orthogonal to the mating direction (M).

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