Floating Connector Holder

• US 20090305544A1
• Filed: 02/20/2007
• Published: 12/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Molex Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Molex Incorporated
• Inventors: Suzuki, Teruhito, Mizumura, Akinori
• Granted Patent: US 7,980,859 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/345
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6315 allowing relative movement between coupling parts, e.g. floating connection for coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, H01R12/91 takes precedence

Abstract

A connector holder has a U-shaped frame and supports an internal connector-receiving part within the U-shaped frame. Guide pieces are provided that grip the ends of a connector and the cable to which the connector is attached. The connector-receiving part thereby floats inside of the U-shaped frame so as to be positioned accurately for mounting to an opposing connector.

Claims

1. A connector holders comprising:

a first part for fixing the holder to a substrate;

a second part for holding a connector connected to an end of a cable; and

,

a third part for resiliently connecting the first and second parts together, wherein, said first, second and third parts are integrally formed together as one piece, and the connector is held in a floating state thereof with respect to the substrate and is capable of limited movement with respect to said first part.

2. A connector holder according to claim 1 wherein, said first, second and third parts are integrally formed from a metal plate defining a plane perpendicular to said substrate, said first part has a body portion whose shape in a cross-sectional plane parallel with said substrate is provided, in part thereof, with an opening, said second part has a body portion, whose shape in a cross sectional plane parallel with said substrate is narrower than the opening of said first body portion, and is provided, in part thereof, with an opening, and

said third part, whose shape in a cross sectional plane parallel with said substrate has a predetermined bent shape to connect said first part and said second part so that their respective openings are identical in direction, connects the right or left end of the body portion of said first part with the right or left end of the body portion of said second part.

3. A connector holder according to claim 2, wherein said first and second parts each have a U-shaped configuration.

4. A connector holder according to claim 2, wherein said third part is bent in a V shape.

5. A connector holder according to claim 2, wherein said second part holds and pinches the connector with an internal wall surface of said second part body portion thereof.

6. A connector holder according to claim 5, wherein said second part has guide pieces projecting from an upper edge of said second part body portion thereof and are tilted outwardly.

7. A connector holder according to claim 1, wherein said second part has a bottom plate that extends parallel to said substrate and supports a bottom surface of said connector.

8. A connector holder according to claim 7, wherein said bottom plate has a flat portion capable of permitting contact therewith by a vacuum adsorption nozzle.

9. A connector holder according to claim 7, wherein said bottom plate has pinching pieces that upwardly project and pinch an end of said cable, and the tips of the pinching pieces are tilted outwardly.

10. A connector holder according to claim 1, wherein said connector is fixedly arranged at a position adjacent to another connector mounted on said substrate.

11. A holder for a coaxial connector, comprising:

a first member for attachment to a substrate, the first member having a body portion defined by a back part with two opposite ends, and two arm parts extending from the opposite ends of the back part, the back and arm parts cooperatively defining a hollow space;

a second member for engaging the coaxial connector;

the second member also having a body portion defined by a back part with two opposite ends, and two arm parts extending from the opposite ends of the back part, the second member being smaller that said first member so that said second member fits within said first member hollow space such that said second member back and arm parts are spaced away from and interior of said first member back and arm parts, and,

said first and second member being joined together at a common end of one of their respective arm parts such that said second member is free to move within said first part hollow space.

12. The coaxial connector holder according to claim 11, wherein each of said first and second members have a general U-shaped configuration.

13. The coaxial connector holder according to claim 11, wherein said second member includes at least one guide member for guiding said coaxial connector into engagement with said second member.

14. The coaxial connector holder according to claim 11, wherein said second member includes a base plate extending between said two arm parts thereof.

15. The coaxial connector holder according to claim 14, wherein said second member base plate includes a flat portion for contact by a vacuum nozzle

16. The coaxial connector holder according to claim 11, wherein said first and second member respective arm parts that are joined together have a general V-shape configuration.

17. The coaxial connector holder according to claim 11, wherein said first member includes a plurality of attachment members extending away therefrom.

18. The coaxial connector holder according to claim 17, wherein said attachment members include surface mount flanges.

19. The coaxial connector holder according to claim 17, wherein said attachment members are spaced apart from each other and one attachment member is disposed on each of said back and two arm parts.

20. The coaxial connector holder according to claim 11, wherein said second member is capable of moving in an arc within said first member.

21. A holder for holding a cable connector attached to an end of a cable above a surface of a mounting substrate, comprising:

a first member for fixing the holder to a support substrate, the first member including a back part with two opposing ends, and two arm parts extending in a first direction from the opposite ends of the back part, the back and arm parts cooperatively defining a first member recess;

a second member for holding the cable connector so that the cable connector is capable of limited movement, the second member including a back part with two opposing ends, and two arm parts extending from the opposite ends of the back part cooperatively defining a second member recess for receiving the cable connector therein, the first member being larger that said second member such that said second member fits within said first member hollow space interior of said first member back and arm parts, and,

said first and second members being joined together at a common end of one of their respective arm parts such that said second member is free to move within said first member hollow space.

22. The connector holder of claim 21, wherein said second member is capable of arcuate movement within said first member hollow space.

23. The connector holder of claim 21, wherein said second member is spaced apart from said first member within said first member recess.