Connector assembly floating mount

• US 6,592,268 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2000
• Issued: 07/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Molex Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Molex Incorporated
• Inventors: Razdolsky, Robert, Chen, Wenzong, Grois, Igor, Matasek, Jeffrey A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bovernick, Rodney
• Assistant Examiner(s): PAK, SUNG H
• Application Number:
  US09/741,528
• Publication Number:
  US 20010041030A1
• Time in Patent Office: 938 Days
• Field of Search: 385/88-94, 385/53, 385/56, 385/60, 385/76, 385/78, 439/59, 439/64, 439/76.1, 439/78-79, 439/248, 439/564
• US Class Current: 385/88
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3879 Linking of individual connector plugs to an overconnector, e.g. using clamps, clips, common housings comprising several individual connector plugs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3885 Multicore or multichannel optical connectors, i.e. one single ferrule containing more than one fibre, e.g. ribbon type optical ribbon cable G02B6/4403, G02B6/448
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3893 Push-pull type, e.g. snap-in, push-on
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3897 Connectors fixed to housings, casing, frames or circuit boards G02B6/44528 takes precedence

Abstract

A system is provided for mounting a connecting device to a substrate with relative floating movement therebetween. The system includes a connector housing adapted for mounting on the substrate and including at least one elongated channel in a side of the housing. The channel extends generally perpendicular to the substrate and has an elongated restricted mouth opening at a side thereof. An elongated fastening post is snap-fit into the channel past the restricted mouth thereof to a preload position. A cross-dimension of the channel is larger than a cross-dimension of the fastening post so that the post can float relative to the housing. A fastener engages with the substrate and is operatively associated with the fastening post for tightening the post against the substrate, leaving the connector housing with floating movement relative to the substrate in a direction generally parallel to the substrate. The post may be longer than the channel to provide for floating movement of the housing relative to the substrate in a direction generally perpendicular to the substrate. In an alternative embodiment, at least a pair of connector housings are stacked on the substrate one on top of another. The elongated fastening post is long enough to snap-fit into the channels of both housings.

Claims

1. A system for mounting a connecting device to a substrate with relative floating movement therebetween, comprising:

at least a pair of connector housings stacked on the substrate one on top of another, each housing including at least one elongated channel in a side of the housing, the channel extending generally perpendicular to the substrate and having an elongated restricted mouth opening at a side thereof;

an elongated fastening post long enough to be snap-fit into said channels in both housings past the restricted mouths thereof to a preload position, a cross-dimension of the channels being larger than a cross-dimension of the fastening post so that the post can float relative to the housings, the elongated fastening post including means for spacing the housings from each other; and

a fastener engaged with the substrate and operatively associated with the fastening post for tightening the post against the substrate, leaving the connector housings with floating movement relative to the substrate in a direction generally parallel to the substrate.

2. A system for mounting a connecting device to a substrate with relative floating movement therebetween, comprising:

at least a pair of connector housings stacked on the substrate one on top of another, each housing including at least one elongated channel in a side of the housing, the channel extending generally perpendicular to the substrate and having an elongated restricted mouth opening at a side thereof;

a first fastening post snap-fit into the channel in a bottom-most connector housing adjacent the substrate past the restricted mouth of the housing to a preload position, a cross-dimension of the channel being larger than a cross-dimension of the first fastening post so that the post can float relative to the housing;

a first fastener engaged with the substrate and operatively associated with the first fastening post for tightening the post against the substrate, leaving the bottom-most connector housing with floating movement relative to the substrate in a direction generally parallel to the substrate;

a bridging bracket secured to the substrate and extending over the bottom-most connector housing;

a second elongated fastening post secured to the bridging bracket and snap-fit into the channel in a top-most connector housing above the bridging bracket past the restricted mouth of the top-most housing to a preload position, a cross-dimension of the channel being larger than a cross-dimension of the second fastening post so that the post can float relative to the top-most housing; and

a second fastener engaged with the bridging bracket and operatively associated with the second fastening post for tightening the post against the bracket, leaving the top-most connector housing with floating movement relative to the substrate in a direction generally parallel to the substrate.

3. A system for mounting a connecting device to a substrate with relative floating movement therebetween, comprising:

at least a pair of connector housings stacked on the substrate one on top of another, each housing including at least one elongated channel in a side of the housing, the channel extending generally perpendicular to the substrate;

an elongated fastening post mounted in the channels of the stacked housings, the post being longer than the channels, and the post including means for spacing the housings from each other; and

a fastener engaged with the substrate and operatively associated with the fastening post for tightening the post against the substrate, leaving the connector housings with floating movement relative to the substrate in a direction generally perpendicular to the substrate.

4. A system for mounting a connecting device to a substrate with relative floating movement therebetween, comprising:

at least a pair of connector housings stacked on the substrate one on top of another, each housing including at least one elongated channel in a side of the housing, the channel extending generally perpendicular to the substrate;

a first elongated fastening post mounted in the channel of a bottom-most connector housing adjacent the substrate, the post being longer than the channel;

a first fastener engaged with the substrate and operatively associated with the first fastening post for tightening the post against the substrate, leaving the bottom-most connector housing with floating movement relative to the substrate in a direction generally perpendicular to the substrate;

a bridging bracket secured to the substrate and extending over the bottom-most connector housing;

a second elongated fastening post secured to the bridging bracket and mounted in the channel of a top-most connector housing above the bridging bracket; and

a second fastener engaged with the bridging bracket and operatively associated with the second fastening post for tightening the post against the bracket, leaving the top-most connector housing with floating movement relative to the substrate in a direction generally perpendicular to the substrate.

5. A system for mounting a connecting device to a substrate with relative floating movement therebetween, comprising:

at least a pair of connector housings stacked on the substrate one on top of another, each housing including at least one elongated channel in a side of the housing, the channel extending generally perpendicular to the substrate;

an elongated fastening post mounted in the channels of the stacked housings, a cross-dimension of the channels being larger than a cross-dimension of the fastening post so that the post can float relative to the housings, and the post including means for spacing the housings from each other; and

a fastener engaged with the substrate and operatively associated with the fastening post for tightening the post against the substrate, leaving the connector housings with floating movement relative to the substrate in a direction generally parallel to the substrate.

6. A system for mounting a connecting device to a substrate with relative floating movement therebetween, comprising:

at least a pair of connector housings stacked on the substrate one on top of another, each housing including at least one elongated channel in a side of the housing, the channel extending generally perpendicular to the substrate;

a first elongated fastening post mounted in the channel in a bottom-most connector housing adjacent the substrate, a cross-dimension of the channel being larger than a cross-dimension of the first fastening post so that the post can float relative to the bottom-most housing;

a first fastener engaged with the substrate and operatively associated with the first fastening post for tightening the post against the substrate, leaving the bottom-most connector housing with floating movement relative to the substrate in a direction generally parallel to the substrate;

a bridging bracket secured to the substrate and extending over the bottom-most connector housing;

a second elongated fastening post mounted in the channel in a top-most connector housing above the bridging bracket, a cross-dimension of the channel in the top-most connector housing being larger than a cross-dimension of the second fastening post so that the post can float relative to the top-most housing; and

a second fastener engaged with the bridging bracket and operatively associated with the second fastening post for tightening the post against the bridging bracket, leaving the top-most connector housing with floating movement relative to the bracket in a direction generally parallel to the bracket.

7. A system for mounting a connecting device to a substrate with relative floating movement therebetween, comprising:

at least a pair of connector housings stacked on the substrate one on top of another, each housing including at least one elongated channel in a side of the housing, the channel extending generally perpendicular to the substrate and having an elongated restricted mouth opening at a side thereof;

an elongated fastening post long enough to be snap-fit into the channels of the housings past the restricted mouths thereof to a preload position whereby the housings and the fastening post comprise a subassembly for manipulation and handling, the fastening post including means for spacing the housings from each other; and

a fastener engaged with the substrate and operatively associated with the fastening post for tightening the post against the substrate.

8. A system for mounting a connecting device to a substrate, comprising:

at least a pair of connector housings stacked on the substrate one on top of another, each housing including at least one elongated channel in a side of the housing, the channels extending generally perpendicular to the substrate;

a first fastening post mounted in the channel in a bottom-most connector housing adjacent the substrate;

a first fastener engaged with the substrate and operatively associated with the fastening post for tightening the post against the substrate;

a bridging bracket secured to the substrate and extending over the bottom-most connector housing;

a second elongated fastening post mounted in the channel in a top-most connector housing above the bridging bracket; and

a second fastener engaged with the bridging bracket and operatively associated with the second fastening post for tightening the post against the bridging bracket.