Snap-in float-mount electrical connector
First Claim
1. An electrical connector for mounting in a mounting hole, the mounting hole having a diameter, comprising:
- a body having a body axis; and
a mounting mechanism attached to the body, the mounting mechanism having a mounting mechanism axis and comprising,a spring finger basket comprising a base portion and a plurality of spring fingers, each spring finger having a back end commonly connected at the base portion and a free front end opposite the base portion, the base portion being attached to an outer surface of the body adjacent to a flange in the outer surface, the free front end of each spring finger being spaced apart from the body,an end cap attached to the body, a back side of the end cap being adjacent to the free front end of each spring finger, the end cap having a backward-extending outer lip limiting outward radial movement and permitting inward radial movement of the free front end of each spring finger during radial movement of the body with respect to the mounting mechanism,a spring attached to the body, a back side of the spring being adjacent to a front side of the end cap, anda shroud attached to the body adjacent to a front side of the spring.
3 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electrical connector (800) for mounting in a mounting hole includes a body (804) and a mounting mechanism. The mounting mechanism includes a spring finger basket (806) that includes a base portion (808) and a plurality of spring fingers (809). Each spring finger (821–826) is commonly connected at the base portion and has a tip (812) at a free end opposite the base portion. The base portion is attached to an outer surface of the body adjacent to a flange (805) in the outer surface. The tip of each spring finger is spaced apart from the body. An end cap (818) is attached to the outer surface of the body. The end cap has an outer lip (819) limiting outward radial movement and permitting inward radial movement of the tip of each spring finger during radial movement of the body with respect to the mounting mechanism. A coil spring (404) is attached to the outer surface of the body. A shroud (827) is attached to the body adjacent to a front side of the coil spring. The mounting mechanism permits simultaneous radial and axial movement of the body relative to the mounting mechanism.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. An electrical connector for mounting in a mounting hole, the mounting hole having a diameter, comprising:
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a body having a body axis; and a mounting mechanism attached to the body, the mounting mechanism having a mounting mechanism axis and comprising, a spring finger basket comprising a base portion and a plurality of spring fingers, each spring finger having a back end commonly connected at the base portion and a free front end opposite the base portion, the base portion being attached to an outer surface of the body adjacent to a flange in the outer surface, the free front end of each spring finger being spaced apart from the body, an end cap attached to the body, a back side of the end cap being adjacent to the free front end of each spring finger, the end cap having a backward-extending outer lip limiting outward radial movement and permitting inward radial movement of the free front end of each spring finger during radial movement of the body with respect to the mounting mechanism, a spring attached to the body, a back side of the spring being adjacent to a front side of the end cap, and a shroud attached to the body adjacent to a front side of the spring. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A mounting mechanism for mounting a body of an electrical connector in a mounting hole, the body having an axis, the mounting hole having a diameter, comprising:
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a spring finger basket having an axis and comprising a base portion and a plurality of spring fingers, each spring finger having a back end commonly connected at the base portion and a tip at a front end opposite the base portion, the base portion being attached to an outer surface of the body adjacent to a flange in the outer surface, the tip of each spring finger being spaced apart from the body, an end cap attached the body, a back side of the end cap being adjacent to the free front end of each spring finger, the end cap having a backward-extending outer lip limiting outward radial movement and permitting inward radial movement of the tip of each spring finger during radial movement of the body with respect to the mounting mechanism, a spring attached to the body, a back side of the spring being adjacent to a front side of the end cap, and a shroud attached to the body adjacent to a front side of the spring. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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24. An electrical connector for mounting in a mounting hole, the mounting hole having a diameter, comprising:
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a body having an axis; and a mounting mechanism attached to the body, the mounting mechanism having an axis and comprising, a spring finger basket comprising a base portion and a plurality of spring fingers, each spring finger having a back end commonly connected at the base portion and having a tip at a front end opposite the base portion, the base portion being attached to an outer surface of the body adjacent to a flange in the outer surface, the tip of each spring finger being spaced apart from the body, an end cap attached to the body, a back side of the end cap being adjacent to the tip of each spring finger, the end cap having a backward-extending outer lip defining an annular space bounded by an inner surface of the outer lip, a back surface of the end cap and the outer surface of the body, within which the tip of each spring finger is free to move radially, a spring attached to the body, a back side of the spring being adjacent to a front side of the end cap, and a shroud attached to the body adjacent to a front side of the spring. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification