Connection assembly comprising a support provided with an opening and a connector housing mounted on the support

• US 7,201,594 B2
• Filed: 12/09/2005
• Issued: 04/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Radiall SA
• Original Assignee: Radiall SA
• Inventors: Perrin, Henri, van der Mee, Marnix
• Primary Examiner(s): Abrams; Neil
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, PHUONGCHI T
• Application Number:
  US11/297,460
• Publication Number:
  US 20060141836A1
• Time in Patent Office: 487 Days
• Field of Search: 439/247, 439/248, 439/378
• US Class Current: 439/247
• 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 connection assembly may include:

• • a support including an opening, in particular a panel element including an opening, the opening extending substantially in a plane;
  • an electrical connector housing; and
  • an assembly for assembling the connector housing to the support, the assembly being arranged firstly to enable the housing to be held relative to the support in a rest position in which the housing extends at least in part through the opening in the support, and secondly to enable the connector housing to move relative to the rest position, at least in a direction parallel to the plane of the opening, the assembly including at least one resilient return member arranged to be capable of deforming elastically to accompany movement of the connector housing in a direction parallel to the plane of the opening and to return the connector housing to the rest position.

Claims

1. A connection assembly comprising:

a support including an opening, the opening extending substantially in a plane;

an electrical connector housing, and

assembly means for assembling the connector housing to the support, the assembly means being configured firstly to enable the housing to be held relative to the support in a rest position in which the housing extends at least in part through the opening in the support, and secondly to enable the connector housing to move relative to its rest position, at least in a direction parallel to the plane of the opening, said assembly means including at least one resilient return member configured to be capable of deforming elastically to accompany movement of the connector housing in a direction parallel to the plane of the opening to return the connector housing to its rest position,

wherein the assembly means comprises at least a first guide surface made on a retaining member for retaining the resilient return member and the connector housing includes at least a second guide surface, the first and second guide surfaces being configured to bear one against the other when the connector housing is in the rest position,

wherein the resilient return member comprises a coil spring, and wherein the retaining member includes a shank engaged between turns of the spring, the shank being connected to a head secured to one end of the spring, and the retaining member including a base secured to the support, the first guide surface being formed on said base.

2. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the resilient return member is configured to be capable of deforming elastically to accompany movement of the connector housing in a direction that is not parallel to the plane of the opening.

3. An assembly according to claim 1, the support including an edge that defines the opening, wherein, in the rest position, the connector housing does not contact the edge of the opening.

4. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein, in the rest position, the connector housing does not contact the support.

5. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the resilient return member is configured to work in compression.

6. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the resilient return member is secured over a fraction of a height thereof to the retaining member in such a manner that over said fraction of the height thereof there is substantially no radial clearance between the resilient return member and the retaining member.

7. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the head and the shank are made as a single piece.

8. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the connector housing includes a shoulder, against which the resilient return member comes to bear.

9. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the connector housing includes a setback in which the resilient return member extends at least in part over a fraction of a height thereof.

10. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the assembly means comprises at least two resilient return members and at least two retaining members, each associated with a respective resilient return member, the assembly means enabling the connector housing to be held in at least two locations of the support.

11. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the connector housing includes at least one guide stud projecting from a face of the housing and being configured to co-operate with a complementary connector.

12. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the connector housing includes at least one cavity configured to receive an insulating block for holding electrical contacts.

13. Equipment for mounting onboard an aircraft, the equipment including a connection assembly according to claim 1.

14. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the connector housing includes an orifice through which said retaining member extends, at least in part.

15. An assembly according to claim 14, wherein said second guide surface in the connector housing is adjacent to said orifice.

16. An assembly according to claim 14, wherein the connector housing includes a shoulder against which the resilient return member comes to bear, and wherein the shoulder is adjacent to the orifice.

17. An assembly according to claim 14, wherein the connector housing includes at least one lateral slot opening into the orifice, the at least one lateral slot being configured to enable the retaining member to be inserted into the orifice.

18. A connection assembly comprising:

a support including an opening, the opening extending substantially in a plane;

an electrical connector housing; and

assembly means for assembling the connector housing to the support, the assembly means being configured firstly to enable the housing to be held relative to the support in a rest position in which the housing extends at least in part through the opening in the support, and secondly to enable the connector housing to move relative to its rest position, at least in a direction parallel to the plane of the opening, said assembly means including at least one resilient return member configured to be capable of deforming elastically to accompany movement of the connector housing in a direction parallel to the plane of the opening to return the connector housing to the rest position,

wherein the assembly means includes at least one retaining member for retaining the resilient return member, wherein the connector housing includes an orifice through which said retaining member extends, at least in part, and

wherein the connector housing includes at least one lateral slot opening into the orifice, the at least one lateral slot being configured to enable the retaining member to be inserted into the orifice,

wherein the resilient return member comprises a coil spring, and wherein the retaining member includes a shank engaged between turns of the spring, the shank being connected to a head secured to one end of the spring.

19. Equipment for mounting onboard an aircraft, the equipment including a connection assembly according to claim 18.

20. A connection assembly comprising:

a support including an opening, the opening extending substantially in a plane;

an electrical connector housing; and

assembly means for assembling the connector housing to the support, the assembly means being configured firstly to enable the housing to be held relative to the support in a rest position in which the housing extends at least in part through the opening in the support, and secondly to enable the connector housing to move relative to its rest position, at least in a direction parallel to the plane of the opening, said assembly means including at least one resilient return member configured to be capable of deforming elastically to accompany movement of the connector housing in a direction parallel to the plane of the opening to return the connector housing to the rest position,

wherein, in the rest position, the connector housing does not contact the support,

wherein the assembly means comprises at least a first guide surface, wherein the connector housing includes at least a second guide surface, and wherein the first and second guide surfaces are configured to bear one against the other when the connector housing is in the rest position,

wherein the first guide surface is made on a retaining member for retaining the resilient return member, and

wherein the retaining member includes a base secured to the support, the first guide surface being formed on said base.

21. Equipment for mounting onboard an aircraft, the equipment including a connection assembly according to claim 20.

22. A connection assembly comprising:

a support including an opening, the opening extending substantially in a plane;

an electrical connector housing; and

assembly means for assembling the connector housing to the support, the assembly means being configured firstly to enable the housing to be held relative to the support in a rest position in which the housing extends at least in part through the opening in the support, and secondly to enable the connector housing to move relative to its rest position, at least in a direction parallel to the plane of the opening, said assembly means including at least one resilient return member configured to be capable of deforming elastically to accompany movement of the connector housing in a direction parallel to the plane of the opening to return the connector housing to the rest position,

wherein, in the rest position, the connector housing does not contact the support,

wherein the assembly means includes at least one retaining member for retaining the resilient return member, wherein the connector housing includes an orifice trough which said retaining member extends, at least in part, and

wherein the connector housing includes at least one lateral slot opening into the orifice, the at least one lateral slot being configured to enable the retaining member to be inserted into the orifice.

23. Equipment for mounting onboard an aircraft, the equipment including a connection assembly according to claim 22.

24. A connection assembly comprising:

a support including an opening, the opening extending substantially in a plane;

an electrical connector housing, the connector being of the rectangular type; and

assembly means for assembling the connector housing to the support, the assembly means being configured firstly to enable the housing to be held relative to the support in a rest position in which the housing extends at least in part through the opening in the support, and secondly to enable the connector housing to move relative to its rest position, at least in a direction parallel to the plane of the opening, said assembly means including at least one resilient return member configured to be capable of deforming elastically to accompany movement of the connector housing in a direction parallel to the plane of the opening to return the connector housing to the rest position,

wherein the assembly means comprises at least a first guide surface, wherein the connector housing includes at least a second guide surface, and wherein the first and second guide surfaces are configured to bear one against the other when the connector housing is in the rest position,

wherein the first guide surface is made on a retaining member for retaining the resilient return member, and

wherein the retaining member includes a base secured to the support, the first guide surface being formed on said base.

25. Equipment for mounting onboard an aircraft, the equipment including a connection assembly according to claim 24.

26. A connection assembly comprising:

a support including an opening, the opening extending substantially in a plane;

an electrical connector housing, the connector being of the rectangular type; and

assembly means for assembling the connector housing to the support, the assembly means being configured firstly to enable the housing to be held relative to the support in a rest position in which the housing extends at least in part through the opening in the support, and secondly to enable the connector housing to move relative to its rest position, at least in a direction parallel to the plane of the opening, said assembly means including at least one resilient return member configured to be capable of deforming elastically to accompany movement of the connector housing in a direction parallel to the plane of the opening to return the connector housing to the rest position,

wherein the assembly means includes at least one retaining member for retaining the resilient return member, wherein the connector housing includes an orifice through which said retaining member extends, at least in part, and

wherein the connector housing includes at least one lateral slot opening into the orifice, the at least one lateral slot being configured to enable the retaining member to be inserted into the orifice.

27. Equipment for mounting onboard an aircraft, the equipment including a connection assembly according to claim 26.