Floating panel mount connection system

• US 7,651,355 B2
• Filed: 04/18/2007
• Issued: 01/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Feldman, Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): Luebke; Renee
• Assistant Examiner(s): TSUKERMAN, LARISA Z
• Application Number:
  US11/736,988
• Publication Number:
  US 20080020618A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,014 Days
• Field of Search: 439247-278, 439/74
• US Class Current: 439/247
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/727 Coupling devices presenting arrays of contacts
• 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 system for use with a panel having an aperture includes a connection device having a front portion and a back portion. The front portion is insertable in an axial direction into the aperture, and the back portion is configured to prevent passage through the aperture. A retainer releasably secured to the panel is positioned adjacent the back portion of the connection device and configured to provide predetermined limited floating movement of the connection device in at least the axial direction.

Claims

1. A connection system comprising:

a panel having an aperture extending therethrough, the aperture defining an axial direction;

a connection device having a front portion and a back portion, wherein the front portion is insertable in the axial direction into the aperture, and wherein the back portion is configured to prevent passage of the connection device through the aperture; and

a support block releasably secured to the panel in fixed relationship thereto, the support block positioned adjacent the back portion of the connection device and configured to allow insertion of the connection device in the support block in a direction lateral to the axial direction,

wherein the aperture of the panel is configured to provide predetermined limited floating movement of the connection device in a plane of the panel, and wherein the support block and the panel are cooperatively configured to provide predetermined limited axial floating movement of the connection device when the connection device is in the aperture and the support block is secured to the panel.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the connection device comprises a connector.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the connection device comprises a carrier configured to hold a plurality of connectors.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the support block is configured to provide access to the back portion of the connection device when connection device is in the aperture and the support block is secured to the panel.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the aperture is a first aperture and the connection device is a first connection device, and further comprising:

a second aperture extending through the panel, the second aperture positioned adjacent the first aperture;

a second connection device having a front portion and a back portion, wherein the front portion is insertable in the axial direction into the second aperture, and wherein the back portion is configured to prevent passage of the second connection device through the second aperture;

wherein the support block is positioned between the back portions of the first and second connection devices and configured to allow insertion of the first and second connection devices in the support block in a direction lateral to the axial direction,

wherein the first and second apertures of the panel are configured to provide predetermined limited floating movement of the first and second connection devices, respectively, in a plane of the panel, and wherein the support block and the panel are cooperatively configured to provide predetermined limited axial floating movement of the first and second connection devices when the first and second connection devices are in the first and second apertures, respectively, and the support block is secured to the panel.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the first aperture and the second aperture are substantially identical, and wherein the first connection device and the second connection device are substantially identical.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the support block is configured to provide access to the back portions of the first and second connection devices when first and second connection devices are in the first and second apertures, respectively, and the support block is secured to the panel.

8. A connection system for use with a panel having an aperture extending therethrough, the aperture defining an axial direction, the system comprising:

a connection device having a front portion and a back portion, wherein the front portion is msertable in the axial direction into the aperture, and wherein the back portion is configured to prevent passage of the connection device through the aperture; and

a retainer releasably secured to the panel in fixed relationship thereto, the retainer positioned adjacent the back portion of the connection device and configured to allow insertion of the connection device in the retainer in a direction lateral to the axial direction,

wherein the retainer is configured to cooperate with the panel to provide predetermined limited floating movement of the connection device in at least the axial direction when the connection device is in the aperture and the retainer is secured to the panel.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the retainer is further configured to cooperate with the panel to provide predetermined limited floating movement of the connection device in a first direction transverse to the axial direction when the connection device is in the aperture and the retainer is secured to the panel.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the retainer is further configured to cooperate with the panel to provide predetermined limited floating movement of the connection device in a second direction transverse to the axial direction when the connection device is in the aperture and the retainer is secured to the panel.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the retainer is configured to provide access to the back portion of the connection device when connection device is in the aperture and the retainer is secured to the panel.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the panel has a plurality of apertures extending therethrough, the connection device is a first connection device, the aperture is a first one of the plurality of apertures, and further comprising:

a second connection device having a front portion and a back portion, wherein the front portion is insertable in the axial direction into a second one of the plurality of apertures adjacent the first one of the plurality of apertures, and wherein the back portion of the second connection device is configured to prevent passage of the second connection device through the second one of the plurality of apertures;

wherein the retainer is positioned between the back portions of the first and second connection devices and configured to allow insertion of the first and second connection devices in the retainer in a direction lateral to the axial direction, the retainer configured to cooperate with the panel to provide predetermined limited floating movement of the first and second connection devices in at least the axial direction when the first and second connection devices are in the first and second one of the plurality of apertures, respectively, and the retainer is secured to the panel.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the retainer is further configured to cooperate with the panel to provide predetermined limited floating movement of the first and second connection devices in a first direction transverse to the axial direction when the first and second connection devices are in the first and second one of the plurality of apertures, respectively, and the retainer is secured to the panel.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the retainer is further configured to cooperate with the panel to provide predetermined limited floating movement of the first and second connection devices in a second direction transverse to the axial direction when the first and second connection devices are in the first and second one of the plurality of apertures, respectively, and the retainer is secured to the panel.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the retainer is configured to provide access to the back portions of the first and second connection devices when the retainer is secured to the panel.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the first and second ones of the plurality of apertures are substantially identical, and wherein the first and second connection devices are substantially identical.

17. The system of claim 8, wherein the connection device comprises a connector.

18. The system of claim 8, wherein the connection device comprises a carrier configured to hold a plurality of connectors.

19. The system of claim 8, wherein the connection device comprises a probe block configured to hold at least one electrical probe.

20. An apparatus for supporting connection devices in adjacent apertures in a panel, the apparatus comprising:

a support block defining a panel engagement surface and a plurality of connection device engagement surfaces, wherein the panel engagement surface is configured to engage a back side of the panel between the adjacent apertures and in fixed positional relationship with the panel, and wherein the connection device engagement surfaces are configured to engage back portions of the connection devices adjacent the back side of the panel, at least a portion of the connection device engagement surfaces axially spaced from the panel engagement surface by a distance sufficient to provide predetermined limited floating movement of the connection devices in an axial direction.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein another portion of the connection device engagement surfaces are laterally spaced from the back portion of the connection devices to provide predetermined limited floating movement of the connection devices in a direction transverse to the axial direction.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the support block defines a generally H-shape.

23. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the support block is substantially inflexible.

24. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the support block is a unitary member.