Mating alignment guide

• US 6,358,075 B1
• Filed: 10/13/1998
• Issued: 03/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dsc Telecom L.P., Hanger Solutions, LLC (IP Investments Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Tischner, John J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Paumen, Gary
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, PHUONGCHI T
• Application Number:
  US09/170,832
• Time in Patent Office: 1,253 Days
• Field of Search: 439/247, 439/248, 439/378, 439/563-565, 439/570, 439/620
• US Class Current: 439/248
• 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 mating alignment guide comprises a float plate having a first alignment device. The float plate operates to couple a connector to a chassis. A connector mate is coupled to a backplane, and a second alignment device is operable to be coupled to the backplane. The first alignment device operates to engage the second alignment device and aligns the connector with the connector mate.

Claims

1. A mating alignment guide for alignment of a connector with a mating connector prior to coupling thereto, comprising:

a connector;

a backplate;

a mating connector supported on the backplate;

one or more alignment pins fastened to the backplate, said one or more alignment pins extending from the backplate a distance sufficient to align the connector before engagement with the mating connector; and

a float plate comprising;

a float cavity comprising an opening, wherein the size of the opening allows two-dimensional floating movement of the connector relative to the float plate; and

one or more openings to engage the one or more alignment pins; and

the connector received in the opening of the float cavity, the connector having two-dimensional movement in the opening, whereby the alignment pins engage the alignment openings to guide the connector into alignment with the mating connector prior to the connector coupling to the mating connector.

2. A mating alignment guide for alignment of a connector with a mating connector prior to coupling thereto, comprising:

a backplate supporting the mating connector;

one or more alignment pins fastened to the backplate, said one or more alignment pins extending from the backplate a distance sufficient to align the connector before engagement with the mating connector; and

a float plate comprising;

a float cavity comprising an opening, the opening configured to allow two-dimensional movement of the connector relative to the float plate in a preferred orientation; and

one or more alignment openings to engage the one or more alignment pins; and

the connector received within the opening of the float cavity, the connector having two-dimensional movement in the opening, whereby the alignment pins engage the alignment openings to guide the connector into alignment with the mating connector prior to the connector coupling to the mating connector.

3. A mating alignment guide, comprising:

a back plate;

a mating connector supported on the back plate;

one or more alignment pins fastened to the back plate;

a float plate comprising;

a float cavity comprising an opening, wherein the size of the opening allows two-dimensional floating movement of a connector received therein relative to the float plate; and

one or more alignment openings to engage the one or more alignment pins; and

a connector received within the opening of the float cavity, the connector having two-dimensional movement in the opening, whereby the alignment pins engage the alignment openings to guide the connector into alignment with the mating connector prior to the connector coupling to the mating connector.

4. The mating alignment guide of claim 3, further comprising a float plate alignment device to align the float plate to an electronic system chassis.

5. The mating alignment guide of claim 4, wherein the float plate alignment device comprises a plurality of chassis alignment pins coupled to the chassis, and a plurality of alignment apertures disposed in the float plate to engage the chassis alignment pins and align the float plate and connector to a connector cutout in the chassis.

6. A mating alignment guide, comprising

a back plate;

a mating connector;

one or more alignment pins for fastening the mating connector to the back plate;

a float plate comprising;

a float cavity comprising an opening, wherein the size of the opening allows two-dimensional floating movement of a connector received therein relative to the float plate; and

one or more alignment openings to engage the one or more alignment pins; and

a connector received within the opening of the float cavity, the connector having two-dimensional movement in the opening, whereby the alignment pins engage the alignment openings to guide the connector into alignment with the mating connector prior to the connector coupling to the mating connector.

7. A mating alignment guide as set forth in claim 6 wherein said connector further comprises one or more connector openings to engage the one or more alignment pins prior to the alignment opening of the float plate engaging the one or more alignment pins, the connector opening establishing an initial alignment of the mating connector with the mating connector prior to a final alignment by the engagement of the one or more alignment openings with the one or more alignment pins.

8. The mating alignment guide of claim 7 wherein the connector has a substantially rectangular configuration, further comprising:

said float plate comprises a substantially rectangular shape float cavity to receive the connector in a preferred orientation.