Rack and panel connector assembly

Claim 2

In combination with a rack and panel connector assembly of the type having: a receptacle fixedly mounted on a panel, said receptacle having a plurality of electrical contacts, alignment pins and alignment grooves; and a plug axially aligned with said receptacle and fixedly mounted on a rack which is slidably mounted for movement to and from said panel to mate and unmate said plug and receptacle, said plug having a housing, a plurality of electrical contacts arranged to mate with said receptacle contacts when said plug and receptacle are mated, and an inner shell within said housing having a plurality of longitudinal keys which mate with said alignment grooves of said receptacle, when aligned therewith, to permit mating of said plug and receptacle contacts, the improvement comprising: an outer shell connected to said inner shell and mounted for radial movement within said plug housing, said outer shell having alignment means operable to engage said receptacle alignment pins during mating of said plug and receptacle when said keys and grooves are misaligned, and rotate said plug keys into alignment with said receptacle grooves whereby said plug and receptacle contacts may be mated without rotating said plug housing or receptacle when said plug keys and said receptacle grooves are initially misaligned.

Claim 3

The rack and panel connector assembly recited in claim 1 wherein the alignment means of said plug outer shell comprises a plurality of slots arranged in a complementary manner to said receptacle alignment pins.

Claim 4

The rack and panel connector assembly as recited in claim 2 wherein said plug includes means for returning said outer shell to its original position with respect to said plug housing when said plug and receptacle are unmated.

Claim 5

The rack and panel connector assembly as recited in claim 2 wherein said means for returning said outer shell to its original position includes: a spring mounted around a portion of said inner shell and held captive between said housing and said outer shell whereby depressing said outer shell axially into said housing causes said spring to compress; and cam means to confine radial and axial movement of said outer shell to a predetermined path whereby when said spring returns said outer shell to its original axial position, said cam means returns said outer shell to its original radial position.

Claim 6

The rack and panel connector assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said plug includes means for returning said outer shell to its orignal position with respect to said plug housing when said plug and receptacle are unmated.

Claim 7

The rack and panel connector assembly as recited in claim 5 wherein said means for returning said outer shell to its original position includes: a spring mounted around a portion of said inner shell and held captive between said housing and said outer shell whereby depressing said outer shell axially into said housing causes said spring to compress; and cam means to confine radial and axial movement of said outer shell to a predetermined path whereby when said spring returns said outer shell to its original axial position, said cam means returns said outer shell to its original radial position.

Claim 8

A plug having a plurality of contacts adapted to mate with a receptacle having a plurality of contacts and thereby connect said plug contacts in predetermined electrical relationship with said receptacle contacts, said plug comprising: a housing; an outer shell having means for receiving said receptacle; means for mounting said outer shell to said plug housing, said mounting means operable to permit axial and radial movement of said outer shell with respect to said housing; an inner shell connected to said outer shell for radial and axial movement therewith, said inner shell having means for receiving said receptacle; an insert mounted in said inner shell, said insert having said plug contacts mounted thereto; said outer shell having first means for guiding said receptacle into a predetermined relationship with said inner shell upon mating of said plug and receptacle; and said inner shell having second means for guiding said receptacle contacts into alignment with said plug contacts upon mating of said plug and receptacle, whereby the action of said first and second guide means aligns said plug contacts for contact with said receptacle contacts when said plug and receptacle are being mated.

Claim 9

A plug having a plurality of contacts adapted to mate with a receptacle having a plurality of contacts and thereby connect said plug contacts in predetermined electrical relationship with said receptacle contacts, said plug comprising: a housing; an outer shell having means for receiving said receptacle; means for mounting said outer shell to said plug housing, said mounting means operable to permit axial and radial movement of said outer shell with respect to said housing; an inner shell connected to said outer shell for radial and axial movement therewith, said inner shell having means for receiving said receptacle; an insert mounted in said inner shell, said insert having said plug contacts mounted thereto; said outer shell having first means for guiding said receptacle into a predetermined relationship with said inner shell upon mating of said plug and receptacle; and said inner shell having second means for guiding said receptacle contacts into alignment with said plug contacts upon mating of said plug and receptacle, whereby the action of said first and second guide means aligns said plug contacts for contact with said receptacle contacts when said plug and receptacle are being mated.

Claim 10

The plug as recited in claim 7 including: biasing means between said housing and said outer shell operable to return said outer shell to its original position when said plug and receptacle are unmated.

Claim 11

The connector assembly as recited in claim 17 wherein said outer and inner shells are mounted for radial movement relative to said plug housing.

Claim 12

The plug as recited in claim 8 wherein said biasing means includes a spring mounted around a portion of said inner shell and held captive between said housing and said outer shell whereby depressing said outer shell longitudinally into said housing causes said spring to compress.

Claim 13

A plug as recited in claim 7, including means for preventing the rotation of said outer shell unit said outer shell is depressed into said housing a predetermined distance, said means operable to return said outer shell to its original position when said plug and receptacle are unmated.

Claim 14

The plug as recited in claim 10 wherein the means for preventing rotation of said outer shell comprises a key slidably mounted to said inner shell, said key engaged with a keyway in said housing when said outer shell is in its normal position and disengaged from said keyway when said outer shell is depressed a predetermined distance into said housing.

Claim 15

The rack and panel connector assembly as recited in claim 8 wherein said plug includes means for returning said outer shell to its original position with respect to said plug housing when said plug and receptacle are unmated.

Claim 16

A plug as recited in claim 12, including means for preventing the rotation of said outer shell until said outer shell is depressed into said housing a predetermined distance, said means operable to return said outer shell to its original position when said plug and receptacle are unmated.

Claim 17

The rack and panel connector assembly as recited in claim 9 wherein said plug includes means for returning said outer shell to its original position with respect to said plug housing when said plug and receptacle are unmated.

Claim 18

The plug as recited in cLaim 4 wherein said means for preventing rotation of said outer shell includes a key attached to said inner shell, said key engaged with a keyway in said housing when said spring is not compressed and wherein said key is disengaged from said keyway when said spring is compressed a predetermined distance.

Claim 19

A plug and receptacle connector assembly comprising: a receptacle having a plug receiving portion that includes first and second guide means and an insert mounted within said receptacle, said insert having a plurality of electrical contacts mounted therein, said first guide means comprising a plurality of pins, and said second guide means comprising a plurality of grooves; and a plug having a housing which is nonrotatably mounted in fixed axial alignment to said receptacle an inner shell slideably mounted in said housing, an outer shell mounted around a portion of said inner shell and slideably mounted in said housing, and an insert mounted within said inner shell of said plug, said insert having a plurality of electrical contacts therein arranged complementary to the contacts located in said receptacle for contact therewith when said plug and receptacle are in mated relationship; said plug including third and fourth guide means, said third guide means comprising a plurality of slots that cooperate with said pins, said fourth guide means comprising a plurality of longitudinal keys that cooperate with said grooves, and said first and third guide means operable upon mating to align in cooperative relationship said second and fourth guide means; said second and fourth guide means thereby operable to align said plug contacts with said receptacle contacts whereby when said plug and receptacle are in mated relationship, said plug and receptacle contacts are in electrical circuit relationship.

Claim 20

A plug and receptacle connector assembly comprising: a receptacle having a plug receiving portion that includes first and second guide means and an insert mounted within said receptacle, said insert having a plurality of electrical contacts mounted therein, said first guide means comprising a plurality of pins, and said second guide means comprising a plurality of grooves; and a plug having a housing which is nonrotatably mounted in fixed axial alignment to said receptacle an inner shell slideably mounted in said housing, an outer shell mounted around a portion of said inner shell and slideably mounted in said housing, and an insert mounted within said inner shell of said plug, said insert having a plurality of electrical contacts therein arranged complementary to the contacts located in said receptacle for contact therewith when said plug and receptacle are in mated relationship; said plug including third and fourth guide means, said third guide means comprising a plurality of slots that cooperate with said pins, said fourth guide means comprising a plurality of longitudinal keys that cooperate with said grooves, and said first and third guide means operable upon mating to align in cooperative relationship said second and fourth guide means; said second and fourth guide means thereby operable to align said plug contacts with said receptacle contacts whereby when said plug and receptacle are in mated relationship, said plug and receptacle contacts are in electrical circuit relationship.

Claim 21

The connector assembly recited in claim 16 wherein said pins are located on the outside of said plug receiving portion of said receptacle; said grooves are located on the inside of said plug receiving portion of said receptacle; said slots are located in an outer shell of said plug; said keys are located on the outside of an inner shell of said plug; and said pins and slots are arranged to come into cooperative relationship before said keys and grooves when said plug and receptacle are brought into mated relationship.

Claim 22

The connector assembly as recited in claim 18 including means for returning said shells to their original axial and radial position with respect to said plug housing when said plug and receptacle are unmated.

Claim 23

The connector assembly as recited in claim 16 wherein said outer and inner shells are mounted for radial movement relative to said plug housing.

Claim 24

The connector assembly as recited in claim 20 including means for returning said shells to their original axial and radial position with respect to said plug housing when said plug and receptacle are unmated.

Claim 25

The connector assembly as recited in claim 16 wherein said outer and inner shells are mounted for radial movement relative to said plug housing.

Claim 26

The connector assembly as recited in claim 22 including means for preventing radial movement of said shells until said outer shell slides a predetermined distance into said housing.

Claim 27

The connector assembly as recited in claim 23 including means for returning said shells to their original axial and radial position with respect to said plug housing when said plug and receptacle are unmated.

Claim 28

The connector assembly as recited in claim 22 including means for returning said shells to their original axial and radial position with respect to said plug housing when said plug and receptacle are unmated.

Claim 29

The connector assembly as recited in claim 25 including means for retaining said plug and receptacle in mated relationship.

Claim 30

The connector assembly as reciTed in claim 16 including means for returning said shells to their original axial and radial position with respect to said plug housing when said plug and receptacle are unmated.

Claim 31

The connector assembly as recited in claim 28 including means for retaining said plug and receptacle in mated relationship.

Claim 32

In combination with a rack and panel connector assembly of the type having: a receptacle fixedly mounted on a panel, said receptacle having a plurality of electrical contacts, alignment pins and alignment grooves; a plug having a housing and a plurality of electrical contacts arranged to mate with said receptacle contacts when said plug and receptacle are mated; and means for mounting said plug housing in fixed relationship to said receptacle so that said plug and receptacle are axially aligned for mating and unmating, the improvement comprising: means for providing for greater than 7* of radial movement of said plug contacts with respect to said plug housing upon mating of said plug and receptacle when said plug contacts and said receptacle contacts are misaligned by greater than 7*.

Claim 33

In combination with a rack and panel connector assembly of the type having: a receptacle fixedly mounted on a panel, said receptacle having a plurality of electrical contacts, alignment pins and alignment grooves; a plug having a housing and a plurality of electrical contacts arranged to mate with said receptacle contacts when said plug and receptacle are mated; and means for mounting said plug housing in fixed relationship to said receptacle so that said plug and receptacle are axially aligned for mating and unmating, the improvement comprising: means for providing for greater than 7* of radial movement of said plug contacts with respect to said plug housing upon mating of said plug and receptacle when said plug contacts and said receptacle contacts are misaligned by greater than 7*.

Claim 34

The combination as recited in claim 29 wherein said means for providing for radial movement of said plug contacts comprises: a first and second shell mounted in said plug housing for radial movement therewith, said first shell having means for radially aligning said first shell with said receptacle alignment grooves upon mating of said plug and receptacle so that said plug and receptacle contacts are aligned for mating and said second shell having means for radially aligning said second shell with said receptacle alignment pins upon mating of said plug and receptacle so that said first shell alignment means is operable with said receptacle grooves to align and mate said plug and receptacle contacts when said plug and receptacle are mated.

Claim 35

The rack and panel connector assembly recited in claim 30 including means for returning said first and second shells to their original position when said plug and receptacle are unmated.

Claim 36

The rack and panel connector assembly recited in claim 31 wherein said first and second shell are capable of rotating up to 15 degrees in either direction by action of said alignment means of said first and second shell upon mating said plug and receptacle.