Self-aligning blind mate connector

Claim 1

A connector assembly comprising; a first body portion having a first end, a second end, and a tapered opening in said first end, a second body portion having a first end and a second end, wherein said first end is comprised of an elongated protrusion adapted for engagement in said tapered opening of said first body portion, wherein each of said body portions is of stepped cylindrical configuration, thereby forming a first radial ledge between said first and second ends, a radial protrusions extending outwardly from each of said body portions, axially spaced a set distance from said radial ledge, an electrically conductive pin member, an electrically conductive socket member adapted for receipt of said pin member, one of said members located centrally within said tapered opening and the other of said members centrally located within said elongated protrusion, first and second flexible electrically conductive bellows extending from said pin member and said socket member to the second end of its said body portion, respectively, terminating in an electrically conductive contact portion of said flexible electrically conductive bellows, first and second insert members adapted for electrical contact with said first and second body portions, respectively, first spring means resiliently mounting said first insert member to said first body portion, second spring means resiliently mounting said second insert member to a said second body portion, and first and second body capture means surrounding said second end of each of said first and second body portions, said capture means having an inwardly projecting lip limiting movement of said body portion relative to said capture means through interposition of said inward lip of said capture means between said first ledge and said radial protrusion, whereby said bellows and said spring means allow compensation for misalignment between said socket member and said pin member as they are being mated.