Connector with floating self-alignment and zero impulse separation mechanisms

Claim 1

A connector assembly mounted between a first panel and a second panel, where the first and second panels are movable relative to each other and each has a connector opening, the connector assembly comprising: a. a connector plug having a cylindrical plug shell, the plug shell having an exterior plug flange for mounting the plug shell to said first panel, an interior chamber for housing a male connector with at least one pin contact, and a proximal end with a rounded circular lip; b. means for mounting said plug flange to said first panel such that said connector plug extends through said connector opening of said first panel; c. a connector receptacle having a cylindrical receptacle shell, the receptacle shell having an exterior receptacle flange, an interior chamber for housing a female connector and forming a tubular cavity between the receptacle shell and the female connector for receiving said proximal end of said plug shell, and a proximal end with a circular ramp surface, the female connector having at least one socket contact engageable with said at least one pin contact of said male connector; d. said receptacle flange having a multiplicity of openings symmetrically positioned around said receptacle shell, each opening having an interior conical surface and an interior cylindrical surface; e. a multiplicity of self-alignment mounting assemblies symmetrically positioned around said receptacle shell for mounting said receptacle flange to said second panel; f. each said self-alignment mounting assembly including an eyelet placed through each said flange opening, the eyelet having an exterior conical surface engageable with said interior conical surface of each said flange opening, and an exterior cylindrical surface with a reduced dimension for maintaining a tubular clearance between the exterior cylindrical surface of the eyelet and said interior cylindrical surface of said flange opening; g. each said self-alignment mounting assembly further including an alignment spring for providing cushioning between said receptacle flange and said eyelet; h. means for mounting said eyelet of each said self-alignment mounting assembly to said second panel such that said connector receptacle extends through said connector opening of said second panel; and i. an adjustable ejection assembly disposed within said tubular cavity of said receptacle shell and including a circular snap ring engageable with said proximal end of said plug shell, a multiplicity of ejection springs symmetrically positioned for biasing said snap ring, and means for individually adjusting a pre-load of each ejection spring to apply a balanced ejection force on said plug shell; j. whereby said multiplicity of self-alignment mounting assemblies provide proper connection between said connector plug and said connector receptacle during misaligned engagement or separation where said plug shell and said receptacle shell are linearly or angularly shifted relative to each other, and said adjustable ejection assembly provides proper ejection force between said plug shell and said receptacle shell for minimum impulse separation.