# US 2012/0237166 A1 · Connector assemblies having actuation mechanisms for selectively moving mating connectors > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2012/0237166 A1 - Document ID: US20120237166A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/051,373 - Filed: 2011-03-18 - Published: 2012-09-20 - Earliest claimed: 2011-03-18 - Assignees: Tyco Electronics Corporation - Inventors: ROBERT PAUL NICHOLS - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20120237166A1 ## CPC - H01R 13/62911: {U-shaped sliding element} - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS ## Abstract A connector assembly including an actuator body that extends along a central longitudinal axis between a pair of connector ends. The actuator body is movable along the longitudinal axis and has an actuator cam feature. The connector assembly also includes an assembly frame that is operatively coupled to the actuator body and is movable along a mating axis that is non-parallel relative to the longitudinal axis. The assembly frame defines a connector compartment and has a frame cam feature that is positioned to engage the actuator cam feature. The actuator and frame cam features slidably engage each other when the actuator body is moved along the longitudinal axis thereby moving the assembly frame along the mating axis. The connector assembly also includes a mating connector that is held by the assembly frame within the connector compartment. The assembly frame is configured to move the mating connector in a mating direction. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A connector assembly comprising: an actuator body configured to be slidably mounted to a support structure, the actuator body extending along a central longitudinal axis between a pair of connector ends, the actuator body being movable along the longitudinal axis and having an actuator cam feature; an assembly frame being operatively coupled to the actuator body and movable along a mating axis that is non-parallel relative to the longitudinal axis, the assembly frame defining a connector compartment and having a frame cam feature, the frame cam feature being positioned to engage the actuator cam feature of the actuator body, the actuator and frame cam features slidably engaging each other when the actuator body is moved along the longitudinal axis thereby moving the assembly frame along the mating axis; and a mating connector held by the assembly frame within the connector compartment, wherein the assembly frame is configured to move the mating connector in a mating direction when the assembly frame is moved along the mating axis. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the assembly frame permits the mating connector to float in a direction that is different than the mating direction. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the actuator cam feature comprises a channel and the frame cam feature comprises a projection member sized and shaped to slidably engage the channel. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the assembly frame comprises a floating element that engages the mating connector and holds the mating connector within the connector compartment in a biased position, the floating element permitting the mating connector to float within the connector compartment from the biased position. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The connector assembly of claim 4, wherein the floating element comprises a plurality of resilient fingers. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the connector compartment includes a plurality of connector compartments and the mating connector includes a plurality of mating connectors held within the corresponding connector compartments, the mating connectors being independently movable with respect to one another within the corresponding connector compartments. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein adjacent mating connectors are separated by a common sidewall, the common sidewall having floating elements that engage the adjacent mating connectors. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the actuator and frame cam features cooperate to provide a mating force when the actuator body is moved to communicatively couple the mating connector and a communication module, the actuator and frame cam features being configured to remove the mating force after the mating connector and the communication module are communicatively coupled. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the actuator body comprises first and second plates spaced apart from each other, the assembly frame being located between the first and second plates. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the mating connector includes a flex connection. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The connector assembly of claim 1, further comprising an operator handle coupled to the actuator body that is configured to be engaged by an operator for moving the actuator body. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the actuator and frame cam features are shaped to move the assembly frame at different speeds and apply different forces along the mating axis. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the mating axis is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein a translation force is configured to move the actuator body along the longitudinal axis, the actuator and frame cam features transforming the translation force into a mating force that drives the mating connector in the mating direction. ### Claim 15 A connector assembly comprising: an actuator body configured to be coupled to a support structure, the actuator body extending along a central longitudinal axis between a pair of connector ends, the actuator body having an actuator cam feature and being movable with respect to the support structure; an assembly frame being operatively coupled to the actuator body and movable along a mating axis that is non-parallel relative to the longitudinal axis, the assembly frame defining a connector compartment and having a frame cam feature, the frame cam feature being positioned to engage the actuator cam feature of the actuator body, the actuator and frame cam features slidably engaging each other when the actuator body is moved thereby moving the assembly frame along the mating axis; and a mating connector held by the assembly frame within the connector compartment, the assembly frame being configured to move the mating connector in a mating direction when the assembly frame is moved along the mating axis; wherein the assembly frame comprises a floating element that engages the mating connector and holds the mating connector in a biased position within the connector compartment, the floating element permitting the mating connector to float from the biased position in a direction that is different than the mating direction. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The connector assembly of claim 15, wherein the floating element comprises a plurality of resilient fingers. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The connector assembly of claim 15, wherein the connector compartment includes a plurality of connector compartments and the mating connector includes a plurality of mating connectors held within the corresponding connector compartments that are engaged by corresponding floating elements, the mating connectors being independently movable with respect to one another within the corresponding connector compartments. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The connector assembly of claim 15, wherein the mating connector comprises two adjacent mating connectors that are separated by a common sidewall of the assembly frame, the common sidewall having the floating element, the floating element comprising two floating elements that each engage a corresponding one of the two adjacent mating connectors. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The connector assembly of claim 15, wherein the actuator cam feature comprises a channel and the frame cam feature comprises a projection member sized and shaped to slidably engage the channel. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The connector assembly of claim 15, wherein a translation force is configured to move the actuator body along the longitudinal axis, the actuator and frame cam features transforming the translation force into a mating force that drives the mating connector in the mating direction.