Self-aligning connector for data and/or power transmission

A connector assembly comprising:

• a first connector comprising:
• a base plate extending along a base plane;
• a plurality of data and/or power contact elements arranged on the base plate;
• first positioning means attached to the base plate and adapted for engaging with mating first positioning means of a mating connector for achieving a pre-positioning of the base plate with respect to the mating connector;
• second positioning means attached to the base plate and adapted for engaging with mating second positioning means of the mating connector for achieving a fine positioning of the base plate with respect to the mating connector;
• a mounting means for mounting the base plate to a structure;
• and
• a frame assembly connecting the base plate to the mounting means and comprising a plurality of frames, wherein each frame is directly connected to exactly two elements selected from a group consisting of the plurality of frames, the mounting means and the base plate,
• wherein the base plate is directly connected to exactly one frame and the mounting means is directly connected to exactly one frame,
• wherein each frame is tiltable at least about one axis and/or displaceable in at least one direction with respect to each element the frame is directly connected to, such that the base plate can be tilted in three degrees of freedom with respect to the mounting means and displaced in three degrees of freedom with respect to the mounting means, and
• a second connector, the second connector comprising:
• a plurality of data and/or power contact elements adapted for connection with the data and/or power contact elements of the first connector,
• first positioning means adapted for engaging with the first positioning means of the first connector;
• and
• second positioning means adapted for engaging with the second positioning means of the first connector.

A vehicle comprising a first and a second compartment separated by a wall,

• a bellows assembly arranged in the wall and adapted for providing a data and power connection between the first compartment and a storage means located in the second compartment, the bellows assembly comprising a biasing means for automatically extending the bellows assembly from the wall towards the storage means;
• and
• a connector assembly comprising:
• a base plate extending along a base plane;
• a plurality of data and/or power contact elements arranged on the base plate;
• first positioning means attached to the base plate and adapted for engaging with mating first positioning means of a mating connector for achieving a pre-positioning of the base plate with respect to the mating connector;
• second positioning means attached to the base plate and adapted for engaging with mating second positioning means of the mating connector for achieving a fine positioning of the base plate with respect to the mating connector;
• a mounting means for mounting the base plate to a structure;
• and
• a frame assembly connecting the base plate to the mounting means and comprising a plurality of frames, wherein each frame is directly connected to exactly two elements selected from a group consisting of the plurality of frames, the mounting means and the base plate,
• wherein the base plate is directly connected to exactly one frame and the mounting means is directly connected to exactly one frame,
• wherein each frame is tiltable at least about one axis and/or displaceable in at least one direction with respect to each element the frame is directly connected to, such that the base plate can be tilted in three degrees of freedom with respect to the mounting means and displaced in three degrees of freedom with respect to the mounting means, and
• a second connector, the second connector comprising:
• a plurality of data and/or power contact elements adapted for connection with the data and/or power contact elements of the first connector,
• first positioning means adapted for engaging with the first positioning means of the first connector;
• and
• second positioning means adapted for engaging with the second positioning means of the first connector,
• wherein the first connector is mounted to one of the bellows assembly and the storage means and the second connector is mounted to the other of the bellows assembly and the storage means.