Self aligning coaxial connector assembly

A connector for coaxially coupling a cable to a complementary connector assembly, said connector comprising:

• a) a coupling member adapted to receive the cable and to selectively matingly engage the complementary connector assembly to electrically couple the cable in coaxial alignment with the complementary connector assembly, said coupling member including a flange extending outwardly about a periphery of said coupling member in a substantially orthogonal direction, a substantially planar centering washer, said flange being slidably supported within said substantially planar centering washer, said flange being adapted to slide in a substantially orthogonal direction within said substantially planar centering washer;
• b) a housing adapted to movably support said coupling member wherein said coupling member is adapted for substantially unrestricted movement within a predetermined range of movement in a substantially orthogonal direction into coaxial alignment with the complementary connector assembly during initial contact of said connector and the complementary connector assembly as said connector and the complementary connector assembly are moved towards one another to facilitate the mating engagement of said connector and the complementary connector assembly;
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• c) an urging member adapted to resiliently urge said coaxially aligned coupling member towards said mating engagement for biased engagement of said connector and the complementary connector assembly.

A connector for coupling a cable to a complementary connector assembly, said connector comprising:

• a) a coupling member adapted to receive the cable and to selectively matingly engage the complementary connector assembly to electrically couple the cable in coaxial alignment with the complementary connector assembly said coupling member including a planar centering washer and a flange means, said flange means extending outwardly about a periphery of said coupling member in a substantially orthogonal direction, said flange received in said centering washer for slidable movement in a substantially orthogonal direction therein;
• b) a housing adapted to movably support said coupling member wherein said coupling member is adapted for movement in substantially any direction relative to said housing into coaxial alignment with the complementary connector assembly during initial contact of said connector and the complementary connector assembly as said connector and the complementary connector assembly are moved towards one another to facilitate the mating engagement of said connector and the complementary connector assembly;
• and
• c) an urging member adapted to resiliently resist movement of said coupling member into an oblique orientation relative to a coaxial direction and to resiliently resist movement of said coupling collar in a direction parallel to the coaxial direction, while facilitating substantially unrestricted movement in a direction substantially orthogonal to the coaxial direction.

A connector for coupling a cable to a male plug assembly, said connector comprising:

• a) a coupling collar adapted to receive the cable and receive the male plug assembly in mating engagement with said coupling collar to electrically couple the cable with the male plug assembly, said coupling collar including a planar centering washer and a flange means, said flange means extending outwardly about a periphery of said coupling member in a substantially orthogonal direction, said flange received in said centering washer for slidable movement in a substantially orthogonal direction therein;
• b) a housing adapted to retain and support said coupling collar, wherein said coupling collar is adapted for movement in substantially any direction relative to said housing into coaxial alignment with the male plug assembly during initial contact of said connector and the the male plug assembly as said connector and the male plug assembly are moved towards one another to facilitate the mating engagement of said connector and the male plug assembly;
• and
• c) an urging member adapted to resiliently resist movement of said coupling collar into an oblique orientation relative to the coaxial direction and to resiliently resist movement of said coupling collar in a direction substantially parallel to the coaxial direction, while facilitating substantially unrestricted movement in a direction substantially orthogonal to the coaxial direction.

A connector for coaxially coupling a cable to a complementary connector assembly, said connector comprising:

• a) a coupling member adapted to receive the cable and to selectively matingly engage the complementary connector assembly to electrically couple the cable in coaxial alignment with the complementary connector assembly, said coupling member having a flange extending outwardly about a periphery of said coupling member in a substantially orthogonal direction, said flange being slidably supported within a substantially planar centering washer, said flange being adapted to slide in said substantially orthogonal direction within said substantially planar centering washer;
• b) a housing adapted to movably support said coupling member wherein said coupling member is adapted for substantially unrestricted movement within a predetermined range of movement in a substantially orthogonal direction relative to a coaxial direction to facilitate the mating engagement;
• and
• c) an urging member adapted to resiliently urge said coupling member towards said mating engagement.