Importance

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Abstract

The present invention is a connector assembly mounted between two panels which are movable relative to each other. It includes a connector plug having a plug shell with an exterior flange, and a connector receptacle shell engageable with the plug shell and having an exterior receptacle flange. The receptacle flange has a multiplicity of openings each having an interior conical surface and an interior cylindrical surface. A multiplicity of self-alignment mounting assemblies is provided for mounting the receptacle flange to one panel. Each self-alignment mounting assembly includes an eyelet placed through the flange opening and mounted to the panel. The eyelet has an exterior conical surface engageable with the interior conical surface of each flange opening, and an exterior cylindrical surface with a reduced dimension for maintaining a clearance between the exterior cylindrical surface of the eyelet and the interior cylindrical surface of the flange opening. Each self-alignment mounting assembly further includes an alignment spring for providing cushioning between the receptacle flange and the eyelet. The connector assembly further includes an adjustable ejection assembly assembled in the receptacle shell for applying an ejection force on the plug shell. The multiplicity of self-alignment mounting assemblies provide proper connection between the connector plug and the connector receptacle during misaligned engagement or separation where the plug shell and the receptacle shell are linearly or angularly shifted relative to each other, and the adjustable ejection assembly provides proper ejection force between the plug shell and the receptacle shell for minimum impulse separation.

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First Claim