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Described is a connector assembly and interconnect system for absorbing physical tolerances. The connector assembly includes a shoulder screw, a spring, and an electrical connector. A barrel portion of the screw passes through hole in a flange of the connector. Secured to a structural member is a th

Described is a connector assembly and interconnect system for absorbing physical tolerances. The connector assembly includes a shoulder screw, a spring, and an electrical connector. A barrel portion of the screw passes through hole in a flange of the connector. Secured to a structural member is a threaded portion of the screw. Coiled about the barrel portion of the screw, between the connector body and the structural member, is the spring. The interconnect system includes a second connector for mating with the electrical connector. One connector can be mounted in a chassis and the other to a subassembly. When the subassembly slides into the chassis, the connectors mate and compress the spring. A securing mechanism then couples the subassembly to the chassis, keeping the spring compressed and urging connectors against each other.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A tolerance-absorbing interconnect system for use in an electronics enclosure, comprising: a first connector assembly mounted to a first enclosure portion; a second connector assembly movably mounted to a structural member of a second enclosure portion, the second connector a

What is claimed is: 1. A tolerance-absorbing interconnect system for use in an electronics enclosure, comprising: a first connector assembly mounted to a first enclosure portion; a second connector assembly movably mounted to a structural member of a second enclosure portion, the second connector assembly being configured for mating with the first connector assembly, the second connector assembly having a connector body, a shoulder screw, and a spring, the connector body having a flange with a hole therein, the shoulder screw having a barrel portion that passes through the hole in the flange and a threaded portion that fixedly attaches to the structural member, the spring being coiled around the barrel portion of the shoulder screw between the flange and the structural member, the connector body sliding along the barrel portion of the shoulder screw when the second connector assembly is urged towards the structural member; and a securing mechanism including a latch mechanism on a sidewall of the first enclosure portion and a latch receiver region formed in a sidewall of the second enclosure portion, the latch mechanism on the sidewall of the first enclosure portion latching to the latch receiver region in the sidewall of the second enclosure portion when the first connector assembly mates with and pushes against the second connector assembly causing the spring to compress, whereupon when the latch mechanism on the sidewall of the first enclosure portion latches to the latch receiver region in the sidewall of the second enclosure portion, the spring remains compressed and urges the second connector assembly against the first connector assembly to maintain an interconnection therebetween. 2. The interconnect system of claim 1, wherein the connector body has a second flange with an hole therein, and the second connector assembly includes a second spring and a second shoulder screw with a barrel portion that passes through the hole of the second flange and a threaded portion that enters a second hole in the structural member, the second spring being coiled around the barrel portion of the second shoulder screw between the second flange and the structural member. 3. The interconnect system of claim 1, wherein the threaded portion is fixedly coupled to the structural member. 4. The interconnect system of claim 1, wherein the connector body of the second connector assembly is movably coupled to the shoulder screw for movement along the barrel portion. 5. The interconnect system of claim 1, wherein the second enclosure portion includes a chassis and the first enclosure portion includes a subassembly that inserts into the chassis. 6. An electronics enclosure assembly, comprising: a subassembly having an edge connector extending from one end thereof; a chassis with a structural member; a panel connector having a connector body; a standoff having a first end and an opposite end, the standoff being movably coupled at the first end to the connector body of the panel connector and fixedly coupled at the other end to the structural member, the panel connector sliding along the standoff when the panel connector is urged towards the structural member; and a spring member disposed between the connector body of the panel connector and the structural member, one end of the spring member opposing the connector body and the other end of the spring member opposing the structural member, the spring member compressing when the edge connector enters the panel connector; a latch mechanism on a wall of one of the chassis and subassembly; a latch receiver region in a wall of the other of the chassis and subassembly, the latch mechanism latching to the latch receiver region to secure the subassembly within the chassis when the edge connector mates with the panel connector. 7. The electronics enclosure assembly of claim 6, wherein the connector body has a flange projecting from a side of the connector body and the flange has an opening therein through which the standoff passes. 8. The electronics enclosure assembly of claim 6, wherein the standoff includes a shoulder screw with a head, a barrel portion movably coupled to the connector body, and a threaded portion that is fixedly coupled to the structural member, and the connector body has a flange with a hole therein, the barrel portion of the shoulder screw passing through the hole in the flange with the head of the shoulder screw keeping the connector body movably coupled to the barrel portion. 9. The electronics enclosure assembly of claim 8, wherein the spring member is coiled around the barrel portion of the shoulder screw. 10. The electronics enclosure assembly of claim 6, further comprising a second standoff having a first end and an opposite end, the first end of the second standoff being movably coupled to the connector body and the opposite end of the second standoff being fixedly coupled to the structural member. 11. The electronics enclosure assembly of claim 10, further comprising a second spring member disposed between the connector body and the structural member, one end of the second spring member opposing the connector body and the other end of the spring member opposing the structural member, each spring member being coiled around one of the standoffs. 12. A tolerance-absorbing interconnect system for use in an electronics enclosure, the interconnect system comprising: a chassis having an open end a sidewall, and a latch receiver region formed in the sidewall; a structural member; a first connector having a connector body with a flange having a hole therein; a fastener having an elongated barrel portion passing through the hole in the flange to movably couple the connector body of the first connector to the fastener so that the connector body can slide on the barrel portion of the fastener when the first connector is urged towards the structural member; means for fixedly coupling the fastener to the structural member; a spring member coiled around the barrel portion of the fastener between the flange and the structural member; and an assembly having a second connector, a sidewall, and a latch mechanism on the sidewall, the latch mechanism latching to the latch receiver region in the sidewall of the chassis when the assembly slides a predetermined distance into the chassis through the open end, the distance being such that, in order for the latch mechanism to latch to the latch receiver region, the first and second connectors mate and push against each other to compress the spring member, whereupon when the latch mechanism latches to the latch receiver region, the spring member remains compressed and urges one of the connectors against the other connector. 13. The interconnect system of claim 12, wherein the structural member is within the chassis. 14. The interconnect system of claim 12, wherein the connector body has a second flange with an hole therein, and further comprising a second spring, a second fastener with a barrel portion that passes through the hole of the second flange, and second means for coupling the second fastener to the structural member, the second spring being coiled around the barrel portion of the second fastener between the second flange and the structural member.