Abstract: A system is disclosed for mounting a connecting device to a substrate with relative floating movement therebetween. The system includes a connector housing. A fastening nut is captured by the housing with relative floating movement therebetween. The nut includes a shank portion extending toward the substrate through an opening in a wall portion of the housing. The shank portion of the nut is longer than the thickness of the wall portion of the housing. A fastener is engaged with the substrate and is operatively associated with the fastening nut for tightening the nut against the substrate, leaving the connector housing with floating movement relative to the substrate.

Abstract: An alignment system is provided between a pair of connectors mateable in a given mating direction. A first connector includes a housing having an alignment projection on one side thereof. A second connector includes a housing having an alignment flange projecting forwardly thereof generally in said mating direction. The alignment flange is flared outwardly for engaging the housing of the first connector during mating and allowing a degree of misalignment between the connectors in an “X” direction generally perpendicular to the mating direction. The alignment flange includes a slot for receiving the alignment projection of the first connector. The slot has a flared mouth allowing a degree of misaligned between the connectors in a “Y” direction generally perpendicular to the mating direction and generally perpendicular to the “X” direction.

Abstract: A floating connector assembly is provided for mounting through an aperture in a panel, the aperture defining an axis. The assembly includes an adapter mountable in the aperture in the panel. A two-part connector includes a fixed part fixed to a substrate and a movable part relatively movable axially in the fixed part. A first latch is provided between the two parts of the connector to prevent the relative axial movement therebetween. A second latch is provided between the adapter and the movable part of the connector when the movable part is mated with the adapter. A release is provided on the adapter for releasing the first latch between the two relatively movable parts of the connector to allow the fixed part of the connector and the substrate to float relative to the adapter and the panel.

Abstract: A fiber optic connector module includes a ferrule terminated to at least one optical fiber. The ferrule is mounted within a manually manipulatable housing having a front portion encapsulating the ferrule and a rear portion extending rearwardly of the front portion for manual grasping by an operator. The front portion has an open front end through which a mating end of the ferrule projects and an open rear end through which the optical fiber extends.

Abstract: A system is provided for mounting a connector assembly to a substrate. The substrate includes at least one pre-placement hole and at least one positioning hole. A connector housing has a pre-placement peg sized for insertion into the pre-placement hole in the substrate with substantially zero insertion forces to generally place the housing on the substrate. The housing has a positioning peg sized for insertion into the positioning hole in the substrate by a press-fit to precisely fix the housing on the substrate.

Abstract: A system is provided for mounting a connecting device to a substrate with relative floating movement therebetween. The system includes a connector housing adapted for mounting on the substrate and including at least one elongated channel in a side of the housing. The channel extends generally perpendicular to the substrate and has an elongated restricted mouth opening at a side thereof. An elongated fastening post is snap-fit into the channel past the restricted mouth thereof to a preload position. A cross-dimension of the channel is larger than a cross-dimension of the fastening post so that the post can float relative to the housing. A fastener engages with the substrate and is operatively associated with the fastening post for tightening the post against the substrate, leaving the connector housing with floating movement relative to the substrate in a direction generally parallel to the substrate.