Electrical connector assembly suitable for a bed footboard

1. An electrical connector assembly, comprising:

a first connector subassembly associated with a removable component;

a second connector subassembly associated with a host component to which the removable component is removably connectable;

one and only one of the first and second connector subassemblies being floatable relative to its associated component.

2. The connector assembly of claim 1 wherein the floatable subassembly is the second subassembly.

3. The connector assembly of claim 1 wherein the host component is a bed frame and the removeable component is a footboard.

4. The connector assembly of claim 1 wherein the first subassembly comprises a first connector alignment apparatus and a first electrical connector secured thereto and substantially stationary relative thereto, and wherein the second subassembly comprises a second connector alignment apparatus and a second electrical connector secured thereto and substantially stationary relative thereto.

5. The connector assembly of claim 4 wherein the host component is a bed frame and the removeable component is a footboard.

6. The connector assembly of claim 4 wherein floatability of the floatable subassembly is effected by and limited by at least one of a pair of features selected from the group consisting of:

a) a fastener extending through an oversized opening in the connector alignment apparatus of the floatable subassembly and connected to the component associated with the floatable subassembly; and

b) a post projecting from the connector alignment apparatus of the floatable subassembly and into an oversized aperture in the component associated with the floatable subassembly.

7. The connector assembly of claim 6 wherein the post and the oversized aperture limit rotation of the alignment apparatus about the fastener.

8. A hospital bed including the electrical connector assembly of claim 1 .

9. The hospital bed of claim 8 , the bed including:

a frame;

a footboard removable from the frame;

a first connector alignment apparatus substantially immovably secured to the footboard;

a first electrical connector substantially immovably secured to the first connector alignment apparatus;

a second connector alignment apparatus floatingly connected to the frame;

a second electrical connector substantially immovably secured to the second connector alignment apparatus;

the first and second electrical connectors including mating features to facilitate alignment of terminals on one of the electrical connectors with sockets on the other of the electrical connectors.