Nurse call connector system and method

• US 20060046579A1
• Filed: 09/01/2004
• Published: 03/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ascom (Sweden) AB (Ascom Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Edwards Systems Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Pravongviengkham, Thomas Sr., Hottel, Andrew, Karadimas, Margaret
• Granted Patent: US 7,160,133 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/680
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6456 comprising keying elements at different positions along the periphery of the connector
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/923 Separation or disconnection aid

Abstract

A system and method for providing an electrical and mechanical connection is provided. The system and method include features that permit two connectors to mate with each other at a specific attitude and maintain both a mechanical and an electrical connection under a variety of conditions including bumping of the connection under everyday situations. A predetermined level of force acting to separate the two connectors will cause the connectors to separate without causing substantial damage to the connector.

Claims

1. A mechanical and electrical connector comprising:

a housing having a face;

an electrical connector mounted to the housing configured to engage with a second electrical connector and when engaged, provide an electrical connection; and

a receiver connected to the housing and encompassing at least part of the electrical connector, the receiver defining a key slot configured to cause the second electrical connector to engage the electrical connector at a specific orientation, and the receiver further defining a groove configured to communicate with a corresponding ridge associated with the second electrical connector to hold the second electrical connector in engagement with the electrical connector up to a predetermined level of force exerted on the second electrical connector to pull the second electrical connector away from engaging the electrical connector and resiliently flexing at least one of the ridge and the receiver to allow the ridge to move out of the slot when the force is greater than the predetermined level.

2. The mechanical and electrical connector of claim 1, further comprising a the relief slot located in the receiver.

3. The mechanical and electrical connector of claim 2, wherein the key slot is also a relief slot.

4. The mechanical and electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the housing is substantially circular.

5. The mechanical and electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the electrical connection is substantially circular.

6. The mechanical and electrical connector of claim 1, further comprising a protrusion connected to the housing and located in the key slot, the protrusion configured communicate with a corresponding hole in the second connector.

7. The mechanical and electrical connector of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of receivers and at least two of the receivers define at least part of the key slot and a flat surface that also defines at least part of the key slot.

8. The mechanical and electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the housing is comprised of plastic.

9. The mechanical and electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the housing and receivers are integral.

10. The mechanical and electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises a flange and mounting holes located in the flange.

11. The mechanical and electrical connector of claim 10, further comprising bolt housings mounted on a side of the housing opposite the face and aligned with the bolt holes.

12. The mechanical and electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the electrical connection comprises a plurality of spring probe pads and spring probe pins.

13. The mechanical and electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the electrical connection comprises nineteen (19) spring probe pads and nineteen (19) spring probe pins.

14. The mechanical and electrical connector of claim 1, further comprising printed circuit board contacts mounted on the housing in a side opposite the face.

15. A mechanical and electrical connector comprising:

means for housing;

means for establishing an electrical connection mounted to the housing and configured to connect with a second means for establishing an electrical connection; and

means for receiving connected to the housing means and encompassing at least part of the means for establishing an electrical connection, the receiving means defining a key slot configured to cause the second electrical connecting means to engage the means for establishing an electrical connector at a specific orientation, and the receiver further defining a groove configured to communicate with a corresponding ridge associated with the second electrical connector to hold the second electrical connector in engagement with the means for providing an electrical connection up to a predetermined level of force exerted on the second electrical connecting means to pull the second means for establishing an electrical connection away from engaging the means for establishing an electrical connection and resiliently flexing at least one of the ridge and the receiving means to allow the ridge to move out of the slot when the force is greater than the predetermined level.

16. A method of establishing an electrical and mechanical connection comprising:

aligning a first electrical connector to a second electrical receiver;

inserting an alignment key into an alignment key shaft;

flexing at least one of receiver and a ridge while moving the first electrical connector toward the second electrical connector; and

electrically connecting the first electrical connector with the second electrical connector.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising sending a nurse call signal through the first and second electrical receivers.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein electrically connecting the first and second electrical connecters includes connecting 19 spring probe pins to 19 spring probe pads.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising flexing at least one of receiver and a ridge while moving the first electrical connector away from the second electrical connector.

20. A system for providing an electrical connection comprising:

a first connector;

a second connector configured to communicate electrically and mechanically with the first connector;

wherein the electrical connection is accomplished by a pin contacting an electric lead, and

wherein the mechanical connection is accomplished by;

receivers encompassing one of the first and second electrical connectors and upon the first and second electrical connecter coming in close proximity with each other, a ridge located on the other connector than the connector having the receivers slides across the receivers causing at least one of the ridge and receivers to flex at least until the ridge enters a groove defined by the other connector than the connector having a ridge, and

an alignment key located on one of the first and second connector configured to enter an alignment slot located on the other connector than the connector having the alignment key.

21. The system of claim 20, further comprising an alignment projection located on the connector other than the connector having the alignment key, the alignment projection configured to fit into a hole in the alignment key.

22. The system of claim 20, where in the pin is a spring probe pin and the electric lead is a spring probe pad.