MULTI-LATCHING MECHANISMS AND RELATED METHODS

• US 20130149031A1
• Filed: 12/04/2012
• Published: 06/13/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bal Seal Engineering Incorporated (Kaman Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bal Seal Engineering Incorporated (Kaman Corporation)
• Inventors: Changsrivong, Derek, Nissim, Bill, Cook, Hugh, Dao, Tom H., Godinez, Rafael, Pla-Junca, Pere
• Granted Patent: US 9,677,587 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 403/376
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 21/186 external, i.e. with contracting action
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/7075 including discrete retainer

Abstract

Dual directional latch devices or connectors are described wherein a first connector component and a second connector component have a first latched position and a second latched position when moving in a first direction and wherein movement in a second direction is also possible depending on a stop feature. As described, a combination key and key way, a movable sleeve, a stop flange, and a threaded sleeve may be provided to stop movement in the second direction. The dual direction latch devices may be used with articles of manufacture such as with implantable medical devices, door panels, airplane panels, and drilling devices, to name a few.

Claims

1. A connector comprising a first connector component mated with a second connector component, a groove located in or on the first connector component or the second connector component and a pair of grooves located in or on the other one of the first connector component or the second connector component;

the groove having at least one of a bottom wall and two tapered side walls;

the pair of grooves comprises a first groove having a first depth and a second groove having a second depth, which differs from the first depth;

a canted coil spring positioned in the first groove and the groove and loaded along its major axis; and

wherein a stop feature prevents the first connector component from moving relative to the second connector component to prevent the canted coil spring from moving to the second groove and the groove.

2. The connector of claim 1, wherein the first connector component is a pin or a housing and the second connector component is the other one of the pin or the housing.

3. The connector of claim 1, wherein the second connector component is attached to an article of manufacture.

4. The connector of claim 1, further comprising an implantable medical device and wherein the first connector component is located in a header of the implantable medical device.

5. The connector of claim 1, wherein the stop feature is a movable sleeve or a multi-part flange in abutting contact with the first connector component, the second connector component, or both.

6. The connector of claim 1, wherein the stop feature is a pin that is removable or rupturable or a threaded device.

7. The connector of claim 1, wherein the stop feature comprises a key and a key way.

8. The connector of claim 1, further comprising a lumen formed in the first connector component, the second connector component, or both the first and the second connector components.

9. The connector of claim 1, wherein the stop feature is mechanically connected to the first connector component or the second connector component.

10. A method of manufacturing a connector comprising:

forming a first connector component having a groove;

forming a second connector component having a primary groove and a secondary groove;

sizing a first common groove between the groove and the primary groove with a first spring holding space and a second common groove between the groove and the secondary groove with a second spring holding space, the second common groove being larger than the first common groove;

forming a stop feature to limit relative movement between the first connector component and the second connector component;

wherein the first common groove is sized and shaped to receive a canted coil spring and loading the canted coil spring along its major axis; and

wherein the second common groove is sized and shaped to receive the canted coil spring and allow the major axis to rotate.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the first connector component is a pin or a housing and the second connector component is the other one of the pin or the housing.

12. The method of claim 10, further including the step of attaching an article of manufacture to the first connector component or the second connector component.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising placing the first connector component in a header of an implantable medical device.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the stop feature is a movable sleeve or a multi-part flange in abutting contact with the first connector component, the second connector component, or both.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the stop feature is a pin that is removable or rupturable, a threaded device, or a combination key and key way.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the stop feature is mechanically connected to the first connector component or the second connector component.

17. A connector assembly comprising:

a housing comprising a bore and a housing groove having a housing groove configuration;

a pin comprising a pin groove having a pin groove configuration;

a second groove located adjacent the housing groove or the pin groove, the second groove having a second groove configuration with a second groove depth that differs from the housing groove configuration and the pin groove configuration;

a canted coil spring disposed in the bore in a first spring position in a first common groove defined by a combination of the housing groove and the pin groove and is loaded generally along its major axis, the canted coil spring being movable relative to the pin and the housing to a second common groove defined by a combination of the housing groove and the second groove or a combination of the pin groove and the second groove;

a stop feature in abutting contact with the housing, the pin, or both the housing and the pin to limit relative movement between the housing and the pin to thereby limit the canted coil spring from moving to the second common groove; and

an article of manufacture attached to the pin or the housing.

18. The connector assembly of claim 17, wherein the canted coil spring is an axial canted coil spring or a radial canted coil spring.

19. The connector assembly of claim 17, further comprising an implantable medical device and wherein the housing is located in a header of the implantable medical device.

20. The connector assembly of claim 17, wherein the stop feature is a movable sleeve or a multi-part flange mountable over a shaft.

21. The connector assembly of claim 17, wherein the stop feature is a pin that is removable or rupturable or a combination key and key way.

22. The connector assembly of claim 17, further comprising a lumen formed in the pin, the housing, or both the pin and the housing.

23. The connector assembly of claim 17, wherein the stop feature is mechanically connected to the housing, the pin, or both the housing and the pin.

24. A connector comprising a first connector component mated with a second connector component, a groove provided with the first connector component and a groove provided with the second connector component;

the combination of the groove of the first connector component and the groove of the second connector component define a common groove having a common groove shape and size;

a canted coil spring positioned in the common groove and loaded along its major axis; and

wherein the first connector component is formed with an inner first connector section and an outer first connector section that are movable relative to one another and wherein a recess is provided between the inner first connector section and the outer first connector section for increasing the size of the common groove when the inner first connector section is moved relative to the outer first connector section.