Electrical connectors for portable electronic physiological instruments having separable first and second components

• US 4,097,113 A
• Filed: 09/03/1976
• Issued: 06/27/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Creditanstalt-Bankverein (Unicredit SPA)
• Original Assignee: Physio-Control Incorporated (Stryker Corporation)
• Inventors: McKelvy, Stephen L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamm, William E.
• Application Number:
  US05/720,148
• Time in Patent Office: 662 Days
• Field of Search: 339/256 R, 339/65, 339/198 H, 339/198 GA, 339/198 J, 339/125 R, 339/150 T, 128/2.05 R, 128/2.06 A, 128/2.06 G, 128/2.06 R, 128/419 D, 128/419 P, 128/419 R
• US Class Current: 439/377
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/333 Recording apparatus specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/02 Details
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3904 External heart defibrillators [EHD]
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3968 Constructional arrangements, e.g. casings A61N1/375 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/28 Contacts for sliding cooperation with identically-shaped contact, e.g. for hermaphroditic coupling devices H01R24/84 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/428 by resilient locking means on the contact members; by locking means on resilient contact members
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/73 Means for mounting coupling parts to apparatus or structures, e.g. to a wall
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/929 Connecting base plate or shelf type holder

Abstract

An EKG monitor/recorder and defibrillator which are contained in separate housings are mechanically interconnected by a tongue member located on an exterior surface of the housing of the EKG monitor/recorder and a groove member located on an exterior surface of the housing of the defibrillator. The groove member receives the tongue member with a translative, sliding fit to also permit easy disconnection and separation of the EKG monitor/recorder and the defibrillator. Electrical interconnection between the EKG monitor/recorder and the defibrillator is afforded by a pair of novel electrical slide connectors respectively located in the exterior surfaces of the housings in proximity to the tongue and groove members, with each electrical slide connector including a plurality of spaced-apart leaf spring contacts which, in assembly, extend parallel to the direction of translative movement of the EKG monitor/recorder and defibrillator housings. Circuitry is provided within the EKG monitor/recorder and defibrillator for providing EKG monitoring through paddle electrodes of the defibrillator by coupling the paddle electrodes to the EKG monitor/recorder through the pair of electrical slide connectors.

Claims

1. An improved electrical connector, for an electronic physiological instrument which is contained within a housing having an exterior housing surface, the housing also having a cut away portion defining a housing aperture connector comprising:

(a) a central contact support member of insulating material, said central contact support member having a substantially rectangular, substantially planar front surface and a pair of opposite, substantially parallel side surfaces bounding said front surface,

(b) first and second contact retaining members, each of insulating material, and each having a substantially planar front surface and an adjoining side surface complementary to one of said pair of side surfaces of said central contact support member,

(c) a plurality of metallic, leaf spring contacts, each of said contacts being formed into a substantial U-shape and thereby having a central, bowed contact portion, and adjoining first and second legs, each of said legs having extending therethrough an aperture, and electrical terminal means being provided on one of said legs,

(d) a plurality of projections formed and extending from the side surfaces of one of said central contact support member or said first and second contact retaining members, said plurality of projections being spaced from each other, and a corresponding plurality of recesses formed in the side surfaces of the other of said central contact support member or said first and second contact retaining members, said plurality of recesses being spaced apart from each other,

(e) said first and second contact retaining members being secured to said central contact support member, with each one of said plurality of projections passing through one of said apertures in one of said plurality of contacts and being received in a corresponding one of said plurality of recesses to form a connector assembly, said plurality of projections and said plurality of recesses being located so that said front surfaces of said central contact support member and said first and second contact retaining members are substantially coplanar in said connector assembly; and

,

(f) means adapted to mount said connector assembly in the housing aperture so that said front surfaces of said central contact support member and said first and second contact retaining members are substantially flush with the exterior housing surface.

2. The improved electrical connector as recited in claim 1, wherein said plurality of recesses are provided in said side surfaces of said first and second contact retaining members and wherein said plurality of projections are provided on said side surfaces of said central contact support member.

3. The improved electrical connector as recited in claim 1, wherein said mounting means comprises peripheral tongues formed on and extending from said central contact support member and said first and second contact retaining members for engaging corresponding grooves in the cut away portion of the housing.

4. The improved electrical connector as recited in claim 1, wherein said substantially planar front surfaces of said first and second contact retaining members have respective edge portions adjoining said side surfaces thereof, each said edge portion indented with respect to the remainder of its corresponding front surface and said plurality of projections and said plurality of recesses being located so that said edge portions and said front surface of said central contact support member are substantially coplanar in said connector assembly to form a recess for said plurality of metallic, leaf spring contacts.