Electrical device connecting a line to an electrode

• US 7,081,026 B2
• Filed: 04/02/2004
• Issued: 07/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nicolay Verwaltungs-GmbH
• Original Assignee: Nicolay Verwaltungs-GmbH
• Inventors: Schwarz, Dieter
• Primary Examiner(s): Harvey, James R.
• Application Number:
  US10/815,948
• Publication Number:
  US 20040203273A1
• Time in Patent Office: 844 Days
• Field of Search: 439/266, 439/310, 439/725, 439/909.X, 439/268, 439/729, 439/816, 439/819, 439/822, 439/859, 439/909
• US Class Current: 439/729
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5224 for medical use
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/631 for engagement only
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/909 Medical use or attached to human body

Abstract

A device (1) electrically connects a connecting line (2) to an electrode (44), in particular a medical engineering skin electrode, with a contact member (3) for plug connection to a contact pin (43) of the electrode (44). The contact member (3) has an energy storing element (4) for spring biasing of the contact member (3) into contact with the contact pin (43) of the electrode (44). The device (1) has at least one actuating element (8,9) mounted to be deflected such that the contact member (3) may be actuated to an open position.

Claims

1. A device for electrically connecting a connecting line to an electrode, comprising:

a housing;

a contact member mounted in said housing for connection to a contact pin of an electrode, said contact member having a first energy storage element for spring biasing said contact member to engage the contact pin;

first and second actuating elements movably mounted in said housing to deflect and move said contact member to an open position to receive the contact pin;

a drive element rotatably mounted in said housing, said actuating elements being eccentrically connected on side drive element.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein

the electrode is a medical skin electrode.

3. A device according to claim 1 wherein

said drive element comprises an eccentrically extending contact surface, such that when said drive element is rotated said contact member is moved to said open position.

4. A device according to claim 3 wherein

said drive element and said actuating element are eccentrically connected to one another by pins on one of said drive element and said actuating elements being received in slots in the other of said drive element and said actuating elements.

5. A device according to claim 1 wherein

said drive element and said actuating elements have interacting stopping means for limiting displacement of said actuating elements.

6. A device according to claim 1 wherein

said contact member has a second energy storing element for spring biasing said contact member to engage the contact pin and being movable to an open position by said actuating elements.

7. A device according to claim 1 wherein

said housing has a top with a rounded shape.

8. A device according to claim 1 wherein

said housing comprises a surface facing the electrode to be engaged, said surface having an elastoplastic wall having a hardness less than hardnesses of other walls of said housing.

9. A device according to claim 8 wherein

said elastoplastic wall is made from a thermoplastic elastomer.

10. A device for electrically connecting a line to an electrode, comprising

a housing having a bore extending along a longitudinal axis of the housing and having a first lateral opening extending substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis and being connected therewith;

a driving element rotatably mounted in said bore and having a cam at an inner end thereof and eccentric to said longitudinal axis;

a contact member engaged by said cam, mounted in said housing and extending across a portion of said bore substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, said contact member being spring biased toward a closed position in a direction of said longitudinal axis and being moveable to an open position away from said longitudinal axis by rotation of said cam; and

a first actuating element movable translationally in directions substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis in said first lateral opening and eccentrically coupled to said driving element to rotate said driving element as said first actuating element moves toward and away from said longitudinal axis.

11. A device according to claim 10 wherein

the electrode is a medical skin electrode.

12. A device according to claim 10 wherein

said drive element and said actuating element are eccentrically connected to one another by a pin on one of said drive element and said actuating element being received in a slot in the other of said drive element and said actuating element.

13. A device according to claim 10 wherein

said drive element and said actuating element have interacting means for limiting displacement of said actuating element.

14. A device according to claim 10 wherein

a second contact member engaged by said cam, is mounted in said housing, extends across at portion of said bore substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, is spring biased toward a closed position in a direction of the longitudinal axis, and is movable to an open position away from said longitudinal axis by rotation of said cam;

and

a second actuating element is mounted a second lateral opening in said housing, is movable translationally and substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis and is eccentrically coupled to said driving element.

15. A device according to claim 10 wherein

said housing a top with a rounded shape.

16. A device according to claim 10 wherein

said housing comprises a surface facing the electrode to be engaged, said surface having an elastoplastic wall having a hardness less than hardnesses of other walls of said housing.

17. A device according to claim 16 wherein

said elastoplastic wall is made from a thermoplastic elastomer.

18. A device for electrically connecting a line to an electrode, comprising:

a housing;

a contact member mounted in said housing for connection to a contact pin of an electrode, said contact member having first energy storage element for spring biasing said contact member to engage the contact pin;

a first actuating element mounted in said housing to deflect and move said contact member to an open position to receive the contact pin; and

a drive element rotatably mounted in said housing, said drive element and said actuating element being eccentrically connected to one another by a pin on one of said drive element and said actuating element being received in a slot in the other of said drive element and said actuating element.

19. A device according to claim 18 wherein

said drive element comprises an eccentrically extending contact surface, such that when said drive element is rotated said contact member is moved to said open position.

20. A device according to claim 18 wherein

said drive element and said actuating element have interacting stopping means for limiting displacement of said actuating element.