Nurse call connector system and method
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A mechanical and electrical connector comprising:
- a housing having a face, flange and mounting holes located in the flange;
an electrical connector mounted to the housing configured to engage with a second electrical connector and when engaged, provide an electrical connection;
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; and
bolt housing mounted on a side of the housing opposite the face and aligned with the holes;
a protrusion connected to the housing and located in the key slot, the protrusion configured to communicate with a corresponding hole in the second connector.
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Abstract
A system and method for providing an electrical and mechanical connection which includes a housing having a face, an electrical connector mounted to the housing and configured to engage with a second electrical connector, a receiver connected to the housing and encompassing at least part of the electrical connector and bolt housing mounted on a side of the housing opposite the face and aligned with the holes.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A mechanical and electrical connector comprising:
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a housing having a face, flange and mounting holes located in the flange; an electrical connector mounted to the housing configured to engage with a second electrical connector and when engaged, provide an electrical connection; 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; and bolt housing mounted on a side of the housing opposite the face and aligned with the holes; a protrusion connected to the housing and located in the key slot, the protrusion configured to communicate with a corresponding hole in the second connector. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of establishing an electrical and mechanical connection comprising:
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providing a housing have a face, a flange and mounting holes located in the flange on an electrical receiver; providing bolt housings mounted on a side of the housing opposite the face and aligned with the bolt holes; aligning an electrical connector to the electrical receiver; inserting an alignment key into an alignment key shaft; flexing at least one of receiver and a ridge while moving the electrical connector toward the electrical receiver; and electrically connecting the first electrical connector with the electrical receiver wherein electrically connecting the electrical connecter and receiver includes connecting an equal number of spring probe pins to spring probe pads. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A system for providing an electrical connection comprising:
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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; a housing having a face and a flange with mounting holes located in the flange; 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, 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; and bolt housing mounted on a side of the housing opposite the face and aligned with the holes. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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Specification