Latching medical patient parameter safety connector and method

• US 7,179,113 B2
• Filed: 10/25/2005
• Issued: 02/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Spacelabs Healthcare LLC (OSI Systems Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Spacelabs Medical Incorporated (OSI Systems Incorporated)
• Inventors: Wekell, William, Koenig, Robert B.
• Primary Examiner(s): PAUMEN, GARY F
• Application Number:
  US11/258,693
• Publication Number:
  US 20060035505A1
• Time in Patent Office: 483 Days
• Field of Search: 439/374, 439/357, 439/680
• US Class Current: 439/374
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6271 Latching means integral with the housing H01R13/6276, H01R13/6277, H01R13/6278 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6273 comprising two latching arms
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49139 by inserting component lead or terminal into base aperture
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49147 Assembling terminal to base
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49153 with shaping or forcing terminal into base aperture
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49169 Assembling electrical component directly to terminal or elongated conductor

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a socket connector to couple electrical plugs to sockets mounted on circuit boards or cable ends. The socket connector includes a socket that receives an electrical plug and a socket silo. The silo may contain a beveled outer surface that receives a beveled face on the plug. The plug is held in the socket by latches disposed on the plug. The latches include pawls that fit within pawl receiving chambers in the socket and couple the plug to the socket. The latch and hinged section may rotate into a recessed section on the plug from an extended to a retracted position. A locking portion on the pawl and the receiving chamber may be angled to develop a desired pullout force.

Claims

1. An electrical plug comprising:

a plug body including a pin holder portion having a beveled face surrounded by a sheath; and

at least one electrically conductive pin extending from the beveled face and beyond the beveled face.

2. The electrical plug according to claim 1, wherein an inside surface of the sheath defines a trapezoidal space.

3. The electrical plug according to claim 1 wherein an outer end of the sheath extends beyond an end of at least one electrically conductive pin extending beyond the beveled face.

4. The electrical plug according to claim 1, wherein the beveled face is configured to mate with a socket silo having a corresponding beveled outer receiving surface.

5. The electrical plug according to claim 1, wherein an outside surface of the sheath includes one or more negative keyways.

6. The electrical plug according to claim 1, wherein the plug comprises a pin holder portion and a latch holder portion.

7. The electrical plug according to claim 1, further comprising rolling latches disposed on the plug along a longitudinal axis of the plug body.

8. The electrical plug according to claim 7, wherein the rolling latches are disposed above a centerline of a thickness of the plug body.

9. The electrical plug according to claim 7, wherein an inside surface of the sheath defines a trapezoidal space.

10. The electrical plug according to claim 7, wherein the beveled face is configured to mate with socket silos having corresponding beveled outer receiving surfaces.

11. The electrical plug according to claim 7, wherein an outside surface of the sheath includes one or more negative keyways.

12. The electrical plug according to claim 7, wherein the plug comprises a pin holder portion and a latch holder portion.