Call cord connection system with mechanical coupling mechanism

• US 7,753,709 B2
• Filed: 08/28/2008
• Issued: 07/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tyco Fire & Security GmbH (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Simplexgrinnell LP (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Prokop, Josef, Silkey, Carl J.
• Primary Examiner(s): HYEON, HAE M
• Application Number:
  US12/200,448
• Publication Number:
  US 20090264006A1
• Time in Patent Office: 684 Days
• Field of Search: 439/350, 439/362, 439/923, 439/909, 439/358
• US Class Current: 439/350
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/716 Coupling device provided on the PCB
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/923 Separation or disconnection aid

Abstract

A call cord system and connection are disclosed. The system can be implemented in any number of situations where summoning assistance from a remote location is desirable, such as in a healthcare provider setting. In addition, the call cord connection allows the cord to be securely engaged for its intended operation, without concern that the cord will unintentionally become disconnected. However, given sufficient force, the call cord connection further allows the cord to be disconnected from the patient station by the patient or staff without damaging either the call cord itself or the patient station. Such an intentional disconnect can be used, for instance, to signal a patient or staff emergency and a corresponding response, when normal call signaling is not possible (e.g., the patient is not able to depress the call button) or higher priority attention is needed for whatever reason.

Claims

1. A call cord connection system, comprising:

a call cord connector housing having a resilient flange on an outside wall of the call cord connector housing, the resilient flange for operatively coupling with a latching rib of a socket to which the call cord connector housing is designed to engage, so as to hold the call cord connector housing in the socket, unless an intentional disconnect force is applied, wherein once the call cord connector housing engages the socket, there is a gap between the resilient flange and the latching rib that allows for a degree of play between the resilient flange and the latching rib, the gap being in the range of 0.1 mm to 1.5 mm; and

a call cord configured with a patient pendant controller at a first end and the call cord connector housing at a second end, the patient pendant controller configured with a call activation mechanism.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the call cord connector housing has a resilient flange on each of two opposing outside walls, and the socket has a plurality of latching ribs.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein at least one of the latching ribs is elongated relative to the others of the latching ribs.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising the socket, wherein the socket is included in a patient station housing.

5. A call cord connection system, comprising:

a call cord connector housing having a mechanical coupling mechanism on an outside wall of the call cord connector housing, the mechanical coupling mechanism for operatively coupling with a complementary mechanical coupling mechanism of a socket to which the call cord connector housing is designed to engage, so as to hold the call cord connector housing in the socket, unless an intentional disconnect force is applied, the call cord connector housing further configured to couple with a call cord; and

a patient station housing including the socket, the socket having one or more tapered guidance fins, for allowing the mechanical coupling mechanism on the outside wall of the call cord connector housing to compress inward while pushing past the complementary mechanical coupling mechanism of the socket during initial phase of engagement between the call cord connector housing and the socket.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the mechanical coupling mechanism on the outside wall of the call cord connector housing is a resilient flange, and the complementary mechanical coupling mechanism of the socket is a latching rib.

7. The system of claim 5 wherein once the call cord connector housing is engaged in the socket, there is a gap between the mechanical coupling mechanism on the outside wall of the call cord connector housing and the complementary mechanical coupling mechanism of the socket, the gap allowing for a degree of play between the mechanical coupling mechanism on the outside wall of the call cord connector housing and the complementary mechanical coupling mechanism of the socket, the gap being in the range of 0.1 mm to 1.5 mm.

8. The system of claim 5 wherein the patient station housing has deployed therein electronics and an electrical connector for electronically coupling with an electronic connector deployed in the call cord connector housing, the electrical connector of the patient station housing accessible via the socket.

9. The system of claim 5 further comprising:

a monitor station communicatively coupled with a patient station deployed within the patient station housing.

10. A call cord connection system, comprising:

a patient station housing having a socket;

a call cord connector housing having a resilient flange on an outside wall of the call cord connector housing, the resilient flange for operatively coupling with a latching rib of the socket, so as to hold the call cord connector housing in the socket, unless an intentional disconnect force is applied; and

a call cord configured with a patient pendant controller at a first end and the call cord connector housing at a second end, the patient pendant controller configured with a call activation mechanism;

wherein the socket has one or more tapered guidance fins, for allowing the resilient flange to compress inward while pushing past the latching rib during initial phase of engagement between the call cord connector housing and the socket; and

wherein the patient station housing has deployed therein electronics and an electrical connector for electronically coupling with an electronic connector deployed in the call cord connector housing, the electrical connector of the patient station housing accessible via the socket.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the call cord connector housing has a resilient flange on each of two opposing outside walls, and the socket has a plurality of latching ribs.

12. A call cord connection system, comprising:

a patient station housing having a socket;

a call cord connector housing having a resilient flange on an outside wall of the call cord connector housing, the resilient flange for operatively coupling with a latching rib of the socket, so as to hold the call cord connector housing in the socket, unless an intentional disconnect force is applied; and

a call cord configured with a patient pendant controller at a first end and the call cord connector housing at a second end, the patient pendant controller configured with a call activation mechanism;

wherein once the call cord connector housing is engaged in the socket, there is a gap between the resilient flange on the outside wall of the call cord connector housing and the latching rib of the socket, the gap allowing for a degree of play between the resilient flange on the outside wall of the call cord connector housing and the latching rib of the socket, the gap being in the range of 0.1 mm to 1.5 mm; and

wherein the patient station housing has deployed therein electronics and an electrical connector for electronically coupling with an electronic connector deployed in the call cord connector housing, the electrical connector of the patient station housing accessible via the socket.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the call cord connector housing has a resilient flange on each of two opposing outside walls, and the socket has a plurality of latching ribs.

14. The system of claim 12 wherein the socket further comprises:

one or more tapered guidance fins, for allowing the resilient flange to compress inward while pushing past the latching rib during initial phase of engagement between the call cord connector housing and the socket.

15. A call cord connection system, comprising:

a patient station housing having a socket configured with a latching rib for operatively coupling with a resilient flange on an outside wall of a call cord connector housing, so as to hold the call cord connector housing in the socket, unless an intentional disconnect force is applied;

wherein once the call cord connector housing is engaged in the socket, there is a gap between the resilient flange and the latching rib that allows for a degree of play between the resilient flange and the latching rib, the gap being in the range of 0.1 mm to 1.5 mm; and

wherein the patient station housing has deployed therein electronics and an electrical connector for electronically coupling with an electronic connector deployed in the call cord connector housing, the electrical connector of the patient station housing accessible via the socket.

16. The system of claim 15 further comprising the call cord connector housing.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the call cord connector housing has a resilient flange on each of two opposing outside walls, and the socket has a plurality of latching ribs.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein at least one of the latching ribs is elongated relative to the others of the latching ribs.

19. A call cord connection system, comprising:

a patient station housing having a socket configured with a mechanical coupling mechanism for operatively coupling with a complementary mechanical coupling mechanism on an outside wall of a call cord connector housing, so as to hold the call cord connector housing in the socket, unless an intentional disconnect force is applied;

wherein the patient station housing has deployed therein electronics and an electrical connector for electronically coupling with an electronic connector deployed in the call cord connector housing, the electrical connector of the patient station housing accessible via the socket; and

wherein the socket further comprises one or more tapered guidance fins, for allowing the complementary mechanical coupling mechanism on the outside wall of the call cord connector housing to compress inward while pushing past the mechanical coupling mechanism of the socket during initial phase of engagement between the call cord connector housing and the socket.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the complementary mechanical coupling mechanism on the outside wall of the call cord connector housing is a resilient flange, and the mechanical coupling mechanism of the socket is a latching rib.

21. The system of claim 19 wherein once the call cord connector housing is engaged in the socket, there is a gap between the mechanical coupling mechanism on the outside wall of the call cord connector housing and the complementary mechanical coupling mechanism of the socket, the gap allowing for a degree of play between the mechanical coupling mechanism on the outside wall of the call cord connector housing and the complementary mechanical coupling mechanism of the socket, the gap being in the range of 0.1 mm to 1.5 mm.