Plug connector for use with a receptacle
First Claim
1. A plug connector, comprisinga latching mechanism movable from a first engaged position to a second disengaged position,the latching mechanism further including a latch release surface, anda means for latching the mechanism to an opposed surface;
- a plurality of metal contacts, each contact configured to accept a wire;
a housing to locate and align the plurality of metal contacts, the housing further including an exterior and an interior;
a passageway extending from the exterior of the housing to the interior of the housing;
a jumper contact movable from a first position to a second position when the latching mechanism is in the first engaged position; and
a means for capturing the jumper contact in the second position.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A plug connector for use with a receptacle. The plug connector and receptacle combination may prevent more than one use of the single use plug connector, thereby necessitating disposal of the plug connector and associated, disposable, specialized instrumentation to which the plug connector is connected. The plug connector may be keyed and otherwise identified to the receptacle by shape, tactile indicia and visual indicia so that it cannot be mistakenly used with a different receptacle, while providing proper orientation for rapid assembly. When designed for single use or limited multiple use, the insertion of the plug connector into the receptacle moves a jumper contact in the plug connector from a first position to a second position where it is captured. The receptacle and plug connector may include an interface for a light pipe and a light path that illuminates the plug connector to facilitate assembly and disassembly in areas in which light is limited, such as operating rooms, as well as communicating information to the user.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A plug connector, comprising
a latching mechanism movable from a first engaged position to a second disengaged position, the latching mechanism further including a latch release surface, and a means for latching the mechanism to an opposed surface; -
a plurality of metal contacts, each contact configured to accept a wire; a housing to locate and align the plurality of metal contacts, the housing further including an exterior and an interior; a passageway extending from the exterior of the housing to the interior of the housing; a jumper contact movable from a first position to a second position when the latching mechanism is in the first engaged position; and a means for capturing the jumper contact in the second position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A plug connector/receptacle assembly, comprising
a plug connector, including a latching mechanism movable from a first engaged position to a second disengaged position, the latching mechanism further including a latch release surface, and a means for latching the mechanism to an opposed surface; -
a plurality of metal contacts, each contact having a first end and a second end, the first end of each contact configured to accept a wire; a housing having a predetermined geometric configuration to locate and align the plurality of metal contacts, the housing further including an exterior and an interior, the exterior of the housing further including at least one of visual and tactile indicia to facilitate proper mating of the plug connector, a passageway extending from the exterior of the housing to the interior of the housing; a jumper contact movable from a first position to a second position when the latching mechanism is in the first engaged position, and fixed metal contacts to move the jumper contact from the first position to the second position; and a means for capturing the jumper contact in the second position; and a receptacle, the receptacle having a predetermined geometric configuration that mates with the geometric configuration of the plug connector so that the plug connector is capable of unique mating to the receptacle and further including a plurality of metal spring contact probes, each metal spring contact probe having a first end and a second end, the first end of each metal spring contact probe configured to accept a wire and the second ends of the plurality of metal spring contact probes configured to mate with the second end of the plurality of metal contacts of the plug connector, a housing for locating and positioning the plurality of metal spring contact probes, the housing having a first end and a second end, the second end of the metal spring contact probes extending away from the second end of the housing, and a surface that includes means for locking the mating plug connector, the means for locking mating with the means for latching of the plug connector. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification