Radio frequency identification smart inspection assurance cap

• US 10,690,277 B2
• Filed: 03/16/2017
• Issued: 06/23/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oetiker Ny, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Oetiker Ny, Inc.
• Inventors: Fremont, Bradley C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bochna, David
• Application Number:
  US15/460,837
• Publication Number:
  US 20180266602A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,195 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 2201/10 Indicators for correct coupling
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 35/00 Special arrangements used in connection with end fittings of hoses, e.g. safety or protecting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/0985 the flexible hook extending radially inwardly from an outer part and engaging a bead, recess or the like on an inner part F16L37/0982 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0716 at least one of the integrated circuit chips comprising a sensor or an interface to a sensor
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07758 arrangements for adhering the record carrier to further objects or living beings, functioning as an identification tag

Abstract

A radio frequency identification (RFID) smart inspection assurance cap, including a body having a through-bore, an outer surface, and an inner surface and, an RFID circuit including an RFID chip a first circuit lead connected to the RFID chip, and a second circuit lead connected to the RFID chip, the first circuit lead and the second circuit lead electrically disconnected from one another, deactivating the RFID chip wherein the RFID smart inspection assurance cap is operatively arranged on a fluid connector, the first circuit lead is arranged to contact the fluid connector, the second circuit lead is arranged to contact the fluid connector, wherein the RFID circuit is completed when the first circuit lead and the second circuit lead simultaneously contact the fluid connector.

Claims

1. A radio frequency identification (RFID) smart inspection assurance cap operatively arranged to communicate whether a tubular connector is fully seated in a fluid connector, comprising:

a body comprising;

a through-bore;

radially outward facing surface; and

,

an inner surface; and

,

a RFID circuit comprising;

a RFID chip;

a first circuit lead connected to said RFID chip; and

,

a second circuit lead connected to said RFID chip, said first circuit lead and said second circuit lead electrically disconnected from one another, deactivating said RFID chip;

wherein;

said RFID smart inspection assurance cap is operatively arranged to connect to said fluid connector;

said first circuit lead is arranged to contact said fluid connector;

said second circuit lead is arranged to contact said fluid connector; and

,

said RFID circuit is completed when said first circuit lead and said second circuit lead simultaneously contact said fluid connector.

2. The RFID smart inspection assurance cap as recited in claim 1, wherein said RFID circuit is embedded within said body of said assurance cap.

3. The RFID smart inspection assurance cap as recited in claim 1, wherein said RFID circuit is arranged on said radially outward facing surface of said body of said assurance cap.

4. The RFID smart inspection assurance cap as recited in claim 1, wherein said fluid connector comprises an electrical conducting section to complete said RFID circuit.

5. The RFID smart inspection assurance cap as recited in claim 1, wherein said fluid connector is made of an electrical conducting material.

6. The RFID smart inspection assurance cap as recited in claim 1, wherein said RFID smart inspection assurance cap is fully seated on said fluid connector when said first circuit lead and said second circuit lead contact said fluid connector.

7. The RFID smart inspection assurance cap as recited in claim 1, wherein said RFID chip activates when said RFID smart inspection assurance cap is fully seated on said fluid connector.

8. A fluid connector assembly, comprising:

a fluid connector comprising a first through-bore;

a tubular connector arranged in said first through-bore; and

,

a radio frequency identification (RFID) smart inspection assurance cap operatively arranged to connect to said fluid connector and communicate whether the tubular connector is fully seated in the fluid connector, the RFID smart inspection assurance cap, comprising;

a body comprising;

a second through-bore;

a radially outward facing surface; and

,

an inner surface; and

,

a RFID circuit comprising;

a RFID chip;

a first circuit lead connected to said RFID chip; and

,

a second circuit lead connected to said RFID chip, said first circuit lead and said second circuit lead electrically disconnected from one another, deactivating said RFID chip;

wherein;

said RFID smart inspection assurance cap is operatively arranged on said tubular connector;

said first circuit lead is arranged to contact said fluid connector;

said second circuit lead is arranged to contact said fluid connector; and

,

said RFID circuit is completed when said first circuit lead and said second circuit lead simultaneously contact said fluid connector.

9. The RFID smart inspection assurance cap as recited in claim 8, wherein said RFID circuit is embedded within said body of said assurance cap.

10. The RFID smart inspection assurance cap as recited in claim 8, wherein said RFID circuit is arranged on said outer radially outward facing surface of said body of said assurance cap.

11. The RFID smart inspection assurance cap as recited in claim 8, wherein said fluid connector comprises an electrical conducting section to complete said RFID circuit.

12. The RFID smart inspection assurance cap as recited in claim 8, wherein said fluid connector is made of an electrical conducting material.

13. The RFID smart inspection assurance cap as recited in claim 8, wherein said RFID smart inspection assurance cap is fully seated on said fluid connector when said first circuit lead and said second circuit lead contact said fluid connector.

14. A radio frequency identification (RFID) smart inspection assurance cap, comprising:

a body comprising;

a through-bore axially arranged within said body;

an inner surface formed by said through-bore; and

,

an aperture arranged within said body, the aperture extending radially outward from the through-bore to a radially outward facing surface of said body; and

,

a sensor ring slidably arranged within said through-bore and in contact with said inner surface.

15. The RFID smart inspection assurance cap as recited in claim 14, wherein said sensor ring comprises a RFID chip.

16. The RFID smart inspection assurance cap as recited in claim 15, wherein in a first state, said RFID chip is prevented from communication by said body.

17. The RFID smart inspection assurance cap as recited in claim 16, wherein in a second state, said sensor ring is operatively arranged to allow communication of said RFID chip via said aperture.

18. The RFID smart inspection assurance cap as recited in claim 17, wherein said RFID smart inspection assurance cap is fully seated on said fluid connector when said sensor ring is in said second state.

19. The RFID smart inspection assurance cap as recited in claim 15, further comprising a tubular connector arranged within said through-bore.

20. The RFID smart inspection assurance cap as recited in claim 14, wherein said RFID smart inspection assurance cap is operatively arranged to connect to a fluid connector.