Electrical and structural interconnector

• US 5,601,445 A
• Filed: 03/13/1995
• Issued: 02/11/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Carefusion 303 Incorporated (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: IMED Corp (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Schipper, Jeffery D., Williams, David R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bradley, P. Austin
• Assistant Examiner(s): KIM, YONG KI
• Application Number:
  US08/403,502
• Time in Patent Office: 701 Days
• Field of Search: 439/341, 439/376, 439/660, 439/288, 439/293, 439/295, 604/66
• US Class Current: 439/341
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1407 Infusion of two or more substances
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1413 Modular systems comprising interconnecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/142 Pressure infusion, e.g. using pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1456 with a replaceable reservoir comprising a piston rod to be moved into the reservoir, e.g. the piston rod is part of the removable reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/2442 with a single cantilevered beam
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/514 composed as a modular blocks or assembly, i.e. composed of co-operating parts provided with contact members or holding contact members between them
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/62 Means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts or for holding them in engagement

Abstract

A connector for structurally and electronically interconnecting modular electronic components which permits as single connection to provide both electrical communication and structural support between the modular components is disclosed. The interconnector may be a separate component from the housing for the electronic components or may be integrated therein.

Claims

1. An electrical and structural interconnector, comprising:

a first part having a body portion with a hook-shaped portion extending in a direction outward and upward from the body portion and terminating along an upturned edge to define an upwardly opening recess between said edge and the first part body portion, said body portion defining an inwardly directed recess under said first part extending portion;

at least one electrical conductor extending through said first part and terminating in a contact surface on an outer surface of said extending portion;

a detachable second part having a body portion with a main body recess defined by an upper wall having a downward directed portion and a lower wall including an extension of said second part body portion, wherein said main body recess is configured and dimensioned to slidingly receive said first part extending portion when rotated into said recess in the outward and upward direction with said downward directed portion engaged in said first part upward opening recess and said second part extension received in said first part inwardly directed recess such that contact between said portions secures said first part against movement in lateral or vertical directions with respect to the second part; and

at least one electrical conductor extending through said second part and terminating in a contact surface positioned within said main body recess to be contacted by said first part contact surface and resiliently deformed by said first part extending portion when received in said recess to provide an electrical connection between said conductors.

2. The interconnector according to claim 1, wherein:

the first part extending portion extends outward from the first part body portion by a first predetermined distance; and

the second part main body recess has a depth greater than said first predetermined distance, such that when the first part is received in the second part a void is defined between the first part extending portion and the second part body portion, wherein said second part contact surface resiliently deforms into said void when in contact with the first part contact surface.