Electrical connector assembly

• US 8,382,531 B2
• Filed: 11/03/2010
• Issued: 02/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Astola, Pekka Simeon
• Primary Examiner(s): Gilman, Alexander
• Application Number:
  US12/938,487
• Publication Number:
  US 20110151728A1
• Time in Patent Office: 846 Days
• Field of Search: 439/733.1, 439/729, 439/857, 439/435, 439/865, 439/869, 439/874
• US Class Current: 439/733.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/274 using snap or button fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/28 for electrocardiography [ECG]
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 11/22 End pieces terminating in a spring clip
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6277 comprising annular latching means, e.g. ring snapping in an annular groove
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2101/00 One pole
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/12 for medicine and surgery

Abstract

Electrical connector assembly comprising a cover part and a contact assembly for providing a mechanical and electrical contact to an electrode, and connecting arrangements for connecting lead wire to the contact component. The contact component is made of an elongated flat-formed strip forming at least two contact points for the electrode and between the contact points forming a recess having walls enlarging when drawing away from the contact points. The contact points are arranged to press against the electrode for detachable fastening.

Claims

1. An electrical connector assembly for electrical contact to an electrode, comprising:

a cover part; and

a contact assembly for providing a push fit mechanical and electrical connection to the electrode;

the contact assembly comprising;

a connecting arrangement and a contact component, the connecting arrangement configured to electrically connect a lead wire to the contact component;

the contact component comprising an elongated flat-formed strip, a bent portion with a pair of walls forming at least two contact points for detachable push fit fastening to the electrode, the pair of walls defining a recess between the contact points, the contact points being arranged to press against the electrode in a connected position and move away from the electrode during detachment, a bottom portion of the contact component connecting the walls and including a tab member for engaging a press fit connection with the cover part;

the cover part comprising a tab member receiver for receiving the tab member of the elongated flat-formed strip and a positioning post, the positioning post configured to be received in a corresponding opening in the elongated flat-formed strip in the press fit connection.

2. The electrical connector assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flat-formed strip is made of electrically conductive material.

3. The electrical connector assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the contact points are arranged to press against the electrode with spring properties of the elongated flat-formed strip.

4. The electrical connector assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the two side walls defining the recess are configured to create contact forces at each contact point acting in opposite directions and along the longitudinal axis of the flat-formed strip.

5. The electrical connector assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bottom portion of the contact component is configured to form a third contact point, and the contact component is configured to create a contact force at the third contact point acting in right angle direction with respect to the longitudinal axis of the flat formed strip.

6. The electrical connector assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein the cover part comprises only a bottom part into which the elongated flat-formed strip is fixed by moulding.

7. The electrical connector assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein the two contact points electrically contact sides of the electrode and the third contact point electrically contacts a top of the electrode.

8. The electrical connector assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cover part comprises at least a bottom part and that the elongated flat-formed strip has been fixed to the bottom part.

9. The electrical connector assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein the cover part further comprises a top cover part attachable to the bottom part.

10. The electrical connector assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein a wire clamp arrangement is provided at least into the bottom part.

11. The electrical connector assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the elongated flat-formed strip comprises connecting arrangements for connecting a lead wire to the connector assembly.

12. The electrical connector assembly as claimed in claim 11, wherein the connecting arrangements for connecting the lead wire to the connector assembly is an integral part of the elongated flat-formed strip.

13. The electrical connector assembly as claimed in claim 11, wherein the cover part is further provided with a lead wire clamp arrangement.

14. An electrical connector assembly for connecting a lead wire to a press stud of a patient skin electrode, the connector assembly comprising a cover part and a contact component for providing a push-fit mechanical and electrical contact to the press stud of the patient skin electrode, and a connecting arrangement for connecting a lead wire to the contact component, the contact component comprising an elongated flat-formed strip having a bent portion with a pair of walls forming at least two contact points for the press stud, the pair of walls defining a recess between the contact points, the walls configured to draw away from the contact points during detachment from the press stud, and press against the press stud when connected, a bottom portion connecting the pair of walls, the bottom portion having a tab member for engaging a press fit connection with the cover part, the cover part comprising a tab member receiver for receiving the tab member of the elongated flat-formed strip and a positioning post, the positioning post configured to be received in a corresponding opening in the elongated flat-formed strip in the press fit connection.

15. The electrical connector assembly as claimed in claim 14, wherein the two walls defining the recess are placed at a distance to each other, the contact points being formed by the walls.

16. The electrical connector assembly as claimed in claim 14, wherein bottom part of the recess is configured to form a third contact point.

17. The electrical connector assembly as claimed in claim 16, wherein the two contact points electrically contact sides of the press stud and the third contact point electrically contacts a top of the press stud.

18. An electrical connector assembly for connecting lead wire to a press stud of a patient skin electrocardiography electrode, comprising a cover part and a contact component for providing a mechanical and electrical contact to the press stud of the patient skin electrocardiography electrode, and connecting arrangements for connecting the lead wire to the contact component, the contact component comprising an elongated flat-formed strip forming at least two contact points for the press stud, a pair of walls forming the contact points and defining a recess between the contact points, the recess configured to enlarge when the contact component is drawn away from the press stud, the contact points being configured to engage and press against the press stud in a push-fit connection for detachable fastening.

19. The electrical connector assembly as claimed in claim 18, wherein the two walls forming the recess are placed at a distance to each other, the contact points being formed by the walls.

20. The electrical connector assembly as claimed in claim 18, wherein a bottom part of the recess is configured to form a third contact point in the push-fit connection, the third contact point being at a right angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the contact component.