Tyco Electronics Corporation

William David Irwin

Keith Edwin Miller

Lawrence John Brekosky

Timothy M Beck

Navin Kanjibhai Patel

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.

Plug connector for use with a receptacle

A mechanical device that indicates prior mating. The device comprises a first part having a first conductive device movable from a first position to a second position and a plurality of second conductive devices, and a second mating part including a plurality of third conductive devices mateable to the plurality of second conductive devices. On initial mating of the first and second part, the second part causes the movable first conductive device to move from the first position to a second position where it is captured, while closing a circuit that causes a signal to be sent. Further mating of the first and second parts connects the plurality of second conductive devices to the plurality of third conductive devices. In subsequent unmating and remating of the first and second parts, the first conductive device, being captured in its second position, does not result in a circuit closing before the plurality of second conductive devices mate with the third conductive devices. Either no signal is generated or the signal is ignored since the timing of the closing of the circuit is not prior to the mating of the plurality of second conductive devices with the third conductive devices.

Mechanical device showing prior mating

An electrical connector having a mechanical mating cycle limitation that renders the connector inoperable after a predetermined number of mating cycles is disclosed. The electrical connector includes a rotating component that rotates within the connector for the predetermined number of mating cycles until the rotating component is prohibited from further rotation, which prevents the connector from further mating, thereby rendering the connector inoperable.

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Elizabethtown, PA, United States of America

William David Irwin