Connector assemblies

mi iiiiiii ill mi mi iiiyii iiiijiijii mi mil mi mi mi

(12) United States Patent

Kuzma

(io) Patent No.: (45) Date of Patent:

US 7,445,528 Bl Nov. 4, 2008

(54) CONNECTOR ASSEMBLIES

(75) Inventor: Janusz Kuzma, Bayview (AU)

(73) Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation, Valencia, CA (US)

( * ) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this patent is extended or adjusted under 35 U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.

(21) Appl.No.: 11/541,117

(22) Filed: Sep. 29, 2006

(51) Int. CI.

H01R 13/05 (2006.01)

(52) U.S. CI 439/825; 439/930; 439/369

(58) Field of Classification Search 439/825,

439/827, 930, 369 See application file for complete search history.

(56) References Cited

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS

Wikipedia entry entitled "Banana connector." Printed Nov. 1, 2007. Available at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banana_connector.

(Continued)

Primary Examiner—Javaid Nasri

(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Fish & Richardson PC.

Systems for electrically coupling two or more devices include a receptacle connector assembly and a male connector assembly. The receptacle connector assembly includes one or more socket assemblies each having a socket with an at least partially conductive inner surface. The male connector assembly includes one or more plug contacts configured to mate with the sockets. Each of the plug contacts includes a multiplicity of compressible wires joined together at a distal tip such that when the plug contacts are inserted within the sockets, the compressible wires make electrical contact with the at least partially conductive inner surfaces of the sockets.

26 Claims, 10 Drawing Sheets

Page 2

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS

OTHER PUBLICATIONS

The Tech-faq.com document entitled "What are Banana Plugs?" Printed Nov. 1, 2007. Available at http://www.tech-faq.com/bananaplugs.shtml.

Mueller Electric Co. document entitled "Banana Plugs." Copyright

2005. Printed Nov. 1, 2007. Available at http://www.muellerelectric. com/banana_plugs.html.

Abbatron document entitled "Insulated Banana Plugs, Miscellaneous." Copyright 2006. Printed Nov. 1, 2007, Available at http:// www.abbatron.com/products/?dir=/part/get/ppj ubp fhrd. Abbatron document entitled "Insulated Banana Plugs." Copyright

2006. Printed Nov. 1, 2007. Available at http://www.abbatron.com/ products/?dir=/part/get/ppj_ibp_stnd.

Abbatron document entitled "Standard Insulated Banana Plugs,

Solderless." Copyright 2006. Printed Nov. 1, 2007. Available at

http://www.abbatron.com/products/?dir=/part/get/ppj_ibp_sles.

Abbatron document entitled "Giant Uninsulated Banana Plug."

Copyright 2006. Printed Nov. 1, 2007. Available at http://www.ab

batron.com/products/?dir=/part/get/ppj ubp gian.

Abbatron document entitled "Rivet Stud Uninsulated Banana Plug."

Copyright 2006. Printed Nov. 1, 2007. Available at http://www.ab

batron.com/products/?dir=/part/get/ppj_ubp_rivt.

Abbatron document entitled "Threaded Uninsulated Banana Plugs."

Copyright 2006. Printed Nov. 1, 2007, Available at http://www.ab

batron.com/products/?dir=/part/get/ppj_ubp_thrd.

* cited by examiner