Connection verifier

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11808392-B2
Application number	US-201917593409-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 14, 2019
Priority date	May 14, 2019
Publication date	Nov 7, 2023
Grant date	Nov 7, 2023

Abstract

A connection verifier, including a housing including a circuit board, a first plate connected to the circuit board, and a second plate connected to the circuit board, wherein the circuit board is arranged to send a voltage through one of the first plate and the second plate.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A connection verifying connector assembly, comprising:
a connector assembly, including:
a first through-bore;
a first annular groove;
a second annular groove; and
a retainer clip arranged in the first annular groove, the retainer clip having one or more protrusions that extend into the first through-bore; and

a connection verifier connected to the connector assembly, including:
a housing including a circuit board;
a first arm and a second arm operatively arranged to connect the housing to the connector assembly;
a first plate connected to the circuit board and arranged radially outward of the retainer clip; and
a second plate connected to the circuit board and arranged radially outward of the retainer clip;
wherein:
the circuit board is arranged to send a voltage through one of the first plate and the second plate; and
the first plate and the second plate are operatively arranged to engage the first arm and the second arm, respectively.

2. The connection verifying connector assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein:
the first arm comprises a first radially inward extending tab; and
the second arm comprises a second radially inward extending tab, the first and second radially inward extending tabs are operatively arranged to engage the second annular groove.

3. The connection verifying connector assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein the housing further comprises a protrusion operatively arranged to engage a slot in the connector assembly to circumferentially align the connection verifier relative to the connector assembly.

4. The connection verifying connector assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein:
the first plate extends through a first aperture in the housing to connect to the circuit board; and
the second plate extends through a second aperture in the housing to connect to the circuit board.

5. The connection verifying connector assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein the circuit board is arranged in a recess in the housing.

6. The connection verifying connector assembly as recited in claim 5 , further comprising a cover plate arranged to enclose the circuit board within the recess.

7. The connection verifying connector assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein the circuit board comprises:
a power source;
a conductor that electrically connects the power source to the first and second plates; and
a transponder operatively arranged to detect when a closed circuit between the first and second plates has occurred.

8. The connection verifying connector assembly as recited in claim 7 , wherein the circuit board further comprises a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag operatively arranged to indicate that the closed circuit between the first and second plates has occurred.

9. The connection verifying connector assembly as recited in claim 7 , wherein the transponder is operatively arranged to, after detecting that a closed circuit between the first and second plates has occurred, transmit a signal indicating that the closed circuit between the first and second plates has occurred.

10. The connection verifying connector assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein when a tube endform is fully inserted into the connector assembly, the retainer clip expands radially outward to contact the first and second plates, initiating a closed circuit between the first and second plates.

11. A connection verifying connector assembly, comprising:
a connector assembly, including:
a first through-bore;
a first annular groove;
a second annular groove; and
a retainer clip arranged in the first annular groove, the retainer clip having one or more protrusions that extend into the first through-bore; and

a connection verifier connected to the connector assembly, including:
a housing including a circuit board;
a first plate connected to the circuit board and arranged radially outward of the retainer clip, the first plate extending through a first aperture in the housing to connect to the circuit board; and
a second plate connected to the circuit board and arranged radially outward of the retainer clip, the second plate extending through a second aperture in the housing to connect to the circuit board, wherein the circuit board is arranged to send a voltage through one of the first plate and the second plate.

12. A connection verifying connector assembly, comprising:
a connector assembly, including:
a first through-bore;
a first annular groove;
a second annular groove; and
a retainer clip arranged in the first annular groove, the retainer clip having one or more protrusions that extend into the first through-bore; and

a connection verifier connected to the connector assembly, including:
a housing including a circuit board;
a first plate connected to the circuit board and arranged radially outward of the retainer clip; and
a second plate connected to the circuit board and arranged radially outward of the retainer clip,

wherein:
the circuit board is arranged to send a voltage through one of the first plate and the second plate; and
when a tube endform is fully inserted into the connector assembly, the retainer clip expands radially outward to contact the first and second plates, initiating a closed circuit between the first and second plates.

Assignees

• Oetiker Ny Inc

Inventors

• Sausen Kari Ann
• Hagen Kristian James
• Caroll James E

Classifications

• F16L37/088 Primary

  by means of a split elastic ring · CPC title

• H05K5/0247

  Electrical details of casings, e.g. terminals, passages for cables or wiring · CPC title

• F16L2201/10

  Indicators for correct coupling · CPC title

• F16L37/0841 Primary

  by means of a transversally slidable locking member surrounding the tube · CPC title