Systems and methods for a connector assembly
AssigneeIllinois Tool Works Inc.
InventorsJoseph C. Kuhn, Dennis M. Mark
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A connector assembly is provided. The connector assembly includes a connector body, a movable component selectively movable between an uninstalled state and an installed state, a digital tag, and a digital blocker. When the movable component is moved from the uninstalled state to the installed state, the digital blocker is moved relative to the digital tag from a position where the digital tag is blocked by the digital blocker to a position where the digital tag is unblocked by the digital blocker, thereby providing a digital indication of a successful connection between the connector body and the movable component.
Claims20
A connector assembly comprising:
- a connector body;
- a movable component selectively movable between an uninstalled state and an installed state;
- a digital tag;
- and
- a digital blocker,
- wherein when the movable component is moved from the uninstalled state to the installed state, the digital blocker is moved relative to the digital tag from a position where the digital tag is blocked by the digital blocker to a position where the digital tag is unblocked by the digital blocker, thereby providing a digital indication of a successful connection between the connector body and the movable component,
- wherein the digital blocker is attached to the movable component.
A connector assembly comprising:
- a connector body;
- a movable component selectively movable between an uninstalled state and an installed state;
- a digital tag;
- and
- a digital blocker,
- wherein selective movement of the movable component between the uninstalled state and the installed state results in blocking and unblocking of the digital tag via relative movement between the digital blocker and the digital tag, and wherein blocking and unblocking the digital tag via relative movement between the digital blocker and the digital tag provides a digital status of a connection between the connector body and the movable component,
- wherein the digital tag is attached to the movable component.
A method for indicating a connection status on a connector assembly, the connector assembly including a connector body, a movable component, a digital tag, a digital blocker, and a fitting, the method comprising:
- blocking, via the digital blocker, an output signal of the digital tag;
- inserting an end of the fitting into the connector body;
- moving the movable component, attached to the digital blocker, relative to the connector body from an uninstalled state to an installed state;
- in response to moving the movable component relative to the connector body from the uninstalled state to the installed state, unblocking, via movement of the digital blocker relative to the digital tag, the output signal of the digital tag;
- and
- providing an indication of a successful connection status between the fitting and the connector body based on the unblocked output signal from the digital tag.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.