Systems and methods of coupling electrical conductors
AssigneeNDI Medical, LLC
InventorKenneth P Rundle
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems and methods are provided for coupling a plurality of electrical conductors, such as wires. A connector is provided including a plurality of bores or channels formed into a preferably unitary connector body, wherein at least a portion of one or more of the bores or channels intersects at least a portion of another of the bores or channels. The bores or channels are preferably formed along bore axes, which may be coplanar. A method according to the present invention includes inserting an insulated electrical conductor into a connector body and rotating a conductive rotational member threaded into a bore or channel formed in a connector body so as to electrically contact the conductive portion of the insulated conductor and at least one other electrically conductive surface.
Claims20
A device for coupling electrical conductors, the device comprising:
- a connector body having a plurality of body surfaces;
- a first engagement aperture extending along a first engagement axis into the connector body through at least one of the body surfaces;
- a first coupling element movably engageable at least partially within the first engagement aperture;
- a first channel formed into the connector body along a first channel axis and adapted to receive a first insulated electrical conductor, wherein the first channel at least partially intersects the first engagement aperture;
- a second engagement aperture extending along a second engagement axis into the connector body through at least one of the body surfaces;
- a second coupling element movably engageable at least partially within the second engagement aperture;
- a second channel formed into the connector body along a second channel axis and adapted to receive a second insulated electrical conductor, wherein the second channel at least partially intersects the second engagement aperture;
- and,
- an electrically conductive bridge member that at least partially intersects the first engagement aperture and the second engagement aperture,
- wherein the first coupling element is electrically coupled to the bridge member and the second coupling element is electrically coupled to the bridge member.
A method of coupling electrical conductors, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a device comprising:
- a connector body having a plurality of body surfaces;
- a first engagement aperture extending along a first engagement axis into the connector body through at least one of the body surfaces;
- a first coupling element movably engageable at least partially within the first engagement aperture;
- a first channel formed into the connector body along a first channel axis and adapted to receive an insulated electrical conductor, wherein the first channel is configured to receive a first insulated electrical conductor and the first channel at least partially intersects the first engagement aperture;
- a second engagement aperture extending along a second engagement axis into the connector body through at least one of the body surfaces;
- a second coupling element movably engageable at least partially within the second engagement aperture;
- a second channel formed into the connector body along a second channel axis and adapted to receive an insulated electrical conductor, wherein the second channel at least partially intersects the second engagement aperture;
- and,
- an electrically conductive bridge member that at least partially intersects the first engagement aperture and the second engagement aperture,
- inserting the first insulated electrical conductor into the first channel, the first insulated electrical conductor comprising one or more electrical conductors at least partially surrounded by one or more insulation layers;
- inserting the second insulated electrical conductor into the second channel, the second insulated electrical conductor comprising one or more electrical conductors at least partially surrounded by one or more insulation layers;
- a first moving step comprising moving the first coupling element relative to the connector body;
- a second moving step comprising moving the second coupling element relative to the connector body;
- and
- as a result of the first and second moving steps, placing the first and the second insulated electrical conductors in electrical communication with each other.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.