US20030194910A1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Connector
Assignee: Crest Health Care
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Filing: 2003-04-14
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Granted: —
•
Expires: 2023-04-14
Abstract
Abstract The present invention relates to an adapter, wherein the adapter has a housing with a rear face, a front face, an outside perimeter face. A first connector is located on the rear face. A second connector and a third connector are located on the front face. A mounting piece is located on the outside perimeter face. The first connector is designed to mate with a connector located on an interface unit coupled to a medical facility communication system. The second connector is designed to mate with a connector on a first end of a communications cable. The second end of the communications cable is connected to an interface, such as a hospital bed interface. The mounting piece has mounting holes that allow the adapter to be attached to the interface unit.
Inventors
- 👤 Mark Stoner
- 👤 John Heinsch
- 👤 David Osterkamp
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 16:10
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R31/00; H01R31/06; H01R13/00; H01R13/62; H01R13/621; H01R13/6215
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 38
Claim 1
Independent Claim
89 words
1 . An adapter for facilitating the connection of a communications cable to a wall interface unit of a health care facility, wherein the communications cable includes a first connector and the wall interface unit includes a second connector, the adapter comprising: a housing having a first face, a second face and an outside perimeter face; a third connector located on the first face and adapted to connect to the second connector; and a fourth connector located on the second face and adapted to connect to the first connector.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
89 words
1 . An adapter for facilitating the connection of a communications cable to a wall interface unit of a health care facility, wherein the communications cable includes a first connector and the wall interface unit includes a second connector, the adapter comprising: a housing having a first face, a second face and an outside perimeter face; a third connector located on the first face and adapted to connect to the second connector; and a fourth connector located on the second face and adapted to connect to the first connector.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
2 . The adapter of claim 1 , wherein the third connector is a 37-pin D-subminiature male plug.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
3 . The adapter of claim 1 , wherein the fourth connector is a female Centronics-type connector.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
4 . The adapter of claim 1 , further comprising a fifth connector located on the second face.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
5 . The adapter of claim 4 , wherein the fifth connector is a 37-pin D-subminiature female plug.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
6 . The adapter of claim 1 , further comprising a controlled attachment and release mechanism for securing the communication cable to the adapter.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
7 . The adapter of claim 6 , wherein the controlled attachment and release mechanism comprises a friction fit arrangement.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
8 . The adapter of claim 6 , wherein the controlled attachment and release mechanism comprises a bracket and a clamp.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
9 . The adapter of claim 1 , further comprising a mounting piece located on the outside perimeter face.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
10 . The adapter of claim 1 , further comprising a magnetically actuated reed switch.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
104 words
11 . A communications system for communicating between a bed interface module of a hospital bed and a medical facility communication system, wherein the bed interface module has a first connector, the system comprising: a wall interface module operably coupled to the medical facility communication system and including a second connector; a communication cable comprising a first end and a second end, the first end including a third connector and the second end including a fourth connector that is compatible with the first connector; and an adapter configured to be interposed between the wall interface module and the first end of the communication cable.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
104 words
11 . A communications system for communicating between a bed interface module of a hospital bed and a medical facility communication system, wherein the bed interface module has a first connector, the system comprising: a wall interface module operably coupled to the medical facility communication system and including a second connector; a communication cable comprising a first end and a second end, the first end including a third connector and the second end including a fourth connector that is compatible with the first connector; and an adapter configured to be interposed between the wall interface module and the first end of the communication cable.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
12 . The communications system of claim 11 , wherein the adapter comprises a fifth connector compatible with the second connector and a sixth connector compatible with the third connector.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
13 . The communications system of claim 12 , wherein the sixth connector is a female 36-pin connector.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
14 . The communications system of claim 12 , wherein the fifth connector is a 37-pin male plug.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
15 . The communications system of claim 12 , wherein the adapter further comprises a seventh connector, which is the same type of connector as the second connector.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
33 words
16 . The communications system of claim 11 , wherein the adapter further comprises a magnetically actuated reed switch and the third connector further comprises a magnet adapted to actuate the reed switch.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
17 . The communications system of claim 11 further comprising a controlled attachment and release mechanism configured to secure the third connector to the sixth connector.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
18 . The communication system of claim 17 , wherein the controlled attachment and release mechanism comprises a bracket and a clamp.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
19 . The communication system of claim 17 , wherein the controlled attachment and release mechanism comprises a friction fit arrangement.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
36 words
20 . The communications system of claim 11 , wherein the adapter comprises a housing and a mounting piece located on the housing, the mounting piece configured to mount the adapter to the wall interface unit.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
119 words
21 . A method for connecting a communications cable to a wall interface unit in a hospital bed environment, wherein a cable has a first connector and the interface unit has a second connector, wherein the first and second connectors are incompatible, the method comprising: providing an adapter between the incompatible connectors, the adapter comprising: (i) a housing having a front side and a backside; (ii) a third connector located on the front side and configured to be compatible with the first connector; and (iii) a fourth connector located on the back side and configured to be compatible with the second connector; connecting the first connector to the third connector; and connecting the second connector to the fourth connector.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
119 words
21 . A method for connecting a communications cable to a wall interface unit in a hospital bed environment, wherein a cable has a first connector and the interface unit has a second connector, wherein the first and second connectors are incompatible, the method comprising: providing an adapter between the incompatible connectors, the adapter comprising: (i) a housing having a front side and a backside; (ii) a third connector located on the front side and configured to be compatible with the first connector; and (iii) a fourth connector located on the back side and configured to be compatible with the second connector; connecting the first connector to the third connector; and connecting the second connector to the fourth connector.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
23 words
22 . The method of claim 21 , further comprising controlling the attachment and release of the first connector to the third connector.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
28 words
23 . The method of claim 21 , further comprising mounting the adapter to the wall interface unit by a flange carried on the housing of the adapter.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
18 words
24 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the third connector is a 36-pin female Centronics connector.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
18 words
25 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the fourth connector is a 37-pin D-subminiature male plug.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
34 words
26 . The method of claim 21 , further comprising providing a fifth connector on the front side of the housing, wherein the fifth is the same type of connector as the second connector.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
18 words
27 . The method of claim 26 , wherein the fifth connector is a 37-pin D-subminiature female plug.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
17 words
28 . The method of claim 21 , further comprising actuating a reed switch with a magnet.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
92 words
29 . A communications cable for connecting between a bed interface module of a hospital bed and an adapter configured to connect to a wall interface module connected to a medical facility communication system, wherein the bed interface module has a first connector and the adapter includes a magnetically actuated reed switch and a second connector, the communication cable comprising: a first end including a third connector that is compatible with the first connector; and a second end including a magnet and a fourth connector that is compatible with the second connector.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
92 words
29 . A communications cable for connecting between a bed interface module of a hospital bed and an adapter configured to connect to a wall interface module connected to a medical facility communication system, wherein the bed interface module has a first connector and the adapter includes a magnetically actuated reed switch and a second connector, the communication cable comprising: a first end including a third connector that is compatible with the first connector; and a second end including a magnet and a fourth connector that is compatible with the second connector.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
26 words
30 . The communication cable of claim 29 , wherein the magnet actuates the reed switch when the fourth connector is connected to the second connector.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
15 words
31 . The communication cable of claim 30 , further comprising a friction fit arrangement.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
23 words
32 . The communication cable of claim 30 , further comprising a cable with a right angle cord exit from the fourth connector.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
19 words
33 . The communication cable of claim 30 , wherein the fourth connector is a 36-pin male Centronics connector.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
19 words
34 . The communication cable of claim 30 , wherein the third connector is a D-subminiature 37-pin female connector.
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