US4500788A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Device for providing antibacterial radiation
Assignee: Baxter International Inc
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Filing: 1983-08-19
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Granted: 1985-02-19
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Expires: 2003-08-19
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for automatically connecting and disconnecting a pair of connectors includes first and second relatively movable means to carry the connectors and to move them back and forth between connected and disconnected positions. Rack and gear means may be used having a variable mechanical advantage at different positions to facilitate connection and disconnection of the connectors. The apparatus may also have means for providing radiation for antibacterial effect on the connectors, typically ultraviolet radiation.
Inventors
- 👤 Ralph Kulin
- 👤 Daniel B. Granzow
- 👤 Brant R. Danielsen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 08:54
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M39/00; A61M39/10; A61M39/16; A61M39/18; A61L; A61L2/00; A61L2/02; A61L2/08; A61L2/10; A61M1/00; A61M1/14; A61M1/28; A61M1/285; B; B29; B29C; B29C65/00; B29C65/78; B29C65/7802; B29C66/00; B29C66/50; B29C66/51; B29C66/52; B29C66/522; B29C66/5229; B29C66/52291; B29C66/52293; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S604/00; Y10S604/905
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
181 words
In apparatus for automatically connecting and disconnecting a pair of connectors, including a housing; means within said housing for providing radiation for antibacterial effect therein; first and second means for respectively holding said connectors, said first and second means being relatively movable between first and second positions, to cause connectors carried in the first and second means to be separated from each other in the first position, and to cause said carried connectors to be joined together in the second position; rack and gear means for relatively moving said first and second means between said first and second positions, the gear of said rack and gear means defining gear teeth of increasing pitch from its center of rotation about at least a portion of its periphery, the rack of said rack and gear means defining mating teeth correspondingly spaced along its length in positions to permit relatively linear motion between said rack and gear as the gear rolls along the rack, whereby the mechanical advantage of the rack and gear means varies with the position of the gear along the rack.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
181 words
In apparatus for automatically connecting and disconnecting a pair of connectors, including a housing; means within said housing for providing radiation for antibacterial effect therein; first and second means for respectively holding said connectors, said first and second means being relatively movable between first and second positions, to cause connectors carried in the first and second means to be separated from each other in the first position, and to cause said carried connectors to be joined together in the second position; rack and gear means for relatively moving said first and second means between said first and second positions, the gear of said rack and gear means defining gear teeth of increasing pitch from its center of rotation about at least a portion of its periphery, the rack of said rack and gear means defining mating teeth correspondingly spaced along its length in positions to permit relatively linear motion between said rack and gear as the gear rolls along the rack, whereby the mechanical advantage of the rack and gear means varies with the position of the gear along the rack.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which said mechanical advantage is substantially at its maximum when the rack and gear means are at the second position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
56 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which the teeth of said rack are positioned at differing distances from an axis of relative motion of the first and second means between the first and second positions, said differing distances inversely corresponding to the differing pitches of the gear teeth to permit relatively linear motion along said axis.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 3 in which the sum of the pitch of each gear tooth and the distance from said axis of a rack tooth meshing against said gear tooth is substantially constant from gear tooth to gear tooth.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which said radiation providing means is a source of ultraviolet radiation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which said housing defines drawer means, said drawer means carrying said first and second means to permit exposure of said connector to antibacterial radiation when the drawer means is closed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
83 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which one of said housing and second means defines latch means, said second means being movable by the rack and gear means, and the other of said housing and second means defining a latch engaging site positioned to engage said latch means in the first position and to be spaced from the latch means in the second position, whereby said drawer means cannot be reopened after closing until said second means is moved to the second position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which one of said first and second means defines spring arm means for releasably retaining a connector.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
66 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which said second means for holding the connectors is movable by said rack and gear means between the first and second positions, said gear of the gear means being attached to a rotatable shaft, whereby rotation of such shaft and gear causes said rack to move in a direction transverse of said shaft, said shaft terminating in a rotatable handle.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 9 in which said shaft carries rotatable handle means adapted to rotate substantially 180° to cause said second means to move between the first and second positions.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
231 words
An apparatus for automatically connecting and disconnecting a pair of connectors, including a housing, and means within said housing for providing radiation for antibacterial effect therein; first and second means for respectively holding said connectors, said second means being relatively movable between first and second positions to cause connectors carried in the first and second means to be separated from each other in the first position and to cause said carried connectors to be joined together in the second position, rack and gear means for relatively moving said first and second means between said first and second positions, the gear of said rack and gear means defining gear teeth of increasing pitch from its center of rotation about at least a portion of its periphery, the rack of said rack and gear means defining teeth which are positioned at differing distances from an axis of relative motion of the first and second means between the first and second positions, said differing distances inversely corresponding to the differing pitches of the gear teeth to permit relatively linear motion along said axis between said rack and gear as the gear rolls along the rack, whereby the mechanical advantage of the rack and gear means varies with the position of the gear along the rack, said mechanical advantage being substantially at its maximum when the rack and gear means are at the second position.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
231 words
An apparatus for automatically connecting and disconnecting a pair of connectors, including a housing, and means within said housing for providing radiation for antibacterial effect therein; first and second means for respectively holding said connectors, said second means being relatively movable between first and second positions to cause connectors carried in the first and second means to be separated from each other in the first position and to cause said carried connectors to be joined together in the second position, rack and gear means for relatively moving said first and second means between said first and second positions, the gear of said rack and gear means defining gear teeth of increasing pitch from its center of rotation about at least a portion of its periphery, the rack of said rack and gear means defining teeth which are positioned at differing distances from an axis of relative motion of the first and second means between the first and second positions, said differing distances inversely corresponding to the differing pitches of the gear teeth to permit relatively linear motion along said axis between said rack and gear as the gear rolls along the rack, whereby the mechanical advantage of the rack and gear means varies with the position of the gear along the rack, said mechanical advantage being substantially at its maximum when the rack and gear means are at the second position.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 11 in which the sum of the pitch of each gear tooth and the distance from said axis of a rack tooth meshing against said gear tooth is substantially constant from gear tooth to gear tooth.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 12 in which said radiation providing means is a source of ultraviolet radiation.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
292 words
An apparatus for automatically connecting and disconnecting a pair of connectors, including first and second means for respectively holding said connectors, said first and second means being relatively movable between first and second positions to cause connectors carried in the first and second means to be separated from each other in the first position, and to cause said carried connectors to be joined together in the second position, rack and gear means for relatively moving said first and second means between said first and second positions, the gear of said rack and gear means defining gear teeth of increasing pitch from its center of rotation about at least a portion of its periphery, the rack of said rack and gear means defining mating teeth correspondingly spaced along its length in positions to permit relatively linear motion between said rack and gear as the gear rolls along the rack, whereby the mechanical advantage of the rack and gear means varies with the position of the gear along the rack, said apparatus including a housing, and means within said housing for providing radiation for antibacterial effect therein, said housing defining drawer means, said drawer means carrying said first and second means to permit exposure of said connectors to antibacterial radiation when the drawer means is closed, one of said drawer means and second means defining latch means, said second means being movable by the rack and gear means, and the other of said drawer means and second means defining a latch engaging site positioned to engage said latch means in the first position and to be spaced from the latch means in the second position, whereby said drawer means cannot be reopened after closing until said second means is moved to the second position.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
292 words
An apparatus for automatically connecting and disconnecting a pair of connectors, including first and second means for respectively holding said connectors, said first and second means being relatively movable between first and second positions to cause connectors carried in the first and second means to be separated from each other in the first position, and to cause said carried connectors to be joined together in the second position, rack and gear means for relatively moving said first and second means between said first and second positions, the gear of said rack and gear means defining gear teeth of increasing pitch from its center of rotation about at least a portion of its periphery, the rack of said rack and gear means defining mating teeth correspondingly spaced along its length in positions to permit relatively linear motion between said rack and gear as the gear rolls along the rack, whereby the mechanical advantage of the rack and gear means varies with the position of the gear along the rack, said apparatus including a housing, and means within said housing for providing radiation for antibacterial effect therein, said housing defining drawer means, said drawer means carrying said first and second means to permit exposure of said connectors to antibacterial radiation when the drawer means is closed, one of said drawer means and second means defining latch means, said second means being movable by the rack and gear means, and the other of said drawer means and second means defining a latch engaging site positioned to engage said latch means in the first position and to be spaced from the latch means in the second position, whereby said drawer means cannot be reopened after closing until said second means is moved to the second position.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
81 words
The apparatus of claim 14 in which the mechanical advantage of the rack and gear means is substantially at its maximum when the rack and gear means are at the second position, the teeth of said rack being positioned at differing distances from an axis of relative motion of the first and second means between the first and second positions, said differing distances inversely corresponding to the differing pitches of the gear teeth to permit relatively linear motion along said axis.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 15 in which one of said first and second means defines spring arm means for releasably retaining a connector.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
66 words
The apparatus of claim 18 in which said second means for holding the connectors is movable by said rack and gear means between the first and second positions, said gear of the gear means being attached to a rotatable shaft whereby rotation of such shaft and gear causes said rack to move in a direction transverse of said shaft, said shaft terminating in a rotatable handle.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 17 in which said shaft carries rotatable handle means adapted to rotate substantially 180° to cause said second means to move between the first and second positions.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
190 words
An apparatus for automatically connecting and disconnecting a pair of connectors, including a housing; means within said housing for providing radiation for antibacterial effect therein; first and second means for respectively holding said connectors, said first and second means being relatively movable between first and second positions, to cause connectors carried in the first and second means to be separated from each other in the first position, and to cause said carried connectors to be joined together in the second position; means for moving said second means between said first and second positions; said housing carrying said first and second means, to permit exposure of said connector to antibacterial radiation when the drawer is closed and to provide access to said connector when the drawer is open, one of said housing and second means defining latch means, the other of said housing and second means defining a latch engaging site positioned to engage said latch means in the first position and to be spaced from the latch means in the second position, whereby said housing cannot be reopened after closing until said second means is moved to the second position.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
190 words
An apparatus for automatically connecting and disconnecting a pair of connectors, including a housing; means within said housing for providing radiation for antibacterial effect therein; first and second means for respectively holding said connectors, said first and second means being relatively movable between first and second positions, to cause connectors carried in the first and second means to be separated from each other in the first position, and to cause said carried connectors to be joined together in the second position; means for moving said second means between said first and second positions; said housing carrying said first and second means, to permit exposure of said connector to antibacterial radiation when the drawer is closed and to provide access to said connector when the drawer is open, one of said housing and second means defining latch means, the other of said housing and second means defining a latch engaging site positioned to engage said latch means in the first position and to be spaced from the latch means in the second position, whereby said housing cannot be reopened after closing until said second means is moved to the second position.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 19 in which said radiation providing means is a source of ultraviolet radiation.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
65 words
The apparatus of claim 19 in which said second means for holding the connectors is movable by rack and gear means between the first and second positions, said gear of the gear means being attached to a rotatable shaft, whereby rotation of said shaft and gear causes said rack to move in a direction transverse of said shaft, said shaft terminating in a rotatable handle.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 21 in which said shaft and rotatable handle is adapted to rotate substantially 180° to cause said second means to move between the first and second position.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-02-19 | 1988-08-20 | 1989-02-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-02-19 | 1992-08-20 | 1993-02-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-02-19 | 1996-08-20 | 1997-02-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |