Abstract: A latching and electrical switch mechanism includes an insulated housing having a cavity therein with an opening thereto along with an electrically conductive ball disposed therein. The ball includes a stem with a smaller diameter than the ball and extends therefrom with a ball being sized for rotational and translational movement within the housing cavity. At least one groove is provided in the housing cavity and a coil spring is disposed in a groove for making electrical contact with the ball and retaining the ball for rotation within the cavity with the stem at selected conical angles with respect to the housing centerline. At least one electrical contact is disposed in the cavity at a spaced apart relationship with the coil spring for providing electrical connection with the ball upon translational movement of the ball within the cavity.

Abstract: A female electrical connector and method of using same includes a body having a bore therethrough for receiving electrical plug and a helical groove formed in the bore. A canted coil spring is disposed in the helical groove and protrudes therefrom for providing both electrical connection to the plug and retention of the plug within the bore and a connecting lug embedded into the body, surrounding the bore and interconnected with the spring includes a wire segment extending exterior to the body.

Abstract: A latching mechanism includes a housing with a cavity therein with an opening thereto. A ball having a stem of smaller diameter extending from the ball. The ball is sized for insertion into the housing cavity through the opening. At least one groove in the housing cavity is disposed proximate the cavity opening and a coil spring is disposed in the groove and retains the ball for rotation within the cavity with the stem at selected conical angles.

Abstract: A multiple positioning assembly includes a housing having a cavity therein with a circumferential groove disposed proximate a cavity opening. A ball assembly including a ball portion forms a spheroidal joint with the cavity which enables conical movement of the ball assembly. A plunger is slidably disposed within a bore through the ball portion of the ball assembly and electrical connections enable lateral movement of the plunger to control power to a light bulb attached to the plunger.

Abstract: Spring contact apparatus for an implantable medical device includes a plurality of nonconductive housing with each housing having a bore therethrough alignable with adjacent housing bores and assembled in spaced apart pairs with adjacent radial accesses to adjacent housing chambers. A plurality of electrically conductive garter springs are provided with the pairs of garter springs being disposed in corresponding adjacent housing chambers and each spring having a pigtail lead extending through a corresponding axis. The pairs of adjacent pigtail leads extending from adjacent axes are of sufficient length for a combined attachment to a corresponding pulse generator lead.

Abstract: A latch device includes a shaft having a surface of revolution defining an insertion surface disposed at an insertion angle along with a circumferential groove. A housing is provided which includes a shaft receiving bore therethrough and a torroidal cavity with a spring disposed therein. A segmented ring is provided which includes a plurality of separate sound producing dogs circumferentially disposed about the housing bore for latching between the housing and the shaft.

Abstract: In a rotary cartridge seal having a plastic ring with a body for sealably engaging a housing bore and a lip for sealably engaging a shaft rotatable within the housing bore and an internal groove in the body for engaging the ring in order to latch the plastic ring and a retainer together with residual stress in both axial and radial direction within the plastic ring due to the groove and ring dimensions and shape, an improvement wherein the retainer is a composite retainer for fixing the plastic ring within the housing bore and around the shaft. The composite retainer has a surface of revolution with a rear portion having a radius suitable for press fitting into the housing bore and a front portion of lesser radius ending in a ring. The composite retainer is made from a material having a modulus of elasticity at least double the sealing ring material and maintains a retention force sufficient to prevent seal separation upon application of pressure and temperature differential.

Abstract: A contact assembly for making electrical connection between coaxial members generally includes a rotor having a plurality of spaced apart circumferential electrically conductive rings, and a stator surrounding a rotor with a plurality of spaced apart grooves aligned with the plurality of rings at a variable distance therefrom. A plurality of circular canted-coil springs is provided with each spring being disposed and a corresponding groove providing constant force against a corresponding ring independent of the variable distance between the compression ring and the groove. A plurality of electrical leads is provided with each lead being electrically connected to a corresponding ring.

Abstract: A medically implantable electrical connector includes a housing having a bore with an internal groove therein along with a pin sized for insertion into the housing bore. A film removing spring is disposed in the housing groove dynamic loading of the spring in the groove by the pin causing scraping of film from the groove and pin surfaces to provide lowered electrical resistance therebetween.

Abstract: Seal apparatus includes a cover seal having a body and an extending cylindrical sleeve with the sleeve including a radial internal groove. A piston is provided having a circumferential groove and a biasing element is disposed between the internal and circumferential groove. Surfaces, disposed in the internal and circumferential grooves, orient the biasing element in order to effect sealing between the housing and the sleeve and an axial force to provide latching or locking between the seal and the piston.

Abstract: A stackable electrical connector assembly includes a plurality of contact housings with each housings having a bore therethrough alignable with adjacent housing bores. The adjacent housings define, in combination, spaced apart radial spring grooves. A plurality of electrically conducting garter springs are disposed in corresponding spring grooves with each spring including a lead extending to an exterior of adjacent housings. A cable having a plurality of wires is provided with each wire attached to a corresponding lead. The housings are modular enabling the contacts to provide a different number of terminal connections.

Abstract: A connector includes a housing having a bore with a housing groove disposed on an inside surface of the bore with a groove establishing a release angle between a housing groove bottom and a bore inside surface. A retainer defines a spring cavity between a retainer and the release angle and a circular radial canted coil spring is disposed in the spring cavity. A pin having a tapered end and a body diameter sized for sliding engagement with the bore is provided which includes a circumferential groove in the pin body for receiving the coil spring upon insertion of the pin into the bore. A circumferential groove includes a load angle for rotating the coil spring in an orientation in which the major spring axis is parallel to the release angle upon initial withdrawal of the pin from the bore. The coil is further compressed along the spring minor axis and expands radially upon continued withdrawal of the pin from the bore.