IP Library Granted Patent US 9,949,795
Granted Patent B2
US 9,949,795 · App. 14/806,182 · Granted Apr 24, 2018

Fortified plastic connector mount for disposable devices

Inventors: John Nino (Simi Valley, CA); David Ivinson (Camarillo, CA)
Assignee: ECA MEDICAL INSTRUMENTS
A61B19/30A61B17/8875A61B90/03B25B23/0035B25B23/0042B25B23/1415B25G3/32A61B2017/00526A61B2090/031A61C8/0089
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,949,795
App. No.
14/806,182
Granted
Apr 24, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

Disclosed herein is a fortified plastic connector mount having a plastic generally conical nose with a top and bottom, the bottom formed as part of or affixed to the flat top of a body and the top of the nose having a square channel guide with corners. The channel is formed axial and centered in the nose and of a size to accept a tool or shaft. At 90 degree orientation from each other are four pairs of force buttressing ribs “FBR” wherein the FBR have a bottom affixed at said flat top, and the FBR has a support edge affixed to an annular outer wall of the nose. The four pairs of FBR each pair being positioned along one of the four sides of the square channel. In some instances, each FBR further comprises an interior edge and an outer edge and each outer edge is aligned with a corner.

Claims (26)

1. A plastic connector mount ( 50 ) comprising:

a nose ( 100 ) with a proximal end ( 128 ) formed as part of or affixed to the flat top ( 105 ) of a body ( 102 );

at least four pairs of force buttressing ribs ( 120 & 120 ′);

each force buttressing rib has an interior edge ( 202 ) and an outer edge ( 200 ) and each outer edge is aligned with a corner ( 155 );

each member of the force buttressing rib pair is aligned with a corner; and,

the outer edges of two adjacent pairs of force buttressing ribs align with the same corner with each oriented 90 degree apart;

a distal end ( 125 ) of a back nose ( 100 ); and

a square channel ( 150 ) guide having corners ( 155 ), the square channel formed axial and centered in the back nose of a size to accept a tool or shaft;

wherein said force buttressing ribs each have a bottom ( 201 ) affixed at the flat top and each force buttressing rib has a support edge ( 210 ) affixed along the length of the back nose.

2. The connector mount of claim 1 wherein there are four pairs of force buttressing ribs, each pair being positioned along one of the four sides of the square channel.

3. A method of fortifying a connector mount, the method comprising:

forming an annular wall ( 108 ) around a square channel ( 150 ) of the connector mount, the annular wall being generally squarish with radiused corners;

supporting load on the connector mount with four pairs of force buttressing ribs ( 120 & 120 ′), whereby pairs of force buttressing ribs are positioned along each flat portion of the annular wall ( 310 ) and load from the shaft ( 400 ) exerted on the annular wall is transferred to a flat top ( 105 ) of the connector mount;

one force buttressing rib of each pair is placed at each corner whereby there are two force buttressing ribs at each corner separated by a 90 degree offset;

wherein each force buttressing rib is aligned with a corner ( 155 ) of the square channel of the connector mount;

and,

whereby the connection mount holds the shaft without failure at a load between a force (F 1 ) of 85 and 115 pound-feet for a predetermined time.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the predetermined time is at least 8 seconds.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the predetermined time is at least 9 seconds.

6. The method of claim 3 , wherein the predetermined time is at least 10 seconds.

7. The method of claim 3 , whereby the connection mount holds the shaft without failure at a load between a force (F 1 ) of 140 and 150 pound-feet for at least 10 seconds.

8. The method of claim 3 , whereby the connection mount holds the shaft without failure at a load between 140 and 150 pound-feet for at least 12 seconds.

9. The method of claim 3 , whereby the connection mount holds the shaft without failure at a load between 140 and 150 pound-feet for at least 15 seconds.

10. The method of claim 3 , whereby the connection mount holds the shaft without failure at a load between 140 and 150 pound-feet for at least 16 seconds.

11. The method of claim 3 , whereby the connection mount holds the shaft without failure at a load between 140 and 150 pound-feet for at least 17 seconds.

12. The method of claim 3 , wherein a non-fortified mount will at least one of distort, deform, and break the annular wall during the predetermined time in the absence of the strategically placed force buttressing ribs when the force (F 1 ) is applied.

Assignments (8)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 3, 2026
From: ECA MEDICAL INSTRUMENTS
To: CELTIC BANK CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 075338/0264 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 2, 2026
From: MIDCAP FINANCIAL TRUST
To: ECA MEDICAL INSTRUMENTS; ECA ACQUISITION HOLDINGS, INC.
Reel/Frame 075344/0777 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 16, 2022
From: ECA MEDICAL INSTRUMENTS; ECA ACQUISITION HOLDINGS, INC.
To: MIDCAP FINANCIAL TRUST
Reel/Frame 059909/0160 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 11, 2022
From: ABACUS FINANCE GROUP, LLC, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: ECA MEDICAL INSTRUMENTS
Reel/Frame 059361/0535 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 1, 2018
From: MB FINANCIAL BANK, N.A.
To: ECA MEDICAL INSTRUMENTS
Reel/Frame 047171/0240 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 5, 2018
From: ECA MEDICAL INSTRUMENTS
To: ABACUS FINANCE GROUP, LLC, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 047469/0585 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 23, 2016
From: ECA MEDICAL INSTRUMENTS
To: MB FINANCIAL BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 039140/0065 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 19, 2015
From: NINO, JOHN; IVINSON, DAVID
To: ECA MEDICAL INSTRUMENTS
Reel/Frame 036605/0952 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation PCTUS2014011719 · Jan 15, 2014
Provisional Application 61755640 · Jan 23, 2013
Related Publication 20150320502A1 · Nov 12, 2015