Electrical connector system and method involving positive mating and flex release

1. An electrical connector comprising:

a plug having a housing;

a key attached to the housing, wherein the key is configured to mate with a key slot located on a mating receptor;

a groove running along an outer periphery of the housing and configured to communicate with a plurality of receivers that are located in a circular discontinuous manner on the mating receptor, wherein the plurality of receivers comprise a ridge that mates with the groove;

a first electrical contact attached to the housing; and

a second electrical contact attached to the housing on a side opposite the first electrical contact and in electrical communication with the first electrical contact.

2. The electrical connector of claim 1 , further comprising a hole defined by the key and configured to mate with a corresponding protrusion in the mating receptor.

3. The electrical connector of claim 1 , wherein the first electrical contact is a spring probe pin.

4. The electrical connector of claim 3 , further comprising eighteen (18) additional spring probe pins located proximate to the first electrical contact.

5. The electrical connector of claim 1 , wherein the second electrical contact is a solder cup.

6. The electrical connector of claim 5 , further comprising eighteen (18) additional solder cups located proximate to the second electrical contact.

7. The electrical connector of claim 1 , wherein the housing is plastic.

8. The electrical connector of claim 7 , wherein at least one of the first and second electrical contact is molded into the housing.

9. The electrical connector of claim 1 , wherein the plug is substantially cylindrical in shape.

10. The electrical connector of claim 1 , wherein the housing extends beyond the first electrical contact and makes the first electrical contact scoop proof.

11. The electrical connector of claim 1 , further comprising a gripping ridge located on the housing.

12. The electrical connector of claim 1 , wherein the key has a flat portion and is configured to define along with a receiver on the mating connector a substantially flat surface.

13. The electrical connector of claim 1 , wherein the connector is part of a nurse call system.

14. A method of forming an electrical and mechanical connection comprising:

aligning a first connector and a second connector;

inserting a key located on one of the connectors into a corresponding slot located on the other connector;

sliding a ridge located on one of the connectors into a corresponding groove located on the other connector, wherein the ridge protrudes from a plurality of discontinuous receivers;

compressing a spring probe pin located on one of the connectors against a corresponding contact pad located on the other connector; and

flexing at least one of a housing having the ridge located on one of the connectors and the corresponding receiver defining the groove located on the other connector.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising inserting a key slot protrusion located on one of the connectors into a corresponding key hole located on the other connector.

16. The method of claim 14 , compressing eighteen (18) other spring probe pins located on one of the connectors into corresponding eighteen (18) contact pads located on the other connector.

17. The method of claim 14 , further comprising sending a nurse call signal through at least one of the spring probe pin and the contact pad.

18. The method of claim 14 , further comprising sending a patient monitoring signal through at least one of the spring probe pin and the contact pad.