Clip for making a mechanical and electrically conductive connection between the clip and a pin, especially a feedthrough pin

Abstract

A clip for making a mechanical and electrically conductive connection between the clip and an electrically conductive pin. The clip has a base, and a first arm and an opposite second arm projecting out from the base. The first and the second arms each having a clipping area, the clipping areas of the first and second arms running toward one another and being designed to lie against the pin to make the mechanical and electrically conductive connection when the pin is arranged between the clipping areas of the first and second arms, respectively. A centering area departs from each of the clipping areas, that is, the clipping area of the first arm and the clipping area of the second arm, the centering area of the first arm and the centering area of the second arm diverging from one another.

1 . A clip for making a mechanical and electrically conductive connection between the clip and an electrically conductive pin, the clip comprising:
 a base;   a first arm and a second arm opposite said first arm, said first and the second arms projecting out from said base, and each of said first and second arms having a clipping area;   said clipping area of said first arm and said clipping area of said second arm running toward one another and being configured to lie against the pin to make the mechanical and electrically conductive connection when the pin is disposed between said clipping area of said first arm and said clipping area of said second arm; and   a centering area respectively departing from each of the clipping area of said first arm and said clipping area of said second arm, said centering area of said first arm and said centering area of said second arm diverging from one another.   
     
     
         2 . The clip according to  claim 1 , wherein said clipping area of said first arm and said clipping area of said second arm are configured to be pretensioned against the pin to make the said connection when the pin is arranged between said clipping area of said first arm and said clipping area of said second arm. 
     
     
         3 . The clip according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 each of said centering area of said first arm and said centering area of said second arm has an inner surface, said inner surface of said centering area of said first arm facing towards said inner surface of said centering area of said second arm; and   said first arm and said second arm are configured such that pressing the pin against said facing inner surfaces of said centering areas of said first and second arms presses said first and second arms apart, to enable the pin to be arranged between said clipping area of said first arm and said clipping area of said second arm.   
     
     
         4 . The clip according to  claim 1 , wherein said first arm and said second arm are integrally formed in one piece with said base. 
     
     
         5 . The clip according to  claim 1 , further comprising a further base connected via a connection area with said base. 
     
     
         6 . The clip according to  claim 5 , further comprising a third arm and a fourth arm opposite said third arm, each of said third and fourth arms having a clipping area, said clipping area of said third arm and said clipping area of said fourth arm running toward one another and being configured to lie against the pin to make the mechanical and electrically conductive connection when the pin is arranged between said clipping area of said third arm and said clipping area of said fourth arm, and a centering area departing from said clipping area of said third arm and a centering area departing from said clipping area of said fourth arm, said centering areas of said third arm and of said fourth arm diverging from one another. 
     
     
         7 . The clip according to  claim 6 , wherein said third and the fourth arms project out from said further base. 
     
     
         8 . The clip according to  claim 6 , wherein said base forms a welding area enabling the clip to be welded with the pin when the pin is arranged between said clipping area of said first arm and said clipping area of said second arm and/or said further base forms a further welding area enabling the clip to be welded with the pin when the pin is arranged between said clipping area of said third arm and said clipping area of said fourth arm. 
     
     
         9 . The clip according to  claim 6 , wherein:
 said base has a front surface that faces the pin when the pin is arranged between said clipping area of said first arm and said clipping area of said second arm, and a back surface that faces away from said front surface of said base;   said back surface of said base being a solderable connection surface;   said further base has a front surface that faces the pin when the pin is arranged between said clipping area of said third arm and said clipping area of said fourth arm, and a back surface that faces away from said front surface of said further base; and   said back surface of said further base being a solderable connection surface.   
     
     
         10 . The clip according to  claim 5 , wherein said connection area has a front surface that faces the pin when the pin is arranged between said clipping areas of said arms, said front surface of said connection area being convexly curved to make contact with the pin. 
     
     
         11 . The clip according to  claim 1 , wherein said base forms a welding area enabling the clip to be welded with the pin when the pin is arranged between said clipping area of said first arm and said clipping area of said second arm. 
     
     
         12 . The clip according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said base has a front surface that faces the pin when the pin is arranged between said clipping area of said first arm and said clipping area of said second arm, and a back surface that faces away from said front surface of said base; and   said back surface of said base being a solderable connection surface.   
     
     
         13 . A contact assembly, comprising:
 at least one clip according to  claim 1 ; and   at least one electrically conductive pin to be clamped to said at least one clip by way of said clipping areas of said at least one clip.   
     
     
         14 . The assembly according to  claim 13 , wherein said at least one clip is welded with said at least one pin. 
     
     
         15 . A medical device, comprising:
 at least one clip according to  claim 1 ; and   at least one electrically conductive pin, said at least one pin being clamped to said at least one clip by way of said clipping areas of said at least one clip.   
     
     
         16 . The medical device according to  claim 15 , the medical device being an implantable medical device with a device housing and a header portion, and wherein:
 said clip is disposed within the header portion of the implantable device;   said electrically conductive pin is a feedthrough pin configured to provide an electrical connection between an electrical contact or electrical component within said header portion and an electrical contact or an electrical component located within the device housing.   
     
     
         17 . The medical device according to  claim 16 , wherein said clip is located within the device housing of the implantable device, wherein the medical device comprises a battery located within the device housing, wherein the electrically conductive pin is a feedthrough pin configured to provide an electrical connection between at least one electrical contact or electrical component and the battery of the medical device.