Abstract: A flexible latch is provided for an electrical connector and includes an elongated flexible strip having front and rear ends fixed to a connector housing, with the strip being spaced from and flexible relative to the housing between the fixed ends. The flexible strip has a body portion of a given width extending forwardly from and flexibly rotatable in a given direction about the fixed rear end. A latching portion, having a total width less than the given width, extends rearwardly from and is flexibly rotatable opposite the given direction about the front end. A generally triangularly-shaped latch hook is formed on the latching portion for movement into and out of latching engagement with the mating connecting device as the latching portion and the body portion flexibly rotate in opposite directions about the fixed front and rear ends, respectively.

Abstract: An electrical plug and grip combination includes a housing that has a back side, a front side, a top side, a bottom side and a pair of lateral sides. The front side has a female plug extending therein. A male plug extends outwardly from the back side. An electrical plug may be removably extended into the female plug and electrically coupled to the male plug. A panel is attached to the front side of the housing. The panel has an upper edge, a lower edge, a forward side, a rear side, a first side edge and a second side edge. The forward side faces away from the housing and has an opening extending therein that exposes the female plug. The upper edge extends upwardly above a plane of the top side of the housing. The lower edge extends downwardly below a plane of the bottom side of side housing.

Abstract: A jig for precisely orientating a CPU over a socket of a connector comprises a frame, a limiting portion, an elastic portion and a positioning portion. The frame has an opening. The limiting portion and the elastic portion are formed on the frame. When the CPU is received in the opening, the limiting portion contacts a non-contact surface of the CPU, and the elastic portion presses the sides of the CPU. The positioning portion is formed on the frame and limits the movement of the frame relative to the socket when the CPU is received in the opening and the frame is put on the socket. Therefore, the CPU is precisely positioned over a transmission section of the socket, and a contact surface of the CPU contacts the transmission section of the socket.

Abstract: A system is provided for mounting a connecting device to a substrate. A connector housing is located at one side of the substrate, and a threaded fastening nut is engaged on the housing. A threaded fastener is engaged with the opposite side of the substrate and extends therethrough for tightening the nut toward the substrate in response to rotating the fastener. An assembly tool holds the fastening nut against rotation as the fastener is rotated. The tool includes a first portion for engaging at least a part of the housing to properly position the tool. A second portion of the tool engages the fastening nut to prevent rotation thereof. The second portion of the tool is aligned with the fastening nut automatically in response to engaging the first portion with the housing.

Abstract: An apparatus for connecting two pairs of conductors and one pair of ground wires and for allowing separation of the same upon the application of a tensional force upon at least one of the conductors or ground wires. The apparatus includes two plates that each defines three holes configured to receive two conductors and a ground wire, wherein the plates are positioned adjacent to each other such that the respective holes in each plate are aligned such that the conductors and ground wires coming from each plate would be in physical contact. Three connectors hold the plates together. The first two connectors are configured to release the plates upon the application of a tensional force on the conductors or ground wires before the third connector releases the plates, thereby separating the conductors before separating the ground wires.

Abstract: A SIM seat assembly has a base, terminals, two ejection arms and two mounting tabs. The terminals are mounted in the base and have inclined resilient contacts. The ejection arms are mounted on the base and have resilient arms. The mounting tabs are connected to the base. When a SIM card is installed in or removed from the SIM card seat assembly, the SIM card presses against the resilient contacts and presses the resilient contacts toward the base. The connect area between the resilient contacts and the chips on the SIM card are small. The chips SIM card are not able to be scratched by the terminals. Furthermore, the resilient arms push the SIM card out of the SIM card seat assembly when the SIM card is removed from the SIM card seat assembly so the SIM card can be removed without any difficulty.

Abstract: An electrical connector including a frame, electrical contacts and a system for retaining and ejecting an electronic module with the electrical contacts. The frame has a receiving area which is sized and shaped to removably receive an end of at least one electronic module. The electrical contacts are connected to the frame. The contacts include spring contacts adapted to make removable connection to contact pads on the end of the electronic module at a first inserted position. The system for retaining and ejecting the electronic module with the electrical contacts includes at least one ejection unit having a spring, a pusher and a guide connected between the frame and a guide channel in the pusher. The ejection unit is adapted to stationarily locate the pusher at two positions on the frame based upon biasing force of the spring and upon location of the guide in the guide channel.

Abstract: An attachment for a tool used to attach and remove load break elbows and protective caps from bushings disposed on a transformer is provided. The tool attachment includes an elbow engaging member that is positionable around a load break elbow or cap fixed to a bushing. The engagement member is fixedly secured to a horizontal bar that includes a number of aligned openings extending through the bar. These openings are selectively alignable with a pair of openings disposed on a vertical bar to pivotally attach the vertical and horizontal bars to one another. The vertical bar also includes an opening through which a pulling eye on the elbow or cap can extend when the tool attachment is positioned on the elbow or cap.

Abstract: An electrical connector has a plug portion and a terminal portion. The plug portion is couplable to the terminal portion to provide an electrical connection between a device and a peripheral item which is securely coupled to the device during normal operation of the device. Advantageously, the plug portion will break-away from the terminal portion when a force applied to the plug portion reaches a specified magnitude to thereby prevent damage to the connector and to prevent hindering operation of the device.

Abstract: A latch mechanism for use with an electronic module, such as an opto-electronic transceiver module. The latch mechanism allows the user to selectively extract the transceiver module from the port by moving an attached bail between a first and second position. Specifically, the bail is connected to, and configured to translate, a pair of sliders that are configured and arranged to engage, and disengage from, corresponding structure of the port. When the bail is in the first position, the sliders releasably engage corresponding structure of the port. When the bail is moved from the first position to a second position, the sliders disengage from the corresponding structure of the port, thereby enabling unhindered extraction of the module from the port.

Abstract: A latch mechanism for use with an electronic module, such as an opto-electronic transceiver module. The latch mechanism allows the user to selectively extract the transceiver module from the port by moving an attached bail between a first and second position. Specifically, the bail is connected to, and configured to translate, a pair of sliders that are configured and arranged to engage, and disengage from, corresponding structure of the port. When the bail is in the first position, the sliders releasably engage corresponding structure of the port. When the bail is moved from the first position to a second position, the sliders disengage from the corresponding structure of the port, thereby enabling unhindered extraction of the module from the port.

Abstract: An electrical connector including a frame, electrical contacts, and a system for retaining and ejecting an electronic module. The frame has a receiving area which is sized and shaped to removably received an end of at least one electronic module. The electrical contacts are connected to the frame. The contacts include spring contacts adapted to make removable connection to contact pads on the end of the electronic module at a first inserted position. The system for retaining and ejecting includes springs adapted to push on the end of the electronic module when the module is moved past the first inserted position. When the electronic module is inserted into the frame the contacts are adapted to make electrical connection with the contact pads on the end of the electronic module before the electronic module moves the springs.

Abstract: A through-panel apparatus includes a device with at least one through-panel receptacle and at least one component removably mounted to the device by inserting the component through the receptacle. Both the device and component have between them electrical and/or optical connections that are made when the component is mounted to the device, and broken when the component is demounted from the device. To break the connections requires the application of an extraction force in a direction opposite to that of insertion of the device through the receptacle. The component has a sprung mechanism that is biased against the device when an insertion force is applied to the component along the direction of insertion during mounting of the component to the device. The biasing of the sprung mechanism provides a spring bias force that contributes to the required extraction force to aid extraction of the component from the receptacle.

Abstract: A Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card connector with ejector includes a housing, a plurality of contacts which is brought into contact with an external contact of the card inserted in the housing, and an ejector. The housing forms a card receiving space on one side for containing the SIM card and an ejector receiving groove on the other side for containing the ejector. The ejector comprises a slider which moves in the direction of card insertion or ejection, a push rod, and a lever. The slider has a push portion extending into the card receiving space. The lever can pivot in the groove. One side of the lever separately engages with the push rod and can be pushed to rotate by the push rod. The other side of the lever engages with the slider, therefore the slider can be driven to slide when the lever rotates.

Abstract: A manually actuated ejector for electrical connectors for providing an initial disconnection movement between connector components includes a pivotal lever attached to one connector component having an actuator link connected thereto, the link terminating in a connection to a rotatable cam carried by the one connector part with a cam face in juxtaposition to an opposed surface of a second connector part whereby movement of the lever rotates the cam in opposition to the second connector part causing relative disconnection movement between the two connector parts.

Abstract: A breakaway locking connector system includes a first body having a rotatable collar mounted thereon and a second body configured to mate with the first body and automatically disengage from the first body when a predetermined force is applied to the connector system. The first and second bodies include telescopingly engaged body portions and axially mating contacts. The connector system further includes an annular collar encircling the telescoping body portions and rotatively held on the first body and a spring inside the collar. The ends of the spring are confined between the first body and the collar so as yieldingly to resist rotation of the collar relative to the first body. Axially aligned tabs are provided on the collar and the second body for latching the first body and the second body together through a predetermined range of forces.

Abstract: A connector device for connecting a smart card to a computer comprises a receptacle having an upwardly facing opening for receiving the card. The receptacle contains spring contacts which establish electrical contact with the card contacts, and which serve to connect the card contacts to the computer, and is provided with a projection adjacent the opening to facilitate one-handed withdrawal of the card from the receptacle.

Abstract: An electrical connector system has two connectors, one of which is included in a module mateable with the other connector in a pluggable manner. The other connector includes a body and two or more electrical contacts. The body of that electrical connector includes a spring that provides a combined lock-down force and kick-out force. The lock-down force biases the module against the other connector, thereby providing a secure electrical and mechanical connection. The kick-out force biases the module away from the other connector to separate or eject the module when a user actuates a release mechanism. The module also includes a slot that engages a projection on the other connector to promote alignment of the mating electrical contacts.

Abstract: A reworking device (10) for removing an electrical element (20) mounted on a motherboard (40) comprises a body portion (12), a pair of hooks (14) formed at two opposite ends of the body portion for engaging with a bottom surface of the element, and an elastic arm (16) formed at each of the two opposite ends of the body portion to lift up the element-when solders are reflown.

Abstract: An electrical receptacle having a body member, the body member having at least one blade-engaging member with a first and second portion spaced apart one another, a bridge portion, and at least one side structure spaced between the first and second portion, with at least one electrical lead coupled to the body member and at least one protrusion located on the body member that releasably engages and disengages a corresponding blade member absent the presence of an externally actuated release mechanism. Also including the electrical connector system having a male plug member having at least one blade with at least one recess. A female connector having at least one blade engaging member.

Abstract: A cover is operable to seat and unseat electronic components. The cover is detached from an enclosure exposing an access opening. An electronic component, such as an expansion card, is inserted by an operator into guide rails housed within the opening. A first catch mechanism of the cover pivotally engages the opening so as to form a lever arm. A second catch mechanism connects with a mating catch of the electronic component. The component traverses the guide rails according to the rotation of the cover. The mechanical advantage realized by the cover overcomes the forces associated with seating and detaching connector pins of the electronic component with sockets of an expansion bus. The cover detaches from both the component and the enclosure prior to being repositioned to overlap the opening.

Abstract: A container case for a card type memory comprises a storage space having an inserting entrance for inserting the card type memory, a resilient engaging pawl provided inside of the storage space for engaging with the card type memory, a leaf spring for ejecting the card type memory out of the storage space by resilient power, and a rotation supporting projection provided inside of the storage space for rotating the card type memory at said rotation supporting projection in the storage space to be easily ejected from the storage space with a comfortable mechanical feeling.

Abstract: A receptacle assembly (34) includes a radial groove (58) supported by a housing (46) which houses a plurality of electrical sockets (50). A radial abutment (60) is positioned on the housing adjacent the radial groove. A plug assembly (32) includes cantilever fingers (88) terminating in radially inwardly and outwardly directed protuberances (90,92). The inwardly directed protuberances are disposed to engage the radial groove. A locking sleeve (78) has a radially inward directed annular groove (112) and a surface (110) adjacent to groove (112). The sleeve groove is alignable with outwardly directed protuberances (92) to permit radial deflection of the cantilevered fingers and movement of inwardly directed protuberances (90) over the abutment and into groove (58). The sleeve is movable to position its surface (110) over outwardly directed protuberances (92) to lock inwardly directed protuberances (90) in groove (58).

Abstract: A plug ejector for ejecting an electrical plug from an electrical power supply socket comprises an electronic device having a controller that monitors and senses electrical power supply characteristics and a solenoid, which operates an ejector member to separate the plug from the socket when predetermined sequence in rapid changes in electrical power supply characteristics are sensed. The plug ejector can be incorporated into an electrical appliance or extension power cord electrical plug, which plugs into and is ejected from a conventional power supply socket. It can also be mounted in an adaptor, which receives an appliance or extension cord plug and ejects the adapter from a conventional power supply socket. It can also be incorporated into a module, which is semi-permanently plugged into a conventional power supply socket or incorporated into a wall or other power supply socket.

Abstract: The present invention describes a portable radiotelephone (100) equipped with a connector having an ejection mechanism and a detect switch for an insertable module. The connector (500) is simple in design and may be constructed from a single piece of metal sheet. A module (102), which adds functionality to the portable radiotelephone, is inserted into a module slot (104) of the portable radiotelephone. When the module is fully inserted, the connector detects its presence. The connector also ejects the fully inserted module when a user desires to remove or change the module and lifts a retaining clip (502).

Abstract: An electrical connector that includes a disengagement member is provided. The disengagement member is utilized to ensure that the electrical connector is secured in a locked position within a mating receptacle. This effectively eliminates disengagement of the electrical connector from the mating receptacle during regular use, such as that relating to an airbag squib connector.

Abstract: The modular jack allows a RJ series connector plug to be attached to a communications card that conforms to the PCMCIA requirements for a Type III card. The modular jack includes a main body portion including a top surface, a bottom outer surface and a front surface. The receptacle is disposed entirely within the front surface of the modular jack such that no portion of the plug extends through either the top surface or the bottom surface of the main body portion of the modular jack. Thus, the modular jack allows the communications card to be connected to standard RJ series plugs without deviating from the Type III PCMCIA card height requirement, even when the plug is inserted into the jack. Desirably, the main body portion has a height measured from the top surface to the bottom surface that is generally equal to or less than about 10.5 mm.

Abstract: An electrical connector system has two connectors, one of which is included in a module mateable with the other connector in a pluggable manner. The other connector includes an elongated guide rail and a connector block in which are retained two or more electrical contacts. The guide rail by use of snap projections and recesses (11) may extend through an opening in a computer enclosure. A latch member is attached to the end of the guide rail in a manner that releases the latch member from the guide rail if the latch member is bumped or jarred to minimize the likelihood of damaging it. A grounding strip embedded in the guide rail makes electrical contact with the bezel through which it extends to protect against EMI. The ground strip includes raised contact portions (41) that engage a conductive bottom cover (39) of the module (72) and lower contact portions (53) for surface mount to a system circuit board (26).

Abstract: The present invention is related to a cable coupling system for supplying DC power in rack-mounted server systems. The cable coupling system involves grouping related power supply and power return cables and placing ends of those cables in a cable-end housing. Electrically contacting the ends of the cables takes place through apertures in the back surface of the cable-end housing and corresponding electrical contact pins on a connection area of the rack-mounted system. The system also includes a connection guide having a lip that insures that the cable-end housing only connects to the electrical contact pins in one direction, thereby insuring that the polarity is not reversed in the supply of DC power. Further, the lip portion of the connection guide, in combination with a pry aperture on the top of the cable-end housing, assists removal of the cable-end housing by providing locations whereby a screw driver or other mechanism can be used to pry the cable-end housing.

Abstract: A cable, including first and second lengthwise portions that are coupled by an axially engageable safety breakaway connector, is used to connect first and second components. If someone trips on the cable, a region of the cable adjacent to the breakaway connector is pulled taut. Therefore, a substantially linear tensile force is applied to the cable at the breakaway connector. This tensile force is preferably sufficient to cause the respective parts of the breakaway connector to decouple instead of, for example, jerking one or both of the first and second components in a potentially damaging manner. For example, the cable may be used to connect an electronic game console with a game controller unit. Thus, if a person or pet trips over the cable, the cable becomes decoupled at the breakaway connector before the game console (which is commonly heavy and/or expensive) is jerked to the ground.

Abstract: In this front face of an electronics card designed to be inserted into a housing through an opening, at least one of the edges of which opening is provided with a notched bar, that portion of said front face which is to be disposed in the vicinity of said bar is provided with at least one abutment surface for abutting against a drive member engaged through the notch when inserting said card into the housing or when extracting it therefrom. The method consists in inserting a drive member through one of the notches in said bar, in causing said member to bear against an abutment surface, and in exerting a pivot force on said drive member to pivot it about the zone via which it bears against an edge of the notch, so that a force is transmitted to the front face, at the abutment surface, in a direction corresponding to inserting the card or to extracting the card.

Abstract: A lock and lock releasing mechanism for an IC card connecting mechanism comprising a resilient lock arm for accumulating a preliminary resilient force by being resiliently contacted with one side edge of an IC card to be received in a card receiving space through a card inlet port of the card connecting mechanism. The resilient lock arm is arranged to engage in a recess formed on the side edge of the IC card in order to establish the locked state of the IC card. The lock and lock releasing mechanism also comprises a control member that is arranged to selectively engage the resilient lock arm so that the resilient lock arm moves against its resiliency to disengage from the recess formed on the side edge of the IC card, thereby establishing a lock released state of the IC card.

Abstract: A retention member (40) for a card edge connector (4) is provided for securing a printed circuit card (6) in the connector. The retention member is formed as a spring clip having free ends (42) secured to releasably attached to ends of the electrical connector. Tabs (44) are received in notches (32) to further secure the assembly. Slots (48) are formed in the spring clip to receive corners of the printed circuit card. The spring clip may have bowed portions to further strengthen the retention of the printed circuit card. The spring clip is released from the connector by inserting a tool into lateral tool slots (13).

Abstract: A smart card connector of simple design and small size is provided, which retains a fully inserted smart card until a person deflects a tab (172) that releases the smart card, with the connector including a spring (130A) which then partially ejects the smart card so it can be grasped and removed. The apparatus includes a housing (302A) with a dielectric plastic plate-shaped support (72A) that holds contacts (94) with pad-engaging ends (92) projecting above an upwardly-facing face (106) of the plate to engage contact pads of the smart card. The housing forms a forwardly-opening cavity (88) for receiving the smart card when it is rearwardly inserted therein, the housing having a stop (109) that limits rearward movement of the card to a fully inserted position. A card retainer (304A) has a largely rearwardly-facing shoulder (166A) at the front of the cavity to resist withdrawal of the card until the tab is manually deflected.

Abstract: A connector cable assembly having an end adapted to be connected to a device. The connector cable assembly includes a connector at the end of the connector cable, a wire electrically connected to the connector, an insulating cover at least partially surrounding the wire, an overmolding at least partially surrounding a portion of the insulating cover, a seal portion adjacent the overmolding, and a clip positionable over at least a portion of the overmolding. The clip includes an engaging member for securing the clip and the connector to the device. Preferably, the overmolding is made from a thermoplastic material that at least partially surrounds the connector. It is also preferred that the seal portion is integral with the overmolding. The invention also provides a method of connecting a connector cable to a device having a housing defining an opening and having therein a socket.

Abstract: A quickly separable and disconnectable electrical connector device (10) comprises a pin section (14) having a socket receptacle (40) and a socket section (16). A mounting flange (18) is mounted about the socket receptacle and is coupled to a supporting structure (26) on the socket section. A force member configured as a ring (32) surrounds the pin engageable end of socket receptacle (40) and is adapted to abut the pin section. An adjustable spring (28) on the socket receptacle urges force member (32) against pin section (14), and is located adjacent to one side of flange (18) for reducing the force required to separate the pin and socket sections from one another and thereby for aiding separation therebetween.

Abstract: A retainer screw for maintaining a retained device such as a cable connector in a connected condition with a host device is provided with a torque disconnecting mechanism that responds to the axial movement of the retainer screw and disconnects the drive of the screw before the screw bottoms in the receiving nut. Disconnecting the drive not only prevents undue torque from being applied to the screw but also prevents seizure of the screw by the nut, preventing easy removal. Also, the disconnecting mechanism continues to provide connection of the drive torque in an unthreading direction notwithstanding the inability of the screw to be driven in the threading direction. The drive member of the retainer screw is allowed to ratchet relative to the screw to relieve the torque.

Abstract: An electrical card connector (1) includes an insulative housing (2), a number of electrical terminals (3), a card ejection element (4), a conductive shield (5), a switching element (6) and a pair of soldering elements (7). The insulative housing includes a base portion (20) and parallel first and second arms (22), (24). The electrical terminals are retained in the base portion. The switching element is assembled to the first arm and the soldering elements are retained in the first and second arms, respectively. The card ejection element is secured to the second arm and has a two-stroke mechanism which accepts an inserted electronic card on one inward push and ejects the electronic card from the electrical card connector on a second inward push.

Abstract: A ZIF socket (1) on which a CPU (2) is mounted. The CPU (2) has a plurality of pins (21) extending through a cover (11) into a base (12) of the socket for electrically engaging with contacts (110) received in the base. The cover defines two slots (1112) in two opposite sides of a top face thereof. The slots are located below two side edges of the CPU, whereby there is more space for a user's fingers to grip the CPU to pull it away from the socket in order to replace CPU with another one.

Abstract: The modular jack allows a RJ series connector plug to be attached to a communications card that conforms to the PCMCIA requirements for a Type III card. The modular jack includes a main body portion including a top surface, a bottom outer surface and a front surface. The receptacle is disposed entirely within the front surface of the modular jack such that no portion of the plug extends through either the top surface or the bottom surface of the main body portion of the modular jack. Thus, the modular jack allows the communications card to be connected to standard RJ series plugs without deviating from the Type III PCMCIA card height requirement, even when the plug is inserted into the jack. Desirably, the main body portion has a height measured from the top surface to the bottom surface that is generally equal to or less than about 10.5 mm.

Abstract: A card edge connector allows a modular jack to be electronically connected to a PCMCIA Type III communications card. The card edge connector includes a modular jack with a main body portion having a top surface, a bottom surface, a front surface and a rear surface. A receptacle is disposed entirely within the front surface of the modular jack and the receptacle is sized and configured to receive a RJ series connector plug such that no portion of the plug extends through either the top surface or the bottom surface of the modular jack. A connector attached to the rear surface of the modular jack and the connector includes a socket sized and configured to receive a portion of a printed circuit board disposed within the communications card. Desirably, the card edge connector includes at least one contact pin including a plug engaging portion that extends into the receptacle and a printed circuit board engaging portion that extends into the socket.

Abstract: An electrical connector (1) adapted for providing an interconnection between an electronic card (2) and a printed circuit board includes an insulative housing (10), a plurality of electrical contacts (12) received in the insulative housing and an ejector mechanism mounted in one side of the insulative housing. The ejector mechanism has a push-rod (136) pushed outwardly by two first spring elements (130), a push block (131) pushed outwardly by a second spring element (142) and an actuator (143) for locking the push-rod in a card-engaged position. An inward acting force against the push block unlocks the actuator and releases the push-rod to eject an inserted card.

Abstract: A lever-type electrical connector has first and second connector housings adapted to be detachably fitted together in a connected position by relative movement in a fitting direction. A lever is rotatably mounted for drawing the connector housings towards said connected position. Locking means are provided on the connector housings for locking them together in the connected position. Springs act operatively between the connector housings to be compressed when the connector housings are being moved towards the connected position, thereby to create a force urging the connector housings in their separation direction at least during the movement of the connector housings towards the connected position. This reduces the risk of incomplete fitting together of the housings.

Abstract: An improved friction-fitted light and light socket where the base of the light has a resilient, beveled flange that deforms on insertion of the base into the light socket, thus resisting removal. To facilitate removal, the wall of the socket has a cutout portion dimensioned to receive a small tool, such as the end of the flathead screw driver, and thereby provide access to the base just below the flange so that the light can be pried free of the light socket.

Abstract: A connector is provided to securely prevent a partial connection while enabling a smooth connection with a mating connector without forcibly turning the mating connector aside. At the front end of the left and right side surfaces of a female housing 1, a pair of spring contact portions 14 laterally symmetrically project in the middle with respect to the height direction of the female housing 1. In the middle of left and right side walls of a receptacle 9 of a male housing 2 with respect to its height direction, a pair of spring accommodating portions 16 in the form of grooves into which the spring contact portions 14 are fittable are formed, and compression coil springs 29 are accommodated therein. When being pushed into the receptacle 9, the female housing 1 is subjected to the reaction forces of the compression coil springs 29.

Abstract: A shear connector includes a plug connector having front and rear insert portions on opposite sides of the shear plane that are held together by a shear bolt scored to shear at a predetermined force, and which is threaded directly into openings in the rear insert in such a way as to eliminate relative movement between the shear bolts and the rear insert during shearing. Pin contact sections extending rearwardly from the front insert are scored at the shear plane to shear at a predetermined force. By varying clearances between the pin contact sections and the sides of the openings of the rear insert into which the pin contact sections extend, groups of contacts can be made to shear at different times, thereby reducing the force required to shear each group without unduly weakening the contacts.

Abstract: A connector lock mechanism which not only can prevent half engagement between a set of connectors but also can remove the two connectors from each other easily. The connector lock mechanism (100) according to the invention includes a pair of flexible elastic pieces (20) which can be flexed and shifted integrally with a flexible arm (15) capable of pressing against a female connector (20) as a male connector (10) is engaged with the male connector (20). Additionally, the connector lock mechanism (100) includes a pair of push-out guide surfaces (26) which are contacted with the flexible elastic pieces (18) and receive a pressing force therefrom and also which applies part of the reactive force of the pressing force from the flexible elastic pieces (18) onto the male connector (10) to thereby energize the male connector (10) in a direction where the male connector (10) is removed from the female connector (20).

Abstract: An ejector mechanism for a connector comprises a receptacle and an elastic device deformably received in the receptacle. An ejection plate is adapted to force the elastic device to deform and store tension when an external card is manually inserted into the connector and exerts a force on the ejection plate. A retaining member is movably retained in the connector for retaining the elastic device at the deformed status. A releasing device is connected to the retaining member for releasing the retention of the retaining member to the elastic device thereby causing the ejection plate to eject the card via release of the tension stored in the elastic device.

Abstract: A plug ejector comprises a solenoid incorporated into an electrical plug. An adapter plugs into a wall socket and presents an adapter socket for receiving the plug. Upon activation by a remote switch, the solenoid projects its armature to react against the adapter socket to eject the plug. The plug may be incorporated into an appliance cord, or an extension cord. The plug may incorporate a GFI protector, or a vibration sensor. Another embodiment utilizes an appliance's on-off switch to operate the ejector.

Abstract: A universal serial bus connector including a male and a female connector. The male connector has elastic hooking means fixed to two sides of its casing. The hooking means each has a front hook and an outward projected elastic rear push portion. The female connector has outward extended retaining tabs provided at two edges of its each insertion hole corresponding to the hooks of the hooking means on the male connector. When the male connector is inserted into the female connector with the rear push portions of the hooking means inward pressed, the hooks may be located beyond the retaining tabs on the female connector. When the push portions of the hooking means are released, the hooks of the hooking means elastically shift inward to engage with said retaining tabs and cause the male connector to be firmly connected to the female connector without easily disengaging from the latter.