Abstract: The present invention provides a device and method for separating electrical connector assemblies. Electrical connector assemblies typically comprise a male connector, commonly called a plug, and a female connector, commonly called a receptacle. The separation of an electrical connector assembly is accomplished by at least one lever disposed in the body of at least one of the connectors. The lever is attached to the body of the connector such that when the lever is “up” the lower portion of the lever is flush with the mating surface so as not to not interfere with the coupling of the connector. Actuation of the lever, i.e., moving the lever to its down position, causes a displacement of at least one of the connectors comprising the electrical connector assembly. The present invention may be adapted to a wide range of electrical connectors including, but not limited to: standard household plug and sockets, parallel connectors, serial connectors, and inline connectors.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a manually installable and removable sunroof system comprising a roof with an opening, a roof panel that is removeably secured in the opening, and an upwardly biased and retractable wind deflector assembly stowable within an area near the opening. During installation of the roof panel, the deflector assembly may be held into place by a pivoting and engagingly-biased latch. In one embodiment, as the roof panel is installed, an extension, protruding therefrom, confronts the pivoting latch, at which point the wind deflector is disengaged from the latch and thereafter held in a substantially retracted position by the roof panel. When the roof panel is next removed, the previously retracted wind deflector is automatically deployed into an operational position. In some embodiments, the deflector assembly may be fabricated from a flexible material and may be maintained in a retracted position and subsequently deployed using a manually actuated latch.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a pop-up vehicle wind deflector. The wind deflector comprises a lower frame member coupled to the vehicle proximate an opening in the roof, an upper frame member pivotably coupled to the vehicle proximate the opening, a flexible material coupled between the upper and lower frame members and a biasing means acting upon the upper frame member effective to extend the upper frame member away from the lower frame member. The flexible or elastic material coupled to the upper and lower frame members provides a wind-confronting surface when the upper frame member is extended away from the lower frame member. The upper frame member may be upwardly bowed to provide additional tension on the central portion of the flexible material when the upper frame member is extended away from the lower frame member.