Abstract: A jack facilitates the patching of one or more external circuits into an electrical line. In the normal condition, the electrical line maintains continuity through the use of a pair of metal springs which make connections between pairs of contacts. Each spring has a rounded projection and a rounded depression. The depressions serve as pivot points for the springs. When one applies pressure to the rounded projection, such as by inserting a prong of a male plug over the spring, the spring pivots and breaks the electrical connection with one of the contacts. Moreover, the positions of the rounded projections of the two springs correspond to the positions of tip and ring portions of the prong, thereby connecting the springs respectively to the tip and ring portions. Thus, insertion of the male plug breaks the continuity of the line and connects the line to an external circuit, while removal of the plug restores the continuity of the line.

Abstract: The invention is a switched patch module which provides convenient access to a plurality of communications or data lines, without undesirable mixing of signals. The patch module is formed on a printed circuit board which completes connections between the conductors of two sets of receptacles, such that these receptacles are hard-wired together. The user can connect either the first or second receptacle to a third receptacle, by selecting the position of a manually-operated two-position switch. However, insertion of a plug into the receptacle selected by the manually-operated switch disconnects the third receptacle from the other receptacles, while insertion of a plug into the non-selected receptacle has no such effect. Also, insertion of a plug into the third receptacle dissconnects the third receptacle from the others, and overrides the effect of the manually-operated switch. When the plugs are removed, the connections selected by the manually-operated switch are restored.

Abstract: A patch module is disclosed, into which a plug can be easily inserted. In the preferred embodiment, the patch module has two sets of receptacles, the first set having three receptacles and the second set having two receptacles. Both sets are mounted on a printed circuit board which makes the desired electrical connections. The first receptacle of the first set is permanently connected to the first receptacle of the second set. The second receptacle of the first set is permanently connected to the second receptacle of the second set. The conductors of the first and second receptacles of the second set are normally connected together by contacts on a spring-biased, slidable panel, the panel being mounted for movement along the circuit board. When a plug is inserted into one of the first two receptacles of the first set, the panel slides to its other position, breaking the connection between the first and second receptacles of the second set.

Abstract: A portable electronic instrument has a front console at which input/output functions are exposed. In order to protect the input/output functions when the instrument is being carried, a cover plate which is mounted to the instrument cabinet can be locked in a position covering the console. To use the instrument, the cover is unlocked and pivots to a position in which it doubles as a stand to space the front end of the instrument from an underlying support surface and to incline the console to the vertical.

Abstract: A swivel base assembly for supporting a device such as a video display terminal (including a video monitor and a keyboard) and including means for rotating the device through a large angle, for example, 270.degree.. The swivel base assembly includes a tray on which the device is positioned and a circular base member having a space for containing a circularly- wound data-carrying cable, such as a coaxial cable, for use by the device on the tray. The base member also includes a pair of upstanding spaced stop members formed therein and arranged to cooperate with a depressed stop member formed in the tray to establish the aforementioned 270.degree. range of angular rotation.