Abstract: A connector receptacle assembly for facilitating electrical connections is provided. The receptacle assembly includes a housing having a mating end for receiving a plug assembly; and at least one flexible latch member disposed on and projecting from an outer surface of the housing. Each latch member is defined by a longitudinally extending slot formed in the housing and extending along a side edge of the latch member and a transversely extending slot formed in the housing and extends along a rear edge of the latch member. In one embodiment, each latch member is pivotable about a pivot axis extending between a distal end of the longitudinally extending slot and a distal end of the transversely extending slot.

Abstract: A faceplate for communications equipment includes a plate member having an opening for access to a communications port, and an icon mounting stall associated with the opening. The icon mounting stall includes a cavity in the plate member which is covered by a membrane along the front face of the plate member. The membrane is integrally formed in the plate member and is relatively thinner than the plate member. The membrane is puncturable to permit reception of an icon in the mounting stall.

Abstract: An electrical socket (10) is disclosed for an electronic package (2) having an array of pins (4) wherein at least some of the pins are standoff pins each having a respective cross-sectional enlargement (6). The socket comprises a housing having a wall (12) defining a package mounting surface (14) and an oppositely facing locking surface (58). The wall has an array of openings (18, 48) which receive the pins and permit free passage of the enlargements through the wall. The openings include lateral channels (56) which are narrower than the enlargements. The package is secured to the socket by inserting the leads into their associated entranceways and moving the package transversely over the mounting surface so that the enlargements become trapped beneath the locking surface.

Abstract: A retainer is disclosed for securing a heat sink having a plurality of parallel vertical fins above an electronic package which is mounted on a socket. The retainer comprises a clip assembly including a clip having a pair of spaced apart beams dimensioned to span the heat sink and to reside in respective grooves between respective pairs of adjacent ones of the fins. The beams are resiliently deflectable in respective planes extending parallel to the fins. One end of the clip is engageable beneath a ledge on one side of the socket. An opposite end of the clip is pivotally coupled to a latch. The latch is engageable beneath a second ledge on an opposite side of the socket upon deflection of the beams in their respective planes. The clip assembly biases the heat sink toward the socket when the one end of the clip and the latch are engaged beneath the first and second ledges.