Retracting modular jack for portable appliance connections
First Claim
1. An apparatus that allows a media plug to be physically and electrically connected to an electrical apparatus, the media plug including a body and a retention clip, the apparatus comprising:
- a frame including an upper surface and a lower surface;
an opening located in the upper surface of the frame, the opening being sized and configured to receive at least a portion of the media plug;
a rocker arm pivotally attached to the frame, the rocker arm comprising;
a base that is sized and configured to engage the media plug when the media plug is inserted into the opening, the engagement of the media plug with the base causing the rocker arm to pivot relative to the frame;
first and second alignment arms extending from the base, the first and second alignment arms including alignment surfaces that are sized and configured to slidably engage the retention clip of the media plug; and
a retractable cover guard that is sized and configured to cover at least a portion of the opening in the frame, the retractable cover guard movable between a first position in which at least a portion of the opening is covered and a second position in which at least a portion of the opening is exposed to allow the media plug to be inserted into the opening.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A modular jack, for coupling with a physical/electrical media plug, comprises a frame, a rocker arm, electrical contacts, and a retractable cover guard for protecting the electrical contacts during nonuse. The retractable cover guard moves from a protective position to a retracted position when a physical/electrical media plug is inserted into the modular jack and returns to the protective position when the physical/electrical media plug is removed. While only a shallow insertion depth of the physical/electrical media plug is permitted, the rocker arm aligns and mechanically secures the physical/electrical media plug within the modular jack.
75 Citations
38 Claims
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1. An apparatus that allows a media plug to be physically and electrically connected to an electrical apparatus, the media plug including a body and a retention clip, the apparatus comprising:
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a frame including an upper surface and a lower surface;
an opening located in the upper surface of the frame, the opening being sized and configured to receive at least a portion of the media plug;
a rocker arm pivotally attached to the frame, the rocker arm comprising;
a base that is sized and configured to engage the media plug when the media plug is inserted into the opening, the engagement of the media plug with the base causing the rocker arm to pivot relative to the frame;
first and second alignment arms extending from the base, the first and second alignment arms including alignment surfaces that are sized and configured to slidably engage the retention clip of the media plug; and
a retractable cover guard that is sized and configured to cover at least a portion of the opening in the frame, the retractable cover guard movable between a first position in which at least a portion of the opening is covered and a second position in which at least a portion of the opening is exposed to allow the media plug to be inserted into the opening. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A communications device for coupling with a RJ-series connector plug, the RJ-series connector plug including a body and a retention clip, the communications device comprising:
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a body;
a retractable connector attached to the body, the retractable connector including an upper surface and a lower surface;
an opening formed in the upper surface of the retractable connector that is sized and configured to receive at least a portion of the RJ-series connector plug, the retractable connector movable between a storage position in which the retractable connector is completely or generally disposed within the communications device and a use position in which the retractable connector is generally disposed outside of the communications device;
a rocker arm pivotally attached to the retractable connector, the rocker arm comprising;
a base that is sized and configured to engage the RJ-series connector plug when the RJ-series connector plug is inserted into the opening, the engagement of the RJ-series connector plug with the base causing the rocker arm to pivot relative to the retractable connector;
first and second alignment arms extending from the base, the first and second alignment arms including alignment surfaces that are sized and configured to slidably engage the retention clip of the RJ-series connector plug; and
a retractable cover guard that is sized and configured to cover at least a portion of the opening in the frame, the retractable cover guard movable between a first position in which at least a portion of the opening is covered and a second position in which at least a portion of the opening is exposed to allow the RJ-series connector plug to be inserted into the opening. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 36)
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35. A method of physically and electrically connected a media plug to an electrical apparatus, the media plug including a body and a retention clip, the method comprising:
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providing a frame including an upper surface and a lower surface;
providing an opening located in the upper surface of the frame, the opening being sized and configured to receive at least a portion of the media plug;
providing a rocker arm pivotally attached to the frame;
inserting the media plug into the opening in the upper surface of the frame;
engaging the media plug with a base of the rocker arm to cause the rocker arm to pivot relative to the frame while the media plug is being inserted into the opening in the upper surface of the frame; and
slidably engaging the retention clip of the media plug with first and second alignment arms extending from the base of the rocker arm.
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37. A method for coupling a RJ-series connector plug to a communications device, the RJ-series connector plug including a body and a retention clip, the method comprising:
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providing a communications device with a retractable connector, the retractable connector including an upper surface with an opening that is sized and configured to receive at least a portion of the RJ-series connector plug, the retractable connector movable between a storage position in which the retractable connector is completely or generally disposed within the communications device and a use position in which the retractable connector is generally disposed outside of the communications device;
inserting the RJ-series connector plug into the opening in the retractable connector;
contacting the RJ-series connector plug with a base of a rocker arm that is at least partially disposed within the opening, the contacting of the RJ-series connector plug with the base causing the rocker arm to pivot relative to the retractable connector; and
slidably engaging the retention clip of the RJ-series connector plug with first and second alignment arms extending from the base of the rocker arm. - View Dependent Claims (38)
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Specification