# US 2014/0193997 A1 · Methods and apparatus related to receptacles and releasable connectors > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0193997 A1 - Document ID: US20140193997A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/734,622 - Filed: 2013-01-04 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-04 - Assignees: Google Inc. - Applicants: Google Inc. - Inventors: Lawrence Lam; Aaron Leiba - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140193997A1 ## CPC - H01R 13/40: Securing contact members in or to a base or case; Insulating of contact members - H01R 13/631: for engagement only - H01R 24/60: Contacts spaced along planar side wall transverse to longitudinal axis of engagement - H01R 43/20: for assembling or disassembling contact members with insulating base, case or sleeve - Y10T 29/49204: Contact or terminal manufacturing - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract An apparatus can include a support portion of a connector and at least a portion of wire component coupled to a first side of the support portion. The apparatus can include a protrusion portion have a distal portion, a proximal portion, and an opening disposed between the distal portion and the proximal portion. The proximal portion can be coupled to a second side of the support portion, and the protrusion portion can have a width tapering from the proximal portion to the distal portion. A contact can be disposed in the protrusion portion and can have a surface exposed to an ambient environment through the opening. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus, comprising: a support portion of a connector; a wire component coupled to a first side of the support portion; a protrusion portion having a distal portion, a proximal portion, and an opening disposed between the distal portion and the proximal portion, the proximal portion coupled to a second side of the support portion, the protrusion portion having a width tapering from the proximal portion to the distal portion; and a contact disposed in the protrusion portion and having a surface exposed to an ambient environment through the opening. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the width is between a first side of the protrusion portion and a second side of the protrusion portion, the width of the protrusion portion tapering to define at least one sloped wall of a trapezoidal shape. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a thickness of the protrusion portion is less than the width at the distal portion or at the proximal portion, the thickness of the protrusion portion is less than a length of the protrusion portion between a distal end of the distal portion and a proximal end of the proximal portion. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the protrusion portion is a first protrusion portion, the apparatus further comprising: a second protrusion portion coupled to the support portion, the second protrusion portion being aligned along a plane parallel to a plane along which the first protrusion portion is aligned. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the protrusion portion is a first protrusion portion, the apparatus further comprising: a second protrusion portion coupled to the support portion such that a recess is formed between the second protrusion portion and the first protrusion portion. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the protrusion is a first protrusion, the apparatus further comprising: a second protrusion portion having a length greater than a length of the second protrusion portion. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the protrusion portion is made of a flexible material. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the opening is formed in a first contact side of the protrusion portion, the protrusion portion has a second contact side opposite the first contact side and aligned parallel to the first contact side. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the protrusion portion is aligned along a longitudinal axis intersecting the support portion, the support portion has a first edge configured to function as a first fulcrum when the support portion is rotatably moved about a first axis orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, and has a second edge configured to function as a second fulcrum when the support portion is rotatably moved about a second axis orthogonal to the longitudinal axis and orthogonal to the first axis. ### Claim 10 An apparatus, comprising: a support portion; a wire component coupled to a first side of the support portion; a protrusion portion extending from a second side of the support portion and aligned along a longitudinal axis intersecting the support portion, the protrusion portion having a length along the longitudinal axis greater than a width between a first side and a second side of the protrusion portion, the first side of the protrusion portion being aligned along a line non-parallel to the longitudinal axis, the protrusion portion having an opening; and a contact disposed in the protrusion portion and having a surface exposed to an ambient environment through the opening. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the opening is a circular opening. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the line is a first line, the second side of the protrusion portion is aligned along a second line non-parallel to the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first side has a curved surface. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the protrusion portion has a proximal end portion coupled to the support portion and extends in a distal direction from the support portion, the protrusion portion has a thickness on a distal side of the opening equal to a thickness of the protrusion portion on a proximal side of the opening. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the protrusion portion has a thickness smaller than a thickness of the support portion, the protrusion portion has a width at a proximal end of the protrusion portion equal to a width of the support portion. ### Claim 16 A method, comprising: receiving a protrusion contact including a conductive material; and forming a protrusion portion of a connector of an electrical cord around the protrusion contact, the protrusion portion having a distal portion, a proximal portion, and an opening through which at least a portion of the protrusion contact is exposed, the protrusion portion having a width tapering from the proximal portion to the distal portion. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the protrusion portion is a first protrusion portion, the forming includes forming a support portion coupled to the proximal portion of the first protrusion portion, the support portion having a second protrusion portion on a same side of the support portion as the first protrusion portion. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the width is between a first side of the protrusion portion and a second side of the protrusion portion, the width of the protrusion portion tapering to define at least one sloped wall of a trapezoidal shape. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the protrusion contact is coupled to a wire. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein a thickness of the protrusion portion is less than the width at the distal portion or at the proximal portion, the thickness of the protrusion portion is less than a length of the protrusion portion between a distal end of the distal portion and a proximal end of the proximal portion.