Removable radio bezel connector

A bezel connector for repeatedly disabling an electronic circuit in a device having a grounded housing mounted to a vehicle, the bezel connector comprising:

• a support member mounted to the housing;
• a connector circuit board adapted to be electrically connected to the electronic circuit and mounted with respect to the support member;
• a plurality of connector pins extending from and rigidly mounted in the connector circuit board in a cantilever fashion and spaced from each other, the connector pins being made of an electrically conductive material sufficiently rigid to resist bending thereof, the connector pins being straight and having a predetermined cross-sectional configuration;
• a cover member movably mounted with respect to the support member and the connector circuit board and having an electrically conductive portion, the electrically conductive portion being sufficiently exposed outside the device for discharging engagement with any potential static charge, the cover member being provided with a plurality of openings, each opening reciprocally receiving one end of a respective connector pin in a closely conforming relationship to the cross-sectional configuration of a respective pin to thereby sufficiently guide, support, selectively shield the ends of the connector pins when the cover member moves relative to the connector board, and to continuously space the electrically conductive portion from the connector pins;
• and
• means extending from one of the housing or the support member for selectively biasing the cover member for movement away from the connector circuit board for shielding the ends of the connector pins;
• the means for biasing means including grounding means for electrically connecting the housing to the electrically conductive portion of the cover member for grounding any potential static charge.

An electronic device for use in a vehicle comprising:

• a grounded housing for enclosing an electronic circuit and adapted to be mounted to the vehicle;
• a bezel having a removable portion for repeated removal from the housing for disabling the electronic device;
• and
• a bezel connector, for disabling the electronic circuit each time the removable portion is removed, the bezel connector having a support member mounted to the housing;
• a connector circuit board adapted to be electrically connected to the electronic circuit and mounted with respect to the support member;
• a plurality of connector pins extending from the connector circuit board and spaced from each other, the connector pins being made of an electrically conductive material sufficiently rigid to resist bending thereof;
• a cover member movably mounted with respect to the support member and the connector circuit board and having an electrically conductive portion, the electrically conductive portion being sufficiently exposed outside the device for discharging engagement with any potential static charge, the cover member being provided with a plurality of openings, each opening reciprocally receiving one end of a respective connector pin in a sufficiently guiding and concealing relationship therewith to continuously space the electrically conductive portion from the connector pins and to selectively shield the ends of said connector pins;
• and a spring made of an electrically conductive material, the spring electrically connecting the housing to the electrically conductive portion of the cover member for grounding any static charge engaging the conductive portion of the cover member and biasingly engaging the cover member for selectively moving the cover member away from the connector circuit board for shielding the ends of said connector pins each time the removable portion is removed.