Collapsible RJ11/RJ45 connector for type II PC card extension cord application
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorSteven S. Homer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A collapsible communication connector that is movable between a compact collapsed configuration and an expanded operational configuration. The collapsible communication connector has an attachment assembly, which is movably coupled to an electrical contact panel. The attachment assembly is expanded outwardly from the electrical contact panel to facilitate mechanical coupling of the collapsible communication connector with a counterpart receptacle.
Claims17
A method of forming a communication connector, comprising the acts of:
- providing a housing comprising a communication cable disposed within the housing;
- and
- providing a collapsible communication connector comprising an attachment assembly collapsibly coupled to a communication contact assembly, the collapsible communication connector collapsible from an angled configuration to a substantially flat configuration extractable from and retractable into a recess of the housing, the communication cable externally exposable outside the housing when the collapsible communication connector is pulled away from the recess.
A method of using a communication connector, comprising the act of:
- manipulating a collapsible communication connector between a substantially flat collapsed configuration and an openly angled configuration of a mechanical attachment portion, the substantially flat collapsed configuration retractably extractable from a recess of a housing, and the open configuration operatively engageable with and extendible to a counterpart communication receptacle by extraction of a communication cable away from the housing to an externally exposed position relative to the housing.
A method of using a communication connector, comprising the acts of:
- transforming a collapsible communication connector between a substantially flat collapsed configuration and an openly angled configuration;
- and
- manipulating the collapsible communication connector and a cable coupled to the collapsible communication connector between wound and unwound configuration in a reel assembly disposed in a housing, the unwound configuration having the collapsible communication connector and the cable externally exposed and pulled away from the housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.