Positionable-connect apparatus for electrically coupling selected electrical devices

An apparatus for transfer of electrical signals among one or more selectable devices, sources, or peripherals, said apparatus comprising:

• a connector receptacle for transferring said electrical signals of one or more devices, sources, or peripherals selectable from among said devices, sources, or peripherals;
• said receptacle including at least one of one or more pairs of normally-closed spring-loaded beams terminating at selectable first and second opposing contacts, so that a conductor of the first opposing contact accesses at least a first of the one or more selected devices, sources, or peripherals, while a conductor of the second opposing contact is capable of accessing a second of the one or more selectable devices, sources, or peripherals;
• said receptacle further includes a separate third contact having a conductor accessible to both the first and second devices, sources, or peripherals;
• a positionable connector plug for electrically interconnecting at least a third device, source, or peripheral selected from among said selectable devices, sources, or peripherals;
• said plug having an insulated shaft along which at least one conductor terminates at a contact pad located so as to attach an insulator area of the shaft to either the first opposing contact of the receptacle in a first selected position, or to the second opposing contact of the receptacle in a second selected position, either selected position thereby also electrically coupling the contact pad at the plug to the remaining non-selected opposing contact of the receptacle;
• said positionable plug further having a separate conductive element so located as to electrically couple to the separate third contact of the receptacle, and
• respective conductors of the conductive element of the plug for attaching at least the third device, source or peripheral;
• wherein said first position of the plug is followed by said second position, so that electrical signals are transferred among the first, second, and third selected devices, sources, or peripherals.

A connector assembly for transfer of electrical signals among one or more selected devices, sources, or peripherals, said connector assembly comprising:

• a positionable connector plug comprising an insulated shaft having one or more conductive contact pads that are selectively configured for transferring electrical signals;
• the plug further comprising areas along the insulated shaft so located as to oppose at least one contact pad in an alignment that exposes both the insulated area and contact pads for attaching to selective contacts of a connector receptacle;
• and
• the connector receptacle for receiving said connector plug comprising self-closing opposing contacts for attaching to said one or more contact pads or insulated areas of said connector plug;
• wherein upon mating the connector plug at the connector receptacle, said one or more electrical signals are transferred between said connector plug's one or more contact pads and said connector receptacle's opposing contacts and, therefrom, transferred selectively among each of the one or more selected devices, sources, or peripherals along conductors that are electrically attached to the plug's contact pads and the receptacle's opposing contacts.

An apparatus for redirecting a transfer of electrical signals among selectable electrical devices, sources, or peripherals, comprising:

• a first source of electrical signals having conductors coupled to contacts accessible to a port at the electrical device;
• a receptacle attached to said conductors for providing access to a second source of electrical signals, comprising self-closing contacts along at least one of said conductors for establishing a closed connection between the first source and the electrical device;
• a positionable plug for attaching the second source of electrical signals to the receptacle, comprising an insulated shaft along which are arranged one or more conductive contact pads so that at least one contact pad or exposed insulated area is accessible the receptacle's self-closing contacts, as determined by the position of the mated plug;
• and
• at least one of one or more elements for controlling the direction of electrical flow strapped across conductors accessible to said first source, for providing access to electrical signals directed only from said first source;
• wherein said plug separates the self-closing contacts at the receptacle, thereby disengaging said first source from the contacts accessible to said port at the electrical device and a first position of said plug couples a first contact pad to the self-losing contact along the conductor directed to the first source, and further;
• wherein said plug's contact pad engages the self-closing contact of the receptacle directed to the first source, thereby electrically coupling said second source to the contacts accessible to said port at the first source;
• thereby redirecting a transfer of electrical signals between said first source and the second source, instead of said electrical device.

A connector assembly for transfer of electrical signals among one or more selected devices, sources, or peripherals, comprising:

• at least one of one or more peripherals selected from among selectable devices, sources, or peripherals attached to a positionable connector plug comprising an insulated shaft encapsulating at least two conductors, each terminating to at least one of one or more contact pads aligned longitudinally along opposing faces of the plug, so positioned that either the contact pads or an insulated area of the shaft engages each contact of a plurality of pre-tensioned opposed pairs of thereof at a connector receptacle;
• the connector receptacle interposed along at least two conductors electrically coupling at least one of one or more sources selected from among the selectable devices, sources, or peripherals and at least one of one or more devices selected from among the selectable devices, sources, or peripherals each conductor terminating in the contact of each of the opposing pre-tensioned pairs;
• and
• one or more elements for controlling the direction of flow of a signal along at least one of said conductors, for transferring electrical signals only in a direction from a the selected source to the selected peripheral;
• whereby mating the connector plug to the receptacle in a first position opens the pre-tensioned contacts so that at least one contact engages said plug's insulator area, thereby electrically isolating said source from said device and, further;
• whereby an axial rotation of said plug to a second position causes said contact pads to engage said pre-tensioned contacts, for electrically coupling the selected source and device to the selected peripheral;
• so that electrical signals are no longer transferred between said source and device but, instead, the signals from the source to the peripheral, and signals between the peripheral and device are also transferred.