Patent ID: 7325975

Claim:
An optical module comprising: a case for containing elements for making optical communications, said case having a latch which is retained in a retaining hole formed through a spring plate possessed by a cage for accommodating said case; and a lever for bending said spring plate in a direction in which said retaining hole comes off said latch, wherein said lever includes a shaft pivotably supported on said case, a tongue disposed on one side of said shaft, and an actuator disposed on an opposite side of the shaft with respect to said tongue, said lever being configured to make a pivotal movement about said shaft in response to a movement of said tongue toward said case, such that said actuator presses said spring plate to bend in said direction, said lever pivoting about an axis that is perpendicular to a direction of withdrawal of said case from said cage, and said latch and said lever are disposed on the same surface of said case, said surface of said case being formed with a lever stopping surface to which said tongue abuts, and said lever is configured to move said actuator to a position at which said retaining hole comes off said latch when said tongue comes into abutment to said lever stopping surface.