Patent ID: 7866992

Claim:
A connection apparatus, comprising: a plug having at least one lug, and a socket having a front side mountable substantially flush with a mounting surface, said socket further having: (a) an interior portion, said interior portion being recessed and adapted for receiving said plug by way of insertion of said plug into said interior portion by way of an opening for making connection between said socket and said plug, said opening communicating with said interior portion and being formed in said socket at a location adjacent said front side of said socket; (b) at least one insertion channel formed in said socket, said insertion channel extending along an axis defining an axial direction, said axis corresponding to a direction of insertion of said plug into said socket and a direction of removal of said plug from said socket; (c) at least one locking channel adjoining said insertion channel, said locking channel extending in a circumferential direction and being offset from said insertion channel in said circumferential direction, said circumferential direction being a direction oriented generally transverse to said axial direction; and (d) a displaceable cover for selectively covering said opening when said plug is not received in said interior portion and for clearing said opening when said plug is received within said interior portion, said cover being displaceable within said interior portion and mounted for displacement away from said opening and in said direction of insertion responsive to insertion of said plug into said socket and for displacement toward said opening and in said direction of removal, to a position covering said opening, responsive to removal of said plug from said socket, said plug and said socket being connectable in a locking position by inserting said plug into said interior portion such that said lug passes into said locking channel, said cover being provided with a restraining element which captures said cover to prevent said cover from being expelled from said opening, said restraining element having at least one pin which can be latched in said socket.