Patent ID: 7442060

Claim:
An adaptor apparatus for connecting a cord of a peripheral device with a wearable, mobile and/or portable terminal, the terminal including electronics and an external case with an existing receptacle capable of receiving an electrical connector element, the adaptor apparatus comprising: a housing defining a socket and including an engagement lip with an angled surface proximate the socket, the housing configured to be coupled with the external case of the terminal; a plurality of first electrical contacts positioned at a mating surface of the socket; an electrical connector element configured to be received by the existing receptacle of the terminal, the electrical connector element coupled to the plurality of first electrical contacts and establishing a functional path for electrical communications between the terminal and the mating surface of the socket; and a plug member for placement at the end of the cord of the peripheral device, the plug member including a plurality of second electrical contacts positioned at a mating surface of the plug and a pivoting lever arm with an engagement claw having an angled surface, the plug member configured to plug into the socket for electrically coupling the first and second electrical contacts, the lever arm biased with a biasing force to a first position in which the angled surface of the engagement claw engages the angled surface of the engagement lip for securing the plug in the socket, and the lever arm moveable to a second position in which the angled surface of the engagement claw is disengaged from the angled surface of the engagement lip for unplugging the plug member from the socket; wherein the angled surface of the engagement claw moves relative to the angled surface of the engagement lip to pivot the lever arm from the first position toward the second position, without manual actuation, when a break-away force is transferred from the cord to the plug member effective to overcome the biasing force and unplug the plug member from the socket.