Patent ID: 7500882

Claim:
A connector system for coupling to an audio connector comprising. a) an audio coupler comprising: i) a first portion configured to fit into the audio connector, the audio coupler including at least one audio coupler conductor forming a conducting path to circuitry coupled to the audio connector; and ii) a second portion configured to remain on the outside of the audio connector after the first portion is inserted into the audio connector, the second portion having at least one audio coupler contact coupled to the at least one audio coupler conductor; b) a break-away coupler for the audio coupler comprising a first end comprising at least one break-away coupler coupling contact disposed thereon to contact the at least one audio coupler contact on the audio coupler; c) a releasable attachment member configured to couple the break-away coupler to the audio coupler such that the at least one break-away coupler coupling contact is electrically coupled with the at least one audio coupler contact, wherein the releasable attachment member has a detachment force threshold above which the releasable attachment member will allow the break-away coupler to decouple from the audio coupler; and d) a biasing member biasing the at least one break-away coupler coupling contact to contact the at least one audio coupler contact, wherein the biasing member exerts a biasing force less than the detachment force threshold of the releasable attachment member; wherein the break-away coupler further comprises a second end and a second connector positioned on the second end of the break-away coupler for connecting to a third connector.