Detachable lanyard connector

Abstract

A lanyard plug includes a head having a “T” shaped cross section with a top portion supported by a beam portion. The head is adapted to be retentively coupled in a groove of a device. A body is coupled to the beam portion of the head. A spring loaded pin is supported in a cavity of the body and extends through the top portion of the head.

1 . A lanyard plug comprising:
 a head having a “T” shaped cross section with a top portion supported by a beam portion, the head adapted to be retentively coupled in a groove of a device;   a body coupled to the beam portion of the head, the body having a cavity; and   a spring loaded pin supported in the cavity of the body and extending through the top portion of the head.   
     
     
         2 . The lanyard plug of  claim 1  wherein the spring loaded pin extends through the beam portion of the head. 
     
     
         3 . The lanyard plug of  claim 1  wherein the body is formed of plastic. 
     
     
         4 . The lanyard plug of  claim 3  and further comprising:
 a top portion; and 
 a bottom portion, wherein the top portion and bottom portion couple to sandwich the body. 
 
     
     
         5 . The lanyard plug of  claim 4  wherein the top portion and bottom portion are formed of metal. 
     
     
         6 . The lanyard plug of  claim 5  wherein the metal comprises aluminum. 
     
     
         7 . The lanyard plug of  claim 5  wherein the bottom portion includes a stop to contact springs of the spring loaded pin. 
     
     
         8 . The lanyard plug of  claim 1  wherein the pin comprises:
 a base portion; and 
 a projecting portion extending from the base portion through the top portion of the head. 
 
     
     
         9 . The lanyard plug of  claim 8  and further comprising multiple springs positioned within the cavity to contact the base portion of the pin and bias the projecting portion of the pin to extend through the top portion of the head. 
     
     
         10 . The lanyard plug of  claim 9  wherein the multiple springs contact the cavity on a first wall of the cavity and bias the base portion of the pin against a second wall of the cavity opposite the first wall of the cavity. 
     
     
         11 . The lanyard plug of  claim 9  wherein the base portion of the pin contains multiple protrusions, each configured to mate with one of the multiple springs. 
     
     
         12 . The lanyard plug of  claim 1  wherein the top portion of the head is bowed downward toward the beam portion of the head. 
     
     
         13 . A lanyard plug comprising:
 a head having a “T” shaped cross section with a top portion supported by a beam portion, the head adapted to be retentively coupled in a groove of a device;   a body coupled to the beam portion of the head, the body having a cavity;   a metallic top portion;   a metallic bottom portion, wherein the top portion and bottom portion couple to sandwich the body; and   a spring loaded pin supported in the cavity of the body and extending through the beam portion and top portion of the head.   
     
     
         14 . The lanyard plug of  claim 13  wherein the body is formed of plastic. 
     
     
         15 . The lanyard plug of  claim 13  wherein the metallic top portion and metallic bottom portion comprise aluminum. 
     
     
         16 . The lanyard plug of  claim 13  wherein the bottom portion includes a stop to contact springs of the spring loaded pin. 
     
     
         17 . The lanyard plug of  claim 13  wherein the pin comprises:
 a base portion; and 
 a projecting portion extending from the base portion through the top portion of the head. 
 
     
     
         18 . The lanyard plug of  claim 17  and further comprising multiple springs positioned within the cavity to contact the base portion of the pin and bias the projecting portion of the pin to extend through the top portion of the head. 
     
     
         19 . The lanyard plug of  claim 18  wherein the multiple springs contact the cavity on a first wall of the cavity and bias the base portion of the pin against a second wall of the cavity opposite the first wall of the cavity and wherein the base portion of the pin contains multiple protrusions, each configured to mate with one of the multiple springs. 
     
     
         20 . A device comprising:
 a housing;   a “T” shaped groove coupled to the housing positioned to accept a “T” shaped lanyard plug at an end of the groove; and   a detent positioned in the groove to retentively receive a spring loaded pin of the lanyard when the lanyard is slid in the groove a distance corresponding to alignment of the pin and detent to releasably lock the lanyard in the groove.