The described technology includes a connecting apparatus for a computing device including a connector protrusion attached to an input component and a receptor formed in a receiving component of the computing device and configured to attach to the connector protrusion. The connector protrusion includes a center section having a plurality of electrical connectors configured within a plastic overmold and configured to be communicatively coupled to the computing device to communicate the generated signals and two end sections having mechanical support components configured to be physically coupled to the computing device wherein each of the two end sections are contiguous to the center section. The receptor includes a locking mechanism configured to releasably attach to the connector protrusion.