Patent ID: 6382995
Filing Date: 2002-05-07
Classification: H01R,Y10S

Abstract:
Apparatus for connection to a smart card that has a card lower surface with contact pads thereon and that has front and rear end edges, which comprises a housing that includes a plate-shaped part of dielectric plastic material, said housing having a card-engaging face and laterally spaced opposite sides and longitudinally spaced forward and rearward ends, said apparatus including a plurality of contacts mounted on said plate part and having pad-engaging ends projecting above said card-engaging face, and said housing forming at least the sides and bottom of a forwardly-opening card-receiving cavity for rearward card insertion therein to a fully inserted position, said housing sides forming opposite sides of said cavity, including:a card retainer that has a largely rearwardly-facing shoulder at the front of said cavity to resist withdrawal of the card after it has been fully inserted into said cavity; a spring that has an integral spring end that lies in said cavity and that is positioned to directly engage the card rear edge to urge the card forwardly out of said cavity; said card retainer being manually deflectable out of line with said card to allow said spring to push said card rearwardly so the card front edge moves out of said cavity.