Patent ID: 6095868
Filing Date: 2000-08-01
Classification: G06K

Abstract:
A card reader connector including a plurality of data contacts disposed in a housing, said housing including a base and a cover dimensioned to receive and hold a card therein, said base and cover being securable together, said base including forward and rearward walls and opposed side walls, said base and said cover being adapted such that said side walls of said base coextend alongside and inwardly of side walls of said cover upon assembly; the connector being characterized in that:said base side walls each include at least a pair of flanges extending outwardly, each flange defining a downwardly facing clamping surface; andsaid cover includes a top surface extending from a card receiving end to a rearward end, said cover further including card support rail portions aligned with and extending toward each other from bottom edges of said side walls of said cover, each cover side wall including a pair of spaced apart connector clamps, each clamp ending in a foot that extends inwardly from a bottom edge portion of respective said side wall and has an upwardly facing surface adapted to engage a said clamping surface of a respective said flange;whereby when said card is inserted into said cover, and said card-holding cover is being assembled to said base during initial stages of assembly with said cover off-set forwardly with respect to said base, said base flanges are positioned beside respective said clamps and as said cover is translated rearwardly to a closed position, said clamps are moved relatively onto and the feet thereof are pressed against said clamping surfaces of respective said base flanges and become latched therewith, with clamps and said base flanges biasing said cover and base together and securing said cover and base from relative lateral movement and from movement directly apart for said contacts of said base to assuredly remain compressively engaged with corresponding contact pads of said card.