Patent ID: 7131853
Filing Date: 2006-11-07
Classification: G06K

Abstract:
1. A card connector comprising: a card inserting/ejecting opening through which a card having at least one card contact is inserted or ejected in an inserting direction and an ejecting direction, respectively; an ejecting mechanism which is operable to eject the card, and which includes an ejecting slider that is slidable in the inserting and ejecting directions together with the card and has a plurality of operating parts; a locking mechanism which is operable to lock the card to inhibit ejection of the card, and which includes an operated part that is elastically deformable and a locking portion that is combined with the operated part and is movable between an open position and a closed position with respect to the card inserting/ejecting opening; and at least one contact to be connected to the at least one card contact; wherein the ejecting mechanism and the locking mechanism are formed so that, when the card is inserted, the ejecting slider slides in the inserting direction together with the card to separate the operating parts of the ejecting slider from the operated part of the locking mechanism, thereby deforming the operated part in one direction to move the locking portion from the open position to the closed position; wherein the card connector further comprises an insulator for holding the ejecting slider so that the ejecting slider is slidable, and the ejecting mechanism further comprises a heart cam portion formed in the insulator and a cam follower connected to the ejecting slider and engaged with the heart cam portion, and the ejecting slider is provided with an auxiliary spring that continuously presses the cam follower towards the heart cam portion; and wherein the ejecting slider has the operating parts on respective sides thereof, and the locking mechanism is arranged on both sides of the insulator in correspondence to the operating parts.