Patent ID: 6045377
Filing Date: 2000-04-04
Classification: G06K,H01R

Abstract:
A connector apparatus for a card-like data processing medium comprising:a frame having opposing side rails spaced at an interval substantially equal to a width of the card-like data processing medium for guiding the card-like data processing medium during insertion into the connector apparatus;a header coupled to said frame and having a plurality of contact terminals arranged to connect with a card-like data processing medium inserted in the connector apparatus;a slidable plate movably mounted on said frame in a plane substantially parallel to a plane defined by said frame, said slidable plate being operable to slide toward and away from said header and having a pawl adapted to engage a forward end face of a card-like data processing medium inserted into the connector apparatus;a push rod slidably mounted on one of said side rails and being operative to slide lengthwise of said one side rail toward and away from said header; anda gear system for transmitting movement of said push rod to said slidable plate, said gear system comprising:first and second gears, the first gear being concentrically and fixedly attached to the second gear, said first and second gears rotatable coupled to said frame at least one of said first gear and said second gear having gear teeth disposed around its entire pitch circle;a first rack gear disposed on said slidable plate and engaged with said first gear each one of the first gear and second gear rotatably coupled to the housing; anda second rack gear disposed on said push rod and engaged with said second gear, whereby movement of the push rod is transmitted through said first and second gears and said first and second rack gears into movement of said slidable plate.