Patent ID: 6729892
Filing Date: 2004-05-04
Classification: G06K

Abstract:
A card connector for accepting a card, which has a recess in its side surface, the card connector comprising:an eject mechanism having an eject member, the eject member being adapted to move in a card insertion direction as the card is inserted into the connector during a card insertion operation and to move in a card eject direction in response to a card elect operation to eject the card; an elastic locking piece having a locking portion to engage a single side of the card in the recess of the card and a stationary portion fixed to the eject member; and a locking piece guide means for guiding the elastic locking piece during the card eject operation and the card insertion operation wherein the locking piece guide means causes the elastic locking piece to become elastically deformed during the card eject operation to move the locking portion away from the recess of the card and wherein the locking piece guide means causes the elastic locking piece to become released from the elastic deformation during the card insertion operation thereby causing the elastic locking piece to move toward the card by an elastic recovery force to engage the locking portion in the recess of the card, wherein the locking piece guide means has: a protruding portion projecting from the elastic locking piece; and a guide wall formed in the connector housing and having a tapered surface to guide the protruding portion as the eject member moves in the card insertion or eject direction.