Abstract:
A chip card retaining mechanism for detachably retaining a chip card ( 50 ) and allowing the chip card to be connected to terminals ( 20 ) formed on a printed circuit board ( 60 ). The chip card retaining mechanism includes a base ( 10 ), two locking members ( 30 ). The base has a first surface ( 11 ) for exposing the terminals. The locking members are arranged at lateral sides of the base. Each locking member has a top plate ( 32 ) configured for limiting movement of the chip card along a horizontal direction. Each locking member further includes a stopper ( 324 ) formed at one end thereof and disposed at a movement path of the chip card in a horizontal direction. The base, and the locking members cooperatively define a receiving space for receiving the chip card therein.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention generally relates to chip card retaining mechanisms and, more particularly, to a chip card retaining mechanism for seating a chip card in an electronic device such as a mobile phone. 
       DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART 
       [0002]    Nowadays, electronic devices such as mobile phones are widely used and bring convenience to our lives, and as such, electronic devices have become a part of modern life. Every electronic device has a chip card such as a SIM (subscriber identification module) card for carrying information necessary for operating the mobile phone. The chip card may also contain personal information for the subscriber, for example, a listing of frequently used telephone numbers. However, it is essential to provide a chip card retaining mechanism to hold the chip card in the electronic device and thus ensure information transfer. 
         [0003]    Referring to  FIG. 9 , a typical chip card retaining mechanism used in a mobile phone is as follows. The chip card retaining mechanism includes a mounting base  72  and a locking element  74 . A receiving groove  720  is defined in the mounting base  72  for receiving a chip card. A connector  70  is disposed in the receiving groove  720 . The locking element  74  is mounted on the mounting base  72  and located adjacent to the receiving groove  720 . The locking element  74  can move in a direction shown by an arrow. In assembly, the locking element  74  is pushed away from the receiving groove  720  to completely expose the receiving groove  720 . A SIM card is received in the receiving groove  720 , and the locking element  74  is pushed toward the receiving groove  720  to cover a portion of the receiving groove  720  so that the SIM card cannot be removed from the receiving groove  720 . 
         [0004]    Although the locking element  74  can be easily moved to assembly the SIM card, when a mobile phone inadvertently undergoes impact, this impact may result in an outer force which removes the locking element  74  from the receiving groove  720 , which can result in an ineffective electrical connection between the SIM card and the connector  70 . At worst, the SIM card may become completely separated from the receiving groove  720 , which badly affects stability of the mobile phone. 
         [0005]    What is needed, therefore, is a chip card retaining mechanism, which can overcomes the above-described shortcomings. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    In a first preferred embodiment, a chip card retaining mechanism for detachably retaining a chip card and allowing the chip card to be connected to terminals formed on a printed circuit board. The chip card retaining mechanism includes a base, and two locking members. The base has a first surface for exposing the terminals. The locking members are arranged at lateral sides of the base. Each locking member has a top plate configured (i.e., structured and arranged) for limiting movement of the chip card along a horizontal direction. Each locking member further includes a stopper formed at one end thereof and disposed at a movement path of the chip card in a horizontal direction. The base, the locking members cooperatively define a receiving space for receiving the chip card therein. 
         [0007]    Other advantages and novel features of the preferred embodiments of the present chip card retaining mechanism and its applications will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    Many aspects of the present chip card retaining mechanisms and their applications can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the chip card retaining mechanisms. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is an exploded, isometric view of a chip card retaining mechanism in accordance with a preferred embodiment; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is similar to  FIG. 1 , but shows another aspect; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is an assembled, isometric view of the chip card retaining mechanism of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is similar to  FIG. 3 , but shows another aspect; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is similar to  FIG. 3 , but showing a chip card assembled; 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is cross-sectional view taken along VI-VI line of  FIG. 3 , but showing a process of assembling the chip card; 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is cross-sectional view taken along VII-VII line of  FIG. 5 , but showing the chip card completely assembled; 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is similar to  FIG. 6 , but showing the chip card locked; and 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  is an exploded, isometric view of a typical chip card retaining mechanism. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0018]    A chip card retaining mechanism is adapted for retaining a chip card in an electronic device such that the chip card is electronically connected with a connector in the electronic device. Referring to  FIG. 1 , in order to identify the used mobile phone, when communicating, a chip card  60 , such as a subscriber identification module, also called SIM card, is provided. The chip card retaining mechanism  100  includes a base  10 , a plurality of contact terminals  20 , two locking members  30 , and a resisting member  40 . 
         [0019]    Referring also to  FIG. 2 , the base  10  is substantially rectangular. The base  10  has a first surface  11  and an opposite second surface  12 . The base  10  has a rectangular opening  13  defined in a middle thereof. The base  10  has a retaining member  14  across the opening  13 . The base  10  has a plurality of parallel terminal slots  142  parallel defined in the retaining member  14  and communicating with the first surface  11  and the second surface  12 . The terminal slots  142  are configured (i.e. structured and arranged) for receiving the contact terminals  20 . The base  10  defines four latch slots  15  at two parallel sides, with each two latch slots  15  spaced apart and disposed at each same side of the base  10 . The base  10  defines an inserting slot  16  in a first end thereof. The base  10  has a bevel  17  at an opposite second end of the first surface  11 . The base  10  also has two first recessed portion  18  defined at the second surface  12  and adjacent two opposite sides. Each recessed portion  18  extends from the second surface  12  to a corresponding sidewall. The base  10  has a second recessed portion  19  defined at the first end of the base  10 . 
         [0020]    Each contact terminal  20  is formed by punching and bending a band-shaped thin metal plate using a pressing machine or the like. Each contact terminal  20  includes a securing portion  22 , an elastic contact  24  bending upward from the securing portion  22 , and a welding contact  26  bending downward from the securing portion  22 . Each contact terminal  20  is retained in a corresponding terminal slot  142 , with the elastic contact  24  floatingly protruding from the first surface  11  of the base  10  and the welding contact  26  protruding from the second surface  12  of the base  10 . 
         [0021]    Each locking member  30  is substantially bracket-shaped (i.e. a straight central section with two perpendicular distal extensions). Each locking member  30  includes a first top plate  32 , a first side plate  34 , and a first bottom plate  36 . The first side plate  34  connects the first top plate  32  and the first bottom plate  36 . The first top plate  32  is provided with a first convex strip  322  at a surface thereof facing the first bottom plate  36 . The first top plate  32  also is provided with a stopper  324  formed by bending one end thereof toward the first bottom plate  36 . The first bottom plate  36  is provided with two parallel latches  362  formed by cutting and bending the bottom plate  36  toward the first top plate  32 . 
         [0022]    The resisting member  40  includes a second top plate  42 , a second side plate  44 , and a second bottom plate  46 . The second side plate  44  connects the second top plate  42  to the second bottom plate  46 . The second top plate  42  is provided with a second convex strip  422  at a surface thereof facing the second bottom plate  46 . The second bottom plate  46  is provided with latching portion  462  by cutting and bending the second bottom plate  46  toward the second top plate  42 . 
         [0023]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , the chip card  50  carries information that is necessary for operating the telephone and personal information of the owner and may be an integrated circuit card. The chip card  50  is electronically connected to a printed circuit board  60  (referring to  FIG. 6 ) by the contact terminal  20 . 
         [0024]    Referring also to  FIGS. 4-5 , in assembly, each contact terminal  20  is retained in a corresponding terminal slot  14 , with the elastic contact  24  floatingly protruding from the first surface  11  of the base  10  and the welding contact  26  protruding from the second surface  12  of the base  10 . The welding contact  26  is welded to the printed circuit board  60 . The latches  362  of each locking member  30  are engaged in the corresponding latch slots  15 , with the first bottom plate  36  and the first side plate  32  of the locking member  30  abuttingly joining the first recessed portions  18  of the second surface  12  and the sidewalls of the base  10  respectively. The first convex strips  322  of the first top plate  32  face toward the first surface  11  of the base  10 . The stoppers  324  of the locking members  30  are adjacent to the second end of the base  10 . A gap  326 , of greater size than a width of the chip card  50 , is defined between the stoppers  324  and the first surface  11  of the base  10 . The latching portion  462  of the resisting member  40  is inserted in and engaged with the inserting slot  16  of the base  10 , with the second bottom plate  46  and the second side plate  42  of the locking member  30  both abuttingly the second recessed portion  19  of the base  10 . The convex strips  422  of the second top plate  42  face the first surface  11  of the base  10 . Thus, the base  10 , the locking members  30  and the resisting member  40  cooperatively form a receiving space  328  for receiving the chip card  50  therein. 
         [0025]    Referring to  FIGS. 6-7 , in assembling and mounting the chip card  50 , the chip card  50  is aligned with the clearance  326  and pushed into the receiving space  328  from the second end of the base  10 , with the guidance of the bevel  17  of the base  10 . The chip card  50  is continuously pushed into the receiving space  328  and slides in the receiving space  328  under the guidance of the first side plates  32  of the locking member  30 . When the chip card  50  abuts the elastic contacts  24  of the contact terminal  20 , the chip card  50  is continuously pushed toward the first end of the base  10 , with the chip card  50  compressing the elastic contacts  24 . Thus, the elastic contacts  24  are elastically deformed and accumulate elastic force. When the chip card  50  is completely received in the receiving space  328 , and a first end of the chip card  50  abuts the second side plate  44  of the resisting member  40  as shown in  FIG. 8 , the chip card  50  is lifted up by an elastic force of the elastic contacts  24  of the contact terminals  20 , with an opposite second end of the chip card  50  abutting the stoppers  324  of the locking members  30  as shown in  FIG. 9 . In this state, the chip card  50  abuts the first convex strips  322  of the locking members  30  and the second convex strip  422  of the resisting member  40 . Thus, the chip card  50  is stably locked in the receiving space  328  by the locking members  30  and the resisting member  40 , and thus cannot become accidentally separated from the receiving space  328 . Therefore, an effective electrical connection between the chip card  50  and the conduct terminals  20  is provided. 
         [0026]    When removing the chip card  50 , the chip card  50  is pressed downward to align with the clearance  326 . The chip card  50  is pushed out of the receiving space  328  via clearance  326 . As such, the chip card  50  can be removed from the base  10 . 
         [0027]    In an alternative embodiment, the locking members  30  are secured to the base  10  by means of adhering the first side plate  32  to the base  10 , instead of the latches  362  engaging in the latch slots  15 . Thus, the first bottom plate  36  of the locking members  30  may be omitted. The resisting member  40  is secured to the base by means of adhering the second side plate  44  to the base  10 , instead of by means of the latching portion  462  engaging in the inserting slot  16 . Thus, the second bottom plate  46  of the resisting member  40  may be omitted. The stoppers  324  may be formed by bending the first side plates  34  of the locking members  30  toward each other. 
         [0028]    In a further alternative embodiment, the locking members  30  and the resisting member  40  may be integrally formed with the base  10 . The locking members and the resisting member may be formed together. 
         [0029]    It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structures and functions of the embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.