Abstract:
A dual-slot memory card adapter includes a base, a space in the base, a partitioning member integrated with the adapter or separately and laterally disposed in the space to divide the space into upper and lower slot areas, one corresponding attachment each provided on both sides of the base, a card allotment mechanism pivoted to the attachments and operating between two ports of both slots, and a lid automatically closing up one port to a slot when a memory card is inserted into another slot to prevent insertion and judgment by mistake.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     (a) Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention is related to a dual-slot memory card adapter, and more particularly, to one with its card allotment mechanism to close up a port while admitting insertion of a memory card into another port to avoid insertion or judgment by mistake.  
         [0003]     (b) Description of the Prior Art  
         [0004]     To cope with data access applications of electronic consumer products, memory cards in different specifications and capacities are supplied by electronic memory card companies, and R&amp;D efforts and launching into the market of mini memory cards. At present, those memory cards and mini memory cards generally available in the market include (that taught in Taiwan Patent Gazette Nos. M262893, M250363, and M256597) SD (Secure Digital), Mini SD, MMC (Multimedia Card), RS MMC (Reduced Multimedia Card), MMC4.0, and RS MMC 4.0. To make access applications working between memory card and electronic consumer product, a memory card adapter is placed to link the access. Meanwhile, to cope with the fact that the access volume and the applicability of the specification are not inclusive, the memory card adapter must be applicable to memory cards of various specifications, a dual-slot adapter is made available according to similar features demonstrated in specification, insertion and secure, and electric connection among those memory cards.  
         [0005]     However, erroneous judgment of signal access can be easily made while placing two memory cards of different specifications into the adapter of the prior art since the electronic consumer product is not necessarily provided with access switch function.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     The primary purpose of the present invention is to provide an improved construction of a memory card adaptor capable of avoiding insertion of the wrong memory card and preventing the electronic product from making wrong judgment of the memory card.  
         [0007]     To achieve the purpose, the present invention includes a base, and a card allotment mechanism. The base contains a space for accommodation; an upper and a lower slot area are integrated with the space or a partitioning member is laterally disposed in the space to define the upper slot area and the lower slot area; a corresponding recess is each disposed on both sides of the base; a first contact terminal set is arranged in the upper slot area; a second contact terminal set is arranged in the lower slot area; and a port is provided to each slot area.  
         [0008]     The card allotment mechanism includes a body and two axles extending towards both free ends of the body; and each axle is pivoted to an attachment and operates at where between both ports of the slot areas; and a lid automatically close up one port whenever a memory card is inserted into the other port. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]      FIG. 1  is an exploded view of the present invention.  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an assembly of the present invention.  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  is a sectional view of the assembly of the present invention.  
         [0012]      FIG. 4  is schematic view showing a status of the present invention having a first memory card inserted into an upper slot area.  
         [0013]      FIG. 5  is schematic view showing a status of the present invention having the first memory card inserted into an upper slot area.  
         [0014]      FIG. 6  is schematic view showing a status of the present invention having a second memory card inserted into a lower slot area.  
         [0015]      FIG. 7  is schematic view showing a status of the present invention having the second memory card inserted into a lower slot area.  
         [0016]      FIG. 8  is an exploded view of a second preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0017]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0018]      FIG. 10  is a sectional view showing that the second memory card is placed in the lower slot area of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0019]      FIG. 11  is a sectional view showing that the second memory card is placed in the upper slot area of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0020]      FIG. 12  is an exploded view showing a card ejection mechanism of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0021]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view showing an assembly of the card ejection mechanism of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0022]      FIGS. 1, 2 , and  3  respectively shows an exploded view, a perspective view, and a sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated, an improved construction of a memory card adapter of the present invention includes a base  1 , a lid  11  attached to the base  1 , multiple contact terminal sets  2 , a card allotment mechanism  3  pivoted to the base  1  and located between two slot areas  12 ,  13  to avoid erroneous prevent simultaneous insertion of two memory cards, and a card ejection mechanism.  
         [0023]     The base  1  is installed in an electronic product and contains an accommodation space  104  to define the upper slot area  12  and the lower slot area  13 , or a partitioning member  4  is laterally disposed in the space  104  using the injection molding method to create the upper and the lower slot areas  12 ,  13 . Both of the upper slot area  12  and the lower slot area  13  respectively allow insertion of memory cards in different specifications. Two corresponding ports  14 ,  15  are respectively formed on one end each of the upper and the lower slot areas  12 ,  13  to receive insertion of memory cards; and one corresponding recess  18 ,  19  is each provided on both side walls  16 ,  17  of the base.  
         [0024]     In the preferred embodiment, both of the upper and the lower slot areas  12 ,  13  are integrated with the base  1  using the injection molding method. The partitioning member  4  is disposed at the front end of the lid  11  to segregate entrances of memory cards respectively to the upper and the lower slot areas  12 ,  13 . Two resilient parts  114 ,  114 ′ are respectively provided on both sides of the lid  11  to snap on the card allotment mechanism  3 .  
         [0025]     Terminals  2  include a first contact terminal set  21  disposed in the upper slot area  12  to receive insertion of a first memory card (SD memory card, 4.0 MMC memory card, or MMC card) (not illustrated), and a second contact terminal set  22  disposed in the lower slot area  13  to contact and conduct a first memory card (Mini SD memory card)  5 .  
         [0026]     The card allotment mechanism  3  includes a body  31  and axles  32 ,  33  respectively extending to both free ends of the body  31  to be pivoted to both recesses  18 ,  19  to execute free revolution against both slot areas  12 ,  13 , thus to change the location for the body  31  to close up either of the slot areas  12 ,  13 . A recessed area  34  is created at between both axles  32 ,  33  and where above the body  31 . Each of both axles  32 ,  33  is disposed with a flat area  321 ,  331  to snap on the resilient part  114 ,  114 ′ to secure the card allotment mechanism  3 .  
         [0027]      FIGS. 4 and 5  respectively shows a perspective view and a sectional view of the status of the memory card inserted into the slot area of the present invention. As illustrated, the memory card  5  before being inserted into the slot area, both resilient parts  114 ,  114 ′ of the lid  11  snap on the flat areas  321 ,  331  of both axles  32 ,  33 . Once the memory card (SD or 4.0 MMC memory card)  5  is inserted into the upper slot area  12 , the body  31  of the card allotment mechanism  3  is pushed away by the memory card  5  and both axles  32 ,  33  of the card allotment mechanism  3  respectively revolve in the recesses  18 ,  19 . Meanwhile both ends respectively of the resilient parts  114 ,  114 ′ follow through the arc of the axles  32 ,  33  to snap on both sides of the body  31  to allow the body  31  of the card allotment mechanism  3  turn to the port of the lower slot area  13  for avoiding misjudgment by preventing the insertion of another memory card into the lower slot area  13 . Once the memory card  5  is drawn out, both ends respectively of the resilient parts  114 ,  114 ′ descend the body  31  and return it to its original status.  
         [0028]      FIGS. 6 and 7  respectively shows a perspective view and a sectional view of another memory card inserted into the other slot area. As illustrated, a second memory card (Mini SD memory card)  7  directly passes through the recessed area  34  over the body  31  and enters into the lower slot area  13  while both flat areas  321 ,  331  of the axles  32 ,  33  of the lid  3  are restricted by both resilient parts  13 . At the time, if any memory card is to be inserted into the upper slot area  12 , the body  31  is prevented from turning since the memory card  7  has been already inserted into the lower slot area. Accordingly, the other memory card is prevented from being inserted into the upper slot area.  
         [0029]      FIGS. 8 through 11  respectively shows an exploded view, a perspective view and a sectional view of another preferred embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated, the partitioning member  4  and the lid  11  are laterally provided in the space  104  to define the upper and the lower slot areas  12 ,  13 ; and contact terminals  21 ,  22  are respectively disposed in the upper and the lower slot areas  12 ,  13  to allow respective insertion of multiple memory cards of different specifications. Multiple supporting arms  41  disposed behind the partitioning member  4  respectively stride over locking gaps  101  disposed to the base  1 . A protruding block  42  and a recessed part  43  disposed on both sides at the front end of the partitioning member  4  are respectively placed on a trough  102  and a locking block  103  disposed on the front end of the base  1 . Accordingly, the engagement between the protruding block  42  and the trough  102  merely restricts the lateral displacement of the partitioning member  4  on the base  1 ; meanwhile the engagement between the recessed part  43  and the locking block  103  merely restricts the longitudinal displacement of the partitioning member  4  on the base  1 . The partitioning member  4  is therefore secured on the base  1  while defining the upper and the lower slot areas  12 ,  13  for the space  104  in the base  1  to receive insertions of the first and the second memory cards  5 ,  7  of different specifications as illustrated in  FIG. 9 .  
         [0030]     The card allotment mechanism is also disposed to the ports of both slot areas  12 ,  13 . In this preferred embodiment, the card allotment mechanism  3  is comprised of an awl shape push block  35  generally in the form of a triangle. The push block  35  includes a first pushing part  351  located in the upper slot area  12 , a second pushing part  352  located in the lower slot area  13 , and an axle  32  formed at the end of the push block  35 . An opening  44  is formed at the front end of the partitioning member  4  and a pivoting channel  441  is each disposed on both sides in relation to the opening  44  to allow the push block  35  to turn around at the opening  44 . A limiting block  36  protrudes from where below the right side of the second pushing part  352  and a limiting channel  45  corresponding to the limiting block  36  is disposed behind the recessed part  43  of the partitioning member  4  so to limit the turning orientation of the card allotment mechanism  3 .  
         [0031]      FIGS. 10 and 11  respectively shows a perspective view and a sectional view of the status when the first memory card of the present invention to enter into the slot area. As illustrated, before the insertion of the first memory card into the slot area, the push block  35  is located in the upper slot area. Once the first memory card  5  is inserted into the upper slot area  12 , the first memory card  5  pushes forward the first pushing part  351  of the push block  35 , and the push block  35  turns downward with the axle  32  as the axis to facilitate inserting the first memory card  5  into the upper slot area  12  to contact and get conducted with the first contact terminal set  21  while the push block  35  is turned to enter into the lower slot area  13 . Accordingly, the port to the lower slot area  13  is blocked by the push block  35  to prevent insertion of the first memory card  5 .  
         [0032]     Once the first memory card  5  is inserted into the lower slot area  12 , the second memory card  7  moves forward to push the second pushing part  352  of the push block  35  for the push block  35  to turn upward with the axle  32  as the axis, thus to facilitate insertion of the first memory card  5  into the lower slot area  13  to contact and get conducted with the second contact terminal set  22 ; meanwhile, the port to the upper slot area  12  is blocked by the push block  35  to prevent insertion of the first memory card  5 .  
         [0033]      FIGS. 12 and 13  respectively shows an exploded view and a perspective view of the base  1  adapted with a card ejection mechanism. As illustrated, an ejection mechanism  6  disposed to one side of the base  1  is comprised of a sliding member  61 , an elastic member  62 , a linking member  63 , an upper locking spring tag  64 , a lower locking spring tag  65 , and a detection spring tag  66 . The elastic member  62  relates to a compressed spiral spring with one end inserted to a guide post  111  disposed to a rear plate  1112  of the base and another end holding against the sliding member  61 . The linking member  63  relates to a rod in a shape of “         ”. The linking member  63  and the elastic member  62  are respectively disposed on both sides of the sliding member  61 . One free end  631  of the linking member  63  is fixed to the base  1  and another free end  632  of the linking member  63  is disposed in a tracing channel  611  disposed on the sliding member  61  as illustrated in  FIG. 13  to follow the movement of the sliding member  61 . The free end  632  of the linking member  63  slides in the tracking channel  611  and outwardly deflects due to displacement produced by the detection spring tag  66  for the detection spring tag  66  to attach to the inner side of the contact spring tag, then the signal of the message that the memory card has been inserted in position will be transmitted to a printed circuit board.  
         [0034]     By means of the card ejection mechanism  6 , the first and the second memory cards  5 ,  7  of different specifications executing card insertion and card ejection in the upper and the lower slot areas  12 ,  13  may share the slide member  61  and the detection spring tag  66  of the card ejection mechanism  6  to facilitate the use of the entire memory card adapter  10 .  
         [0035]     The prevent invention provides an improved structure of a dual-slot memory card adapter light guide, and the application for a utility patent is duly filed accordingly. However, it is to be noted that the preferred embodiments disclosed in the specification and the accompanying drawings are not limiting the present invention; and that any construction, installation, or characteristics that is same or similar to that of the present invention should fall within the scope of the purposes and claims of the present invention.