Portable compact flash card connector with a parallel (printer) port control board and a U-shaped frame

A portable compact flash card connector with a parallel (printer) port control board and a U-shaped frame includes a casing composed of an upper cover and a lower cover engaged with the upper cover, and a control card fixedly fitted within the casing and having a parallel (printer) port interface input connector partly protruding out of the casing, a parallel (printer) port output connector partly protruding out of the casing, and a compact flash card connector having two parallel racks each extending outwardly from each end of the compact flash card connector thereby forming a U-shaped frame for receiving a compact flash card.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
 1. Field of the Invention
 This invention is related to a portable compact flash card connector with a
 parallel (printer) port control board and a U-shaped frame.
 2. Description of the Prior Art
 It has been found that the compact flash card is a semi-conductor drive of
 international standards and works like commonly used hard disk drives. As
 the compact flash card is lightweight, compact in size and easily
 replaceable, it is generally used in mobile electronic devices such as
 digital cameras, personal digital assistance, personal organizers, voice
 recorders, and so on. The compact flash card can work at a relatively low
 voltage and so it is fit to be used as a storage system for the
 above-mentioned electronic devices. However, it is unfortunate that the
 commonly used desktop and notebook computers cannot be connected with the
 compact flash card.
 Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a portable
 compact flash card connector with a parallel (printer) port control board
 and a U-shaped frame which can easily connect a compact flash card with a
 desk or notebook computer.
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
 This invention is related to a portable compact flash card connector with a
 parallel (printer) port control board and a U-shaped frame.
 It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a portable
 connector with a parallel (printer) port control board and a U-shaped
 frame with which a compact flash card can be easily connected.
 It is another object of the present invention to provide a portable compact
 flash card connector with a parallel (printer) port control board and a
 U-shaped frame which is lightweight and compact in size.
 It is still another object of the present invention to provide a portable
 compact flash card connector with a parallel (printer) port control board
 and a U-shaped frame which is low in cost.
 The foregoing objects and summary provide only a brief introduction to the
 present invention. To fully appreciate these and other objects of the
 present invention as well as the invention itself, all of which will
 become apparent to those skilled in the art, the following detailed
 description of the invention and the claims should be read in conjunction
 with the accompanying drawings. Throughout the specification and drawings
 identical reference numberals refer to identical or similar parts.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
 For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the
 invention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the
 drawings. Specific language will be used to describe same. It will,
 nevertheless, be understood that no limitation of the scope of the
 invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications
 in the illustrated device, and such further applications of the principles
 of the invention as illustrated herein being contemplated as would
 normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.
 With reference to the drawings and in particular to FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4
 thereof, the portable compact flash card connector with a parallel
 (printer) port control board and a U-shaped frame according to the present
 invention comprises a casing 10 composed of an upper cover 12 and a lower
 cover 11. The upper cover 12 is engaged with the lower cover 11 by screws
 30. Fitted in the cover cover 2 is a control board 20 which is provided
 with a parallel (printer) port interface input connector 40, a parallel
 (printer) port output connector 50, and a compact flash card connector 60.
 The parallel (printer) port interface input connector 40 and the parallel
 (printer) port output connector 50 extend partly out of the casing 10. The
 compact flash card connector 60 is provided with two parallel racks 61
 extending outwardly at two opposite ends thereby forming a U-shaped frame
 for facilitating the engagement between a compact flash card 70 and the
 compact flash card connector 60. The casing 10 is formed with a recess 13
 for facilitating the disengagement of the compact flash card 70 from the
 compact flash card connector 60. The control board 20 is fixedly mounted
 within the casing 10 by screws 30, with the parallel (printer) port
 interface input connector 40 and the parallel (printer) port output
 connector 50 fastened on two ends of the casing 10 by screws 80.
 Turning now to FIG. 5, the parallel (printer) port output connector 50 of
 the present invention is connected with a computer printer port via a
 first printer cable 90, while the parallel (printer) port interface input
 connector 40 is connected with a printer (not shown) via a second printer
 cable 90. Hence, one may use the computer to read or write files from the
 compact flash card 70 through a printer interface.
 It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or
 more together may also find a useful application in other types of methods
 differing from the type described above.
 While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and
 described and are pointed out in the annexed claim, it is not intended to
 be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various
 omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and
 details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by
 those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of
 the present invention.
 Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of
 the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge,
 readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that,
 from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential
 characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.