Card connector and method for producing housing assembly

A card connector into and from which a memory card is detachably inserted and removed, includes contacts adapted to contact connection portions of the memory card, and a housing for arranging and holding the contacts. Metal plates made of a metal are installed in the housing so as to extend onto both sides in the width direction of the housing. The metal plates are integrally provided with connection portions to be connected to a substrate. A tray made of a metal is provided for loading a plurality of memory cards therein, and either of both ends of the tray in its width direction is bent substantially into an L-shape, which bent portion slidably engages the metal plate. The connector achieves a reduced overall height such as less than 2.0 mm and is also superior in safety.

This application claims priority to Japanese Application No. 2006-145,421, filed May 25, 2006 and Japanese Application No. 2006-345,308, filed Dec. 22, 2006, each of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a card connector for use in a various electric and electronic appliances such as mobile phones, personal digital assistants (PDA), printers, card readers and the like for inputting and outputting signals into and from memory cards inserted into the card connector, and to a card connector having a structure achieving a reduced overall height of the card connector and being superior in safety of operation, and more particularly to a method for producing a housing assembly consisting of contacts, metal plates and a housing integrally formed as a unitary structure.

In recent years, with the wide spread use of digital cameras and the like, memory cards in compact shape having a large memory capacity have been used. A wide variety of memory cards have also been used depending upon characteristics and the like of appliances with which the memory cards are used, for example, SD card (Secure Digital memory card, registered trademark, referred to hereinafter just as “SD card”), Memory Stick card (registered trademark, referred to hereinafter just as “MS card”), SmartMedia card (registered trademark, referred to hereinafter just as “SM card”), CompactFlash card (registered trademark, referred to hereinafter just as “CF card”), xD card (registered trademark, referred to hereinafter just as “xD card”), Multimedia card (registered trademark, referred to hereinafter just as “MM card”), SIM card (Subscriber Identity Module card, registered trademark) and the like. Accordingly, as devices for writing and reading onto and from these various memory cards, memory card reader writers are increasingly being used in computers themselves or as peripheral devices.

Hitherto, in order to connect a memory card to an appliance, a card connector has generally been used.

Examples of card connectors are disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Opened No. 2003-45,562 (push-push type card connector, Patent Literature 1) and Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-123,252 (Patent Literature 2) and Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-115,165 (Patent Literature 3) both using a tray.

Patent Literature 1

According to the abstract of the Japanese Patent Application Opened No. 2003-45,562, this invention has an object to provide an IC card inserting and removing device into which an IC card is detachably inserted. Disclosed is an IC card inserting and removing device adapted to be incorporated in an electronic appliance, including a housing100and a cover200covering the housing100consisting of a frame portion110in the form of a substantially U-shape and a bottom surface120closing one side of the frame portion110whose opposed lengthwise frame portions111aand111bare formed in their inside surfaces with guide grooves113, and contacts130for IC cards arranged in a bottom frame portion111c,wherein a locking and ejecting mechanism300for IC cards is incorporated in one of the lengthwise frame portions111aand111b,thereby providing a superior card inserting and removing device which achieves miniaturization and simplification of used parts and enables an IC card to be stably held.

Incidentally, claim1of claims recites an IC card inserting and removing device to be incorporated in an electronic appliance, including a housing and a cover for covering the housing consisting of a frame portion in the form of a substantially U-shape and a bottom portion for reinforcing the frame portion, said frame portion having opposed lengthwise frame portions formed in their inner surfaces with guide grooves for the IC card, and contacts for IC cards arranged in a bottom frame portion perpendicularly crossing said lengthwise frame portions, wherein said device incorporates therein an IC card locking and ejecting mechanism provided on at least one of said lengthwise frame portions comprising a slider advancing and retracting in the same directions of the movements of said IC card upon its insertion and removal, pushing means for always pushing the slider toward the card inserting opening of said guide grooves for the IC card, a cam groove provided in said slider and being in the form of a substantially heart-shape, and a rockable spring pin having a free end engaging in the cam groove and the other end fixed to said bottom frame portion. Claim2recites the IC card inserting and removing device as claimed in claim1, whose slider has an inclined surface portion against which a corner oblique portion of an IC card abuts. Claim3recites the IC card inserting and removing device as claimed in claim1or2, whose slider is adapted to slidably moved along guide rods provided on said lengthwise frame portions. Claim4recites the IC card inserting and removing device as claimed in claim1,2or3, whose lengthwise frame portion not incorporating said IC card locking and ejecting mechanism is provided with a metal fitting having an elastic pressing piece elastically extending in the guide groove for the IC card so as to press the side face of the IC card. Claim5recites the IC card inserting and removing device as claimed in claim1,2,3or4, whose part of said cover is provided with an elastic pressing piece for pressing the surface of the IC card.

Patent Literature 2

According to the abstract of the Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-123,252, the object of this invention is to provide a card connector10enabling a reduced overall height of the connector with a simple construction, and this object can be achieved by a card connector10adapted to be connected to at least two cards60and including contacts14corresponding to the number of the cards60, a tray16in which at least two cards60can be loaded, and a housing having a fitting opening20for receiving the tray16and arranging and holding said contacts14. As a card connector10adapted to be connected to four cards60, disclosed is a card connector including contacts14of four kinds, a tray16having a card loading portion22into which the four cards60can be loaded, and a housing12for arranging and holding the contacts14of four kinds and having a fitting opening20for receiving the tray16.

Incidentally, claim1recites a card connector being connected to at least two cards, comprising contacts corresponding to the number of said cards, a tray into which at least two cards can be loaded, and a housing having a fitting opening for receiving said tray and arranging and holding said contacts. Claim2recites a card connector being connected to four cards, comprising contacts of four kinds, a tray having a card loading portion into which the four cards can be loaded, and a housing for arranging and holding said contacts of four kinds and having a fitting opening for receiving said tray. Claim3recites the card connector as claimed in claim1or2, wherein said tray is provided with the card loading portion having one part overlapping in relation to kinds of card other than one kind of card intended to be loaded in the card loading portion so as to allow the intended one kind of card only to be loaded in the card loading portion. Claim4recites the card connector as claimed in claim1or2, wherein said tray is provided with the card loading portion not having a part overlapping in relation to at least two kinds of cards so as to allow at least two kinds of cards to be loaded in the card loading portion and said tray is further provided with a card identification mechanism for identifying the cards to be used. Claim5recites the card connector as claimed in claim1,2,3or4, wherein said housing is provided with stopper means on the side of the fitting opening for preventing the tray from extending from the housing. Claim6recites the card connector as claimed in any one of claims1to5, further comprising a mechanism for drawing said tray to some extent relative to the housing by pushing said tray in the state that said tray has been inserted.

Patent Literature 3

According to the abstract of the Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-115,165, this invention has an object to provide a card connector which is miniaturized and lighter, more compact and simple in construction and is easy to remove a memory card. Disclosed is a card connector10into and from which a memory card60is detachably inserted and removed, including contacts14each adapted to contact a connection portion of the memory card60, and a housing12for arranging and holding the contacts14and having an inserting opening22for inserting the memory card60, wherein the housing12includes two side walls24, a rear wall26, and a lower wall28contiguous to these side and rear walls24and26to form the inserting opening22for the memory card60by these walls24,26and28, and a shell16is arranged on the side of the housing opposite from the lower wall28, and an elastically deformable tray18is arranged on the lower wall28so as to be slidable with the aid of a tray restraining plate20.

Incidentally, claim1recites a card connector into and from which a memory card is detachably inserted and removed, including contacts each adapted to contact a connection portion of the memory card, and a housing for arranging and holding said contacts and having an inserting opening for inserting the memory card, wherein said housing comprises two side walls, a rear wall, and a lower wall contiguous to these side and rear walls to form said inserting opening for said memory card by the two side walls, the rear wall, and the lower wall, and wherein a shell is arranged on the side of the housing opposite from said lower wall, and an elastically deformable tray is arranged on said lower wall so as to be slidable with the aid of a tray restraining plate. Claim2recites the card connector as claimed in claim1, wherein said tray is made of a metal having an elasticity in the form of a plate and comprises at one free end an operating portion extending from the end face of said lower wall when said memory card has been loaded so that said tray is slidably moved by drawing said operating portion. Claim3recites the card connector as claimed in claim1or2, wherein said tray comprises erroneous fitting preventing means and positioning means for said memory card. Claim4recites the card connector as claimed in any one of claims1to3, wherein said tray is formed as a plate-shaped piece so that a space is provided below the lower surface of said memory card when said tray has been drawn from the housing.

Recently, with the miniaturization of appliances, the need for connectors to be more miniaturized has become stronger, and nowadays even a connector having a height of less than 2 mm is pursued. On the other hand, as the connector becomes lighter and more compact, it would become difficult to insert and remove a memory card into and from the connector. Under such circumstances, the connectors constructed as disclosed in the Patent Literatures 1 to 3 could not realize the miniaturization of the connector such as a height of less than 2 mm owing to the number and thicknesses of parts and structural problems. As a general trend of the technical field, moreover, requirements for improving the safety of operation and preventing erroneous fitting of memory cards have become stronger.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the problems of the prior art described above, it is an object of the invention to provide a card connector which is simple in construction and superior in safety and achieves a reduced overall height of the card connector of less than 2 mm, and it is another object to provide a method for producing a housing assembly consisting of contacts, metal plates and a housing integrally formed as a unitary structure.

The above object can be achieved by a card connector10into and from which a memory card60is detachably inserted and removed, including contacts14adapted to contact connection portions of the memory card60, and a housing12for arranging and holding said contacts14, wherein metal plates16made of a metal are mounted in said housing12so as to extend onto both sides in the width direction of the housing12, said metal plates16integrally provided with connection portions163to be connected to a substrate, and a tray18made of a metal is provided for loading a plurality of memory cards60therein, either of both ends of said tray18in its width direction being bent substantially into an L-shape, which bent portion26slidably engages said metal plate16to allow metal-to-metal sliding coupling.

In the case of a tray in which a single memory card is loaded, the object described above can be accomplished by a card connector10into and from which a memory card60is detachably inserted and removed, including contacts14adapted to contact connection portions of the memory card60, and a housing12for arranging and holding said contacts14, wherein said housing12is provided with extending portions24extending onto both sides in its width direction, and a tray18made of a metal is provided for loading one memory card60therein, either of both ends of said tray18in its width direction being bent substantially into an L-shape, which bent portion26slidably engages said extending portion24to allow metal-to-metal sliding coupling.

In the card connector10claimed in claim3, the extending portions24of said housing12are made of metal plates16separate from said housing12, and said metal plates16are integrally provided with connection portions163to be connected to a substrate.

In the card connector10claimed in claim4, moreover, said tray18is attached with a button22made of a resin mounted thereon on either of both sides in the width direction and at the other end opposite to the end bent into the L-shape.

In the card connector10claimed in claim5, said metal plates16or said extending portions24are provided with projections30on the side of insertion of the tray on both sides in the width direction, respectively, and said tray18is provided on its side faces34with anchoring grooves28, respectively, with which said projections30are in slidable engagement.

In the card connector10claimed in claim6, further, a housing assembly20is used which is integrally formed with said contacts14and said metal plates16.

In the card connector10claimed in claim7, said side faces34of said tray18on both the sides in the width direction are provided at their free ends with folded-back portions38, respectively.

A method for producing said housing assembly20according to the invention comprises successively performing steps of forming a subassembly21by press-working said contacts14and said metal plate16into an integral predetermined shape as a first step, integrally molding said housing12with the subassembly21formed in the first step after the subassembly21has been set in a metal mold as a second step, and cutting connecting portions between said contacts14and said metal plate16of the integrally molded product in said second step, as a third step.

As can be seen from the above description, the card connector and the method for producing a housing assembly according to the invention bring about the following significant functions and effects.

(1) In the card connector10into and from which a memory card60is detachably inserted and removed, including contacts14adapted to contact connection portions of the memory card60, and a housing12for arranging and holding said contacts14, according to the invention metal plates16made of a metal are installed in said housing12so as to extend onto both sides in the width direction of the housing12, said metal plates16integrally provided with connection portions163to be connected to a reference potential (not shown), and a tray18made of a metal is provided for loading a plurality of memory cards60therein, either of both ends of said tray18in its width direction being bent substantially into an L-shape, which bent portion26slidably engages said metal plate16to allow metal-to-metal sliding coupling. Therefore, it is possible to achieve a reduced overall height of the card connector of less than 2 mm, and shielding, and preparation for static electricity can be easily performed by merely inserting a memory card into the card connector.

(2) In the case of a tray in which a single memory card is loaded, in the card connector10into and from which a memory card60is detachably inserted and removed, including contacts14adapted to contact connection portions of the memory card60, and a housing12for arranging and holding said contacts14, according to the invention said housing12is provided with extending portions24extending onto both sides in its width direction, and a tray18made of a metal is provided for loading one memory card60therein, either of both ends of said tray18in its width direction being bent substantially into an L-shape, which bent portion26slidably engages said extending portion24to allow metal-to-metal sliding coupling. Consequently, it is possible to achieve a reduced overall height of the card connector of less than 2 mm.

(3) In the card connector10claimed in claim3, the extending portions24of said housing12are made of metal plates16separate from said housing12, and said metal plates16are integrally provided with connection portions163to be connected to a substrate. Therefore, it is possible to achieve a reduced overall height of the card connector of less than 2 mm, and shielding, and preparation for static electricity can be easily performed by merely inserting a memory card into the card connector.

(4) In the card connector10claimed in claim4, said tray18is provided with a button22made of a resin mounted thereon on either of both sides in the width direction and at the other end opposite to the end bent into the L-shape. Accordingly, said tray18can be safely handled.

(5) In the card connector10claimed in claim5, said metal plates16or said extending portions24are provided with projections30on the side of insertion of the tray on both sides in the width direction, respectively, and said tray18is provided on its side faces34with anchoring grooves28, respectively, with which said projections30are in slidable engagement. Consequently, the engagement of the projections30with said anchoring grooves28not only provides an effective guide at the sliding movement of the tray to keep it in a stable condition, but also serves to limit the movement of the tray18.

(6) In the card connector10claimed in claim6, a housing assembly20is used which is integrally formed with said contacts14and said metal plates16. Therefore, it is possible to achieve a reduced overall height of the card connector of less than 2 mm.

(7) In the card connector10claimed in claim7, said side faces34of said tray18on both the sides in the width direction are provided at their free ends with folded-back portions38, respectively. Consequently, fingers are completely prevented from being injured even if a person directly contacts said tray18made of a metal.

(8) A method for producing said housing assembly20comprises successively performing steps of forming a subassembly21by press-working said contacts14and said metal plate16into an integral predetermined shape as a first step, integrally molding said housing12with the subassembly21formed in the first step after the subassembly21has been set in a metal mold as a second step, and cutting connecting portions between said contacts14and said metal plate16of the integrally molded product in said second step, as a third step. Therefore, this method can produce said housing assembly20in a simple manner and leads to a reduced overall height of the card connector of less than 2 mm.

The invention will be more fully understood by referring to the following detailed specification and claims taken in connection with the appended drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

One embodiment of the card connector according to the invention will be explained with reference toFIGS. 1A to 7B.FIG. 1Ais a perspective view of the card connector with a tray drawn, viewed from the fitting side, andFIG. 1Bis a perspective view of the card connector with the tray inserted, viewed from the fitting side.FIG. 2Ais a perspective view of the card connector with the tray drawn and a card loaded, viewed from the fitting side, whileFIG. 2Bis a perspective view of the card connector with the tray inserted together with the card loaded therein, viewed from the fitting side.FIG. 3is a perspective view of the tray.FIG. 4is a perspective view of a button.FIG. 5is a perspective view of a housing integrally holding contacts and a metal plate.FIG. 6Ais a perspective view of the contacts and a metal plate formed as one or integral unit, andFIG. 6Bis a perspective view of the contacts and the metal plates, separated.FIG. 7Ais a perspective view of a tray different from the tray shown inFIG. 3, with the button installed thereon, whileFIG. 7Bis a partly enlarged view of the encircled portion A inFIG. 7A.

The card connector10of one embodiment according to the invention mainly comprises a housing20(a housing integrally molded with integrally formed contacts14and metal plates16), a tray18, and a button22.

Before explaining the components of the card connector, the cards will be explained. Said cards are used for printers, card readers and the like. Said cards each mainly comprise contact portions adapted to contact the contact portions141of the contacts14, patterns connecting from the contact portions of the card to circuits, and connection portions adapted to be connected to integrated circuits and central processing units mounted on the patterns. Cards to be used for the card connector10according to the invention include SIM card (Subscriber Identity Module card, registered trademark), Multimedia card (registered trademark), SD card (Secure Digital memory card, registered trademark), Mini-SD card (Mini Secure Digital memory card, registered trademark), Memory Stick card (registered trademark), SmartMedia card (registered trademark), CompactFlash card (registered trademark), xD card (registered trademark), RS-MMC card (Reduce Size MMC card, registered trademark), Transflash card (registered trademark), S card (registered trademark), Memory-stick Duo card (registered trademark) and the like. These IC cards have built-in CPU or IC for memory.

The card connector10of the illustrated embodiment is so constructed that the SIM card (registered trademark) can be inserted.

The method for producing the housing20will be explained at the beginning, which is essential for achieving a reduced overall height of the connector. The method for producing the housing20may be effected by successively performing the following first to third steps.

As a first step, said contacts14and said metal plates16are formed from a metal plate by press-working to an integral or unitary predetermined shape, thereby forming a subassembly21as shown inFIG. 6A.

As a second step, after the subassembly21formed in the first step has been set in a metal mold, a housing is integrally molded in the metal mold together with the subassembly21to form a housing assembly.

As a third step, connecting portions between the contacts14and the metal plates16of the housing assembly formed in the second step are cut off. As a result, said contacts14and said metal plate16are disconnected as shown inFIG. 6Bwhich illustrates a state that the insulator or housing is eliminated. In other words, by forming the holes32in the insulator, said contacts14and said metal plate16are disconnected and at the same time the contacts themselves are also disconnected from one another into six contacts and the metal plate is disconnected or separated into two metal plates in the illustrated embodiment as shown inFIG. 5in the state that the contacts14and the metal plates16are covered by the insulator or housing. Dotted lines inFIG. 6Cshow how the holes32line up with the cutting positions of the subassembly21.

First, the subassembly (the integrally formed contacts14and metal plates16) will be explained. The subassembly21is made of a metal and formed by means of the press-working of the known technique. Preferred metals from which to form said subassembly21include brass, beryllium copper, phosphor bronze and the like which comply with the requirements as to electric conductivity, dimensional stability, formability, springiness, and the like.

The contacts14and metal plates16as respective parts will be explained with reference toFIGS. 6A and 6B. Said contacts14each mainly comprise a contact portion141adapted to contact a connection portion of a memory card, and a connection portion143to be connected to a substrate. Said contacts14are commensurate with the SIM card (registered trademark)60, and the connection portions of the contacts14may be suitably designed in consideration of circuit design and occupied area of the substrate, and size and design of the connector10. The contacts14are arranged such that their connection portions143extend in both the directions, that is, in the inserting direction of the tray and in the opposite direction thereto. The connection portions143are of a surface mounting type (SMT) as shown inFIGS. 1A and 1B.

Moreover, the contact portion141of the contact14is curved so as to come into contact with the inserted memory card60with ease. The position of the contact portion141may be suitably designed in consideration of the respective position of the connection portion of the inserted memory card60. The size of the curved portion of the contact portion141may be suitably designed in consideration of the contact pressure on the memory card60.

Said metal plates16each mainly comprise an extending portion24extending in the width direction of said housing12, and connection portions163to be connected to the substrate. Said metal plates16have functions of shielding and discharging any static electricity when contacting the tray. The connection portions163of said metal plates16may be suitably designed in consideration of the circuit design and occupied area of the substrate and the size and design of the connector10. In the illustrated embodiment, said metal plates16are arranged such that their connection portions163extend in both the inserting direction of said tray and the direction opposite thereto. The connection portions163are of a surface mounting type (SMT) as shown inFIGS. 1A and 1B.

The subassembly21is formed by integrally or unitarily forming said contacts14and said metal plates16. In the illustrated embodiment, said subassembly21consists of the six contacts14and two metal plates16.

Although said extending portions24are formed by said metal plates16in the illustrated embodiment, said extending portions24may be formed by the metal plate16and said housing12(said metal plates16may be arranged above the housing as the case may be), or said extending portions24may be formed only by said housing12without using the metal plates16.

Said extending portions24are each provided with a projection30on the side of the insertion of the tray so that the projections30extend on both the sides in the width direction. Said projections30engage anchoring grooves28provided on side faces34of said tray18. The engagement of said projections30with said anchoring grooves28not only provides a guide for stable sliding movement of the tray, but also serves to limit the movement of the tray. Moreover, said tray18is being drawn by a strong force, under the influence of which the tray18may often jump out of its course. Such a risk can be avoided by the engagement of the projections30with the anchoring grooves28. The size of said projections30may be suitably designed in consideration of the strength, slidability and the like of said tray18.

Said subassembly21will then be explained. As described above, after said housing assembly has been set in the metal mold, the housing is molded in the metal mold so that the housing is integrally molded with said subassembly21, thereby forming the housing assembly. In other words, said contacts14, said metal plates16, and the housing12are formed into an integral or unitary body. The insulator portion (housing12) is formed from an electrically insulating plastic material by means of the injection molding of the known technique. The materials for the insulator portion (housing12) may be suitably selected in consideration of dimensional stability, workability, manufacturing cost, and the like and generally include polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyamide (66PA or 46PA), liquid crystal polymer (LCP), polycarbonate (PC) and the like and combination thereof.

The housing assembly as a final product is formed with the holes32for electrically disconnecting between said contacts14and said metal plate16. Said holes32are formed by drilling said housing assembly set in a predetermined metal die, thereby electrically disconnecting said contacts14from said metal plate16. The positions of said holes32correspond to the connection portions between the contacts14and said metal plates16.

The tray18will then be explained, which is one important aspect of the invention. The tray18is made of a metal in the illustrated embodiment, and formed by means of the press-working of the known technique. Preferred metals from which to form said tray18include brass, beryllium copper, phosphor bronze and the like which comply with the requirements as to electric conductivity, dimensional stability, formability, springiness, and the like.

Said tray18serves to hold the memory card, and to insert and remove the memory card into and from the card connector10by inserting and removing the tray18into and from said housing assembly20. Said tray18has a substantially U-shaped cross-section and includes bent portions26at both ends in its width direction. The bent portions26are bent in the direction opposite to the inserting direction of the tray18. Said bent portions26are adapted to contact and engage the extending portions24of said housing assembly20, respectively, so as to slide on said extending portions24. The shape of said bent portions26need only be able to contact the extending portions24and slide thereon and may be suitably designed in consideration of strength, slidability, conductivity, workability and the like.

The side faces34of said tray18are each provided with the anchoring groove28adapted to engage said projection30. The engagement of said projections30with said anchoring grooves28not only provides a guide for stable sliding movement of the tray, but also serves to limit the movement of the tray. Moreover, said tray18is being drawn by a strong force, under the influence of which the tray18may often jump out of its course. Such a risk can be avoided by the engagement of the projections30with the anchoring grooves28. Said anchoring grooves28extend substantially over the full length of the side faces34, respectively. The size of said anchoring grooves28may be suitably designed in consideration of the strength, slidability and the like of said tray18.

As said tray18is for loading said memory card60therein, the tray18is provided with the upright portions surrounding said memory card, such as said side faces34.

In order to prevent fingers of a person from being injured upon the fingers touching said tray made of a metal, moreover, it is preferable to provide folded-back portions38at free ends of said side faces34of said tray18on both the sides in its width direction as shown inFIGS. 7A and 7B. However, the folded-back portions38must necessarily be provided so as not to adversely affect the sliding movement of the tray on said housing assembly20. The volume of the folded-back portions38need only fulfill the above requirements, and the free ends of the upright portions need only be folded back in any way without any facture surfaces remained. The shape and size of the folded-back portions may be suitably designed so as to fulfill the above requirements. In the illustrated embodiment, there are provided the folded-back portions of the order of 0.05 to 0.1 mm.

A tray18in which a plurality of memory cards are loaded will be explained herein. Differences from the tray18(in which a single memory card is loaded described above) only will be described. It is required to separate memory cards from one another by insulators in order to load the plurality of memory cards in a tray. Therefore, partition members made of an insulating material are fixed to a tray18by press-fitting, welding, or the like. The partition members may be suitably designed depending upon sizes of memory cards to be loaded. The thickness of the partition members between the cards is of the order of 0.5 mm.

In view of manufacturing efficiency, strength of the partition members, management cost, it is desirable to form the partition members together with a button22described below and the metal tray18as an integral or unitary member.

Finally, the button22will be explained. Said button22is formed from an electrically insulating plastic material by means of the injection molding of the known technique. The materials for the button22may be suitably selected in consideration of dimensional stability, workability, manufacturing cost, and the like and generally include polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyamide (66PA or 46PA), liquid crystal polymer (LCP), polycarbonate (PC) and the like and combination thereof.

Said button22serves to protect a person handling said tray18from being injured by the tray18made of a metal. Moreover, said button22is provided with an inclined portion36which prevent an erroneous fitting of a memory card or a wrong memory card from being inserted. Position and shape of the button22are suitably designed in consideration of easy handling, erroneous fitting prevention, and the like. In the illustrated embodiment, the button22is provided on one end of said tray18opposite to the end provided with the bent portion26. The button22is fixed to the tray by press-fitting, welding, integral forming, or the like.

Although the card connector10has been shown and explained, having the structure into which the SIM card (registered trademark)60can be inserted, needless to say, constructions similar to that described above according to the invention are also applicable to connectors for memory cards other than the SIM card.

Examples of applications of the present invention include card connectors being capable of exchanging signals between the connector and a memory card inserted therein for use in various electric and electronic appliances such as mobile phones, personal digital assistants (PDA), printers, card readers and the like, and particularly card connectors with a structure which achieves a reduced overall height of the connector and is superior in safe operationality.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form and details can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.