PC card connector device

A PC Card slot which can enhance the safety, operability and assembly efficiency of a device by removing and locking a plurality of PC Cards by the use of only a single operating knob. In the case of the aforementioned PC Card slot, a lock portion, which is able to abut against a PC Card, is formed in an operating knob, which is provided on a lever operating stick, and is further used as a lock mechanism for preventing a PC Card from coming off the PC Card slot.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention generally relates to a PC (Personal Computer) Card 
slot and, more particularly, to a PC Card slot provided with a lock 
mechanism (or structure) for preventing a PC card from unintentionally 
coming or falling off the slot owing to a shock (or vibration), a 
malfunction and so forth. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
In recent years, there has been striking reduction in size, weight, 
thickness and power consumption of electronic equipment. Especially, the 
size and weight of the personal computer have decreased markedly with the 
development thereof from the desktop computer through the laptop computer 
to the notebook computer. Further, in addition to these, new small 
information (processing) devices, such as a handwriting information 
(processing) device which is excellent in portability, have emerged. 
In such a field, PC cards, such as an IC memory card obtained by packaging 
a semiconductor memory on a credit-card-sized card highly densely, and an 
I/O card, attract attention as media for information interchange. As 
compared with magnetic recording media such as a floppy disk and a hard 
disk, such PC Cards have the following outstanding merits. 
(1) PC Card eliminates the need for a driver unit, so that the reduction in 
size and weight of the device can be achieved. 
(2) PC Card can operate at a low voltage of 3 volts or so, with the result 
that a long battery-driven operation can be achieved and that there can be 
provided a device which excels in portability. 
(3) High-speed access to the device can be realized. 
(4) PC Cards excel in what is called "environment-proof". Ranges of 
allowable temperature and moisture thereof are wide. Moreover, PC Cards 
are vibration-proof and shock-resistant. 
(5) Media can be easily carried. This allows data exchange to be achieved. 
Thus, PC Cards are superior in potability. 
(6) PC Cards can be loaded with various semiconductor memories such as ROM 
and RAM. 
Such PC Cards are classified into three types by thickness thereof. 
Usually, PC Cards having a thickness of 3.3 mm are classified as Type I. 
Further, PC Cards having a thickness of 5.0 mm is classified as Type II. 
Moreover, PC Cards having a thickness of 10.5 mm is classified as Type 
III. 
Furthermore, PC Cards acting as memory cards are used as add-on (or add-in) 
memories, or used like HDs (namely, Hard Disks) or FDDs (namely, Floppy 
Disk Drivers (or Drive units)). On the other hand, usually, PC Cards 
acting as I/O cards are not used singly. Such a PC Card is used by being 
connected with an accessory or by being connected to another device 
through a cable or the like. PC Cards of major kinds are a LAN card, a 
FAX/MODEM card and a PCM sound card. 
Currently, notebook personal computers and handwriting information 
(processing) devices, which are provided with what are called PC Card 
slots so as to be equipped with such PC Cards, respectively, are provided 
on the market by many makers. 
Hereinafter, a conventional PC Card slot 41 will be described by referring 
to FIGS. 20 to 27. The conventional PC Card slot is formed in such a 
manner as to be able to be equipped with two PC Cards 2. FIG. 20 is a plan 
view of the conventional PC Card slot 41. FIG. 21 is a front view of the 
conventional PC Card slot of FIG. 20. FIG. 22 is a left side view of the 
conventional PC Card slot of FIG. 20. FIG. 23 is a right side view of the 
conventional PC Card slot of FIG. 20. FIG. 24 is a sectional view taken on 
line XXIV--XXIV of FIG. 20. 
Further, FIG. 25 is a plan view of the conventional PC Card slot 41 into 
which a single PC Card 2 is fit. FIG. 26 is a front view of such a 
conventional PC Card slot 41. Moreover, FIG. 27 is a plan view of the 
conventional PC Card slot 41 from which the PC Card 2 is released. 
In the case of the conventional PC Card slot 41 illustrated in these 
figures, a slot main body 42 is divided into two stages (namely, upper and 
lower stages), namely, an upper slot main body 42 and a lower slot main 
body 42 in such a manner that two PC Cards 2 of Type I or Type II can be 
fit thereinto. Each of these slot main bodies 42 is constituted by thin 
plates made of metallic materials such as steel. Further, cavities, into 
which PC Cards 2 are inserted, are formed by bending these thin plates. 
Thus, the aforementioned slot main bodies 2 serve as guides each for 
guiding the aforesaid PC Card 2 thereinto when inserting the aforesaid PC 
Card 2 into the aforementioned cavity. 
Moreover, an upper connector 43a and a lower connector 43b are provided in 
these upper and lower slot main bodies 42, respectively. These connectors 
43a and 43b have roles in positioning the PC Cards 2 and in electrically 
connecting each of the PC Cards 2 with a wiring board 44. Namely, each of 
these connectors 43a and 43b is provided at the rear of the corresponding 
slot main body 42 in such a way as to extend from the left end to the 
right end thereof. Furthermore, two rows (namely, upper and lower rows) of 
pin terminals are embedded in a front-side portion of the PC Card slot 41 
as illustrated in FIG. 21. Additionally, as shown in FIGS. 22 through 24, 
the wiring board 44 is supported and sandwiched between the upper 
connector 43a and the lower connector 43b in such a manner as to protrude 
from therebetween toward the back of the wiring board 44. Further, the 
aforementioned pin terminals 45 are fit into two rows (namely, upper and 
lower rows) of fitting holes (not shown) formed in the PC Card 2 to 
thereby hold the PC Card 2. In this way, basically, the PC Card 2 is fixed 
to the slot by a fitting force acting between the PC Card 2 and a set of 
the pin terminals 45. Moreover, as illustrated in FIG. 24, the 
aforementioned pin terminals 45 are electrically connected to and a cable 
terminal (not shown), which is electrically connected to the main unit 
(not shown) of the device, is coupled to the aforesaid wiring board 44. 
Therefore, each of the aforementioned PC Cards 2 is connected to the main 
unit of the device through the pin terminals 45, the wiring board 44 and 
the cable terminal in sequence. 
A releasing lever for canceling (namely, releasing the PC Card from) the 
fitting force acting between the PC Card 2 and the set of the pin 
terminals 45 of the connector 43 is rotatably journalled in a 
corresponding one of the main bodies 42 between each of the connectors 43 
and the corresponding one of the slot main bodies 42. Let reference 
characters 46a and 46b denote an upper releasing lever, which corresponds 
to the upper slot main body 42, and a lower releasing lever, which 
corresponds to the lower slot main body 42, respectively. Each of these 
releasing levers is formed so that the length thereof is nearly equal to 
the distance between the left and right edges of each of the 
aforementioned slot main bodies 42. One end portion (incidentally, this 
end portion is the left end portion in the case of the upper releasing 
lever 46a of FIG. 20, and is the right end portion in the case of the 
lower releasing lever 46b) of each of the releasing levers 46a and 46b is 
formed as a projection portion 47 protruding from the slot main bodies 42. 
The other end portion (incidentally, this end portion is the right end 
portion in the case of the upper releasing lever 46a of FIG. 20, and is 
the left end portion in the case of the lower releasing lever 46b) of each 
of the releasing levers 46a and 46b is formed as an abutting portion 48 
adapted to abut against an edge portion of the PC Card 2 when held in a 
corresponding one of the slot main bodies 42. 
A lever operating stick 49 is attached to the aforementioned projection 
portion 47. Further, an operating knob 50 is attached to an operated-side 
end portion (namely, a lower end portion as viewed in FIG. 20) of this 
lever operating stick 49. This lever operating stick 49 is held by holding 
clicks 51 and is adapted to be able to make reciprocating motion back and 
forward. 
Therefore, in the case that the aforementioned PC Card 2 is fit into the PC 
Card slot 41, the abutting portion 48 of the aforementioned releasing 
lever is pushed by the edge portion of the aforementioned PC Card 2 and is 
turned counterclockwise, as illustrated in FIG. 25. Thus, the 
aforementioned lever operating stick 49 is slid downwardly as viewed in 
this figure. Further, the aforementioned PC Card 2 is fit into a 
corresponding one of the aforesaid slot main bodies 42 by coupling the 
aforementioned PC Card 2 with the pin terminals 45 of the aforesaid 
connector 43. 
In contrast, when removing the aforementioned PC Card 2 from the PC Card 
slot 41, the operating knob 50 of the aforementioned lever operating stick 
49 is pushed and is thus turned clockwise, as illustrated in FIG. 26. 
Thus, the edge portion of the aforementioned PC Card 2 is pushed by the 
projection portion of the aforementioned releasing lever by utilizing what 
is called the principle of a lever (namely, utilizing leverage). 
Consequently, the fitting force acting between the aforementioned PC Card 
2 and the aforesaid pin terminals 45 is released, and the PC Card 2 is 
removed from the corresponding one of the aforementioned slot main bodies 
42. 
Meanwhile, PC Card slot 41 as above described is frequently used in 
portable devices which highly frequently undergo shocks and vibrations in 
comparison with ordinary desktop (or tabletop) devices. Thus, such 
portable devices need to be provided with a coming-off preventing lock 
mechanism for preventing a PC card from easily coming off a PC Card slot. 
However, there is no conventional PC Card slot 41 formed in such a manner 
as to be integral with a coming-off preventing lock mechanism. Further, 
the lock mechanism is provided in the device separately from the PC Card 
slot 41. 
Thus, the operating knob 50 is placed separately from the lock mechanism, 
so that the operability of the conventional PC Card slot is low. Further, 
the conventional PC Card slot has encountered a problem in respect of 
efficiency in assembling the device. 
Moreover, an operation of the operating knob 50 is performed separately 
from (or independently of) that of the lock mechanism, so that users have 
easily forgotten to lock and unlock (namely, release the lock). Therefore, 
when forgetting to lock the lock mechanism, there are fears that the PC 
Card 2 is easy to come off the slot 41 owing to vibrations and shocks and 
thus, needless to say, an operation failure of the PC Card 2 is caused, 
and that this causes what is called a system error of the main unit of the 
device, or that at the worst, electronic parts provided in the PC Card 2 
are damaged. In contrast, when operating the knob 50 without releasing the 
lock of the lock mechanism, an excessive force is applied to the releasing 
lever. Thus, there is a fear that the PC Card slot 41 itself is destroyed. 
Furthermore, the conventional PC Card slot 41 has problems in that if the 
PC Card slot 41 is placed in the inner part of the device so that the end 
portions of the PC Card 2 do not project from the device during the PC 
Card 2 is fit thereinto, the operating knob 50 is also placed in the inner 
part of the device and thus becomes difficult to operate, and in that if 
large space is taken up in the vicinity of the operating knob 50 so as to 
improve the operability of the knob 50, the size of the device becomes 
large inconveniently. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
An object of the present invention is to provide a PC Card slot which can 
enhance the safety, operability and assembly efficiency by using only a 
single operating knob to remove and lock a plurality of PC Cards. 
Another object of the present invention is to increase the assembly 
efficiency at the time of incorporating a coming-off preventing lock 
mechanism into the main body of a device and to enhance the operability of 
the device by forming a lock portion, which can abut against a PC Card, in 
an operating knob formed on a lever operating stick. 
A further object of the present invention is to minimize a fitting space in 
a slot or to enhance the operability of the slot by performing an 
operation of releasing the fitting of a plurality of PC Cards into 
connectors by the use of a single lever operating stick and by operating a 
lock mechanism, which is used for preventing each PC Card from coming off 
a PC Card slot, by the use of a single operating knob. 
Still another object of the present invention is to easily release the 
fitting of a plurality of PC Cards into connectors by performing a simple 
operation on a lever operating stick by first forming an engaging portion 
in the lever operating stick and then selectively engaging the engaging 
portion with one of releasing levers as a result of turning the lever 
operating stick and finally operating the selected releasing lever. 
Yet another object of the present invention is to simultaneously perform 
both of an operation of releasing the aforementioned lock of a lock 
mechanism and an operation of selecting the aforementioned releasing lever 
by turning a lever operation stick and to simultaneously perform both of 
an operation of releasing the lock of the lock mechanism and an operation 
of removing a PC Card by carrying out a simple operation on the lever 
operating stick. 
Still another object of the present invention is to eliminate a special 
space used for operating a lever operating stick and enhance the 
operability of a PC Card slot by providing in each slot main body a 
stopper for holding a lever operating stick in a lock position and further 
providing a spring member for pushing a lever operating stick, which is 
not restricted by the stopper, to the front of the main body, and by 
engaging the aforementioned stopper with the lever operating stick as a 
result of pushing and retreating the aforementioned operating knob when 
locking a PC Card in a position where a lock portion of the operating knob 
can lock the aforementioned PC Card in the direction of the circumference 
of the lever operating stick, and by protruding the aforementioned 
operating knob to an operating face by the elastic (or resilient) force of 
the aforementioned spring member when releasing the lock of the PC Card.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Hereinafter, the preferred embodiment of the present invention will be 
described in detail by referring to FIGS. 1 to 19. 
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a PC Card slot embodying the present invention, 
which is this embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a front view 
of the PC Card slot of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a right side view of the PC Card 
slot of FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a rear view of the PC Card slot of FIG. 1. FIG. 
5 is a sectional view taken on line V--V of FIG. 1. 
In the case of the PC Card slot 1 of this embodiment of the present 
invention illustrated in these figures, a slot main body 3 is divided into 
two stages (namely, upper and lower stages), namely, an upper slot main 
body 3a and a lower slot main body 3b in such a manner that two PC Cards 2 
of Type I or Type II can be fit thereinto and that a single PC Card 2 of 
Type III can be fit thereinto. Each of these slot main bodies 3 (3a and 
3b) is constituted by thin plates made of metallic materials such as 
steel. Further, cavities, into which PC Cards 2 are inserted, are formed 
in the slot main bodies, respectively, by bending these thin plates. Thus, 
the aforementioned slot main bodies 3 (3a and 3b) serve as guides each for 
guiding the aforementioned PC Card 2 thereinto when inserting the 
aforesaid PC Card 2 into the aforementioned cavity. 
Moreover, an upper connector 4a and a lower connector 4b are provided in 
these upper and lower slot main bodies 3a and 3b, respectively. These 
connectors 4a and 4b have roles in electrically connecting each of the PC 
Cards 2 with a wiring board 5 and further has the effect of holding the PC 
Cards 2 in the slot main bodies 3a and 3b by the fitting forces acting 
between these connectors and the PC Cards 2. Namely, each of these 
connectors 4a and 4b is provided at the rear of the corresponding slot 
main body 3a or 3b in such a way as to extend from the left end to the 
right end thereof. Furthermore, two rows (namely, upper and lower rows) of 
pin terminals 6 are embedded in a front-side portion of the PC Card slot 1 
as illustrated in FIG. 2. Additionally, the wiring board 5 is supported 
and sandwiched between the upper connector 4a and the lower connector 4b 
in such a manner as to protrude from therebetween toward the back of the 
wiring board 5. Further, the aforementioned pin terminals 6 are fit into 
two rows (namely, upper and lower rows) of fitting holes (not shown) 
formed in the PC Card 2 to hold the PC Card 2 by the fitting force. 
Moreover, the aforementioned pin terminals 6 are electrically connected to 
and a cable terminal 7 (not shown), which is electrically connected to the 
main units (not shown) of various devices, is coupled to the aforesaid 
wiring board 5. Therefore, each of the aforementioned PC Cards 2 is 
connected to the main unit of the device through the pin terminals 6, the 
wiring board 5 and the cable terminal 7 in sequence. 
Releasing levers 8 (namely, 8a and 8b) each for releasing the PC Card 2 
from the fitting force acting between the PC Card 2 and the set of the pin 
terminals 6 of the connector 4 are rotatably journalled by a rotation (or 
pivot) shaft 9 in the proximity of the connecting position between the 
connector 4a or 4b and the aforementioned PC card 2 and are placed on the 
top surface of the aforementioned upper slot main body 3a and under the 
bottom surface of the aforementioned surface of the lower slot main body 
3b, respectively. Let reference characters 8a and 8b denote an upper 
releasing lever, which corresponds to the upper slot main body 3a, and a 
lower releasing lever, which corresponds to the lower slot main body 3b, 
respectively. These releasing levers 8a and 8b are made of metallic plates 
and formed so that both ends of each of these levers 8a and 8b protrude 
outwardly from the left and right ends of the slot main bodies 3, 
respectively. Between both ends of each of the aforementioned releasing 
levers 8a and 8b, a spring engaging hole 11, which a spring 10 for the 
lever is engaged with and is fixed to, is formed in and an abutting 
portion 12 for abutting against the edge portion of a PC Card 2 when held 
in the slot main body 3 is formed by bending a part of each of the 
aforementioned releasing levers 8 in one end portion (namely, the left end 
portion of each of the upper releasing lever 8a and the lower releasing 
lever 8b in FIG. 1). This abutting portion 12 is pushed by the edge 
portion of the PC Card 2 when fit into the slot. Thus, the aforementioned 
releasing lever 8 is turned clockwise as viewed in FIG. 1. When removing 
the aforementioned PC Card 2 from the slot main body 3, the edge portion 
of the aforementioned PC Card 2 is pushed, so that the fitting force 
acting between this PC Card 2 and the set of the aforesaid pin terminals 6 
is canceled. 
On the other hand, a pushing portion 13 to be pushed backwardly (namely, 
upwardly as viewed in FIG. 1) by a lever operating step portion 33 of a 
lever operating stick 20 (to be described later) is formed in the other 
end portion (namely, the right end portion of each of the upper releasing 
lever 8a and the lower releasing lever 8b in FIG. 1) of each of the 
aforementioned releasing levers 8a and 8b by bending this other end 
portion of the releasing lever in the direction of thickness of the 
aforementioned slot main body 3 and further folding back this portion 
horizontally. Moreover, the aforesaid releasing lever 8 is pushed by a 
pushing plate 14 in the vicinity of the aforementioned rotation shaft 9. 
Furthermore, the coil spring 10 has one end engaged with and fixed to the 
spring engaging hole 11 and further has the other end engaged with and 
fixed to the top edge of the left side surface (as viewed in FIG. 1) of 
the aforementioned slot main body 3 and is operative to push the aforesaid 
releasing lever 8 counterclockwise (as viewed in FIG. 1). Thus, when 
canceling the fitting force by pushing the edge portion of the 
aforementioned PC Card 2 by means of the aforesaid abutting portion 12 of 
the aforementioned releasing lever 8, the aforementioned PC Card 2 is 
sprung out to a user by the pushing (or pressing) force of the coil spring 
10 for the lever. Consequently, the user can easily take out the PC Card 2 
from the slot. 
A front attachment plate 15 and a rear attachment plate 16, which are used 
for fixing the slot to the main unit of a device, are placed in the front 
portion (namely, the lower portion illustrated in FIG. 1) and the rear 
portion (namely, the upper portion illustrated in FIG. 1) of the 
aforementioned slot main body 3, respectively, as shown in FIG. 3. The 
aforementioned front attachment plate 15 juts out from the aforementioned 
slot main body 3 upwardly and laterally by a proper extent. On the other 
hand, the aforementioned rear attachment plate 16 is stuck out backwardly 
by a proper extent. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, a first bending portion 
17 and a second bending portion 18 are formed at two end parts of the 
plate 16 by being upwardly bent. 
Plate (or leaf) springs 19 for pushing the side surfaces of the 
aforementioned PC Card 2 inwardly are formed in the vicinities of the rear 
ends of the inner side surfaces of the aforesaid slot main body 3, 
respectively. The plate springs 19 have the function of earthing (or 
grounding) the aforesaid PC Card 2 by coming into contact with the side 
surfaces of the aforesaid PC Card 2 and further have the function of 
preventing an occurrence of looseness in the slot when fitting the 
aforementioned PC Card 2 thereinto. 
Further, the single lever operating stick 20 is disposed at the middle 
position between the aforementioned upper slot main body 3a and the 
aforementioned lower slot main body 3b on the right side surface (as 
viewed in FIG. 1) of the aforesaid slot main body 3. This lever operating 
stick 20 is rotatably (or pivotally movably) held by the rightwardly 
protruding portion of the aforementioned front attachment plate 15 and the 
first bending portion 17 of the aforementioned rear attachment plate 16. 
To the front end (namely, the bottom as viewed in FIG. 1) of this lever 
operating stick 20, an operating knob 21 to be grasped by a user when 
operating this stick is fixed. Moreover, a rotation restricting member 22 
for restricting a turning operation of this lever operating stick 20 is 
fit onto the outer circumferential surface of the rear portion of this 
lever operating stick 20 in such a way as to be able to slide in the axial 
direction. 
As shown in FIG. 2, a lock portion 23, which is adapted to abut against the 
corner portion of a PC Card 2 to thereby prevent this PC Card 2 from 
coming off the connector 4 owing to vibrations or the like, is formed on 
the operating knob 21. This lock portion 23 is shaped nearly like a 
rectangle. Thus, when the aforementioned operating knob 21 is turned from 
the lock position illustrated in FIG. 2 to a position (namely, a first 
lock releasing position) where this knob is turned clockwise by 90 
degrees, or when the aforementioned operating knob 21 is turned from the 
lock position illustrated in FIG. 2 to another position (namely, a second 
lock releasing position) where this knob is turned counterclockwise by 90 
degrees, it follows that this lock portion 23 does not abut against the 
aforementioned PC Card 2. Consequently, the lock is released. 
On the other hand, the aforementioned rotation restricting member 22 
attached to the rear end of the lever operating stick 20 is sandwiched 
between a rotation stopper plate 24 and a restricting plate spring 25 as 
illustrated in FIG. 1. The aforementioned rotation stopper plate 24 is 
fixed to the first bending portion 17 of the aforesaid rear attachment 
plate 16 by a first screw 26 and thus abuts against the front portion of 
the aforementioned rotation restricting member 22 and has a right end 
portion bent backwardly. Thus, when the aforementioned lever operating 
stick 20 is turned, the rotation restricting member 22 abuts against the 
bending portion of this rotation stopper plate 24, so that the range of a 
turning operation of the stick is restricted in such a manner that the 
stick does not go beyond the aforementioned first and second lock 
releasing positions. Further, three depression portions 27 are formed in 
the rear portion of this rotation stopper plate 24, in such a manner as to 
corresponding to the first lock releasing position, the lock position and 
the second lock releasing position of the aforementioned lever operating 
stick 20, respectively, as illustrated in a sectional diagram of FIG. 5, 
namely, a sectional view taken on line V--V of FIG. 1. Moreover, a single 
convex portion 28 to be fit into these depression portions 27 is formed in 
the front portion of the aforementioned rotation restricting member 22. 
Thus, when turning the aforementioned lever operating stick 20, the 
aforementioned convex portion 28 is fit into one of the aforesaid 
depression portions 27 to thereby position the aforementioned lever 
operating stick 20. 
Further, the aforementioned restricting plate spring 25 is fixed to the 
second bending portion 18 of the aforementioned rear attachment plate 16 
by a second screw 29 and is thus made to abut against the rear end surface 
of the aforementioned rotation restricting member 22 and is adapted to 
push the aforementioned rotation restricting member 22 forward from 
behind. The convex portion 28 of the aforementioned rotation restricting 
member 22 is securely fit into the depression portion 27 of the aforesaid 
rotation stopper plate 24 by the pushing force of this restricting plate 
spring 25, so that the aforementioned lever operating stick 20 is 
difficult to shift from the first lock releasing position, the lock 
position and the second lock releasing position. 
Moreover, a rotation restricting flat portion 30, a stick coming-off 
preventing step portion (namely, an engaging portion) 31, a lock holding 
step portion (namely, an engaging portion) 32 and a lever operating step 
portion (namely, an engaging portion) 33 are formed in the aforementioned 
lever operating stick 20. 
The aforesaid rotation restricting flat portion 30 is located in the rear 
end portion of the aforementioned lever operating stick 20 and has a 
diameter, which is set as being less than the outer diameters of other 
portions, and a step portion 30a for engaging with and stopping a coil 
spring 34 (to be described later) is formed in this rotation restricting 
flat portion 30. Moreover, as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, a flat face 
30b planed in the axial direction is provided in this rotation restricting 
portion 30. The aforementioned rotation restricting member 22 is fit into 
this rotation restricting flat portion 30 in such a way as to be able to 
slide in the axial direction. Moreover, a stick coil spring 34 for pushing 
the lever operating stick 20 to the front of the slot at all times is 
wound around this rotation restricting flat portion 30. The reason for 
forming an axial part of this rotation restricting flat portion 30 as a 
flat face is to prevent the aforementioned rotation restricting member 22 
from rotating relative to the lever operating stick 20 when turning the 
aforementioned lever operating stick 20 so as to change the position of 
the stick 20 to the lock position, the first lock releasing position or 
the second lock releasing position. Further, the coil spring 34 for the 
stick is adapted so that the rear end portion thereof is made to abut 
against the aforementioned first bending portion 17 and that the front end 
portion thereof is made to abut against the aforesaid step portion 30a of 
the aforementioned rotation restricting flat portion 30 to thereby push 
the lever operating stick 20 to the front of the slot. 
The aforementioned stick coming-off preventing step portion 31 is used for 
preventing the aforesaid lever operating stick 20 from coming off the 
aforementioned rear attachment plate 16 to the front of the slot owing to 
the pushing force of the aforementioned coil spring 34 for the stick. This 
stick coming-off preventing step portion 31 is placed nearly at the 
central portion in the axial direction of the lever operating stick 20 and 
is formed on a smaller-diameter portion 31a that is formed in such a 
manner as to have a diameter which is smaller than the outside diameter of 
the lever operating stick 20. On the other hand, a stopper spring 36 
constituted by a plate spring for abutting against the aforementioned 
stick coming-off preventing step portion 31 is disposed on the side 
surface of the aforementioned slot main body 3. This stopper spring 36 is 
adapted to engage with the aforementioned stick coming-off preventing step 
portion 31 at a place where the rear end portion of the aforementioned 
lever operating stick 20 pushed to the front of the slot by the coil 
spring 34 for the stick does not come off the aforesaid rotation 
restricting member 22. 
The aforementioned lock holding step portion 32 is placed in front of the 
aforesaid stick coming-off preventing step portion 31 formed on the lever 
operating stick 20 and is formed on a flat face 32a planed in such a way 
as to face the side surface of the aforementioned slot main body 3 when 
the aforesaid lever operating stick 20 is turned to the lock position. 
This lock holding step portion 32 is adapted to be engaged with the 
aforementioned stopper spring 36 when the aforementioned lever operating 
stick 20 is pushed to the lock position. Thereby, this lock holding step 
portion 32 is adapted to securely hold the aforesaid lever operating stick 
in the lock position. 
The aforesaid lever operating step portion 33 is used for selectively 
engaging with the pushing portion 13 of one of the aforementioned 
releasing levers 8 and operating this releasing lever 8 when the 
aforementioned lever operating stick 20 is turned to the first lock 
releasing position or the second lock releasing position. Further, the 
lever operating step portion 33 is formed on a flat face 33a of this lever 
operating stick 20, which is planed in such a manner as to face upwardly, 
in such a way that the pushing portion 13 of the aforementioned releasing 
lever 8 can engage with this step portion when the aforementioned lever 
operating stick 20 is turned to the first lock releasing position. 
Therefore, when the aforementioned lever operating stick 20 is in the 
second lock releasing position, the aforesaid lever operating step portion 
33 is placed below the slot main body 3. This lever operating step portion 
33 is adapted to push the pushing portion 13 of the aforementioned upper 
releasing lever 8a and turn the aforementioned releasing lever 8a when 
backwardly pushing the aforesaid lever operating stick 20 which has been 
in the first lock releasing position. If the upper releasing lever 8a is 
turned in this way, the aforementioned abutting portion 12 of this upper 
releasing lever 8a pushes the edge portion of the aforementioned PC Card 2 
and thus cancels the fitting force acting between the PC Card 2 and the 
set of the pin terminals of the aforementioned upper connector 4a. 
Similarly, the lever operating step portion 33 have the same functions 
even when the aforementioned lever operating stick 20 is in the second 
lock releasing position. Namely, the lever operating step portion 33 
pushes the pushing portion 13 of the lower releasing lever 8b to thereby 
turn the lower releasing lever 8b. Consequently, the fitting force acting 
between the PC Card 2 and the set of the pin terminals of the 
aforementioned lower connector 4b is canceled. 
Next, an operation of the aforementioned PC Card slot 1 of the present 
invention, which is the embodiment of the present invention, will be 
described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 19. 
First, the case, in which the lock for preventing the coming-off of a PC 
Card 2 from the PC Card slot 1 is performed by fitting the PC Card 2 into 
the PC Card slot 1, will be described by referring to FIGS. 6 through 9. 
FIGS. 6 to 9 illustrate the case that the PC Card 2 is fit into the PC 
Card slot 1 and the lever operating stick 20 is in the lock (state) 
position. FIG. 6 is a plan view of such a PC Card slot. FIG. 7 is a front 
view of the PC Card slot in the condition as illustrated in FIG. 6. FIG. 8 
is a right side view of the PC Card slot in the condition as illustrated 
in FIG. 6. FIG. 9 is a rear view of the PC Card slot in the condition as 
illustrated in FIG. 6. 
To fit the PC Card 2 into the PC Card slot 1, this PC Card 2 is inserted 
thereinto along the inner surface of the aforementioned slot main body 3. 
At that time, the aforementioned lever operating stick 20 is in the first 
lock releasing position or in the second lock releasing position. When the 
aforementioned PC Card 2 is inserted to the vicinity of the aforementioned 
connector 4 provided in the slot main body 3, the abutting portion 12 of 
the aforementioned releasing lever 8 abuts against a corner portion 
(namely, the upper left corner as viewed in FIG. 6) of this PC Card 2. 
Thence, the aforementioned PC Card 2 is further inserted by pushing this 
abutting portion 12. At that time, because the coil spring 10 for the 
lever is attached to the end portion at the side where the abutting 
portion 12 of the aforementioned releasing lever 8 is formed, the 
aforesaid abutting portion 12 is pushed against the pressing force of this 
coil spring 10 for the lever. Thus, the aforementioned releasing lever 8 
is turned around the rotation shaft 9 clockwise as viewed in FIG. 1. 
Further, the plurality of pin terminals 6 embedded in the aforementioned 
connector 4 are fit into a plurality of fitting holes (not shown) formed 
in the aforementioned PC Card 2, so that this PC Card 2 is held in the 
aforesaid slot main body 3 by the fitting force acting therebetween. 
Consequently, the fitting of the aforementioned PC Card 2 is completed. 
Moreover, to prevent the PC Card 2 from coming off the aforementioned 
connector 4 owing to vibrations or the like, the PC Card 2 is locked by 
operating coming-off preventing lock mechanisms such as the aforementioned 
operating knob 21. Namely, if the aforementioned lever operating stick 20 
is in the first lock releasing position, the operating knob 21 is turned 
counterclockwise by 90 degrees. In contrast, if the aforementioned lever 
operating stick 20 is in the second lock releasing position, the operating 
knob 21 is turned clockwise by 90 degrees. Furthermore, when the 
aforementioned operating knob 21 is pushed in such a position to thereby 
push the aforesaid lever operating stick backwardly, the lock portion 23 
of the aforementioned operating knob 21 abuts against the front upper 
right corner portion of the aforementioned PC Card 2, as illustrated in 
FIGS. 6 and 7. In this position, the aforesaid stopper spring 36 engages 
the aforementioned lock holding step portion 32, so that the locking of 
the PC Card 2 is completed. As shown in FIG. 7, the lock portion 23 of the 
aforementioned operating knob 21 is formed in such a manner as to have a 
size sufficient to the extent that the lock portion 23 can abut against 
both of two PC Cards 2 respectively fit into the upper slot main body 3a 
and the lower slot main body 3b. Therefore, a plurality of PC Cards 2 can 
be easily locked by the single operating knob 21. 
Next, the case, in which the coming-off preventing lock of the PC Card 2 is 
canceled and the PC Card 2 is removed from the PC Card slot 1, will be 
described by referring to FIGS. 10 through 19. 
FIGS. 10 to 13 illustrate the case that the PC Card 2 is fit into the PC 
Card slot 1 and the lever operating stick 20 is turned to the first lock 
releasing position. FIG. 10 is a plan view of such a PC Card slot at that 
time. FIG. 11 is a front view of the PC Card slot in the condition as 
illustrated in FIG. 10. FIG. 12 is a right side view of the PC Card slot 
in the condition as illustrated in FIG. 10. FIG. 13 is a rear view of the 
PC Card slot in the condition as illustrated in FIG. 10. 
Further, FIGS. 14 to 16 illustrate the state of the PC Card slot, in which 
the lever operating stick 20 is drawn out (namely, is projected to a user) 
from the slot, which has been in the first lock releasing position 
illustrated in FIGS. 10 to 13. FIG. 14 is a plan view of such a PC Card 
slot at that time. FIG. 15 is a front view of the PC Card slot in the 
condition as illustrated in FIG. 14. FIG. 16 is a right side view of the 
PC Card slot in the condition as illustrated in FIG. 14. 
Moreover, FIGS. 17 to 19 illustrate the state of the PC Card slot, in which 
the lever operating stick 20 is pushed when the slot is in the condition 
illustrated in FIGS. 14 to 16. FIG. 17 is a plan view of such a PC Card 
slot at that time. FIG. 18 is a front view of the PC Card slot in the 
condition as illustrated in FIG. 17. FIG. 19 is a right side view of the 
PC Card slot in the condition as illustrated in FIG. 17. 
In the case of releasing the PC Card 2 from the locked state, for example, 
in the case of releasing the PC Card 2, which has been fit into the upper 
connector 4a, from the locked state, the aforementioned operating knob 21 
is turned clockwise as illustrated in FIG. 11. Thereby, the aforementioned 
lever operating stick 20 is turned, so that the engagement between the 
aforementioned lock holding step portion 32 and the aforesaid stopper 
spring 36 is canceled. Consequently, the aforementioned lever operating 
stick 20 comes to be able to move freely in the axial direction. 
When the PC Card 2 is released from the locked state, the aforementioned 
lever operating stick 20 is moved by the pushing force of the 
aforementioned coil spring 34, which is wound around the rotation 
restricting flat portion 30, with great impetus to the front of the slot. 
As illustrated in FIGS. 14 to 16, the aforementioned stopper spring 36 
abuts against the stick coming-off preventing step portion 31 of the 
aforementioned lever operating stick 20 and then stops. 
Operations of the turning of the aforementioned operating knob 21 to the 
movement of the aforementioned lever operating stick 20 are performed 
consecutively. In this state, the aforesaid upper releasing lever 8a is 
selected simultaneously. Namely, the slot is in the state in which the 
lever operating step portion 33 of the aforementioned lever operating 
stick faces the aforementioned upper releasing lever 8a. 
Further, when the aforementioned lever operating stick 20 is pushed 
backwardly again during being in such a state, the lever operating step 
portion 33 of this lever operating stick 20 pushes the pushing portion 13 
of the aforesaid upper releasing lever 8a and further turns the 
aforementioned upper releasing lever 8a counterclockwise. As this upper 
releasing lever 8a is turned, the abutting portion 12 pushes a corner 
portion (namely, the upper left corner portion as viewed in FIG. 17) of 
the aforementioned PC Card 2 to the front of the slot, so that the fitting 
force acting between the PC Card 2 and the set of the pin terminals 6 of 
the aforesaid connector 4 is canceled. Then, as a result of application of 
the pushing force of the coil spring 10 for the lever, the aforementioned 
PC Card 2 pops or leaps out from the aforesaid upper slot main body 3a to 
the user by a proper extent. Thus, the user removes the aforementioned PC 
Card 2, which has leaped out thereto by a proper extent, from the 
aforesaid upper slot main body 3a by grasping this PC Card 2. 
In contrast, in the case that the aforementioned PC Card 2 is removed from 
the aforesaid lower slot main body 3b subsequently, the aforementioned 
lever operating stick 20 is turned counterclockwise by 180 degrees, as 
viewed in FIG. 18, from the first lock releasing position to the second 
lock releasing position. From this position, the lever operating stick 20 
is pushed backwardly against the pressing force of the coil spring 34 for 
the stick. Thereafter, the aforementioned PC Card 2 is removed from the 
lower slot main body 3b by performing an operation similar to that of 
removing the PC Card 2 from the aforementioned upper slot main body 3a. 
Namely, the lever operating step portion 33 of the aforementioned lever 
operating stick 20 pushes the pushing portion 13 of the aforesaid lower 
releasing lever 8b to thereby turn the lower releasing lever 8b 
counterclockwise. By this turn, the abutting portion 12 of the 
aforementioned lower releasing lever 8b pushes the corner portion of the 
aforementioned PC Card 2, so that the fitting force acting between the 
aforesaid PC Card 2 and the set of the pin terminals 6 of the 
aforementioned lower connector is canceled. In addition to this, the 
pushing force of the aforesaid coil spring 10 for the lever is applied 
thereto. Thus, when the aforementioned PC Card 2 pops out of the 
aforementioned lower slot main body 3b, the user removes the PC Card 2 
therefrom. 
Therefore, in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention, the 
PC Card slot 1 itself is provide with a lock mechanism for preventing the 
PC Card 2 from coming off the slot 1 after the PC Card 2 is fit thereinto. 
Consequently, the efficiency in assembling the device is enhanced. 
Furthermore, the releasing of the aforementioned lock mechanism from the 
locked state can be performed simultaneously with the selection of the 
releasing lever 8 so as to remove the PC Card 2 by turning the 
aforementioned lever operating stick 20. Consequently, the operability of 
the PC Card slot is extremely improved. 
Additionally, the operating knob 21 further serves as the lock mechanism. 
Thereby, users are prevented from forgetting to lock the PC Card 2 after 
fit into the slot and to release the PC Card 2 from the locked state. 
Consequently, evil effects caused when forgetting to lock the PC Card 2 
and to release the PC Card 2 from the locked state, namely, problems, for 
example, the problem in that the PC Card 2 is pulled during locked in the 
slot, are prevented from occurring. 
Furthermore, the operating knob 21 of the lever operating stick 20 of this 
embodiment is adapted to protrude to a user by the action of the coil 
spring 34 for the stick when canceling the fitting force acting between 
the PC Card 2 and the set of the pin terminals 6 of the connector 4. This 
results in elimination of the need for operating the PC Card in the inner 
part of the slot. Thus, there is no necessity of forming a large space so 
as to facilitate an operation of the operating knob 21, differently from 
the conventional PC Card slot. Consequently, the size of the PC Card slot 
(and thus the size of the device) can be further decreased. 
Furthermore, this embodiment is adapted so that the PC Card 2 leaps out to 
a user by the pressing force of the coil spring 10 for the lever when 
removing the PC Card 2 from the slot main body. This facilitates the 
removal of this PC Card 2 from the slot. 
Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been 
described above, it should be understood that the present invention is not 
limited thereto and that other modifications will be made by those skilled 
in the art, as needed, without departing from the spirit of the invention. 
For instance, in the foregoing description of the aforementioned 
embodiment, the PC Card slot 1, into which two PC Cards can be fit, has 
been described. However, even in the case of PC Card slots 1 into which 
three or more PC Cards 2 can be fit, advantageous effects similar to those 
of this embodiment can be obtained by forming a large lock portion 23 of 
the operating knob 21, or modifying the shape of this lock portion in such 
a manner that this lock portion can abut against each of the PC Cards 2, 
or altering the lock releasing positions of the aforementioned lever 
operating stick 20, which respectively correspond to the PC Cards 2, 
according to the number of the PC Cards 2. 
As above described, in accordance with the PC Card slot of the present 
invention, a lock mechanism for preventing the PC Card from coming off the 
slot after fitting the PC Card is provided in the operating knob. Thus, a 
locking operation for preventing a plurality of PC Cards from coming off 
the slot and a releasing operation for removing each PC Card are performed 
by the single lever operating stick. Thereby, the locking operation of 
locking the PC Card and the releasing operation of releasing the PC Card 
from the locked state can be easily achieved. Moreover, the safety and the 
assembly efficiency of the device can be enhanced. 
The scope of the present invention, therefore, should be determined solely 
by the appended claims.