Card cartridge connector with ejecting mechanism

A card cartridge connector having a card ejecting mechanism comprises a housing forming a mating face and a supporting face orthogonal to the mating face. A plurality of passageways each receiving a terminal therein is defined through the housing. A pair of guiding pillars extend from traverse ends of the housing and defines a receiving space therebetween. Each supporting pillar forms a guiding groove in an inner side thereof. At least a tunnel is defined in one of the guiding pillars. A card ejecting mechanism includes an ejecting tab movably supported on a fulcrum formed on the supporting face. The ejecting tab has a biasing pad detachably supported on the mating face. A push arm is movably disposed within the tunnel and forms a head and an actuating end. The actuating end abuts a bearing portion of the ejecting tab whereby when the push rod is actuated, the biasing pad is moved away from the mating face to push an inserted card outward.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a card cartridge connector, and more 
particularly to a smart card cartridge connector having a card ejecting 
mechanism whereby a card inserted therein can be easily ejected with a 
lower withdrawal force. 
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
Electronic cards provide a plurality of functions and almost every digital 
electronic device has a built-in card cartridge connector in which a card 
can be inserted for data processing or transmission. For card cartridge 
connector having low pin density, only a recessed portion is provided 
adjacent to an entrance thereof and a user can only withdraw an inserted 
card through this recessed portion which is inconvenient. 
Taiwan Utility Model application Nos. 83202198, 85218632, and U.S. Pat. 
Nos. 5,286,207, 5,290,174 and 5,334,046 disclose such card cartridge 
connectors. However, the conventional card cartridge connectors experience 
adverse defects during manufacture and operation. If the card does not 
properly sit in the card cartridge connector and establish an effective 
electrical connection therewith, the inserted card is rendered 
functionless. On the other hand, if a user inserts the card with an 
incorrect orientation, both the card and the card cartridge connector will 
become damaged. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
An objective of this invention is to provide a cartridge having a card 
ejecting mechanism therein for facilitating withdrawal of an inserted 
card. 
Another objective of this invention it to provide a supporting pillar 
having a guiding groove serving as an anti-disorientation device to 
prevent incorrect insertion of the card. 
The above objectives are achieved by providing a card cartridge connector 
having a card ejecting mechanism comprising a housing forming a mating 
face and a supporting face orthogonal to the mating face. A plurality of 
passageways each receiving a terminal therein is defined through the 
housing. A pair of guiding pillars extend from traverse ends of the 
housing and defines a receiving space therebetween. Each supporting pillar 
forms a guiding groove in an inner side thereof. At least a tunnel is 
defined in one of the guiding pillars. A card ejecting mechanism includes 
an ejecting tab movably supported on a fulcrum formed on the supporting 
face. The ejecting tab has a biasing pad detachably supported on the 
mating face. A push arm is movably disposed within the tunnel and forms a 
head and an actuating end. The actuating end abuts a bearing portion of 
the ejecting tab whereby when the push rod is actuated, the biasing pad is 
moved away from the mating face to push an inserted card outward. 
These and additional objects, features, and advantages of the present 
invention will become apparent after reading the following detailed 
description of the preferred embodiments of the invention taken in 
conjunction with the appended drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Referring to FIG. 1, a card cartridge connector 1 having a card ejecting 
mechanism 30 in accordance with the present invention comprises a housing 
10 forming a mating face 11 and a supporting face 12 orthogonal to the 
mating face 11. A plurality of passageways 13 each receiving a terminal 14 
therein is defined through the housing 10. A pair of guiding pillars 20 
extend from a traverse ends 15 of the housing 10 and defines a receiving 
space 21 for receiving a card 40 (FIG. 2) therebetween. Each supporting 
pillar 20 forms a guiding groove 22 in an inner side (not labeled) 
thereof. The guiding groove 22 forms a first surface 22a, a bottom surface 
22b, and second surface 22c and each surface 22a, 22c form an angle with 
respect to the bottom surface 22b. In order to prevent a user from 
inserting the card 40 with an incorrect orientation, the angles are 
different from each other. 
A bulge 23 is formed on one of the guiding pillars 20. The bulge 23 defines 
a tunnel 23a therethrough. A trench 23b is defined from an end of the 
tunnel 23a to the traverse end 15 of the housing 10. 
The card ejecting mechanism 30 includes an ejecting tab 31 movably 
supported on a fulcrum 12a formed as a pin shaft on the supporting face 
12, by means of an elongate hole 31b defined in the ejecting tab 31. The 
ejecting tab 31 forms a biasing pad 31a extending downward from each end 
(not labeled) thereof. The biasing pads 31a are detachably supported on 
the mating face 11. The mating face 11 forms recesses 11a thereon for 
receiving the biasing pads 31a therein. By this arrangement, the biasing 
pads 31a are flush with or lower than the mating face 11. The ejecting 
mechanism 30 further includes a push rod 32 forming a head portion 32a and 
an actuating end 32b. The push rod 32 is movably inserted into the tunnel 
23a and the actuating end 32b extends to the traverse end 15 of the 
housing 10. The actuating end 32b further defines a window 32c therein. 
The ejecting mechanism 30 further includes a linkage 33 pivotably supported 
on a second fulcrum 12b formed as a pin shaft on the supporting face 12, 
by means of a pinhole 33d defined in the linkage 33. The linkage 33 has an 
elongate body 33a forming a bearing end 33b and an actuating end 33c. The 
bearing end 33b is engaged with the window 32c of the push rod 32 and the 
actuating end 33c abuts a bearing portion 31c of the ejecting tab 31. It 
is seen that different from the existing prior arts which generally have 
their ejecting tab and the linkage arranged in a stacked manner, the 
ejecting tab 31 and the linkage 33 of the invention are arranged in a 
coplanar state, thus reducing the thickness of the whole assembly. 
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, when the smart card 40 is completely seated, the 
ejecting tab 31, the linkage 33, and the push rod 32 are located at the 
position as shown in solid lines. When a user wants to eject the card 40, 
he/she pushes the head 32a toward the cartridge 1 such that the actuating 
end 33c of the linkage 33 abuts the bearing portion 31c of the ejecting 
tab 31 and the ejecting tab 31 accordingly moves forward accordingly as 
guided by the pin shaft 12a. Then the biasing tab 31a moves outward from 
the recess 11a and the card 40 is ejected from the mating face 11 of the 
housing 10. As a portion of the card 40 projects beyond from the cartridge 
1, the user may readily grasp and withdraw the card 40 since disconnection 
from the terminals 14 has already occurred. 
The card 40 forms an elongate wedge 41 defining a first surface 41a, an 
outer surface 41b, and a second surface 41c which correspond to the first 
surface 22a, the bottom surface 22b, and the second surface 22c of the 
guiding groove 22, respectively. By this arrangement, the card 40 can only 
be inserted into the cartridge 1 provided the corresponding surfaces 22a, 
41a contact each other which serves as an anti-disorientation means. 
Referring to FIG. 4, a second embodiment of the card cartridge connector 1A 
is shown. The card cartridge connector 1A comprises a housing 110 forming 
a mating face 111 and a supporting face 112 orthogonal to the mating face 
111. A plurality of passageways 113 each receiving a terminal 114 therein 
is defined through the housing 110. 
A pair of guiding pillars 120 extends from traverse ends 115 of the housing 
110 and defines a receiving space 121 for receiving a card 140 (FIG. 5) 
therein. Each supporting pillar 120 forms a guiding groove 122 in an inner 
side (not labeled) thereof. The guiding groove 122 forms a flared opening 
122a and a shoulder 122b. At least a bulge 123 is formed on one of the 
guiding pillars 120. The bulge 123 defines a tunnel 123a therethrough. 
A card ejecting mechanism 130 includes an ejecting tab 131 defining a pivot 
hole 131d therein movably supported on a fulcrum 112a formed as a pin hole 
on the supporting face 112. The ejecting tab 131 has a biasing pad 131a 
extending downward from an end (not labeled) thereof wherein the biasing 
pad 131a is detachably supported on the mating face 111. The mating face 
111 forms a recess 111a for receiving the biasing pad 131a therein. By 
this arrangement, the biasing pad 131 is flush with or lower than the 
mating face 111. The ejecting mechanism 130 further includes a push rod 
132 forming a head portion 132a and an actuating end 132b. The push rod 
132 is movably inserted into the tunnel 123a and the actuating end 132b 
extends to the traverse end 115 of the housing 110. The actuating end 132b 
further defines a window 132c therein. 
The supporting face 112 forms a recessed surface 112b which extends to a 
portion (not labeled) of the supporting pillar 120. The ejecting tab 131 
is pivotably assembled to the recessed surface 112b by means of a dowel 
pin 131c extending through the pivot hole 131d and the pinhole 112a. One 
end 131b of the ejecting tab 132 is received within the window 132c of the 
push rod 132. 
Referring to FIG. 5, the ejecting mechanism 130 is assembled to the housing 
110 and is ready to eject an inserted card 140. The card 140 forms a 
guiding rack 141 on traverse sides thereof. The rack 141 forms a step 141a 
corresponding to the shoulder 122b of the guiding groove 122. By this 
arrangement, the combination of the step 141a and the shoulder 122b serve 
as an anti-disorientation means and the card 140 can completely be seated 
only when the step 141a matches with the shoulder 122b. 
Referring to FIG. 6, when the card 140 is inserted, the biasing pad 131a 
sits into the recess 111a on the mating face 111. When the head portion 
132a is pushed inward, the biasing pad 131a will be moved outward whereby 
the inserted card 140 will be ejected outward. 
Referring to FIG. 7, a third embodiment of the card cartridge connector 1B 
is shown. The card cartridge connector 1B comprises a housing 210 forming 
a mating face 211 and a supporting face 212 orthogonal to the mating face 
211. A plurality of passageways 213 each receiving a terminal 214 therein 
is defined through the housing 210. 
A pair of guiding pillars 220 extend from traverse ends 115 of the housing 
210 and defines a receiving space 221 for receiving a card 240 (FIG. 8) 
therein. Each supporting pillar 220 forms a guiding groove 222 in an inner 
side (not labeled) thereof. The guiding groove 222 is identical to the 
guiding groove 22 of the first embodiment therefore a detailed description 
will not be provided herein. The supporting pillar 220 also has an 
identical configuration as the supporting pillar 20 of the first 
embodiment including a bulge 223 defining a tunnel 223a therethrough. 
A card ejecting mechanism 230 includes an ejecting tab 231 movably 
supported on a fulcrum 212a formed as a pin shaft on the supporting face 
212. The ejecting tab 231 has a biasing pad 231a extending downward from 
an end (not labeled) thereof. The supporting face 212 forms a slot 212b 
for receiving the biasing pad 231a. When the biasing pad 231a is received 
within the slot 212b, the biasing pad 231a is flush with or lower than the 
mating face 211. The ejecting tab 231 forms a pivot hole 231c for 
pivotably receiving onto the fulcrum 212a of the housing 210. 
The ejecting mechanism 230 further includes a push rod 232 forming a head 
portion 232a and an actuating end 232b. The push rod 232 is movably 
inserted into the tunnel 223a and the actuating end 232b extends to the 
traverse end 215 of the housing 210. The actuating end 232b further 
defines a cutout 232c for receiving an end 231b of the ejecting tab 231 
therein. 
Referring to FIG. 8, the ejecting mechanism 230 is assembled to the housing 
210 and is ready to eject an inserted card 240. The card 240 forms an 
elongate wedge 241 on its traverse side (not labeled). 
The wedge 241 defines a first surface 241a, an outer surface 241b, and a 
second surface 241c which correspond to the first surface 222a, the bottom 
surface 222b, and the second surface 222c of the guiding groove 222, 
respectively. By this arrangement, the card 240 can only be inserted into 
the cartridge 1B provided the corresponding surfaces contact each other 
which serves as an anti-disorientation means. 
While the present invention has been described with reference to specific 
embodiments, the description is illustrative of the invention and is not 
to be construed as limiting the invention. Various modifications to the 
present invention can be made to the preferred embodiment by those skilled 
in the art without departing from the true spirit and scope of the 
invention as defined by the appended claims. Therefore, persons of 
ordinary skill in this field are to understand that all such equivalent 
structures are to be included within the scope of the following claims.