Surface contact card latching assembly

A surface contact card latching assembly (100) is formed in a portable electronic device. The latching assembly includes a receiving portion (11) and a latch module (12). The receiving portion is configured for receiving the surface contact card, and a first end of the receiving portion forms an entrance (112) via which the surface contact card can enter or exit. The latch module includes a blocking tab (120) and an elastic latch (122). The blocking tab extends from the receiving portion for partially covering the receiving portion. The elastic latch is disposed at the first end of the receiving portion.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to assemblies for holding surface contact cards of portable electronic devices and, more particularly, to a latching assembly for holding a SIM card in a portable electronic device.

2. Discussion of the Related Art

With the development of wireless communication and information processing technologies, portable electronic devices such as mobile phones are now in widespread use. These electronic devices enable consumers to enjoy the convenience of high-tech services anytime and anywhere. Surface contact cards such as subscriber identity module cards (SIM), compact flash cards (CF) and multimedia cards (MMC) having special circuits that are widely used in portable electronic devices to enhance or specialize their functions. For example, a subscriber identity module card (SIM) is placed in a mobile phone to dedicate the mobile phone' functions to the SIM card owner. By changing SIM cards, a single mobile phone can be used by many different SIM card owners as a personal phone.

Referring now toFIG. 1, a typical assembly for holding a SIM card includes a body42made of insulating material and a latching structure44. A receiving groove420is defined in the body42, and a connector40including a plurality of contacts is set in the middle of the receiving groove420. The shape and size of the receiving groove420correspond to a SIM card. The latching structure44is formed in the body42, adjacent to the receiving groove420, and can be moved back and forth along the direction indicated by the arrow shown inFIG. 1.

In use, firstly, the latching structure44is moved away from the receiving groove420, and the SIM card is received in the receiving groove420. Then, the latching structure44is moved adjacent to the receiving groove420and located above the receiving groove420for latching the SIM card in the receiving groove420. In the same way, the SIM card can be released by moving the latching structure44away from the receiving groove420.

In the above assembly for holding a SIM card, the latching structure44can easily be moved. If a mobile phone employing such an assembly for holding a SIM card drops to ground, a shock can easily force the latching structure44to move off the receiving groove420. As a result, the SIM card will not connect well with the connector40or could even be released from the receiving groove420. Obviously, such a conventional assembly is not a trustworthy way of holding the SIM card steadily in the receiving groove420.

Therefore, there is a need for a new surface contact card latching assembly, which can hold the surface contact card steadily in a portable electronic device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A surface contact card latching assembly is formed in a portable electronic device. In a preferred embodiment, the latching assembly includes a receiving portion and a latch module. The receiving portion is configured for receiving the surface contact card, and a first end of the receiving portion forms an entrance via which the surface contact card can enter or exit. The latch module includes a blocking tab and an elastic latch. The blocking tab extends from the receiving portion for partially covering the receiving portion. The elastic latch is disposed at the first end of the receiving portion.

Other novel features will become more apparent from the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The present latching assembly is suitable for portable electronic devices, such as mobile phones, PDAs, and so on.

Referring now to the drawings in detail,FIG. 2andFIG. 3show a latching assembly100for a SIM card20incorporated in a mobile phone/portable electronic device200. The mobile phone200and the SIM card20are taken here as an exemplary application, for the purposes of describing details of the latching assembly100of the preferred embodiment. The mobile phone200includes a main body10. A partition wall13and a receiving cavity14for receiving a battery30are both formed in the main body10. The latching assembly100is formed in the partition wall13of the main body10, adjacent to the receiving cavity14. The latching assembly100includes a receiving portion11and a latch module12.

The receiving portion11defines a receiving space for receiving the SIM card20, and the shape and size of the receiving portion11correspond to the SIM card20. The receiving portion11includes a bar110protruding from the partition wall13and a base111which is a part of the partition wall13of the main body110. The bar110has two spaced first bar portions1102and a second bar portion1104connected the first bar portions1102. The first bar portions1102are parallel, and a distance between the first bar portions1102is the same as a width of the SIM card20. The second bar portion1104is disposed at a first end of the receiving portion11, and an entrance112is formed at an opposite second end of the receiving portion11, adjacent to the receiving cavity14. The SIM card20can enter or exit via the entrance112. A SIM card connector113is set in the middle of the base111, and the SIM card connector113is configured for electrically connecting with the SIM card20. The SIM card connector113includes a plurality of contacts1130protruding from the base111.

Referring also toFIG. 4, the latch module12includes at least one blocking tab120and an elastic latch122. In the illustrated embodiment, the number of the blocking tabs120is two. The blocking tabs120are substantially rectangular pieces. The blocking tabs120extend respectively from the first bar portions1102of the receiving portion11for partially covering the receiving portion11. In alternative embodiments, the blocking tabs120could be replaced with a whole piece extending from the bar110of the receiving portion11or could be of another suitable shape. The elastic latch122is disposed at the second end of the receiving portion11, adjacent to the receiving cavity14. The elastic latch122is made of elastic material. The elastic latch122includes a wedge surface1220facing the receiving portion11and a step surface1222facing the receiving cavity14. The elastic latch122further includes a first resisting surface1224connected with the wedge surface1220and an opposite facing second resisting surface1226connected with the step surface1222. The first resisting surface1224is configured for resisting the SIM card20received in the receiving portion11. The second resisting surface1226is configured for resisting the battery30received in the receiving cavity14. The elastic latch122and a battery connector140configured for electrically connecting with the battery30are located in one end of the receiving cavity14.

Referring toFIGS. 5–6, in use, to mount the SIM card20in the receiving portion11, firstly, the SIM card20is placed aslant at the entrance112of the receiving portion11and contacts with the wedge surface1220of the elastic latch122. Secondly, the SIM card20is driven to move below the blocking tabs120and into the receiving portion11by a user pushing the SIM card20along an aslant direction of the SIM card20. Then, the user continues to push the SIM card20along the aslant direction of the SIM card20, the SIM card20is received entirely into the receiving portion11, with the SIM card20abutting the first resisting surface1224of the elastic latch122. At this time, the elastic latch122exerts a force along the direction of insertion of the SIM card20via an elastic deformation, thus holding the SIM card20in a horizontal plane. The blocking tabs120can prevent the SIM card20from moving upwards off the receiving portion11, thus, the SIM card20is held steadily in the receiving portion11. Finally, the battery30is received in the receiving cavity14, with the battery30abutting the battery connector140and the second resisting surface1226of the elastic latch122. At this time, the battery connector140applies a force to the battery30. Furthermore, the elastic latch122acts to balance the force applied by the battery connector140to battery30, the battery30also exerts a reactive force thus the elastic latch122abuts the SIM card20better.

To remove the SIM card20, firstly, the battery30is removed from the receiving cavity14. Then, the SIM card20is driven to move off the receiving portion11from the entrance112by the user pulling the SIM card20along the elastic latch122, so the SIM card20climbs the wedge surface1220of the elastic latch122. The user continues to pull the SIM card20along the elastic latch122, the elastic latch122has a force along an opposite direction to the motion of the SIM card20, and elastically deforms. When the SIM card20is moved out of the entrance112of the receiving portion11it can be readily taken out.