Electronic card connector capable of driving both sides of an electronic card to extract the electronic card

An electronic card connector capable of driving both sides of an electronic card to extract the electronic card. The electronic card connector includes a main body formed with an insertion socket. A terminal seat being disposed at front end of the insertion socket. A first and a second slide members respectively slidably disposed on a first and a second sides of the insertion socket. The first and second slide members serving to respectively abut against a first and a second side of an electronic card inserted in the insertion socket, a spring being hooked between each of the first and second slide members and the main body. A locating unit disposed between each of the first and second slide members and the main body. In the card-retreating operation, the first and second slide members are synchronously driven and retreated by the springs to push two sides of the electronic card.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention is related to an electronic card connector capable of driving both sides of an electronic card to extract the electronic card. A first and a second slide members are slidably disposed on two sides of the electronic card connector. In card-retreating operation, the first and second slide members synchronously push two sides of the electronic card inserted in the electronic card connector. A force is evenly applied to the electronic card to stably retreat the electronic card out of the electronic card connector.

2. Description of the Prior Art

A conventional electronic card connector has a card-extracting mechanism. By means of pressing the card-extracting mechanism, the electronic card inserted in the electronic card connector can be retreated and extracted.FIG. 17shows the conventional electronic card connector. The conventional electronic card connector includes a seat body71in which a terminal connecting section711is disposed. A pair of lateral arms712,712′ are parallelly disposed on two sides of the seat body71. An electronic card slide channel is defined between the lateral arms712,712′. An electronic card70can be inserted into the electronic card slide channel. The conventional electronic card connector further includes a push board72pivotally mounted on the seat body71and a push bar73slidably disposed in one lateral arm712. In normal state, a spring730forces the push bar73to retreat.

When an electronic card70is inserted, the front edge of the electronic card will push a first end721of the push board72. At this time, a second end722of the push board72is biased to a front end731of the push bar73. When it is desired to retreat the electronic card70, the push bar73is pushed forward to drivingly push the second end722of the push board72. At this time, as a teeter, the first end721of the push board72pushes the front edge of the electronic card70to retreat the same as shown by phantom line ofFIG. 17.

In the above electronic card connector, when retreating the electronic card, the push board72simply pushes one single side of the electronic card70. Therefore, it often takes place that the electronic card70is biased to one side to clog the electronic card connector. Accordingly, with the conventional electronic card connector, the electronic card can be hardly smoothly retreated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide an electronic card connector capable of driving both sides of an electronic card to extract the electronic card. The electronic card connector includes: a main body formed with an insertion socket, a terminal seat being disposed at front end of the insertion socket; a first slide member slidably disposed on a first side of the insertion socket, the first slide member serving to abut against a first side of an electronic card inserted in the insertion socket, a spring being hooked between the first slide member and the main body, whereby in normal state, the spring forces the first slide member away from the terminal seat; and a second slide member slidably disposed on a second side of the insertion socket opposite to the first slide member, the second slide member serving to abut against a second side of an electronic card inserted in the insertion socket, a spring being hooked between the second slide member and the main body, whereby in normal state, the spring forces the second slide member away from the terminal seat. The two springs can synchronously drive and retreat the first and second slide members to push and extract the electronic card out of the electronic card connector.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Please refer toFIGS. 1 to 16. The present invention is related to an electronic card connector capable of driving both sides of an electronic card to extract the electronic card. The electronic card connector includes a main body10formed with an insertion socket11. A terminal seat12is disposed at front end of the insertion socket11. The electronic card connector further includes a first slide member20slidably disposed on a first side11aof the insertion socket11. The first slide member20serves to abut against a first side of an electronic card50inserted in the insertion socket. A spring20ais hooked between the first slide member20and the main body, whereby in normal state, the spring20aforces the first slide member20away from the terminal seat12. The electronic card connector further includes a second slide member30slidably disposed on a second side11bof the insertion socket11opposite to the first slide member20. The second slide member30serves to abut against a second side of an electronic card50inserted in the insertion socket. A spring30ais hooked between the second slide member30and the main body10, whereby in normal state, the spring30aforces the second slide member30away from the terminal seat12. The two springs20a,30acan synchronously drive and retreat the first and second slide members20,30to push the electronic card50out of the electronic card connector.

Referring toFIGS. 1,2,9and10, the first and second slide members20,30are respectively slidably disposed on two sides of the insertion socket11of the main body10of the electronic card connector. When retreating the electronic card, the first and second slide members20,30synchronously push two sides of the electronic card50inserted in the electronic card connector. Accordingly, the electronic card50is evenly forced and extracted out of the electronic card connector. Therefore, the electronic card can be smoothly retreated.

Referring toFIGS. 1 and 2, the main body10of the electronic card connector is composed of two casings10a,10bmated with each other. The casings10a,10bdefine an insertion socket11in which at least one type of electronic card50can be inserted. Two opposite sides of the insertion socket11are respectively formed with two guide rails111,112in which the first and second slide members20,30are respectively correspondingly accommodated. The first and second slide members20,30are guided by the guide rails111,112to stably slide along two opposite sides of the insertion socket11. Two projecting hooks13a,13bare respectively disposed on two sides of the main body10for hooking the first ends201,301of the springs20a,30afor driving the first and second slide members20,30.

The casings10a,10bof the main body10is made of metal or other conductive material for shielding the electronic card inserted in the insertion socket11from interference of external electromagnetic wave. Accordingly, the quality of signal transmission can be maintained.

Referring toFIG. 1, the terminal seat12positioned at the front end of the insertion socket11has an insulating seat body121. The insulating seat body121is formed with multiple terminal cavities122which are side by side arranged. A terminal123is inlaid in each terminal cavity122. Two sides of the insulating seat body121are formed with locating projecting sections124which are correspondingly latched in latch holes114of the sidewalls of the insertion socket11. Accordingly, the terminal seat12can be firmly located at the front end of the insertion socket11. In addition, a connecting member125is inlaid in each side of the insulating seat body121. When the terminal seat12is latched in the insertion socket11, the connecting member125is tightly hooked with a skirt section14of the main body for firmly connecting the terminal seat with the main body. One end of the connecting member125can be connected with a grounding circuit of a circuit board (not shown) to ground the electronic card connector.

Referring toFIGS. 1,5and6, the first slide member20is an integrally formed elongated bar body. The first slide member20is fitted in the guide rail111of the first side11aof the insertion socket11of the main body10. A carrier platform section21is transversely formed at front end of the first slide member20. A stop wall211is formed on front edge of the carrier platform section21for abutting against front edge51of the first side of the electronic card50inserted in the insertion socket11. A bottom end of the first slide member20is formed with a locating dent22. When the first slide member20is retreated within the guide rail111to a certain position, the wall of the locating dent22abuts against a locating projecting section111aformed in the guide rail111, whereby the first slide member20is stopped from being further pulled backward by the spring20a.

A hook arm23projects from one side of the first slide member20. The hook arm23extends out of the guide rail111to hook the second end202of the spring20a.

Referring toFIGS. 1,2,7and8, the second slide member30is an integrally formed elongated bar body. The second slide member30is fitted in the guide rail112of the second side11bof the insertion socket11of the main body10. A carrier platform section31is transversely formed at front end of the second slide member30. A stop wall311is formed on front edge of the carrier platform section31for abutting against front edge52of the second side of the electronic card50inserted in the insertion socket11. A bottom end of the second slide member30is formed with a locating dent32. When the second slide member30is retreated within the guide rail112to a certain position, the wall of the locating dent32abuts against a locating projecting section112aformed in the guide rail112, whereby the second slide member30is stopped from being further pulled backward by the spring30a.

A hook arm33projects from one side of the second slide member30. The hook arm33extends out of the guide rail112to hook the second end302of the spring30a.

Referring toFIGS. 1,3,4,12to16, the electronic card connector of the present invention further includes a locating unit40disposed between the first slide member20and the main body10or between the second slide member30and the main body10or between the first and second slide members20,30and the main body10for dogging the first and second slide members20,30.

Referring toFIGS. 1,3,4and12, the locating unit40includes a guide channel section41formed on the first slide member20or the second slide member30. The guide channel section41includes a first guide channel411and a second guide channel412. A V-shaped guide channel413communicates rear ends of the first and second guide channels411,412. A front end of the second guide channel412obliquely connects with the first guide channel411. The locating unit40further includes a locating block42. A first end of the locating block42has a shaft section421pivotally mounted in the guide rail111or112. A second end of the locating block42has a projecting guide pin422slidably positioned in the guide channel section41in normal state. The locating unit40further includes a resilient arm43formed on the guide rail111or112. In normal state, the resilient arm43pushes the second end of the locating block42toward the guide channel section41, whereby the guide pin422of the second end of the locating block42is extended into the guide channel section41and can be stably slid within and along the guide channel section41.

A first stop shoulder411ais formed between the rear end of the first guide channel411and the V-shaped guide channel413. The first stop shoulder411aserves to stop the guide pin422of the locating block42from moving back from the exit of front end of the first guide channel411after the guide pin422moves through the V-shaped guide channel413. A second stop shoulder413ais defined at the middle of the V-shaped guide channel413. A third stop shoulder412ais formed between the V-shaped guide channel413and the entrance of front end of the second guide channel412. During circulation, the stop shoulders serve to prevent the guide pin422of the locating block42from moving in reverse direction, that is, moving from the second guide channel along the V-shaped guide channel back to the first guide channel.

Referring toFIGS. 9 and 12, in the case that no electronic card50is inserted in the electronic card connector or the inserted electronic card has not yet pushed the first and second slide members20,30, the first and second slide members20,30are automatically restored by the springs20a,30ato the first position, that is, the original position. At this time, the guide pin422of the locating block42of the locating unit40extends in the front end of the first guide channel411.

Referring toFIGS. 10 and 13, when an electronic card50is inserted into the electronic card connector and pushed forward by a user, the front edges51,52of the first and second sides of the electronic card50are overlaid on the carrier platform sections21,31of the first and second slide members20,30to abut against the stop walls211,311. At this time, the first and second slide members20,30are drivingly forward pushed and the guide pin422of the locating block42is slid backward along the first guide channel411until the guide pin422drops into the V-shaped guide channel413.

As shown inFIGS. 10 and 14, then the user can stop pushing the electronic card50and release the electronic card50for the first time. At this time, the first and second slide members20,30are respectively driven by the springs20a,30ato slightly retreat. The guide pin422is stopped by the first stop shoulder411afrom moving back into the first guide channel411. Therefore, the guide pin422is positioned in the V-shaped guide channel413. Under such circumstance, the first and second slide members20,30are stably located in a still state. Also, the electronic card50is electrically connected with the terminals of the terminal seat12for reading, loading or transmitting data.

When the user desires to take out the electronic card50, the user can again forward push the electronic card50from the state ofFIGS. 10 and 14into the state ofFIG. 15. At this time, the electronic card50again forward pushes the first and second slide members20,30. The guide pin422is stopped by the second stop shoulder413ain the V-shaped guide channel413from moving back into the first guide channel411. Therefore, the guide pin422is slid into the second guide channel412. At this time, the user can release the electronic card50, whereby the two springs20a,30aresiliently restore to simultaneously backward pull back the first and second slide members20,30. At this time, the stop walls211,311of the first and second slide members20,30push two sides of front end of the electronic card50to retreat the electronic card50out of the insertion socket11of the electronic card connector as shown inFIGS. 9 and 16. In the card-extracting operation, the guide pin422of the locating block42is stopped by the third stop shoulder41afrom moving back into the V-shaped guide channel413. Therefore, the guide pin422is slid forward along the second guide channel412into the first guide channel411in a direction of the arrow ofFIG. 15. At this time, a cycle of card insertion and card extraction is completed.

The locating unit40can be simply disposed between the first slide member20and the corresponding guide rail111. Alternatively, the locating unit40can be simply disposed between the second slide member30and the corresponding guide rail112. Still alternatively, as shown inFIG. 1, there are two locating units40respectively disposed between the first and second slide members20,30and the corresponding guide rails111,112.

The present invention is characterized in that the first and second slide members20,30are resiliently slidably disposed on two opposite sides of the electronic card connector. In card-retreating operation, the first and second slide members20,30at the same time push two sides of the electronic card50, whereby a force is evenly applied to the electronic card50to stably slide and retreat the electronic card50out of the insertion socket11of the electronic card connector. Therefore, the card-extracting operation is smoothened.