Abstract:
A data card having a retractable handle is disclosed. In the preferred embodiment, the data card includes an electronic data storage medium contained within a two-piece protective housing. A removable handle is slidably engaged with the housing and is movable between a stored position, wherein the handle does not extend beyond the housing, and an active position, wherein the handle is extended beyond the housing for easy manipulation by the user.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to electronic storage media and, more particularly, to a data card having a retractable handle for use in connection with electronic devices. 
     The utilization of electronic devices has become pervasive in our society. As the need for electronic devices grows, the consuming public demands smaller and more portable devices to promote their convenient utilization. A significant drawback associated with minimizing the size and weight of electronic devices is the countervailing need to provide increasing memory capabilities. The constantly expanding memory requirements of electronic devices often impedes or precludes a manufacturer&#39;s ability to reduce the size and weight of the devices. 
     In recent years, though, removable electronic storage media have been developed to expand the functions of electronic devices. Such storage media are small and lightweight. They are adapted to be selectively interchangeable in the device so that the device&#39;s memory can be selectively augmented to perform a particular application. Perhaps most common among these media are magnetic tapes, floppy disks and their associated drives, which are often used in connection with personal computers. In other, more portable devices where damage to the electronic storage media is a more significant threat, the media is often placed within a protective shell or housing so that when the storage media is not in use with its associated device, the media is protected from external environmental conditions and physical damage. 
     One increasingly common form of such protective electronic storage devices are data cards. Data cards are well known in the art and typically include a small hard plastic housing for containing the data storage medium. The cards can be interchangeably inserted within the device and easily replaced to provide the device with virtually limitless memory. To add memory, the user need only insert a new data card suited to the particular application. Data cards are particularly useful for hand-held devices where portability is critical, such as with navigation and avionics devices. However, a significant problem has arisen relating to the use of data cards in portable electronic devices. 
     It is inherent in utilization of a data card that it be configured so that the user can grasp the card to insert and remove it from the device when necessary. This configuration necessitates that a portion of the data card extend beyond the device so that it may be grasped. The projection of the data card from the device is not aesthetically pleasing. More importantly, this extension of the data card from the device is likely to be bumped or snagged, thereby damaging the data card and the storage media contained therein. If the device is in use, any physical contact with the data card could impede the functioning of the device or, even worse, cause the device to become nonfunctional. Ironically, the primary utility of the data card—its interchangeability—is also its primary drawback. 
     A variety of current designs for data cards have proved somewhat satisfactory in overcoming this drawback These designs usually entail the substantially complete insertion of the data card into the device so that it presents a relatively flush profile with the outer surface of the device. This flush configuration, however, makes it difficult for the user to manipulate the card to remove it and replace it when necessary. While the flush configuration is desirable for aesthetic reasons and to protect the media contained in the data card, the flush configuration has created significant problems in actually using the data card. If the data card cannot be removed, the practical memory capacity of the device is basically limited to a single card and, thus, the overall utility of the device is substantially reduced. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a data card that provides the aesthetic and protective advantages of a flush configuration while also permitting easy removal and replacement of the data card by the user. 
     More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a data card having a retractable handle so that the data card presents a flush configuration with the electronic device when the handle is stored but provides an easily manipulatable profile when the handle is extended for easy removal by the user. 
     Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide a data card having a handle movable between a first position, wherein the handle is slidably retracted into the data card, and a second position, wherein the handle is extended from the data card. 
     It is another object of the present invention is to provide a data card that is substantially flush with the outer surface of the device when the data card is inserted and the handle is in its stored position so that the data card does not present a source of physical obstruction outside the device. 
     It is also an object of the present invention to provide a data card having a housing that protects the storage media from external environmental exposure and physical contact by the user or other objects. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a data card that may be easily disassembled to provide access to the electronic storage media contained therein for repair or replacement by the user. 
     To accomplish these and other related objects of the present invention, a data card having a retractable handle is disclosed. In the preferred embodiment, the data card includes an electronic data storage medium contained within a two-piece protective housing. A removable handle is slidably engaged with the housing and is movable between a stored position, wherein the handle does not extend beyond the housing, and an active position, wherein the handle is extended beyond the housing for easy manipulation by the user. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The accompanying drawings form part of the specification and are to be read in conjunction with this disclosure. 
     FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the data card of the present invention showing its constituent components; 
     FIG. 2 is a front view of a data card constructed in a accordance with the present invention showing the retractable handle extended from the housing; 
     FIG. 3 is a fiagmentary front view of the data card shown in FIG. 2 inserted into an electronic device; 
     FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary front view of the data card shown in FIG. 2, parts being broken away to reveal details of construction; 
     FIG. 5 is a fragmentary front view of the data card shown in FIG. 3 but with the retractable handle in its stored position; and 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an electronic device having a data card constructed in accordance with the invention inserted therein. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Turning now to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1 and 6, a data card constructed in accordance with the present invention is broadly designated by the numeral  10 . As best seen in FIG. 1, data card  10  generally includes four components: a housing  12 , an electronic data storage medium  14 , a cover  16  and a handle  18 . A label  20  may be applied to housing  12  or cover  16  to identify the data on the storage medium  14 . A screw  22  preferably is used to secure the components of the data card  10  together. FIG. 6 illustrates the data card  10  inserted into a portable electronic device  24 . 
     Housing  12  provides the bulk of the physical structure of data card  10 . Housing  12  is generally rectangular in shape, but it is to be understood that any shape can be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention. Housing  12  includes a planar body  26  and opposed sidewalls  28 . Body  26  preferably includes at least one corrugation  29  to enhance the rigidity and strength of the body  26 . Housing  12  includes a top wall  30  and an open end opposite top wall  30 . The top wall  30  of housing  12  is generally convex and includes lateral openings  32  adjacent sidewalls  28 . Below top wall  30  is a threaded aperture  34  for receiving screw  22 . Aperture  34  is substantially surrounded by a support ridge  35  for strengthening the area of housing  12  around aperture  34 . A detent opening  36  is disposed at the bottom portion of each sidewall  28 . A braking block  38  is positioned on the inner surface  40  of each side wall  28  near top wall  30 . Block  38  is generally trapezoidal in form, having a squared lower end  42  and tapered upper end  44 . A plurality of spacers  46  also are disposed on the inner surfaces  40  of side walls  28 . 
     Cover  16  is also planar and congruent to, but slightly smaller than housing  12 . The lateral perimeter of cover  16  is sized to abut inner surfaces  40  of side walls  28 . Lateral lips  48  project from the sides of cover  16  and are adapted to fit adjacent inner surfaces  40  of side walls  28  when cover  16  is secured to housing  12 . Cover  16  is maintained a specified distance from the body  26  of housing  12  by spacers  46 , blocks  38  and ridge  35 . Cover  16  has a convex upper edge  50  coextensive with top wall  28  of housing  12 . A pair of latches  52  are disposed at the bottom corners of the cover  16 . Each latch  52  includes a resilient neck  54  and outwardly turned hooks  56  alignable with and adapted to securely engage detent openings  36  on housing  12 . Necks  56  bias hooks  56  outwardly to maintain their engagement with openings  36 . An orifice  58  is defined in the upper portion of cover  16  and is positioned to be aligned with aperture  34  when cover  16  is secured to housing  12 . Thus, cover  16  is secured to housing  12  by two mechanisms: First, the latches  52  secure the bottom portion of cover  16  to the bottom portion of housing  12  by engagement of the opposed hooks  56  into the detent openings  36  of the housing  12 ; second, screw  22  is sized to be received through orifice  58  and into the threaded aperture  34  of housing  12 . The two-fold attachment of cover  16  to housing  12  provides a reliable, but selectively removable engagement for easy access by the user for repair or replacement of medium  14 . When secured in this fashion, cover  16  and housing  12  define an internal cavity  60 . 
     The electronic data storage medium  14  is adapted to be received within cavity  60 . Storage medium  14  is mounted to housing  12  by any suitable means, such as gluing. Medium  14  may take many forms depending upon the level of function required and the size and weight limitations of the device. Typically, storage medium  14  will be in the form of a computer chip storing electronic data. It is to be understood, however, that storage medium  14  can be the form of any medium capable of storing electronic data or information. Storage medium  14  preferably is constructed to conform to the general configuration of cavity  60 . Storage medium  14  preferably includes an electrical connector  62  at the bottom portion of medium  14 . This electrical connector  62  is adapted to selectively releasably engage a corresponding electronic reader on the device so that the electronic reader can extract data from the medium  14 . Electronic connector  62  may be of any design conventional in the art so long as it can engagably mate and provide data to the electronic reader of the device. 
     Handle  18  is generally U-shaped. Handle  18  includes a transverse grip  64  having opposed frictional engaging surfaces  66 . Preferably, the frictional engaging surfaces  66  of handle  18  comprise lateral grooves. It is to be understood, however, that other frictional engaging surfaces are contemplated by this invention and is within its scope. Handle  18  includes resilient parallel arms  68  spaced to be received within lateral openings  32  of top wall  30 . Arms  68  are spaced a sufficient distance apart so that they do not contact storage medium  14  within housing  12  when handle  18  is in stored position. Arms  50  terminate in outwardly opposed shoulders  70  having outer edges  72 . The distance between outer edges  72  preferably is slightly larger than the distance between inner surfaces  40  of sidewalls  28 . 
     The manner by which handle  18  is secured to housing  12  is best seen in FIG.  4 . Arms  68  are slidably received within lateral openings  32  of housing  12 . In stored position, shoulders  70  extend below the squared lower ends  42  of blocks  38 . Outer edges  72  of shoulders  70  bias against the inner surfaces  40  of housing  12  by the resiliency of arms  68  to provide a frictional engagement. Blocks  38  prevent undesired outward movement of the handle  18 . The grip  64  of handle  18  abuts the top wall  30  of housing  12  to prevent further movement of handle  18  into housing  12 . 
     The grip  64  is pulled by the user to place handle  18  in active position. In active position, the handle  18  extends from housing  12  so that it may be easily grasped by the user. As the handle  18  is pulled outwardly, outer edges  72  of shoulders  70  slide over blocks  38 . The squared lower end  42  of blocks  38  provide some resistance to movement, but the resistance is not so great as to prevent movement of the handle  18  upon moderate pulling. The outer edges  72  of shoulders  70  then slide over blocks  38 . The resiliency of arms  68  biases outer edges  72  against blocks  38  to provide limited frictional resistance so that the handle  18  cannot slide freely about. When the outer edges  72  reach the tapered upper ends  44  of blocks  38 , the resistance to movement subsides and the angle of the incline presses handle  18  outwardly to the active position, wherein shoulders  70  abut the top wall  30  of housing  12 . 
     In operation, the user first selects the appropriate data card containing the necessary electronic information for the electrical device  24 . As noted above, the data card  10  preferably is generally rectangular in shape. Therefore, the electrical device  24  in which the data card  10  is to be used should have a corresponding rectangular bay in which the data card  10  may be slidably inserted. It is to be understood, of course, other shapes of data cards would require other corresponding configurations of receiving bays. 
     After selection of the desired data card  10 , the user grasps handle  18  by placing his or her fingers at the frictional engaging surfaces  66  of grip  64 . The data card  10  is then inserted into the receiving bay of the electrical device  24 . The data card  10  is inserted into the bay until the electrical connectors  62  of the storage medium  14  engage the electrical reader of the device  24 . Preferably, this engagement will allow the data card  10  to be substantially completely received in the bay. When completely inserted, it is preferable that the handle  18  of the data card  10  be substantially flush with the outer surface of the device  24  when the handle  18  is in stored position. Of course, it is necessary that some portion of the handle  18  be exposed so that the user may grasp it to remove the data card  10 . Thus, some portion of the handle  18  may extend beyond the device  24 . A more complete flush configuration may be achieved by providing a recess in the device surrounding the receiving bay. Such configuration is within the scope of the present invention. 
     When the user desires that the data card be removed, the user may grasp grip  64  of handle  18  and apply pulling force to the data card  10 . Initially, the handle  18  will move outwardly relative to housing  12  until it reaches its active position, as seen in FIG.  3 . Once in its active position, the shoulders  70  about top wall  30 . At that point, the handle  18  ceases its relative movement and the data card  10  may be pulled from the receiving bay of the device  24 . After complete removal of the card  10 , the user may replace the data card with another card using the same procedure. 
     The retractable handle  18  of the data card  10  of the present invention allows the card  10  to be easily inserted and removed by the user. The retractable nature of handle  18  allows the data card  10  to have a convertible external profile, either a stored position wherein the handle  18  is essentially flush with the outer surface of the device  12 , or an active position wherein the handle  18  is extended so that it can be easily grasped by the user. In the stored position, the data card  10  can be substantially concealed within the device  24 . Outer environmental conditions or external contact is virtually prohibited. Alternatively, when the data card  10  must be removed from the device, the retractable handle  18  can be pulled into the active position and the data card can be easily removed. The flush configuration of the data card is aesthetically pleasing and highly functional. The retractable handle of the data card preserves the advantages of this flush configuration while achieving ease of interchangeability. 
     From the foregoing, it will be seen that this invention attains all the ends and objectives of the invention. Various modifications to the invention may be made without departing from its scope. It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the disclosure. It is to be understood that all matters set forth herein shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.