Abstract:
A card connector ( 1 ) includes an insulative housing and a plurality of conductive terminals mounted on the housing. A card guiding mechanism has a slide member for guiding the electronic card as it moves within the card connector. The slide member is moveable along a path between an initial card insertion position and a fully inserted position. An urging member urges the slide member in a direction opposite to the card insertion direction to thereby ejecting a card by moving the slide member. A shell is mounted on the housing and covers at least the slide member and a part of the electronic card upon insertion of the card into the card connector. One of the housing and the shell has a guide surface with a bulge projecting into the path of the slide member and upon movement of the slide member from the fully inserted position to the initial card insertion position, the slide member engages the bulge ( 62; 11   j ) to slow the movement of the slide member.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a connector for an electronic card. 
     Conventionally, electronic equipments such as personal computers, portable telephones, PDAs personal digital assistants), digital cameras, video cameras, music players, game machines, and car navigation systems, are equipped with card connectors in order to use various kinds of memory cards such as an SIM (subscriber identity module) card, an MMC (R) (multi media card), an SD (R) (secure digital) card, a mini SD (R) card, an xD picture card (R) (xD-Picture card), a memory stick (R), a memory stick Duo (R), a smart media (R), a TransFlash (R) memory card, a micro SD (R) card, and the like. 
     Generally, a recent card connector, from the view point of usability, has a push-push structure in which a user operates a memory card as if as a pushing, both in case of inserting and removing the same. A card connector having the push-push structure is formed, when ejecting the memory card, so as to move a slide member engaging and holding the memory card by the repulsion of a spring, however, it may be difficult to remove the memory card in some cases since the engagement between the memory card and the slide member is not released. Hence, there has been provided a proposal of the technique for movably mounting a card locking member on a slide member and moving the card locking member, when ejecting the memory card, in order to release the engagement with a memory card (refer to, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (Kokai) No. 2003-6576). 
     In  FIG. 8 , a reference numeral  801  denotes a slide member being mounted on a side of the housing of a card connector. An engaging projection  803  and a card locking member  804  engage with a memory card (not shown), and thereby the slide member  801  slides in a front to back direction as viewed in the figure, while holding the memory card. The slide member  801  is urged in a direction of ejecting the memory card (downwardly as viewed in  FIG. 8 ) by a coil spring  802 . Here, a hollow  805  is formed on the upper surface of the slide member  801 , and the card locking member  804  is held in the hollow  805 . The upper end thereof is pivotally connected to the slide member  801 , and thereby the card locking member  804  rotates around the upper end. An engaging portion  804   a  being formed at a lower end of the card locking member  804  is formed so as to project from an opening  806  being formed on the left side surface of the hollow  805  to the inside of the housing and so as to engage with a concave portion at a side surface of the memory card. 
     The tip of the engaging portion  804   a  projects to the bottom surface of the housing, and abuts on a tilting surface  808  being formed on the side surface of a card guide  807  being formed on the bottom surface of the housing. Therefore, at the time of ejecting the memory card from the housing, if the slide member  801  is moved in the direction of ejecting the memory card by the coil spring  802 , the tip of the engaging portion  804   a  moves along the tilting surface  808 , and therefore the engaging portion  804   a  is moved in a direction away from the side surface of the memory card. Since this releases the engagement of the engaging portion  804   a  with the concave portion of the side surface of the memory card, the memory card is released from holding by the slide member  801 , and it is possible to remove the memory card therefrom. 
     However, since, in the conventional card connector, the memory card is slid by the urging force of the coil spring  802  at the time of being ejected, the moving velocity of the memory card and the slide member  801  holding the memory card is increased, and the memory card may jump out forcibly. Therefore, the memory card may fall down and thereby may cause damage or loss. Further, the slide member  801  may collide with a stopper member (not shown) to generate a shock, and this may cause a breakage of the card, and damage of the electronic components or the like within the card. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention, in order to solve the problem encountered by the conventional card connector, to provide a card connector wherein by forming a bulge on a guide surface guiding a slide member in a card guiding mechanism for guiding a card, the slide member abuts on the bulge and decreases the moving velocity thereof so that a card may not jump out at the time of ejecting a card, and any shock may not generate when the slide member stops. 
     To this end, a card connector according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises a housing for holding a card having a terminal member, a connecting terminal mounted on the housing and coming into contact with the terminal member of the card, a card guiding mechanism having a slide member holding and sliding the card inserted into the housing, and an urging member urging the slide member in a direction opposite to an insertion direction of the card and ejecting the card by moving the slide member from an end point to the direction opposite to the insertion direction with an urging force of the urging member, and a case being mounted on the housing and covering at least the slide member and a part of the card inserted into the housing, wherein the housing or the case contains a guide surface having a bulge thereon and guiding the slide member, and the slide member is slowed down by abutting on the bulge when ejecting the card, and stops by abutting on a stopper portion of the housing, and thereby the slide member tilts so as to be able to release holding of the card. 
     In another card connector according to the present invention, the housing or the case contains a guide surface guiding the slide member in the insertion direction and the direction opposite to the insertion direction, and on the guide surface, a bulge is formed, which abuts on the slide member by movement of the slide member to slow down the slide member, and separates the slide member from the guide surface so as to become rotatable with respect to the housing or the case. 
     This bulge renders the slide member to become rotatable with respect to the housing or the case, and thereby it is possible to easily release the holding of the card when the card is going to be mounted on or removed from the connector. 
     In still other card connector according to the present invention, the slide member tilts when stopping by abutting on the stopper portion of the housing, and if the card is drawn out, the slide member thereby further tilts and comes into the state of being able to release the holding of the card. 
     In still other card connector according to the present invention, the bulge is further formed at a site in which the terminal member abuts on the slide member after the terminal member has come into non-contact with the connecting terminal. 
     In still other card connector according to the present invention, the slide member has a card pressing portion abutting on the card and transmitting a pressing force to the card, a card locking portion engaging with a concave portion of the card, an urging force receiving portion being subjected to an urging force of the urging member, and a stopper abutting portion abutting on the stopper portion and stopping the stopper portion from moving in the direction opposite to the insertion direction, and the card pressing portion, the card locking portion, the urging force receiving portion, and the stopper abutting portion are formed integrally with the slide member, and the urging force receiving portion and the stopper abutting portion are offset. 
     In still other card connector according to the present invention, the slide member has a slide cam part engaging with a cam follower, a card pressing portion abutting on the card and transmitting a pressing force to the card, a card locking portion engaging with the concave portion of the card, an urging force receiving portion being subjected to an urging force of the urging member, and a stopper abutting portion abutting on the stopper portion and stopping the stopper portion from moving in the direction opposite to the insertion direction, and the slide cam part, the card pressing portion, the card locking portion, the urging force receiving portion, and the stopper abutting portion are formed integrally with the slide member, and the urging force receiving portion and the stopper abutting portion are offset. 
     In still other card connector according to the present invention, the card locking portion releases the engagement of the card with the concave portion when the slide member tilts. 
     In accordance with the present invention, the card connector has the bulge being formed on the guide surface for guiding the slide member of the card guiding mechanism for guiding a card. This renders the slide member to abut on the bulge to decrease the velocity thereof and prevents the card from jumping out, at the time of ejecting the card, thereby preventing any shock from generating when the slide member stops. 
     A card connector includes an insulative housing and a plurality of conductive terminals mounted on the housing and configured to contact respective ones of contact pads of an electronic card upon insertion of the card into the connector. A card guiding mechanism has a slide member for guiding the electronic card as it moves within the card connector. The slide member is moveable along a path between an initial card insertion position and a fully inserted position. An urging member urges the slide member in a direction opposite to the card insertion direction to thereby ejecting the card by moving the slide member. A shell is mounted on the housing and covers at least the slide member and a part of the electronic card upon insertion of the card into the card connector. One of the housing and the shell has a guide surface with a bulge projecting into the path of the slide member and upon movement of the slide member from the fully inserted position to the initial card insertion position, the slide member engages the bulge to slow the movement of the slide member. 
     Other aspects, objects and advantages of the present invention will be understood from the following description according to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, specifically including stated and unstated combinations of the various features which are described herein and relevant information which is shown in the accompanying drawings and examples. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating a state in which a shell of a card connector is removed therefrom in a preferred embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating the card connector in the preferred embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded view illustrating the structure of the card connector in the preferred embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating a state of viewing the card connector from another direction in the preferred embodiment; 
         FIGS. 5A to 5C  are first diagrams illustrating the operations of a cam mechanism in the preferred embodiment; 
         FIGS. 6A to 6D  are second diagrams illustrating the operations of the cam mechanism in the preferred embodiment; 
         FIGS. 7A and 7B  are diagrams illustrating the operation of a card holding part of a slide member in the preferred embodiment; and  FIG. 7A  illustrates a state of viewing the card and the slide member from below in  FIGS. 5A to 5C , and  FIGS. 6A to 6C ; and  FIG. 7B  illustrates a state of viewing the card and the slide member from below in  FIG. 6D ; and 
         FIG. 8  is a diagram illustrating a conventional card connector. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriate manner. 
     In the figures, a reference numeral  1  denotes a card connector of the present embodiment, which is mounted on electronic equipment (not shown). A card  101  is inserted in the card connector  1 , and the card  101  is mounted on the electronic equipment through the card connector  1 . The electronic equipment is, for example, a personal computer, a portable telephone, a PDA, a digital camera, a video camera, a music player, a game machine, a car navigation system, or the like and may be any type of equipment. 
     The card  101  has a nearly rectangular shape, and has a card housing  111  integrally molded of an insulating material such as synthetic resin. In a portion nearer the front end on one surface of the card housing  111 , a plurality of contact pads  151  as terminal members are disposed in the state of exposure, as shown in  FIG. 2 . The card  101  has a cut-away part  113  being formed at a portion nearer the front end on one side surface, and a concave portion  112  being formed at a portion nearer the rear end from the cut-away part  113  on the side surface. In addition, on the other side surface facing the side surface, neither a cut-away part nor a concave portion is formed, and the other side surface extends linearly in an insertion direction of the card  101 . 
     The card  101  also has, on the one side surface, an engaging convex portion  114  being defined by the cut-away part  113  and the concave portion  112 . A front side engaging surface  114   a  of the engaging convex portion  114  is defined by the cut-away part  113 , forming a tapered surface tilting to the insertion direction of the card  101 . A rear side engaging surface  114   b  of the engaging convex portion  114  is defined by the concave portion  112 , forming a surface perpendicular to the insertion direction of the card  101 . 
     In the present embodiment, the card  101  is, for example, an MMC (R), an SD (R) card, a mini SD (R) card, an xD picture card (R), a memory stick (R), a memory stick Duo (R), a smart media (R), a TransFlash (R) memory card, a micro SD (R) card, or the like. Description will be made assuming that the card  101  is a micro SD (R) card. 
     In this embodiment, representations of directions such as up, down, left, right, front, rear, and the like, used for explaining the structure and movement of each part of the card connector  1  are not absolute but relative. These representations are appropriate when each part of the card connector  1  is situated in the attitude shown in the figures, however, if the attitude of the card connector  1  or any part thereof changes, these presentations should be understood being modified according to the change of the position of each part of the connector  1 . 
     The card connector  1  has a housing  11  being integrally molded of an insulating material such as synthetic resin, and holding the card  101  therein, and a shell  61  as a case being formed by a machining operation including punching, bending, and the like to a plate member being composed of a conductive material such as metal, and being mounted on the upper side of the housing  11 . As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , the card connector  1  has a shape of nearly a flat rectangular parallelepiped, and is mounted on the electronic equipment, from the front side of which the card  101  is inserted therein (from downward toward the left in  FIG. 2 ). The following description will be made on the assumption that the card  101  is inserted into the card connector  1  in such a direction that the surface on which the contact pads  151  of the card  101  are disposed is situated above. 
       FIG. 1  is also a diagram illustrating the card connector  1  in a state in which the shell  61  is removed therefrom for the convenience of the description. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the housing  11  has a bottom wall part  11   a  having such a shape that the front side (on the bottom left side as viewed in  FIG. 1 ) is cut away in nearly a U-shape with respect to the insertion direction of the card  101 , and a rear wall part  11   b  extending along the edge of the rear side at the rear of the bottom wall part  11   a , and standing vertically from the bottom wall part  11   a . On the rear wall part  11   b , a plurality of terminal loading slots  11   e  being formed so as to pass through in a front to back direction are formed, and the main bodies  51   a  of terminals  51  as connecting terminals are inserted and mounted in the terminal loading slots  11   e , respectively. The terminals  51  extend to the front edge side of the housing  11  to form contact portions  51   b  projecting downward in the vicinity of the tips thereof, which come into contact with the contact pads  151  disposed on the upward surface of the card  101  and are electrically connected thereto. Solder tail portions  51   c  bending from the roots of main body portions  51   a  of the terminals  51  and extending project backward from the edge of the rear side of the bottom wall part  11   a , and are electrically connected to signal lines, contact pads, and terminals, etc., which are formed on a wiring substrate or the like in the electronic equipment, namely to the objective terminal members by soldering or the like. 
     The housing  11  has a first side part  11   c  as a side part extending in a front to back direction along one side edge of the bottom wall part  11   a , and a second side part  11   d  as a side part extending in a front to back direction along the other side edge of the bottom wall part  11   a.    
     The card connector  1  requires an operation of pushing the card  101  both at the time of inserting the card  101  into the card connector  1  and the time of ejecting the card  101  from the card connector  1 , which is so-called an operation of push-in/push-out type or push-push type. Therefore, a slide member  21  in a card guiding mechanism for guiding the card  101  inserted into the card connector  1  is mounted on the first side part  11   c  so as to be slidable in a front to back direction, namely in the insertion direction of the card  101 . A holding recess part  11   i  is formed along the first side part  11   c  on the upper surface of the bottom wall part  11   a , and the slide member  21  is slidably held in the holding recess part  11   i.    
     The slide member  21  is composed of a card holding part  21   a  for holding the card  101 , and a slide cam part  21   b  functioning as a slide cam in a cam mechanism for performing an operation of push-push type. The card holding part  21   a  and the slide cam part  21   b  are formed integrally. The card holding part  21   a  has a card pressing portion  21   c  abutting on the card  101  and transmitting a pressing force to the card, and a card locking portion  21   d  engaging with the concave portion  112  of the card  101 . Specifically, the card pressing portion  21   c  abuts on a front engaging surface  114   a  as an edge located ahead of the insertion direction of the card  101  in the engaging convex portion  114  being formed on one side surface of the card  101  to transmit a pressing force to the card. And, the card locking portion  21   d  engages on a rear side engaging surface  114   b  as an edge located rear in the insertion direction of the card  101  in the engaging convex portion  114 . The card pressing portion  21   c  and the card locking portion  21   d  function as a card engaging portion of the slide member  21 , and are formed integrally as a part of the card holding part  21   a , so as to project inwardly of the housing  11 . The slide member  21  holds the card  101  by the card pressing portion  21   c  and the card locking portion  21   d  of the card holding part  21   a , and moves in a front to back direction together with the card  101 . 
     An end surface located ahead of the insertion direction of the card  101  in the card holding part  21   a  functions as an urging force receiving portions  21   i  being subjected to the urging force of an urging member  81  being composed of a coil spring, and has an urging member restraining projection  21   h  for engaging the urging member  81 , on which one end of the urging member  81  is mounted. The other end of the urging member  81  is mounted on a restraining part  11   f  of the rear wall part  11   b . The restraining part  11   f  also has an urging member engaging projection (not being shown) engaging with the urging member  81 . This renders the slide member  21  to be always urged by the urging member  81  in the direction opposite to the insertion direction of the card  101 , namely in the ejecting direction of the card  101 . 
     On the other hand, the slide cam portion  21   b  is connected to the external side surface of the card holding part  21   a , namely to the side surface facing the external side of the housing  11 , and extends ahead of the insertion direction of the card  101 . A cam groove  21   e  as a slide cam is formed on the upper surface of the slide cam part  21   b , and one end of an elongated pin member  71  as a cam follower is engaged with the cam groove  21   e . For the convenience of the description, illustration of the pin member  71  is omitted in  FIG. 1 . 
     The other end of the pin member  71  is engaged and pivotally connected with a pin restraining portion  11   k  being formed on the upper surface of the stopper portion  11   g  being formed at the front end of the first side part  11   c  of the housing  11 . Collaboration of the pin member  71  and the cam groove  21   e  renders the slide member  21  moving together with the card  101  to perform a push-push operation. This enables the card guiding mechanism to move the card  101  from the end point to the direction opposite to the insertion direction and to eject the card  101  with the urging force of the urging member  81 , when the card  101  is moved in the insertion direction and reaches the end point by the push operation of pushing the card  101  in the insertion direction. Since the cam mechanism for performing the push-push operation, which is composed of the pin member  71  and the cam groove  21   e  is well known, the description thereof is omitted here. 
     The end surface located ahead of the insertion direction of the card  101  in the stopper portion  11   g  functions as a stopper surface for stopping the slide member  21  moving so as to eject the card  101 . When the slide member  21  is moved in the direction opposite to the insertion direction of the card  101  with the urging force of the urging member  81 , the end surface located at the rear of the insertion direction of the card  101  in the slide member  21  functions as a stopper surface to abut on the stopper surface of the stopper portion  11   g , and thereby the slide member  21  is stopped. On the stopper surface of the stopper portion  11   g , an engaging projection  11   h  is formed, and on the stopper surface of the slide member  21 , an engaging projection  21   g  is formed. In a state in which the slide member  21  abuts on the stopper portion  11   g , the engaging projection  11   h  and the engaging projection  21   g  are engaged with each other. 
     In the initial state before inserting the card  101  into the card connector  1 , the slide member  21  is urged in the direction opposite to the insertion direction of the card  101  with the urging force of the urging member  81 , and is pressed and stopped by the stopper portion  11   g . Here, the urging force receiving portion  21   i  being subjected to the urging force of the urging member  81  is the end surface of the card holding part  21   a , whereas the stopper abutting portion  21   f  abutting on the stopper surface of the stopper portion  11   g  is the end surface of the slide cam part  21   b  being connected to the side surface located lateral to the card holding part  21   a . That is, the stopper abutting portion  21   f  is located in a direction lateral to the urging force receiving portion  21   i  with respect to the direction of action of the urging force of the urging member  81  (to a front to back direction of the housing  11 ). Further, in other words, the urging force receiving portion  21   i  that is a point of action of the urging force exerted by the urging member  81 , and the stopper abutting portion  21   f  that is a point of action of the repulsion of the urging force exerted by the stopper portion  11   g  are offset. Therefore, as will be described later, a rotational moment for rotating the slide member  21  in the clockwise direction as viewed from above generates, and the slide member  21  is rotated in the clockwise direction, because sufficient allowance in the width direction of the card connector  1  is used around the slide member  21 , thereby coming into the state of tilting. That is, in this initial state, the shaft in the longitudinal direction of the card holding part  21   a , and the shaft in the longitudinal direction of the slide cam part  21   b  tilt in the clockwise direction with respect to the front to back direction of the housing  11 , around the stopper abutting portion  21   f  that is a point of action of the reaction force of the urging forth being subjected to the stopper portion  11   g.    
     When the slide member  21  slides in a front to back direction along with the card  101 , the slide member  21  slides in a state in which the tilt is restored to the original attitude, namely, in a state in which the shaft in the longitudinal direction of the card holding part  21   a  and the shaft in the longitudinal direction of the slide cam part  21   b  become parallel to the front to back direction of the housing  11 . In this case, the slide member  21  slides along the inner wall of the first side part  11   c , that is, the inner wall of the first side part  11   c  functions as a guide surface guiding the slide member  21 . On the inner wall of the first side part  11   c , a bulge or projection  11   j  functioning as a slowing down member of the slide member  21  is formed. When the slide member  21  is moved in the direction opposite to the insertion direction of the card  101  with the urging force of the urging member  81 , the slide member  21  sliding along the inner wall of the first side part  11   c  comes into contact with the bulge  11   j  and slows down by being subjected to the lateral pressure thereof. 
     It is also possible to form the bulge  11   j  at any site other than the inner wall of the first side part  11   c , as long as the site is a surface functioning as a guide surface for guiding the slide member  21 . For example, it is acceptable to form the bulge  11   j  on the upper surface of the holding recess part  11   i , or on a ceiling surface of the shell  61  functioning as the guide surface. In the present embodiment, there will be provided a description of the case in which the bulge  11   j  is formed on the inner wall of the first side part  11   c  so that a moving direction may become the direction away from the guide surface of the slide member  21 , namely the width direction of the card connector  1 . 
     Preferably, the site in which the bulge  11   j  is disposed with respect to the slide direction, namely a front to back direction, of the slide member  21  is set so that, when the card  101  is ejected, the slide member  21  abuts on the bulge  11   j  after the contact pads  151  has actually disengaged with the contact portions  51   b  of the terminals  51 . It should be noted that the bulge  11   j  reduces the urging force of the urging member  81  and thus slows down the slide member  21  due to the resistance generated when the bulge  11   j  abuts on the slide member  21 . However, the urging force of the urging member  81  would be reduced due to the frictional force of the contact lever without the bulge  11   j  when the contact pads  151  come into contact with the contact portions  51   b  of the terminals  51 . Therefore, if the slide member  21  and the bulge  11   j  abut each other when the contact pads  151  come into contact with the contact portions  51   b  of the terminals  51 , the reduction in the urging force of the urging member  81  will be too great and, in order to facilitate ejection of the card  101 , it will become necessary to increase the urging force of the urging member  81 . 
     In the present embodiment, there is no need to enhance the urging force of the urging member  81 , since the bulge  11   j  is disposed on such a site abutting the slide member  21  after the contact pads  151  have actually come into non-contact with the contact portions  51   b  of the terminals  51 . Hence, at the time of ejecting the card  101 , the slide member  21  is properly slowed down, and thereby the card  101  is prevented from jumping out. Further, significant shock forces will be avoided when the slide member  21  abuts on the stopper portion  11   g  and comes to a stop. 
     A first contact member  52  and a second contact member  53  for forming a switch are mounted on the second side part  11   d . While the first contact member  52  and the second contact member  53  come into an electrically conductive state or an electrically non-conductive state depending on mutually contacting and separating, the first contact member  52  and the second contact member  53  function as switches. Here, relevant switch can be used for various applications such as a detection switch for detecting that the card  101  is properly inserted into the card connector  1 , a write protect switch for protecting new information from being written into the card  101 , or the like. However, in the present embodiment, a description will be made assuming that the switch is used as a detection switch. More particularly, the switch is used as a sidewall installation type and an initial-OFF type of a detection switch. 
     The first contact member  52  has a root portion  52   a  mounted on the second side part  11   d , and a main body portion  52   b  in such a shape as an elongated cantilever extending from the root portion  52   a  to the rear wall part  11   b . The first contact member  52  is a member formed by applying a machining operation including punching, bending, and the like to a plate member composed of a conductive material with resiliency such as metal. The main body portion  52   b  and the root portion  52   a  of the first contact member  52  are disposed so as to become nearly parallel to the side surface of the second side part  11   d.    
     The second contact member  53  has an elongated upper side part  53   b  mounted on the second side part  11   d , and a lower side part  53   c  in such a shape as an elongated cantilever extending from one end of the upper side part  53   b  to the direction of the rear wall part  11   b . The second contact member  53  is a member also formed by applying a machining operation including punching, bending, and the like to a plate member composed of a conductive material with resiliency such as metal, and the upper side part  53   b  and the lower side part  53   c  are disposed so as to become nearly parallel to the side surface of the second side part  11   d . Further, a projection-like card abutting portion  53   a  projecting toward the inside of the housing  11  is formed at a free end of the lower side part  53   c.    
     In the initial state in which the card  101  is not inserted into the connector  1 , the vicinity of the free end of the second contact member  53 , namely the second abutting portion  53   d , is located at more inward of the housing  11  than the vicinity of the free end of the first contact member  52 , namely the first abutting portion  52   c , and is apart from the first abutting portion  52   c . Therefore, the switch is turned off. When the card  101  is then inserted into the card connector  1  and reaches a predetermined position, the side surface of the tip in the insertion direction of the card  101  abuts on the card abutting portion  53   a  of the second contact member  53 , and moves the free end of the second contact member  53  to the outside of the housing  11 . Consequently, the second abutting portion  53   d  of the second contact member  53  abuts on the first abutting portion  52   c  of the first contact member  52 , and thereby the first contact member  52  and the second contact member  53  are electrically conducted. Hence, this renders the switch to turn on, and enables to detect that the card  101  is properly inserted into the card connector  1 . 
     The shell  61  also has a guide part  62  and a pin pressing part  63 . The guide part  62  is formed by applying drawing and bending processes to a part of the shell  61  in the direction of the bottom wall part  11   a  of the housing  11 , and as shown in  FIG. 4 , projects downward from the ceiling surface of the shell  61 , as well as extending in the slide direction of the slide member  21 , namely in a front to back direction. The guide member  62 , facing the inner wall of the first side part  11   c , guides the slide member  21 , and restrains the slide member  21  from moving to the inside of the housing  11 . Since the slide member  21  is also restrained by the first side part  11   c  and the guide part  62 , it is possible to omit the holding recess part  11   i . The pin pressing part  63  is a member in the form of a plate spring, which is formed by applying a bending process to a part of the shell  61  so as to be able to press in the direction of the bottom wall part  11   a  of the housing  11 . The pin member  71  is positioned between the pin pressing part  63  and the slide member  21  or the housing  11 , and is held so as not to disengage from the slide member  21  or the housing  11 . 
     As stated above, the description has been made focusing on that the card  101  is in the initial state of not being inserted into the card connector  1 . Next, the operation of the card connector  1  having the composition will be described. 
     To insert the card  101  into the card connector  1 , a user inserts the card  101  from the front of the card connector  1 . The card  101  is inserted in such an attitude as shown in  FIG. 2  into the card connector  1 . In the initial state of insertion, the contact pads  151  of the card  101  have not reached the contact portions  51   b  of the terminals  51 . The engaging convex portion  114  of the card  101  is not engaged with the card pressing portion  21   c  and the card locking portion  21   d , as the card engaging portion of the slide member  21 . The slide member  21  is stopped with the stopper abutting portion  21   f  abutting on the stopper portion  11   g  of the housing  11 . Further, the first contact member  52  does not abut on the second contact member  53 , and the detection switch is in the OFF-state. 
     Subsequently, when the user pushes the card  101  and further squeezing the same into the card connector  1 , the front engaging surface  114   a  of the engaging convex portion  114  of the card  101  abuts on the card pressing portion  21   c  of the slide member  21 . In this case, since the pressing force exerted by the user is stronger than the urging force of the urging member  81 , a rotational moment for rotating the slide member  21  in the clockwise direction will vanish. Strictly speaking, since during the initial period, the card pressing portion  21   c  abuts on the front engaging surface  114   a  of the engaging convex portion  114  and is pressed, a rotational moment for rotating the slide member in the counterclockwise direction generates in the card holding part  21   a . This renders the whole of the slide member  21  to rotate in the counterclockwise direction and restores the tilt in the initial state before inserting the card  101  into the card connector  1  to the original attitude, thereby the shaft in the longitudinal direction of the card holding part  21   a  and the shaft in the longitudinal direction of the slide cam part  21   b  becoming parallel to the front to back direction of the housing  11 . 
     When the tilt of the slide member  21  is restored to the original attitude, the card locking portion  21   d  enters into the concave portion  112  of the card  101  and engages with the rear engaging surface  114   b  of the engaging convex portion  114 . This renders the card holding part  21   a  to come into a state of holding the card  101  with the engaging convex portion  114  being grasped from back and forth by the card pressing portion  21   c  and the card locking portion  21   d , and enables the slide member  21  to be integrated with the card  101  and to move in a front to back direction. 
     Then, when the user pushes the card  101 , the card  101  moves along with the slide member  21  to the rear wall part  11   b . In this case, the pressing force exerted by the user is transmitted from the engaging convex portion  114  of the card  101  to the slide member  21  through the card pressing portion  21   c . Since the slide member  21  compresses the urging member  81  composed of the coil spring, the slide member  21  and the card  101  are subjected to a repulsion of the urging member  81 , however, the slide member  21  and the card  101  move against the repulsion, since this repulsion is weaker than the pressing force exerted by the user. In this case, the slide member  21  slides under the restriction of a lateral movement by the inner wall of the first side part  11   c  and the guide part  62  of the shell  61 . The slide member  21  and the card  101  then reach the end point as the most advanced position, and come into a full-stroke state. 
     On the way of the path until the card  101  reaches the end point, the contact pads  151  come into contact with the contact portions  51   b  of the terminals  51  to become electrically conductive each other. Further, the side surface located opposite to the engaging convex portion  114  of the tip in the insertion direction of the card  101  abuts on the card abutting portion  53   a  of the second contact member  53 , and moves the free end of the second contact member  53  to the outward of the housing  11 . Therefore, the second abutting portion  53   d  of the second contact member  53  abuts on the first abutting portion  52   c  of the first contact member  52 , and the first contact member  52  and the second contact member  53  become electrically conductive. This renders the switch to turn ON, and enables to detect that the card  101  is properly inserted into the card connector  1 . 
     Subsequently, when the user stops the operation of pushing the card  101  to release the pressing force against the card  101 , the slide member  21  and the card  101  are moved in the direction away from the rear wall part  11   b  with the repulsion of the urging member  81 . And then, the slide member  21  and the card  101  stop in a locking position in which the card  101  is held under a locked state in the card connector  1 . This is because the pin member  71  engaging with the cam groove  21   e  of the slide cam part  21   b  restrains at a part of the cam groove  21   e  to cause the slide cam part  21   b  to stop movement, and thereby renders the slide member  21  to stop in the locking position. 
     The card  101 , by being held in the locking position, comes into the state of being able to send and receive data with operation means and the like of the electronic equipment on which the card connector  1  is mounted. When the card  101  is held in the locking position, the contact pads  151  of the card  101  come into contact with the contact portions  51   b  of the terminals  51 , and are in electrically conductive states. Since the first contact member  52  is abutting on the second contact member  53 , the detection switch comes into the ON-state. 
     To eject and remove the card  101  from the card connector  1 , the user pushes the card  101  so that the slide member  21  and the card  101  are moved from the locking position toward the rear wall part  11   b . Then, when the user further pushes the card  101 , as shown in  FIG. 5A , the slide member  21  and the card  101  reach the end point defined as the most advanced position, resulting in a full-stroke state. 
     Subsequently, when the user stops the operation of pushing the card  101  to release the pressing force against the card  101 , the slide member  21  and the card  101  are moved in the direction away from the rear wall part  11   b  with the repulsion of the urging member  81 , and are restored to the locking position. At this time, the repulsion of the urging member  81  becomes a pressing force, and is transmitted to the engaging convex portion  114  through the card pressing portion  21   c . Since, even if the slide member  21  reaches the locking position, the pin member  71  engaging with the cam groove  21   e  of the slide cam part  21   b  does not restrain in a part of the cam groove  21   e , the movement of the slide member  21  is not controlled and thereby it is impossible to cause the slide member  21  and the card  101  to stop in the locking position. Consequently, as shown in  FIG. 5B , the slide member  21  and the card  101  pass through the locking position, and further move in the direction opposite to the insertion direction of the card  101 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5C , a portion which is the end portion on the opposite side of the rear wall part  11   b  in the slide member  21 , and is along the inner wall of the first side part  11   c , more particularly, an engaging projection  21   g  being formed on the stopper surface, abuts on the bulge  11   j  being formed on the inner wall of the first side part  11   c.  In this case, since the bulge  11   j  is disposed at such a site as abutting on the slide member  21  after the contact pads  151  have actually come into non-contact with the contact portions  51   b  of the terminals  51 , the electrically conductive state between the contact pads  151  and the terminals  51  has already been discontinued. Further, the first contact member  52  and the second contact member  53  have come into non-contact with each other, and the detection switch has already come into the OFF-state. 
     The slide member  21  slows down by abutting on the bulge  11   j . Then, as shown in  FIGS. 6A to 6C , with the urging force of the urging member  81 , the slide member  21 , while abutting on the bulge  11   j , is further moved in the direction opposite to the insertion direction of the card  101 . As shown in  FIG. 7A , since the card pressing portion  21   c  and the card locking portion  21   d  of the slide member  21  keep grasping the engaging convex portion  114  from back and forth, the card  101  slows down in the state of being integrated with the slide member  21 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6D , the stopper abutting portion  21   f  of the slide member  21  abuts on the stopper portion  11   g  of the housing  11 , and thereby the slide member  21  and the card  101  are stopped. On the other hand, the urging force receiving portion  21   i  of the slide member  21  keeps being subjected to the urging force of the urging member  81 . The stopper abutting portion  21   f  and the urging force receiving portion  21   i  are offset. Therefore, a rotational moment for rotating the slide member  21  in the clockwise direction in  FIG. 6D , namely viewing from above, generates, and the slide member  21  is rotated in the clockwise direction and comes into the state of tilting, by using clearance between the first side part  11   c  and the engaging projection  21   g , which is formed by the slide member  21  abutting on the bulge  11   j  and running thereon. Since, in the state in which the slide member  21  abuts on the stopper portion  11   g , the engaging projection  21   g  and the engaging projection  11   h  are engaged with each other, the slide member  21  will not be disengaged from the stopper portion  11   g.    
     As shown in  FIG. 7B , tilting of the slide member  21  renders the card locking portion  21   d  to move outward and thereby renders the amount of engagement between the card locking portion  21   d  and the rear engaging surface  114   b  of the engaging convex portion  114  to be reduced. This facilitates release of the state of engagement between the engaging convex portion  114 , and the card pressing portion  21   c  and the card locking portion  21   d . Therefore, when the user pulls the card  101 , and thereby the slide member  21  is further rotated in the clockwise direction in  FIG. 6D  and tilts. The state of the engagement between the engaging convex portion  114 , and the card pressing portion  21   c  and the card locking portion  21   d  is easily released, and the card  101  is disengaged from the slide member  21 . Thus, it is possible to easily eject the card  101  from the card connector  1  without adding any large force by being pulled by the user. Alternatively, by changing the height of the bulge  11   j  and the urging force of the urging member  81 , it is also possible to render a rotational moment to act on the slide ember  21  to tilt the same without being pulled by the user. 
     Thus, in the present embodiment, the card connector  1  has the bulge  11   j  being formed on the guide surface for guiding the slide member  21 . When ejecting the card  101 , the slide member  21  slows down by abutting on the bulge  11   j , and stops by abutting on the stopper portion  11   g  of the housing  11 , and thereby further tilts to release the holing of the card  101 . 
     Since this renders the slide member  21  to abut on the bulge  11   j , and to lower the velocity thereof at the time of ejecting the card  101 , the card  101  never jumps out. Also, when the slide member  21  comes to a stop, any shock does not occur. Further, if the user pulls the card  101 , thereby it becomes possible to take out the card  101  easily. 
     The bulge  11   j  is formed at such a site as abutting on the slide member  21  after the contact pads  151  have actually come into non-contact with the contact portions  51   b  of the terminals  51 . Hence, there is no need to increase the urging force of the urging member  81 . 
     In addition, when the slide member  21  comes to stop by abutting on the stopper portion  11   g  of the housing  11 , the slide member  21  tilts, and if the card  101  is drawn out, the card  101  thereby also further tilts to release the holding of the card  101 . 
     Therefore, the card  101  will not jump out when the slide member  21  comes to stop, and if the user pulls the card  101 , it thereby becomes possible to take out the card  101  easily. 
     The slide member  21  further contains the card pressing portion  21   c  abutting on the card  101  and transmitting a pressing force, a card locking portion  21   d  engaging with the concave portion  112  of the card  101 , the urging force receiving portion  21   i  being subjected to an urging force of the urging member  81 , and the stopper abutting portion  21   f  abutting on the stopper portion  11   g  so as to stop the movement to the direction opposite to the insertion direction. The card pressing portion  21   c , the card locking portion  21   d , the urging force receiving portion  21   i , and the stopper abutting portion  21   f  are formed integrally with the slide member  21 , and the urging force receiving portion  21   i  and the stopper abutting portion  21   f  are offset. The slide cam portion  21   b  is also formed integrally with the slide member  21 . 
     This enables the slide member  21  to release the holding of the card  101  at the time of ejecting the card  101 , even if a mechanism for releasing the holding of the card  101  is not disposed separately. Also, since this enables to simplify the structure of the card  101 , lower the costs for manufacturing the same, and downsize the same, it is possible to detach the card  101  easily. 
     Since the present invention should not be limited to the above-described embodiments, it is possible to transform the embodiments in various ways based on the gist of the present invention, and these transformations are not eliminated from the scope of the present invention.