Abstract:
A dustproof member for a memory card slot includes a housing provided with an inserting slot for receiving the card, a cover including a main body for covering the inserting slot, the main body comprising a pivotal side pivotally assembled with the housing and a rotary side opposed to the pivotal side, and at least one spring. The rotary side can rotate about the pivotal side when the card is inserted in or withdrawn, and the spring applies elastic force on the cover for pushing the cover to a station covering the inserting slot.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
   The present invention relates to a dustproof member and, particularly, to a dustproof member for a memory card slot configured for preventing dust getting into digital electronic devices during memory cards insertion into the digital electronic devices. 
   BACKGROUND 
   With rapid developments in the electronic industry, various electronic devices have become widely used, such as digital cameras. Digital cameras usually use removable digital cards to store pictures. While in use, the cards should be inserted into the cameras. Accordingly, an inserting slot is used in a camera for receiving the card. However, conventional inserting slots are exposed to the outside. Dust or other contamination can enter into the slot, even the inner space of the camera, which can affect the data transfer between the card and the camera. Rubber covers are commonly used to protect the slot from dust. However, it is not convenient for a user to insert a card because the rubber cover must be removed before the card is inserted and replaced once the card is removed. 
   There is a heretofore unaddressed need in the industry to provide a convenient dustproof member to prevent dust getting into electronic devices. 
   SUMMARY 
   In accordance with a present embodiment, A dustproof member for a memory card slot includes a housing provided with an inserting slot for receiving a memory card, a cover including a main body for covering the inserting slot, the main body comprising a pivotal side pivotably assembled with the housing and a rotary side opposite to the pivotal side, and at least one spring. The rotary side can rotate about the pivotal side when the card is inserted in or withdrawn, and the spring applies elastic force on the cover for pushing the cover to a station covering the inserting slot. 
   Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Many aspects of the present packaging structure can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present dustproof member for memory card slot. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
       FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a dustproof member for a memory card slot in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is exploded view of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a partially assembled view of the dustproof member of the first embodiment; and 
       FIG. 4  is an isometric view of a dustproof member for a memory card slot in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
   Embodiments of the present dustproof member for memory card slot will now be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , a dustproof member  100  for a memory card slot in accordance with a first preferred embodiment includes a housing  30 , a cover  15 , a spring  20 , and a fastening seat  12 . 
   The housing  30  has an L-shaped configuration and includes a base wall  30   a  and a sidewall  30   b  perpendicularly extending upward from a side of the base wall  30   a . The rectangular base wall  30   a  comprises a fastening member  36  formed near one narrow end thereof, an aperture  37  defined therein near the other narrow end thereof, a housing recess  31  formed on the middle top portion thereof adjacent the aperture  37 , and an inserting slot  33  formed between the housing recess  31  and the fastening member  36 . The fastening member  36  further defines a shaft hole  361 . The fastening member  36  and the housing recess  31  are located at opposite ends of the inserting slot  33 , respectively, with the housing recess  31  being at the end nearest the aperture  37 . The inserting slot  33  is configured to allow a memory card to be inserted thereinto. The sidewall  30   b  includes a first screw hole  34  formed at a portion away from the base wall  30   a  aligned with the aperture  37 , and a second screw hole  35  formed at a lower portion thereof adjacent the base wall  30   a.    
   The cover  15  is rectangular-shaped and has an area substantially equal to or a little greater than that of the inserting slot  33 , corresponding to the shape, size, and position of the inserting slot  33 . The cover  15  is pivotably assembled at the internal side of the base wall  30   b , to cover the inserting slot  33 . The cover  15  includes a main body  154  for covering the inserting slot  33 , a pivotal side  158 , and a rotary side  159  opposite to the pivotal side  158 . The pivotal side  158  further defines a first shaft  151  extending laterally and pivotably supported in the shaft hole  361 , and a second shaft  152  extending away from the first shaft  151 . The rotary side  159  defines a protrusion  156  adjacent the second shaft  152 . The protrusion  156  defines a cover recess  153 . It is noted that the first and second shafts  151 ,  152  are coaxial. 
   The spring  20  includes a free end  21  and a fastening end  22 . The spring  20  sleeves the second shaft  152  with the free end  21  received in the cover recess  153  for abutting against the bottom of the cover recess  153 . The fastening end  22  is received in the housing recess  31 . The free end  21  can rotate with the rotary side  159  when the memory card slot is inserted in or withdrawn. The spring  20  is used for providing elastic force to push the cover  15  to return to an original position when the memory card slot is not inserted. In fact, the spring can be other elastic members, such as rubber strip. 
   The fastening seat  12  is partially fastened in the aperture  37 , and defines a fastening portion  124  with an internal thread for engaging with an external thread of an external digital device. The fastening portion  124  defines a first projecting block  125  provided with a first screw bore  121 . The fastening portion  124  defines a second projecting block  126  provided with a second screw bore  122 . The second projecting portion  126  defines a fixing portion  123  to pivotally cooperate with the corresponding second shaft  152 . 
   Assembling steps of the dustproof member will be described in detail. The cover  15  is placed on the basewall  30   a  to cover the inserting slot  33 . The first shaft  151  of the cover  15  is firstly supported in the shaft hole  361 , and the spring  20  is then assembled with the second shaft  152 . The free end  21  is received in the cover recess  153  to abut against the bottom of the cover recess  153 , while the fastening end  22  is received in the housing recess  31 . After that, the fastening seat  12  is partially received in the aperture  37  of the housing  30  with the fixing portion  123  engaged with the second shaft  152 . The fastening seat  12  is mounted on the housing  30  by cooperation between a screw  18  and the sub-assembly of the first screw bore  121  with the first screw hole  34 , and cooperation between another screw  18  and the sub-assembly of the second screw bore  122  with the second screw hole  35 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 4 , a dustproof member  200 , in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the invention, is shown. The dustproof member  200  is similar to the dustproof  100  of the first embodiment. In this embodiment, the rotary side  259  of the cover  25  defines a pair of protrusions  256  at two opposite ends thereof. Each of the protrusions  256  defines two cover recesses  253  to receive the free ends  21  of two springs  20  and make the free ends  21  abut against the bottoms thereof, respectively. The springs  20  are provided to respectively engage with the first and second shafts  251 ,  252 . Accordingly, a pair of housing recesses  31  is provided to respectively receive the fastening ends  22  of the springs  20 . Obviously, the additional spring  20  cooperates with the additional housing recess  31  and the cover recess  253  in the same manner as the single spring  20  and the single recess  153  of the first embodiment. Other configurations of the second embodiment are the same as that of the first embodiment, and so are not described in detail. 
   In fact, the shaft and the shaft hole are complementary to each other. Therefore, positions thereof can be interchanged. For example, the first shaft can be defined on the fastening member while the shaft hole can be defined in the cover. The second shaft and the fixing portion can also be interchanged. 
   Although the present invention has been described with reference to particular embodiments, it is not to be construed as being limited thereto. Various alterations and modifications can be made to the embodiments without in any way departing from the scope or spirit of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.