Abstract:
A memory card adapter ( 100 ) comprises an upper cover ( 2 ), an insulating lower cover ( 1 ), a conductive member ( 4 ) and a conductive terminals module ( 3 ) fixed on the insulating lower cover. The upper cover comprises a resin cover ( 22 ) and a metal cover ( 21 ). The lower insulating cover engages with the metal cover with a mini memory card receiving space ( 10 ) formed therebetween. The conductive terminals module comprises a plurality of conductive terminals ( 32 ) electrically connecting with the conductive member and a resin beam ( 31 ) to retain the conductive terminals therein. The mini memory card ( 200 ) is accommodated in the mini memory card receiving space and electrically connecting with the conductive terminals. Due to the arrangement of the conductive terminals module with the conductive member and the insulating lower cover, the whole assembly of the adaptor is highly simplified and the conduction efficiency is increased.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention generally relates to a memory card adapter, and particularly to an adapter for coupling a mini-sized memory card to a regular-sized memory card. 
   2. Description of Related Art 
   Flash memory cards developed in the recent years are light, thin and small, and with the features of high storage capacity, vibration durability, repeated memorizing for many times etc. they are widely applied in the field of information application and many portable digital products. For example, nearly all the popular products including personal digital assistants (PDA), digital cameras (DSC), digital walkmans (MP3 Players), mobile phone etc. in the markets use the flash memory cards as storage media. There is no uniform standard or specification presently in the art of flash memory cards in the whole world presently. Related products that are well known include at least: CF cards (Compact Flash cards), SM cards (Smart Media cards), MMC cards (MultiMedia cards), MS cards (Memory Stick cards) and SD cards (Secure Digital cards) etc. And more, following progressing of the science and technology, memory cards tend to be developed continuously in pursuance of the requirement of the markets. For example, the mini SD cards and micro SD cards (also called Transflash cards, T-flash cards) provided by some manufacturers recently have the same specifications as those of the SD cards, except that the size thereof is largely reduced as compared with the SD cards (the size of an SD card is: 32×24×2.1 mm, while the size of a mini SD card is 21.5×20×1.6 mm and the size of a micro SD card is 11×15×1.0 mm). This results that, although there are many support products for the SD card or mini SD card specification, the products can not support the newly developed “micro SD cards” due to inconsistence of specification of size. To resolve this problem, an adapter for accommodating a micro SD card therein and electrically and mechanically connecting with an electronic device through a regular sized receiving slot, such as a mini SD card receiving slot, is needed. 
   An simulated mini SD memory card converter disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,033,223 B1 (hereinafter the &#39;223 patent) is a kind of adapter to convert a micro SD card as a simulated mini SD card. This adapter is configured as a mini SD card in size, including a lower over, an upper cover, a plurality of conductive terminal and a conductive member received between the upper cover and the lower cover. Front terminals of the conductive terminals electrically connect with a front end of the conductive member, while rear terminals of the conductive terminal electrically connect with a micro SD card received in the adapter. When this adapter inserted into a mini SD card receiving slot of an electronic device, terminal plates of the conductive member electrically connects with the electronic device so that the micro SD card can be compatible by the electronic device with a mini SD card receiving slot through the adapter. 
   A connecting strip and a base strip bridge the conductive terminals to retain the conductive terminals in a fixed arrangement. And the conductive terminals are combined with the lower cover via a pre-confined injection molding process. After the process of combining the conductive terminals with the lower cover, the connecting strip and the base strip must be punched away. To let the waste the connecting strips drop away the lower cover, the lower cover should provide some through holes corresponding to the connecting strips. Besides, the main strip is disposed outside the lower cover to make it drop from the conductive terminal and the lower cover conveniently. The rear terminals of the conductive terminal module are disposed near a rear opening of lower cover. The front end of the conductive member is disposed near the front opening of the adapter and provided a plurality of holes electrically connecting with the front terminals. Obviously, the process to assembly the conductive terminal module and the conductive member with the lower cover and to punch away the base strip and the connecting strip are considerable complex, largely inducing the production efficiency. 
   Furthermore, in the &#39;223 patent disclosure, the upper cover of the adapter is integrally molded from an insulating material, such as a resin material. When the micro SD card inserted into the receiving slot between the upper cover and the lower cover, the upper surface of the micro SD card interfere with an inner surface of the upper cover. It is inconvenient for a customer to insert/detach the micro card into/from the adapter. And with frequently inserting and drawing out of the micro SD card, warpage or deformation of the insulating upper cover easily occurs because of a lower intensity thereof. 
   Hence, how to improve the problems in prior art is the major discussion of the present invention. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an advanced memory card adapter with a relatively simple assembly process and conductive terminals arrangement to improve conduction efficiency. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide an advanced memory card adapter comprising an improved cover with enough intensity to protect a mini memory card to the adapter. 
   In order to achieve the above-mentioned objects, an advanced memory card adapter is provided. This memory card adapter comprises an upper cover, an insulating lower cover, a conductive member and a conductive terminals module. The upper cover comprises a resin cover and a metal cover. The insulating lower cover defines a mating end with a mating opening. The lower insulating cover engages with the resin cover and the metal cover with a receiving room and a mini memory card receiving space formed therebetween, respectively, The mini memory card is inserted into the mini memory card receiving space through the mating opening in a mating direction. The insulating lower cover is provided with at least one opening at another end thereof in communication with the receiving room. The conductive member is retained in the receiving room and comprises a plurality of conductive pads and conductive wires disposed thereon. The conductive pads are aligned with the opening of the lower cover and exposed outside. The conductive terminals module is secured on the insulating lower cover and comprises a plurality of conductive terminals and a resin beam to retain the conductive terminals therein. Each conductive terminal comprises a contacting portion electrically connecting with the mini memory cad, a tail portion electrically connecting with the conductive wires. The resin beam may be molded over the conductive terminals with the contacting portions and the tail portions extending beyond therefrom. The resin beam engages with the insulting lower cover to fix the conductive terminals module on the insulting cover firmly. Due to the arrangement of the conductive terminals module with the conductive pads and the insulating lower cover, the whole assembly of the adaptor according to the present invention is highly simplified and the conduction efficiency is increased, too. 
   The metal cover of the upper cover can protect the mini memory card to the memory card adapter perfectly. Furthermore, to facilitate the insertion/detaching of the mini memory card into/from the memory card adapter, the metal cover can be pivotally assembled on the insulating lower cover. Before inserting the mini memory card into the memory card adapter, the metal cover is in an opening position to allow the mini memory card into the mini memory card receiving space freely. Then the metal cover is pivoted to a closed position to secure the mini memory card retained in the mini memory card receiving space. 
   Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present embodiment when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a memory card adapter with a mini memory card therein according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is another perspective view of the memory card adapter shown in  FIG. 1 , while taken from another aspect; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the memory card adapter shown in  FIG. 1 , showing the mini memory card detached from the memory card adapter and without an upper cover mounted thereon; 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the memory card adapter shown in  FIG. 1 , showing the mini memory card inserted into the memory card adapter and without the upper cover mounted thereon; 
       FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of the memory card adapter shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 6  is another exploded perspective view of the memory card shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a memory card adapter with a mini memory card therein according to a second embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 8  is an exploded perspective view of the memory card adapter shown in  FIG. 7 ; 
       FIG. 9  is another exploded perspective view of the memory card adapter shown in  FIG. 7 , while taken from another aspect; 
       FIG. 10  is an enlarged perspective view of an upper cover of the memory card adapter shown in  FIG. 9 ; 
       FIG. 11  is an enlarged perspective view of an upper cover of a memory card adapter according to a third embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 12  is enlarged perspective view of an insulating lower cover which is to be assembled with the upper cover shown in  FIG. 11 ; 
       FIG. 13  is an enlarged perspective view of an upper cover of a memory card adapter according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention; and 
       FIG. 14  is an enlarged perspective view of an insulating lower cover which is to be assembled with the upper cover shown in  FIG. 13 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Reference will now be made to the drawing figures to describe the present invention in detail. 
   With reference to  FIGS. 1-6 , a memory card adapter  100  for a mini memory card  200  with respect to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown. The memory card adapter  100  comprises an insulating lower cover  1  extending in a front-to-back direction, an upper cover  2  engaged with the insulating lower cover  1 , a conductive terminals module  3  and a conductive member  4  mounted on a top face  120  of the insulating lower cover  1 . The insulating lower cover  1  is made of a resin material and comprises a front portion  11  and a rear portion  12 . The upper cover  2  comprises a metal cover  21  and a resin cover  22  engaged with the front portion  11  and the rear portion  12 , respectively. A mini memory card receiving space  10  with a configuration substantially as the mini memory card  200  is provided between the front portion  111  and the metal cover  21 . Another receiving room is defined between the rear portion  12  and the resin cover  22  for retaining the conductive terminals module  3  and the conductive member  4 . 
   Now, detail description about all elements of the memory card adapter  100  will be made. To see  FIGS. 5 and 6  and in conjunction with  FIG. 3 , the insulating lower cover  1  defines a mating end  13  with a mating opening  131 , a pair of sidewalls  111  and bottom wall  112  to enclose the mini memory card receiving space  10 . A pair of depressed engaged portions  114  is defined at a bottom face  110  of the pair of sidewalls  111 . One of the sidewalls  111  provides a stop portion  113  protruded toward the mini memory card receiving space  10 . The rear portion  12  is provided with a pair of rectangular protrusions  121  protruded upward from the top face  120  thereof and connecting with the sidewalls  111 . A depressed portion  125  is defined at the bottom face  110  of insulating lower cover  1  and located at a free rear end  126 . A plurality of through openings  123  in a line is defined at the depressed portion  125  area. 
   The conductive terminals module  3  comprises an elongated resin beam  31  and a plurality of conductive terminals  32  received in the resin beam  31 . Each conductive terminal  32  has a contacting portion  321  and a tail portion  322  both extending outside the resin beam  31 . In this preferred embodiment, the conductive terminals  32  are secured in the elongated beam  31  via an insert-molded process. 
   The conductive member  4  defines a plurality of conductive wires  41  on a top face  40  thereof and a plurality of conductive pads  42  on a bottom face thereof. The conductive member  4  is positioned upon the line of through openings  123 , which leaves a receiving slot (not labeled) between the conductive member  4  and the pair of protrusions  121  in the front-to-back direction. The plurality of conductive pads  42  is aligned with the line of through openings  123 , respectively, and exposed to outsides as shown in  FIG. 2 . The elongated resin beam  31  is positioned into the receiving slot defined between the conductive member  4  and the pair of protrusions  121  as clearly shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . The tail portions  322  are supported one the top face  40  of the conductive member  4  and electrically connecting with the conductive wires  42 . The contacting portions  321  are supported on the top face  120  of the rear portion  12  and located between the pair of protrusions  121 . Besides, the insulating lower cover  1  further defines a positioning beam  124  at the rear free end  126  thereof to secure the conductive member  4  in a proper position. 
   The resin cover  22  is configured as a mating end of a simulated mini SD card. The resin cover  22  defines a front engaged end  221 , a rear engaged end  223 , a top face  220  and a bottom face  222 . The bottom face  222  is defined with a main depression  224  therein to accommodate the conductive member  4 , the conductive module  3  and the pair of protrusions  121 . In the main depression  224 , a pair of secondary protrusions  226  is defined on an inner surface of the resin cover  22 . The resin cover  22  engages with the rear portion  12  of the insulating lower cover  1  in a manner that the rear engaged end  223  abuts against a front face of the positioning beam  124 , the front engaged end  221  abuts against a rear face the pair of sidewalls  111  and the pair of secondary protrusions  226  is aligned and engages with the pair of rectangular protrusions  121  of the insulating lower cover  1 . In this embodiment, the resin cover  22  can be appropriately jointed with the insulating lower cover  1  by means of ultrasonic welding, thermal bonding, adhesive joining, or caulking. 
   In the present embodiment, the metal cover  21  defines a top wall  211  with an opening  214  formed at a front end  210  thereof, a pair of bottom walls  213  opposite to the top wall  211  and a pair of sidewalls  212  connecting with the top walls  211  and the bottom walls  213 . The pair of bottom walls  213  extends from the pair of sidewalls  212  and toward each other. In assembly, the metal cover  21  is assembled to the insulating lower cover  1  in the front-to-back direction with the pair of sidewalls  212  engaged with the depressed engaged portions  114  of the insulating lower cover  1 . A rear end  218  of the metal cover  21  confront to the front engaged end  221  of the resin cover  22  and an upper face of the top wall  211  is coplanar with the top face  220  of the resin cover  22 . As a result, the upper cover  2  including the resin cover  22  and the metal cover  21  is consistent from front to rear. 
   In use, the mini memory card  200  is inserted into the mini memory card receiving space  10  formed between the metal cover  21  and the insulating lower cover  21  through the mating opening  131 . In this embodiment, the mating opening  131  specifically formed between the insulating lower cover  1  and the metal cover  21  at the mating end  13  thereof. The mini memory card  200 , which is in a specification of micro SD card, includes a step portion  201  at a side thereof, a plurality of conductive pads  204  formed on a bottom face  203  at a rear end thereof and a projecting portion  205  projecting upwardly from a top face  202  thereof and located at a front end thereof. When the mini memory card  200  inserted into the mini memory card receiving space  10  at its proper position, the step portion  201  is obstructed against by the stop portion  113  of the insulating lower cover  1  and the projecting portion  205  may be obstructed against by the front end  210  of the metal cover  21  to prevent excessive insertion of the mini memory card  200 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 4 . The conductive pads  204  of the mini memory card  200  electrically connect with the contacting portions  321  of the conductive terminals  32 . As a result, the mini memory card  200  (micro SD card in this embodiment) is converted to a regular sized memory card (mini SD card in this embodiment). To read/write data on the mini memory card  200 , a customer only need a memory card adapter, such as the memory card adapter  100  in the present embodiment, to accommodating the mini memory card  200  therein and electrically and mechanically connecting with an electronic device through a regular sized receiving slot, such as a mini SD card receiving slot. Thus, the mini memory card  200  can be used as a regular sized memory card. 
   Additional, as shown in  FIG. 1 , after the mini memory card  200  inserted into the memory card adapter  100 , the projecting portion  205  of the mini memory card  200  is outside the memory card adapter  100  through the mating opening  131  and the opening  214  of the metal cover. With this arrangement, the mini memory card  200  can be drawn from the memory card adapter  100  conveniently. 
   With reference to  FIGS. 7-11 , a memory card adapter with respect to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown. To facilitate reading the description and viewing the drawing, same elements of the memory card adapter according to different embodiment of the invention are designated with same numerals. So the memory card adapter according to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention is also designated with the numeral  100 , as shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 . Most of the elements with respect to the present embodiment are similar to those in the first embodiment except the details described below. This memory card adapter  100  comprises an insulating lower cover  1  extending in a front-to-back direction, an upper cover  2  engaged with the insulating lower cover  1 , a conductive terminals module  3  and a conductive member  4  mounted on a top face  120  of the insulating lower cover  1 . The insulating lower cover  1  is made of a resin material and comprises a front portion  11  and a rear portion  12 . The upper cover  2  comprises a metal shell  21  and a resin cover  22  engaged with the front portion  11  and the rear portion  12 , respectively. A mini memory card receiving space  10  with a configuration substantially as the mini card  200  is provided between the front portion  11  and the metal cover  21 . Another receiving room is defined between the rear portion  12  and the resin cover  22  for retaining the conductive terminals module  3  and the conductive member  4 . 
   As shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the insulating lower cover  1  defines a mating end  13  with a mating opening  131 , a pair of sidewalls  111  and a bottom wall  112  to enclose the mini memory card receiving space  10 . One of the sidewalls  111  provides a stop portion  113  protruded toward the mini memory card receiving space  10 . The rear portion  12  is provided with a pair of rectangular protrusions  121  and elongated tabs  128  protruded upward from the top face  120  thereof, wherein the rectangular protrusions  121  connecting with the sidewalls  111 . A depressed portion  125  is defined at the bottom face  110  of insulating lower cover  1  and located at a free rear end  126 . A plurality of through openings  123  in a line is defined at the depressed portion  125  area. A line of slots  115  is defined through the bottom wall  112  in a position before the line of through openings  123 . Between the line of slots  115  and the line of through openings  123 , a pair of posts  127  extend from the bottom wall  112  upwardly. The sidewalls  111  have a thickness more than that of the rear portion  12  of the insulating lower cover  1 , so that a step portion  116  is formed at a rear end of the sidewalls  111 . On each outer side surface  117  of the sidewalls  111 , two notches  118  are formed thereon. The two notches  118  both penetrate into the sidewalls  111  from the outer side surface  117 , and one is located at position near the mating end  13 , another is located at position near the step portion  116 . A pair of pivot shafts  119  is provided in the notches  18  formed at the rear end of the sidewalls  111 . Besides, the insulating lower cover  1  further defines a positioning beam  124  at the rear free end  126  thereof to secure the conductive member  4  in a proper position. 
   The conductive terminals module  3  with respect to the present embodiment is slightly different from the one in the first embodiment, which comprises an elongated resin beam  31  and a plurality of conductive terminals  32  received in the resin beam  31 . The resin beam  31  is formed with a pair of through holes  312  at two ends thereof. The pair of through holes  312  engages with the pair of posts  127  of the insulating lower cover  1 . Each conductive terminal  32  has a contacting portion  321  and a tail portion  322  both extending outside the resin beam  31 . The contacting portions  321  are in a manner of tab and are aligned with the line of slots  115 , respectively. In the present preferred embodiment, the conductive terminals  32  are secured in the elongated beam  31  via an insert-molded process, too. 
   The conductive member  4  and assembly of which with the insulating lower cover  1  of the present embodiment is same to that in the first embodiment of the invention, so the description thereon is omitted here. The elongated resin beam  31  of the conductive terminals module  3  is positioned into a receiving slot defined between the conductive member  4  and the pair of protrusions  121  same to what is described in the first embodiment. The pair of posts  127  mate with the pair of through holes  312  of the resin beam  31 . The tail portions  322  are supported one the top face  40  of the conductive member  4  and electrically connecting with the conductive wires  42 . The contacting portions  321  are supported on the top face  120  located between the pair of protrusions  121 . In the present embodiment, the line of slots  115  defined in bottom wall  112  of the insulating lower cover  1  are aligned with the contacting portions  321  to provide allowance for downward movement of the contacting portions  321 . 
   The resin cover  22  is configured as a mating end of a simulated mini SD card. The resin cover  22  defines a front engaged end  221 , a rear engaged end  223 , a top face  220  and a bottom face  222 . The bottom face  222  is defined with a main depression  224  therein and leaves a pair of sidewalls  227  located at two side of the main depression  224 . The main depression  224  is to accommodate the conductive member  4 , the conductive module  3  and the pair of protrusions  121 . In the main depression  224 , a pair of secondary protrusions  226  is defined on an inner surface of the resin cover  22 . The sidewalls are defined with a plurality of notches  228  to mate with the elongated tabs  128  of the insulating lower cover  1 . The resin cover  22  firmly engages with the rear portion  12  of the insulating lower cover  1  in a manner that the notches  228  mate with the elongated tabs  128  of the insulating lower cover  1 , the rear engaged end  223  abuts against a front face of the positioning beam  124 , the front engaged end  221  abuts against the step portion  116  of the insulating lower cover  1 , and the pair of secondary protrusions  226  is aligned and engages with the pair of rectangular protrusions  121  of the insulating lower cover  1 . In the present embodiment, the resin cover  22  is appropriately jointed with the insulating lower cover  1  by means of a mechanical engagement as mentioned above. 
   The metal cover  21  in the second embodiment is different from the one in the first embodiment. Specifically, the metal cover  21  in the present embodiment defines a top wall  211  with an opening  214  formed at a front end  210  thereof and a pair of sidewalls  212  connecting with the top walls  211 , as shown in  FIG. 10  and in conjunction with  FIGS. 8 and 9 . A pair of tabs  215  extends from a rear end  218  of the sidewalls  212  inwardly and rearwardly. The pair of tabs  215  each is formed with a through hole  216  therein. The pair of through holes  216  defines a pivot axis M. The sidewalls  212  each is provided with a retaining portion, such as a dimple  219 , protruded inwardly near the mating end  210  thereof. The top wall  211  is provided with a locking portion  217  protruded inwardly. In assembly, the pair of tabs  215  is received in the notches  118  near the rear portion  12  of the insulating lower cover and the through holes  216  of the tabs  215  mate with the pivot shafts  119  in the corresponding notches  118 . Thus, the metal cover  21  is pivotally assembled to the insulating lower cover  1 . But, there is no engagement between the metal cover  21  and the resin cover  22  in the present embodiment. 
   In use, the mini memory card  200  is inserted into the mini memory card receiving space  10  formed between the metal cover  21  and the insulating lower cover  21  through the mating opening  131 , in a mating direction. The mini memory card  200 , which is in a standard specification of micro SD card same to what is described in the first embodiment above. A notch portion at a lengthwise side thereof is designated with numeral  206 . When there is a need to accommodate the mini memory card  200  in the card adapter  100 , the metal cover  21  first pivoted around the pivot shafts  119  to an opening position where the metal cover  21  is inclined with respect to the insulating lower cover to allow the mini memory card  200  inserted into the mini memory card receiving space  10 . The stop portion  113  of the sidewall  111  of the insulating lower cover  1  obstructs against the step portion  201  of the mini memory card  200  to prevent excessive insertion of the mini memory card  200 . The conductive pads  204  of the mini memory card  200  electrically connect with the contacting portions  321  of the conductive terminals  32 . At last, the metal cover  21  is pivoted to a closed position where the locking portion  217  latches with the notch portion  216  of the mini memory card  200  to lock the mini memory card  200  in its proper position and the dimples  219  engages with the notches  118  near the mating end  131  to secure the metal cover  21  in its closed position. Furthermore, at the closed position, an upper face of the top wall  211  of the metal cover  21  is coplanar with the top face  220  of the resin cover  22 . As a result, the upper cover  2  including the resin cover  22  and the metal cover  21  is substantially consistent from front to rear. As a result, the mini memory card  200  (micro SD card in this embodiment) is converted to a regular sized memory card (mini SD card in this embodiment). To read/write data on the mini memory card  200 , a customer only need a memory card adapter, such as the memory card adapter  100  in the present embodiment, to accommodating the mini memory card  200  therein and electrically and mechanically connecting with an electronic device through a regular sized receiving slot, such as a mini SD card receiving slot. Thus, the mini memory card  200  can be used as a regular sized memory card. 
   Additional, as shown in  FIG. 7 , after the mini memory card  200  inserted into the memory card adapter  100 , the projecting portion  205  of the mini memory card  200  is outside the memory card adapter  100  through the mating opening  131  and the opening  214  of the metal cover. To draw the mini memory card  200  from the memory card adapter  100 , the metal cover and the mini memory card first move upwardly slightly to disengage the dimples  219  from the notches  118 ; and then the metal cover  21  is pivoted from the closed position to the opening position to leave the mini memory card  200  being capable of being drawn out. The mini memory card  200  is drawn from the memory card adapter  100  conveniently via drawing the projecting portion  205 . Besides, in the present embodiment, the pivot axis is perpendicular to the mating direction of the mini memory card  200 . 
   With reference to  FIGS. 11-12 , a metal cover and an insulating lower cover with respect to a third preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown. To facilitate reading the description and viewing the drawing, same elements according to different embodiment of the invention are designated with same numerals. The third embodiment is substantially similar to the second embodiment. The conductive member  4 , the conductive terminals module  3  and the mini memory card  200  in this two embodiment are in same arrangement. The insulating lower cover  1  and the metal cover  211  in this two embodiment are very similar to each other, except the details described below. The metal cover  21  according to the third embodiment further comprises a front wall  23  perpendicular to and connecting with the top wall  211  and the pair of sidewalls  212 . The top wall  211  is formed with an opening  214  at the front end  210  thereof and a protrusion  24  protruded inwardly. The bottom wall  112  of the insulating lower cover  1  is provided with an operation opening  14  in communication with the mini memory card receiving space  10 . In the case of the mini memory card  200  is accommodated in the memory card adapter  100 , the front wall  23  encloses the mini memory card receiving space  10  and the protrusion  24  abuts against an top face of the mini memory card  200  to reduce a potential risk of unacceptable drawing out of the mini memory card  200 . The projecting portion  205  of the mini memory card  200  is outside the memory card adapter  100  through the opening  214  of the metal cover  21 . 
   In the case of ejecting the mini memory card  200  from the memory card adapter  100  with respect to the third embodiment, the min memory card  200  and the metal cover  21  is pushed upwardly by, for example, the user&#39;s fingerer inserted into the mini memory card receiving space  10  through the operation opening  14 . Thereby the engagements of the dimples  219  with the notches  118  are released and the metal cover  21  is pivoted from its closed position toward its opening position. When the metal cover  21  at its opening position, the mini memory card  200  can be drawn out from the memory card adapter  100  conveniently. In this present embodiment, the pivot axis M is perpendicular to the mating direction of the mini memory card  200 , too. 
   With reference to  FIGS. 13 and 14 , a metal cover and an insulating lower cover with respect to a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown. The fourth embodiment is substantially similar to the second embodiment except the different pivot manner thereof. In the fourth embodiment, a pivot axis M defined by the metal cover  21  is parallel to the mating direction of the mini memory card  200 . The metal cover  21  according to the fourth embodiment is provides with a pair of pivotal engagement portion  216  at a sidewall  212  and a pair of dimples  219  at another sidewall  212  opposite to the pivotal engagement portion  216 . The insulating lower cover  1  is provided with a pair of pivot shaft  119  at an outer side surface  117  of a sidewall  111  and two notches  118  at an outer side surface  117  of another sidewall  111 . The metal cover  21  is pivotally assembled to the insulating lower cover  1  via the pivotal engagement portion  216  pivotal around the pivot shaft  119 . In the case of the metal cover  21  is at its closed position, the dimples  219  of the metal cover engage with the notches  118  of the insulating lower cover  1 . In addition, the top wall  211  of metal cover  21  further forms with a protrusion  24  protruded inwardly and the bottom wall  112  of the insulating lower cover  1  is provided with an operation opening  14  in communication with the mini memory card receiving space  101 , same to the according elements in the third embodiment. So detailed description referring to the protrusion  24  and the operation opening  14  is omitted here. In use, the way to operation the mini memory card  200  and the metal cover  21  is same to what are disclosed in the third embodiment above, so detail description on how to use the memory card adapter in the fourth embodiment is omitted here, too. 
   It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.