Patent Publication Number: US-2016241287-A1

Title: Sim card applicator and related method of operation

Description:
This invention relates to the subject matter contained in co-pending U.S. application No. 61/760,905, which is incorporated herein by reference. In broad terms, U.S. Ser. No. 61/760,905 discloses a system and method for authenticating a mobile device on an alternate communications network that has been selected to provide a user of the mobile device with better calling and/or data rates. In one embodiment, a SIM card overlay in the form of a PCB device is used to achieve the required authentication within the various mobile networks. 
     As described in U.S. Ser. No. 61/760,905, the overlay comprises:
         1) A communications processor;   2) A PCB (flexible or otherwise) upon which the communications processor is mounted and wires are routed; and   3) Pads that allow for the communications processor to send/receive information to/from the mobile device&#39;s SIM card.       

    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a SIM card applicator and to a related method of operating this applicator. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The overlay needs to be accurately attached to the device&#39;s SIM card (and in particular to the pads of the SIM card), with this typically needing to be done by the end user. It is thus an aim of the present invention to provide a SIM card applicator, and related method, to easily and accurately achieve this. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a SIM card applicator to enable a communications processing overlay to be attached to a SIM card, the SIM card comprising a plurality of SIM card pads, the overlay comprising a communications processing portion and overlay pads that allow for the communications processing portion to send/receive information to/from the SIM card, once attached, the applicator comprising:
         a holder to releasably hold the overlay in place; and   a SIM receiving body to receive the SIM card, the holder and the SIM receiving body being arranged to correctly align and secure the communications processing portion of the overlay and the SIM card pads of the SIM card,
 
wherein the overlay can be removed or separated from the holder, thereby resulting in the communications processing portion of the overlay being correctly aligned and secured to the SIM card pads, so as to define a modified SIM card for use in a mobile device.
       

     In an embodiment, the SIM receiving body comprises a credit card style holder with a cutout for accommodating the SIM card, with the cutout being aligned with the overlay. Advantageously, the cutout is SIM card-sized. 
     In an embodiment, the applicator may include an adaptor that can be placed within the cutout, the adaptor being arranged to accommodate a variety of different sizes of SIM cards. 
     In an embodiment, the holder comprises an adhesive protective film to which the overlay is releasably secured, the film also being releasably securable to a first side of the SIM receiving body. 
     In an embodiment, the applicator comprises a second adhesive protective film that is releasably securable to a second side of the SIM receiving body, so as to cover the overlay on the other side of the SIM receiving body. The overlay has adhesive applied to it, with the purpose of the second adhesive protective film being to shield the overlay from accidental damage and to prevent the adhesive on the overlay from drying out. 
     In an embodiment, the overlay comprises a carrier portion that surrounds the communications processing portion, with the applicator being arranged to remove or separate the communications processing portion of the overlay from the surrounding carrier portion, thereby resulting in the communications processing portion of the overlay being correctly aligned and secured to the SIM card pads, so as to define a modified SIM card for use in a mobile device. 
     In an embodiment, the applicator includes a cutter element that can be operated to cut out the communications processing portion of the overlay from the surrounding carrier portion. 
     In one version, the applicator comprises a base plate to define the SIM receiving body, the base plate defining an aperture to accommodate the SIM card. 
     In this first version, the applicator comprises a frame that is pivotally movable relative to the base plate, the frame defining a window for accommodating the overlay, the window and the aperture in the base plate being in alignment when the base plate and the frame are pivotally moved towards each other, so as to correctly align the communications processing portion of the overlay with the SIM card pads. 
     In an embodiment of this first version, the frame comprises securing means, such as an adhesive film, for securing, and correctly positioning, the overlay to the frame, and for securing the overlay to the SIM card once the base plate and the frame have been pivotally moved towards each other and pressed together. 
     In an embodiment of this first version, the cutter element includes a cutting formation that is shaped to correspond to the interface between the communications processing portion and the surrounding carrier portion, to facilitate the separation of the communications processing portion from the surrounding carrier portion. 
     In an embodiment, the interface between the communications processing portion and the surrounding carrier portion is weakened (perforated, in some cases) to further facilitate the separation of the communications processing portion from the surrounding carrier portion. 
     In an embodiment, the surrounding carrier portion may comprise a tape to which the communications processing portion is releasably secured. 
     In an embodiment of this first version, the cutter element is pivotally movable relative to the frame and the base plate; alternatively, the cutter element is a separate component, not attached to the frame and base plate. 
     In an alternate version, a frame arrangement is provided that integrally defines both the holder and the SIM receiving body, the frame arrangement defining a central aperture. 
     In this alternate version, the applicator comprises a jig body having a slot to receive the frame arrangement, the jig body defining a central aperture to register with the central aperture of the frame arrangement when the frame arrangement is inserted into the jig body. 
     In an embodiment, the overlay is fitted with a removable covering film, which upon removal, ensures the securing, and correct alignment, of the SIM card to the overlay. 
     In an embodiment, the frame arrangement comprises a pair of plastic frame members, each defining the central aperture, the frame members having securing members to secure the frame members together and to sandwich the overlay and its associated removable covering film between the frame members. 
     In an embodiment, the frame arrangement and the jig body include complementary guiding formations to facilitate the insertion of the frame arrangement into the slot of the jig body. 
     In an embodiment, the cutter element includes a cutting formation that is shaped to correspond to a perforated interface between the communications processing portion and the surrounding carrier portion, to facilitate the separation of the communications processing portion from the surrounding carrier portion. 
     The cutter element in this version is thus a separate component, which can be manually moved so that the cutting formation is punched through the aligned apertures in the frame arrangement and the jig body. 
     According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a method of applying a communications processing overlay to a SIM card, the SIM card comprising a plurality of SIM card pads and the overlay comprising a communications processing portion and overlay pads, the method comprising:
         providing a holder to which the overlay is releasably secured;   aligning the overlay within a cutout defined in a SIM receiving body, the overlay having an adhesive on an exposed face;   locating the SIM card within the cutout;   firmly bonding the SIM card to the communications processing portion of the overlay; and   removing the bonded SIM card and overlay from the holder, thereby resulting in the communications processing portion of the overlay being correctly aligned and secured to the SIM card pads, so as to define a modified SIM card for use in a mobile device.       

     In an embodiment, the method comprises an initial step of removing a second protective film fitted to the other side of the SIM receiving body, so as to expose the adhesive, exposed face of the overlay. 
     According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a method of applying a communications processing overlay to a SIM card, the SIM card comprising a plurality of SIM card pads and the overlay comprising a communications processing portion and a surrounding carrier portion, the method comprising:
         aligning and securing the communications processing portion of the overlay and the SIM card pads of the SIM card; and   removing the communications processing portion of the overlay from the surrounding carrier portion, thereby resulting in the communications processing portion of the overlay being correctly aligned and secured to the SIM card pads, so as to define a modified SIM card for use in a mobile device.       

     According to a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided a frame arrangement for a SIM card applicator to enable a communications processing overlay to be attached to a SIM card, the overlay comprising a communications processing portion and a surrounding carrier portion, the frame arrangement comprising a frame body defining a central aperture, the overlay being positioned within the frame body, with the SIM card being housed within the central aperture of the frame body, the frame arrangement thus accommodating and correctly aligning the overlay and the SIM card. 
     In an embodiment, the frame body comprises:
         a pair of plastic frame members, each defining the central aperture, the overlay being positioned between the pair of plastic frame members; and   securing members to secure the frame members together, so as to sandwich the overlay between the frame members, with the SIM card being housed within the central apertures of one of the frame members.       

     In an embodiment, the overlay is fitted with a removable covering film, which upon removal, ensures the securing, and correct alignment, of the SIM card to the overlay within the frame arrangement. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows an exploded, perspective view of a SIM card applicator, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIGS. 2, 3 and 4  show first, second and third perspective views of a SIM card applicator, respectively, according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 5 and 6  show first and second perspective views of a SIM card applicator according to a second embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  shows an exploded perspective view of a SIM card applicator, according to a third embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  shows an exploded perspective view of a frame arrangement for use in the SIM card applicator shown in  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIGS. 9 and 10  show first and second perspective views of the frame arrangement shown in  FIG. 8 , respectively, in an assembled form, ready to securely receive a SIM card; and 
         FIG. 11  shows an exploded perspective view of the SIM card applicator in  FIG. 7 , in use. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring first to  FIG. 1 , a SIM card applicator  10  is provided to enable a communications processing overlay  12  to be attached to a SIM card  14 . The SIM card  14  comprises a plurality of SIM card pads (not shown, as they are on the other side of the SIM card). The overlay  12  comprises a communications processing portion  16  and overlay pads  18  that allow for the communications processing portion  16  to send/receive information to/from the SIM card  14 , once attached. 
     The applicator  10  comprises a holder  20  to releasably hold the overlay  12  in place. In an embodiment, the holder  20  comprises an adhesive, clear protective film  22  to which the overlay  12  is releasably secured. In particular, the strength of the adhesive between the overlay  12  and the film  22  is such that the overlay  12  may be separated relatively easily from the film  22 , as will be explained in more detail further below. 
     The applicator  10  further comprises a SIM receiving body  24  to receive and accommodate the SIM card  14 , the holder  20  and the SIM receiving body  24  being arranged to correctly align and secure the communications processing portion of the overlay  12  (and in particular the overlay pads  18  of the overlay  12 ) and the SIM card pads of the SIM card  14 . The film  22  is also releasably securable to a first side  25  of the SIM receiving body  24 , so as to, initially at least, define an integral body. 
     In broad terms, therefore, the overlay  12  can be removed or separated from the holder  20 , thereby resulting in the communications processing portion of the overlay  12  (and in particular the overlay pads  18  of the overlay  12 ) being correctly aligned and secured to the SIM card pads, so as to define a modified SIM card for use in a mobile device. 
     In an embodiment, the SIM receiving body  24  comprises a credit card style holder  26  with a SIM card-sized cutout  28  for accommodating the SIM card  14 , with the cutout  28  being aligned with the overlay  12 . 
     The applicator may include an adaptor or clip  30  that can be placed within the cutout  28 , the adaptor  30  being arranged to accommodate a variety of different (i.e. smaller) sizes of SIM cards. Irrespective of the SIM card size, the pads on the SIM card  14  are uniform, with the pads  18  on the overlay  12  being arranged accordingly. The adaptor (or adaptors) may thus simply take the form of a frame  32  that fits snugly within the cutout  28 , with the frame defining a smaller internal aperture  33  for receiving the (smaller) SIM card, if required/necessary. 
     In an embodiment, the applicator  10  comprises a second adhesive protective film  34  that is releasably securable to a second side  36  of the SIM receiving body  24 , so as to cover the overlay  12  on the other side of the SIM receiving body  24 . The overlay  12  has adhesive applied to it, with the purpose of the second adhesive protective film  34  being to shield the overlay  12  from accidental damage and to prevent the adhesive on the overlay  12  from drying out. 
     Thus, in use, a user first removes the second adhesive protective film  34  from the second side  36  of the SIM receiving body  24 . This exposes the cutout  28 , behind which the overlay  12  would be positioned and aligned with the cutout  28 . The user then places their SIM card  14  within the cutout  28 . If required i.e. if the SIM card  14  is smaller than the cutout, the user may use the adaptor  30  to securely fit the SIM card  14  within the cutout  28 . The user then firmly presses the SIM card  14  against the overlay  12 , with the adhesive on the overlay  12  thus ensuring that the SIM card  14  is firmly bonded to the overlay  12 . The protective film  22  on the first side  25  of the SIM receiving body  24  is then removed from the SIM receiving body  24 , with the bonded overlay-SIM card then being removed from the protective film  22 , for subsequent use in the user&#39;s mobile device. 
     Turning now to  FIGS. 2 to 4, and 5 and 6 , two different embodiments of a SIM card applicator  110 ,  110 ′ are shown. However, there are substantial similarities between these two embodiments, and thus reference numerals in  FIGS. 5 and 6  for similar components shown in  FIGS. 2 to 4 , are shown appended with a ′. 
     The SIM card applicator  110 ,  110 ′ enables a communications processing overlay  112  to be attached to a SIM card  114 ,  114 ′, the SIM card  114 ,  114 ′ comprising a plurality of SIM card pads  116 ,  116 ′. 
     In an embodiment, the overlay  112  comprises a communications processing portion  118  and a surrounding carrier portion  120 . 
     The applicator  110 ,  110 ′ comprises a holder  122 ,  122 ′ to hold the overlay  112  in place, and a SIM receiving body  124 ,  124 ′ to receive the SIM card  114 ,  114 ′. The holder  122 ,  122 ′ and the SIM receiving body  124 ,  124 ′ are arranged to correctly align and secure the communications processing portion  118  of the overlay  112  and the SIM card pads  116 ,  116 ′ of the SIM card  114 ,  114 ′. 
     The applicator  110 ,  110 ′ further comprises a cutter element  126 ,  126 ′ that can be operated to cut out the communications processing portion  118  of the overlay  112  from the surrounding carrier portion  120 . In broad terms, this results in the communications processing portion  118  of the overlay  112  being correctly aligned and secured to the SIM card pads  116 ,  116 ′, so as to define a modified SIM card for use in a mobile device. 
     In one version, the applicator  110 ,  110 ′ comprises a base plate  128 ,  128 ′ to define the SIM receiving body  124 ,  124 ′, the base plate  128 ,  128 ′ defining a SIM-shaped aperture  130 ,  130 ′ to accommodate the SIM card  114 ,  114 ′. 
     In this first version, the applicator  110 ,  110 ′ comprises a frame  132 ,  132 ′ that is pivotally movable relative to the base plate  128 ,  128 ′, via pin  133 . The frame  132 ,  132 ′ defines a window  134 ,  134 ′ for accommodating the overlay  112 , the window  134 ,  134 ′ and the aperture  130 ,  130 ′ in the base plate  128 ,  128 ′ being in alignment when the base plate  128 ,  128 ′ and the frame  132 ,  132 ′ are pivotally moved towards each other, so as to correctly align the communications processing portion  118  of the overlay  112  with the SIM card pads  116 ,  116 ′. 
     In an embodiment of this first version, the frame  132 ,  132 ′ comprises securing means, such as an adhesive film  136  (not shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , but it would be similar), for securing and correctly positioning, the overlay  112  to the frame  132 ,  132 ′, and for securing the overlay  112  to the SIM card  114 ,  114 ′ once the base plate  128 ,  128 ′ and the frame  132 ,  132 ′ have been pivotally moved towards each other and manually pressed together. 
     In an embodiment of this first version, the cutter element  126 ,  126 ′ includes a cutting formation  138 ,  138 ′ that is shaped to correspond to the interface  121  between the communications processing portion  118  and the surrounding carrier portion  120 , to facilitate the separation of the communications processing portion  118  from the surrounding carrier portion  120 . 
     Preferably, the interface  121  between the communications processing portion  118  and the surrounding carrier portion  120  is perforated, to further facilitate the separation of the communications processing portion  118  from the surrounding carrier portion  120 . 
     In an embodiment of this first version, the cutter element  126 ,  126 ′ is pivotally movable, also via pin  133 , relative to the frame  132 ,  132 ′ and the base plate  128 ,  128 ′. Alternatively, the cutter element  126 ,  126 ′ is a separate component, not attached to either the frame  132 ,  132 ′ or the base plate  128 ,  128 ′. 
     Turning now to  FIGS. 7 to 11 , a SIM card applicator  150  includes a frame arrangement  152  that integrally defines both the holder and the SIM receiving body, the frame arrangement  152  defining a central aperture  154 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 8 to 10  in particular, the overlay  156  is fitted with a removable covering film  158  (having a protruding tab  160 ), which upon removal, ensures the securing, and correct alignment, of the SIM card  162  to the overlay  156 , the SIM card having pads  164 . 
     In an embodiment, the frame arrangement  152  comprises a pair of plastic frame members  166 ,  168 , each defining central apertures  170 ,  172 , the frame members  166 ,  168  having securing members to secure the frame members  166 ,  168  together and to sandwich the overlay  156  and its associated removable covering film  158  between the frame members  166 ,  168 . 
     In this alternate version, the applicator  150  comprises a jig body  176  having a slot  178  to receive the frame arrangement  152 , the jig body  176  defining a central aperture  180  to register with the central aperture  170 ,  172  of the frame arrangement  152  when the frame arrangement  152  is inserted into the jig body  176 . 
     Advantageously, the frame arrangement  152  and the jig body  176  include complementary guiding formations  182 ,  184  to facilitate the insertion of the frame arrangement  152  into the slot  178  of the jig body  176 . 
     In an embodiment, the cutter element  186  includes a cutting formation  188  that is shaped to correspond to a perforated interface  190  between the communications processing portion  192  and the surrounding carrier portion  194 , to facilitate the separation of the communications processing portion  192  from the surrounding carrier portion  194 . 
     The cutter element  186  in this version is thus a separate component, which can be manually moved so that the cutting formation  188  is punched through the aligned apertures in the frame arrangement  152  and the jig body  176 . 
     The present invention thus provides an easy to use SIM card applicator to correctly secure the overlay to the user&#39;s SIM card.