Patent Publication Number: US-8535099-B1

Title: Card connector

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention generally relates to a card connector, and more particularly to a card connector having a shielding shell. 
     2. The Related Art 
     A conventional card connector adapted for receiving an electrical card therein and electrically connecting with a circuit board includes an insulating housing, a plurality of terminals, an ejection mechanism assembled to the insulating housing, and a shielding shell. The insulating housing has a top wall, two side walls protruding downward from two opposite sides of the top wall, and a rear wall connecting with the two side walls and the top wall. Two outer surfaces of the two side walls respectively define a plurality of buckling blocks. The shielding shell has a top plate, and two lateral plates protruding downward from two opposite sides of the top plate. The two lateral plates are die-cut outward to form two soldering plates, and respectively define a plurality of fastening holes matched with the buckling blocks of the insulating housing. When the card connector is assembled, the terminals are disposed in the insulating housing with soldering portions thereof projecting out of the insulating housing to be soldered with the circuit board. The shielding shell encloses the insulating housing together with the terminals and the ejection mechanism with the buckling blocks being buckled in the fastening holes and the soldering plates being soldered with the circuit board. 
     However, according to the aforesaid description, it can be known that the shielding shell is fastened to the insulating housing only by virtue of buckling the buckling blocks of the insulating housing in the fastening holes of the shielding shell. Thereby, when the electrical card is inserted into the card connector improperly or the electrical card is shaken, the shielding shell is apt to fall off from the insulating housing. As a result, the card connector has an unstable structure and a useful life of the card connector is shortened. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a card connector adapted for receiving an electrical card therein includes an insulating housing, a plurality of terminals, a lower shielding shell and an upper shielding shell. The insulating housing has a top wall, two side walls protruding downward from two opposite sides of the top wall, and a rear wall connecting with rear ends of the side walls and the top wall. An inserting space is surrounded among the top wall, the two side walls and the rear wall for receiving the electrical card therein. Two outer surfaces of the two side walls oppositely protrude outward to form two flanks of which each defines a receiving groove penetrating through a bottom thereof, and a perforation penetrating through a top thereof and communicating with the receiving groove. The terminals are disposed to the insulating housing. The lower shielding shell covered under the insulating housing has a bottom plate, and two lateral plates protruding upward from two opposite sides of the bottom plate. A top of each lateral plate is bent sideward to form a second buckling piece located in the receiving groove of the insulating housing. The upper shielding shell covered on the insulating housing has a top plate of which each side edge protrudes downward to form an L-shaped first buckling piece passing through the corresponding perforation of the insulating housing to buckle the second buckling piece of the lower shielding shell. 
     As described above, the two outer surfaces of the two side walls of the insulating housing oppositely protrude outward to form the two flanks of which each defines the receiving groove penetrating through the bottom thereof, and the perforation penetrating through the top thereof and communicating with the receiving groove, the lower shielding shell is covered under the insulating housing with the second buckling pieces of the lower shielding shell being located in the receiving grooves of the insulating housing, and the upper shielding shell is covered on the insulating housing with the first buckling pieces of the upper shielding shell passing through the corresponding perforations of the insulating housing to buckle the second buckling pieces of the lower shielding shell so as to integrate the upper shielding shell together with the lower shielding shell and the insulating housing tightly for effectively preventing the upper shielding shell and the lower shielding shell falling off from the insulating housing when the electrical card is inserted into the card connector improperly or the electrical card is shaken. As a result, the card connector has a stable structure and a useful life of the card connector is extended. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art by reading the following description, with reference to the attached drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a card connector in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the card connector of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is another exploded view of the card connector of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a partially sectional view of the card connector of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the card connector of  FIG. 1 , wherein the card connector electrically connects with a circuit board. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference to  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 5 , a card connector  100  in accordance with the present invention is shown. The card connector  100  adapted for receiving an electrical card (not shown) therein and electrically connecting with a circuit board  60  includes an insulating housing  10 , a plurality of terminals (not labeled), a lower shielding shell  30  and an upper shielding shell  40 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 , the insulating housing  10  has a top wall  11  of a substantial rectangular shape, two side walls  12  protruding downward from two opposite sides of the top wall  11 , and a rear wall  13  connecting with rear ends of the side walls  12  and the top wall  11 . An inserting space  14  is surrounded among the top wall  11 , the two side walls  12  and the rear wall  13  for receiving the electrical card therein. A rear of the top wall  11  defines a window  101  vertically penetrating therethrough. A bottom of one side wall  12  defines an inverted-U shaped first switch terminal groove  121  with one end thereof opened freely to communicate with the inserting space  14 , and a second switch terminal groove  122  located in front of the first switch terminal groove  121 . An outer sidewall of the first switch terminal groove  121  defines a first gap  1211  communicating between the first switch terminal groove  121  and an outside of the insulating housing  10 . Two opposite sides of a bottom sidewall of the first switch terminal groove  121  define two first inserting holes (not shown). A rear end of the second switch terminal groove  122  is opened freely to communicate with the inserting space  14 . An outer sidewall of the second switch terminal groove  122  defines a second gap  1221  communicating between the second switch terminal groove  122  and the outside of the insulating housing  10 . Two opposite sides of a bottom sidewall of the second switch terminal groove  122  define two second inserting holes (not shown). A step-shaped opening  123  from a top view is defined between the first switch terminal groove  121  and the second switch terminal groove  122  of the insulating housing  10 , and communicates with the inserting space  14  of the insulating housing  10 . Outer surfaces of the rear wall  13  and the two side walls  12  of the insulating housing  10  define a plurality of restricting portions  124 . 
     Each outer surface of the side wall  12  of the insulating housing  10  further protrudes outward to form at least one propping block  15  with a fastening portion  152  lumped at a free end thereof. Two bottoms of the two propping blocks  15  respectively connecting with the two outer surfaces of the two side walls  12  protrude downward to form two locating pillars  151 . Two fronts of the two outer surfaces of the two side walls  12  oppositely protrude outward to form two flanks  17  of which each defines a receiving groove  171  penetrating through a bottom thereof, and a rectangular perforation  172  penetrating through a top thereof and communicating with the receiving groove  171 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 , the terminals include a plurality of signal terminals  21 , a first switch terminal  22  and a second switch terminal  23 . The first switch terminal  22  has a first fastening arm  221  of a lying-U shape. A front end of one side of the first fastening arm  221  is inclined towards the other side of the first fastening arm  221 , and then extends forward to form a first contact arm  222  of which a top protrudes upward to form a first blocking arm  224 . Two opposite sides of the first fastening arm  221  protrude upward to form two first inserting strips  225 . A top of a rear end of the other side of the first fastening arm  221  is connected with a substantial Z-shaped first soldering arm  223  from a front view. The second switch terminal  23  has an elongated second fastening arm  231 . A rear end of the second fastening arm  231  is curved rearward to form a second contact arm  232  of which a top protrudes upward to form a second blocking arm  234 . Two portions of the second fastening arm  231  protrude upward to form two second inserting strips  235 . A front end of a top of the second fastening arm  231  is connected with a substantial Z-shaped second soldering arm  233  from the front view. The second soldering arm  233  is located between the two second inserting strips  235 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 , the lower shielding shell  30  has a bottom plate  31 , two lateral plates  32  protruding upward from two opposite sides of the bottom plate  31 , and a rear plate  33  connecting with the two lateral plates  32  and the bottom plate  31 . A periphery of the lower shielding shell  30  defines a plurality of restricting holes  34 . Two front ends of two tops of the two lateral plates  32  are oppositely bent sideward to form two second buckling pieces  35 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 , the upper shielding shell  40  has a top plate  41 . Two fronts of two opposite side edges of the top plate  41  protrude downward and then forward to form two L-shaped first buckling pieces  44 . Each side edge of the top plate  41  is elongated sideward and then bent downward to form at least one first soldering plate  45 . Two portions of each side edge of the top plate  41  are bent downward to form two clamping plates  42 . One side of each clamping plate  42  is punched inward to form an elastic strip  421 . Each side edge of the top plate  41  is elongated sideward and then bent downward to form at least one locking plate  43  where a fastening hole  431  is opened. The first buckling piece  44 , the first soldering plate  45 , the clamping plate  42  and the locking plate  43  are defined in each side edge of the top plate  41  at intervals. A rear edge of the top plate  41  is bent downward and then rearward to form at least two second soldering plates  46 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 , in assembly, the terminals are disposed to the insulating housing  10 . Specifically, each of the signal terminals  21  is integrally molded in the insulating housing  10  with one end thereof projecting into the inserting space  14  of the insulating housing  10  through the window  101  of the insulating housing  10  and the other end thereof projecting out of the insulating housing  10  through the rear wall  13 . The second fastening arm  231  of the second switch terminal  23  is disposed in the second switch terminal groove  122  of the insulating housing  10  with the second inserting strips  235  being inserted into the second inserting holes. The second soldering arm  233  of the second switch terminal  23  projects out of the second switch terminal groove  122  of the insulating housing  10  through the second gap  1221 . The second contact arm  232  of the second switch terminal  23  projects into the inserting space  14  of the insulating housing  10  through the rear end of the second switch terminal groove  122  which communicates with the inserting space  14  with the second blocking arm  234  of the second switch terminal  23  abutting against an inner sidewall of a front step of the opening  123 . The first fastening arm  221  of the first switch terminal  22  is disposed in the first switch terminal groove  121  of the insulating housing  10  with the first inserting strips  225  being inserted into the first inserting holes. The first soldering arm  223  of the first switch terminal  22  projects out of the first switch terminal groove  121  through the first gap  1211 . The first contact arm  222  of the first switch terminal  22  is inclined towards the second contact arm  232  of the second switch terminal  23  and projects out of the first switch terminal groove  121  of the insulating housing  10  through the one end of the first switch terminal groove  121  which communicates with the inserting space  14  with the first blocking arm  224  abutting against an inner sidewall of a rear step of the opening  123 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , preferably, the card connector  100  further includes an ejection mechanism  50  for facilitating the electrical card being ejected out of the card connector  100 . The ejection mechanism  50  is mounted to one side of a bottom of the top wall  11  adjacent to the other side wall  12 . The ejection mechanism  50  includes a sliding block  51 , an elastic element  52 , a guiding element  53  and an auxiliary piece  54 . The sliding block  51  is disposed to a front of the one side of the bottom of the top wall  11  adjacent to the other side wall  12 . A rear of the one side of the bottom of the top wall  11  defines a heart-shaped sliding groove  16 . A blocking block (not labeled) is disposed in the sliding groove  16 . The guiding element  53  has a fastening portion (not shown) fastened to the sliding block  51  and a sliding portion (not labeled) slidably disposed in the sliding groove  16 . The elastic element  52  is disposed between the sliding block  51  and the rear wall  13 . The auxiliary piece  54  is disposed in the sliding block  51  with a portion thereof projecting into the inserting space  14  of the insulating housing  10 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-4 , the lower shielding shell  30  is covered under the insulating housing  10 . The lower shielding shell  30  is fastened to the insulating housing  10  firmly by virtue of restricting the restricting portions  124  in the restricting holes  34 . The second buckling pieces  35  of the lower shielding shell  30  are located in the receiving grooves  171  of the flanks  17  of the insulating housing  10 . The upper shielding shell  40  is covered on the insulating housing  10 . The upper shielding shell  40  is fastened to the insulating housing  10  firmly by virtue of making the clamping plates  42  attached to the two lateral plates  32  of the lower shielding shell  30  with the elastic strips  421  resisting against outer surfaces of the two lateral plates  32  of the lower shielding shell  30 , and making the locking plate  43  against the propping block  15  with the fastening portion  152  being fastened in fastening hole  431 . The first buckling pieces  44  of the upper shielding shell  40  pass through the corresponding perforations  172  of the flanks  17  of the insulating housing  10  to buckle the second buckling pieces  35  of the lower shielding shell  30  so as to integrate the upper shielding shell  40  together with the lower shielding shell  30  and the insulating housing  10  tightly for effectively preventing the upper shielding shell  40  and the lower shielding shell  30  falling off from the insulating housing  10  when the electrical card is inserted into the card connector  100  improperly or the electrical card is shaken. The first soldering plate  45  and the second soldering plate  46  of the upper shielding shell  40  are propped up by the two side walls  12  of the insulating housing  10 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-5 , in use, the card connector  100  is mounted to the circuit board  60  to electrically connect with the circuit board  60 . A middle of one end of the circuit board  60  is cut off to define an assembling groove (not shown). The circuit board  60  defines a plurality of inserting slots (not shown) located at two opposite sides of the assembling groove, and a plurality of soldering pads (not shown) located in rear of the assembling groove. The card connector  100  partially passes through the assembling groove of the circuit board  60 . The locating pillars  151  of the propping blocks  15  are mounted on the circuit board  60 . The ends of the signal terminals  21  projecting out of the insulating housing  10  through the rear wall  13  are soldered on the circuit board  60 , and the first soldering arm  223  of the first switch terminal  22  and the second soldering arm  233  of the second switch terminal  23  are soldered on the circuit board  60  to electrically connect the card connector  100  with the circuit board  60 . The first soldering plates  45  of the upper shielding shell  40  are inserted into the inserting slots of the circuit board  60  and soldered with the circuit board  60 , and the second soldering plates  46  of the upper shielding shell  40  are soldered with the soldering pads of the circuit board  60  so as to make the card connector  100  mounted to the circuit board  60  firmly. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-5  again, when the electrical card is inserted into the inserting space  14  of the insulating housing  10  of the card connector  100 , the electrical card pushes the sliding block  51  of the ejection mechanism  50  rearward to bring along the sliding portion of the guiding element  53  to slide in the sliding groove  16  until the sliding portion of the guiding element  53  is blocked by the blocking block of the ejection mechanism  50 . The elastic element  52  shows a compressing status. The portion of the auxiliary piece  54  projecting into the inserting space  14  resists against the electrical card to restrain the electrical card in the inserting space  14  of the insulating housing  10  of the card connector  100 . At this moment, the electrical card is fully inserted into the inserting space  14  of the card connector  100 , the second contact arm  232  of the second switch terminal  23  presses against the first contact arm  222  of the first switch terminal  22  to electrically connect the second contact arm  232  of the second switch terminal  23  with the first contact arm  222  of the first switch terminal  22 . The one ends of the signal terminals  21  electrically contact with the electrical card to realize an electrical connection between the electrical card and the card connector  100 . When the electrical card is ejected out of the inserting space  14  of the insulating housing  10  of the card connector  100 , push the electrical card rearward again to make the sliding portion of the guiding element  53  slide out of the sliding groove  16 . The elastic element  52  is rebounded to an original status to make the sliding block  51  push the electrical card out of the inserting space  14  of the card connector  100 . In the meanwhile, the second contact arm  232  of the second switch terminal  23  is apart from the first contact arm  222  of the first switch terminal  22 . 
     As described above, the two fronts of the two outer surfaces of the two side walls  12  of the insulating housing  10  oppositely protrude outward to form the two flanks  17  of which defines the receiving groove  171  penetrating through the bottom thereof, and the perforation  172  penetrating through the top thereof and communicating with the receiving groove  171 , the lower shielding shell  30  is covered under the insulating housing  10  with the second buckling pieces  35  of the lower shielding shell  30  being located in the receiving grooves  171  of the insulating housing  10 , and the upper shielding shell  40  is covered on the insulating housing  10  with the first buckling pieces  44  of the upper shielding shell  40  passing through the corresponding perforations  172  of the insulating housing  10  to buckle the second buckling pieces  35  of the lower shielding shell  30  so as to integrate the upper shielding shell  40  together with the lower shielding shell  30  and the insulating housing  10  tightly for effectively preventing the upper shielding shell  40  and the lower shielding shell  30  falling off from the insulating housing  10  when the electrical card is inserted into the card connector  100  improperly or the electrical card is shaken. As a result, the card connector  100  has a stable structure and a useful life of the card connector  100  is extended.