Source: http://www.google.com/patents/USRE40899?dq=5,646,839
Timestamp: 2014-07-10 04:44:57
Document Index: 452846841

Matched Legal Cases: ['Application No. 2002', 'Application No. 2006', 'Application No. 2006', 'Application No. 2005', 'Application No. 2005', 'Application No. 2002']

Patent USRE40899 - Card connector - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign in<nobr>Advanced Patent Search</nobr>PatentsIn a card connector of the present invention, an eject plate has a push-moving portion, an engaging portion and a spring portion, and can be switched to two positions by a heart cam. In an electric connecting state of the card and the connector, the eject plate is set to a second position, and its engaging...http://www.google.com/patents/USRE40899?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent USRE40899 - Card connectorAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUSRE40899 E1Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 11/503,540Publication dateSep 1, 2009Filing dateAug 10, 2006Priority dateJan 18, 2002Also published asCN1433112A, CN100492779C, US6773280, US20030139077Publication number11503540, 503540, US RE40899 E1, US RE40899E1, US-E1-RE40899, USRE40899 E1, USRE40899E1InventorsShoichi Sasaki, Takeshi Fujiwara, Koji ShiotaOriginal AssigneeJ.S.T. Mfg. Co., Ltd.Export CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (31), Non-Patent Citations (19), Classifications (15), Legal Events (1) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetCard connectorUS RE40899 E1Abstract In a card connector of the present invention, an eject plate has a push-moving portion, an engaging portion and a spring portion, and can be switched to two positions by a heart cam. In an electric connecting state of the card and the connector, the eject plate is set to a second position, and its engaging portion is engaged with a notch formed in the card, and the release of the engagement is prevented by a guide wall, and no card can be pulled out even when strong pulling-out force is applied to the card (full lock). When the eject plate is moved from the second position to a first position by a tension spring, the card is pushed out by the push-moving portion. The engaging portion is also engaged with the notch of the card in this first position, but the release of the engagement is allowed by the wall portion, and the card can be pulled out by elastically deforming the spring portion (half lock).
a housing for forming a card storing space for inserting a card from an opening, and having an input-output terminal corresponding to an electrode portion of the card; an eject member able to be moved along inserting and pulling directions of the card, and switched to a � first position� and a � second position� located on the side far from said opening in comparison with the � first position� by a heart cam mechanism; biasing means for biasing the eject member in the card pulling-out direction; a push-moving portion integrally formed in said eject member, and able to abut on an end portion of the card in its inserting direction; an engaging portion arranged in said eject member, and projected to the card storing space and engaged with a notch formed in the card when said end portion of the card in its inserting direction comes in contact with said push-moving portion; a spring portion arranged in said eject member, and escaping said engaging portion from the card storing space and releasing the engagement of said engaging portion and said notch by elastically deforming the spring portion; and a guide portion arranged in said housing so as to allow the escape of said engaging portion from the card storing space when said eject member is located in the � first position� , and prevent the escape of said engaging portion from the card storing space when the eject member is located in the � second position� . 2. A card connector according to claim 1, wherein said engaging portion and said spring portion are integrally formed in the eject member.
a housing for forming a card storing space for inserting a card from an opening, and having an input-output terminal corresponding to an electrode portion of the card; an eject member able to be moved along inserting and pulling directions of the card, and switched to a � first position� and a � second position� located on the side far from said opening in comparison with the � first position� ; biasing means for biasing the eject member in the card pulling-out direction; a push-moving portion integrally formed in said eject member, and able to abut on an end portion of the card in its inserting direction; an engaging portion arranged in said eject member, and projected to the card storing space and engaged with a notch formed in the card when said end portion of the card is its inserting direction comes in contact with said push-moving portion; a spring portion arranged in said eject member, and escaping said engaging portion from the card storing space and releasing the engagement of said engaging portion and said notch by elastically deforming the spring portion; and a guide portion arranged in said housing so as to allow the escape of said engaging portion from the card storing space when said eject member is located in the � first position� , and prevent the escape of said engaging portion from the card storing space when the eject member is located in the � second position� ; wherein at least the engaging portion of said eject member is formed by synthetic resin, and the engaging portion is formed in a thick wall shape. 5. A card connector comprising:
a housing for forming a card storing space for inserting a card from an opening, and having an input-output terminal corresponding to an electrode portion of the card; an eject member able to be moved along inserting and pulling directions of the card, and switched to a � first position� and a � second position� located on the side far from said opening in comparison with the � first position� ; biasing means for biasing the eject member in the card pulling-out direction; a push-moving portion integrally formed in said eject member, and able to abut on an end portion of the card in its inserting direction; an engaging portion arranged in said eject member, and projected to the card storing space and engaged with a notch formed in the card when said end portion of the card in its inserting direction comes in contact with said push-moving portion; a spring portion arranged in said eject member, and escaping said engaging portion from the card storing space and releasing the engagement of said engaging portion and said notch by elastically deforming the spring portion; and a guide portion arranged in said housing so as to allow the escape of said engaging portion from the card storing space when said eject member is located in the � first position� , and prevent the escape of said engaging portion from the card storing space when the eject member is located in the � second position� ; wherein said guide portion is constructed such that said engaging portion engaged with said notch of the card can reduce a projecting amount to the card storing space when the card is connected to the connector and the eject member is held in the � second position� and pulling-out force is applied to the card; and a regulating portion able to prevent the displacement of the eject member to the � first position� is formed in the guide portion when said engaging portion of the eject member located in the � second position� reduces the projecting amount to the card storing space. 6. A card connector according to claim 2, wherein said eject member is formed by synthetic resin.
a housing for forming a card storing space for inserting a card from an opening, and having an input-output terminal corresponding to an electrode portion of the card; an eject member able to be moved along inserting and pulling directions of the card, and switched to a first position and a second position located on the side far from said opening in comparison with the first position by a heart cam mechanism; biasing means for biasing the eject member in the card pulling-out direction; a push-moving portion integrally formed in said eject member, and able to abut on an end portion of the card in its inserting direction; an engaging portion arranged in said eject member, and projected to the card storing space and engaged with a notch formed in the card when said end portion of the card in its inserting direction comes in contact with said push-moving portion; a guide portion arranged in said housing so as to allow the escape of said engaging portion from the card storing space when said eject member is located in the first position, and prevent the escape of said engaging portion from the card storing space when the eject member is located in the second position, wherein the eject member is located in the second position, an end portion of the engaging portion on the side of the opening is in contact with the guide portion, thereby preventing the escape of the engaging portion from the card storing space. 8. A card connector according to claim 7, wherein said eject member is formed by synthetic resin. 9. A card connector according to claim 7, wherein said engaging portion is integrally formed in the eject member. 10. A card connector according to claim 9 wherein said eject member is formed by synthetic resin. 11. A card connector according to claim 7, wherein when the eject member is located in the second position, the end portion of the engaging portion on the side of the opening is in contact with guide portion, across a whole width of the end portion of the engaging portion with respect to a thickness direction of the card, thereby preventing the escape of the engaging portion from the card storing space. 12. A card connector according to claim 11, wherein said eject member is formed by synthetic resin.
13. A card connector according to claim 11, wherein said engaging portion is integrally formed in the eject member. 14. A card connector according to claim 13, wherein said eject member is formed by synthetic resin. Description
[3] A half lock state in set when the eject member is located in the �first position�. In this state, no card is pulled out of the connector when the device is turned upside down so as to downwardly direct this side of the housing and vibration is caused approximately by a normal use. On the other hand, the release of the engagement of the engaging portion and the notch is allowed by the guide portion. Accordingly, when pulling-out force stronger than the biasing force of the spring portion is applied to the card as in the pulling-out of the card performed by the user, etc., the engagement of the engaging portion and the notch is released by the elastic deformation of the spring portion so that the card can be easily pulled out.
The present invention also resides in a card connector comprising a housing for forming a card storing space for inserting a card from an opening, and having an input-output terminal corresponding to an electrode portion of the card; an eject member able to be moved along inserting and pulling directions of the card, and switched to a �first position� and a �second position� located on the side far from the opening in comparison with the �first position�; biasing means for biasing the eject member in the card pulling-out direction; a push-moving portion integrally formed in the eject member, and able to abut on an end portion of the card in its inserting direction; an engaging portion arranged in the eject member, and projected to the card storing space and engaged with a notch formed in the card when the end portion of the card in its inserting direction comes in contact with the push-moving portion; a spring portion arranged in the eject member, and escaping the engaging portion from the card storing space and releasing the engagement of the engaging portion and the notch by elastically deforming the spring portion; and a guide portion arranged in the housing so as to allow the escape of the engaging portion from the card storing space when the eject member is located in the �first position�, and prevent the escape of the engaging portion from the card storing space when the eject member is located in the �second position�; wherein at least the engaging portion of the eject member is formed by the synthetic resin, and the engaging portion is formed in a thick wall shape.
FIG. 5 is a view showing a suitable for allowing/preventing the escape of an engaging portion in accordance with the position of an eject plate, where FIG. 5A shows a �first position� of the eject plate, and FIG. 5B shows a �second position� of the eject plate.
FIG. 11 is a side sectional view showing a situation in which the card is inserted into the connector of a third embodiment mode in order of FIGS. 11A, 11B, 11C and 11D.
As shown in FIG. 2 as an enlarged view of the connector 1, an opening 6 is formed in the housing 3, and a storing space 31 of the card 2 is formed within the housing 3. This housing 3 has a lower side half portion 7 formed by synthetic resin, and an upper side half portion 8 for covering the upper face of this lower side half portion 7 and manufactured by a metal. In FIGS. 1 and 2, for convenience of the illustration of the internal space of the housing 3, the upper side half portion 8 to be originally shown by a solid line is perspectively illustrated by a chain line.
An input-output terminal 9 is arranged on the deep side of the lower side half portion 7, and is molded by bending an electrically conductive leaf spring formed in an elongated band shape. Then input-output terminals 9 are arranged correspondingly to the above face-shaped electrode portions 5 of the card 2. When the card 2 is perfectly inserted until the interior of the housing 3, the input-output terminal 9 is electrically connected to the face-shaped electrode portion 5.
In the eject plate 16, a push-moving portion 16a is constructed by perpendicularly bending one end of an elongated plate-shaped member having a uniform thickness and manufactured by a metal so as to be projected on the card storing space 31 side. This push-moving portion 16a is arranged to abut on the end portion of the card 2 in its inserting direction and push and move the card 2 in the pulling-out direction when an eject operation described later is performed.
In an intermediate portion of the eject plate 16, a connecting portion 16b having an L-shape formed by continuously connecting a horizontal portion and a vertical portion is formed in a shape transversally projected at the upper edge of this intermediate portion. This connecting portion 16b is formed so as to detour the guide wall 24 from the upper side, and a hole for engaging the above tension spring 17 and the rod 18 is formed in the vertical portion of this connecting portion 16b.
One end of the tension spring 17 is engaged with the connecting portion 16b of the above eject plate 16, and the other end is engaged with the engaging wall 23 arranged in the extension portion 21 of the housing 3 so that the tension spring 17 biases the eject plate 16 at any time in the pulling-out direction of the card. A �first position� of the eject plate 16 described later is prescribed by making the above push-moving portion 16a formed in the eject plate 16 come in contact with an end portion of the above support wall 25 as shown in FIG. 3.
One end of the rod 18 transversally bent is engaged with the connecting portion 16b of the above eject plate 16, and the other end similarly transversally bent is engaged with the heart cam 19 explained below.
As shown in FIG. 4 as an enlarged side view showing the main portion of this heart cam 19, the heart cam 19 is constructed by grooves in which a first point 19a, a first bending point 19b, a second point 19c and a second bending point 19d are continuously formed approximately in a heart shape. These grooves are formed in the side wall of the extension portion 21 on the deep side of the housing. A step difference and an inclination are suitably formed (not illustrated) in the bottom portion of this cam groove. The tip of the rod 18 is transversally biased in the direction inserted into the groove by the above leaf spring 20 arranged so as to cover the groove, and comes in contact with the bottom portion of the cam groove.
In this construction, when the eject plate 16 is located in a position (hereinafter called a �first position�) shown in FIG. 3, the tip of the rod 18 connected to the eject plate 16 is located at the first point 19a.
When the eject plate 16 is pushed against the biasing force of the tension spring 17 from this state in the inserting direction of the card, the tip of the rod 18 connected to the eject plate 16 is moved as shown by an arrow A of FIG. 4, and reaches the first bending portion 19b from the first point 19a. When the push-moving force is released from this state, the tip of the rod 18 is moved as shown by an arrow B of FIG. 4, and reaches the second point 19c and is engaged with this second point 19c. As this result, the eject plate 16 is rested in a position (a position on the side far from the opening 6 in comparison with the above �first position� and is hereinafter called a �second position�) on the side of the housing 3 deeper than the �first position� of FIG. 3.
When the eject plate 16 located in this �second position� is next further pushed and moved in the inserting direction of the card, the tip of the rod 18 connected to the eject plate 16 reaches the second bending portion 19d from the second point 19c as shown by an arrow C. The tip of the rod 18 moves the cam groove as shown by an arrow D by releasing the pushing movement from this state, and the eject plate 16 applying the elastic force of the tension spring 17 thereto is returned to the above �first position�.
Thus, the heart cam 19 can be held by switching the position of the eject plate 16 connected to the cam through the rod 18 to the �first position� corresponding to the first point 19a and the �second position� corresponding to the second point 19c.
Thus, a rational method can be adopted by constructing the connector of a push-push type utilizing the heart cam 19 when the card once connected is pulled out. In this rational method, [1] the card is slightly pushed in toward the deep side of the housing by pushing the end portion of the card by a finger in a state projected from the opening to the exterior, and [2] the discharged card is pulled out by gripping this card by this finger.
Further, in the connector of the eject button type, a connector mounting device side is restricted in design by the existence of this eject button. When the eject button is conversely preferentially arranged in the connector mounting device to improve convenience at the time of the card pulling-out operation of the user, etc., the degree of freedom in the design of the connector is correspondingly reduced. When it is intended that the requirement of such an arrangement of the ejection button is satisfied, the addition of a special part is required and the occupying area of the connector is increased. In contrast to these, there are no such disadvantages in the connector of the push-push type.
As shown in FIG. 3, the engaging portion 16c projected to the card storing space 31 from the side is constructed by bending the end portion of the eject plate 16 in the card pulling-out direction approximately in an L-shape. This engaging portion 16c is arranged to be engaged with a notch (reference numeral 26 of FIG. 1) formed on one side face of the card 2. When the card 2 is inserted into the connector 1 and its end portion in the inserting direction comes in contact with the push-moving portion 16a of the above eject plane 16, its position relation is determined such that the engaging portion 16c is inserted into the above notch 26.
The eject plate 16 is formed by a metallic raw material having a spring property, and a spring portion 16d able to be elastically deformed is integrally formed in a portion directed from an intermediate portion of the eject plate 16 to the engaging portion 16c (FIG. 3).
When the eject plate 16 is located in the above �first position� in this construction, its engaging portion 16c and the spring portion 16d face the escaping space S as shown in FIG. 5A. At this time, as shown by a chain line in this figure, the engaging portion 16c can be escaped from the card storing space 31 to the side by elastically deforming the spring portion 16d.
On the other hand, when the eject plate 16 is located in the above �second position�, its engaging portion 16c and the spring portion 16d go away from the opening 6. As a result, as shown in FIG. 5B, the engaging portion 16c and the spring portion 16d come in contact with the guide wall 24. Accordingly, there is no room for the elastic deformation of the spring portion 16d so that no engaging portion 16c can be escaped from the card storing space 31.
As shown in the enlarged view of FIG. 5A, this engaging portion 16c is formed in a shape in which the engaging portion 16c is projected into the card storing space 31 at a slight sharp angle (portion a) as the engaging portion 16c approaches the opening 6, and the projecting amount is reduced at a slight gentle angle (portion b) after the projecting amount is set to a maximum. Thus, when the card 2 is inserted, the engaging portion 16c is easily escaped by the action of the portion b so that the card 2 can be smoothly inserted. In contrast to this, when the engaging portion 16c is engaged with the notch 26 of the card 2 as described later, it is considered that slightly large pulling-out force is required to escape the engaging portion 16c by the action of the portion a in releasing this engagement and pulling-out the card 2.
First, FIG. 6A shows a state in which no card 2 is inserted at all. At this time, the position of the eject plate 16 is set to the �first position� on the side close to the opening 6, and the engaging portion 16c of the eject plate 16 is projected toward the card storing space 31.
FIG. 6B shows a state in which one portion of the card 2 is inserted into the card storing space from the opening 6. At this time, a side edge of the card 2 abuts on the engaging portion 16c projected toward the card storing space 31, but the eject plate 16 is set to the �first position� as mentioned above. Therefore, the engaging portion 16c can be escaped as shown by a chain line of FIG. 5A. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 6B, the engaging portion 16c is escaped from the card storing space 31 by elastically deforming the spring portion 16d so as to be pushed away on the side by the side edge of the card 2 so that no engaging portion 16c obstructs the insertion of the card 2.
As shown in FIG. 7C, when the end portion of the card 2 in its inserting direction abuts on the push-moving portion 16a of the eject plate 16 located in the �first position�, the notch 26 of the above card 2 is simultaneously located in the position of the above engaging portion 16c, and the engaging portion 16c is again projected to the card storing space 31 by restoring force of the above spring portion 16d, and is engaged with the notch 26.
This state of FIG. 7 is a half lock state. Namely, the engaging portion 16c and the notch 26 are engaged with each other in the state of FIG. 7C. Accordingly, no card 2 is pulled out even when the connector 1 is directed so as to downwardly locate the opening 6, or vibration caused approximately by the normal use of a device is applied to the card 2. In contrast to this, the eject plate 16 is set to the �first position�, and the engagement of the engaging portion 16c and the notch 26 can be released by the elastic deformation of the spring portion 16d. Accordingly, the card 2 can be easily pulled out if pulling-out force stronger than the elastic force of the spring portion 16d is applied to the card 2.
When the card 2 is further pushed-in from the state of FIG. 7C, the end portion of the card 2 in its inserting direction pushes-in the push-moving portion 16a of the eject plate 16 on the deep side of the housing 3, and the entire eject plate 16 is moved in the direction separated from the opening 6. At this time, the engaging state of the engaging portion 16c of the eject plate 16 and the notch 26 of the card 2 is maintained as it is.
When the eject plate 16 is pushed-in, the tip of the rod 18 connected to the eject plate 16 is moved from the first point 19a within the cam groove of the heart cam 19 as shown by an arrow A of FIG. 4, and reaches the first bending point 19b. As the pushing-in force of the card 2 is released, the tip of the rod 18 is moved as shown by an arrow B of FIG. 4 and reaches the second point 19c and is engaged with this second point 19c.
As this result, as shown by FIG. 7D, the face-shaped electrode portion 5 of the card 2 is electrically connected to the input-output terminal 9, and the eject plate 16 is held by the above heart cam 19 in the �second position�. Thus, the connection of the card 2 is completed.
This state of the FIG. 7D is a full lock state. Namely, in the state of FIG. 7D, the engaging portion 16c and the notch 26 of the card 2 are engaged with each other, and the eject plate 16 is located in the �second position�. Accordingly, since the escapement of the engaging portion 16c from the card storing space is prevented by the guide wall 24 as shown in FIG. 5B, no engagement with the notch 26 can be released.
As shown in FIG. 7D, the engaging portion 16c and the notch 26 are finally strongly engaged with each other (so as not to be released) in a state in which the face-shaped electrode portion 5 of the card 2 and the input-output terminal 9 are electrically connected to each other. As a result, an error in the pulling-out of the card 2 is prevented, and the erasion and damage of stored contents of the memory card can be prevented.
As mentioned above, in this embodiment mode, the full lock state is attained since [1] the eject plate 16 is held by the heart cam mechanism 19 in the �second position�, and [2] the engaging portion 16c of the eject plate 16 and the notch 26 of the card 2 are engaged with each other and the release of this engagement is prevented by the guide wall 24.
A user pushes-in the card 2 by a slight stroke to release this connecting state. Thus, the eject plate 16 is pushed by the card 2, and the tip of the rod 18 connected to the eject plate 16 reaches the second bending point 19d along an arrow C from the second point 19c of FIG. 4. As the pushing-in force of the card 2 applied by the user is released, the eject plate 16 is moved from the �second position� to the �first position� by receiving tensile force of the tension spring 17 (at this time, the tip of the rod 18 is moved from the second bending portion 19d to the first point 19a as shown by an arrow D). The card 2 is pushed out by the push-moving portion 16a of the eject plate 16 in the card pulling-out direction, and releases the electric connection of the face-shaped electrode portion 5 and the input-output terminal 9. This state is shown in FIG. 8F.
The engagement of the engaging portion 16c of the eject plate 16 and the notch 26 of the card 2 is also maintained when the eject plate 16 is pulled by the tensioning spring 17 and is moved from the �second position� of FIG. 8E to the �first position� of FIG. 8F and the card 2 is pushed and moved by the push-moving portion 16a. Accordingly, when the eject plate 16 completes the movement to the �first position� and is rested, it is also prevented that the card 2 is detached from the eject plate 16 by inertial force and is pulled out and ejected from the opening 6.
This state of FIG. 8F is a half lock state. Namely, since the engaging portion 16c and the notch 26 are engaged with each other, no card 2 is pulled out even when the connector 1 is directed so as to downwardly locate the opening 6 or vibration caused approximately by the normal use of a device is applied to the card 2. On the other hand, the eject plate 16 is set to the �first position�, and the engagement of the engaging portion 16c and the notch 26 can be released at this time by the elastic deformation of the spring portion 16d as mentioned above. Accordingly, if the pulling-out force stronger than the elastic force of the spring portion 16d is applied to the card 2, the card 2 can be easily pulled out in the order of FIG. 8F, FIG. 9G and FIG. 9H.
The first embodiment mode is explained in the above description, but the present invention is not limited to this embodiment mode. For example, as shown by the following second and third embodiment modes, the raw material of the eject member is not limited to a metallic raw material. Further, the position of the engaging portion 16c of the eject plate 16 can be freely changed in accordance with a change in the position of the notch 26 of the card 2.
FIG. 10 shows a card connector 11 in accordance with the second embodiment mode of the present invention. An eject member 16 is arranged along a side wall (guide portion) 24 on one side of the housing 3. Differing from the first embodiment mode, this eject member 16 is manufactured by synthetic resin (e.g., PBT, 6T nylon, etc.), and is constructed by integrally forming a push-moving portion 16a, an engaging portion 16c and a spring portion 16d able to be elastically deformed. The eject member 16 is constructed so as to be elastically deformed and have a flexible property. The side wall 24 is shaved in a step shape, and an escaping space S for escaping the engaging portion 16c from a card storing space is formed.
The inserting situation of the card into the connector in this second embodiment mode is shown in the order of FIGS. 10A, 10B, 10C and 10D. At this time, the operation performed by the eject plate 16 is completely similar to that in the first embodiment mode. The state of FIG. 10C is a half lock state in which the eject member 16 is located in the �first position�, and the notch 26 and the engaging portion 16c are engaged with each other, but this engagement can be released. In this state, the card can be manually gripped and easily pulled out. The state of FIG. 10D is a state in which the card and the connector are electrically connected to each other. At this time, this state is set to a full lock state in which the eject member 16 is located in the �second position�, and no engaging portion 16c can be escaped by the side wall 24, and no engagement of the engaging portion 16c and the notch 26 can be released.
The third embodiment mode shown in FIG. 11 is a modified example of the above second embodiment mode. In this third embodiment mode, the eject member 16 is arranged in a floor portion (guide portion) 24 of the housing 3. The engaging portion 16c of the eject member 16 is projected from below (instead of from the side) with respect to the card storing space 31, and can be engaged with the notch 26 formed on the floor portion side of the card. One portion of the floor portion 24 is opened and an escaping space S for downwardly escaping the engaging portion 16c from the card storing space is formed.
The inserting situation of the card into the connector in this third embodiment mode is shown in the order of FIGS. 11A, 11B, 11C and 11D. At this time, the operation performed by the eject member 16 is completely similar to that in each of the first and second embodiment modes. The state of FIG. 11C is a half lock state in which the eject member 16 is located in the �first position�, and the notch 26 and the engaging portion 16c are arranged with each other. In this state, the card can be manually gripped and easily pulled out. The state of FIG. 11D is a state in which the card and the connector are electrically connected to each other. At this time, this state is a full lock state in which the eject member 16 is located in the �second position�, and no engaging portion 16c can be escaped and no engagement of the engaging portion 16c and the notch 26 can be released.
Namely, when the engaging portion 16c of the eject member 16 is constructed by bending a metallic material as in the first embodiment mode and a user compulsorily pulls the card 2 in the full lock state of FIG. 7D, a strong bending action is taken in a root portion of the engaging portion 16c resisting this pulling. Therefore, there is a fear that the engaging portion 16c is plastically deformed and the card 2 is pulled out in an extreme case. Otherwise, when no case 2 is pulled out but the engaging portion 16c is plastically deformed and broken, the projecting amount of the engaging portion 16c into the card storing space is reduced so that the holding force of the card 2 in the half lock state of FIG. 7C is reduced.
In contrast to this, in the second and third embodiment modes, the engaging portion 16c of the eject member 16 is constructed in a thick wall shape having a swollen wall. Therefore, no extreme bending action is taken in the root portion of the engaging portion 16c even when compulsory pulling-out force is supplied to the card 2 in e.g., the full lock state of FIG. 1D. Accordingly, the card can be held with force stronger than the compulsory pulling-out force even when the card 2 is compulsorily pulled out in this way. Further, it is prevented that the eject member 16 is easily plastically deformed. Accordingly, the life of a part is extended and the card connector can resist the use for a long period.
The above effects can be similarly achieved by constructing only a portion of the engaging portion 16c among the eject member 16 by a molded product of synthetic resin, and constructing the other portions (the spring portion 16d, the push-moving portion 16a, etc.) by a metallic plate member. Further, if the engaging portion is formed in a thick wall shape, the effect of the improvement of durability of the above eject member is similarly shown even in the card connector of e.g., an eject button type using no heart cam mechanism.
Namely, in this construction of FIG. 12, when the eject plate 16 is located in the �second position�, a small clearance g is formed between the engaging portion 16c of the eject plate 16 and the guide wall 24, and a projection 24a as a regulating portion is arranged in the guide wall 24 in a position close to an end portion 16e of the engaging portion 16c. The projecting amount of this projecting 24a is set to a small amount such that the projection 24a and the end portion 16e of the engaging portion do not interfere with each other when the eject member 16 is moved by normally pulling and inserting the card between the �first position� and the �second position�.
The action of this construction will be explained. FIG. 12 shows a state in which the card 2 is inserted and the above full lock is attained. At this time, the eject plate 16 is held by the heart cam mechanism 19 in the �second position�. When compulsory pulling-out force is applied from this state to the card 2 in error as shown by a thick arrow, the engaging portion 16c is pushed in the card pulling-out direction by an inner wall portion of the notch 26, and a portion 16f at a bending point of the root of the engaging portion 16c is elastically deformed. As this result, the engaging portion 16c is displaced as shown by a chain line, and is escaped by a small amount from the card storing space and its projecting amount is reduced. The end portion 16e of the engaging portion 16c then comes in contact with the guide wall 24.
Accordingly, when the card 2 is intended to be further pulled out from this state, the end portion 16e of the engaging portion abuts on a side portion of the projection 24a, and prevents the movement of the eject plate 16 to the �first position� (together with the above heart cam mechanism 19). As this result, the mistaken pulling-out of the card 2 is firmly prevented and the plastic deformation of the engaging portion 16c is also prevented so that durability is improved.
In the above description, the three embodiment modes are shown, but the push-moving portion 16a, the engaging portion 16c and the spring portion 16d of the eject plate 16 may be separately formed instead of the integral formation. For example, a portion abutting on the end portion of the card in its inserting direction may be constructed instead of the eject plate similarly to the already known slider, etc. (disclosed in e.g., Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-195546 and Japanese Patent No. 3083778). Further, a portion engaged with the notch of the card may be formed by a metallic leaf spring, and may be also formed by these connections.
Further, in the above second and third embodiment modes, the push-moving portion 16a of the eject member 16 is constructed by molding synthetic resin in an L-shape. However, the shape of the push-moving portion 16a is not limited to this L-shape, but various shapes of the push-moving portion 16a such as a triangular shape, etc. can be adopted if the push-moving portion 16a can abut on the end portion of the card 2 and can push and move this end portion.
Patent CitationsCited PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS6027351 *Jun 30, 1998Feb 22, 2000The Whitaker CorporationCard connectorUS6089889 *Jul 31, 1998Jul 18, 2000Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.Card cartridge connector with ejecting mechanismUS6319028 *Oct 23, 2000Nov 20, 2001Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.Electrical connector equipped with an improved ejector mechanismUS6332790 *Dec 19, 2000Dec 25, 2001Union Machinery Co., Ltd.Card connectorUS6394827 *May 15, 2001May 28, 2002Hirose Electric Co., Ltd.Card connectorUS6398567 *Mar 16, 2000Jun 4, 2002Yamaichi Electronics Co., Ltd.Lock and lock releasing mechanism in IC card connecting mechanismUS6478592 *Oct 29, 2001Nov 12, 2002Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.Card ejecting mechanism for CF card connectorUS6503092 *Dec 27, 2000Jan 7, 2003Yamaichi Electronics Co., Ltd.Card connectorUS6572392 *Jun 19, 2001Jun 3, 2003Japan Aviation Electronics Industry, LimitedPush-push type card connector comprising a cam mechanism using a generally heart-shaped cam grooveUS6729892 *Apr 11, 2001May 4, 2004Yamaichi Electronics Co., Ltd.Card connectorUS6814596 *Nov 18, 2002Nov 9, 2004Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.Card connector having low profile and vision indicatorUS6843670 *Jun 29, 2001Jan 18, 2005Molex IncorporatedIC card connectorUS7066748 *Sep 7, 2005Jun 27, 2006Itt Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc.Smart card connector with sliderUS20010055896 *Apr 11, 2001Dec 27, 2001Toshihumi TakadaCard connectorUS20050282440 *Apr 5, 2005Dec 22, 2005Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.Card connectorJP3065310B1 Title not availableJP3065310B2 * Title not availableJP3083778B2 Title not availableJP2000260524A Title not availableJP2001118633A Title not availableJP2001185286A Title not availableJP2001195546A Title not availableJP2001326028A Title not availableJP2001351735A Title not availableJP2002015797A Title not availableJP2002134224A Title not availableJP2002313485A Title not availableJP2003217738A Title not availableJPH11135192A Title not availableJPH11149956A Title not availableJPS63183673U Title not available* Cited by examinerNon-Patent CitationsReference1English Translation of Office Action for corresponding Japanese Application No. 2002-009554 dated Oct. 18,2005 ( 5 pages).2Japanese Office Action "Notice of Reasons for Rejection" issued in Japanese Application No. 2006-191495 mailed on Jul. 22, 2008 and English translation thereof, 4 pages.3Japanese Office Action "Notice of Reasons for Rejection" issued in Japanese Application No. 2006-191495 mailed on Jul. 22, 2008 and translation thereof, 4 pages (previously submitted on Aug. 7, 2008).4Japanese Office Action issued in Japanese Application No. 2005-364793 mailed on Sep. 9, 2008 and English translation thereof, 4 pages ( previously submitted on Oct. 3, 2008).5Japanese Office Action issued in Japanese Application No. 2005-364793 mailed on Sep. 9, 2008 and English translation thereof, 4 pages.6Office Action for corresponding Japanese Application No. 2002-009554 dated Oct. 18, 2005 ( 4 pages).7 *Patent Abstracts of Japan publication No. 10-255905, date of publication Sep. 25, 1998, 2 pages.8 *Patent Abstracts of Japan publication No. 11-149956, date of publication Jun. 2, 1999, 2 pages.9 *Patent Abstracts of Japan publication No. 2000-277207, date of publication Oct. 6, 2000, 2 pages.10 *Patent Abstracts of Japan publication No. 2001-195546, date of publication Jul. 19, 2001, 2 pages.11Patent Abstracts of Japan, Publication No. 2000-260524, Publication Date: Sep. 22, 2000, 1 page.12Patent Abstracts of Japan, Publication No. 2001-118633, Publication Date: Apr. 27, 2001 ( 1 page).13Patent Abstracts of Japan, Publication No. 2001-185286: Jul. 6, 2001 ( 2 pages).14Patent Abstracts of Japan, Publication No. 2001-326028, Publication Date: Nov. 22, 2001 ( 1 page).15Patent Abstracts of Japan, Publication No. 2002-015797, Publication Date: Jan. 18, 2002 ( 2 pages).16Patent Abstracts of Japan, Publication No. 2002-134224, Publication Date: May 10, 2002 ( 2 pages).17Patent Abstracts of Japan, Publication No. 2002-313485, Publication Date: Oct. 25, 2002 ( 2 pages).18Patent Abstracts of Japan, Publication No.11-135192, Publication Date: May 21, 1999 ( 2 pages).19Patent Abstracts of Japan; Publication No. 2001-351735, Publication date: Dec. 12, 2001 ( 2 pages).* Cited by examinerClassifications U.S. Classification439/159, 439/630, 439/328International ClassificationH01R13/635, H01R13/629, G06K17/00, H01R13/52, H01R13/24Cooperative ClassificationG06K13/0825, H01R13/635, G06K13/0856, H01R13/24European ClassificationG06K13/08A4, G06K13/08C2, H01R13/635Legal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionNov 3, 2009CCCertificate of correctionRotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services©2012 Google