Abstract:
A smart card securing mechanism for securing two smart cards includes a base and a sliding member slidably received in the base. The sliding member accepts two smart cards in a tandem and partially overlapped manner, saving a considerable amount of internal space within an electronic device containing the smart card securing mechanism.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The disclosure generally relates to smart card securing mechanisms, and particularly to a smart card securing mechanism of an electronic device. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    According to various requirements, users may need to use two different smart cards (such as SIM cards or memory cards) in an electronic device. However, a typical dual card securing mechanism takes up a large space of the electronic device. 
         [0005]    Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    Many aspects of an exemplary smart card securing mechanism can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the exemplary smart card securing mechanism. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like elements of an embodiment. 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  is an exploded view of an electronic device with a smart card securing mechanism according to an exemplary embodiment. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a partially assembled view of the electronic device shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is an assembled view of the electronic device shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the electronic device along line IV-IV of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged view of the sliding member shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0012]      FIGS. 1-4  show a smart card securing mechanism  20  used for securing two smart cards in an electronic device  100 , such as mobile phones and personal digital assistants. The electronic device  100  includes a main body  10 , the smart card securing mechanism  20  and a printed circuit board  40 . Two smart cards  30  can be received and secured on the smart card securing mechanism  20 . The smart cards  30  can be subscriber identity module (SIM) cards or memory cards. The printed circuit board  40  is received in the main body  10 . 
         [0013]    The smart card securing mechanism  20  includes a base  22  and a sliding member  24  slidably received in the base  22 . The base  22  can be a portion of the main body  10 , or an independent component attached to the main body  10 . In the embodiment, the base  22  is integral with the main body  10 . The base  22  defines a receiving groove  222 , and the sliding member  24  is slidably received in the receiving groove  222 . 
         [0014]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , the sliding member  24  is substantially T shaped and includes a first end  240  and a second end  241  opposite to the first end  240 . The sliding member  24  defines a first accommodating groove  242  for receiving a smart card  30 , a groove  244 , and a second accommodating groove  248  for receiving another smart card  30 . The first accommodating groove  242  and the groove  244  are separated by a beam  246  on one side of the sliding member  24 . The first accommodating groove  242  is adjacent to the second end  241  and the groove  244  is adjacent to the first end  240 . A bottom wall of the first accommodating groove  242  defines a first opening  2422 . The second accommodating groove  248  is beneath the groove  244  and is longer than the groove  244 . The second accommodating groove  248  is partially beneath the first accommodating groove  242  to allow the second accommodating groove  248  to partially overlap with the first accommodating groove  242 . The second accommodating groove  248  and the first opening  2422  are separated by a partition  245  on another side of the sliding member  24 . A bottom wall of the second accommodating groove  248  defines a second opening  2482  communicating with the groove  244 . 
         [0015]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , each smart card  30  includes a base portion  32  and a plurality of contacts  34  located on the base portion  32 . The printed circuit board  40  includes a first connector  42  and a second connector  44 . The first connector  42  and the second connector  44  are located at a same side of the printed circuit board  40 , and connect with the plurality of contacts  34  of the smart cards  30 . 
         [0016]    The assembly process of the electronic device  100  is as follows: 
         [0017]    One smart card  30  is received in the first accommodating groove  242  and the plurality of contacts  34  of the smart card  30  face to the first opening  2422 . The other smart card  30  is received in the second accommodating groove  248  and the plurality of contacts  34  of the other smart card  30  face to the second opening  2482 . The two smart cards  30  are partially overlapped. The sliding member  24  is slid into the receiving groove  222 , and the plurality of contacts  34  of the smart cards  30  make contact with the first connector  42  and the second connector  44 . 
         [0018]    The sliding member  24  is slid out of the receiving groove  222  by pulling on the first end  240 . The smart card  30  is pushed out of the first accommodating groove  242  by an external force through the first opening  2422 , and the other smart card  30  is also pushed out of the second accommodating groove  248  by an external force through the second opening  2482 . The smart cards  30  can be easily removed from the smart card securing mechanism  20 . 
         [0019]    The two smart cards  30  are partially overlapped, and the contacts  34  are located at a same side of the sliding member  24 , thus less inner space of the main body  10  is taken up by the smart card securing mechanism  20 . 
         [0020]    It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the exemplary disclosure have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the exemplary disclosure, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in the matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of exemplary disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.