U.S. patent application number 09/854752 was filed with the patent office on 2001-12-27 for card connector.
Invention is credited to Nogami, Daisuke.
Application Number | 20010055897 09/854752 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 18674683 |
Filed Date | 2001-12-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010055897 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Nogami, Daisuke |
December 27, 2001 |
Card connector
Abstract
A card connector comprises a case (2) for accommodating a
removable card (1), a slider (3) provided within the case (2) for
sliding along with the card (1) in the insertion/removal direction,
a spring (32) for biasing the slider (3) in the card removing
direction, a lock arm (67) provided on the case (2) for engaging
the slider (3) when the card (1) is inserted into the case (2), and
a lock release lever (70) operable in the direction perpendicular
to the major face of the case (2) for release the slider (3) from
the case (2).
Inventors: |
Nogami, Daisuke; (Tokyo,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KANESAKA & TAKEUCHI
1423 Powhatan Street
Alexandria
VA
22314
US
|
Family ID: |
18674683 |
Appl. No.: |
09/854752 |
Filed: |
May 15, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
439/159 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06K 19/07732 20130101;
G06K 13/0856 20130101; G06K 13/0825 20130101; H01R 13/635
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
439/159 |
International
Class: |
H01R 013/62 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 8, 2000 |
JP |
2000-172254 |
Claims
1. A card connector for electrically connecting a removable card to
a circuit board, comprising: a case for supporting said removable
card; a slider provided within said case for sliding along with
said removable card in a card insertion/removal direction; spring
means for biasing said slider in a card removing direction; lock
means for locking said slider to said case when said removable card
is inserted into said case; release means operable from a major
face of said case for releasing said slider from said case.
2. The card connector according to claim 1, wherein said case
comprises: a case body of an insulative material; a plurality of
terminals provided on said case body; a metal cover provided over
said case body; and at least one fixing means for fixing said case
to said circuit board.
3. The card connector according to claim 1, wherein said lock means
comprises a stopper arm cantilevered to a major face of said metal
cover so as to be flexible for engagement with said slider; said
release means comprises a release lever rotatable about a fulcrum
to lift said stopper arm for releasing said slider from said
case.
4. The card connector according to claim 3, which further comprises
regulation means for regulating rotation of said release lever to
thereby regulate movement of said stopper arm.
5. A card connector for electrically connecting a removable card to
a circuit board, comprising: a case for accommodating said
removable card; a slider provided within said case for sliding in a
card insertion/removal direction; spring means for biasing said
slider in a card removing direction; a card retention arm
cantilevered on said slider in said card insertion/removal
direction and having an inward projection; a raised portion
provided on said case so as to abut on an outer face of said card
retention arm so that when a removable card with a notch provided
on a side thereof is inserted into said case, said inward
projection engages said notch and when said removable card is
further inserted, said inward projection restricts outward movement
of said card retention arm.
6. The card connector according to claim 5, wherein said card
retention arm comprises a downward projection; said raised portion
has an inclined face with a rising gradient in a card insertion
direction so that when a removable card with no notch provided on a
side thereof is inserted into said case, said downward projection
slides on said inclined face to lift said card retention arm while
said card retention arm is flexed outwardly.
7. The card connector according to claim 5, wherein said card
retention arm has an engaging portion so that when a removable card
with no notch on a side thereof is inserted into said case, said
card retention arm is flexed outwardly and said engaging portion
engages said raised portion.
8. The card connector according to one of claim 1 or 5, wherein
said slider comprises: a card abutment for abutment with a front
end of said removable card and a guide section for sliding on said
case in said card insertion/removal direction.
9. The card connector according to claim 8, wherein said card
abutment comprises at least one support wall, said case has at
least one raised portion for guiding said support wall so that if
said removable card is inserted in a wrong direction, said raised
portion blocks said slider, thereby preventing completion of such
insertion.
10. A card connector for electrically connecting a removable card
to a circuit board, comprising: a case for accommodating said
removable card; a slider provided within said case for sliding
along with said removable card in a card insertion/removal
direction; spring means for biasing said slider in a removing
direction; a card retention arm cantilevered to said slider in said
card insertion/removal direction and having an inward projection
and a downward projection at a front end thereof; an elongated
groove provided in said case in said card insertion/removal
direction so that when a removable card with a notch provided on a
side thereof is inserted into said case, said inward projection
engages said notch and said downward projection slides on said case
and then engages said elongated groove to prevent said card
retention arm from reflecting outwardly whereas when a removable
card with no notch is inserted into said case, said card retention
arm is flexed outwardly and said downward projection slides on said
case outside said elongated groove.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to card connectors for
connecting a removable card to a circuit board and, more
particularly, to a card connector for holding a removable card for
a mobile device.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Such a card connector is disclosed in, for example, Japanese
patent application Kokai Nos. 59-149576 (JP'576) and 11-135192
(JP'192).
[0005] The connector of JP'576 comprises a sliding ejector member
that abuts on an inserted card, a spring for biasing the ejector
member in a card removing direction, a rotation support for locking
the ejector member at a card insertion position, and an ejector
lever for releasing the lock of the ejector member. To mount a
card, the card is pushed into the insertion opening to lock the
ejector member with the rotation support. To remove the card, the
ejector lever is depressed to move the rotation support for release
of the lock of the ejector member so that the spring pushes out the
card.
[0006] The connector of JP'192 comprises a body, a slider that is
pushed into the body along with a card, a spring member provided
between the body and the slider, and a cam mechanism consisting of
a cam member and a pin member. The cam mechanism locks and unlocks
the slider. Both of insertion and removal of a card is made by
pushing the card or "push-push operation".
[0007] In the above connectors, however, the card insertion/removal
mechanism, especially, the ejector member and/or the slider
lock/unlock mechanism, is too complicated and too large in the
number of components to provide a compact and inexpensive
connector. In addition, the insertion/removal of a card is
difficult because the card insertion/removal face of a mobile
device is small.
[0008] In the push-push type connector of JP'192, the end of a card
projects from the mobile device so that not only the card can be
damaged or fall when the mobile device is dropped but also the
design choices are limited. Moreover, a space necessary for the
push-push operation requires a wide body of the device. The length
of sliding contact between the card contact point and the connector
contact point becomes so large that the life of the contacts is
shortened.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a
card connector capable of reducing the number of components,
simplifying the mechanism, reducing the manufacturing cost, and
making the device compact.
[0010] According to the invention there is provided a card
connector for electrically connecting a removable card to a circuit
board, comprising a case for supporting the removable card; a
slider provided within the case for sliding along with the
removable card in a card insertion/removal direction; a spring
member for biasing the slider in a card removing direction; a lock
member for locking the slider to the case when the removable card
is inserted into the case; a release member operable from a major
face of the case for releasing the slider from the case.
[0011] It is preferred that the case comprises a case body of an
insulative material; a plurality of terminals provided on the case
body; a metal cover provided over the case body; and at least one
fixing means for fixing the case to the circuit board. Also, the
lock means may comprise a stopper arm cantilevered to a major face
of the metal cover so as to be flexible for engagement with the
slider. The release means comprises a release lever rotatable about
a fulcrum to lift the stopper arm for releasing the slider from the
case. Furthermore, the card connector may comprise a regulation
means for regulating rotation of the release lever to thereby
regulate movement of the stopper arm.
[0012] According to another aspect of the invention there is
provided a card connector for electrically connecting a removable
card to a circuit board, comprising a case for accommodating the
removable card; a slider provided within the case for sliding in a
card insertion/removal direction; a spring member for biasing the
slider in a card removing direction; a card retention arm
cantilevered on the slider in the card insertion/removal direction
and having an inward projection; a raised portion provided on the
case so as to abut on an outer face of the card retention arm so
that when a removable card with a notch provided on a side thereof
is inserted into the case, the inward projection engages the notch
and when the removable card is further inserted, the inward
projection restricts outward movement of the card retention
arm.
[0013] It is preferred that the card retention arm comprises a
downward projection and the raised portion has an inclined face
with a rising gradient in a card insertion direction so that when a
removable card with no notch provided on a side thereof is inserted
into the case, the downward projection slides on the inclined face
to lift the card retention arm while the card retention arm is
flexed outwardly. Also, the card retention arm may have an engaging
portion so that when a removable card with no notch on a side
thereof is inserted into the case, the card retention arm is flexed
outwardly and the engaging portion engages the raised portion.
Furthermore, the slider comprises a card abutment for abutment with
a front end of the removable card and a guide section for sliding
on the case in the card insertion/removal direction. Moreover, the
card abutment may comprise at least one support wall, the case has
at least one raised portion for guiding the support wall so that if
the removable card is inserted in a wrong direction, the raised
portion blocks the slider, thereby preventing completion of such
insertion.
[0014] According to still another aspect of the invention there is
provided a card connector for electrically connecting a removable
card to a circuit board, comprising a case for accommodating the
removable card; a slider provided within the case for sliding along
with the removable card in a card insertion/removal direction; a
spring member for biasing the slider in a removing direction; a
card retention arm cantilevered to the slider in the card
insertion/removal direction and having an inward projection and a
downward projection at a front end thereof; an elongated groove
provided in the case in the card insertion/removal direction so
that when a removable card with a notch provided on a side thereof
is inserted into the case, the inward projection engages the notch
and the downward projection slides on the case and then engages the
elongated groove to prevent the card retention arm from reflecting
outwardly whereas when a removable card with no notch is inserted
into the case, the card retention arm is flexed outwardly and the
downward projection slides on the case outside the elongated
groove.
[0015] When the removable card is inserted into the case, the lock
member engages the slider to lock the removable card in the case.
The operation of the lock release member releases the slider from
the lock member for removal of the removable card.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a card connector
according to an embodiment of the invention;
[0017] FIG. 2 is a plan sectional view of the card connector;
[0018] FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG.
2;
[0019] FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the card connector;
[0020] FIG. 5 is a plane sectional view of the card connector;
[0021] FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG.
5;
[0022] FIG. 7 is a plane sectional view of the card connector;
[0023] FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG.
7;
[0024] FIG. 9 is a plane sectional view of the card connector;
[0025] FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG.
9;
[0026] FIG. 11 is a plane sectional view of the card connector;
[0027] FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG.
11;
[0028] FIG. 13 is a plane sectional view of the card connector;
[0029] FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG.
13;
[0030] FIG. 15 is a side elevational view of the card
connector;
[0031] FIGS. 16-18 are perspective views of part of the card
connector;
[0032] FIGS. 19 and 20 are perspective views a card for the card
connector;
[0033] FIG. 21 is a perspective view of another card for the card
connector;
[0034] FIG. 22 is a perspective view of a lock release arm
according to another embodiment of the invention;
[0035] FIG. 23 is a sectional view of a lock release arm according
to still another embodiment of the invention;
[0036] FIG. 24 is a perspective view of a lock release arm
according to yet another embodiment of the invention;
[0037] FIG. 25 is a perspective view of a card retaining arm
according to another embodiment of the invention;
[0038] FIG. 26 is a perspective view of the card retaining arm of
FIG. 25 that is flexed outwardly; and
[0039] FIG. 27 is a perspective view of a raised member of the card
connector according to another embodiment of the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0040] Embodiments of the invention will now be described with
reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0041] In FIGS. 1-4, a card connector comprises a case 2 for
holding a removable card 1 (hereinafter simply "card") and a slider
3 provided in the case 2 for sliding. The case 2 consists of a case
body 4 made of an insulative material, such as a synthetic resin,
and a case cover 5 made of a metal so as to cover the case body 4.
The case body 4 has a terminal receiving bottom plate 6, a card
abutment rear wall 7 erected at the rear end of the bottom plate 6,
and a pair of side arms 8 and 9 provided on opposite sides of the
bottom plate 6. Nine terminal channels 10 are provided in the
bottom plate 6 to receive elongated terminals 11. Each terminal 11
has a cantilevered section 11' that is flexible in the up-and-down
direction and has a contact point 12 at a free end. Also, it has a
depending connection section 13 to be connected to a circuit board
(not shown). A raised L-shaped portion 14 is provided on the bottom
plate 6 at the rear corner of the terminal channel 10 that is
located on the uttermost right-hand side.
[0042] A guide wall 15 is provided on the outer face of the
left-hand side arm 8 to support a pair of male and female terminals
16 and 17. A jaw section 18 is provided at a front lower corner of
the left-hand side arm 8. The front inner faces of the jaw section
18 and the guide wall 15 are tapered, respectively. The right-hand
side arm 9 consists of an outer section 19, an inner section 20
that is higher than the outer section 19, a rear abutment 21
provided at the rear end of the side arm 9, and a front abutment 22
provided at the front end of the side arm 9. A spring mount groove
23 extends forwardly from the rear end of the outer section 19. A
first key groove forming portion 24, a step-down portion 25, and a
second key groove forming portion 26 are arranged in this order
from the rear end of the inner section 20. First and second key
grooves 27 and 28 are provided in the first and second key groove
forming portions 24 and 26, respectively. The step-down portion 25
is lower than the first and second key groove forming portions 24
and 26, and a raised portion 29 extend forwardly from the first key
groove forming portion 24. The raised portion 29 is slightly higher
than the first and second key groove forming portions 24 and 26 and
has an inclined face 30 with a rising gradient in the insertion
direction of the card 1. A boss 31 extends forwardly from the rear
abutment 21 to support an end of a spring 32 that is placed in the
spring mount groove 23. An engaging groove 33 is provided in the
rear face of the front abutment 22. The distance between the inner
faces 34 and 35 of the front abutment 22 and the guide wall 15 is
substantially equal to the width of the card 1. A jaw portion 36 is
provided on the lower inner face of the front abutment 22, and the
front upper face of the jaw portion 36 and the front inner face of
the of the front abutment 22 are tapered.
[0043] The slider 3 is made of an insulative material, such as a
synthetic resin, so as to provide a guide section 37 extending in
the insertion/removal direction of the card 1 and a card abutment
38 extending at right angles with the guide section 37. The guide
section 37 is made up of an outer portion 39 corresponding to the
outer section 19 of the right-hand side arm 9 and an inner portion
40 corresponding to the inner section 20 of the right-hand side arm
9. A highest face 41, an intermediate face 42, and a lowest face 43
are arranged in this order from the rear end of the outer portion
39. A raised portion 44 as high as the intermediate face 42 is
provided on the front portion of the lowest face 43. The raised
portion 44 has an inclined face 45 having a rising gradient in the
removing direction of the card 1. A spring cover groove 46 is
provided at the position corresponding to the spring mount groove
23 of the right-hand arm section 9. A spring abutment 47 is
provided at the front end of the spring cover groove 46. A shoulder
portion 48 is provided at the rear end of the outer portion 39 to
engage the rear abutment 21. An engaging projection 49 extends
forwardly from the front end of the outer section 39 to fit into
the engaging groove 33 of the front abutment 22. Consequently, the
slider 3 does not fall from the case body 4 during assembling, thus
improving the assembling efficiency.
[0044] The first and second key forming portions 50 and 51 are
provided on the rear and front sides of the inner section 40 to
form an intermediate space 52 between them. The first key (not
shown) and the second key 54 are provided on the lower faces of the
key forming sections 50 and 51 for sliding in the first and second
key grooves 27 and 28, respectively. When the first and second keys
engage the first and second key grooves 27 and 28, the inner face
55 of the second key forming portion 51 becomes flush with the
inner face 34 of the front abutment 22.
[0045] A card retaining arm 56 extends forwardly from the first key
forming portion 50 into the intermediate space 52. When the first
and second keys engage the first and second key grooves 27 and 28,
the outer face of the card retaining arm 56 makes contact with the
inner face of the raised portion 29. An inward projection 57 and a
downward projection 58 are provided on the front end of the card
retaining arm 56. They have a curved inner face and a tapered outer
face. The inward projection 57 projects inwardly more than the
inner face 55. A gap 59 is provided under the card retaining arm 56
between the downward projection 58 and the first key forming
section 50.
[0046] Three support walls 60, 61, and 62 are provided on the lower
face of the card abutment 38 and the triangular linking section of
the guide section 37 for sliding in the insertion/removal direction
of the card 1 between the respective terminals 11. The case cover 5
is made by bending downwardly the rear and side portions 63, 64,
and 65, respectively, to cover the rear wall 7, the left-hand side
arm 8, the slider 3, and the rear and front abutments 21 and 22. A
stopper arm 67 extends forwardly from a portion of the right-hand
bending edge 66 and has a downward hook 68 and an engaging piece 69
that extends outwardly beyond the right-hand side face 65. A lock
release lever 70 made of a metal sheet is attached to the front
portion of the right-side face 65 for rotation about a support stud
71. The front portion of the lock release lever 70 projects
forwardly from the front end of the case cover 5 and has an
operation tab 72. The rear end of the lock release lever 70 is
rounded for engagement with the engaging piece 69. Two pairs of
fixing legs 73 extend outwardly from the lower edges of the left-
and right-hand side walls 64 and 65 and are soldered to a circuit
board (not shown). The fixing leg 73 toward the front end of the
right-hand side wall 65 is located under the rear portion of the
lock release lever 70 for restricting the downward movement of the
rear portion. Where a fixing leg or legs 73 are soldered to the
ground circuit of the circuit board, the case cover 5 serves as a
ground member, too.
[0047] An example of the card for the invention will be described
with reference to FIGS. 19 and 20. The card 1 is a so-called memory
card and is cut out at the front right-hand corner. It has a write
protective switch 74 on the left-hand side and a retention notch 75
on the right-hand side. Also, it has a pair of elongated shoulders
76 extending along the back-side side edges and a plurality of
terminal channels 77 in the front portion for supporting terminals
89. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 21, another card 1' that has
neither write protective switch nor retention notch may be
used.
[0048] The insertion/removal operation of the card connector will
be described with reference to FIGS. 2-16.
[0049] In FIGS. 2-4, when the card 1 is not inserted into the case
2, the slider 3 is pushed to the front position by the spring 32
and the engaging projection 49 is fitted in the engaging hole 33 so
that the slider 3 is kept without rattling. The card 1 is inserted
into the case 2, with the retention notch 75 being on the
right-hand side. Since the front ends of the guide wall 15, the
front abutment 22, and the jaws 18 and 36 are tapered, it is easy
to insert the card 1 to the case 2. The jaws 18 and 36 of the arm
sections 8 and 9 prevent the card 1 from being inserted into the
case 2 upside down.
[0050] In FIGS. 5 and 6, when the card 1 is inserted, the jaws 18
and 36 of the arm sections 8 and 9 fit in the shoulders 76 of the
card 1, and the right-hand side of the card 1 makes contact with
the inward projection 57 of the card retaining arm 56 and flexes
the retaining arm 56 to the right. Since the inward projection 57
is rounded, the card retaining arm 56 is flexed smoothly.
[0051] In FIGS. 7 and 8, when the card 1 is further inserted into
the case 2, the front end of the card 1 abuts on the card abutment
38 of the slider 3. At this point, the inward projection 57 fits
into the retention notch 75, returning the card retaining arm 56 to
the original position.
[0052] In FIGS. 9 and 10, when the card 1 is further inserted into
the case 2 to push forwardly the slider 3, the engaging projection
49 disengages from the engaging hole 33 of the front stopper 22
while the support walls 60, 61, and 62 slides on the terminal
receiving section 6 between the respective terminals 11 to prevent
the card abutment 38 from bending downwardly. The raised portion 14
guides the support wall 62 to prevent the slider 3 from tilting by
the push of the card 1. The spring 32 is compressed by the spring
abutment 47, and the downward hook 68 of the stopper arm 67 slides
on the inclined face 45 to the top of the raised portion 44,
flexing upwardly the stopper arm 67. The card terminals 89 slide on
the contact points of the connector terminals 11, flexing
downwardly the connector terminals 11.
[0053] In FIGS. 11 and 12, when the card 1 is further inserted into
the case 2, the spring 32 is further compressed, and the shoulder
48 of the slider 3 abuts on the rear slider stopper 21, restricting
rear movement of the slider 3. At the same time, the stopper arm 67
flexes downwardly so that the downward hook 68 engages the front
face of the raised portion 44, restricting forward movement of the
slider 3. The outer face of the card retention arm 56 makes contact
with the inner face of the raised portion 29 to prevent the card
retention arm 56 from moving to the right so that the engagement
between the inward projection 57 and the retention notch 75 is
locked to prevent falling of the card 1. The card terminals are
electrically connected to the contact points 12 of the connector to
complete the insertion of the card 1 into the case 2. If the write
protective switch 74 is at the rear position as shown in FIG. 19,
the male and female terminals 16 and 17 make contact but, if it is
at the front position, it breaks the contact between them, enabling
to detect the condition of the write protective switch 74.
[0054] In FIGS. 13-15, to remove the card 1 from the case 2, the
operation tab 72 is depressed so that the lock release lever 70 is
rotated counterclockwise about the support stud 71. Consequently,
the front end of the lock release lever 70 engages the downward
hook 68 of the stop arm 67 for lifting the stop arm 67. As a
result, the downward hook 68 is released from the raised portion 44
so that the slider 3 is moved forwardly by the spring 32, bringing
the card 1 to the forward position.
[0055] In FIGS. 7 and 8, the slider 3 abuts on the front abutment
22 so that when the card 1 is pulled rearwardly, the card retaining
arm 56 is flexed to the right, releasing the inward projection 57
from the retention notch 75 for completion of the removal of the
card 1. The inner side of the inward projection 57 is curved so
that it is easy to remove the card 1.
[0056] The insertion/removal of the card 1' from the card connector
will be described with reference to FIGS. 16-18. The operation of
the card 11 is the same as that of the card 1 except for the
operation of the card retaining arm 56 and, therefore, the
description will center on the operation of the card retaining arm
56.
[0057] When the card 1' is inserted into the case 2, the right-hand
side wall of the card 11 abuts against the inward projection 57 of
the card retaining arm 56, flexing the card retaining arm 56 to the
right.
[0058] When the card 1' is further inserted into the case 2, the
front end of the card 1' abuts on the card abutment 38 of the
slider 3 to move the slider 3 rearwardly. The slider 3 is prevented
to move rearwardly by the rear abutment 21 and forwardly by the
stopper arm 67 so that the card 1' is locked in the case 2. As best
shown in FIG. 18, the downward projection 58 of the card retaining
arm 56 slides on the inclined face 30 to the top of the raised
portion 29. Since there is the gap 59 under the card retaining arm
56, such sliding movement is made smooth. The flexure of the card
retaining arm 56 to the right is not blocked by the raised portion
29 so that the card retaining arm 56 is not broken. The inward
projection 57 of the card retaining arm 56 presses the card 1' to
the left to prevent falling of the card 1'.
[0059] To remove the card 1' from the case 2, the lock release
lever 70 is depressed so that the spring 32 moves the slider 3 and
the card 1' forwardly up to the front abutment 22. The downward
projection 58 of the card retaining arm 56 slides on the inclined
face 30, and the card 1' is pulled rearwardly for removal.
[0060] Alternatively, the card retaining arm 56 may be provided
above or below the card. As shown in FIG. 22, the stopper arm 67
and the lock release lever 70 may be replaced by the stopper arm 79
having the downward hook 78 and a curved lock release lever 80 and
a support piece 81 provided below the lock release lever 80. When
the lock release lever 80 is depressed with the support piece 81 as
a fulcrum, the downward hook 78 is lifted to release the lock. As
shown in FIG. 23, the support piece 81 may be replaced by a support
wall 82 provided in front of the raised portion 44 of the slider
3.
[0061] In FIG. 24, the lock release lever 70 has a bifurcated rear
end to hold the engaging piece 69 therebetween and a over-rotation
preventive piece 84 at the front upper portion for engagement with
the upper edge of the right-hand side wall 65. A rotation regulator
90 is moved into a space under the operation tab 72 of the lock
release lever 70 by means of a switch that is provided on the
mobile device to regulate the movement of the lock release lever 70
after the stopper arm 67 engages the slider 3. The over-rotation
preventive piece 84 and the rotation regulator 90 regulate the
rotation of the lock release lever 70, and the lock release lever
70 regulates the movement of the stopper arm 67 so that
unintentional release of the stopper arm 67 from the slider 3,
which is caused by impact or vibration applied to the stopper arm
67 when the mobile device is dropped, is prevented. Also, it is
prevented that the lock release lever 70 rotates so much that the
front end 83 is lifted too much to engage the stopper arm 67.
[0062] An operation tab may be provided on the upper or lower face
of the mobile device to indirectly operate the operation tab 72,
thereby not only facilitating the operation but also providing more
design choices. In order to improve the resiliency and durability
of the card retaining arm, the card retaining arm may be made
separately from the slider 3 and of a metal or other resilient
material than synthetic materials. For example, a card retaining
arm of a metal piece is provided obliquely along the moving
direction of the slider 3. In FIGS. 25-27, a card retaining arm 85
has an inward projection 86 and a front jaw 87, and a raised
portion 88 has a flat form having a curved front face. When the
card 1 with the retention notch 75 is inserted into the case 2, the
inward projection 86 fits in the retention notch 75. When the card
1 is further inserted, the raised portion 88 blocks the card
retaining arm 85 from moving outwardly, preventing falling of the
card 1. As shown in FIGS. 26 and 27, when the card 1' with no
retention notch is inserted into the case 2, the card retaining arm
85 is flexed outwardly and the front jaw 87 engages the outer side
of the raised portion 88. Alternatively, the raised portion 88 may
be provided on the case cover 5 and the front jaw 87 may be bent
upwardly.
[0063] In order to restrict the outward movement of the card
retaining arm, the raised portion 88 may be replaced by an
elongated groove provided in the step-down portion 25. The card
retaining arm has an inward projection and an downward abutment
such that the lower end of the downward abutment abuts on the
step-down portion 25 and is flexed upwardly so that it is able to
slide on the step-down portion 25 as the slider 3 moves. When the
card 1 is inserted to a predetermined position, the downward
abutment 87 fits in the elongated groove to restrict outward
movement of the card retaining arm 85. When the card 1' is
inserted, the downward abutment 87 is flexed outwardly and slides
on the step-down portion 25 and does not fit in the elongated
groove. The card connector according to the invention is also
useful for other cards such as an IC card that is mounted on a
mobile device.
[0064] As has been described above, according to the invention, it
is possible to reduce the number of components and simplify the
mechanism to reduce the manufacturing cost and make the device
compact. In addition, it is possible to make the lock release
operation on the major face of the device, thus improving the
operation. The same connector may be used for both types of cards
with or without a retaining notch, reducing the manufacturing cost
and preventing confusion in use.
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