U.S. patent application number 12/184589 was filed with the patent office on 2010-02-04 for card connector.
This patent application is currently assigned to CHENG UEI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Chung-Hsin Huang, Chin-Chou Wang, Mei-Chuan Yang.
Application Number | 20100029136 12/184589 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41581268 |
Filed Date | 2010-02-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100029136 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wang; Chin-Chou ; et
al. |
February 4, 2010 |
CARD CONNECTOR
Abstract
A card connector is disclosed that includes an insulating
housing and a plurality of contacts. The insulating housing defines
a plurality of contact slots. Each of the contact slots extends
outwardly and laterally from two opposite side edges thereof to
form two resisting protrusions respectively, wherein each of the
resisting protrusions forms a resisting surface extending obliquely
and inwardly from one side thereof. The contacts are respectively
received in the contact slots of the insulating housing. Each of
the contacts has a contact portion protruding upwardly for being
pressed by a card and the contact portion is connected with a
bearing portion resisting against the resisting surface for
preventing the contact portion from flipping upwardly out of the
insulating housing.
Inventors: |
Wang; Chin-Chou; (Taipei
Hsien, TW) ; Huang; Chung-Hsin; (Taipei Hsien,
TW) ; Yang; Mei-Chuan; (Taipei Hsien, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WPAT, PC;INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ATTORNEYS
2030 MAIN STREET, SUITE 1300
IRVINE
CA
92614
US
|
Assignee: |
CHENG UEI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO.,
LTD.
Taipei Hsien
TW
|
Family ID: |
41581268 |
Appl. No.: |
12/184589 |
Filed: |
August 1, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
439/630 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01R 12/7029 20130101;
H01R 13/2442 20130101; G06K 7/0021 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
439/630 |
International
Class: |
H01R 24/00 20060101
H01R024/00 |
Claims
1-5. (canceled)
6. A card connector, comprising: an insulating housing defining a
plurality of contact slots, each of the contact slots extending
outwardly and laterally to opposite sides to form two resisting
protrusions respectively, each of the resisting protrusions
defining a receiving cavity in a bottom portion thereof; and a
plurality of contacts respectively received in the contact slots of
the insulating housing, each of the contacts having a contact
portion protruding upwardly for being pressed by a card, the
contact portion being connected with a bearing portion received in
the receiving cavity for preventing the contact portion from
flipping upwardly out of the insulating housing.
7. The card connector as claimed in claim 6, wherein the receiving
cavity is of substantially an inverted V-shape and has a first
resisting surface and a second resisting surface, the bearing
portion received in the receiving cavity has a resisting portion
extending downward and inward and a flank portion extending outward
and downward opposite the resisting portion, the resisting portion
resists against the first resisting surface and the flank portion
resists against the second resisting surface.
8. The card connector as claimed in claim 6, wherein each of the
corresponding two resisting protrusions and the contact slot
cooperatively define a gap, where the bearing portion can move, the
gap passes through a corresponding end portion of the insulating
housing, the resisting protrusions are located above the
corresponding gaps.
9. The card connector as claimed in claim 8, wherein the receiving
cavity communicates with the corresponding gap.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention generally relates to a card connector,
and more particularly to a card connector adapted for a Subscriber
Identity Model (SIM) card.
[0003] 2. The Related Art
[0004] Card connectors are broadly used in many electronic devices
such as mobile phones, digital cameras and so on for transmitting
data between the electronic devices and memory cards received in
the electronic devices.
[0005] Referring to FIG. 11, a conventional card connector is
shown. The card connector includes an insulating housing 600 and a
plurality of contacts 700 that are received in the insulating
housing 600. The insulating housing 600 defines a plurality of
contact slots 610 and pairs of halting gaps 620 all of which are
divided into two groups with one group disposed in a front portion
of the insulating housing 600 and the other group in a rear portion
thereof. Each pair of the halting gaps 620 communicates with
lateral sides of each corresponding contact slot 610. Each of the
contacts 700 has a base portion 710 received in the contact slot
610, a vaulted contact portion 720 disposed above the base portion
710 and protruding out of the contact slot 610 for connecting with
a memory card inserted in the card connector and a clasping portion
730 slantways extending downward from a free end of the contact
portion 720. Two ends of the clasping portion 730 are respectively
disposed in one pair of the halting gaps 620 for preventing the
free end of the contact portion 720 from flipping out of the
insulating housing 600. The two ends of the clasping portion 730
are capable of moving up and down in the halting gaps 620.
[0006] However, in use, when the memory card is inserted into the
card connector, the memory card presses the contact portions 720 of
the contacts 700 downward for realizing electrical connection,
which causes the clasping portions 730 moving toward the base
portions 710. If the insulating housing 600 is too thin, the space
of the halting gaps 620 in which the clasping portions 730 move
will become too small. Then the small space will cause the clasping
portions 730 contact the base portions 710 or make the memory card
difficult to be inserted in the card connector. Therefore, the data
transmission between the memory card and an electronic device
holding the card connector therein is affected adversely. For
solving the problem, the thickness of the insulating housing 600 is
designed to be increased to enlarge the space of the halting gaps
620. Thereby, the volume of the card connector is enlarged
accordingly and the miniaturization of the electronic device is
inevitably affected.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to
provide a card connector capable of being miniaturized. To achieve
the above mentioned object, the card connector includes an
insulating housing and a plurality of contacts. The insulating
housing defines a plurality of contact slots. Each of the contact
slots extends outwardly and laterally from two opposite side edges
thereof to form two resisting protrusions respectively, wherein
each of the resisting protrusions forms a resisting surface
extending obliquely and inwardly from one side thereof. The
contacts are respectively received in the contact slots of the
insulating housing. Each of the contacts has a contact portion
protruding upwardly for being pressed by a card and the contact
portion is connected with a bearing portion resisting against the
resisting surface for preventing the contact portion from flipping
upwardly out of the insulating housing.
[0008] To realize the above mentioned object, the card connector
includes an insulating housing and a plurality of contacts. The
insulating housing defines a plurality of contact slots. Each of
the contact slots extends outwardly and laterally from two opposite
side edges thereof to form two resisting protrusions respectively.
Each of the resisting protrusions defines a receiving cavity in a
bottom portion thereof. The contacts are respectively received in
the contact slots of the insulating housing. Each of the contacts
has a contact portion protruding upwardly for being pressed by a
card. The contact portion is connected with a bearing portion
received in the receiving cavity for preventing the contact portion
from flipping upwardly out of the insulating housing.
[0009] As described above, because each of the resisting
protrusions of the insulating housing defines the inclined
resisting surface or the receiving cavity thereon to mate with the
bearing portion connected with the contact portion, the space in
which the bearing portion moves is increased accordingly.
Therefore, it is impossible for the bearing portions to contact
other portions of the contacts, which ensures stable data
transmission and achieves size reduction of the card connector.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] The present invention will be apparent to those skilled in
the art by reading the following description of preferred
embodiments thereof, with reference to the accompanying drawings,
in which:
[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a card connector of which
one of contacts and two retaining members are withdrawn therefrom
according to a first embodiment of the present invention;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged view of the encircled portion
labeled A of FIG. 1;
[0013] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the contact of the card
connector of FIG. 1;
[0014] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a card connector according
to a second embodiment of the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the card connector of FIG.
4;
[0016] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the card connector taken
along line VI-VI of FIG. 4;
[0017] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a card connector according
to a third embodiment of the present invention;
[0018] FIG. 8 is an exploded view of the card connector of FIG.
7;
[0019] FIG. 9 is a partially enlarged view of the encircled portion
labeled B of FIG. 8;
[0020] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the card connector
taken along line X-X of FIG. 7; and
[0021] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a prior card connector of
which one of contacts is withdrawn therefrom.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0022] Referring to FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, a card connector 1 adapted
for a Subscriber Identity Model (SIM) card according to a first
embodiment of the present invention includes an insulating housing
10, a plurality of contacts 20 is disposed in a front portion and a
rear portion of the insulating housing 10 respectively and two
retaining members 30 are disposed in two opposite side ends of the
insulating housing 10.
[0023] With reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the insulating housing
10 is of substantially a flat board-shape and defines a plurality
of contact slots 11 divided into two groups. One group of the
contact slots 11 is defined at the front portion of the insulating
housing 10, while the other group of the contact slots 11 is
arranged at the rear portion thereof. The insulating housing 10
further defines pairs of receiving recesses 15 at a bottom portion
thereof. Each pair of the receiving recesses 15 is disposed at
lateral sides of each corresponding contact slot 11 and
communicates with the contact slot 11. The insulating housing 10
also defines pairs of gaps 12 at the front portion and the rear
portion thereof and passing therethrough and at the same time
passing a top portion thereof. Each pair of the gaps 12 is disposed
at the lateral side of each corresponding contact slot 11 and
communicates with the corresponding receiving recesses 15 and the
contact slot 11. Each of the contact slots 11 extends outwardly and
laterally from two opposite side edges thereof to form two
resisting protrusions 14 respectively. Each resisting protrusion 14
covers an upper portion of the corresponding gap 12 and defines a
resisting surface 13 at a free end thereof. The resisting surface
13 is inclined downward and inward. Each side end of the insulating
housing 10 defines a locating cavity 16 at a middle portion thereof
and two receiving grooves 17 at lateral sides of the locating
cavity 16 and passing through the bottom portion of the insulating
housing 10.
[0024] Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, each of the contacts 20 has
a base portion 21 received in the contact slot 11 and one pair of
the receiving recesses 15 of the insulating housing 10. Two pairs
of protruding lumps 22 project outward from opposite sides of the
base portion 21. A front portion of the base portion 21 defines a
U-shaped opening 23. The base portion 21 defines a soldering
portion 24 slantways extending frontward in the middle of the
opening 23 and horizontally extending out of the contact slot 11 of
the insulating housing 10. A U-shaped connecting portion 25
received in the contact slot 11 extends rearward from the middle of
a rear portion of the base portion 21 and extends frontward. A
vaulted contact portion 26 is connected to the connecting portion
25 and located over the base portion 21. The contact portion 26
protrudes out of the contact slot 11. A tip end of the contact
portion 26 perpendicularly connects with a middle portion of a
bearing portion 27. The bearing portion 27 extends upward. Both
ends of the bearing portion 27 respectively resist against the
resisting surfaces 13 of one pair of the resisting protrusions 14
for preventing the tip end of the contact portion 26 from flipping
out of the insulating housing 10. The two ends of the bearing
portion 27 are capable of moving up and down in one pair of the
gaps 12.
[0025] With reference to FIG. 1 again, each of the retaining
members 30 has an erect supporting portion 31. The bottom of the
supporting portion 31 extends sideward to form two lower fixing
portions 33 located in the two receiving grooves 17 defined in one
side end of the insulating housing 10 for fixing the insulating
housing 10. A notch 35 is defined in the middle of the supporting
portion 31 and passes through the bottom of the supporting portion
31. An upper fixing portion 37 extends downward and extends
sideward from the bottom of the notch 35 and is disposed in the
locating cavity 16 of the insulating housing 10.
[0026] Referring to FIG. 4 to FIG. 6, a card connector 2 according
to a second embodiment of the present invention is shown. Comparing
to the first embodiment, the difference is that the card connector
2 has plural contacts 20' which are different from the contacts 20
of the card connector 1 of the first embodiment. The difference
therebetween will be described in detail hereinafter and the same
construction between the card connector 2 and the card connector 1
will be omitted herefrom for simplicity and not be described
anymore.
[0027] Referring to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, similar to the contacts 20
of the card connector 1 of the first embodiment, each of the
contacts 20' has the base portion 21, two pairs of the protruding
lumps 22, the U-shaped opening 23, the soldering portion 24, the
U-shaped connecting portion 25 and the vaulted contact portion 26.
The tip end of the contact portion 26 connects with a middle
portion of a bearing portion 27'. The bearing portion 27' is of
substantially an inverted V-shape and has a resisting portion 28
perpendicular to the tip end of the contact portion 26 and
extending downward and inward and a flank portion 29 extending
downward and outward from the tip end of the contact portion 26
opposite to the resisting portion 28. Both ends of the resisting
portion 28 of the bearing portion 27' respectively resist against
the resisting surfaces 13 of one pair of the corresponding
resisting protrusions 14 for preventing the tip end of the contact
portion 26 from flipping out of the insulating housing 10. The
bearing portion 27' is capable of moving up and down in one pair of
the gaps 12.
[0028] Referring to FIG. 7 to FIG. 10, a card connector 3 according
to a third embodiment of the present invention is shown. Compared
to the second embodiment, the difference is that the card connector
3 has an insulating housing 10' different from the insulating
housing 10 of the card connector 2. The difference therebetween
will be described in detail hereinafter and the same construction
between the card connector 3 and the card connector 2 will be
omitted and not be described anymore.
[0029] Referring to FIG. 7 to FIG. 9, similar to the insulating
housing 10 of the card connector 2 and the insulating housing 10 of
the card connector 1, the insulating housing 10' of the card
connector 3 defines a plurality of the contact slots 11, pairs of
the receiving recesses 15 and pairs of the gaps 12. Each of the
contact slots 11 extends outwardly and laterally from two opposite
side edges thereof to form two resisting protrusions 14'
respectively. Each of the resisting protrusions 14' covers an upper
portion of the corresponding gap 12 and defines a first resisting
surface 13' extending downward and inward and a second resisting
surface 18 extending frontward and downward in a bottom portion
thereof. The first resisting surface 13' and the second resisting
surface 18 define a substantially inverted V-shaped receiving
cavity 19 therebetween in the gap 12. Each of side ends of the
insulating housing 10' defines the locating cavity 16 and the
receiving grooves 17. The ends of the bearing portions 27' of the
contacts 20' are received in the receiving cavities 19. The
resisting portions 28 and the flank portions 29 of the bearing
portions 27' respectively resist against the first resisting
surfaces 13' and the second resisting surfaces 18 for preventing
the tip ends of the contact portions 26 from flipping out of the
insulating housing 10'. The bearing portions 27' are capable of
moving up and down in the gaps 12.
[0030] As described above, when in use, the contact portions 26 of
the card connector 1, 2, 3 are compressed downward, so that the
bearing portions 27, 27' are driven to be moved downward in the
gaps 12. Because the resisting protrusions 14, 14' of the
insulating housing 10, 10' define the inclined resisting surfaces
13, 13' thereon to mate with the bearing portions 27, 27'
connecting with the tip ends of the contact portions 26, the spaces
in which the bearing portions 27, 27' move are increased.
Therefore, there is no likelihood that the bearing portions 27, 27'
will contact the soldering portions 24, thereby ensuring stable
data transmission and reducing the size of the card connector 1, 2,
3 largely.
[0031] The foregoing description of the present invention has been
presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not
intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise
form disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are
possible in light of the above teaching. Such modifications and
variations that may be apparent to those skilled in the art are
intended to be included within the scope of this invention as
defined by the accompanying claims.
* * * * *