JP2000340298A - Connector for memory card - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a connector for a memory card surely locking a holder cover, and preventing a partial deformation of the holder cover. SOLUTION: A connector for a memory card 10 comprises a housing 11 storing a memory card, a holder cover 20 covering the memory card stored in the housing, and multiple connector terminals 14 integrated into the housing such that one end is exposed on a housing surface opposing to a contact part of the memory card, and the other end is protruded from an end edge of the housing. The memory card connector 10 is structured such that the holder cover 20 is held by the housing to turn for opening/closing in respect to the housing about a rotation shaft 15 provided on one side edge vertical to a lengthwise direction of the housing, and the holder cover can slide along the rotation shaft 15 to a lock position only when the holder cover is in a closed position with respect to the housing.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a connector for a memory card such as a scriber ID entity module (for subscriber identification) card.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, such a connector for a memory card is configured as shown in FIGS. 6 to 10, for example. 6 to 10, the memory card connector 1 includes a housing 2 and a holder cover 3.

The housing 2 has a space 2a on its upper surface for receiving a SIM card 4 as a memory card, and a peripheral wall 2b surrounding the space 2a. The housing 2 has a plurality of protrusions (in the illustrated case) projecting side by side at one end near the one end and projecting side by side at opposite edges (left and right edges in the illustrated case) of the housing 2 at the other end. (3) connection terminals 5. Further, the housing 2
A rotating shaft 2c protrudes outward (in the vertical direction in FIG. 6) from both ends of the right edge in FIG.

[0004] The holder cover 3 has a hinge portion 3a that engages with a rotation shaft 2c provided in the housing. When the hinge portion 3a engages with the rotation shaft 2c,
It is configured to be able to rotate with respect to the housing 2. Further, the holder cover 3 has a memory card engaging claw 3b and a lock claw 3c which extend downward from both side edges (upper and lower edges in the drawing) and further extend inward. Here, the hinge portion 3a is formed of a long hole extending in the direction of both side edges of the holder cover 3, and is configured so that the rotating shaft 2c can slide in the long hole (FIG. 7).
(See also FIG. 11B and FIG. 11).

As a result, the holder cover 3 is brought from the open position shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 to the closed position shown in FIG. 9 by rotating around the rotation shaft 2c as shown in FIG. The holder cover 3 is moved to the right in FIG. 9 with respect to the housing 2 while the rotating shaft 2c slides in the elongated hole so that the holder cover 3 is brought to the lock position shown in FIG. Has become. Then, at the lock position shown in FIG. 10, the lock claws 3 c provided on the holder cover 3 engage with the engaging portions 2 d provided on the side edge of the housing 2, so that the holder cover 3 is attached to the housing 2. It is locked against.

According to the memory card connector 1 having such a configuration, as shown in FIG.
The memory card 4 is set inside the memory card engaging claw 3b of the holder cover 3 at an open position where the memory card 4 is opened approximately 180 degrees with respect to the housing 2 (see FIG. 7). Next, as shown by reference numerals A, B, C, D, and E in FIG. 8, the holder cover 3 is sequentially rotated with respect to the housing 2 to hold the holder cover 3 to the closed position shown in FIG. Come.

Subsequently, the holder cover 3 is slid with respect to the housing 2 as shown by an arrow X in FIG.
By engaging with d, the holder cover 3 is locked to the housing 2. At this time, the memory card 4 set in the holder cover 3
The end contacts the corresponding connection terminal 5 provided on the housing 2 and is pressed by the holder cover 3 against one end of the connection terminal 5.

Thus, the memory card connector 1 incorporated in various devices such as a telephone and a communication device, for example,
The memory card 4 stored therein can be connected to the various devices.

[0009]

By the way, in the memory card connector 1 having such a structure, any position where the holder cover 3 rotates around the rotation axis 2c transverse to the insertion direction of the connector 1, For example, the hinge portion 3a of the holder cover 3 slides with respect to the rotation shaft 2c of the housing 2 at any position in FIG. Further, when the holder cover 3 is rotationally moved to the closed position in such a sliding state, the engaging claw 3c of the holder cover 3 cannot be engaged with the engaging portion 2d of the housing 2. There has been a problem that the cover 3 cannot be locked to the housing 2 and the engaging claw 3c is deformed by hitting the engaging portion 2d.

[0010] The holder cover 3 is provided on both side edges.
Since the hinge 3a is only engaged with the rotating shaft 2c, when the holder cover 3 is rotated from the open position to the closed position, the long hole 3d of the hinge 3a is provided on one side of the holder cover 3. The rotation shaft 2c moves within
As shown in FIG. 12, the holder cover 3 may be inclined, and the holder cover 3 may not be able to move to the closed position.

In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a memory card connector in which a holder cover can be securely locked and a holder cover is not partially deformed.

[0012]

According to the present invention, there is provided a housing for accommodating a memory card, a holder cover for covering the memory card accommodated in the housing, and one end accommodated in the housing. A plurality of connection terminals, which are integrated into the housing such that they are exposed to the surface of the housing and oppose the contact portions of the memory card and the other ends protrude from the edges of the housing. The holder cover is opened and closed with respect to the housing by rotating at one side edge transverse to the longitudinal direction of the connector around a rotation axis provided at one side edge of the housing. And can slide along the axis of rotation to the locked position only when the holder cover is in the closed position with respect to the housing. Characterized by a connector for a memory card, it is achieved.

[0013] The connector for a memory card according to the present invention comprises:
Preferably, in a region corresponding to the holder cover slid to the lock position, a cross section of the rotation shaft is formed in an irregular shape corresponding to the shape of the hinge portion of the holder cover.

The connector for a memory card according to the present invention comprises:
Preferably, the hinge portion of the holder cover is substantially U-shaped.
It is formed in the shape of a letter.

The connector for a memory card according to the present invention comprises:
Preferably, when the holder cover slides to the locked position along the rotation axis, the engagement claws of the holder cover engage with the protrusions of the housing.

The connector for a memory card according to the present invention comprises:
Preferably, the holder cover has, on the other side edge thereof, a convex portion which can be engaged with an engaging portion provided on the other side edge of the housing, and this engaging portion is moved to a locked position of the holder cover. It has an inclined surface in the sliding direction.

According to the above construction, the holder cover is slid to the lock position along the rotation axis, and the lock is only performed when the holder cover is in the closed position closed with respect to the housing. Since the holder cover can slide toward the position, the holder cover does not slide along the rotation axis when the holder cover is not completely closed with respect to the housing. Therefore, it is possible to exclude that the holder cover is closed with respect to the housing in a sliding state and the holder cover is partially damaged or the holder cover cannot be locked.
The holder cover can be securely locked.

Further, since the hinge portion of the holder cover is engaged with the rotation shaft at a relatively long distance,
When the holder cover slides along the rotation axis or rotates around the rotation axis, the holder cover does not shift obliquely with respect to the rotation axis, and is securely parallel to the rotation axis. , And the memory card can be securely fixed.

In a case where the rotation shaft is formed in a different shape corresponding to the shape of the hinge portion of the holder cover in a region corresponding to the holder cover slid to the lock position, more preferably, When the hinge portion of the holder cover is formed in a substantially U-shape, the shape of the hinge portion of the holder cover in the closed position is
By conforming to the shape of the deformed portion of the rotating shaft, it is possible to slide along the rotating shaft to the locked position, but when the holder cover is in a rotating position other than the closed position, the shape of the hinge portion is changed to the rotating shaft. Since the shape of the deformed part does not match the shape of the deformed part, even if the holder cover tries to slide toward the locked position, the hinge part of the holder cover is locked at the edge of the deformed part, so that the locked position is not reached. Does not slide toward.

When the holder cover slides to the locked position along the rotation axis and the engaging claw of the holder cover engages with the protrusion of the housing, the holder cover is closed with respect to the housing. Thereafter, the holder cover is brought to the lock position by being slid along the rotation axis, and the engagement claws are engaged with the protruding portions, so that the holder cover can be securely locked to the housing.

The holder cover has, on the other side edge thereof, a convex portion which can be engaged with an engaging portion provided on the other side edge of the housing, and this engaging portion is moved to the locked position of the holder cover. When the holder cover is slid along the rotation axis from the closed position to the locked position when the holder cover slides in the sliding direction, the protrusion slides along the slope of the engagement portion, and After passing through the mating portion, the convex portion comes off the engaging portion and generates a click feeling, so that the locked state can be easily grasped.

[0022]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on embodiments shown in the drawings. 1 to 5 show the configuration of an embodiment of a memory card connector according to the present invention. 1 and 2, the memory card connector 10 includes a resin housing 11 and a metal holder cover 20.

The housing 11 has on its upper surface a space 12 for receiving a SIM card as a memory card, and a peripheral wall 13 surrounding the space 12. The housing 11 is
On the upper surface, one end protrudes near the other end and the other end protrudes side by side at the opposing edges (the left front end and the right rear end edge in FIG. 1) of the housing 2 (in FIG. 1, 4 ) Connection terminals 14. Further, the housing 11 includes a rotating shaft 15 extending along one side edge (a left side edge in FIG. 1) transverse to the connector insertion direction X1.

The holder cover 20 is entirely made of a metallic elastic material, and has a hinge portion 21 at one side edge of the holder cover 20 which engages with the rotating shaft 15 provided in the housing 11. , The hinge part 21 is the rotating shaft 15
, So that it can rotate with respect to the housing 11. Further, the holder cover 20 has a tongue piece 22 as an engaging claw extending downward from other side edges (upper and lower edges in the drawing) and further extending inward. This tongue piece 22, as described later,
When the holder cover 20 is slid along the rotating shaft 15 from the closed position, the protrusion 1 provided on the housing 11
7.

Here, the hinge portion 21 extends to the rotating shaft 15 of the holder cover 20 and has a substantially U-shaped cross section whose cross section is open at the lock position or the closed position shown in FIG. 1 (see FIG. 5). And the rotating shaft 15
It is configured to be able to slide along. On the other hand, the rotation shaft 15 as a whole is shown in FIGS. 4 (A) and 4 (C).
As shown in FIG. 4, the cross section is formed in a circular shape, and a region corresponding to the lock position is a deformed portion 15a as shown in FIG.
(A) and FIG. 4 (B), as shown in FIG.
The cross section is formed in an irregular shape corresponding to the shape of the hinge portion 21 of No. 0, and is U-shaped in the illustrated case. This allows the holder cover 20 to move the hinge portion 21 only when it is in the closed position.
Can be slid to the lock position in conformity with the shape of the irregularly shaped portion 15a.

Further, the holder cover 20 protrudes inward at the lock position shown in FIG. 1 so as to engage with the engaging portion 16 formed on the other side edge of the housing 11 on the other side edge. The projection 23 is provided. In addition, the convex portion 23
Is formed integrally with the holder cover 20 made of an elastic material.

As a result, the holder cover 20 is
From the open position shown in FIG. 2, one side edge is rotated around the rotation shaft 15 to bring it to the closed position, and further, the hinge portion 21 slides along the rotation shaft 15 so that the holder cover 20 is moved. X1 in FIG.
By moving in the direction, it is brought to the lock position shown in FIG. Then, at the lock position shown in FIG.
The holder cover 20 is locked to the housing 11 by engaging the protrusion 2 provided on the side edge of the housing 11 with the protrusion 2. At this time, the convex portion 23 provided on the holder cover 20 slides along the inclined surface 16a provided on the engaging portion 16,
When passing through the top 16b of the engaging portion 16, the projection 23 comes off the engaging portion 16 and generates a click feeling, so that the locked state can be easily grasped.

Further, the above-mentioned holder cover 20 is provided as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. In the case shown in the figure, the window 24 is formed of two long holes extending parallel to each other and perpendicular to the rotation axis 15.

The connector 10 for a memory card according to the embodiment of the present invention is configured as described above. First, as shown in FIG.
The holder cover 20 is brought to an open position which is opened by about 180 degrees with respect to the housing 11 by putting a finger into the holder 11 and rotating the holder cover 20 around the rotation axis 15. In this state, the user sets a memory card (not shown) in the space 12 of the housing 11. Next, the holder cover 20 is brought to the closed position shown in FIG. 3A by rotating the holder cover 20 around the rotation axis 15 with respect to the housing 11.

Subsequently, the holder cover 20 is shown in FIG.
The holder cover 20 is brought to the lock position shown in FIG. 3B by being slid along the rotary shaft 15 with respect to the housing 11 as shown by an arrow X1 in FIG. At this time, since the holder cover 20 is in the closed position, the shape of the hinge portion 21 matches the shape of the deformed portion 15a of the rotating shaft 15 as shown in FIG. It can slide along the axis 15 to the locked position. Then, when the holder cover 20 moves to the lock position shown in FIG.
By engaging with the one protrusion 17, the holder cover 20 is locked with respect to the housing 11. At this time, the contact portion of the memory card set in the holder cover 20 contacts the corresponding top portion 14a of the connection terminal 14 provided on the housing 11, and the top cover 14a of the connection terminal 14 is held by the holder cover 20.
a.

Thus, the memory card connector 1 incorporated in various devices such as a telephone and a communication device, for example,
By inserting the memory card connector 10 into a connection slot (not shown) of the memory card stored in the memory card 0, the memory card can be connected to the various devices.

In this case, the holder cover 20 is slid to the locked position along the rotating shaft 15, and the shape of the hinge portion 21 of the holder cover 20 and the shape of the irregular portion 15a of the rotating shaft 15 are formed. , The holder cover 20 can slide toward the locked position only when the holder cover 20 is in the closed position closed with respect to the housing 11. Thus, in a state where the holder cover 20 is not completely closed with respect to the housing 11, for example, as shown in FIG.
Since the shape of the hinge portion 21 of 0 does not match the shape of the deformed portion 15a of the rotating shaft 15, the holder cover 20 does not slide toward the locked position along the rotating shaft 15. Therefore, when the holder cover 20 slides and is closed with respect to the housing 11, a part of the holder cover 20, for example, the tongue piece 22 is damaged,
Since it can be excluded that the holder cover 20 cannot be locked with respect to the housing 11, the holder cover can be securely locked.

Further, in this case, the holder cover 20
Since the hinge portion 21 is engaged with the rotation shaft 15 at a relatively long distance, the holder cover 20
Slides along the rotation axis 15 or when the rotation
When the holder cover 20 rotates around the
Is not obliquely displaced with respect to the rotation direction, and is securely guided in parallel along the rotation shaft 15, so that the memory card can be securely fixed.

In the above embodiment, the connection terminal 1
4 is provided in two pairs of four, but is not limited to this.
It is apparent that the present invention can be applied to a memory card connector having an arbitrary number of connection terminals according to the number of contact portions of a memory card to be used. Further, in the above embodiment, the irregularly shaped portion 15a of the rotating shaft 15 is
Although it is formed in a substantially U-shape, it is not limited to this, and may be formed in any other shape corresponding to the shape of the hinge portion 21 of the holder cover 20.

[0035]

As described above, according to the present invention, the holder cover is slid to the locked position along the rotation axis, and the holder cover is closed with respect to the housing. Only when in position, it can slide toward the locked position, so that the holder cover does not slide along the axis of rotation if the holder cover is not completely closed with respect to the housing. . Therefore, the holder cover is closed with respect to the housing while the holder cover is slid, and it can be excluded that a part of the holder cover is damaged or the holder cover cannot be locked, so that the holder cover is securely locked. Can be done.

Further, since the hinge portion of the holder cover is engaged with the rotation shaft at a relatively long distance,
When the holder cover slides along the rotation axis or rotates around the rotation axis, the holder cover does not shift obliquely with respect to the rotation axis, and is securely parallel to the rotation axis. , And the memory card can be securely fixed.

When the holder cover slides to the locked position along the rotation axis and the engaging claws of the holder cover engage with the protrusions of the housing, the holder cover is closed with respect to the housing. Thereafter, the holder cover is brought to the lock position by being slid along the rotation axis, and the engagement claws are engaged with the protruding portions, so that the holder cover can be securely locked to the housing.

The holder cover has, on the other side edge thereof, a convex portion which can be engaged with an engaging portion provided on the other side edge of the housing, and this engaging portion moves to a locked position of the holder cover. When the holder cover is slid along the rotation axis from the closed position to the locked position when the holder cover slides in the sliding direction, the protrusion slides along the slope of the engagement portion, and After passing through the mating portion, the convex portion comes off the engaging portion and generates a click feeling, so that the locked state can be easily grasped.

Thus, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an extremely excellent memory card connector in which the holder cover can be securely locked and the holder cover is not partially deformed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a configuration of a memory card connector according to a first embodiment of the present invention at a lock position.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the memory card connector of FIG. 1 in an open position.

3A shows the memory card connector of FIG. 1, and FIG.
FIG. 3 is a plan view in a closed position, and FIG.

4A and 4B show a rotation axis of a housing in the memory card connector of FIG. 1, wherein FIG. 4A is an enlarged perspective view, FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view of a deformed portion, and FIG. 4C is a cross-sectional view of a circular portion.

FIG. 5 shows the memory card connector of FIG. 1 (A).
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a relationship between a hinge portion of a holder cover and a rotation axis of a housing in an opened state and in a closed state.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of an example of a conventional memory card connector at an open position.

FIGS. 7A and 7B show a memory card inserted state at an open position of the memory card connector of FIG. 6, wherein FIG. 7A is a plan view and FIG. 7B is a side view.

FIG. 8 is a side view sequentially showing the state of rotation of the holder cover from the open position to the closed position of the memory card connector of FIG. 6;

9 is a plan view of the memory card connector of FIG. 6 in a closed position.

10 shows the memory card connector of FIG. 6,
(A) is a plan view in a lock position, and (B) is a side view.

11 is a partially enlarged side view showing a hinge portion of a holder cover and a rotation axis of a housing in the memory card connector of FIG. 6;

12 is a schematic plan view showing an oblique displacement of a holder cover in the memory card connector of FIG. 6;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Connector for memory cards 11 Housing 12 Space 13 Peripheral wall 14 Connection terminal 14a Top 15 Rotation axis 16 Engagement part 16a Inclined surface 17 Projection 20 Holder cover 21 Hinge part 22 Tongue piece (engagement claw) 23 Convex part 24 Window part

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2C005 NA24 NB11 5B058 CA13 5E021 FA05 FA07 FB18 FC09 FC36 HC11 HC31 KA03 5E023 AA04 AA21 BB01 BB19 DD03 DD06 DD26 GG02 GG03 GG09 GG15 HH17 HH30

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A housing for accommodating a memory card, a holder cover for covering the memory card accommodated in the housing, and one end exposed to the surface of the housing facing a contact portion of the memory card accommodated in the housing. And a plurality of connection terminals incorporated in the housing so that the other end protrudes from the edge of the housing. The connector for a memory card, wherein the holder cover is arranged in a longitudinal direction of the connector. One side edge of the housing is supported so that it can be opened and closed by rotating around a rotation axis provided on one side edge of the housing and slidably along the rotation axis. A memory card cap which is slidable along a rotation axis to a locked position only when in a closed position with respect to the housing. Kuta. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the rotation shaft is formed in a shape corresponding to the shape of the hinge of the holder cover in a region corresponding to the holder cover slid to the lock position. The connector for a memory card according to claim 1. 3. The memory card connector according to claim 2, wherein the hinge portion of the holder cover is formed in a substantially U-shape. 4. The holder according to claim 1, wherein when the holder cover slides to the locked position along the rotation axis, the engaging claw of the holder cover engages with the protrusion of the housing. Memory card connector. 5. The holder cover according to claim 1, further comprising:
The housing is provided with a convex portion which can be engaged with an engaging portion provided on the other side edge, and the engaging portion has an inclined surface in a sliding direction of the holder cover to the locked position. The connector for a memory card according to claim 4, wherein