JP2001118633A - Card connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To promote downsizing, prevent the card from being pulled out by force, and prevent the card from jumping out when ejected, with the card connector equipped with lock mechanism to position the card a predetermined position. SOLUTION: A slider 4 is held by the body 1. A lock mechanism 6 is provided to set the slider 4 at forward position. The lock mechanism 6 is provided with a connection part 61 at the side of stopper 4 and connection part 62 at the side of ejection button 63. The female connection part 61 strides over the connection part 62 and gets locked when the slider 4 goes into forward position. The slider 4 is equipped with hooking stopper part 53 made of a spring board, with which a temporary positioning (half-locking) of a card 100 by this stopper part 53. Here, the card 100 is prevented from popping out by the additional force put on the spring board 52 with an auxiliary spring 7.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a card connector,
In particular, it has a slider which is pushed by the card and moves to the forward position, and when this slider is elastically urged and retreats, the card mounted on the slider retreats together with the slider. Card connector.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a card connector used for transmitting and receiving signals by electrically connecting a card-side electrode to a device-side electrode, a card provided at a predetermined set position is held at the set position. There is a known function that has a function of keeping the card (card holding function) and a function of ejecting the card by retracting it from the set position (ejection function). Further, in this type of card connector, a card holding function is provided by a contact pressure of the connector-side electrode with respect to the card-side electrode, and a card holding function is provided by a lock mechanism.

As a means for providing an eject function to a card connector in which the card holding function is exerted by the above-mentioned contact pressure, a mechanical means in which a longitudinal intermediate portion of a lever is swingably supported is employed. There is something.
In this device, by swinging a swing lever in one direction, a card is pushed out from a set position to a rear portion thereof by a pressing portion provided on the swing lever (first conventional example). In addition, as means for providing an eject function to a card connector of the type in which the card holding function is exerted by the lock mechanism, the card is pushed out of the set position by using the elastic biasing force of a spring. (Second conventional example).

[0004]

However, in the first prior art, the length of the lever swing stroke required to retreat the card from the set position to the take-out position behind it is determined by the set position, the take-out position, In such a case, a length corresponding to the length of the card connector is required, which may be a factor that impairs operability at the time of ejecting and hinders miniaturization of the card connector. In the second conventional example, the lock mechanism tends to enlarge the overall shape of the card connector, and the card pushed backward by the spring force of the spring may jump out of the card connector. was there. Further, as a problem common to the first conventional example and the second conventional example, if the card disposed at the set position is accidentally pulled backward for some reason, the card easily retracts from the set position. There was a problem.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances and problems. In a card connector in which the above-mentioned card holding function is exerted by a lock mechanism, the lock mechanism is devised by devising the structure of the lock mechanism. It is an object of the present invention to provide a card connector which facilitates miniaturization despite having the above.

Further, the present invention provides a card connector which does not easily retreat from the set position even if the card disposed at the set position is accidentally pulled backward for some reason. The purpose is to:

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a card connector in which a card pushed backward by a spring force of a spring at the time of ejecting does not jump out of the card connector.

[0008]

In the card connector according to the present invention, a slider which is pushed by a card, moves to a forward position, and is constantly urged in a retreating direction is held by a holding member so as to be slidable in the front-rear direction. And a lock mechanism for positioning the slider at its forward position. In this card connector, the holding body may be formed by a body as a dedicated part of the connector, or may be formed by a member shared with other parts, for example, a chassis of the device.

In the present invention, the lock mechanism has an engaged portion provided on the slider and moved in the front-rear direction with the slider, and an engaging portion as a counterpart of the engaged portion. For this reason, the engaged portion engages with the engaging portion to enter a positioning state (locked state), and the engagement is released to release the positioning (locked state).

In the present invention, one of the above-mentioned engaging portion and the engaged portion is formed so as to be movable in a direction intersecting a straight traveling path in the front-rear direction of the engaged portion. Here, the “intersecting direction” is desirably an orthogonal direction (horizontal direction or vertical direction). In particular, when the moving direction of the one-side portion is a direction along the left-right direction of the holder, it is not necessary to secure the moving space of the one-side portion in the up-down direction. .

Further, when the slider enters the forward position, the other side part moves back over the one side part by retreating the one side part from the initial position, and moves one side after the slider enters the forward position. The side portion is formed so as to return to the initial position where it can be engaged with the other side portion.
Therefore, the slider that has entered the forward position is positioned at the forward position by engaging the one side portion that has returned to the initial position with the other side portion.

The one side portion may be the engaging portion, and the other side portion may be the engaged portion. In this case, it is preferable that the engaging portion is provided on an eject button attached to the holding body, and the engaging portion is constantly urged toward the initial position. Also,
When the slider moves into the forward position, the engaged portion is opposed to the engaging portion and the engaged portion against the elastic urging force applied to the engaging portion. A guide portion for retracting the engaged portion from the straight traveling path of the engaged portion,
In addition, it is desirable that the engaging portion is retracted from the straight moving path of the engaged portion by pressing the eject button. According to this, when the slider enters the forward position, the engaged portion retreats from the straight moving path of the engaged portion and moves over the engaging portion by the action of the guide portion. Further, when the ejecting body is pushed in to retract the engaging portion from the straight traveling path of the engaged portion, the locked state due to the engagement between the engaging portion and the engaged portion is released, and the slider moves in the retreating direction. Is pushed backward from the forward position by the resilient urging force.

In the present invention, the slider is provided with a locking portion, and the locking portion locks a locked portion provided on a card mounted on the slider to move the card to the slider. It is desirable that the temporary positioning be performed. A contact portion for preventing the temporary positioning state from being released by hitting the locking portion and preventing a retreat displacement of the locking portion when the slider has entered the forward position; and When the arm is retracted behind its forward position, it faces the engaging portion and allows the retracting displacement of the engaging portion, thereby enabling the temporary positioning state to be released. When the card is pulled in the backward direction of the slider while the slider is retracted behind its forward position, the locking portion is retracted and the temporary positioning state is released. It is desirable that

[0014] According to this, when a card is temporarily positioned (half-locked) and a pulling force is applied for some reason while the slider is in the forward position (when the card is accidentally pulled out). Such)
In this case, the temporary positioning state is not released because the contact portion prevents the backward displacement of the locking portion. Therefore, the card is not accidentally pulled out. On the other hand, when the slider is retracted behind its forward position,
When a pulling force is applied to the card temporarily positioned on the slider, the locking portion is retracted and the temporarily positioned state is released, so that the card can be pulled out.

The locked portion is a recess formed at an end portion in the left-right direction of the card, the locking portion is capable of being fitted into and removed from the recess in the left-right direction, and the locking portion is provided. Is formed at the distal end of a spring plate having a function of constantly resiliently biasing in a direction in which the locking portion is fitted into the concave portion, and the spring plate is positioned in the left-right direction of the slider. It is desirable that they are arranged along the side surfaces. With this configuration, it is not necessary to secure a space for moving the locking portion in the up-down direction, so that it becomes easier to promote the thinning of the connector.

In the case where the locking portion is bent at the distal end of the spring plate as described above, the resilient biasing force for biasing the slider in the backward direction is resiliently biased by the spring plate. It is desirable that the end face of the card mounted on the slider pushes the locking portion and the force is larger than the force required to retreat the locking portion. With this configuration, when inserting the card into the slider and mounting the card, the slider resists the elastic urging force that urges the slider in the backward direction until the card is temporarily positioned with respect to the slider. There is no need to move forward, and it becomes easier to mount the card on the slider.

[0017] It is desirable that when the card is retracted from the slider after the provisional positioning state is released, the locking portion elastically contacts the end face of the card. According to this, the card is prevented from jumping rearward due to the elastic contact force of the locking portion with the end face of the card. In particular, when the locking portion is in elastic contact with the left-right end face of the card, means for elastically pressing the locking portion to increase the elastic contact force of the locking portion against the end face is provided. According to this, since the elastic contact force is increased, the effect of preventing the card from jumping out is remarkably exhibited.

A stopper may be provided on the body to restrict the retreat position of the slider when the slider is pushed backward from the forward position, and a cushion member may be provided at a contact portion of the slider with the stopper. desirable. According to this, the impact when the slider pushed vigorously to the rear hits the stopper and stops at the retracted position is reduced by the cushion material.

[0019]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a card connector according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the slider 4, the lock mechanism 6, and the like.
4 to 6 are fragmentary plan views showing the operation of inserting the card, FIG. 7 is an enlarged plan view showing the operation of the lock mechanism 6, and FIG. 9 is a fragmentary plan view for explaining the operation of the auxiliary spring plate 7, and FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the principal part of the card 100 as viewed from the back side.

In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the body 1 forming the holding body of the card connector is made of a synthetic resin molded body having excellent electrical insulation, and has a flat box-shaped portion 11 at the front. And a pair of left and right arms 12 extending rearward from both left and right sides of the box-shaped portion. As shown in FIG. 2, the body 1 is divided in the left-right direction W into a first section A for attaching a contact piece member and a second section B for attaching a slider 4 and a lock mechanism 6 described later.

In the first section A, the front wall 14 of the body 1
Are mounted side by side in the left-right direction W, and each of the contact members 16 extends rearward of the front wall 14.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the slider 4 is made of a synthetic resin molded article that is elongated in the front and rear directions. The slider 4 has a support surface 41 that supports an end surface 101 on one side in the left-right direction of a card (small memory card, IC card, or the like) 100 described later, and a curved surface 42 that extends forward from the support surface 41. It has an engagement surface 43 connected to the front end of the curved surface 42 and perpendicular to the support surface 41. Further, a plate piece 45 projects rearward from the lower portion of the slider 4. Further, the slider 4 is provided with a hole 51 which is opened at the support surface 41, and the hole 51 is provided for temporary positioning (half lock) provided along the side surface 46 of the slider 4 located in the left-right direction. A locking portion 53 formed bent at the tip of the spring plate 52 is inserted and protrudes inward from the support surface 41. Further, the slider 4 holds a rubber cushioning material 47 and the slider 4
A spring body 48 for constantly biasing the slider 4 rearward is interposed between the spring body 48 and the body 1.

As shown in FIG. 2, the slider 4 is accommodated in the second section B of the body 1, the lower surface of the slider 4 contacts the bottom surface 21 of the body 1, and the outer surface 49 of the slider 4 is Side wall 22 and arm portion 12 of body 1 in section B
, And can slide in the front-rear direction T. The slider 4 is positioned at a forward position by a lock mechanism 6 described later.
The cushion member 47 is determined by hitting a stopper 18 which is a locking claw provided on a metal shield frame 17 provided on the metal frame 17.

The lock mechanism 6 functions to position the slider 4 at its forward position. The lock mechanism 6 has an engaged portion 61 which is moved in the front-rear direction together with the slider 4 at a front end portion of the slider 4, and an engaging portion 62 as a counterpart of the engaged portion 61. The engaging portion 62 is provided with an eject button 63 attached to the second section B of the body 1.
It is provided in. That is, the eject button 63 is attached to the body 1 so as to be able to be pushed back in the left and right direction and returned, and is constantly urged outward by the urging force of the spring body 64.
The initial position is determined by hitting. Further, as shown in an enlarged manner in FIG.
Guide portions 66 and 67 for the engaged portion 61 to retract the engaging portion 62 from the straight movement path of the engaged portion 61 when the slider 4 enters the forward position. Is provided. In the card connector shown in FIG.
Although the guide portions 66 and 67 are formed by inclined surfaces, even if one of the guide portions 66 and 67 has an inclined surface and the other has an angular shape, one of the guide portions 66 and 67 is an inclined surface and the other is an arc surface. You may. Further, the “moving path of the engaged portion 61” refers to a moving path of the engaged portion 61 that moves integrally with the slider 4 when the slider 4 moves straight forward and backward. By performing the pushing operation of the eject button 63, the engaging portion 62 is retracted from the straight moving path of the engaged portion 61. The engaged portion 61 and the engaging portion 62 forming the lock mechanism 6 in FIG.
Is shown in a perspective view. As shown in the figure,
The engaged portion 61 provided at the front end of the slider 4 has a groove 61a at an intermediate portion thereof.
Are provided over the front and back of the projecting piece 68 of the eject button 63. When the engaged portion 61 gets over the engaging portion 62, the projecting piece 68 passes through the groove 61a.

As shown in FIG. 10, a front-side one-side corner portion 103 of a card 100 such as an IC card is curved to have almost the same shape as the curved surface 42 of the slider 4 described above. The recessed portion 104 is formed on one side, specifically, on the back side. A recess 105 is also formed at the front end of the back surface of the card 100. An electrode formation area 106 is formed on the outer surface of the recess 105, and a required number of electrodes are formed in the electrode formation area 106 in a predetermined pattern. Have been. Further, a recessed portion is provided on one side in the left-right direction of the card 100, and the recessed portion is a locked portion 107 as a counterpart of the locking portion 53 described above.
Is formed.

When the slider 4 is positioned at the retracted position shown in FIG. 2, the card 100 is inserted into the body 1 through the insertion port 25 opened at the rear end of the body 1 as shown by arrows in FIGS. As shown in FIG. 4, the plate 45 of the slider 4 is inserted into the recess 104 of the card 100 as shown in FIG.
And the leading end 102 of the card 100 abuts against the engagement surface 43 of the slider 4. Further, the locking portion 53 of the spring plate 52
Is that the card 100 slides on the end face 101 of the card 100 while the card 100 is being inserted into the slider 4, and the card 10
When the leading end 102 of the card 100 abuts and engages with the engaging portion 44 of the slider 4 (that is, when it is mounted at a fixed position), it is fitted into the locked portion 107 of the card 100 by the bias of the spring plate 52. And locked to the locked portion 107,
In this state, the card 100 is provisionally positioned with respect to the slider 4. This is a temporary positioning state (half lock state).

Here, the force by which the spring body 48 elastically urges the slider 4 in the retreating direction is such that the locking portion 53 elastically urged by the spring plate 52 is pushed back by the end face 101 of the card 100. It is greater than the required force. Therefore, the situation where the slider 4 moves forward against the urging of the spring body 48 during insertion of the card 100 into the slider 4 and it becomes difficult to mount the card 100 on the slider 4 does not occur.

The card 100 mounted on the slider 4 as shown in FIG. 4 is pushed as shown by an arrow X2 in FIG.
00, the leading end 102 of the card 100 is pushed into the first section A
It approaches the front wall 14 of the body 1 (see FIG. 2). Also, at the stage when the slider 4 is being pushed in, as shown in FIG. 7, the engaged portion 61 of the slider 4 advances on the straight traveling path, and the engaged portion 61 By the action, the engaging portion 62 moves over the engaging portion 62 while being retracted from the straight moving path against the bias of the spring body 64. Then, the position of the slider 4 when the engaged portion 61 moves over the engaging portion 62 becomes the forward position, and after the slider 4 enters the forward position, the engaging portion 62 is biased by the spring body 63 as shown in FIG. 5 and return to the initial position shown in FIG. Therefore, when the force for pushing the card 100 is released, as shown in FIG.
2 and the slider 4 is positioned at the forward position.

FIG. 5 shows that the engaged portion 61 is
2 shows a state in which it has been moved to a position before the engagement position with No. 2. As described above, if the slider 4 is provided with an allowance for the forward / backward movement stroke, the engagement between the engaged portion 61 and the engaging portion 62 after the slider 4 enters the forward position can be ensured. There are advantages to be done.

When the slider 4 is pushed to the forward position, the contact member on the body 1 elastically contacts the electrode on the card 100 as shown in FIG. This state is a proper setting state of the card 100.

When the card 100 is properly set, it is necessary to avoid a situation in which the card 100 is accidentally pulled backward. Therefore, in this embodiment, the inner surface of the side wall 22 on the second section B side of the body 1 serves as a hitting portion 23, and the hitting portion 23 retreats to the locking portion 53 on the slider 4 side which has entered the advanced position. It is designed to prevent displacement. If you do this,
When the slider 4 is in the forward position, the card 10
When a situation occurs in which the card 0 is accidentally pulled backward, as shown in FIG.
As a result, the locking portion 53 of the spring plate 52 slightly pushed out from the locking portion 107 hits the contact portion 23 and is prevented from retreating, so that the temporary positioning state by the locking portion 53 and the locked portion 107 is not released. As a result, the card 100 is prevented from being forcibly pulled out.

When ejecting the card 100 from the set state, the eject button 63 is pushed in to
May be retracted from the straight movement path of the engaged portion 61. In this case, the temporary positioning state is released and the spring body 48 is released.
The slider 4 is pushed backward with the card 100 by the resilient urging force. When the slider 4 is pushed rearward in this manner, the cushion member 47 provided on the slider 4 hits the stopper 18 and the retreat position of the slider 4 is regulated. In addition, the shock when the slider 4 stops at the retracted position is reduced by the action of the cushion member 47.

When the slider 4 is pushed out to the retracted position by the resilient biasing force of the spring body 48, as shown in FIG.
To the opening formed on the rear side in the left-right direction. This opening serves as a locking portion displacement space 19 that allows the locking portion 53 to retreat. Therefore, when the locking portion 53 is engaged with the locked portion 107 on the card 100 side and the card 100 is provisionally positioned as shown in FIG. By pulling back 100, the locking portion 53 retreats from the locked portion 107 and the temporary positioning state is released, so that the card 100 can be properly pulled out.

On the other hand, when the slider 4 is pushed out to the retracted position by the elastic urging force of the spring body 48, the temporary positioning state of the card 100 is released by the inertia acting on the card 100, and the card 100 is accordingly moved. Sometimes jumps backwards vigorously. When such a situation occurs, the locking portion 53 that has slipped out of the locked portion 107 is pushed by the resilient urging force of the spring plate 52 so that the end face 1
01, the card 100 is prevented from jumping out of the body 1 by the frictional resistance at that time. However, depending on the magnitude of the elastic urging force of the spring plate 52 and the magnitude of the impact when the slider 4 is pushed out to the retracted position, the card portion 100 is not merely pressed by the locking portion 53 against the end face 101 of the card 100. A situation in which jumping out cannot be prevented may occur.

In this card connector, FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 6 and FIG.
Auxiliary spring plate 7 is arranged outside of the card 100. When the locking portion 53 is in elastic contact with the end surface 101 of the card 100, the auxiliary spring plate 7 elastically presses the locking portion 53 and the end surface 101
To increase the elastic contact force of the locking portion 53 with respect to. By doing so, it has become possible to reliably prevent the above-mentioned jumping out.

In the embodiment described above, the engaging portion 62 on the eject button 63 side is connected to the engaged portion 6 on the slider 4 side.
Although it is possible to move in a direction perpendicular to the straight traveling path of the first moving section 1, by pressing the eject button 63 obliquely, the moving direction of the engaging section 62 is changed to a direction other than the orthogonal direction, that is, the engaged section 61. The direction may intersect with the straight traveling path of the vehicle. Further, the engaging portion is provided at a fixed position on the body side, and the engaged portion on the slider side is swingable in a direction intersecting the straight traveling path of the engaged portion itself. The slider may enter the forward position by moving the engaged portion over the engaging portion on the body side. In this case, the engaged portion is attached to the body by the engagement with the engaging portion. A lock release button for retracting from the combined position may be provided.

[0037]

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a card connector in which the card holding function is exerted by the lock mechanism and the miniaturization of the card connector is not hindered by the lock mechanism. Also, even if the card in the set state is accidentally pulled backwards for some reason,
It is possible to provide a card connector in which the card does not easily recede from the set position. Further, it is possible to provide a card connector in which a card pushed backward by an elastic biasing force of a spring at the time of ejection does not jump out of the card connector.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an embodiment of a card connector of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view in which main parts of the card connector of FIG. 1 are cut away.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a slider, a lock mechanism, and the like.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary plan view showing the operation when the card is inserted.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary plan view showing the operation when the card is inserted.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary plan view showing the operation when the card is inserted.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged cutaway plan view for explaining the operation of the lock mechanism.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary plan view for explaining the function of a contact portion.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary plan view for explaining the operation of the auxiliary spring plate.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a main part of the card as viewed from the back side.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Card 1 Body (holding body) 4 Slider 6 Lock mechanism 7 Auxiliary spring plate (means for increasing elastic contact force) 18 Topper 19 Locking portion displacement space 23 Contact portion 46 Slider side surface 47 Cushion material 52 Spring plate 53 Locking portion Reference Signs List 61 engaged portion 62 engaging portion 63 eject button 66, 67 guide portion 107 locked portion (recessed portion) 101 card end face

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A lock mechanism which is pushed by a card, moves to a forward position, and is always urged in a retreating direction, is slidably held in a forward and backward direction by a holding member, and has a lock mechanism for positioning the slider at a forward position. In the card connector provided, the lock mechanism includes an engaged portion provided on the slider and moved in the front-rear direction together with the slider, and an engaging portion as a counterpart of the engaged portion. When one side of the engaging portion and the engaged portion is formed so as to be movable in a direction intersecting the rectilinear moving path in the front-rear direction of the engaged portion, and when the slider enters the forward position. The other side portion is moved backward over the one side portion by retreating the one side portion from the initial position, and the one side portion can be engaged with the other side portion after the slider has entered the forward position. Card connector, characterized in that it is formed so as to return to location. 2. The holding body is formed by a body,
2. The card connector according to claim 1, wherein a moving direction of the one side portion is a direction along a left-right direction of the body. 3. The one-side portion is the engaging portion, the other-side portion is the engaged portion, and the engaging portion is provided on an eject button attached to the holder. The engaging portion is constantly resiliently biased toward the initial position, and the engaged portion is engaged with the engaged portion when the slider enters the forward position. A guide portion is provided for retreating the engaging portion from the rectilinear moving path of the engaged portion against the resilient urging force applied to the engaging portion, and the guide portion is pushed by the eject button. 3. The card connector according to claim 1, wherein the engaging portion is retracted from the straight moving path of the engaged portion. 4. A locking portion is provided on the slider, and the locking portion locks a locked portion provided on a card mounted on the slider to temporarily position the card. And a contact portion for preventing the temporary positioning state from being released by preventing the retreat displacement of the locking portion by hitting the locking portion when the slider has entered the forward position. When the slider is retracted to the rear of its forward position, the locking portion enables the locking portion to be released from the temporary positioning state by facing the locking portion and allowing the locking portion to retreat. When the card is pulled in the backward direction of the slider while the slider is retracted behind its forward position, the locking portion is retracted and the temporary positioning state is released. As The card connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: 5. The locked portion is a recess formed at an end portion in the left-right direction of the card, and the locking portion is capable of being fitted into and removed from the recess portion in the left-right direction. The stop is
A side surface where the spring plate is bent at the tip of a spring plate having a function of constantly resiliently biasing in a direction in which the locking portion is fitted to the recessed portion, and the spring plate is located in the left-right direction of the slider. 5. The card connector according to claim 4, wherein the card connector is arranged along the line. 6. An elastic urging force for urging the slider in a backward direction pushes the locking portion elastically urged by the spring body by an end face of a card mounted on the slider, and the locking portion is pressed. 6. A force greater than the force required to retract the arm.
Card connector described in. 7. The card according to claim 4, wherein, when the temporary positioning state is released and the card retreats from the slider, the locking portion elastically contacts an end face of the card. Card connector. 8. A means for increasing elastic force of the locking portion against the end surface by elastically pressing the locking portion when the locking portion is in elastic contact with the left-right end face of the card. The card connector according to claim 7, wherein 9. A stopper is provided on the body for restricting a retreat position of the slider which is pushed to the rear of an advanced position, and a cushion material is provided at a contact portion of the slider with the stopper. Claim 1
A card connector according to claim 8.