JPH11296622A - Housing device for electronic device structure - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the occurrence of a physical failure even in a state where a card is partly jumped out of a housing device by covering and protecting the outside of the card protruded from a card slit via a guard part. SOLUTION: When an IC memory card 12 is inserted through a card slit, the card 12 moves in a guard member 14 and hits a sensing pin 28. Thus, a link bar 23 is turned against the force of a spring 24 with a pivot 26 defined as a fulcrum. Meanwhile, the member 14 is pushed out to the 'card position' in response to the turning of the bar 23 and then locked by a release means 25. As a result, the card 12 is electrically connected to the main body 11 of a housing device. In this state, about half of the card 12 is protruded to the outside and the outside of the card 12 is protected by the member 14 which is protruded from the main body 11. Therefore, the unnatural external force is never directly applied to the card 12 and accordingly the physical failures of the card 12 can be prevented.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic device structure storage device for connecting an electronic device structure such as an IC card to a portable personal computer or a digital camera.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, in electronic devices such as portable personal computers and digital cameras, IC memory cards and the like are increasingly used as electronic device structures. In an electronic device using the IC memory card, a card slot or the like for mounting an apparatus main body for storing the IC memory card is provided, and the IC memory card is installed inside the apparatus main body mounted in the card slot. It is to be inserted. At this time, the connector portion of the IC memory card and the connector portion provided inside the card slot are connected, and the IC memory card and the electronic device are electrically connected.

In the case where an IC memory card is stored in the main body of the device, the conventional structure employs a structure in which almost the entire IC memory card is stored in the main body of the device. By storing the IC memory card in the apparatus main body, the IC memory card is protected from being directly affected by an external impact or the like.

[0004]

However, when the IC memory card is stored in the main body of the apparatus, almost all of the IC memory card is stored in the main body of the conventional structure. The insertion requires a large space in the apparatus body. This is an obstacle to downsizing not only the apparatus main body but also the electronic equipment to which the apparatus main body is mounted.

[0005] In view of this, there is a conceivable specification in which the IC memory card is not stored in its entirety, but is used in a state where a part of the IC memory card is protruded from the apparatus main body. In this case, there were the following problems. First, when an excessive force acts on the IC memory card from the outside, the force is directly applied to the IC memory card, and there is a possibility that a physical failure occurs. Second, since the IC memory card can be easily touched, the IC memory card may be accidentally removed during use, and a connection error or the like at the connector may occur.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an electronic device structure storage device capable of obtaining a downsized electronic device without impairing protection of the electronic device structure. Is to do.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, there is provided an electronic device structure storage apparatus having an insertion opening for inserting and removing an electronic device assembly, wherein the insertion opening corresponds to the insertion opening. A guard member is provided to cover and protect the outside of the electronic device structure which protrudes.

According to this structure, a part of the electronic device structure protruding from the insertion port to the outside can be protected by being covered with the guard member from the outside. That is, when an excessive force is applied from the outside, the force can be received once by the guard member and can be prevented from being directly applied to the electronic device structure, so that the occurrence of a physical failure can be suppressed. Further, the protection of the guard member can prevent the electronic device structure from being easily touched, so that an error such as removal of the electronic device structure during use can be prevented. As a result, even when the electronic device structure is used in a state where only a part of the electronic device structure is inserted without being inserted, it is possible to eliminate a problem that has conventionally been a problem, and to reduce the size of the electronic device. Become.

[0009]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Although the embodiments described below are preferred specific examples of the present invention, various technically preferable limitations are given thereto. However, the scope of the present invention is particularly limited in the following description. Is not limited to these embodiments unless otherwise described.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a schematic configuration and layout of an electronic device structure storage apparatus according to the present invention, respectively. FIG. 3 shows a state in which an IC memory card such as an extended memory is being inserted into an insertion slot and viewed from the lower surface side. FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of a main part of the electronic device structure storage device.

1 to 3, an apparatus main body 11 attached to a computer has an insertion slot 13 (see FIG. 3) for inserting and removing an IC memory card 12 as an electronic device structure. The IC memory card 12 is a standard product, and a connector (not shown) is provided at the tip of the insertion side. On the other hand, the device body 1
Most of the basic structure in FIG. 1 has a shape and size according to the standard of the IC memory card, and a guard member 14 is slid from the insertion slot 13 to be taken in and out.

In addition, the insertion slot 1
A connector section 15 that is electrically coupled to a connector section of the IC memory card 12 is provided in a deep portion where the IC memory card 12 inserted from 3 abuts. When the device main body 11 is inserted into the memory card slot 17 of an electronic device 16 such as a computer, the connector portion 15 is electrically connected to a connector (not shown) on the electronic device 16 side.

The guard member 14 is slid under the guidance of the apparatus main body 11, and is stored in the apparatus main body 11 in the state shown in FIG. 2 (hereinafter, this position is referred to as a "storage position") and shown in FIG. The structure is such that it can be switched to a position protruding from the apparatus main body 11 to be in a state (hereinafter, this position is referred to as a “guard position”). Further, the outer shape of the guard member 14 is formed in a cover shape capable of covering most of the outside of the IC memory card 12, has open front and rear ends, and extends from the front opening 18 (see FIG. 3).
The C memory card 12 can be inserted. The rear end side of the guard member 14 has a long slot 19 for engagement.
And a notch 20 are formed. The interlocking mechanism 21 is linked to the long hole 19 for engagement.
The notch 20 is an escape for avoiding interference with the base 22 to which the interlocking mechanism 21 is attached.

The interlocking mechanism 21 includes the base 22, a link piece 23, a spring 24, release means 25 and the like. Among these, the base 22 is fixedly attached to the upper surface on the rear end side of the apparatus main body 11. Link piece 2
Reference numeral 3 denotes a converting means, and an intermediate portion is rotatably mounted on the base 22 via a pivot 26. The guard member 14 is provided at one end of the link piece 23.
Pin 27 which is linked to the long slot 19 for engagement
Is attached. On the other hand, a detection pin 28 is attached to the other end of the link piece 23 so as to come into contact with the leading end of the IC memory card 12 when the IC memory card 12 is inserted into the apparatus main body 11. When the link piece 23 is rotated, the engagement pin 27 and the long slot 19 for engagement are engaged, so that the guard member 14 moves the “storage position” and the “guard position” in conjunction with the rotation of the link piece 23. ". The spring 24 is a coil spring, one end of which is hooked on the base 22 via the mounting pin 29, and the other end of which is hooked on the link piece 23. The spring 24 constantly urges the link piece 23 so that the link piece 23 is moved in the clockwise direction in FIG. 1, that is, the guard member 14 is moved in the “storage position” direction.

The release means 25 locks and unlocks the guard member 14 at the "storage position".
The detailed structure is schematically shown in FIGS. 4 to 8, the release means 25 is mainly composed of a lock bar 30 and a release bar 31. The lock bar 30 and the release bar 31
The pivots 32 fixed to 1 are commonly used, are arranged in a mutually superposed state, and are disposed outside the guard member 14 and along one side of the guard member 14.

More specifically, the release bar 31
One end has an elongated hole 33 engaged with the pivot 32, and the engagement between the elongated hole 33 and the pivot 32 makes it possible to move in the front-rear direction. On the other end of the release bar 31, a release button 34 is provided.
1 is attached so as to protrude from the front surface. An unlocking cam 35 is formed in an intermediate portion of the release bar 31 in an inclined surface shape. Further, a spring 36 is attached to the release bar 31, and the spring force of the spring 36 causes the release bar 31 to release the release button 31 in a direction in which the release button 34 protrudes outward.
Is energizing.

The lock bar 30 has one end rotatably disposed about a pivot 32 as a fulcrum, and a pin 37 which can contact the unlocking cam 35 is attached to an intermediate portion. On the other end side, the guard member 14 is engaged with the locked surface 14a (see FIGS. 4 and 5) of the guard member 14.
A locking claw 38 capable of holding the 4 at the "guard position" is integrally formed. Further, a spring 39 is provided between the lock bar 30 and the apparatus main body 11.
Is pressed against the guard member 14 side. The spring 39 is mounted around the pivot 32 as a wrap spring, as shown in FIG.

In the release means 25, when the release button 34 of the release lever 31 is not depressed, the unlocking cam 35 has an inclined surface corresponding to the pin 37, and the lock bar 30 It is in a state where it can be pivoted to the uppermost position with respect to 30. Accordingly, in this state, as shown in FIG. 6, when the guard member 14 is disposed at the “guard position” and the claw 38 of the lock bar 30 corresponds to the locked surface 14a of the guard member 14, the lock bar 30 The arm 38 pivots largely toward the guard member 14, and the claw 38 is engaged with the locked surface 14a to be locked. On the contrary, in the locked state, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 7, when the release button 34 is slid into the apparatus main body 11, the operation of the unlocking cam 35 and the pin 37 causes the lock bar 30 to rotate in the direction away from the guard member 14, and the claw 38 Locked surface 14 of member 14
The lock is released from the position a. Also, when released, the guard member 14 locks the lock bar 3 as shown in FIG.
It is moved to the "storage position" while sliding on the top. on the other hand,
When the pressing operation is released, the release button 34 is returned to the initial position by the urging force of the spring 39.

The operation of the electronic device structure storage apparatus having the above structure will be described below. First, a state before the IC memory card 12 is inserted will be described.
Shows a state before the IC memory card 12 is inserted. In this state, the link piece 23 is rotated clockwise about the pivot 26 by the urging force of the spring 24, and the guard member 14 is completely housed in the apparatus main body 11. Further, the release means 25 is in an unlocked state, and the lock lever 31 is in a state where the release button 34 protrudes from the apparatus main body 11 to the maximum.

Next, the case where the IC memory card 12 is inserted will be described. In the state shown in FIG. 2, when the IC memory card 12 is inserted through the insertion slot 13, the IC memory card 12 advances inside the guard member 14. Also, the IC memory card 12 hits the detection pin 28,
When pushed further, the link piece 23 is
2 in the counterclockwise direction in FIG.
Is rotated around the fulcrum. Further, the guard member 14 is also pushed toward the "guard position" in conjunction with the rotation of the link piece 23. When the guard member 14 is pushed out to the "guard position" shown in FIG. 1, the claw 38 of the lock lever 30 in the release means 25 is engaged with the locked surface 14a of the guard member 14 and locked. This gives I
When the insertion of the C memory card 12 is completed, the connector of the IC memory card 12 is electrically connected to the connector 15 of the apparatus main body 11. When the insertion is completed, the entire IC memory card 12 is not housed in the apparatus main body 11, and about half of the IC memory card 12 projects outward. Then, as shown in FIG. 1, the guard member 14 protruding from the inside of the apparatus main body 11 is formed.
As a result, the outside of the protruding IC memory card 12 is covered and protected. In this state, if an unreasonable force is applied from the outside, the force is received by the guard member 14, so that the force is not directly applied to the IC memory card 12. Thereby, a physical failure can be prevented. In addition, since the IC memory card 12 is
, The IC memory card 12 can be accidentally removed during use, thereby preventing a connection error or the like from occurring at the connector.

Next, when the IC memory card 12 is to be removed again, the release button 34 is pressed. Then, the lock bar 30 is rotated in a direction away from the guard member 14 by the unlocking cam 35 of the release bar 31, so that the engagement lock between the claw 38 and the locked surface 14 a is released, and the guard member 14 is locked.
, The spring force of the spring 24 is directly applied. Then, the link piece 23 is rotated clockwise in FIG. 1 and the guard member 14 is pulled into the apparatus main body 11, and at the same time, the IC
The memory card 12 is moved in a direction in which the memory card 12 is ejected from the apparatus main body 11, and is ejected to a position indicated by a dashed line in FIG. Further, by pulling out the ejected IC memory card 12, the IC memory card 12
Can be removed.

Next, the operation and effect obtained from the above embodiment will be described below. First, since the IC memory card 12 is not mounted while being stored in the apparatus main body 11, the IC memory card 12 provided in the apparatus main body 11 is not mounted.
The storage space for storing is about half of the conventional one,
The size of the apparatus main body 11 can be reduced. That is, although the use of the IC memory card 12 does not contribute to downsizing, the downsizing can be achieved when the computer device is used without the memory card 12 attached. Secondly, when the IC memory card 12 is mounted, the IC memory card 12 is mounted in a state of protruding outward by about half, but the protruding portion is protected by the guard member 14 covering the outside. . Therefore, when an excessive force is applied from the outside, the force is received by the guard member 14, and is not directly applied to the IC memory card 12. Thereby, a physical failure can be prevented. In addition, since the IC memory card 12 is not easily touched from the outside by being covered with the guard member 14, it is possible to prevent a connection error or the like from occurring in the connector portion.

In the above embodiment, the release button 3
4 is pressed, and the engagement lock between the claw 38 and the locked surface 14a is released, the link piece 23 is rotated by the force of the spring 24, and the retracting operation of the guard member 14 and the ejection of the IC memory card 12 are performed. A simultaneous structure has been disclosed. However, the guard member 14 may be manually pushed in, and the link piece 23 may be rotated by the force at this time to eject the IC memory card 12. In addition, the case where the IC memory card 12 of the computer device is handled has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention can be used for an electronic device structure such as an IC memory card connected to a digital camera or the like.

[0024]

As described above, according to the present invention, a part of the electronic device structure protruding from the insertion opening to the outside can be covered and protected from the outside by the guard member. The force works, and the occurrence of a physical failure can be suppressed before it occurs. In addition, the protection of the guard member can prevent the electronic device structure from being easily touched, so that it is possible to prevent accidental removal of the electronic device structure during use and occurrence of a connection error at the connector. Prevention and reliability can be improved. Thus, according to the present invention, the electronic device structure can be used in a state where only a part thereof is inserted without inserting the entire electronic device structure, so that the electronic apparatus can be miniaturized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic structural layout diagram of a device of the present invention before an IC memory card is mounted.

FIG. 2 is a schematic structural layout diagram of the device of the present invention shown with an IC memory card mounted.

FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of a main part of the device of the present invention, showing a state in which an IC memory card is being mounted.

FIG. 4 is a top view schematically showing a detailed structure of a release means of the device of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view schematically showing a detailed structure of a release means of the device of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an operation diagram of a release unit shown in a locked state.

FIG. 7 is an operation diagram of a release unit shown in a state where a lock is released by pressing a release button.

FIG. 8 is an operation diagram of the release means shown in a state where the release button is returned and the lock is released.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Device main body, 12 ... IC memory card (electronic device structure), 13 ... Insert port, 14 ... Guard member, 21 ... Interlocking mechanism, 23 ... Link piece (conversion means), 24 ... Spring, 25 ... Release means, 30 ... Lock bar, 31 ... Release bar, 34 ... Release button, 35 ... Lock release cam.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An electronic device assembly storage device having an insertion opening for inserting and removing an electronic device assembly, wherein the electronic device assembly storage device covers and protects the outside of the electronic device assembly protruding from the insertion opening corresponding to the insertion opening. An electronic device structure storage device provided with a guard member. 2. An interlocking mechanism for protruding the guide member toward the outside where the electronic device structure is inserted, in conjunction with the insertion of the electronic device structure.
An electronic device structure storage device according to claim 1. 3. The interlocking mechanism has an urging means for constantly urging the guide member with a force for the guide member to move inward and return, and an urging force of the urging means. 3. The electronic device structure storage device according to claim 2, further comprising a releasable release means provided with a lock member for preventing movement of the guide member against the movement of the guide member. 4. The converting mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the interlocking mechanism converts a force when the guide member is returned to the initial storage position into a force in a direction in which the electronic device assembly is ejected, and applies the force to the electronic device assembly. The electronic device structure storage device according to claim 2, further comprising: