US20180175551A1 - Card Connector - Google Patents
Card Connector Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20180175551A1 US20180175551A1 US15/577,909 US201615577909A US2018175551A1 US 20180175551 A1 US20180175551 A1 US 20180175551A1 US 201615577909 A US201615577909 A US 201615577909A US 2018175551 A1 US2018175551 A1 US 2018175551A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- engaging portion
- inclined face
- abuttable
- load
- slider
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
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Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
- G06K13/00—Conveying record carriers from one station to another, e.g. from stack to punching mechanism
- G06K13/02—Conveying record carriers from one station to another, e.g. from stack to punching mechanism the record carrier having longitudinal dimension comparable with transverse dimension, e.g. punched card
- G06K13/08—Feeding or discharging cards
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
- H01R13/62—Means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts or for holding them in engagement
- H01R13/629—Additional means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts, e.g. aligning or guiding means, levers, gas pressure electrical locking indicators, manufacturing tolerances
- H01R13/633—Additional means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts, e.g. aligning or guiding means, levers, gas pressure electrical locking indicators, manufacturing tolerances for disengagement only
- H01R13/635—Additional means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts, e.g. aligning or guiding means, levers, gas pressure electrical locking indicators, manufacturing tolerances for disengagement only by mechanical pressure, e.g. spring force
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
- G06K13/00—Conveying record carriers from one station to another, e.g. from stack to punching mechanism
- G06K13/02—Conveying record carriers from one station to another, e.g. from stack to punching mechanism the record carrier having longitudinal dimension comparable with transverse dimension, e.g. punched card
- G06K13/08—Feeding or discharging cards
- G06K13/0806—Feeding or discharging cards using an arrangement for ejection of an inserted card
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
- G06K13/00—Conveying record carriers from one station to another, e.g. from stack to punching mechanism
- G06K13/02—Conveying record carriers from one station to another, e.g. from stack to punching mechanism the record carrier having longitudinal dimension comparable with transverse dimension, e.g. punched card
- G06K13/08—Feeding or discharging cards
- G06K13/0806—Feeding or discharging cards using an arrangement for ejection of an inserted card
- G06K13/0825—Feeding or discharging cards using an arrangement for ejection of an inserted card the ejection arrangement being of the push-push kind
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
- G06K13/00—Conveying record carriers from one station to another, e.g. from stack to punching mechanism
- G06K13/02—Conveying record carriers from one station to another, e.g. from stack to punching mechanism the record carrier having longitudinal dimension comparable with transverse dimension, e.g. punched card
- G06K13/08—Feeding or discharging cards
- G06K13/085—Feeding or discharging cards using an arrangement for locking the inserted card
- G06K13/0856—Feeding or discharging cards using an arrangement for locking the inserted card the locking arrangement comprising a notch in the card and a complementary locking means in the card reading station
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H01R12/00—Structural associations of a plurality of mutually-insulated electrical connecting elements, specially adapted for printed circuits, e.g. printed circuit boards [PCB], flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, e.g. terminal strips, terminal blocks; Coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures; Terminals specially adapted for contact with, or insertion into, printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures
- H01R12/70—Coupling devices
- H01R12/71—Coupling devices for rigid printing circuits or like structures
- H01R12/712—Coupling devices for rigid printing circuits or like structures co-operating with the surface of the printed circuit or with a coupling device exclusively provided on the surface of the printed circuit
- H01R12/716—Coupling device provided on the PCB
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H01R12/00—Structural associations of a plurality of mutually-insulated electrical connecting elements, specially adapted for printed circuits, e.g. printed circuit boards [PCB], flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, e.g. terminal strips, terminal blocks; Coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures; Terminals specially adapted for contact with, or insertion into, printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures
- H01R12/70—Coupling devices
- H01R12/71—Coupling devices for rigid printing circuits or like structures
- H01R12/72—Coupling devices for rigid printing circuits or like structures coupling with the edge of the rigid printed circuits or like structures
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
- H01R13/62—Means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts or for holding them in engagement
- H01R13/629—Additional means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts, e.g. aligning or guiding means, levers, gas pressure electrical locking indicators, manufacturing tolerances
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
- H01R13/62—Means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts or for holding them in engagement
- H01R13/639—Additional means for holding or locking coupling parts together, after engagement, e.g. separate keylock, retainer strap
Definitions
- the invention relates to card connectors.
- the card connector includes a body, a slider, a lock spring, a first spring, and a second spring.
- the body has a slot, a movement path, and a rib.
- the slot is a space in the body for insertion and removal of a card.
- the movement path is provided next to the slot of the body and extends in the card-insertion/removal-direction of the card.
- the rib is disposed in the movement path.
- the slider is provided such as to be slidable in the movement path of the body, together with the card, from a first position to a third position beyond a second position. The slider is located at the second position in the initial state.
- the second position is located on the card-discharge-direction side relative to the first position.
- the third position is located on the card-discharge-direction side relative to the second position.
- the lock spring is provided at the slider and is movable in the insertion/removal direction together with the slider.
- the lock spring includes an engaging portion engageable with an engaging recess of the card. When the slider is located at the second position, the engaging portion of the lock spring does not abut the rib and therefore can be displaced away from the engaging recess of the card. The displacement of the engaging portion of the lock spring away from the engaging recess of the card causes release of the engagement between the engaging portion of the lock spring and the engaging recess of the card.
- the engaging portion of the lock spring abuts the rib of the body, which prevents displacement of the engaging portion of the lock spring away from the engaging recess of the card.
- the first spring applies an urging force to the slider in the discharge direction.
- the second spring elastically contacts the slider to cause the slider to lose momentum and presses the slider back to the second position.
- Patent Literature 1 WO 2005/034295
- the slider Since the slider is configured to be movable in the discharge direction, beyond the second position and up to the third position, it is difficult to reduce the dimension in the insertion/removal direction of the card connector.
- the above card connector has a complicated configuration due to requirement to allow release of the engagement between the lock spring and the engaging recess of the card with the slider located at the second position, and also due to requirement to maintain the engagement between the lock spring and the engaging recess of the card with the slider located at the third position.
- the invention has been devised in view of the above circumstances and provides a card connector with a reduced size and a simplified structure.
- a card connector of an aspect of the invention includes a body, a slider, an urging member, and a lock spring.
- the body includes a slot, a movement path, and an abuttable portion.
- a card can be inserted into and removed from the slot along a first direction.
- the movement path extends in the first direction and is located on one side of a second direction relative to the slot.
- the second direction crosses the first direction.
- the abuttable portion is provided inside the movement path and includes an inclined face.
- the inclined face is inclined in a direction including components of one side of the first direction and the other side of the second direction.
- the slider is accommodated inside the movement path so as to be movable in the first direction, at least between a first position and a second position.
- the second position is located on the one side of the first direction relative to the first position.
- the urging member exerts on the slider an urging force to the one side of the first direction.
- the lock spring is provided at the slider and movable in the first direction together with the slider.
- the lock spring includes an engaging portion.
- the engaging portion is engageable with an engaging recess of the card, from the one side of the second direction.
- the lock spring is elastically deformable such that the engaging portion thereof is displaced to the one side of the second direction.
- the card connector of this aspect has the following technical features.
- the conventional card connector described above is configured to prevent the card from springing out by bringing the lock spring into abutment with the rib when the slider is located at the third position that is located on the discharge-direction side relative to the second position.
- the card connector of the invention is configured such that the engaging portion of the lock spring is brought into abutment with the inclined face of the abuttable portion when the slider is located at the second position, so that the slider does not move to the one side of the first direction beyond the second position. Therefore, the card connector of the invention has a reduced dimension in the first direction (the card connector is downsized).
- the card connector has a simplified construction.
- this card connector has a simple configuration to allow two operations in a state where the slider is located at the second position: preventing a card from spring-out and removing the card. Specifically, when the urging force of the urging member causes the slider to move to the one side of the first direction (in the card discharge direction), from the first position to the second position, the engaging portion of the lock spring is brought into abutment with the inclined face of the abuttable portion of the body.
- the inclined face is inclined in the direction including the components of the one side of the first direction and the other side of the second direction, a force is generated against the load on the inclined face upon the abutment, and the force acts on the engaging portion in the direction including components of the other side of the first direction and the other side of the second direction.
- This force prevents displacement of the engaging portion to the one side of the second direction and maintains the engagement of the engaging portion with the engaging recess of the card. The card is thus prevented from springing out of the card connector.
- the engaging portion may include an inclined portion.
- the inclined portion may be inclined in a direction that is substantially the same as an inclining direction of the inclined face and be configured to make surface-contact with the inclined face.
- the engaging portion is easy to be displaced to the one side of the second direction along the inclined face of the abuttable portion when the engaging portion is subjected to a load from a card in the direction including the components of the one side of the first direction and the one side of the second direction. This is because the load from the card is allowed to be transferred more easily from the inclined portion of the engaging portion to the inclined face of the abuttable portion, and the force generated against the load is allowed to act as a force for displacing the engaging portion along the inclined face of the abuttable portion.
- the engaging portion may be elastically deformable when brought into abutment with the inclined face of the abuttable portion.
- elastic deformation of the engaging portion mitigates impact occurring when the engaging portion is brought into abutment with the inclined face of the abuttable portion.
- the engaging portion may be constituted by a flat spring of hook shape.
- the engaging portion may be constituted by an elastic body of rubber or other material.
- FIG. 1A is a front, top, right side perspective view of a card connector of an embodiment of the invention.
- FIG. 1B is a front, top, left side perspective view of a body, a slider, a lock spring, an urging member, and a heart-cam mechanism of the card connector with the slider located at a second position.
- FIG. 2A is a front, top, right side exploded perspective view of the card connector.
- FIG. 2B is a back, bottom, right side exploded perspective view of the card connector.
- FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view, taken along line 2 A- 2 A in FIG. 1A , of the card connector and a card with the slider pressed beyond a first position.
- FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view, taken along line 2 A- 2 A in FIG. 1A , of the card connector and the card received therein with the slider located at the first position.
- FIG. 3C is a cross-sectional view, taken along line 2 A- 2 A in FIG. 1A , of the card connector and the card with the slider located at the second position.
- FIG. 3D is a cross-sectional view, taken along line 2 A- 2 A in FIG. 1A , of the card connector and the card, with the slider located at the second position and with the engagement released between an engaging portion of the lock spring and an engaging recess of the card.
- FIG. 3E is a cross-sectional view, taken along line 2 A- 2 A in FIG. 1A , of the card connector and the card, with the slider located at the second position and with the engagement maintained between the engaging portion of the lock spring and the engaging recess of the card.
- a card connector C of an embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1A to 3E .
- the card connector C is a connector for connection with a card M. These will be described in detail below.
- the Y-Y′ direction indicated in FIGS. 2A to 3E corresponds to the insertion/removal direction of the card M with respect to the card connector C and corresponds to the first direction in the claims.
- the Y direction corresponds to the discharge direction of the card M and corresponds to one side of the first direction in the claims
- the Y′ direction corresponds to the insertion direction of the card M (opposite to the discharge direction) and corresponds to the other side of the first direction.
- the X direction corresponds to one side of the second direction in the claims
- the X′ direction corresponds to the other side of the second direction in the claims.
- the Z-Z′ direction indicated in FIGS. 2A and 2B orthogonally crosses the Y-Y′ and X-X′ directions.
- the card M is, for example, an IC card, a PC card, a SIM card, an SD card, a mini SD card, or the like. As well illustrated in FIGS. 3A to 3E , the card M includes an engaging recess M 1 and a plurality of electrodes (not shown).
- the engaging recess M 1 is provided centrally in the end portion on the X-direction side of the card M.
- the electrodes are provided on an end face on the Z′-direction side (i.e. bottom face) of the card M.
- the card connector C includes a body 100 , a plurality of terminals 200 , a slider 300 , a lock spring 400 , and an urging member 500 .
- the body 100 is made of an insulating plastic.
- the body 100 includes a slot 110 .
- the slot 110 is a recess in the body 100 and extends in the Y-Y′ direction.
- the slot 110 opens at least in the Y direction.
- the slot 110 may or may not open in the Z direction.
- the slot 110 has an X-X′ direction dimension corresponding to that of the card M.
- the slot 110 is smaller in Y-Y′ direction dimension than the card M.
- the card M can be inserted into and removed from the slot 110 along the Y-Y′ direction.
- FIG. 3B illustrates the card M located at a connection position where the card M is connected to the card connector C.
- FIG. 3C illustrates the card M located at a discharge position where the card M can be discharged from the slot 110 of the card connector C.
- Each of the terminals 200 includes a contact portion 210 and a connection portion 220 .
- the terminals 200 may preferably be held in the body 100 such that the contact portions 210 are located within the slot 110 and the connection portions 220 protrude outwards from the body 100 .
- the terminals 200 may be insert-molded in the body 100 , or may be respectively held in holding grooves or holding holes (not shown) in the body 100 .
- the contact portions 210 are arranged in accordance with the positions of the electrodes of the card M as located at the connection position.
- the connection portions 220 are arranged in accordance with the positions of electrodes of a circuit board (not shown) or other member to mount the card connector C.
- the terminals 200 are insert-molded in the body 100 such that the contact portions 210 are located inside the slot 110 and the connection portions 220 protrude in the Y′ direction from the Y′ end face of the body 100 .
- the body 100 further includes a movement path 120 .
- the movement path 120 is provided on the X′-direction side relative to the slot 110 of the body 100 and extends in the Y-Y′ direction.
- the movement path 120 communicates with the slot 110 .
- the movement path 120 accommodates the slider 300 .
- the slider 300 is movable, together with the card M, in the Y-Y′ direction at least between a first position and a second position in the movement path 120 .
- the first position is the position of the slider 300 when the card M is located at the connection position.
- the second position which is on the Y-direction side relative to the first position, is the position of the slider 300 when the card M is located at the discharge position.
- the second position is also the initial position of the slider 300 when the card M is not inserted.
- the movement path 120 may include an X-direction-side guide 121 and an X′-direction-side guide 122 .
- the guide 121 and the guide 122 are only required to guide the slider 300 movably in the Y-Y′ direction between the guides 121 and 122 .
- the guide 121 may have any one of the following configurations: an X-direction-side wall face of the movement path 120 , a ridge in the movement path 120 extending in the Y-Y′ direction, a plurality of protrusions in the movement path 120 at spaced intervals in the Y-Y′ direction, or the like.
- the guide 122 may have any one of the following configurations: an X′-direction-side wall face of the movement path 120 , a ridge in the movement path 120 extending in the Y-Y′ direction, a plurality of protrusions in the movement path 120 at spaced intervals in the Y-Y′ direction, or the like.
- the guide 122 has a Z-Z′ direction dimension that does not interfere with the slider 300 and the lock spring 400 .
- the movement path 120 and the slot 110 communicate with each other on the Z-direction side relative to the guide 122 .
- the guide 122 may be provided with an opening for avoiding interference with the slider 300 and the lock spring 400 . In this case, the movement path 120 and the slot 110 communicate with each other through the opening.
- the slider 300 may include an X-direction-side runner 310 and an X′-direction-side runner 310 .
- the runner 310 is only required to be movable in the Y-Y′ direction along the guide 121
- the runner 320 is only required to be movable in the Y-Y′ direction along the guide 122 .
- the runner 310 may have any one of the following configurations: an X-direction-side end face of the slider 300 , a ridge on the slider 300 extending in the Y-Y′ direction, a plurality of protrusions on the slider 300 at spaced intervals in the Y-Y′ direction, or the like.
- the runner 320 may have any one of the following configurations: an X′-direction-side end face of the slider 300 , a ridge on the slider 300 extending in the Y-Y′ direction, a plurality of protrusions on the slider 300 at spaced intervals in the Y-Y′ direction, or the like.
- the guide 121 is the X-direction-side wall face of the movement path 120
- the guide 122 is a ridge being provided at the X′-direction end of the bottom face of the movement path 120 and extending in the Y-Y′ direction.
- the runner 310 is the X-direction-side end face of the slider 300
- the runner 320 is a ridge being provided on the Z′-direction-side face of the slider 300 and extending in the Y-Y′ direction.
- the urging member 500 is only required to exert on the slider 300 an urging force in the Y direction.
- the urging member 500 may be a coil spring, a flat spring, a plastic plate, or an elastic body of rubber or other material.
- the urging member 500 may be disposed in a compressed state between the slider 300 and part of the body 100 , or may be positionally fixed in the body 100 so as to be able to urge the slider 300 in the Y direction.
- the urging member 500 may be disposed inside or outside the movement path 120 of the body 100 . In FIGS.
- the urging member 500 is a coil spring disposed inside the movement path 120 in a compressed state, between the Y′-direction-side wall of the movement path 120 and the slider 300 .
- the Y′-direction-side wall of the movement path 120 is provided with a column 140 received in the urging member 500 .
- the Y-direction-side end portion of the slider 300 is provided with an accommodating recess 330 for accommodating the Y-direction-side end portion of the urging member 500 .
- the slider 300 may preferably further include a holding portion 340 .
- the holding portion 340 holds the lock spring 400 .
- the holding portion 340 may be a holding groove or a holding hole for holding the lock spring 400 partly, or may be a portion of the slider 300 in which the lock spring 400 is partly insert-molded.
- the holding portion 340 may be provided at any position in the slider 300 .
- the holding portion 340 may be provided on the Z′-direction-side face of the slider 300 , or may be a part of the Y-direction-side end portion of the slider 300 .
- the holding portion 340 includes a block and a holding groove.
- the block is provided on the X-direction side relative to the runner 320 on the Z′-direction-side face of the slider 300 .
- the holding groove is provided in the block.
- the lock spring 400 includes an engaging portion 410 .
- the lock spring 400 is only required to be elastically deformable such that the engaging portion 410 is displaced in the X direction.
- the lock spring 400 is constituted by a flat spring, plastic, rubber, a combination of a flat spring and plastic, a combination of a flat spring and rubber, a combination of plastic and rubber, a combination of a flat spring, plastic, and rubber, etc.
- the engaging portion 410 partly protrudes in the X′ direction from the slider 300 and is partly located inside the slot 110 .
- the engaging portion 410 is engageable with the engaging recess M 1 of the card M.
- the body 100 further includes an abuttable portion 130 .
- the abuttable portion 130 is only required to be located inside the movement path 120 and includes an inclined face 131 .
- the abuttable portion 130 may be, for example, a rib inside the movement path 120 or a portion of a wall of the movement path 120 .
- the inclined face 131 is inclined in a direction having components of the Y and X′ directions.
- the inclined face 131 may be flat (level) with respect to the Z-Z′ direction, or may be also inclined in either the Z direction or the Z′ direction.
- FIGS. 3A to 3E show the former case.
- the inclined face 131 of the abuttable portion 130 is a portion of the body 100 that is abuttable on the engaging portion 410 of the lock spring 400 from the Y′-direction side when the slider 300 is located at the second position.
- the engaging portion 410 is brought into abutment with the inclined face 131 , generated is a force against the load exerted on the inclined face 131 . Since the inclined face 131 is inclined as described above, this force acts on the engaging portion 410 in a direction having components of the Y′ and X′ directions. This action prevents displacement in the X direction of the engaging portion 410 .
- the engaging portion 410 When the engaging portion 410 is not engaged with the engaging recess M 1 of the card M, the engaging portion 410 is retained in abutment with the inclined face 131 because of the prevention of displacement of the engaging portion 410 and the urging force in the Y direction of the urging member 500 .
- the slider 300 is thus retained at the second position.
- the engaging portion 410 When the engaging portion 410 is engaged with the engaging recess M 1 of the card M, the engagement therebetween is maintained because of the prevention of displacement of the engaging portion 410 .
- the card M is thus prevented from springing out of the slot 110 of the card connector C.
- the engaging portion 410 may be configured to be elastically deformable when brought into abutment with the inclined face 131 of the abuttable portion 130 .
- the engaging portion 410 may be a flat spring or a plastic plate bent in a hook shape, or an elastic body of rubber or other material.
- the portion other than the engaging portion 410 of the lock spring 400 may be a flat spring or a plastic plate integrally formed with the engaging portion 410 , or may be a plastic member or an elastic body connected to the engaging portion 410 .
- the portion other than the engaging portion 410 of the lock spring 400 may be an elastic body of rubber or other material integrally formed with the engaging portion 410 , or may be a flat spring or a plastic member connected to the engaging portion 410 .
- the engaging portion 410 may be configured to elastically deform such that the Y-Y′ direction dimension of the engaging portion 410 decreases upon abutment.
- the engaging portion 410 may be configured to elastically deform such that the Y-Y′ direction dimension of the engaging portion 410 decreases and the X-X′ direction dimension of the engaging portion 410 increases upon abutment.
- FIG. 3E shows the latter case.
- the engaging portion 410 may include a first inclined portion 411 (corresponding to the inclined portion in the claims).
- the first inclined portion 411 extends in the same direction as the inclining direction of the inclined face 131 of the abuttable portion 130 .
- the first inclined portion 411 may be in surface-contact with the inclined face 131 of the abuttable portion 130 .
- the lock spring 400 may further include a base 420 and an intermediate portion 430 .
- the base 420 is held by the holding portion 340 of the slider 300 .
- the intermediate portion 430 extends in the Y-Y′ direction from the base 420 to the engaging portion 410 . When the engaging portion 410 is displaced in the X direction, the intermediate portion 430 elastically deforms in the X direction.
- the lock spring 400 is constituted by a flat spring.
- the base 420 of the lock spring 400 is generally L-shaped and is press-fitted and held in the holding groove of the holding portion 340 .
- the intermediate portion 430 of the lock spring 400 is a rectilinear plate extending in the Y-Y′ direction along the X-direction-side face of the runner 320 and is elastically deformable in the X direction.
- the runner 320 limits the extent of elastic deformation in the X′ direction of the intermediate portion 430 .
- the engaging portion 410 of the lock spring 400 is bent in a hook shape.
- the engaging portion 410 includes the first inclined portion 411 , a second inclined portion 412 , and a joining portion 413 .
- the second inclined portion 412 extends substantially parallel to the first inclined portion 411 .
- the joining portion 413 interjoins the X′-direction-side end of the first inclined portion 411 and the X′-direction-side end of the second inclined portion 412 .
- the corner where the second inclined portion 412 and the joining portion 413 meet is located inside the slot 110 and serves as a portion to engage with the engaging recess M 1 of the card M. It is possible to omit the second inclined portion 412 and the joining portion 413 .
- the slider 300 further includes a projection 350 .
- the projection 350 protrudes in the X′ direction from the slider 300 .
- the projection 350 is located inside the slot 110 .
- the guide 122 if provided, may preferably have such a Z-Z′ direction dimension that the guide 122 does not interfere with the projection 350 , or may be provided with an opening for avoiding interference with the projection 350 .
- the card M may further include a fitting recess M 2 that can fit over the projection 350 .
- the fitting recess M 2 is provided at a corner at the X- and Y′-direction side of the card M and opens in the X and Y′ directions.
- the fitting recess M 2 may have a shape conforming to the outer shape of the projection 350 .
- the projection 350 When the slider 300 is located at the second position, the projection 350 fits in the fitting recess M 2 . When the slider 300 moves from the second position to the first position, the projection 350 is pressed by the card M. In contrast, when an urging force of the urging member 500 causes the slider 300 to move from the first position to the second position, the projection 350 presses the card M. It should be appreciated that the projection 350 may be omitted if the slider 300 is movable together with the card M only by the engagement between the engaging portion 410 of the lock spring 400 and the engaging recess M 1 of the card M.
- the card connector C may further include a heart-cam mechanism H.
- the heart-cam mechanism H includes a pin H 1 and a cam groove H 2 .
- the cam groove H 2 is provided in the Z-direction-side face of the slider 300 .
- the pin H 1 is generally U-shaped and has first and second longitudinal ends. The first end of the pin H 1 is rotatably supported by the Y-direction-side wall of the movement path 120 of the body 100 . The second end of the pin H 1 is received in the cam groove H 2 such as to be movable inside the cam groove H 2 in accordance with movement of the slider 300 .
- the cam groove H 2 is shaped such as to positionally fix the second end of the pin H 1 when the slider 300 is pressed in the Y′ direction beyond the first position, and such as to release the positional fixation of the second end when the slider 300 is pressed again in the Y′ direction. If the card connector C is provided with the heart-cam mechanism H as described above, the slider 300 may move beyond the first position and up to the third position where the heart-cam mechanism H is positionally fixed or released. The third position is a position on the Y′-direction side relative to the first position. It should be noted that the heart-cam mechanism H may be omitted.
- the card connector C may further include a cover 600 .
- the cover 600 is attached to the body 100 and covers the movement path 120 at least from the Z-direction side. If the slot 110 of the body 100 opens in the Z direction, the cover 600 covers the slot 110 and the movement path 120 .
- the cover 600 may include the urging member 500 .
- a portion of the cover 600 may be cut and bent toward the movement path 120 .
- the urging member 500 forms a flat spring constituted by the portion of the cover 600 . It should be noted that the cover 600 may be omitted.
- the lock spring 400 and the slider 300 are prepared.
- the base 420 of the lock spring 400 is held by the holding portion 340 of the slider 300
- the intermediate portion 430 of the lock spring 400 is disposed on the X-direction side relative to the runner 320 of the slider 300
- the engaging portion 410 of the lock spring 400 is made to protrude from the slider 300 in the X′ direction.
- the urging member 500 is prepared.
- the Y-direction-side end portion of the urging member 500 is accommodated in the accommodating recess 330 of the slider 300 .
- the body 100 and the plurality of terminals 200 are prepared.
- the terminals 200 are insert-molded inside the body 100 , the contact portions 210 of the terminals 200 are disposed inside the slot 110 , and the connection portions 220 of the terminals 200 protrude from the body 100 in the Y′ direction.
- the column 140 of the body 100 is inserted into the Y′-direction-side end portion of the urging member 500 , and the slider 300 and the lock spring 400 are accommodated in the movement path 120 of the body 100 .
- the runner 310 of the slider 300 is disposed such as to be movable in the Y-Y′ direction along the guide 121 of the movement path 120
- the runner 320 of the slider 300 is disposed such as to be movable the Y-Y′ direction along the guide 122 of the movement path 120 .
- the pin H 1 of the heart-cam mechanism H is prepared.
- the first end of the pin H 1 is attached to the Y-direction-side wall of the movement path 120 of the body 100 , and the second end of the pin H 1 is brought into engagement with the cam groove H 2 of the slider 300 .
- the cover 600 is prepared.
- the cover 600 is attached to the body 100 , so that the cover 600 covers the slot 110 and the movement path 120 of the body 100 .
- the card connector C is thus assembled.
- FIGS. 1A to 3E The following is a detailed description of a procedure of inserting a card M into the card connector C illustrated in FIGS. 1A to 3E .
- a user inserts a card M into the slot 110 of the card connector C.
- the projection 350 of the slider 300 located at the second position fits into the fitting recess M 2 of the card M, and the engaging portion 410 of the lock spring 400 is brought into engagement with the engaging recess M 1 of the card M (see FIG. 3C ).
- the slider 300 and the lock spring 400 move, together with the card M, from the second position, beyond the first position, and to the third position as illustrated in FIG. 3A .
- the card M moves, together with the slider 300 , in the Y′ direction from the discharge position beyond the connection position (see FIG. 3B ).
- the heart-cam mechanism H positionally fixes the slider 300 at the first position.
- the electrodes of the card M are brought into contact the respective contact portions 210 of the terminals 200 of the card connector C.
- the card M is inserted into the slot 110 of the card connector C, and the card M is brought into connection with the card connector C.
- the first inclined portion 411 of the engaging portion 410 of the lock spring 400 is brought into surface-contact (brought into abutment) with the inclined face 131 of the abuttable portion 130 of the body 100 .
- the engaging portion 410 is elastically deformed. Also in this case, a force is generated against the load on the inclined face 131 , and the force acts on the engaging portion 410 in a direction including components of the Y′ and X′ directions. This force maintains abutment of the first inclined portion 411 of the engaging portion 410 with respect to the inclined face 131 . This in turn prevents displacement of the engaging portion 410 in the X direction and maintains the engagement between the engaging portion 410 and the engaging recess M 1 of the card M.
- the card M is thus prevented from springing out of the slot 110 .
- the slider 300 is located at the second position, and the first inclined portion 411 of the engaging portion 410 of the lock spring 400 is in surface-contact with the inclined face 131 . In this state, the user can remove the card M as described above.
- the card connector C as described above has the following technical features.
- the conventional card connector is configured to prevent the card from springing out by bringing the lock spring into abutment with the rib when the slider is located at a spring-out prevention position that is located on the Y-direction side relative to the second position.
- the card connector C is configured to prevent a card M from springing out by bringing the lock spring 400 into abutment with the inclined face 131 of the abuttable portion 130 so as to prevent displacement of the engaging portion 410 of the lock spring 400 when the slider is located at the second position.
- the engaging portion 410 is subjected to a load from the card M and thereby displaced in the X direction. In this way the slider 300 is configured such as not to move in the Y direction beyond the second position, contributing to reduction of the Y-Y′-direction dimension of the card connector C.
- the card connector C is downsized.
- the card connector C has a simplified construction. This is because this card connector C has such a simple configuration to allow two operations in a state where the slider 300 is located at the second position: preventing a card M from spring-out and removing the card M.
- the card connector C has a reduced number of components for the following reason.
- the essential and only one urging member of the card connector C is the urging member 500 for urging the slider 300 in the Y direction.
- the card connector C does not require another urging member, which is required in the conventional card connector, for pressing the slider back to the second position when the slider moves in the Y direction beyond the second position.
- the engaging portion 410 includes the first inclined portion 411 , such configuration facilitates displacement of the engaging portion 410 in the X direction along the inclined face 131 of the abuttable portion 130 when the engaging portion 410 is subjected to a load from a card M.
- the first inclined portion 411 is inclined in substantially the same direction as the inclining direction of the inclined face 131 , allowing the load from the card M to be transferred more easily from the first inclined portion 411 of the engaging portion 410 to the inclined face 131 , and allowing a force against the load to act more effectively as a force for displacing the engaging portion 410 along the inclined face 131 .
- the first direction of the invention may be any direction as long as it is the insertion/removal direction of a card into or out of the slot of the card connector.
- One side of the first direction may be any direction as long as it is the card discharge direction.
- the second direction of the invention may be any direction as long as it crosses the first direction.
Abstract
Description
- The invention relates to card connectors.
- A conventional card connector is described in
Patent Literature 1 identified below. The card connector includes a body, a slider, a lock spring, a first spring, and a second spring. The body has a slot, a movement path, and a rib. The slot is a space in the body for insertion and removal of a card. The movement path is provided next to the slot of the body and extends in the card-insertion/removal-direction of the card. The rib is disposed in the movement path. The slider is provided such as to be slidable in the movement path of the body, together with the card, from a first position to a third position beyond a second position. The slider is located at the second position in the initial state. The second position is located on the card-discharge-direction side relative to the first position. The third position is located on the card-discharge-direction side relative to the second position. The lock spring is provided at the slider and is movable in the insertion/removal direction together with the slider. The lock spring includes an engaging portion engageable with an engaging recess of the card. When the slider is located at the second position, the engaging portion of the lock spring does not abut the rib and therefore can be displaced away from the engaging recess of the card. The displacement of the engaging portion of the lock spring away from the engaging recess of the card causes release of the engagement between the engaging portion of the lock spring and the engaging recess of the card. In contrast, when the slider is located at the third position, the engaging portion of the lock spring abuts the rib of the body, which prevents displacement of the engaging portion of the lock spring away from the engaging recess of the card. When the slider is located at the first position, the first spring applies an urging force to the slider in the discharge direction. When the slider is located at the third position, the second spring elastically contacts the slider to cause the slider to lose momentum and presses the slider back to the second position. - Patent Literature 1: WO 2005/034295
- Since the slider is configured to be movable in the discharge direction, beyond the second position and up to the third position, it is difficult to reduce the dimension in the insertion/removal direction of the card connector. In addition, the above card connector has a complicated configuration due to requirement to allow release of the engagement between the lock spring and the engaging recess of the card with the slider located at the second position, and also due to requirement to maintain the engagement between the lock spring and the engaging recess of the card with the slider located at the third position.
- The invention has been devised in view of the above circumstances and provides a card connector with a reduced size and a simplified structure.
- A card connector of an aspect of the invention includes a body, a slider, an urging member, and a lock spring. The body includes a slot, a movement path, and an abuttable portion. A card can be inserted into and removed from the slot along a first direction. The movement path extends in the first direction and is located on one side of a second direction relative to the slot. The second direction crosses the first direction. The abuttable portion is provided inside the movement path and includes an inclined face. The inclined face is inclined in a direction including components of one side of the first direction and the other side of the second direction. The slider is accommodated inside the movement path so as to be movable in the first direction, at least between a first position and a second position. The second position is located on the one side of the first direction relative to the first position. The urging member exerts on the slider an urging force to the one side of the first direction. The lock spring is provided at the slider and movable in the first direction together with the slider. The lock spring includes an engaging portion. The engaging portion is engageable with an engaging recess of the card, from the one side of the second direction. The lock spring is elastically deformable such that the engaging portion thereof is displaced to the one side of the second direction. When the urging force of the urging member causes the slider to move from the first position to the second position, the engaging portion is brought into abutment with the inclined face of the abuttable portion. When a load in a direction including components of the one side of the first direction and the one side of the second direction is exerted on the engaging portion from the card in a state where the slider is located at the second position and the engaging portion abuts the inclined face of the abuttable portion, the engaging portion is displaced to the one side of the second direction along the inclined face.
- The card connector of this aspect has the following technical features. First, the conventional card connector described above is configured to prevent the card from springing out by bringing the lock spring into abutment with the rib when the slider is located at the third position that is located on the discharge-direction side relative to the second position. In contrast, the card connector of the invention is configured such that the engaging portion of the lock spring is brought into abutment with the inclined face of the abuttable portion when the slider is located at the second position, so that the slider does not move to the one side of the first direction beyond the second position. Therefore, the card connector of the invention has a reduced dimension in the first direction (the card connector is downsized). Second, the card connector has a simplified construction. This is because this card connector has a simple configuration to allow two operations in a state where the slider is located at the second position: preventing a card from spring-out and removing the card. Specifically, when the urging force of the urging member causes the slider to move to the one side of the first direction (in the card discharge direction), from the first position to the second position, the engaging portion of the lock spring is brought into abutment with the inclined face of the abuttable portion of the body. Since the inclined face is inclined in the direction including the components of the one side of the first direction and the other side of the second direction, a force is generated against the load on the inclined face upon the abutment, and the force acts on the engaging portion in the direction including components of the other side of the first direction and the other side of the second direction. This force prevents displacement of the engaging portion to the one side of the second direction and maintains the engagement of the engaging portion with the engaging recess of the card. The card is thus prevented from springing out of the card connector. In a state where the slider is located at the second position and the engaging portion abuts the inclined face of the abuttable portion, when a load in a direction including components of the one side of the first direction and the one side of the second direction is exerted on the engaging portion from the card, the engaging portion is displaced to the one side of the second direction along the inclined face of the abuttable portion. The displacement results in that the engaging portion goes out of the engaging recess of the card. Therefore, the card can be removed from the slot of the card connector.
- The engaging portion may include an inclined portion. The inclined portion may be inclined in a direction that is substantially the same as an inclining direction of the inclined face and be configured to make surface-contact with the inclined face.
- In the card connector of this aspect, the engaging portion is easy to be displaced to the one side of the second direction along the inclined face of the abuttable portion when the engaging portion is subjected to a load from a card in the direction including the components of the one side of the first direction and the one side of the second direction. This is because the load from the card is allowed to be transferred more easily from the inclined portion of the engaging portion to the inclined face of the abuttable portion, and the force generated against the load is allowed to act as a force for displacing the engaging portion along the inclined face of the abuttable portion.
- The engaging portion may be elastically deformable when brought into abutment with the inclined face of the abuttable portion. In the card connector of this aspect, elastic deformation of the engaging portion mitigates impact occurring when the engaging portion is brought into abutment with the inclined face of the abuttable portion. It should be noted that the engaging portion may be constituted by a flat spring of hook shape. Alternatively, the engaging portion may be constituted by an elastic body of rubber or other material.
-
FIG. 1A is a front, top, right side perspective view of a card connector of an embodiment of the invention. -
FIG. 1B is a front, top, left side perspective view of a body, a slider, a lock spring, an urging member, and a heart-cam mechanism of the card connector with the slider located at a second position. -
FIG. 2A is a front, top, right side exploded perspective view of the card connector. -
FIG. 2B is a back, bottom, right side exploded perspective view of the card connector. -
FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view, taken along line 2A-2A inFIG. 1A , of the card connector and a card with the slider pressed beyond a first position. -
FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view, taken along line 2A-2A inFIG. 1A , of the card connector and the card received therein with the slider located at the first position. -
FIG. 3C is a cross-sectional view, taken along line 2A-2A inFIG. 1A , of the card connector and the card with the slider located at the second position. -
FIG. 3D is a cross-sectional view, taken along line 2A-2A inFIG. 1A , of the card connector and the card, with the slider located at the second position and with the engagement released between an engaging portion of the lock spring and an engaging recess of the card. -
FIG. 3E is a cross-sectional view, taken along line 2A-2A inFIG. 1A , of the card connector and the card, with the slider located at the second position and with the engagement maintained between the engaging portion of the lock spring and the engaging recess of the card. - A card connector C of an embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to
FIGS. 1A to 3E . The card connector C is a connector for connection with a card M. These will be described in detail below. It should be noted that the Y-Y′ direction indicated inFIGS. 2A to 3E corresponds to the insertion/removal direction of the card M with respect to the card connector C and corresponds to the first direction in the claims. The Y direction corresponds to the discharge direction of the card M and corresponds to one side of the first direction in the claims, and the Y′ direction corresponds to the insertion direction of the card M (opposite to the discharge direction) and corresponds to the other side of the first direction. The X-X′ direction indicated inFIGS. 2A to 3E orthogonally crosses Y-Y′ direction. The X direction corresponds to one side of the second direction in the claims, and the X′ direction corresponds to the other side of the second direction in the claims. The Z-Z′ direction indicated inFIGS. 2A and 2B orthogonally crosses the Y-Y′ and X-X′ directions. - The card M is, for example, an IC card, a PC card, a SIM card, an SD card, a mini SD card, or the like. As well illustrated in
FIGS. 3A to 3E , the card M includes an engaging recess M1 and a plurality of electrodes (not shown). The engaging recess M1 is provided centrally in the end portion on the X-direction side of the card M. The electrodes are provided on an end face on the Z′-direction side (i.e. bottom face) of the card M. - The card connector C includes a
body 100, a plurality ofterminals 200, aslider 300, alock spring 400, and an urgingmember 500. - The
body 100 is made of an insulating plastic. Thebody 100 includes aslot 110. Theslot 110 is a recess in thebody 100 and extends in the Y-Y′ direction. Theslot 110 opens at least in the Y direction. Theslot 110 may or may not open in the Z direction. Theslot 110 has an X-X′ direction dimension corresponding to that of the card M. Theslot 110 is smaller in Y-Y′ direction dimension than the card M. The card M can be inserted into and removed from theslot 110 along the Y-Y′ direction. It should be appreciated thatFIG. 3B illustrates the card M located at a connection position where the card M is connected to the card connector C.FIG. 3C illustrates the card M located at a discharge position where the card M can be discharged from theslot 110 of the card connector C. - Each of the
terminals 200 includes acontact portion 210 and aconnection portion 220. Theterminals 200 may preferably be held in thebody 100 such that thecontact portions 210 are located within theslot 110 and theconnection portions 220 protrude outwards from thebody 100. For example, theterminals 200 may be insert-molded in thebody 100, or may be respectively held in holding grooves or holding holes (not shown) in thebody 100. Thecontact portions 210 are arranged in accordance with the positions of the electrodes of the card M as located at the connection position. Theconnection portions 220 are arranged in accordance with the positions of electrodes of a circuit board (not shown) or other member to mount the card connector C. InFIGS. 1B to 3E , theterminals 200 are insert-molded in thebody 100 such that thecontact portions 210 are located inside theslot 110 and theconnection portions 220 protrude in the Y′ direction from the Y′ end face of thebody 100. - The
body 100 further includes amovement path 120. Themovement path 120 is provided on the X′-direction side relative to theslot 110 of thebody 100 and extends in the Y-Y′ direction. Themovement path 120 communicates with theslot 110. Themovement path 120 accommodates theslider 300. Theslider 300 is movable, together with the card M, in the Y-Y′ direction at least between a first position and a second position in themovement path 120. The first position is the position of theslider 300 when the card M is located at the connection position. The second position, which is on the Y-direction side relative to the first position, is the position of theslider 300 when the card M is located at the discharge position. The second position is also the initial position of theslider 300 when the card M is not inserted. - The
movement path 120 may include an X-direction-side guide 121 and an X′-direction-side guide 122. Theguide 121 and theguide 122 are only required to guide theslider 300 movably in the Y-Y′ direction between theguides guide 121 may have any one of the following configurations: an X-direction-side wall face of themovement path 120, a ridge in themovement path 120 extending in the Y-Y′ direction, a plurality of protrusions in themovement path 120 at spaced intervals in the Y-Y′ direction, or the like. Theguide 122 may have any one of the following configurations: an X′-direction-side wall face of themovement path 120, a ridge in themovement path 120 extending in the Y-Y′ direction, a plurality of protrusions in themovement path 120 at spaced intervals in the Y-Y′ direction, or the like. Theguide 122 has a Z-Z′ direction dimension that does not interfere with theslider 300 and thelock spring 400. In this case, themovement path 120 and theslot 110 communicate with each other on the Z-direction side relative to theguide 122. Alternatively, theguide 122 may be provided with an opening for avoiding interference with theslider 300 and thelock spring 400. In this case, themovement path 120 and theslot 110 communicate with each other through the opening. - The
slider 300 may include an X-direction-side runner 310 and an X′-direction-side runner 310. Therunner 310 is only required to be movable in the Y-Y′ direction along theguide 121, and therunner 320 is only required to be movable in the Y-Y′ direction along theguide 122. For example, therunner 310 may have any one of the following configurations: an X-direction-side end face of theslider 300, a ridge on theslider 300 extending in the Y-Y′ direction, a plurality of protrusions on theslider 300 at spaced intervals in the Y-Y′ direction, or the like. Therunner 320 may have any one of the following configurations: an X′-direction-side end face of theslider 300, a ridge on theslider 300 extending in the Y-Y′ direction, a plurality of protrusions on theslider 300 at spaced intervals in the Y-Y′ direction, or the like. - In
FIGS. 1B to 3E , theguide 121 is the X-direction-side wall face of themovement path 120, and theguide 122 is a ridge being provided at the X′-direction end of the bottom face of themovement path 120 and extending in the Y-Y′ direction. Therunner 310 is the X-direction-side end face of theslider 300, and therunner 320 is a ridge being provided on the Z′-direction-side face of theslider 300 and extending in the Y-Y′ direction. - The urging
member 500 is only required to exert on theslider 300 an urging force in the Y direction. For example, the urgingmember 500 may be a coil spring, a flat spring, a plastic plate, or an elastic body of rubber or other material. The urgingmember 500 may be disposed in a compressed state between theslider 300 and part of thebody 100, or may be positionally fixed in thebody 100 so as to be able to urge theslider 300 in the Y direction. The urgingmember 500 may be disposed inside or outside themovement path 120 of thebody 100. InFIGS. 1B and 3A to 3E , the urgingmember 500 is a coil spring disposed inside themovement path 120 in a compressed state, between the Y′-direction-side wall of themovement path 120 and theslider 300. The Y′-direction-side wall of themovement path 120 is provided with acolumn 140 received in the urgingmember 500. The Y-direction-side end portion of theslider 300 is provided with anaccommodating recess 330 for accommodating the Y-direction-side end portion of the urgingmember 500. - The
slider 300 may preferably further include a holdingportion 340. The holdingportion 340 holds thelock spring 400. The holdingportion 340 may be a holding groove or a holding hole for holding thelock spring 400 partly, or may be a portion of theslider 300 in which thelock spring 400 is partly insert-molded. The holdingportion 340 may be provided at any position in theslider 300. The holdingportion 340 may be provided on the Z′-direction-side face of theslider 300, or may be a part of the Y-direction-side end portion of theslider 300. InFIGS. 2B to 3E , the holdingportion 340 includes a block and a holding groove. The block is provided on the X-direction side relative to therunner 320 on the Z′-direction-side face of theslider 300. The holding groove is provided in the block. - The
lock spring 400 includes an engagingportion 410. Thelock spring 400 is only required to be elastically deformable such that the engagingportion 410 is displaced in the X direction. Thelock spring 400 is constituted by a flat spring, plastic, rubber, a combination of a flat spring and plastic, a combination of a flat spring and rubber, a combination of plastic and rubber, a combination of a flat spring, plastic, and rubber, etc. The engagingportion 410 partly protrudes in the X′ direction from theslider 300 and is partly located inside theslot 110. The engagingportion 410 is engageable with the engaging recess M1 of the card M. - The
body 100 further includes anabuttable portion 130. Theabuttable portion 130 is only required to be located inside themovement path 120 and includes aninclined face 131. Theabuttable portion 130 may be, for example, a rib inside themovement path 120 or a portion of a wall of themovement path 120. Theinclined face 131 is inclined in a direction having components of the Y and X′ directions. Theinclined face 131 may be flat (level) with respect to the Z-Z′ direction, or may be also inclined in either the Z direction or the Z′ direction.FIGS. 3A to 3E show the former case. Theinclined face 131 of theabuttable portion 130 is a portion of thebody 100 that is abuttable on the engagingportion 410 of thelock spring 400 from the Y′-direction side when theslider 300 is located at the second position. When the engagingportion 410 is brought into abutment with theinclined face 131, generated is a force against the load exerted on theinclined face 131. Since theinclined face 131 is inclined as described above, this force acts on the engagingportion 410 in a direction having components of the Y′ and X′ directions. This action prevents displacement in the X direction of the engagingportion 410. When the engagingportion 410 is not engaged with the engaging recess M1 of the card M, the engagingportion 410 is retained in abutment with theinclined face 131 because of the prevention of displacement of the engagingportion 410 and the urging force in the Y direction of the urgingmember 500. Theslider 300 is thus retained at the second position. When the engagingportion 410 is engaged with the engaging recess M1 of the card M, the engagement therebetween is maintained because of the prevention of displacement of the engagingportion 410. The card M is thus prevented from springing out of theslot 110 of the card connector C. - In a state where the
slider 300 is located at the second position and the engagingportion 410 abuts theinclined face 131 of the abuttable portion 130 (a state where the above-described force against the load is not generated), when a load in a direction including components in the Y and X direction is exerted on the engagingportion 410 from the Y′-direction-side wall of the engaging recess M1 of the card M, the engagingportion 410 is displaced in the X direction along theinclined face 131 of theabuttable portion 130. The displacement results in that the engagingportion 410 goes out of the engaging recess M1 of the card M and that the engagingportion 410 is disengaged from the engaging recess M1. Thus, the card M can be removed from theslot 110 of the card connector C. - The engaging
portion 410 may be configured to be elastically deformable when brought into abutment with theinclined face 131 of theabuttable portion 130. For example, the engagingportion 410 may be a flat spring or a plastic plate bent in a hook shape, or an elastic body of rubber or other material. In the former case, the portion other than the engagingportion 410 of thelock spring 400 may be a flat spring or a plastic plate integrally formed with the engagingportion 410, or may be a plastic member or an elastic body connected to the engagingportion 410. In the latter case, the portion other than the engagingportion 410 of thelock spring 400 may be an elastic body of rubber or other material integrally formed with the engagingportion 410, or may be a flat spring or a plastic member connected to the engagingportion 410. The engagingportion 410 may be configured to elastically deform such that the Y-Y′ direction dimension of the engagingportion 410 decreases upon abutment. Alternatively, the engagingportion 410 may be configured to elastically deform such that the Y-Y′ direction dimension of the engagingportion 410 decreases and the X-X′ direction dimension of the engagingportion 410 increases upon abutment.FIG. 3E shows the latter case. - The engaging
portion 410 may include a first inclined portion 411 (corresponding to the inclined portion in the claims). The firstinclined portion 411 extends in the same direction as the inclining direction of theinclined face 131 of theabuttable portion 130. The firstinclined portion 411 may be in surface-contact with theinclined face 131 of theabuttable portion 130. - The
lock spring 400 may further include abase 420 and anintermediate portion 430. Thebase 420 is held by the holdingportion 340 of theslider 300. Theintermediate portion 430 extends in the Y-Y′ direction from the base 420 to the engagingportion 410. When the engagingportion 410 is displaced in the X direction, theintermediate portion 430 elastically deforms in the X direction. - In
FIGS. 3A to 3E , thelock spring 400 is constituted by a flat spring. Thebase 420 of thelock spring 400 is generally L-shaped and is press-fitted and held in the holding groove of the holdingportion 340. Theintermediate portion 430 of thelock spring 400 is a rectilinear plate extending in the Y-Y′ direction along the X-direction-side face of therunner 320 and is elastically deformable in the X direction. Therunner 320 limits the extent of elastic deformation in the X′ direction of theintermediate portion 430. The engagingportion 410 of thelock spring 400 is bent in a hook shape. The engagingportion 410 includes the firstinclined portion 411, a secondinclined portion 412, and a joiningportion 413. The secondinclined portion 412 extends substantially parallel to the firstinclined portion 411. The joiningportion 413 interjoins the X′-direction-side end of the firstinclined portion 411 and the X′-direction-side end of the secondinclined portion 412. The corner where the secondinclined portion 412 and the joiningportion 413 meet is located inside theslot 110 and serves as a portion to engage with the engaging recess M1 of the card M. It is possible to omit the secondinclined portion 412 and the joiningportion 413. - It is preferable that the
slider 300 further includes aprojection 350. Theprojection 350 protrudes in the X′ direction from theslider 300. Theprojection 350 is located inside theslot 110. Theguide 122, if provided, may preferably have such a Z-Z′ direction dimension that theguide 122 does not interfere with theprojection 350, or may be provided with an opening for avoiding interference with theprojection 350. In this case, the card M may further include a fitting recess M2 that can fit over theprojection 350. The fitting recess M2 is provided at a corner at the X- and Y′-direction side of the card M and opens in the X and Y′ directions. The fitting recess M2 may have a shape conforming to the outer shape of theprojection 350. When theslider 300 is located at the second position, theprojection 350 fits in the fitting recess M2. When theslider 300 moves from the second position to the first position, theprojection 350 is pressed by the card M. In contrast, when an urging force of the urgingmember 500 causes theslider 300 to move from the first position to the second position, theprojection 350 presses the card M. It should be appreciated that theprojection 350 may be omitted if theslider 300 is movable together with the card M only by the engagement between the engagingportion 410 of thelock spring 400 and the engaging recess M1 of the card M. - The card connector C may further include a heart-cam mechanism H. The heart-cam mechanism H includes a pin H1 and a cam groove H2. The cam groove H2 is provided in the Z-direction-side face of the
slider 300. The pin H1 is generally U-shaped and has first and second longitudinal ends. The first end of the pin H1 is rotatably supported by the Y-direction-side wall of themovement path 120 of thebody 100. The second end of the pin H1 is received in the cam groove H2 such as to be movable inside the cam groove H2 in accordance with movement of theslider 300. The cam groove H2 is shaped such as to positionally fix the second end of the pin H1 when theslider 300 is pressed in the Y′ direction beyond the first position, and such as to release the positional fixation of the second end when theslider 300 is pressed again in the Y′ direction. If the card connector C is provided with the heart-cam mechanism H as described above, theslider 300 may move beyond the first position and up to the third position where the heart-cam mechanism H is positionally fixed or released. The third position is a position on the Y′-direction side relative to the first position. It should be noted that the heart-cam mechanism H may be omitted. - The card connector C may further include a
cover 600. Thecover 600 is attached to thebody 100 and covers themovement path 120 at least from the Z-direction side. If theslot 110 of thebody 100 opens in the Z direction, thecover 600 covers theslot 110 and themovement path 120. Thecover 600 may include the urgingmember 500. For example, a portion of thecover 600 may be cut and bent toward themovement path 120. In this case, the urgingmember 500 forms a flat spring constituted by the portion of thecover 600. It should be noted that thecover 600 may be omitted. - The following is a detailed description of an assembling procedure of the card connector C illustrated in
FIGS. 1A to 3E . Thelock spring 400 and theslider 300 are prepared. Thebase 420 of thelock spring 400 is held by the holdingportion 340 of theslider 300, theintermediate portion 430 of thelock spring 400 is disposed on the X-direction side relative to therunner 320 of theslider 300, and the engagingportion 410 of thelock spring 400 is made to protrude from theslider 300 in the X′ direction. Then the urgingmember 500 is prepared. The Y-direction-side end portion of the urgingmember 500 is accommodated in theaccommodating recess 330 of theslider 300. Then thebody 100 and the plurality ofterminals 200 are prepared. Theterminals 200 are insert-molded inside thebody 100, thecontact portions 210 of theterminals 200 are disposed inside theslot 110, and theconnection portions 220 of theterminals 200 protrude from thebody 100 in the Y′ direction. Thecolumn 140 of thebody 100 is inserted into the Y′-direction-side end portion of the urgingmember 500, and theslider 300 and thelock spring 400 are accommodated in themovement path 120 of thebody 100. At that time, therunner 310 of theslider 300 is disposed such as to be movable in the Y-Y′ direction along theguide 121 of themovement path 120, and therunner 320 of theslider 300 is disposed such as to be movable the Y-Y′ direction along theguide 122 of themovement path 120. Thereafter the pin H1 of the heart-cam mechanism H is prepared. The first end of the pin H1 is attached to the Y-direction-side wall of themovement path 120 of thebody 100, and the second end of the pin H1 is brought into engagement with the cam groove H2 of theslider 300. Then thecover 600 is prepared. Thecover 600 is attached to thebody 100, so that thecover 600 covers theslot 110 and themovement path 120 of thebody 100. The card connector C is thus assembled. - The following is a detailed description of a procedure of inserting a card M into the card connector C illustrated in
FIGS. 1A to 3E . A user inserts a card M into theslot 110 of the card connector C. Then theprojection 350 of theslider 300 located at the second position fits into the fitting recess M2 of the card M, and the engagingportion 410 of thelock spring 400 is brought into engagement with the engaging recess M1 of the card M (seeFIG. 3C ). Thereafter, when the card M is inserted further into theslot 110 of the card connector C, theslider 300 and thelock spring 400 move, together with the card M, from the second position, beyond the first position, and to the third position as illustrated inFIG. 3A . In other words, the card M moves, together with theslider 300, in the Y′ direction from the discharge position beyond the connection position (seeFIG. 3B ). This results in that the heart-cam mechanism H positionally fixes theslider 300 at the first position. When theslider 300 is located at the first position and the card M is located at the connection position, the electrodes of the card M are brought into contact therespective contact portions 210 of theterminals 200 of the card connector C. In this manner, the card M is inserted into theslot 110 of the card connector C, and the card M is brought into connection with the card connector C. - The following is a detailed description of a procedure of discharging the card M from the card connector C illustrated in
FIGS. 1A to 3E . A user presses the card M at the connection position in the Y′ direction. Then theslider 300 moves from the first position to the third position, thereby releasing the positional fixation of theslider 300 with respect to the heart-cam mechanism H. When the card M is released, the urging force of the urgingmember 500 in the Y direction causes theslider 300 and thelock spring 400 to move from the first position to the second position. When theslider 300 is located at the second position, the firstinclined portion 411 of the engagingportion 410 of thelock spring 400 is brought into surface-contact (brought into abutment) with theinclined face 131 of theabuttable portion 130 of thebody 100. - In a case (see
FIG. 3C ) where the engagingportion 410 is brought into abutment with theinclined face 131 of theabuttable portion 130 of thebody 100 with a first load in a predetermined range of any suitable values, a force is generated against the load on theinclined face 131, and the force acts on the engagingportion 410 in a direction having components of the Y′ and X′ directions. This force maintains surface-contact of the firstinclined portion 411 of the engagingportion 410 with respect to theinclined face 131. This in turn prevents the engagingportion 410 from being displaced in the X direction and maintains the engagement between the engagingportion 410 and the engaging recess M1 of the card M. In this state, when the user withdraws the card M in the Y direction, the engagingportion 410 is pressed by the Y′-direction-side wall of the engaging recess M1 of the card M. This pressure means that the engagingportion 410 is subjected to a load in a direction including the components in the Y direction and the X direction is exerted on the engagingportion 410 from the wall in the Y′ direction of the engaging recess M1 of the card M. This load causes the firstinclined portion 411 of the engagingportion 410 to be displaced in the X direction along theinclined face 131 of theabuttable portion 130 as illustrated inFIG. 3D . This displacement results in disengagement of the engagingportion 410 from the engaging recess M1 of the card M. Therefore, the user can easily remove the card M from theslot 110. - In a case (see
FIG. 3E ) where the engagingportion 410 is brought into abutment with theinclined face 131 of theabuttable portion 130 of thebody 100 with a second load equal to or larger than the predetermined range, the engagingportion 410 is elastically deformed. Also in this case, a force is generated against the load on theinclined face 131, and the force acts on the engagingportion 410 in a direction including components of the Y′ and X′ directions. This force maintains abutment of the firstinclined portion 411 of the engagingportion 410 with respect to theinclined face 131. This in turn prevents displacement of the engagingportion 410 in the X direction and maintains the engagement between the engagingportion 410 and the engaging recess M1 of the card M. The card M is thus prevented from springing out of theslot 110. When the elastically deformed engagingportion 410 returns to the original shape, theslider 300 is located at the second position, and the firstinclined portion 411 of the engagingportion 410 of thelock spring 400 is in surface-contact with theinclined face 131. In this state, the user can remove the card M as described above. - The card connector C as described above has the following technical features. First, the conventional card connector is configured to prevent the card from springing out by bringing the lock spring into abutment with the rib when the slider is located at a spring-out prevention position that is located on the Y-direction side relative to the second position. In contrast, the card connector C is configured to prevent a card M from springing out by bringing the
lock spring 400 into abutment with theinclined face 131 of theabuttable portion 130 so as to prevent displacement of the engagingportion 410 of thelock spring 400 when the slider is located at the second position. In addition, when theslider 300 is located at the second position, the engagingportion 410 is subjected to a load from the card M and thereby displaced in the X direction. In this way theslider 300 is configured such as not to move in the Y direction beyond the second position, contributing to reduction of the Y-Y′-direction dimension of the card connector C. As a result, the card connector C is downsized. - Second, the card connector C has a simplified construction. This is because this card connector C has such a simple configuration to allow two operations in a state where the
slider 300 is located at the second position: preventing a card M from spring-out and removing the card M. - Third, if the
abuttable portion 130 is constituted by a portion of thebody 100, the card connector C has a reduced number of components for the following reason. The essential and only one urging member of the card connector C is the urgingmember 500 for urging theslider 300 in the Y direction. The card connector C does not require another urging member, which is required in the conventional card connector, for pressing the slider back to the second position when the slider moves in the Y direction beyond the second position. - Fourth, if the engaging
portion 410 includes the firstinclined portion 411, such configuration facilitates displacement of the engagingportion 410 in the X direction along theinclined face 131 of theabuttable portion 130 when the engagingportion 410 is subjected to a load from a card M. This is because the firstinclined portion 411 is inclined in substantially the same direction as the inclining direction of theinclined face 131, allowing the load from the card M to be transferred more easily from the firstinclined portion 411 of the engagingportion 410 to theinclined face 131, and allowing a force against the load to act more effectively as a force for displacing the engagingportion 410 along theinclined face 131. - Fifth, it is possible to mitigate impact occurring when the engaging
portion 410 of thelock spring 400 is brought into abutment with theabuttable portion 130 of thebody 100. This is because the engagingportion 410 can elastically deform when brought into abutment with theabuttable portion 130. - It should be appreciated that the above card connector is not limited to the above embodiments but may be modified in any manner within the scope of the claims.
- It should be appreciated that the materials, the shapes, the dimensions, the number, the positions, etc. of the elements of the card connector in the above embodiments are presented by way of example only and can be modified in any manner as long as the same functions can be fulfilled. The constituent features of the above embodiments can be combined in any possible manner. The first direction of the invention may be any direction as long as it is the insertion/removal direction of a card into or out of the slot of the card connector. One side of the first direction may be any direction as long as it is the card discharge direction. The second direction of the invention may be any direction as long as it crosses the first direction.
-
-
- C: card connector
- 100: body
- 110: slot
- 120: movement path
- 121: guide
- 122: guide
- 130: abuttable portion
- 131: inclined face
- 140: column
- 200: terminal
- 210: contact portion
- 220: connection portion
- 300: slider
- 310: runner
- 320: runner
- 330: accommodating recess
- 340: holding portion
- 350: projection
- 400: lock spring
- 410: engaging portion
- 411: first inclined portion (inclined portion of lock spring)
- 412: second inclined portion
- 413: joining portion
- 420: base
- 430: intermediate portion
- 500: urging member
- H: heart-cam mechanism
- H1: pin
- H2: cam groove
- M: card
- M1: engaging recess
- M2: fitting recess
Claims (20)
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
JP2015119652A JP6471048B2 (en) | 2015-06-12 | 2015-06-12 | Card connector |
JP2015-119652 | 2015-06-12 | ||
PCT/JP2016/067350 WO2016199888A1 (en) | 2015-06-12 | 2016-06-10 | Card connector |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20180175551A1 true US20180175551A1 (en) | 2018-06-21 |
US10014630B1 US10014630B1 (en) | 2018-07-03 |
Family
ID=57503983
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US15/577,909 Active US10014630B1 (en) | 2015-06-12 | 2016-06-10 | Card connector |
Country Status (5)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US10014630B1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP3309906B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP6471048B2 (en) |
CN (1) | CN107636912B (en) |
WO (1) | WO2016199888A1 (en) |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US10278297B1 (en) * | 2017-10-11 | 2019-04-30 | Getac Technology Corporation | Case with assembly structure and electronic device using thereof |
US20220006216A1 (en) * | 2020-07-03 | 2022-01-06 | Cheng Uei Precision Industry Co., Ltd. | Sim card connector |
US11437745B2 (en) * | 2020-06-24 | 2022-09-06 | V-General Technology Co., Ltd. | Card connector |
Families Citing this family (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CN108260228B (en) * | 2017-02-20 | 2021-01-26 | 新华三技术有限公司 | AP equipment, thing networking device and communication equipment |
Family Cites Families (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JP3338415B2 (en) * | 1999-12-28 | 2002-10-28 | 山一電機株式会社 | Card connector |
US7118394B2 (en) | 2003-10-06 | 2006-10-10 | Nintendo Co., Ltd. | Card connector |
JP2006100210A (en) * | 2004-09-30 | 2006-04-13 | Mitsumi Electric Co Ltd | Memory card connector |
CN201112937Y (en) * | 2007-06-13 | 2008-09-10 | 诠欣股份有限公司 | Anti-falling card connector device |
JP3135262U (en) * | 2007-06-27 | 2007-09-06 | 詮欣股▲分▼有限公司 | Memory card pop-out preventive entry / exit device |
JP4658202B2 (en) * | 2009-01-15 | 2011-03-23 | Smk株式会社 | Lock device in card connector |
CN201845903U (en) * | 2010-09-27 | 2011-05-25 | 深圳市质友精密电子有限公司 | Memory card connector |
-
2015
- 2015-06-12 JP JP2015119652A patent/JP6471048B2/en active Active
-
2016
- 2016-06-10 CN CN201680033877.8A patent/CN107636912B/en active Active
- 2016-06-10 EP EP16807593.5A patent/EP3309906B1/en active Active
- 2016-06-10 US US15/577,909 patent/US10014630B1/en active Active
- 2016-06-10 WO PCT/JP2016/067350 patent/WO2016199888A1/en active Application Filing
Cited By (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US10278297B1 (en) * | 2017-10-11 | 2019-04-30 | Getac Technology Corporation | Case with assembly structure and electronic device using thereof |
US11437745B2 (en) * | 2020-06-24 | 2022-09-06 | V-General Technology Co., Ltd. | Card connector |
US20220006216A1 (en) * | 2020-07-03 | 2022-01-06 | Cheng Uei Precision Industry Co., Ltd. | Sim card connector |
US11502435B2 (en) * | 2020-07-03 | 2022-11-15 | Cheng Uei Precision Industry Co., Ltd. | SIM card connector |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
CN107636912A (en) | 2018-01-26 |
US10014630B1 (en) | 2018-07-03 |
WO2016199888A1 (en) | 2016-12-15 |
CN107636912B (en) | 2020-03-20 |
JP2017004864A (en) | 2017-01-05 |
JP6471048B2 (en) | 2019-02-13 |
EP3309906A1 (en) | 2018-04-18 |
EP3309906B1 (en) | 2021-12-22 |
EP3309906A4 (en) | 2018-06-20 |
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