WO2008105621A1

WO2008105621A1 - Slider-cam for card socket

Info

Publication number: WO2008105621A1
Application number: PCT/KR2008/001112
Authority: WO
Inventors: Yong-Pil Kim; No-Jun Lee; Seok-Kyu Park; Young-Chae Kong
Original assignee: Jung, Min-Jo
Priority date: 2007-02-27
Filing date: 2008-02-26
Publication date: 2008-09-04

Abstract

Disclosed is a slider-cam, which enables a card to be easily inserted into and removed from a card socket, which is installed so that a variety of cards can be fitted in a mobile communication terminal. The slider-cam includes a slider (10), which reciprocates along a guide (4) formed in a socket frame (3), a removing spring (20), which presses the slider (10) in the direction in which the card (5) is removed from the card socket (2), a cam (30), which is formed on the slider (10), an elastic plate (40), which is formed on a cover (6) covering the socket frame (3), moves along each path of the cam (30), and enables a tongue (43) to move inward along an ingress path (31), be locked on the locking step (32) to maintain a locked state of the card (5), and moves outward along an egress path (33) as the slider (10) moves inward, is locked and moves outward, and an elastic card lock (50), which elastically maintains the state in which the card (5) is inserted into the card socket (2).

Description

Description SLIDER-CAM FOR CARD SOCKET

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a card socket and, more particularly, to a slider-cam capable of easily inserting and removing a card into and from a card socket for mounting a variety of cards on a mobile communication terminal. Background Art

[2] Mobile communication terminals including mobile phones require more and more storage capacity due to the gradual diversification and expansion of their functions. For example, in the case of a mobile phone having a digital camera, an MPEG player 3 (MP3) player, etc., it requires additional memory for storing image data, MP3 data, etc. in addition to its basic memory. For this reason, there has been developed a model in which the mobile phone is equipped with a socket for a memory card so as to selectively mount separate expansion memory cards according to the use thereof.

[3] Meanwhile, an integrated circuit (IC) chip based smart card, which has traditionally been a plastic card type, is also mounted into a socket of the mobile phone, and thus it is functionally combined with the mobile phone. As the smart card is incorporated into the mobile phone, all functions associated with the smart card can be realized using only the mobile phone, without requiring a separate smart card.

[4] In this manner, with the expansion and diversification of the function of the mobile communication terminal represented by the mobile phone, the mobile communication terminal requires card sockets for mounting a variety of cards, such as a memory card, a smart card, and so on. A user makes use of a card fitted for his/her desired function by mounting it into a corresponding card socket.

[5] FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a known card socket, which is applied to a mobile phone, which is a representative mobile communication terminal. As illustrated, the card socket 100 mounted on the mobile phone has a memory card 102 and a smart card 103 mounted so that one overlaps the other.

[6] The card socket 100 comprises a socket frame 110, which is formed of plastic that forms the overall framework, a slot 120 for the memory card, which is formed in one surface of the socket frame 110 and in which memory card terminals 121 for the memory card are formed so as to be in electrical contact with terminals 102a of the memory card 102, a slot 130 for the smart card, which is formed on the other surface of the socket frame 110 and in which terminals 121 for the smart card are formed so as to be in electrical contact with terminals 103a of the smart card 103, a first cover 140, which is mounted on one surface of the socket frame 110 and defines the memory card slot 120, and a second cover 150, which is mounted on the other surface of the socket frame 110 and defines the smart card slot 130. The memory card 102 and the smart card 103 are inserted into and mounted in the slots 120 and 130, respectively.

[7] The shown card socket 100 employs a dual structure (dual card socket) in which the memory card 102 and the smart card 103 are vertically mounted in a stacked fashion. Thereby, the mobile phone minimizes the space occupied by the card socket 100, and consequently prevents an increase in the size and production cost.

[8] In this card socket 100 having the aforementioned configuration, the memory card slot 120 is generally open to the sidewall of the mobile phone, so that the memory card 102 can be inserted and removed on the side of the mobile phone. A slider-cam 200 is installed for the memory card slot 120 to make it easier to insert and remove the memory card 102.

[9] The slider-cam 200 is locked when the card (e.g. memory card 102) is pushed once in the state in which the memory card 102 is inserted in the slot 120, and is unlocked when the memory card 102 is pushed once again, so that the memory card 102 can be removed. The slide cam 200 has been developed to have various structures.

[10] Examples of technical documents in which the slider-cam for the card socket is disclosed include Korean Patent No. 0414847 (issued on January 13, 2004) entitled "Card Connector Having Ejector", Korean Patent Application Publication No. 2004-19903 (published on March 06, 2004) entitled "Insertion/Extraction Mechanism For Memory Card", Korean Patent Application Publication No. 2004-27320 (published on April 01, 2004) entitled "Memory Card Connector", Korean Patent Application Publication No. 2005-20670 (published on March 04, 2005) entitled "Connector for Memory Card", and Korean Patent Application Publication No. 2006-100453 (published on September 20, 2006) entitled "Memory Card Connector with Card Eject Mechanism."

[11] An example of the known slider-cam will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 through 12.

[12] The shown slider-cam 200 comprises a slider 210, which reciprocates along a guide groove (not shown) within a predetermined distance by means of the insertion or removal of the card 102 in the state where the slider is inserted into the guide groove, which is formed in one side of the socket frame 110; a removing spring 220, which presses the slider 210 in the direction in which the card 102 is removed from the slot 120; a locking spring 230, which maintains the card 102 in an inserted state; a cam groove 240, which is formed in the side of the slider 210; an operational pin 250, which has a fixed end 252 inserted into a hole 111 in the socket frame 110 and a movable end 252 inserted into the cam groove 240 and moving along the cam groove 240 by means of the reciprocation of the slider 210, and selectively locks or unlocks the slider 210 depending on the position of the movable end 252 in the cam groove 240; a pressing spring 260, which is formed by cutting out part of a sidewall 151 of the second cover 150 (defining the smart card slot in FIG. 10), which covers one surface of the socket frame 110, and elastically presses the operational pin 250, which is exposed through a through hole 112 in one sidewall of the socket frame 110 so as to prevent the operational pin 250 from coming out.

[13] The operation of the slider-cam 200 having this structure will be described with reference to FIGS. 12 and 13. When the card is converted from a removed state (FIG. 12(A)) to an inserted state (FIG. 12(B)), i.e. when the card 102 is pushed into the slot 120, the oblique nose 102b of the card 102 begins to press an oblique block 211 of the slider 210. Thereby, the slider 210 is pushed inward while overcoming the elasticity of the removing spring 220. At this time, the movable end 252 of the operational pin 250 moves along the path of the cam groove 240 (see FIGS. 13(A) and 13(B)).

[14] When the card 102 is inserted until it reaches a locking position, the elastic force of the removing spring 220 intends to move the slider 210 to its original position (the removed state of FIG. 12(A)), but the movable end 252 of the operational pin 250 is caught at the locking position of the cam groove 240. Thereby, the movement of the slider 210 to its original position is restricted (see FIG. 13(C)). The operational pin 250 is maintained in position by the pressing force of the pressing spring 260, and is thus prevented from escaping (see FIG. 11). Thus, the slider 210 maintains the locked state (inserted state) of FIG. 12(B).

[15] At this time, a locking ridge 231 of the locking spring 230, which is installed on the slider 210, has an approximate U shape, and is formed on one end of the locking spring, is caught in a locking recess 102c, which is formed on one side of the card 102 (see FIG. 11), so that the card 102 does not escape from the slot 120 by accident.

[16] In the case in which the card 102 is to be removed from the slot 120 in the locked state (inserted state) of FIG. 12(B), the card 102 is pushed slightly into the slot 120, and the oblique nose 102b of the card 102 slightly presses the oblique block 211 of the slider 210 again. Thereby, the slider 210 is pushed slightly inward while overcoming the elastic force of the removing spring 220 (see FIG. 13(D)). At this time, the movable end 252 of the operational pin 250 escapes from the locking position of the cam groove 240, so that it can move through another path. Thus, the slider 210 is released from the locked state (inserted state) of FIG. 12(B) (see FIGS. 13(E) and 13(A)).

[17] As the locked state of the operational pin 250 is released, the slider 210 moves outward due to the elastic force of the removing spring 220. As a result, the card 102 is slightly protruded along with the slider 210. Thus, the user can seize and remove the card 102. When the user pulls out the card 102, the U-shaped locking spring 230 is pressed down, and thus the locked state of the locking ridge 231 is released from the locking recess 102, so that the card 102 can be removed.

[18] The known slider-cam 200, however, has the following problems.

[19] First, the operational pin 250, acting as an independent part, is required for the operation of the slider-cam 200. Because the operational pin 250 is very small, it is not easy to assemble the operational pin 250 in a manner such that opposite ends of the operational pin 250 are fitted into the hole 111 in the socket frame 110 and the cam groove 240, respectively. As such, the rate of failure of assembly is very high. Furthermore, it is difficult to apply automated production to the assembly, and thus the assembly must be conducted manually. There is thus a limitation on the improvement of productivity.

[20] Second, the cam groove 240 is formed in the sidewall of the slider 210, and thus is located in the sidewall of the socket frame 110. The pressing spring 260, which prevents the separation of the operational pin 250 inserted in the cam groove 240, is installed on the sidewall 151 of the second cover 150. Thus, in order to assemble the second cover 150 with the socket frame 110 in the state in which the operational pin 250 is assembled, such assembly must be carefully done in the state in which the socket frame 110 is inclined at an angle of about 45? such that the slider 210 and the operational pin 250 do not fall down. As such, assembly is very difficult, and it is difficult to apply automated production to the assembly. Accordingly, there is another limitation on the improvement of productivity.

[21] Third, since the locking spring 230 must be mounted in a mounting groove 212 that has the shape of a narrow slit and corresponds to the shape (an approximate U shape) of the locking spring 230 of the slider 210, it is not easy to assemble the locking spring 230, and thus productivity is reduced. When in use, the locking spring 230 deviates from its normal position, and thus there is a high possibility of the occurrence of a malfunction.

Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[22] Accordingly, the present invention has been made in an effort to solve the problems occurring in the related art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a slider- cam, which is applied to realize easy insertion and removal of a card into and from a card socket, which is installed so as to mount a variety of cards on a mobile communication terminal, and which employs no operational pin, which is difficult to assemble, thereby making an assembly process very simple and being applicable to automated production.

[23] Another object of the present invention is to provide a slider-cam, in which an elastic plate is formed by cutting the cover of a card socket instead of the operational pin of a known slider-cam, so that the slider-cam can be smoothly operated due to the interaction between the elastic plate and the cam formed on the slider, and in which the cam is formed on the upper face rather than on the sidewall of a slider, and thus is exposed to the upper face rather than to the sidewall of a socket frame, so that an assembly process can be greatly simplified and automated production is made possible.

[24] Another object of the present invention is to provide a slider-cam, in which a locking spring, which prevents a card inserted into a card socket from escaping by accident, is formed on a slider, thereby overcoming the difficulty associated with the process of assembling the locking spring and malfunction of the locking spring. Technical Solution

[25] In order to achieve the above object, according to a first embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a slider-cam for a card socket.

[26] The slider-cam for a card socket according to the first embodiment of the present invention comprises a slider, a removing spring, a cam, an elastic plate and an elastic card lock.

[27] The slider is mounted on a guide formed on a socket frame of the card socket, and reciprocates along the guide in correspondence to the insertion and removal of a card.

[28] The removing spring is mounted between the slider and the socket frame, and presses the slider in the direction in which the card is removed from the card socket.

[29] The cam is formed on the slider, and includes an ingress path on one side thereof, a locking step in the middle thereof, and an egress path on the other side thereof.

[30] The elastic plate is elastically formed at an incline by cutting a cover, which covers the socket frame, at a position corresponding to that of the cam, includes a base connected to the cover, a neck elongatedly extending from the base, and a tongue at one end of the neck, moves along each path of the cam in correspondence to the reciprocation of the slider, and causes the tongue to move inward along the ingress path, be locked on the locking step to maintain the locked state of the card, and move outward along the egress path as the slider moves inward, is locked and moves outward.

[31] The elastic card lock is formed on the slider, and elastically maintains the state in which the card is inserted into the card socket.

[32] The cam, which is formed on the slider, may include: a through hole, which is elongatedly formed in the slider such that the width thereof is greater than that of the tongue; an oblique face, which is formed at the front of the through hole so as not to hinder the elastic movement of the elastic plate; a first cam, which protrudes from one sidewall of the through hole, and includes an oblique face inducing the tongue in the direction in which the tongue is forcibly pushed upward, and a step formed at a position extending from the oblique face in a downward vertical direction and acting as part of the locking step; and a second cam, which protrudes from the other sidewall of the through hole, which is spaced apart from the first cam by an interval that is greater than that of the neck and is less than that of the tongue, and includes a step acting as the remaining part of the locking step in cooperation with the step of the first cam, and a guide face inducing the tongue to move outward and functioning as the egress path.

[33] The elastic card lock may include a U-shaped card locking spring in which a locking ridge locked on a locking recess of the inserted card is formed on one side thereof, and in which elasticity thereof is applied in the direction in which the locking ridge is locked on the locking recess. The slider may include a spring mounting chamber into which the card locking spring is inserted and which includes a front opening for pushing the card locking spring into the spring mounting chamber, and a lateral opening through which the locking ridge of the inserted card locking spring protrudes, the card locking spring being placed in the spring mounting chamber in the state in which the locking ridge protrudes through the lateral opening when the card locking spring is pushed inward through the front opening.

[34] According to a second embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a slider-cam for a card socket. The slider-cam for a card socket according to the second embodiment of the present invention comprises: a slider, which is mounted on a guide formed on a socket frame of the card socket and reciprocates along the guide in correspondence to the insertion and removal of a card ; a removing spring, which is mounted between the slider and the socket frame, and presses the slider in the direction in which the card is removed from the card socket; an elastic card lock, which is formed on the slider and elastically maintains the state in which the card is inserted into the card socket; and a cam mechanism, which locks and unlocks the slider in the state in which the slider is inserted. The elastic card lock includes a card locking elastic piece, which is formed of plastic integrally with the slider so as to become wider toward the inserted card and includes a locking block locked on the locking recess of the card.

[35] The cam mechanism applied to the slider-cam for a card socket according to the second embodiment of the present invention can employ the cam and the elastic plate according to the first embodiment of the present invention as well all known cam mechanisms such as the cam mechanism applied to the aforementioned prior art, so as to be suitable for the embodiments.

Advantageous Effects

[36] As described above, according to the present invention, no operational pin, which is difficult to assemble, is used, so that the assembly process can be greatly simplified, automated production is enabled, and the cost of production is remarkably reduced.

[37] Further, the elastic plate is formed by cutting the cover of the card socket instead of the operational pin of the known slider-cam, so that the slider-cam can be smoothly operated by the interaction between the elastic plate and the cam formed on the slider. Further, the cam is formed on the upper face rather than on the sidewall, and thus is exposed to the upper face of the socket frame rather than to the sidewall, so that the assembly process can be greatly simplified, automated production is enabled, and the cost of production is remarkably reduced.

[38] In addition, in forming the elastic card lock, which prevents the card inserted into the card socket from accidentally escaping, the spring mounting chamber is formed on the slider, and the card locking spring is inserted into the spring mounting chamber, or the slider is integrally formed with the elastic card lock from plastic. Thereby, the work of forming the elastic card lock is easy, and the automated production is possible to increase productivity. Further, the incidence of malfunction of the slider-cam can be remarkably reduced. Brief Description of the Drawings

[39] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a card socket to which a slider- cam according to a first embodiment of the present invention is applied;

[40] FIG. 2 is a sectional view illustrating a card socket to which a slider-cam according to a first embodiment of the present invention is applied;

[41] FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a slider which is applied to a slider-cam according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

[42] FIG. 4 is a conceptual view illustrating the operation of a slider-cam according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

[43] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a slider illustrating the mounted structure of a card locking spring according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

[44] FIG. 6 is a sectional view illustrating a slider on which a card locking spring according to a first embodiment of the present invention is mounted;

[45] FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating the process in which a card locking spring according to a first embodiment of the present invention is mounted on the slider;

[46] FIG. 8 is a sectional view illustrating a card socket to which a slider-cam according to a second embodiment of the present invention is applied;

[47] FIG. 9 is a sectional view illustrating a slider that is applied to a slider-cam according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

[48] FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a known card socket that is applied to a mobile phone; [49] FIG. 11 is a sectional view illustrating a known slider-cam applied to a card socket;

[50] FIG. 12 is a perspective view illustrating the operation of a known slider-cam applied to a card socket; and

[51] FIG. 13 is a conceptual view illustrating the operation of a known slider-cam applied to a card socket. Mode for the Invention

[52] A slider-cam for a card socket according to the present invention will be described below in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawing. The following embodiment is described regarding the slider-cam according to the present invention only for illustrative purposes, and thus should not be construed as restricting the scope of the present invention.

[53] First Embodiment

[54] Among the various embodiments of a slider-cam 1 for a card socket according to the present invention, the slider-cam IA for a card socket according to a first embodiment functions to make it easier to insert and remove a card 5 (e.g., a memory card) in conjunction with the card socket 2 applied to a mobile communication terminal, such as a mobile phone, in order to mount a variety of cards 5 such as a memory card, a smart card, and so on. In FIG. 1, the smart card is indicated by reference numeral 5'.

[55] As illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 7, the slider-cam IA of this embodiment fundamentally comprises a slider 10, a removing spring 20, a cam 30, an elastic plate 40, and an elastic card lock 50.

[56] The slider 10 is mounted on a guide 4 formed on a socket frame 3 of the card socket

2, and reciprocates along the guide in compliance with the insertion and removal of the card 5. In the first embodiment, the slider 10 is merely illustrated as an example, which is suitable for the application of the present invention. Thus, the present invention is not limited to such a slider.

[57] The removing spring 20 is an elastic member that biases the slider 10 in the direction in which the card 5, inserted between a spring holder 15 formed on one side of the slider 10 and a spring holder 3 a formed on the socket frame 3, is removed from the card socket 2. Thus, as long as the removal is not hindered by external force, the slider 10 maintains a removed state due to the biasing of the removing spring 20.

[58] The cam 30 is integrally formed with the slider 10, and includes an ingress path 31 on one side (e.g., the upper side) thereof, a locking step 32 in the middle thereof, and an egress path 33 on the other side (e.g. lower side) thereof. The cam 30 is not particularly limited as long as it has the paths capable of locking and unlocking the inserted card 5 in conjunction with the elastic plate 40, which will be described below. An exemplary embodiment of the cam will be described below.

[59] The elastic plate 40 is a member that locks and unlocks the inserted card 5 in interaction with the cam 30 and corresponds to the operational pin, which has been described in connection with the prior art.

[60] According to the features of the first embodiment, the elastic plate 40 is integrally formed with a cover 6, which covers the socket frame 3, by partially cutting out the cover 6 at a position corresponding to that of the cam 30. For example, in the case of the dual card socket described in conjunction with the prior art, which has been developed so as to be able to mount both the memory card and the smart card on the mobile communication terminal, the cover includes a planar upper cover 6, covering the terminals of the memory card, and a lower cover 7, covering the terminals of the smart card and having a sidewall. At this time, the slider 10 is generally mounted facing the upper cover 6. Thus, in the shown embodiment, the elastic plate 40 can be integrally formed with the upper cover 6. Of course, in the case in which the socket frame 3 and the covers are changed in design, the elastic plate 40 may be formed on the lower cover 7 so as to be fitted to the changed designs.

[61] The elastic plate 40, which is formed by cutting out the upper cover 6, which is made of a metal sheet (e.g., a stainless steel sheet) having elasticity by nature, is formed so as to be inclined toward the slider 10. Thereby, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4, as long as no external force is applied, the elastic plate 40 elastically maintains the state in which it is inclined toward the slider 10 at a predetermined angle. Thus, when the external force is applied, the elastic plate 40 is elastically stretched. When the external force is removed, the elastic plate 40 returns to its inclined original position.

[62] Although the elastic plate 40 is a single planar member which elongatedly protrudes from a cutout section 6a of the cover 6, it includes a base 41 connected to the cover 6, a neck 42 elongatedly extending from the base 41, and a roughly T-shaped tongue 43 at one end of the neck 42 in consideration of the structure and function thereof. The tongue 43 of the elastic plate 40, having this structure, moves along each path of the cam 30 in correspondence with the reciprocation of the slider 10 caused by the insertion and removal of the card 5.

[63] In other words, when the slider 10 moves inwards in response to the insertion of the card 5, the tongue 43 moves upward and inward along the ingress path 31 of the cam 30 and is in elastic contact with the ingress path 31 of the cam 30. When the slider 10 reaches the position at which the card 5 is locked, the tongue 43 is locked on the locking step 32. In order to release the locked state of the card 5, when the card is pushed again, the tongue 43 escapes from the locking step 32, move outward through the egress path 33, and reaches its original position.

[64] In the first embodiment, the cam 30 is adapted to include a through hole 34, an oblique face 35, a first cam 30a, and a second cam 30b.

[65] The through hole 34 is elongatedly formed in the slider 10 such that the width thereof is greater than that of the tongue 43.

[66] The oblique face 35 is formed at the front of the through hole 34, where the base 41 of the elastic plate 40 is located, and has an angle of inclination that does not hinder the elastic plate 40 from elastically moving up and down.

[67] As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the first cam 30a protrudes from one long sidewall of the through hole 34, and includes an oblique face 36 inducing the tongue 43 in the direction in which the tongue 43 is forcibly pushed upward, and a step 37 formed at a position extending from the oblique face 36 in a downward vertical direction. The oblique face 36 serves as the ingress path 31 described above, and the step 37 acts as part of the locking step 32.

[68] As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the second cam 30b protrudes from the other long sidewall of the through hole 34, which is spaced apart from the first cam 30a by an interval that is greater than that of the neck 42 and is less than that of the tongue 43. The second cam 30b includes a step 38 acting as the remaining part of the locking step 32 in cooperation with the step 37 of the first cam 30a, and a guide face 39 inducing the tongue 43 to move outward without hindrance. The guide face 39 functions as the egress path 33.

[69] The elastic card lock 50 is formed on the slider 10, and functions to elastically maintain the state in which the card 5 is inserted into the card socket 2. As the elastic card lock 50, a card locking spring 51 mounted in a spring mounting chamber 11, which will be described below with reference to FIG. 5, or a card locking elastic piece 53 of a second embodiment, which will be described below with reference to FIG. 9 is preferably applied. However, the locking spring 230 inserted into the slit-shaped mounting groove 212 (see FIG. 11), which has been described above in connection with the prior art, is not excluded.

[70] Hereinafter, the operation of the slider-cam IA for a card socket according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 4.

[71] In the ordinary state, in which the card 5 is not inserted, the slider 10 moves toward an insertion hole for the card 5 due to the elasticity of the removing spring 20 (removed state) (see FIG. 4(A)). In this state, when the user inserts and pushes the card 5, the oblique nose 5b of the card 5 begins to press an oblique block 16 of the slider 10 (see FIG. 2). Thereby, the slider 10 begins to be pushed in the inward direction (i.e. in an arrow direction of FIG. 4(A)) while overcoming the elasticity of the removing spring 20 (FIG. 4(B)).

[72] As the slider 10 moves in the inward direction, the elastic plate 40, which is elastically supported on the apex 35a of the oblique face 35 in an approximately horizontal direction, is gradually inclined downward due to its own elasticity. Then, the tongue 43 of the elastic plate 40 is placed on the lower end of the oblique face 36, acting as the ingress path 31 of the first cam 30a, and then moves upward along the ingress path 31. In this manner, the elastic plate 40 moves inwards (FIG. 4(B)).

[73] When the pressing force for the card 5 is removed after the card 5 is inserted all the way, the slider 10 moves outward due to the action of the removing spring 20 after moving inward all the way. At this time, when the slider 10 moves inward, the tongue 43 is lowered down due to its elasticity after going through the oblique face 36 (see FIG. 4(C)). When the slider 10 moves outward, the tongue 43 is caught on the locking step 32, formed by the steps 37 and 38 of the first and second cams 30a and 30b, so that the slider 10 is in a locked state (see FIG. 4(D)). At this time, the card 5 is caught on the elastic card lock 50, and is thereby prevented from escaping by accident. Thereby, the process of locking the card 5 is completed.

[74] Then, when the card 5 is slightly pushed and released in order to remove the card 5 from the card socket 2, the slider 10 is slightly moved inward by means of the card 5 (in the arrow direction of FIG. 4(E)). Simultaneously, the tongue 43, caught on the locking step 32, moves inward to a position at which it goes through the second cam 30b. As soon as the tongue 43 goes through the second cam 30b, the tongue 43 is inclined downward to the maximum extent by the elasticity of the elastic plate 40 (here, there is no obstacle hindering the elastic inclination, and thus the tongue is inclined to the maximum extent). Then, the tongue 43 rides beyond the second cam 30b to reach the guide face 39, which is the egress path 33 of the second cam 30b (see FIG. 4(E)). Afterwards, when the slider 10 can freely move outward due to the removal of the external force pressing the card 5, the tongue 43 returns to its original position along the egress path 33, i.e. the guide face 39 (in a removed state), so that the unlocking of the slider 10 is completed (FIG. 4(F)).

[75] As the slider 10 is removed, the card 5 is slightly protruded from the card socket 2.

Thus, the user can seize and remove the card 5. Consequently, when the card 5 is pulled, it is removed while overcoming the elastic force of the elastic card lock 50.

[76] As illustrated in FIGS. 5 through 7, as the elastic card lock 50 applied to the first embodiment, a U-shaped card locking spring 51 can be used, in which a locking ridge 52, locked in a locking recess 5a of the inserted card 5, is formed on one side thereof, and its elasticity is applied in the direction in which the locking ridge 52 is locked in the locking recess 5a.

[77] As illustrated in FIG. 7, the card locking spring 51 can be mass-produced by pressing a steel sheet 8 having elasticity, such as a stainless steel sheet. A cutout line 9 is formed between the formed card locking spring 51 and the remaining steel sheet 8, so that the card locking spring 51 can be easily cut out. [78] The slider 10 of the slider-cam IA according to the first embodiment is provided with a spring mounting chamber 11 for inserting and mounting the card locking spring 51.

[79] The aforementioned locking spring 230 of the prior art, corresponding to the card locking spring 51, is mounted in a manner such that the locking spring 230 is vertically inserted downward into the slit-shaped mounting groove 212 of the slider. However, as shown in the first embodiment, the spring mounting chamber 11 is formed by securing a space capable of receiving the card locking spring 51 in a plastic injection molding for the slider 10, and the card locking spring 51 is inserted and mounted in the spring mounting chamber 11.

[80] As illustrated in FIG. 5, the spring mounting chamber 11 formed in the slider 10 has internal space defined so as to allow the U-shaped card locking spring 51, having elasticity and flexibility, to be precisely received, and includes a front opening 12 for pushing the card locking spring 51 into the spring mounting chamber 11, and a lateral opening 13 through which the locking ridge 52 of the inserted card locking spring 51 protrudes.

[81] In other words, the spring mounting chamber 11 is basically closed except for the front opening 12 and the lateral opening 13, so that the card locking spring 51, pushed inward through the front opening 12, is safely mounted in the spring mounting chamber 11, with the locking ridge 52 thereof protruding through the lateral opening 13.

[82] In the first embodiment, as illustrated, the through hole 14 formed in the spring mounting chamber 11 is not used for mounting the card locking spring 51 in the spring mounting chamber 11. If the through hole 14 is formed, frictional resistance between the slider 10, forming the spring mounting chamber 11, and the card locking spring 51 can be reduced when the locking spring 51 is elastically expanded and contracted. This configuration is preferable because the elastic expansion and contraction of the locking spring 51 occurs in a smoother manner.

[83] According to the configuration of the slider 10, in which the card locking spring 51 and the spring mounting chamber 11 are formed, when the card locking spring 51 is mounted on the slider 10, it can be pushed and mounted through the front opening 12, as illustrated in FIG. 7, without being inserted into the slit-shaped mounting groove 212 (see FIG. 11), as in the prior art. As a result, the card locking spring 51 can be mounted using automated equipment rather than manual work. In addition, the mounted card locking spring 51 is safely placed in the spring mounting chamber 11, so that the card locking spring 51 has no chance of escaping from the spring mounting chamber 11 even after repeated use.

[84] As described above, the elastic card lock 50 applied to the first embodiment has been described with reference to the configuration in which the spring mounting chamber 11 is formed in the slider 10, and in which the U-shaped card locking spring 51, made of a steel sheet, is inserted into the spring mounting chamber 11 by way of example. However, the elastic card lock 50 according to the first embodiment has no special limitation on its structure as long as it can elastically maintain the state in which the card 5 is inserted into the card socket 2.

[85] Second Embodiment

[86] As illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, a slide cam IB for a card socket according to the second embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that the elastic card lock 50 is integrally formed with the slider 10 when the slider 10 is formed of plastic, unlike that of the first embodiment.

[87] More specifically, as in the first embodiment, the slide cam IB for a card socket according to the second embodiment comprises a slider 10, a removing spring 20, an elastic card lock 50, and a proper cam mechanism. The elastic card lock 50 employs a card locking elastic piece 53, which is integrally formed with the slider 10 so as to become wider toward the inserted card 5, and the card locking elastic piece 53 includes a locking block 55, which is locked on the locking recess 5a of the card 5.

[88] As illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, the elastic card lock 50 applied to the slide cam IB for a card socket according to the second embodiment is not adapted to include a separate spring to mount it on the slider 10, but to integrally form the elastic card lock 50 with the slider 10 when the slider 10 is formed.

[89] The card locking elastic piece 53, which is integrally formed with the slider 10, slightly protrudes in the direction in which the card 5 moves inward, and has a predetermined gap 54 with respect to the body of the slider 10. Thus, the card locking elastic piece 53 has elasticity so that it can become wider to form a passage through which the card 5 moves inward due to the intrinsic elastic characteristic of the plastic for the slider 10.

[90] Due to the characteristics of the card locking elastic piece 53, when the card 5 is inserted, the locking block 55 of the card locking elastic piece 53 is elastically locked on the locking recess 5a, so that the card 5 is prevented from escaping by accident. Further, when the card 5 is seized and removed, the card 5 can be removed while overcoming the elastic force of the card locking elastic piece 53. Industrial Applicability

[91] According to the slide cam for a card socket of the present invention, the operational pin, which is difficult to assemble, is not used, so that the assembly process can be greatly simplified, automated production is enabled, and the cost of production is remarkably reduced. The elastic plate is formed by cutting the cover of the card socket instead of the operational pin of the known slider-cam, so that the slider-cam can be smoothly operated due to the interaction between the elastic plate and the cam formed on the slider. Further, the cam is formed on the upper face rather than on the sidewall, and thus is exposed to the upper face of the socket frame rather than to the sidewall, so that the assembly process can be greatly simplified, automated production is enabled, and the cost of production is remarkably reduced.

Claims

[1] A slider-cam for a card socket, comprising: a slider (10), which is mounted on a guide (4) formed on a socket frame (3) of the card socket (2) and reciprocates along the guide (4) in correspondence to insertion and removal of a card (5); a removing spring (20), which is mounted between the slider (10) and the socket frame (3), and presses the slider (10) in a direction in which the card (5) is removed from the card socket (2); a cam (30), which is formed on the slider (10), and includes an ingress path (31) on one side thereof, a locking step (32) in a middle thereof, and an egress path

(33) on the other side thereof; an elastic plate (40), which is elastically formed at an incline by cutting a cover (6), which covers the socket frame (3), at a position corresponding to that of the cam (30), includes a base (41) connected to the cover (6), a neck (42) elongatedly extending from the base (41), and a tongue (43) at one end of the neck (42), moves along each path of the cam (30) in correspondence to reciprocation of the slider (10), and causes the tongue (43) to move inward along the ingress path (31), be locked on the locking step (32) to maintain a locked state of the card (5), and move outward along the egress path (33) as the slider (10) moves inward, is locked and moves outward; and an elastic card lock (50), which is formed on the slider (10), and elastically maintains a state in which the card (5) is inserted into the card socket (2). [2] The slider-cam according to claim 1, wherein the cam (30), which is formed on the slider (10), includes: a through hole (34), which is elongatedly formed in the slider (10) such that a width thereof is greater than that of the tongue (43); an oblique face (35), which is formed at a front of the through hole (34) so as not to hinder elastic movement of the elastic plate (40); a first cam (30a), which protrudes from one sidewall of the through hole (34), and includes an oblique face (36) inducing the tongue (43) in a direction in which the tongue (43) is forcibly pushed upward, and a step (37) formed at a position extending from the oblique face (36) in a downward vertical direction and acting as part of the locking step (32); and a second cam (30b), which protrudes from the other sidewall of the through hole

(34) spaced apart from the first cam (30a) by an interval that is greater than that of the neck (42) and is less than that of the tongue (43), and includes a step (38) acting as the remaining part of the locking step (32) in cooperation with the step (37) of the first cam (30a), and a guide face (39) inducing the tongue (43) to move outward and functioning as the egress path (33).

[3] The slider-cam according to claim 1, wherein the elastic card lock (50) includes a

U-shaped card locking spring (51) in which a locking ridge (52), locked on a locking recess (5a) of the inserted card (5), is formed on one side thereof, and in which elasticity thereof is applied in a direction in which the locking ridge (52) is locked on the locking recess (5a); the slider (10) includes a spring mounting chamber (11), into which the card locking spring (51) is inserted and which includes a front opening (12) for pushing the card locking spring (51) into the spring mounting chamber (11), and a lateral opening (13), through which the locking ridge (52) of the inserted card locking spring (51) protrudes, the card locking spring (51) being placed in the spring mounting chamber (11) in a state in which the locking ridge (52) protrudes through the lateral opening (13) when the card locking spring (51) is pushed inward through the front opening (12).

[4] A slider-cam (IB) for a card socket, comprising: a slider (10), which is mounted on a guide (4) formed in a socket frame (3) of the card socket (2) and reciprocates along the guide (4) in correspondence to insertion and removal of a card (5); a removing spring (20), which is mounted between the slider (10) and the socket frame (3), and pressing the slider (10) in a direction in which the card (5) is removed from the card socket (2); an elastic card lock (50), which is formed on the slider (10), and elastically maintains a state in which the card (5) is inserted into the card socket (2); and a cam mechanism, which locks and unlocks the slider (10), wherein the elastic card lock (50) includes a card locking elastic piece (53), which is integrally formed with the slider (10) of plastic so as to become wider toward the inserted card (5) and includes a locking block (55) locked on the locking recess (5a) of the card (5).