Electrical connectors – With coupling separator – Nonconducting pusher
Reexamination Certificate
2002-03-18
2003-07-15
Ta, Tho D. (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
With coupling separator
Nonconducting pusher
C439S188000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06592385
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to electronic card connectors, and more particularly to a card ejection mechanism for an electronic card connector which has a guiding structure with a generally sea horse shaped contour.
2. Prior Art
As electronics technology advances, electronic cards are being more widely used with electronic devices such as mobile phones, personal computers, notebooks, and personal digital assistants (PDAs). Electronic card connectors are adapted to connect electronic cards with the electronic devices, so that processing units in the devices can access information stored in the electronic cards. The electronic card may be removed and replaced with another electronic card; for example, when a different user wants to have access to the same electronic device. Card ejection mechanisms are thus used in the connectors for allowing convenient manual changeover of electronic cards when required.
An example of a conventional card connector is disclosed in Japan Patent Application No. 2000-2664. With reference to
FIG. 1
, the conventional card connector comprises an upper housing (not shown), a lower housing
14
′, a plurality of contacts (not shown), and a card ejector
2
′. The card ejector
2
′ includes a spring
27
′, a slide arm
26
′, and a slide lever
24
′ attached to the slide arm
26
′. A heart-shaped block
200
′ and a corresponding heart-shaped groove
201
′ surrounding the block
200
′ are formed in the slide arm
26
′. The block
200
′ has a pit portion
203
′ and a tip portion
202
′. The slide lever
24
′ has an upper end
242
′ and a lower end
244
′. In operation of the ejector, the lower end
244
′ of the slide lever
24
′ slides in the groove
201
′. When a card (not shown) is fully inserted into the connector, the lower end
244
′ engages in the pit portion
203
′. When the slide arm
26
′ is pushed, the lower end
244
′ exits the pit portion
203
′, and the spring
27
′ pushes the slide arm
26
′ rearward to drive the inserted card to also move rearward. Thus, the inserted card is ejected from the connector. However, the heart-shaped block
200
′ and the corresponding heart-shaped groove
201
′ in the slide arm
26
′ cannot effectively position the slide lever
24
′ in a desired position. Therefore the heart-shaped block
200
′ and the heart-shaped groove
201
′ occupy an unduly large width.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a card ejection mechanism for an electronic card connector that occupies a relative small space and offers a stable engagement between the ejection mechanism and the card connector.
To accomplish the above-mentioned object, an ejection mechanism for an electronic card connector includes a guiding structure, a lid, a slide rod, a slide block, an elastic element and a retaining assembly. The guiding structure is formed in a housing of the connector. The guiding structure includes a recess and an arcuate island formed in a middle of the recess. A protrusion is formed by the housing and protrudes in the recess. A second end of the slide rod is slidably fitted in the recess.
Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from a consideration of the drawings and the following detailed description.
REFERENCES:
patent: 6042401 (2000-03-01), Oguchi et al.
patent: 6332791 (2001-12-01), Wang et al.
Chung Wei Te
Hon Hai - Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
Ta Tho D.
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