IC card connector having card ejecting function

Details IC card connector having card ejecting function IC card connector having card ejecting function

2000-03-23

2001-08-14

Sircus, Brian (Department: 2839)

Electrical connectors

With coupling separator

Nonconducting pusher

Reexamination Certificate

active

06273737

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an IC card connector mounted in equipment and used for insertion and removal of an IC card.
2. Description of Related Art
Generally, an IC card connector is provided with a push rod slidably held in the direction of insertion of the IC card, and an ejecting lever for driving out the IC card which has been accepted in the IC card connector, by turning the end portion thereof according to the movement of the push rod in the direction of insertion.
As disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 9-82411 for example, the IC card connector has a guide frame into which the IC card is to be inserted; an insulating housing fixed in the innermost side part of the frame, for accepting the IC card to be inserted into the frame; an ejecting lever made of a metal plate having a long hole and disposed on the frame; and a push rod slidably installed, in the direction of insertion, on either one of the right and left ends of the frame, and extended and held in the direction of insertion. Furthermore, on the surface of the frame there is provided a caulking portion formed in a shape of projection by caulking the frame. Then, the caulked portion is fitted and caulked in the long hole of the ejecting lever, to thereby rotatably hold the ejecting lever on the frame.
The end portion of the ejecting lever is turned to push the IC card in the opposite direction of insertion in accordance with the movement of the push rod in the direction of insertion, pushing the IC card out from the frame.
The conventional IC card connector has such a problem that the caulked portion of the frame thus formed projects outwardly to hold the ejecting lever which turns on the frame; and the caulked portion is fitted in the long hole of the ejecting lever. According to this configuration, the IC card connector increases in thickness, making it impossible to realize a thin IC card connector against the recent trend toward decreasing the thickness of the whole body of the equipment.
Where a thin caulked portion is employed, there is the fear that, in the event of a trouble of the caulked portion, the ejecting lever will fail to smoothly move within the long hole of the ejecting lever when the ejecting lever is pushed to remove the IC card from the connector. Also, if the caulked portion is reduced only in thickness without decreasing its length, the ejecting lever will rise off the frame, coming out of position.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object, therefore, of this invention is to provide a thin IC card connector, in which an operating power required at an initial stage of ejection of the IC card has been increased so that the IC card may be ejected largely out, thereby insuring smooth, reliable operation of the equipment.
As the first means to solve at least one of the above-described problems, the IC card connector has a housing provided with terminals, a frame mounted on the housing, and an ejecting lever supported on the frame. A pair of mounting holes are formed in the flat plate of the frame. Between the mounting holes, a connecting portion recessed in the direction of plate thickness is provided. A raised portion is formed on the ejecting lever in the direction of plate thickness, protruding in the opposite direction of the connecting portion. The ejecting lever is inserted through one of the mounting holes into the other mounting hole astride the connecting portion. Then, with the raised portion overlapped on the connecting portion, the surface of the raised portion is set nearly flush with the surface of the flat plate of the frame, and also the back side of the connecting portion is set nearly flush with the back side of the ejecting lever. The ejecting lever is rotatably supported between the connecting portion and the raised portion, so that the IC card connected to the terminals on the housing may be pushed for ejection by means of the ejecting lever.
As the second means of solution, there are formed contact portions which can be in contact with the frame, on both ends of the raised portion. One of the contact portions is used as a fulcrum. With the turning of the ejecting lever, the fulcrum moves from one contact portion to the other contact portion.
Furthermore, as the third means of solution, the connecting portion is bridged in the direction of width of the ejecting lever.
Furthermore, as the fourth means of solution, a pair of protruding portions are formed on the raised portion of the ejecting lever, protruding in the opposite direction of the raised portion to thereby hold the connecting portion at a given interval and accordingly to restrict the movement of the ejecting lever.
Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5533906 (1996-07-01), Abe
patent: 9-82411 (1997-03-01), None
patent: WO97/10691 (1997-03-01), None

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