Registers – Coded record sensors – Feed mechanisms
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-14
2002-06-18
Lee, Michael G. (Department: 2876)
Registers
Coded record sensors
Feed mechanisms
C235S479000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06405928
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a PC card connector, and more specifically relates to a PC card connector which has a structure in which a pressing bar does not protrude at times other than when a PC card is being ejected.
BACKGROUND
PC card connector
200
disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 8-96891 is universally known as a conventional PC card connector. In PC card connector
200
, as shown in
FIG. 11
, an ejector member
204
is installed in a frame
202
attached to a main body so that ejector member
204
can slide. A spring
206
is attached to the ejector member
204
. Engaging end
208
of spring
206
moves through a first circular cam groove (not shown), and positions the ejector member
204
in an outer position whereby the ejector member
204
protrudes to the right from the frame
202
, or an inner position in which the ejector member
204
is pushed into the frame
202
. A front edge of the ejector member
204
has an “L” shape, and an intermediate the bar
210
is installed which engages the edge. A guided shaft
220
of the intermediate bar
210
is guided by a second circular cam groove (not shown), and is driven by a spring
212
.
When the ejector member
204
protrudes to the right, a front end
213
of the ejector member
204
moves to a rear end
214
of the intermediate bar
210
, so that the intermediate bar
210
is caused to pivot upward about shaft
216
by the spring
212
. Then, when the rear end
214
of the intermediate bar
210
and the front end
213
of the ejector member
204
engage each other, and the ejector member
204
is pushed inwardly, the intermediate bar
210
moves to the left with the shaft
216
being guided by the slot
222
, and with the guided shaft
220
being guided by the second circular cam groove, so that the front end
218
of the intermediate bar
210
pushes the eject bar
221
, thus ejecting the PC card (not shown) via an arm bar (not shown).
In the conventional example described above, when the push bottom
201
is depressed, the eject bar
221
is locked in the position which ejects the PC card; accordingly, a new PC card cannot be inserted. Furthermore, two circular cam grooves, which require a relatively large area, must be formed in a limited space, so that the structure is complicated. Moreover, a large pressing bar stroke makes it possible to obtain a low-operating force; however, since the cam grooves are small, the stroke of the pressing bar is reduced, so that a low-operating force cannot be obtained. With a single circular cam groove, the structure would be simplified, and the degree of freedom in design would be increased. Furthermore, respective springs
206
and
212
are required in order to drive the ejector member
204
and the intermediate bar
201
to the side.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A further system for ejecting circuit boards from computers is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,558,527. This ejection system is a two-stage system having the drawback of requiring two discrete actions by an operator to eject a circuit board.
The present invention was devised in light of the above points. One feature of the present invention is to provide a PC card connector with a low-operating force which makes it possible, by means of a relatively simple structure, to insert a PC card even when the eject bar is pushed in. Furthermore, another feature of the present invention is to provide a PC card connector which has a small number of parts.
A PC card connector of the present invention is equipped with a frame which accommodates a PC card, an ejection member which ejects the PC card, and an eject bar which drives the ejection member, the PC card connector is further equipped with a pressing bar, a swinging bar which is pivot mounted so that the swinging bar substantially overlaps with the pressing bar, and so that the swinging bar can pivot, and a guide plate which guides a free end of the winging bar, and which has a circular cam groove with an outer position that stops the pressing bar in a position at which the pressing bar is caused to protrude, and an inner position which stops the pressing bar in a position in which the pressing bar is pressed in and the swinging bar moves in a lateral direction, engages with the eject bar and presses the eject bar only when the swinging bar moves from the outer position to the inner position.
It is desirable that there be only one circular cam groove. Furthermore, it is desirable that the swinging bar be constantly pushed toward the guide plate by a spring member.
A PC card connector comprises a frame in which a PC card is received for electrical connection with an electrical connector, an ejection member pivotally mounted to the frame, a reciprocally-operated eject bar connected to one end of the ejection member for pivotally operating the ejection member to eject a PC card in the card connector, wherein a guide plate assembly is operatively connected to the eject bar to reciprocally operate the eject bar including a pressing bar and a guide plate along which the pressing bar moves, a swinging bar connected between the pressing bar and the guide plate so that when the pressing bar is moved from an initial position to a card-ejection position, the swinging bar engages the eject bar thereby moving the eject bar to a card-ejection position.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5578811 (1996-11-01), Suzuki
patent: 5648651 (1997-07-01), Inoue
patent: 6182899 (2001-02-01), Muller et al.
patent: 6186402 (2001-02-01), Johnson
patent: 546816 (1993-02-01), None
Japanese Patent Application No. 8-96891.
Muramatsu Hidenori
Watanabe Satoru
Cyr Daniel St.
Lee Michael G.
The Whitaker Corporation
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