Switch operative responsive to positioning of a card member

An assembly for receiving a portable memory element at a support position such that, when positioned thereat, electrodes of the memory element contact with electrical contacts of an electrical circuit, said assembly comprising:

• a support platform for receiving the portable memory element and for permitting sliding translation of the portable memory element therealong to position the memory element at the support position;
• and
• a switch operative alternately to permit powering of the electrical contacts of the electrical circuit when the memory element is positioned at the support position or to prevent powering of the electrical contacts when the memory element is positioned beyond the support position, said switch having:
• a lever arm having a distal end portion and a proximal end portion;
• a pivot arm coupled to the lever arm at a connecting point located along the lever arm and positioned to extend beyond at least one side surface of the lever arm to abut against the support assembly in supportive engagement therewith, the connecting point defining a fulcrum permitting pivotal movement of the lever arm thereabout;
• and means forming a force receiving surface upon the distal end portion of the lever arm for receiving actuation forces thereat whereby actuation forces applied to the force receiving surface generate twisting moments to cause pivotal movement of the lever arm about the fulcrum out of a first switch position wherein said proximal end portion of said lever arm is in contact with said electrical circuit and into a second switch position wherein said proximal end portion of said lever arm is out of contact with said electrical circuit to enable powering of the electrical contacts of the electrical circuit.

In a radio transceiver having a support assembly for receiving a portable memory element in a support position and electrical circuitry having electrical contacts permitting electrical connection with corresponding electrodes of the portable memory element when the memory element is positioned at the support position, the combination with the support assembly of a switch operative alternately to permit powering of the electrical contacts of the electrical circuit when the memory element is positioned at the support position or to prevent powering of the electrical contacts when the memory element is positioned beyond the support position, said switch comprising:

• a lever arm having a distal end portion and a proximal end portion;
• a pivot arm coupled to the lever arm at a connecting point located along the lever arm and positioned to extend beyond at least one side surface of the lever arm to abut against the support assembly in supportive engagement therewith, the connecting point defining a fulcrum permitting pivotal movement of the lever arm thereabout;
• and
• means forming a force receiving surface upon the distal end portion of the lever arm for receiving actuation forces thereat whereby actuation forces applied to the force receiving surface generate twisting moments to cause pivotal movement of the lever arm about the fulcrum out of a first switch position wherein said proximal end portion of said lever arm is in contact with said electrical circuitry and into a second switch position wherein said proximal end portion of said lever arm is out of contact with said electrical circuitry to enable powering of the electrical contacts of the electrical circuitry.

In a radio transceiver having a support assembly having a support platform for receiving a portable memory element in a support position thereupon and electrical circuitry disposed beneath the support platform having electrical contacts extending to the support platform for permitting electrical connection with corresponding electrodes of the portable memory element when the memory element is positioned at the support position, a method for powering the electrical contacts of the electrical circuit when the memory element is positioned at the support position and for preventing powering of the electrical contacts when the memory element is positioned beyond the support position, said method comprising the step of:

• coupling an electrically-conductive lever arm having a distal end portion and a proximal end portion to the support platform such that the distal end portion of the lever arm extends above the support surface and such that the proximal end portion of the lever arm extends beneath the support surface to be positioned in engagement across opposing sides of the electrical circuit to form a short circuit thereby to prevent powering of the electrical contacts, whereby translation of the memory element upon the support platform into position at the support surface causes actuation forces to be exerted upon the distal end portion of the lever arm thereby to generate twisting moments which cause pivotal movement of the lever arm to position the proximal end portion of the lever arm out of the engagement across the opposing sides of the electrical circuit, and thereby to permit powering of the electrical contacts of the electrical circuit.