US 7,066,748 B2 · Smart card connector with slider

Abstract

A smart card connector with a slot into which a smart card can be inserted, includes a slide assembly (251) that initially receives the smart card and moves the card forward to a fully installed operating position, and that can be moved to move the smart card a distance rearward to a retracted position and allows the rear card end to be easily pulled out of the connector. The slide assembly includes a card holding slider (500) that includes a sheet metal plate that lies under the card, and a retention bar (524) at the rear end of the plate that abuts the rear edge of the card. When the slider has been moved rearward to a retracted position, the retention bar can be lowered by bending the sheet metal plate, so the card can be grasped and pulled out. The slide assembly also includes a slidable carriage (250) that is mounted at one side of the card-receiving slot and connected to the slider to move with it, that is urged rearward by a coil spring (254), and that is coupled to a double click mechanism on the housing.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A smart card connector which has a housing that forms a card-receiving slot that receives a card by sliding the card forwardly into the slot, the connector including a slide assembly that is slideable in forward and rearward directions on said housing, an assembly spring that urges the slide assembly rearward, the slide assembly having a branch that presses against a front of the card so forward movement of the card moves the slide assembly forward and so that the slide assembly pushes the card rearward when released to do so, wherein:

said slide assembly includes a card-holding slider with a rear end having a retention bar which is urged upward toward a retention position wherein a front surface of the retention bar lies directly behind the slot to abut the card rear end, the retention bar being downwardly deflectable to a release position wherein the bar lies lower than in said retention position to allow the card to move largely rearward of the bar and out of the card-receiving slot.

A smart card connector which has a housing that forms a card-receiving slot that receives a card that has upper and lower faces by sliding the card forwardly into the slot, the slot having a small vertical thickness and having a lateral width that is a plurality of times as great as said thickness, the connector including a slide assembly that is slideable in forward and rearward directions, the slide assembly having parts lying respectively forward and rearward of a card so the slide assembly and card move forward and rearward together, wherein:

said slide assembly includes a card-holding slider in the form of a plate with a center plate region that lies facewise against a lower face of a card that lies in said card-receiving slot, and a carriage that lies beyond a lateral side of said slot, both said slider and said carriage being slideable by limited distances in front and rear directions on said support;
a spring that urges said carriage rearward;
a double click mechanism connected to said housing and to said carriage which alternately latches said carriage in a forward operating position and releases said carriage to move rearward, when the carriage is repeatedly pushed forward by a small distance that is no more than 5 mm;
said slider and said carriage are independently slideably mounted on said housing, but are coupled so said slider and carriage slide forward and rearward together.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Smart card connector with slider

Life of this patent

Smart card connector with slider

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16