# US 7,744,391 B2 · Memory card connector with improved sliding structure to reduce friction > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,744,391 B2 - Document ID: US7744391B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/380,683 - Filed: 2009-03-02 - Published: 2009-09-03 - Granted: 2010-06-29 - Earliest claimed: 2008-02-29 - Assignees: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Jian-Fei Yu; Qi-Jun Zhao; Hua Yin - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7744391B2 ## CPC - G06K 7/0021: {for reading/sensing record carriers having surface contacts} - G06K 13/08: Feeding or discharging cards - G06K 13/0806: {using an arrangement for ejection of an inserted card} - H01R 12/7094: {with switch operated by engagement of PCB} - G06K: GRAPHICAL DATA READING (image or video recognition or understanding G06V); PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS ## Abstract A memory card connector includes an insulative housing, a plurality of contacts retained in the insulative housing, a card eject mechanism and metal shell attached to the insulative housing. The insulative housing defines a card receiving cavity for insertion of a memory card. The card eject mechanism includes a slider moveable along card-insertion or card-withdraw directions and a locking member fixed to the slider. The locking member includes a protrusion which forms a sideward dimple. The metal shell includes a top wall covering the card receiving cavity. The top wall defines a slit for receiving the protrusion. An arced surface of the dimple is driven to abut against an inner side of the slit in order to reduce friction therebetween. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A memory card connector, comprising: an insulative housing defining a card receiving cavity for insertion of a memory card; a plurality of contacts retained in the insulative housing with contact portions protruding into the card receiving cavity; a card eject mechanism comprising a slider moveable along card-insertion or card-withdraw directions and a locking member fixed to the slider, the locking member comprising a protrusion which forms a sideward dimple; and a metal shell attached to the insulative housing and comprising a top wall covering the card receiving cavity, the top wall defining a slit for receiving the protrusion, wherein an arced surface of the dimple is driven to abut against an inner side of the slit with insertion of the memory card into the card receiving cavity. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The memory card connector according to claim 1, wherein the slit includes a first part and a contracted second part communicating with each other, and wherein the inner side is located at the second part. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The memory card connector according to claim 1, wherein the locking member comprises a retaining portion fixed to the slider and a spring arm extending from the retaining portion, the spring arm comprising a hook protruding into the card receiving cavity for locking the memory card. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The memory card connector according to claim 3, wherein the protrusion extends upwardly from the retaining portion. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The memory card connector according to claim 3, wherein the retaining portion is U-shaped and comprises opposite first and second sides, the spring arm extending from the first side with the protrusion located between the first side and the spring arm. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The memory card connector according to claim 5, wherein the dimple protrudes towards the second side of the retaining portion. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The memory card connector according to claim 6, wherein the retaining portion comprises at least one fastening portion extending downwardly from the second side to be fixed in the slider. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The memory card connector according to claim 1, wherein the card eject mechanism comprises a coiled spring and a link rod, the coiled spring comprising one end abutting against the slider and the other end abutting against the insulative housing, and the link rod comprising one hook retained in the insulative housing and the other hook movable in a heart-shaped cam formed in the slider. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The memory card connector according to claim 8, wherein the top wall of the metal shell comprises a spring tab pressing the link rod under a condition that the spring tab is located behind the slit. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The memory card connector according to claim 1, wherein the locking member is made of metal material and the dimple is stamped from the protrusion. ### Claim 11 A push-push type memory card connector, comprising: an insulative housing defining a card receiving cavity for insertion of a memory card; a plurality of contacts retained in the insulative housing with contact portions protruding into the card receiving cavity; a card eject mechanism comprising a slider and a locking member fixed to the slider, the locking member comprising a protrusion which is sidewardly stamped to form a dimple; and a metal shell attached to the insulative housing and comprising a top wall covering the card receiving cavity, the top wall defining a slit for the protrusion moveable therein; wherein the silt includes a first part and a contracted second part communicating with each other, the first part comprising opposite first and second edges and the second part comprising opposite third and fourth edges under a condition that the second and the fourth edges are arranged in a single line, and wherein an arced surface of the dimple is driven to abut against the third edge with insertion of the memory card into the card receiving cavity. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The push-push type memory card connector according to claim 11, wherein the arced surface is driven to abut against only the third edge. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The push-push type memory card connector according to claim 11, wherein the locking member comprises a retaining portion fixed to the slider and a spring arm extending from the retaining portion, the spring arm comprising a hook protruding into the card receiving cavity for locking the memory card. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The push-push type memory card connector according to claim 13, wherein the protrusion extends upwardly from the retaining portion. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The push-push type memory card connector according to claim 13, wherein the retaining portion is U-shaped and comprises opposite first and second sides, the spring arm extending from the first side with the protrusion disposed between the first side and the spring arm. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The push-push type memory card connector according to claim 15, wherein the dimple protrudes towards the second side of the retaining portion. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The push-push type memory card connector according to claim 11, wherein the arced surface of the dimple is located between the first and the second edges and is spaced apart from the first and the second edges. ### Claim 18 A memory card connector, comprising: an insulative housing defining a card receiving cavity for insertion of a memory card; a plurality of contacts retained in the insulative housing with contact portions protruding into the card receiving cavity; a metallic shell attached to the housing to cover the card receiving cavity and defining a slit along a card mating direction; a card eject mechanism comprising a slider back and forth moveable along a card insertion direction, and a locking member fixed to the slider, the locking member deflectable in a transverse direction perpendicular to said card mating direction, and equipped with a protrusion extending in a vertical direction perpendicular to both said card mating direction and said transverse direction to be received in said slit; wherein at least one of said protrusion and said slit is equipped with an arc structure so as to result in less friction between then protrusion and the shell during back and forth movement of said locking member in said card mating direction.