Card connector

Abstract

A card connector (1) includes a housing (10) having a card insertion opening at its front end into which a card (3) is inserted in a card insertion/removal direction and a metallic cover (30) for covering top and side faces of the housing (10). The housing has a pair of side walls (12a, 12b) extending in the card insertion/removal direction. The cover (30) has a protective member (70, 71) at the card insertion opening for protecting at least a portion of a front end of at least one of the side walls (12a, 12b).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a card connector according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a metal cover for the card connector;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the card connector from which the metal cover has been removed;

FIGS. 4 a and 4b are a top plan view of the card connector, showing the inside condition upon card insertion;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the card connector showing wrong card insertion;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a first variation of the first protective member;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a variation of the second protective member;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a second variation of the first protective member;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a third variation of the first protective member; and

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a conventional card connector.

Claims

1. A card connector comprising: a housing having a card insertion opening at its front end into which a card is inserted in a card insertion/removal direction;a metal cover for covering top and side faces of said housing;said housing having a pair of side walls extending in said card insertion/removal direction; andsaid cover having a protective member at said card insertion opening for protecting at least a portion of a front end of at least one of said side walls.

2. The card connector according to claim 1, wherein said protective member has a first section extending from a top of said cover along said card insertion/removal direction and a second section bent downwardly from said first section.

3. The card connector according to claim 1, wherein said protective member has a first section extending from a side of said cover and a second section bent laterally toward said card insertion opening.

4. The card connector according to claim 2, wherein said protective member has a portion that is attachable to or engageable with another member.

5. The card connector according to claim 3, wherein said protective member has a portion that is attachable to or engageable with another member.

6. The card connector according to claim 1, wherein said card has an inclined face between a front narrow section and a rear wide section of said card; said card connector further comprises an ejector that is able to slide in said housing in said card insertion/removal direction and normally biased toward said card insertion opening;said ejector has an inclined face that corresponds to said inclined face of said card so that when said card is inserted correctly, it is inserted into said housing with said inclined face of said card fitting with said inclined face of said ejector while if said card is inserted upside down, said inclined face of said ejector abuts against another face of said card, making said card inclined and preventing wrong insertion of said card.

7. The card connector according to claim 2, wherein said card has an inclined face between a front narrow section and a rear wide section of said card; said card connector further comprises an ejector that is able to slide in said housing in said card insertion/removal direction and normally biased toward said card insertion opening;said ejector has an inclined face that corresponds to said inclined face of said card so that when said card is inserted correctly, it is inserted into said housing with said inclined face of said card fitting with said inclined face of said ejector while if said card is inserted upside down, said inclined face of said ejector abuts against another face of said card, making said card inclined and preventing wrong insertion of said card.

8. The card connector according to claim 3, wherein said card has an inclined face between a front narrow section and a rear wide section of said card; said card connector further comprises an ejector that is able to slide in said housing in said card insertion/removal direction and normally biased toward said card insertion opening;said ejector has an inclined face that corresponds to said inclined face of said card so that when said card is inserted correctly, it is inserted into said housing with said inclined face of said card fitting with said inclined face of said ejector while if said card is inserted upside down, said inclined face of said ejector abuts against another face of said card, making said card inclined and preventing wrong insertion of said card.

9. The card connector according to claim 4, wherein said card has an inclined face between a front narrow section and a rear wide section of said card; said card connector further comprises an ejector that is able to slide in said housing in said card insertion/removal direction and normally biased toward said card insertion opening;said ejector has an inclined face that corresponds to said inclined face of said card so that when said card is inserted correctly, it is inserted into said housing with said inclined face of said card fitting with said inclined face of said ejector while if said card is inserted upside down, said inclined face of said ejector abuts against another face of said card, making said card inclined and preventing wrong insertion of said card.

10. The card connector according to claim 5, wherein said card has an inclined face between a front narrow section and a rear wide section of said card; said card connector further comprises an ejector that is able to slide in said housing in said card insertion/removal direction and normally biased toward said card insertion opening;said ejector has an inclined face that corresponds to said inclined face of said card so that when said card is inserted correctly, it is inserted into said housing with said inclined face of said card fitting with said inclined face of said ejector while if said card is inserted upside down, said inclined face of said ejector abuts against another face of said card, making said card inclined and preventing wrong insertion of said card.