Patent Application
20140045364
The present invention relates to a connector, and more particularly to a card connector for connecting a memory card, such as a compact flash (CF) card or a CFast card.
With the onslaught of the information age, new computer products have emerged one after another, and relevant peripheral products such as digital printers, digital cameras, digital video cameras, etc. have seen rapid development. Most of these digital products have the capability of loading memory cards as an auxiliary design. Thus, a memory card connector becomes an indispensable loading tool.
In a conventional memory card connector 7 (as shown in
Although the conventional metal support 71 for pressing against the memory card can prevent the memory card from being released accidentally during withdrawal, the metal support combined with the withdrawal mechanism 72 increases the manufacturing difficulty and cost of the connector 7. Accordingly, the connector 7 is large volume and thus not suitable for use with electronic products which are ever lighter, thinner, and smaller. Besides, the guide sections 73 of the conventional memory card connector 7 usually do not have a sufficient force for clamping two sides of the memory card, so the memory card easily vibrates due to the shaking of the electronic device after the memory card is inserted into the connector 7.
In view of the above, it is really necessary to further provide a connector which can prevent the memory card from being released accidentally during withdrawal without using the metal support with the withdrawal mechanism, reduce the fabrication cost and the volume, alleviate vibrations of the memory card when it is received in the connector, and provide desirable grounding, as well as other advantages.
Accordingly, the primary objective of the present invention is to provide a connector which is capable of preventing a memory card from being released accidentally during withdrawal without using a withdrawal mechanism and a metal support.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a connector which is cheaper to manufacture and smaller than a conventional connector.
A further objective of the present invention is to provide a connector which is capable of alleviating vibration of a memory card when the memory card is received therein.
A further objective of the present invention is to provide a connector which is capable of providing electrostatic discharge (ESD) grounding.
In order to achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides a card connector for connecting a memory card, which comprises: a housing; a connecting section, provided on a side of the housing and used for receiving a mating section of the memory card; and a pair of opposite guide sections, each extending from a side of the connecting section to guide the memory card, so that the mating section of the memory card can be connected in a mating engagement with the connecting section of the card connector. Each of the guide sections includes: a slot provided in an inner surface of the guide section; a hole provided in the guide section; and a tab received in the guide section. The tab has a base section, a pair of elastic sections, each elastic section extending from a side of the base section, and a grounding section located below the base section. At least one part of each of the two elastic sections protrudes from the slot of the guide section, and the grounding section protrudes from the hole.
The tabs can provide maximum lifting retention and shear forces due to insertion and extraction of the memory card, the elastic sections of the tabs can provide a balanced support along two sides of the card, and the grounding sections of the tabs can provide ESD grounding.
To make persons skilled in the art understand the technical features of the present invention and implement the present invention accordingly, the following embodiments are illustrated in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the description is merely intended to illustrate the preferred embodiments of the present invention, and not to limit the present invention in any way. Any modification or variation made without departing from the spirit of the present invention falls within the scope of the present invention.
a and 2b are schematic three-dimensional views of a connector in the present invention;
a and 4b are schematic structural views of a tab of a connector in the present invention; and
As shown in
The card connector 1 includes: an insulating housing 5; a connecting section 3, provided on one side of the housing 5 and used for engaging and connecting with the mating section of the card 9; and a pair of guide sections 4 and 5, extending laterally from two sides of the connecting section 3. The guide sections 4 and 5 are used to guide the mating section of the card 9 to the connecting section 3 of the card connector 1.
Slots 41, 43 and 51, 53 are provided in lateral inner surfaces of the guide sections 4 and 5, respectively, and guide slots 47, 57 are provided below the slots 41, 43 and 51, 53, respectively. Furthermore, elongate openings 45, 55 are provided in the upper surfaces of the guide sections 4 and 5, respectively. Holes 42, 52 are provided in lower surfaces of the guide sections 4 and 5, respectively, and are substantially located below a portion between the slots 41, 43 and 51, 53, respectively. Besides, grooves 44, 54 are provided in the lateral outer surfaces of the guide sections 4 and 5, respectively, and can be in communication with the elongate openings 45, 55 and the holes 42, 52.
Each of guide sections 4, 5 of the card connector 1 in the present invention has a tab 6 provided therein. As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
When the card 9 is inserted into the card connector 1, the elastic sections 62 and 63 of each tab 6 contact the two lateral sides of the card 9 and are pressed by the two lateral sides of the card 9, so as to be flexibly bent. In this way, the elastic sections 62 and 63 that are pressed and bent can provide a resilient elastic force to press against the two lateral sides of the card 9.
Each tab 6 is vertically inserted into the guide sections 4, 5 of the card connector, and thus provides a maximum retention force during the insertion and extraction of the card 9. Moreover, when the card 9 is inserted into the card connector 1, the elastic sections 62 and 63 of the tab 6 provide an elastic force which is towards the lateral sides of the card 9 and presses against the card 9, so that the card 9 can be securely clamped. The ESD grounding efficacy can be achieved by the grounding section 64 of the tab 6.
The above embodiments can be modified in accordance with the spirit of the present invention, for example, the manner of fixing each tab in the guide section of the card connector, the appearance and form of the elastic section of the tab, or the like, may be modified. Alternatively, the guide section may have more than one slot, or the tab 6 may be formed by separate members. Such modifications would not depart from the spirit and important characteristics of the present invention. Therefore, the embodiments listed above are illustrative and not limitative in any way, and all variations fall within the scope of the present invention as long as they conform to the meaning and scope of the claims or their equivalents.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 200920292610.8 | Dec 2009 | CN | national |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 13514059 | Jun 2012 | US |
| Child | 14053065 | US |
