Device for Receiving a Memory Card

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a device for receiving a memory card. In particular, it relates to a device for receiving a SIM (Subscriber Identification Module) chip card of a portable telephone set, which can be freely inserted into or slid out of an open slot formed in the telephone set without detaching the battery unit or using a tool.

2. Description of the Prior Art

U.S. Pat. No. 5,257,414 issued to Trahan et al discloses a SIM chip card reader used in a portable telephone set. The SIM chip card reader is integrated into the telephone set, and thus when the SIM chip card is to be inserted into the reader, the battery pack must be removed from the backside of the telephone set.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,436,969 issued to Kobayashi discloses a portable telephone set for use in combination with an IC card. The telephone set includes a telephone body having a battery unit-receiving portion and a battery unit. The IC card is attached to the battery unit-receiving portion and is sandwiched between the battery unit-receiving portion and the battery unit. According to this design, when different users use the telephone set, the battery unit must be detached in order to insert a new IC card.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,615,250 issued to Kobayashi discloses a portable telephone set which includes a main section and a battery pack. The battery pack is removably connected to the main section and has a L-shaped rib to provide a slot in which the IC card is inserted. This design also requires that the battery pack be detached when an IC card is to be inserted into the slot.

In view of the above disadvantage of the prior art, an object of the invention is to provide a device for receiving a memory card of a portable telephone set which can be freely inserted into or slid out of an open slot formed in the telephone set without detaching the battery unit or using a tool.

The above object is attained by providing a memory card-receiving device which includes a memory card chamber being freely inserted into or slid out of the open slot, an engaging means to engage the memory card chamber when it is inserted into the open slot, and an ejecting means for ejecting the memory card chamber when the engaging means is released.

The present invention can be more fully understood by reference to the following detailed description and the preferred embodiments with reference made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the portable telephone set in which an open slot is formed in the end surface thereof according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view schematically showing a state in which a memory card chamber is removed from the open slot;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing the memory card chamber separated from the portable telephone set;

FIG. 4A, is a vertical sectional view showing the memory card chamber of FIG. 3 fully inserted into the open slot;

FIG. 4B is a vertical sectional view showing the memory card chamber of FIG. 3 partially ejected out of the open slot by an ejector;

FIG. 4C is a vertical sectional view showing the memory card chamber fully inserted in the open slot in which a memory chip card is loaded in the memory card chamber;

FIG. 4D is a side sectional view of FIG. 4c;

FIG. 5A is a vertical sectional view showing a memory card chamber fully inserted into the open slot according to a second preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5B is a vertical sectional view showing the memory card chamber almost fully ejected from the open slot and retained by an elastic member which is disposed on the memory card chamber and is received in a groove formed at the top of the open slot;

FIG. 6A is a vertical sectional view showing a memory card chamber fully inserted in the open slot according to a third preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6B is a vertical sectional view showing the function of the wedge portion disposed at the memory card chamber of FIG. 6A;

FIG. 7A is a vertical sectional view showing a memory card chamber fully inserted in the open slot according to a fourth preferred embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 7B is a vertical sectional view showing the state he memory card chamber of FIG. 7A is partially ejected from the open slot and is retained by an elastic member which is disposed on the memory card chamber and is received in a groove formed at the side wall of the open slot.

First Embodiment

FIG. 1 depicts a portable telephone set 1. The portable telephone set 1 has an open slot 60 formed at the end surface thereof for inserting therein a memory card chamber 10 of the invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, the open slot 60 is formed in the housing 40 of the portable telephone set 1. A curved spring strip 50 having a curved portion 501 is disposed at the bottom of the open slot 60. A sliding member 20 is disposed at the end surface of the portable telephone set 1 and is biased by a coil spring 30 disposed thereunder so that the sliding member 20 can slide along the end surface when it is pushed away from the open slot 60. The sliding member 20 has a protrusion block 201. Numeral 300 denotes the electrical contacts for connecting with the electrical contacts disposed on a memory card when the memory card is loaded in the memory card chamber and the memory card chamber is fully inserted in the open slot 60.

Referring to FIG. 3, the memory card chamber 10 is substantially in a rectangular shape formed by a top end surface 102, a bottom end surface 103, a first side surface 105 and a second side surface 106. The memory card chamber 10 includes a cut out portion 101 formed at the corner of the top end surface 102 and the first side surface 105 and a inclined surface 104 formed at the corner of the bottom end surface 103 and the first side surface 105. The function of the inclined surface 104 is to urge the sliding member 20 to slide rightward when the memory card chamber 10 is inserted into the open slot 60. Note that the top end surface 102 and the bottom end surface 103 are folded up to form a laterally protruded edge for receiving and retaining a memory card (not shown) therein.

Referring to FIG. 4A, when the memory card chamber 10 is inserted into the open slot 60, the cut out portion 101 of the memory card chamber 10 is engaged by the protrusion block 201 of the sliding member 20, and the curved portion 501 of the curved spring strip 50 comes in contact with the bottom surface 103 of the memory card chamber 10 and is compressed.

Referring to FIG. 4B, when the sliding member 20 is pressed to move rightward, the memory card chamber 10 becomes released from the sliding member 20, and is ejected by the curved spring strip 50.

FIG. 4C shows that the memory card chamber 10 is fully inserted in the open slot 60 in which a memory chip card 100 is loaded in the memory card chamber 10. FIG. 4D is a side sectional view of FIG. 4c.

Second Embodiment

Referring to FIG. 5A, the memory card chamber 10 fully inserted into the open slot 60 is provided with an elastic member 11. The elastic member 11 is also a curved spring strip and is disposed at the second side surface 106 in proximity to the bottom surface 103. The elastic member 11 is compressed by the inner side wall of the open slot 60 when the memory card chamber 10 is inserted therein, and is expanded and engaged in a groove 42 formed at the top of the inner side wall of the open slot 60 when the memory card chamber 10 is almost slid out of the open slot 10, as shown in FIG. 5B. This design prevents the memory card chamber 10 from being lost.

Third Embodiment

Referring to FIG. 6A, a third embodiment of the present invention is shown. In this embodiment, a wedge portion 75 is formed at the first side surface 705 of the memory card chamber 70 and an elastic member 74 is disposed on the second side surface 706 of a housing 80 in proximity to the top surface 702 of a top end surface 71. When the memory card chamber 70 is fully inserted into the open slot 90, the elastic member 74 is engaged in the groove 83 formed in the top of the inner wall of the open slot 90, and the wedge portion 75 is urged by the sliding member 82 and the curved spring strip 81 is compressed by the folded up edge 72. And when the memory card chamber 70 is to be removed, by pressing the sliding member 82 in the direction indicated by the arrow, the wedge portion 75 is urged and the elastic member 74 becomes disengaged, and accordingly the memory card chamber 70 is moved out of the open slot 90. FIG. 6B shows the memory card chamber 70 partially ejected from the open slot 90.

Fourth Embodiment

Referring to FIG. 7A, a fourth embodiment of the invention is shown. In this embodiment, two elastic members 11 and 74 are respectively disposed at the bottom and the top of the memory card chamber 70 along its second side surface 706. Two grooves 83 and 84 for receiving respectively the elastic member 74 and 11 are formed on the inner wall of the open slot 90 so that when the memory card chamber 70 is ejected by pressing the wedge portion 75, the elastic member 11 is engaged by the groove 84, thus preventing the memory card chamber 70 from being detached. FIG. 7B shows the memory card chamber 70 retained in the open slot 90 by the engagement of the elastic member 11 with the groove 84.