Push-push type card connector comprising a cam mechanism using a generally heart-shaped cam groove

[0002] This invention relates to a push-push type card connector capable of inserting/ejecting a card into/from the connector by repeating a pushing operation of the card.

[0003] A card connector of the type is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (A) No. H10-312854. Hereinafter, the card connector disclosed in the above-mentioned publication will be summarized. The card connector comprises a body, a frame fixed to the body, a slider for sliding with respect to the frame upon insertion and ejection of the card and for receiving the card to be mounted thereon, a cam mechanism formed on the slider, and a detection switch formed on the body to detect a state where the card is fitted into the connector. The cam mechanism serves to lock the state where the card is fitted into the connector. The detection switch is provided with a pin member movably attached thereto so as to open and close the detection switch and to lock the cam mechanism. When the slider is inserted into the connector and the card is fitted into the connector, the pin member is engaged with a branching portion of the cam mechanism to lock the slider and brings a movable armature of the detection switch into contact with a fixed armature.

[0004] In the above-mentioned conventional card connector, the pin member for locking the slider and its attachment structure are complicated. In addition, a large number of components are necessary. As a result, it is difficult to miniaturize the connector.

[0005] It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a push-push type card connector which is simple in structure and small in number of components.

[0006] Other objects of the present invention will become clear as the description proceeds.

[0007] According to the present invention, there is provided a push-push type card connector which comprises an insulator having a pair of frame portions which are for guiding a card in an ejecting direction thereof and an inserting direction opposite to the ejecting direction, a contact held by the insulator for coming in contact with the card inserted between the frame portions in the inserting direction, an eject lever coupled to the insulator and movable in the ejecting and the inserting directions, and a spring continuously urging the eject lever in the ejecting direction. The eject lever comprises a guide portion slidable along the one of the frame portions and an engaging portion connected to the guide portion for being engaged with the card in the ejecting direction.

[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a push-push type card connector according to an embodiment of this invention;

[0009] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the connector in FIG. 1;

[0010] FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing a shape of a cam groove of a cam mechanism in the connector in FIGS. 1 and 2;

[0011] FIGS. 4A through 4E are perspective views showing a series of steps upon insertion and ejection of a card into and from the connector in FIG. 1; and

[0012] FIGS. 5A through 5E are views for describing a movement of the cam mechanism in FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0013] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, description will be made as regards an overall structure of a push-push type card connector according to an embodiment of this invention.

[0014] The connector is depicted by a reference numeral 1 and includes an insulator 2, a plurality of contacts 3 fixed to the insulator 2, an eject lever 4 attached to a frame portion 2aof the insulator 2, a compression coil spring 5 continuously urging the eject lever 4 in an ejecting direction A1, and a cam follower 6 adapted to be guided along a cam groove 4cmade or formed in the eject lever 4. The cam groove 4cis generally heart-shaped and will be referred to as a heart cum.

[0015] A card 11 is inserted into the connector 1 in an inserting direction A2 opposite to the ejecting direction A1 and is ejected from the connector 11 in the ejecting direction A1. The connector 1 is entirely covered with a rectangular cover (not shown).

[0016] The insulator 2 has a generally rectangular shape and is made from a synthetic resin material. The insulator 2 is provided with U-shaped frame portions 2a, 2b, and 2cformed on three sides thereof, respectively. Each of contacts 3 has a convex-curved contact point 3aat one end and a flat contact point 3bat the other end. The convex-curved contact point 3aprotrudes into an area to which the card 11 is inserted.

[0017] The eject lever 4 has a generally L shape and is made from a metal material. The eject lever 4 has a guide portion 4aand a right angle bending portion 4b. The guide portion 4ais provided with a cam groove 4cformed on one surface thereof. The right-angle bending portion 4bhas a card contacting portion 4dfor receiving a forward end of the card 11 to be brought into contact therewith. The guide portion 4aof the eject lever 4 is slidably received in a groove (not shown) having a U-shaped section and formed in the frame portion 2a. The compression coil spring 5 is inserted into a groove 4eformed on one surface of the guide portion 4a. The compression coil spring 5 has one end brought into contact with the eject lever 4 and the other end brought into contact with an inner surface of the frame portion 2c. Accordingly, the eject lever 4 is continuously urged by the compression coil spring 5 in the ejecting direction in which the card 11 is ejected from the connector 1.

[0018] The cam follower 6 is formed into a lever-like shape and disposed in a notch 2dformed on the outside of the frame portion 2ato be rotatable over a predetermined angle. The cam follower 6 has a hole 6aformed at its base portion and fitted over a shaft 2eformed on the frame portion 2a. In other words, the cam follower 6 is pivoted at its base portion by the frame portion 2a. The cam follower 6 has a guide pin 6bwhich is formed by bending at its tip portion and penetrates a hole (not shown) formed on the frame portion 2ato be engaged with the cam groove 4c. A combination of the heart cum or the cam groove 4cand the cam follower 6 will be referred to as a position control arrangement for controlling a position of the eject lever 4 in the ejecting and the inserting directions.

[0019] Referring to FIG. 3 in addition, description will be made of the cam groove 4cin detail. The cam groove 4chas a start point {circle around (1)} where the guide pin 6bof the cam follower 6 starts to move, a guide portion {circle around (2)} inclined with respect to a sliding direction of the eject lever 4, a depressed portion {circle around (3)} following the guide portion, a guide portion {circle around (4)} parallel to the sliding direction of the eject lever 4, namely, the ejecting direction A1 and the inserting direction A2 of the card 11, and a terminal point {circle around (5)} where the guide pin 6bfinally arrives, which is identical with the start point {circle around (1)}. In a free state, the guide pin 6bis preliminarily urged by elasticity of the cam follower 6 leftward in FIG. 3, namely, towards the guide portion {circle around (2)} inclined as mentioned above.

[0020] Further referring to FIGS. 4A through 4E and 5A through 5E, description will be made of insertion and ejection of the card 11 into and from the connector 1. FIGS. 4A through 4E and FIG. 5A through 5E are in one-to-one correspondence to each other.

[0021] FIG. 4A shows the free state where the card 11 is partially inserted into the connector 1. In the free state, the guide pin 6bof the cam follower 6 is positioned at the start point ({circle around (1)} in FIG. 3) of the cam groove 4c, as shown in FIG. 5A.

[0022] When the card 11 is pushed inward into the connector 1, the forward end of the card 11 is brought into contact with the card contacting portion 4dof the eject lever 4. Thereafter, the card 11 and the eject lever 4 are integrally slide towards the interior of the connector 1 against compression force of the compression coil spring 5. This sliding state is shown in FIG. 4B. In the sliding state shown in FIG. 4B, the guide pin 6bis positioned at the inclined guide portion ({circle around (2)} in FIG. 3) of the cam groove 4c, as shown in FIG. 5B.

[0023] Subsequently, the card 11 is pushed over a maximum stroke and, thereafter, the pushing operation is stopped. In this event, the card 11 and the eject lever 4 are slightly returned by restoring force of the compression coil spring 5 to be put in a fitting state shown in FIG. 4C. In the fitting state of FIG. 4C, a plurality of pads (not shown) of the card 11 are kept in contact with the convex-curved contact points of the contacts 3, respectively. At the same time, the guide pin 6 is positioned at the depressed portion ({circle around (3)} in FIG. 3) of the cam groove 4c, as shown in FIG. 5C. Thus, the fitting operation of the card 11 is finished.

[0024] Once again, the card 11 is pushed over the maximum stroke and, thereafter, the pushing operation is stopped. In this event, as shown in FIG. 5D, the guide pin 6bescapes from the depressed portion ({circle around (3)} in FIG. 3) of the cam groove 4c. Thereafter, the guide pin 6btravels through the guide portion ({circle around (4)} in FIG. 3) to reach the terminal point {circle around (5)}, namely, the start point {circle around (1)} as shown in FIG. 5E. The card 11 and the eject lever 4 pass through the state of FIG. 4D and reach the state of FIG. 4E under the restoring force of the compression coil spring 5. Thus, the ejecting operation of the card 11 is finished.

[0025] In the foregoing, the cam groove 4cis formed on the eject lever 4 and the cam follower 6 is formed on the insulator 2. Alternatively, the cam groove may be formed on the insulator and the cam follower may be formed on the eject lever.