Card connector assembly
View Patent ↗A card connector assembly that enables smooth insertion of a card into a card receiving opening, by preventing the front end of the card from striking the card receiving opening during insertion. The card connector assembly includes a frame, and an ejecting mechanism. The frame has a card receiving opening at a first end, and a connector at a second end. The connector electrically connects with a card, which is inserted into the frame. The ejecting mechanism includes a push rod, which is slidable in the insertion/ejection direction of the card. An eject button is provided at the end of the push rod on the side of the card receiving opening. A guide, for guiding the card to be inserted into the card receiving opening, is formed on the eject button.
1. A card connector assembly comprising:
a frame;
a card receiving opening disposed in the frame;
a connector, which is attached to the frame at an end thereof opposite that of the card receiving opening, for electrically connecting with a card, which is insertable into the frame;
an ejecting mechanism, which is attached to a lateral side of the frame, for ejecting the card from the frame;
a push rod, which is a part of the ejecting mechanism, that slides along an insertion/ejection direction of the card;
an eject button disposed on the push rod at the end thereof on the side of the card receiving opening; and,
a guide portion formed on the eject button, the guide portion including an inner surface and a protrusion;
wherein the guide portion is positioned forward of a lateral side edge of the card receiving opening and the protrusion provided on the eject button extends inward from the inner surface of the eject button in a direction generally perpendicular to the insertion/ejection direction, the protrusion having a tapered surface for guiding a leading corner of the card from the inner surface onto the protrusion.
2. The card connector assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein the tapered surface is formed along the height direction of the eject button.
3. The card connector as defined in claim 2 wherein side walls bent from a major surface form the frame.
4. The card connector as defined in claim 3 further comprising first guide ribs formed on inner sides the side walls.
5. The card connector as defined in claim 4 further comprising second guide ribs formed on the major surface in the vicinity of the side walls.
6. The card connector as defined in claim 2 further comprising an actuating arm linked to the push rod and disposed to drive a pivoting ejector located near the connector.
7. The card connector as defined in claim 6 further comprising a spring positioned between the push rod and the frame.