Card reader for mobile device
View Patent ↗A card reader for use with a mobile device includes a foot and/or a housing for a jack on the bottom of the card reader prevents the card reader from accidently turning off the mobile device during use.
1. A card reader comprising:
a body having a slot configured to receive a card;
a protrusion extending from a first bottom portion of the body, wherein the protrusion extends at least a height of an on/off button of a mobile device, abuts against a surface on which the on/off button extends from on the mobile device when the card reader is inserted into the mobile device, and does not overlap the on/off button when the card reader is inserted into the mobile device; and
a jack extending from a second bottom portion of the body, the jack being located a lateral distance away from the protrusion.
2. The card reader of claim 1 , further comprising a housing extending from the second bottom portion of the body, wherein the jack extends through the housing.
3. The card reader of claim 2 , wherein a height of the housing is greater than a height of the protrusion.
4. The card reader of claim 1 , wherein the card is a magnetic strip card.
5. The card reader of claim 1 , further comprising a read head located within the slot.
6. The card reader of claim 1 , wherein the body is a triangular shape.
7. The card reader of claim 1 , wherein the body is a square shape.
8. The card reader of claim 1 , wherein the body is a rectangular shape.
9. The card reader of claim 1 , wherein a width of the body is less than or equal to a width of the mobile device.
10. The card reader of claim 1 , wherein the mobile device is a smart phone.
11. A card reader for a mobile device, comprising:
a body having a slot configured to receive a card;
a protrusion extending from a first bottom portion of the body, wherein the protrusion extends at least a height of an on/off button of a mobile device, abuts against a surface on which the on/off button extends from on the mobile device when the card reader is inserted into the mobile device, and does not overlap the on/off button when the card reader is inserted into the mobile device;
a jack extending from a second bottom portion of the body, the jack being located a lateral distance away from the protrusion; and
a housing extending from the second bottom portion of the body, wherein the jack extends through the housing.
12. The card reader of claim 11 , wherein the card is a magnetic strip card.
13. The card reader of claim 11 , wherein the body is a triangular shape.
14. The card reader of claim 11 , wherein the body is a square shape.
15. The card reader of claim 11 , wherein the body is a rectangular shape.
16. The card reader of claim 11 , wherein a height of the housing is greater than a height of the protrusion.
17. The card reader of claim 11 , wherein a width of the body is less than or equal to a width of the mobile device.
18. The card reader of claim 11 , wherein the mobile device is a smart phone.
19. A method of operating a card reader with a mobile device, the method comprising:
inserting the card reader into the mobile device using a jack on the card reader, wherein the jack extends from a first bottom portion of the card reader;
contacting a first portion of a side surface of the mobile device with a protrusion on the card reader before the card reader contacts an on/off button on a second portion of the side surface of the mobile device, wherein the protrusion extends from a second bottom portion of the card reader and the jack is located a lateral distance away from the protrusion; and
swiping a card through the card reader.
20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising contacting a third portion of the side surface of the mobile device with a housing extending through the jack.