CN105789948A - Card connector and contact component - Google Patents

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a card connector that reliably prevents buckling and breakage of contacts, and a contact used in the card connector. [Solution] The contact (50) has a first extending portion (51), a folded portion (52), and a second extending portion (53). In the first extension part (51), the first end (511) is fixed to the outer cover (40), extends in a mountain shape along the insertion and extraction direction, and is elastically deformed by being pushed by the inserted card. In the folded portion ( 52 ), fold back laterally at the second end ( 512 ). In the second extension part (53), it is turned back at the turning part (52), then further extended toward the first end (511), and fixed to the outer cover (40). Also, the folded-back portion has a shape bent in a direction away from the inserted card.

Description

Card connectors and contacts

technical field

The present invention relates to a card connector for inserting a card such as a memory card, and a contact member thereof.

Background technique

Cards such as memory cards have been miniaturized while having the same functions or additional functions. For example, there is a transition from a micro SIM (Subscriber Identity Module: Subscriber Identity Module) card to a smaller nano SIM card. In the following, a micro SIM card and a super micro SIM card are taken as examples for description.

There is a demand to use a nano-SIM card that is smaller than the micro-SIM card in a device equipped with a card connector suitable for the micro-SIM card. This method of use is generally performed at the user's own responsibility, outside the warranty of the company that manufactures or sells the device, for example, a mobile phone company. In this method of use, an adapter is used. The adapter has a size comparable to a micro SIM card and has a shape that can accommodate a nano SIM card. Mount the ultra-micro SIM card on the adapter, and insert the adapter into the card connector for the micro-SIM card. By doing this, it is possible to use a nano SIM card in a card connector that fits a micro SIM card.

Here, Patent Document 1 discloses a card connector including a single support beam-shaped contact having a free end on the rear side in the card insertion and removal direction.

There are no standards for the size etc. of the adapters for the above purposes. Therefore, depending on the adapter, there may be a step difference between the adapter and the nano SIM card mounted on the adapter. Alternatively, it is also possible to insert the adapter in the state where the Super Micro SIM card is not installed into the card connector. In this case, there is a risk of the free ends of the contacts getting caught in the step difference when attempting to unplug the inserted adapter from the card connector. If the free ends of the contacts are caught on the step difference, there is a risk that the contacts will buckle or be damaged, resulting in failure of the card connector. Although it is the responsibility of the user, a card connector free from such failures is expected.

In Patent Document 2, there is disclosed a contact which has a single support beam shape and whose free end is divided into two strands. The two bifurcated free ends of the contact have different lengths from each other. That is, make the shorter free end higher so that it takes care of the connection to the card. The longer free end deflects the shorter free end by abutting against the card or adapter and flexing as the card is pulled out. Therefore, it is also expected to prevent snagging on the short free end with a high height.

prior art literature

patent documents

Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2012-129028;

Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent No. 5594919.

Contents of the invention

The problem to be solved by the invention

In the case of the contact disclosed in the above-mentioned Patent Document 2 in which the free end is divided into two, it is necessary to strictly manage the tolerance of the contact. In addition, during use, there is also a possibility that the free end of the contact is deformed, and the reliability is low in terms of reliably preventing snagging.

In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a card connector that reliably prevents buckling and breakage of contacts, and a contact used in the card connector.

solutions to problems

The card connector of the present invention that achieves the above object,

It is provided with a housing (housing) forming an accommodation space, and contacts supported by the housing. The accommodation space accommodates a card inserted deep in the insertion and removal direction, and is characterized in that,

The above-mentioned contacts are formed by punching and bending metal plates, and have:

The first end is fixed to the housing, protrudes and extends in a direction intersecting with the insertion and extraction direction, and is a first extension part elastically deformed by being pushed by the inserted card,

a folded back portion laterally folded back at the second end, and

folded back at the folded portion, extended toward the first end and fixed to the second extension portion of the outer cover,

The folded-back portion has a shape bent in a direction away from the inserted card.

In the card connector of the present invention, both the first end of the first extending portion and the second extending portion that is folded back at the folded portion and goes to the first end are employed as contacts fixed to the housing. Therefore, the above-mentioned catching is essentially avoided, and buckling and damage of the contact are reliably prevented. The contact has the above-mentioned folded portion having a bent shape. Therefore, if the first extension of the contact is pushed by the card, its folded back and its periphery are deflected. This deflection absorbs elongation in the insertion/extraction direction of the first extension portion caused by the first extension portion being pushed.

Here, in the card connector of the present invention, preferably,

The second end side of the first extension has a shape branched into two strands and extended,

The turn-back portion has a shape that is turned back laterally and oppositely to each other at the front end second end of the branched and extended front end of the first extension portion,

In the second extension portion, both sides folded back at the folded portion in opposite directions extend toward the first end, and both sides are fixed to the cover.

When the second end side of the first extension part is branched and extended, both of them are turned back laterally and opposite to each other at the turn-back part, so that the extension of the first extension part is equally distributed left and right. As a result, the first extending portion can expand and contract more stably.

In addition, the contact member of the present invention that achieves the above object,

It is formed by blanking and bending of a metal plate, and is supported by a cover that forms an accommodation space. The accommodation space accommodates a card that is inserted deep in the direction of insertion and extraction. It is characterized in that it has:

The first end is fixed to the housing, protrudes and extends in a direction intersecting with the insertion and extraction direction, and is a first extension part elastically deformed by being pushed by the inserted card,

a folded back portion laterally folded back at the second end, and

folded back at the folded portion, extended toward the first end and fixed to the second extended portion of the outer cover,

The folded-back portion has a shape bent in a direction away from the inserted card.

Invention effect

According to the above-mentioned card connector and contacts of the present invention, buckling and breakage of the contacts can be reliably prevented.

Description of drawings

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a connector as an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing one of a plurality of contacts included in the card connector shown in FIG. 1 .

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the same contact as in FIG. 2 , and also shows a portion embedded in the housing by molding.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the same one contact as in FIG. 2 , reversed from FIG. 2 .

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a contact as a modified example that can be used in the card connector shown in FIG. 1 .

detailed description

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below.

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a card connector as an embodiment of the present invention.

The card connector 10 is a type of connector surface-mounted on a circuit board (not shown). In addition, the card connector 10 is a connector into which a micro SIM card, which is an example of the card referred to in the present invention, is inserted.

As shown in FIG. 1 , the card connector 10 has a housing assembly 20 and a metal shell (shell) 30 . A card insertion opening 11 for inserting a micro SIM card (not shown) is provided between the cover assembly 20 and the case 30 . The micro SIM card is inserted from the card insertion port 11 in the direction shown by arrow F. In the cover unit 20 , an accommodating space 20A is formed deep in the card insertion port 11 , and the accommodating space 20A accommodates the inserted micro SIM card.

The housing assembly 20 has a housing 40 and a plurality of contacts 50 insert-molded to the housing 40 .

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing one of a plurality of contacts included in the card connector shown in FIG. 1 . In this FIG. 2 , the part of the housing responsible for supporting the one contact is also shown.

In addition, FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the same contact as in FIG. 2 , and also shows a portion embedded in the housing by molding.

In addition, FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the same contact as in FIG. 2 in reverse to FIG. 2 .

The direction of the arrow F shown in these FIGS. 2 to 4 corresponds to the arrow F shown in FIG. 1 .

The contact 50 is formed by punching and bending a metal plate. The contact piece 50 has a first extending portion 51 , a folded portion 52 , and a second extending portion 53 . The first extension portion 51 has a shape that protrudes and extends in a mountain shape in the insertion/extraction direction, that is, protrudes in a direction intersecting the insertion direction. The first extension portion 51 is pushed and elastically deformed by the micro SIM card (not shown) inserted in the direction of arrow F, and elastically contacts the pad (not shown) provided on the back of the micro SIM card. As shown in FIG. 3 , the first end 511 of the first extension portion 51 is fixed to the outer cover 40 by forming. In addition, the first extension portion 51 in the present embodiment has a shape in which the second end 512 that is far away from the first end 511 is branched into two and extended.

In addition, the folded-back portion 52 has a shape folded back laterally at the second end 512 . In this embodiment, since the first extension portion 51 is branched into two, the folded portion 52 is also divided into two. And, this folded-back part 52 has the shape which divides into any one of two and folds back in the direction opposite to each other. In addition, the folded portion 52 has a shape bent in a direction away from the inserted micro SIM card (not shown) (downward in the posture shown in FIGS. 2 to 4 ).

In addition, after the second extension portion 53 is folded back at the turning portion 52 , it further extends toward the first end 511 and is fixed to the outer cover 40 by forming. In the present embodiment, two second extension portions 53 are also provided, and both sides are turned back at the turn-back portion 52 in opposite directions and have a shape extending toward the first end 511 . And, in the second extension portion 53 , both sides extending toward the first end 511 are fixed to the cover 40 .

Here, when the micro SIM card is inserted into the card connector 10 shown in FIG. 1 , the portion protruding in a mountain shape of the first extension portion 51 is pushed by the micro SIM card. Then, the first extension portion 51 is elastically deformed to extend in the direction of the arrow F in plan view. At this time, the folded portion 52 and the portion near the folded portion 52 are also elastically deformed to allow the extension of the first extension portion 51 in the arrow F direction. That is, through these elastic deformations, the first extension part 51 contacts the inserted micro SIM card with an appropriate contact pressure.

In this way, the card connector 10 of the present embodiment allows moderate elastic deformation, and becomes a shape close to that of a double support beam. Therefore, in this card connector 10 , the hooking of the adapter for the micro SIM card and the pico SIM card is substantially avoided. Therefore, in the card connector 10, buckling and breakage of the contacts 50 are reliably prevented.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a contact as a modified example that can be used in the card connector 10 shown in FIG. 1 . Here, for easy understanding, the same symbols as those in FIGS. 2 to 4 are attached, and only differences will be described.

In the contact 50 shown in FIGS. 2 to 4 , the folded-back portion 52 is bent downward at right angles. On the other hand, in the contact 50 of the modified example shown in FIG. 5 , the folded-back portion 52 is bent obliquely downward. Thereby, the thickness of the housing 40 can be reduced, and a lower height card connector can be realized.

In addition, in this embodiment, the second end 512 of the first extension portion 51 is branched into two branches, and accordingly, two folded portions 52 and two second extension portions 53 are respectively provided. However, in the present invention, the first extension portion 51 does not need to be branched into two branches, and may be kept as one. Therefore, there is no need to provide two folded portions 52 and second extension portions 53 . This folded-back portion 52 may also be folded back laterally toward only either of the left and right sides. Therefore, only one second extension part 53 may be used.

Moreover, in this embodiment, the micro SIM card is inserted in the direction of arrow F. FIG. However, it may also be configured to be inserted in the opposite direction to arrow F, that is, from the second end 512 side.

Symbol Description

10 card connector

20 cover assembly

30 shells

40 cover

50 contacts

51 first extension

511 first end

512 second end

52 turns back

53 second extension

Claims (3)

1. A card connector comprising a housing formed with an accommodating space for accommodating a card inserted deep in the direction of insertion and removal, and contacts supported by the housing, wherein: The contact piece is formed by punching and bending a metal plate, and has: The first end is fixed to the housing, protrudes and extends in a direction intersecting with the insertion and extraction direction, and is a first extension part elastically deformed by being pushed by the inserted card, a folded back portion laterally folded back at the second end, and folded back at the folded portion, extending toward the first end and fixed to the second extension portion of the outer cover, The folded-back portion has a shape bent in a direction away from the inserted card. 2. The card connector of claim 1, wherein: The second end side of the first extension portion has a shape branched into two and extended, the folded-back portion has a shape that is folded back laterally and oppositely to each other at the front end second end of the bifurcated and extended front end of the first extension portion, In the second extension portion, both sides folded back at the folded portion in opposite directions extend toward the first end, and both sides are fixed to the cover. 3. A contact, which is formed by punching and bending a metal plate, and is supported by a cover that forms an accommodation space for a card inserted deep in the insertion and withdrawal direction, It is characterized in that it has: The first end is fixed to the housing, protrudes and extends in a direction intersecting with the insertion and extraction direction, and is a first extension part elastically deformed by being pushed by the inserted card, a folded back portion laterally folded back at the second end, and folded back at the folded portion, extending toward the first end and fixed to the second extension portion of the outer cover, The folded-back portion has a shape bent in a direction away from the inserted card.