Dell USA L P

Greg Ellis

Erica J Scholder

Pearce R Jones

Robert H Garrett

A computer is provided with a pair of internal PCMCIA card connection chambers opening outwardly through a pair of housing side wall slots through which PCMCIA cards may be inserted into and withdrawn from the chambers. To facilitate the disconnection and withdrawal of the inserted cards each chamber is provided with a mechanically leveraged card ejector mechanism positioned within a thin space between the facing sides of the inserted card and a housing wall portion of the chamber, and disposed essentially entirely within the peripheral footprint of the inserted card. Each ejector mechanism includes a manually operable actuating plate slidably disposed on the outer side of the computer housing, a card receiving/ejection plate overlying the actuating plate within the housing, and a lever plate sandwiched between the actuating plate and receiving/ejection plate and pivotally connected to the housing. As a PCMCIA card is inserted into its chamber it engages and inwardly drives the receiving/ejection plate which in turn inwardly pivots the lever plate causing it to inwardly drive the actuating plate. The pivotally mounted lever plate is connected to the actuating plate and receiving/ejection plate in a manner such that when an outwardly directed manual ejection force is exerted on the actuating plate, to eject the inserted card, the lever plate transmits an amplified, outwardly directed ejection force to the card, via the receiving/ejection plate, to thereby substantially lessen the manual force required to eject the inserted card.

Growing community of inventors

Austin, TX, United States of America

Greg Ellis