The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 16, 1997
Filed:
Apr. 28, 1995
John L Broschard, III, Hershey, PA (US);
Edmund L Jacobs, Harrisburg, PA (US);
Ronald E Katzaman, Enola, PA (US);
John T Larkin, Jr, New Cumberland, PA (US);
The Whitaker Corporation, Wilmington, DE (US);
Abstract
A smart card connector with a card slot 10 for receiving a smart card employs an end position switch comprising a single resilient contact 14 engaging a stationary post 16 to detect full insertion of a smart card. The resilient contact 14 and the post 16 are mounted in the rear of a housing base 4 which includes resilient data contacts 12 mounted in contact cavities 38 located at the front and rear of the housing base. Contact arms 88 on the data contacts are preloaded so that each contact engages the smart card with a prescribed force and extends into the housing slot for a prescribed distance. The contact arms 88 are located in channels 34 in the housing base and lateral protrusions 36 extending from separator ribs 32 defining the contact channels 34 engage the contacts to preload them. The housing base 4 also includes resilient cantilever diverter springs 18, molded into the housing base which both protect the data contacts 12 and provide a reactive force to counter the force exerted by the normally closed resilient contact 14 upon full insertion of the smart card.