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:
Aug. 29, 2000
Filed:
Oct. 09, 1998
Michael Chad, San Jose, CA (US);
Steven Hatch, Mountain View, CA (US);
Jeffrey Allen, Pleasanton, CA (US);
Brandt Wiebazhan, San Ramon, CA (US);
Iggoni Fajaro, Fremont, CA (US);
Scott Herbert, Pleasanton, CA (US);
Methode Electronics, Inc., Chicago, IL (US);
Abstract
A spring loaded shutter with locking features is used to expose host pins of an adapter to protect the pins from damage and the user from injury. The locking mechanism for the shutter releases when a card is inserted into the host adapter. Engagement of locking pins by the card releases the locking pins and frees the shutter to be pushed backward as the card is connected to the host pins. The shutter is biased in a forward position so that removal of the card from the adapter results in a return of the shutter to its forward locked position where it effectively covers the pins to protect the pins from damage and the user from injury.