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:
May. 07, 2002
Filed:
Oct. 20, 2000
Hervé Guy Bricaud, Dole, FR;
Fabrice Valcher, Dole, FR;
ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, INC, Wilmington, DE (US);
Abstract
A smart card connector of simple design and small size is provided, which retains a fully inserted smart card until a person deflects a tab ( ) that releases the smart card, with the connector including a spring ( A) which then partially ejects the smart card so it can be grasped and removed. The apparatus includes a housing ( A) with a dielectric plastic plate-shaped support ( A) that holds contacts ( ) with pad-engaging ends ( ) projecting above an upwardly-facing face ( ) of the plate to engage contact pads of the smart card. The housing forms a forwardly-opening cavity ( ) for receiving the smart card when it is rearwardly inserted therein, the housing having a stop ( ) that limits rearward movement of the card to a fully inserted position. A card retainer ( A) has a largely rearwardly-facing shoulder ( A) at the front of the cavity to resist withdrawal of the card until the tab is manually deflected. The spring has a spring end ( ) lying at the rear of the cavity and biased toward a position forward of the stop, to directly engage the card rear edge to urge the card forwardly out of the cavity. Thus, manual deflection of the tab allows the spring to automatically push the card partially out of the cavity.