Memory card connector with improved board locking means

• US 20050106937A1
• Filed: 09/08/2004
• Published: 05/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Molex Incorporated (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Molex Incorporated (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lin, Tung-Chang
• Application Number:
  US10/935,862
• Publication Number:
  US 20050106937A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/567
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/7029 not integral with the coupling device
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0282 Adapters for connecting cards having a first standard in receptacles having a second standard

Abstract

A memory card connector is provided for mounting on a printed circuit board. The connector includes an insulating housing having a rear terminal-mounting section and at least one longitudinal side wall section extending forwardly from one end of the rear section and combining therewith to define a card-receiving space for receiving a memory card in an insertion direction. The side wall section has an inside longitudinal groove for receiving a side edge of the memory card, along with a plurality of insertion slots. A plurality of conductive terminals are mounted on the rear terminal-mounting section of the housing. The terminals have contact portions projecting into said space for engaging appropriate contacts on the memory card. A locking member is mounted on the side wall section of the housing. The locking member includes (a) a body portion positioned in the inside longitudinal groove of the side wall section, (b) a plurality of fixing tabs extending from the body portion and secured in the insertion slots, and (c) a fastening portion extending from the body portion for securement to the printed circuit board.

Claims

1. A memory card connector for mounting on a printed circuit board, comprising:

an insulating housing having a rear terminal-mounting section and at least one longitudinal side wall section extending forwardly from one end of the rear section and combining therewith to define a card-receiving space for receiving a memory card in an insertion direction, the side wall section having an inside longitudinal groove for receiving a side edge of the memory card and a plurality of insertion slots;

a plurality of conductive terminals mounted on the rear terminal-mounting section of the housing and having contact portions projecting into said space for engaging appropriate contacts on the memory card; and

a locking member mounted on the side wall section of the housing and including a body portion positioned in said inside longitudinal groove, a plurality of fixing tabs extending from the body portion and secured in said insertion slots, and a fastening portion extending from the body portion for securement to the printed circuit board.

2. The memory card connector of claim 1 wherein the body portion of said locking member comprises a plate oriented in a plane generally parallel to said insertion direction.

3. The memory card connector of claim 1 wherein the fixing tabs of said locking member extend in a direction generally perpendicular to said insertion direction.

4. The memory card connector of claim 1 wherein the fastening portion of said locking member comprises a fastening pin extending downwardly from the body portion for insertion into a locking hole in the printed circuit board.

5. The memory card connector of claim 4 wherein said fastening pin is slit lengthwise thereof to define a bifurcated pin.

6. The memory card connector of claim 1, including one of said longitudinal side wall sections extending forwardly from both opposite ends of the rear terminal-mounting section of the housing, and one of said locking members is mounted on each side wall section.

7. The memory card connector of claim 6 wherein one of said locking members is mounted near a front end and near a rear end of each side wall section.

8. A memory card connector for mounting on a printed circuit board, comprising:

an insulating housing having a rear terminal-mounting section and at least one longitudinal side wall section extending forwardly from one end of the rear section and combining therewith to define a card-receiving space for receiving a memory card in an insertion direction, the side wall section having an inside longitudinal groove for receiving a side edge of the memory card and a plurality of insertion slots;

a plurality of conductive terminals mounted on the rear terminal-mounting section of the housing and having contact portions projecting into said space for engaging appropriate contacts on the memory card; and

a locking member mounted on the side wall section of the housing and including (a) a body portion in the form of a plate positioned in said inside longitudinal groove and oriented in a plane generally parallel to said insertion direction, (b) a plurality of fixing tabs extending generally perpendicular to the plate and generally perpendicular to said insertion direction and secured in said insertion slots, and (c) a fastening portion in the form of a fastening pin extending downwardly from the plate for insertion into a locking hole in printed circuit board to secure the connector to the board.

9. The memory card connector of claim 8 wherein said fastening pin is slit lengthwise thereof to define a bifurcated pin.

10. The memory card connector of claim 8, including one of said longitudinal side wall sections extending forwardly from both opposite ends of the rear terminal-mounting section of the housing, and one of said locking members is mounted on each side wall section.