Computer card connector

• US 5,391,083 A
• Filed: 02/25/1994
• Issued: 02/21/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: R. A. Tool & Die, Inc.
• Original Assignee: R. A. Tool & Die, Inc.
• Inventors: Centofante, Charles A., Albrecht, Rudolf, Jupille, Henry A., Roebuck, Joseph V.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KHIEM M
• Application Number:
  US08/201,802
• Time in Patent Office: 361 Days
• Field of Search: 235/492, 361/736, 361/737, 361/746, 439/76, 439/344, 439/350, 439/351, 439/588, 439/638, 439/676
• US Class Current: 439/76.1
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/639 Additional means for holding or locking coupling parts together, after engagement, e.g. separate keylock, retainer strap
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6581 Shield structure
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/62 Sliding engagements with one side only, e.g. modular jack coupling devices

Abstract

A computer card apparatus for interconnecting with and securely retaining a removable plug. The computer card'"'"'s circuitry and components encapsuled within an insulating material, a sheet of metal superimposed over the insulating material and a plastic housing encompassing the sheet, insulating material, components and circuitry.

Claims

1. A personal computer card apparatus for interconnecting with and securely retaining a removable plug, comprising

a computer card for interconnection within a personal computer;

a connector board with electrical connectors projecting from one end thereof for electrical engagement with the computer card and for receiving a removable plug;

an elastic boot encircling about said connector board and for interfacing with a removable plug engaged to said electrical connectors, the boot-having one end open for sliding said boot over said connector board and engaged plug; and

whereby the elasticity of the boot causes an interfacing engagement of the boot with an attached removable plug to secure said plug in place.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein

the boot forms a closed loop about a longitudinal axis and a plurality of imprinted grooves on the top exterior surface of said boot and extending parallel to said longitudinal axis.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein

the boot further includes a top wall with a plurality of segments extending from an interior surface of said top wall and positioned to interface with said engaged plug to secure said plug in place.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein

said plurality of segments are comprised of a material harder than elastic.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein

said boot is comprised of an elastic material whereby said boot is under stress when in engagement with said plug.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein

the boot further includes a web extending from said interior surface of said top wall towards said interior surface of a bottom wall, positioned adjacent to and extending a similar depth as said engaged plug.

7. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein

the connector board further includes a rear side wall for abutment with one end of said computer card, said rear side wall being of a length and height coinciding with a width and height side of said computer card, the connector board further including a front side wall with a channel for receiving said plug, and said channel including a metal connector means for mating engagement with terminals of said plug.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein

said channel includes walls tapered at an entrance.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein

said connectors means are of a J-shape.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein

the connector board further includes an incision within the top, bottom, and two lateral sides forming a continuous peripheral trough for receiving said boot and opposing lateral movement of the boot about the connector board.

11. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein

the connector board further includes a front side wall with a notch for receiving a web.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein

the notch is a slot and the slot receives the web when the web extends from said boot top interior wall to said boot bottom interior wall.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein

the notch is a channel and the channel receives the web when the web is attached to the upper interior wall of the boot, but not to the bottom interior wall of the boot.

14. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein

the connector board includes a plurality of said channels for receiving a plurality of said plugs and each of said channel including metal connector means for mating engagement with terminals of said plugs.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein

the connector board includes connector means of a J-shape for receiving and mating engagement with a "RJ-11," "RJ-14, " "RJ-45, " or any other modular telephone jack style.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein

the computer card encapsuled within an insulating material, a sheet of material metal superimposed over said insulating material and a plastic housing enclosing said sheet and insulating material.

17. The personal computer card apparatus for interconnecting with and securely retaining a removable plug comprising:

a personal computer memory card encapsulated in an insulating material about components and circuitry on a printed circuit board, a sheet of metal material over said insulating material to provide shielding to radio waves, and a protective shell of plastic material encompassing said insulating material and said metal material, said protective shell providing flat top and flat bottom surfaces to form a card insertable within a slot of a computer housing.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein

the cross-sectional configuration of the memory card is of a rectangular shape of a width "w" and a depth "d";

a connector board with electrical connectors projecting from one end of said board for mating electrical engagement with a terminal means within the memory card, said electrical connectors having a receptacle for receiving terminals of a removable electrical connector plug, the board having a rear face wall and a front face wall of a length equal to said width "w" and a height equal to said depth "d", said rear face being in abutment with one end of the memory card when said electrical connectors are mated with said terminal means of the memory card, said rear face wall and said front face wall being parallel with one another and spaced apart form a substantially rectangular shaped trough intermediate said rear face and said front face walls;

an elastic boot encircling about said connector board within said trough for interfacing with said removable electrical connector plug;

whereby the elasticity of the boot causes ant interfacing engagement of the boot with an attached removable plug to secure said plug in place.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein

said trough has a width of w", and a depth of d'"'"'";

and

the elastic boot has a width of w" and a thickness d'"'"'" whereby the boot rests within said trough.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the connector board includes a channel extending through said front face, a metal connector means within said channel and said trough for mating engagement with terminals of a plug.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein

the boot further includes a planar surface for receiving printed information.

22. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein

the boot further includes a top wall with a plurality of segments extending from an interior surface of said top wall and positioned to interface with said engaged plug to secure said plug in place.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein

said plurality of segments are comprised of a material harder than elastic.

24. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein

said boot is comprised of an elastic material whereby said boot is under stress when in engagement with said plug.

25. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein

the connector board includes a notch extending adjacent to said channel, and

the boot further includes a web extending from said interior surface of said top wall towards said interior surface of a bottom wall and positioned in alignment with and interfacing with said notch.

26. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein

the connector board includes a pair of notches extending laterally adjacent each side of said channel;

and

the boot further includes a pair of webs extending from said interior surface of said top wall towards said interior surface of a bottom wall, and each of said webs being positioned in alignment with and interfacing with one of said notches.