Input unit for a data card containing an electronic circuit

Claim 1

A unit for receiving a data card (10) containing an electronic circuit arrangement and adapted to set a device into operation, the unit comprising an insertion frame (22) comprising a compartment (20) for receiving the data card (10) and disposed behind a casing wall (14) of the receiving unit and pivotable between an input/output position in which the input/output slot (16) of the receiving compartment (20) is flush with the casing wall (14) and an operating position in which the contact elements (46, 48) of the receiving unit extend through a recess in the insertion frame (22) and abut contact components (12) of the inserted data card (10), the insertion frame (22) being biased into its input/output position, the unit also comprising a resiliently deflectable resetting device (32; 54, 60) disposed near the end of the receiving compartment (20) remote from the input/output slot (16) and biasing the inserted data card (10) against the insertion direction, and locking means comprising at least one locking projection (34) for holding the insertion frame (22) in the operating position, characterised in that the locking projection comprises a strip (34) disposed on the inside of the casing wall (14) parallel to the input/output slot (16) and extending over the edge of the data card (10) facing the input/output slot when the insertion frame (22) is in the operating position, and the casing wall (14) has a recess (18) interrupting the locking strip (34) in a central region of the input/output slot (16).