Connector device

Claim 1

A connector device (1) for selectively connecting at least one of a memory card (2) and a hard disk drive package (4) as a data storage device, comprising: a housing (22) having an insertion port (33) at one end of a length of the housing (22) and divided storage spaces (22a, 22b; 90a, 90b) which are divided in a height of the housing (22) so that the data storage device (2, 4) which is selectively inserted through the insertion port (33) is received and held therein, the divided storage spaces (22a, 22b; 90a, 90b) including one first divided storage space for receiving and holding one memory card (2) each therein and one second divided storage space for receiving and holding one hard disk drive package (4) each therein; and connecting member (24), provided at the other end of the length of the housing (22) to correspond to the first and second divided storage spaces (22a, 22b; 90a, 90b), and having first and second pin terminal arrays (34, 32), the first pin terminal array (34) being electrically connected to one data storage device received in a corresponding one of said divided storage spaces (22a, 22b; 90a, 90b), and the second pin terminal array (32) integrally extending from the first pin terminal array adapted (34) to be electrically connected to an external electronic equipment.

Claim 5

A device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that at least one first divided storage space exists independently of the second divided storage space.

Claim 6

A device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that at least one second divided storage space exists independently of the first divided storage space.

Claim 7

A device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by further comprising: engaging member (56), provided in each of the first and second divided storage spaces, engageable with one data storage device electrically connected to the first pin terminal array of said connecting member (24) in the corresponding one divided storage space, and slidably movable in the direction of the length of the housing; and ejecting member (40), respectively, provided in the first and second divided storage spaces (22a, 22b; 90a, 90b) to be capable of operating independently of each other, for slidably moving the engaging member (56) in the corresponding one divided storage space toward the insertion port (33) of the housing (22), in order to disconnect said first pin terminal array (34) of said connecting member (24) in the corresponding one divided storage space from the one data storage device and to eject the one data storage device outside the housing (22) through the insertion port (33).

Claim 8

A device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by further comprising locking member (87, 98), in at least one second divided storage space, for releasably locking the hard disk drive package (4) connected to the first pin terminal array (34) to prevent loose connection between the connecting member of the hard disk drive package (4) received in the second divided storage space and the first pin terminal array (34).

Claim 9

A device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that an electronic equipment outside the housing (22) is a computer device such as a personal computer, a laptop computer, or a notebook type personal computer.