Patent US5778521A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5778521A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for ejecting a PCMCIA card from a housing
Assignee: Apple Inc
•
Filing: 1995-04-13
•
Granted: 1998-07-14
•
Expires: 2015-04-13
Abstract
Abstract A housing and ejection mechanism for PCMCIA electronic "smart cards" is disclosed. The ejection mechanism comprises a pair of cooperating lever arms and springs. When a "smart card" is inserted into the housing, the two lever arms pivot into the housing, extending an ejection spring. As the spring is pulled back by means of the lever arms, insertion of the card requires only slightly more force than would be needed to connect a "smart card" with its socket were no spring present. Full insertion of the card leaves the two lever arms coupled, but with only one of the lever arms locked in position. When the user triggers the ejection process, the two levers are mechanically separated and one of them applies the full spring force to the "smart card", freeing it from its socket and starting to push it out of the housing. After the first arm frees the "smart card" from its socket, it frees the second lever arm from its latch. The two lever arms then cooperate to push the "smart card" further out of the housing. Once the ejection spring is fully released, a second small spring reunites the two levers, preparing the mechanism for the next insertion of a "smart card". As only a small amount of force is needed to separate the two lever arms, a simple electronic ejection means can be used to trigger the ejection of the "smart cards".
Inventors
- 👤 David Law
- 👤 Dennis Boyle
- 👤 Matt Herron
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 23:45
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05K; H05K5/00; H05K5/02; H05K5/0256; H05K5/026; H05K5/0265; G; G06; G06K; G06K13/00; G06K13/02; G06K13/08; G06K13/0806; G06K7/00; G06K7/0013; G06K7/0047; G06K7/0086; H05K5/0286; H05K5/0291; H05K5/0295; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49002; Y10T29/49117; Y10T29/49124
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
121 words
A method for ejecting an electronically active card from a housing, the housing having a front slot for inserting and guiding the electronically active card and a rear connector for coupling the electronically active card to a computing device, the method comprising the steps of: moving a ejection member means from a first ready position by inserting the electronically active card into the housing, the ejection member means including a first member and a second member releasably coupled therewith; latching the ejection member means into a second loaded position; releasing the ejection member means upon a ejection signal from the computing device; and applying force by the ejection member means to the electronically active card to free it from the connector.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
121 words
A method for ejecting an electronically active card from a housing, the housing having a front slot for inserting and guiding the electronically active card and a rear connector for coupling the electronically active card to a computing device, the method comprising the steps of: moving a ejection member means from a first ready position by inserting the electronically active card into the housing, the ejection member means including a first member and a second member releasably coupled therewith; latching the ejection member means into a second loaded position; releasing the ejection member means upon a ejection signal from the computing device; and applying force by the ejection member means to the electronically active card to free it from the connector.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
126 words
A method for ejecting an electronically active card from a housing, the housing having a front slot for inserting and guiding the electronically active card and a rear connector for coupling the electronically active card to a computing device, the method comprising the steps of: moving a ejection member means from a first ready position by inserting the electronically active card into the housing, the ejection member means including a first member and a second member being coupled by a releasable coupling; latching the ejection member means into a second loaded position; releasing the ejection member means upon a ejection signal programmably generated from the computing device; and applying force by the ejection member means to the electronically active card to free it from the connector.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
126 words
A method for ejecting an electronically active card from a housing, the housing having a front slot for inserting and guiding the electronically active card and a rear connector for coupling the electronically active card to a computing device, the method comprising the steps of: moving a ejection member means from a first ready position by inserting the electronically active card into the housing, the ejection member means including a first member and a second member being coupled by a releasable coupling; latching the ejection member means into a second loaded position; releasing the ejection member means upon a ejection signal programmably generated from the computing device; and applying force by the ejection member means to the electronically active card to free it from the connector.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the releasable coupling includes a pivot.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the step of releasing the ejection member is caused by the receipt of the ejection signal from the computing device, the ejection signal activating an electromechanical means which opens the releasable coupling.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the ejection signal is under the control of a user of the computing device.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the force applied to the ejection member means is provided by an energy storage means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the step of latching the ejection member means further comprises latching only the second member into the second loaded position, the releasable coupling preventing independent motion of the first member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of applying force further comprises freeing the electronically active card from the connector by only the first member using a first level of force for only a short distance.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the step of applying force further comprises the second member applying a second level of force to the electronically active card after it was freed from the connector.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
121 words
A method for ejecting an electronically active card from a housing, the housing having a front slot for inserting and guiding the electronically active card and a rear connector for coupling the electronically active card to an electronic system, the method comprising the steps of: moving a ejection member means from a first ready position by inserting the electronically active card into the housing, the ejection member means including a first member and a second member releasably coupled therewith; latching the ejection member means into a second loaded position; releasing the ejection member means upon a ejection signal from the computing device; and applying force by the ejection member means to the electronically active card to free it from the connector.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
121 words
A method for ejecting an electronically active card from a housing, the housing having a front slot for inserting and guiding the electronically active card and a rear connector for coupling the electronically active card to an electronic system, the method comprising the steps of: moving a ejection member means from a first ready position by inserting the electronically active card into the housing, the ejection member means including a first member and a second member releasably coupled therewith; latching the ejection member means into a second loaded position; releasing the ejection member means upon a ejection signal from the computing device; and applying force by the ejection member means to the electronically active card to free it from the connector.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-07-13 | 2002-01-12 | 2002-07-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-07-13 | 2006-01-12 | 2006-07-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-07-13 | 2010-01-12 | 2010-07-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |