US5846092A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Plastic cased IC card adapter assembly
Assignee: 3M Co
•
Filing: 1997-08-05
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Granted: 1998-12-08
•
Expires: 2017-08-05
Abstract
Abstract An IC card adapter includes a printed circuit board attached on a first edge to solder tails extending from a first connector and on an opposing second edge to solder tails extending from a second connector. The printed circuit board, first connector and second connector form a subassembly. The subassembly is provided with a first keyed interlock surface which mates with a second keyed interlock surface on a lower molded housing adapted to receive the subassembly. The first and second keyed interlock surfaces orient the subassembly and lower housing. The lower molded housing also includes a first latching member which snap-fits with a second latching member on an upper molded housing. When the lower and upper housings are engaged, they define a cavity which encloses the printed circuit board.
Inventors
- 👤 Steven Feldman
- 👤 Michael Bashkin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 20:58
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05K; H05K5/00; H05K5/02; H05K5/0256; H05K5/026; H05K5/0265; H05K5/0269; G; G06; G06K; G06K19/00; G06K19/06; G06K19/067; G06K19/07; G06K19/077; H01; H01R; H01R31/00; H01R31/06; H01R31/065; H05K5/0282; H01R13/00; H01R13/46; H01R13/502; H01R13/506; H01R13/648; H01R13/6485; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S439/00; Y10S439/946
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
137 words
An IC card adapter assembly comprising: a printed circuit board having a first edge attached to solder tails extending from a back surface of a first connector and an opposing second edge attached to solder tails extending from a front surface of a second connector, wherein the printed circuit board, first connector and second connector form a subassembly, the subassembly including a first keyed interlock surface; a lower molded housing adapted to receive the subassembly, the lower housing including a second keyed interlock surface for oriented engagement with the first keyed interlock surface of the subassembly, and a first latching member; an upper molded housing having a second latching member adapted for engagement with the first latching member of the lower housing, wherein the engaged lower and upper housings define a cavity enclosing the printed circuit board.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
137 words
An IC card adapter assembly comprising: a printed circuit board having a first edge attached to solder tails extending from a back surface of a first connector and an opposing second edge attached to solder tails extending from a front surface of a second connector, wherein the printed circuit board, first connector and second connector form a subassembly, the subassembly including a first keyed interlock surface; a lower molded housing adapted to receive the subassembly, the lower housing including a second keyed interlock surface for oriented engagement with the first keyed interlock surface of the subassembly, and a first latching member; an upper molded housing having a second latching member adapted for engagement with the first latching member of the lower housing, wherein the engaged lower and upper housings define a cavity enclosing the printed circuit board.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The adapter assembly of claim 1, wherein the first and second latching members are adapted for snap-fitting engagement with each other.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The adapter assembly of claim 1, wherein the first and second latching members are adapted for press-fitting engagement with each other.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The adapter assembly of claim 1, wherein the upper housing and the lower housing are molded of a dielectric material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The adapter assembly of claim 1, wherein the lower housing and the upper housing each include integrally molded side rails.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
The adapter assembly of claim 5, wherein the first keyed interlock surface comprises a locking tab extending from the second connector, and wherein the second keyed interlock surface comprises a recess in the side rails of the lower housing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
The adapter assembly of claim 5, wherein the first keyed interlock surface comprises a guide rail extending from the first connector, and wherein the second keyed interlock surface comprises a channel in the side rails of the lower housing.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
The adapter assembly of claim 5, wherein the first keyed interlock surface comprises a latching tab extending from the first connector, and wherein the second keyed interlock surface comprises a detent in the side rails of the lower housing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
The adapter assembly of claim 5, wherein the first latching member is integrally molded into the side rails of the lower housing and the second latching member is integrally molded into the side rails of the upper housing.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
The adapter of claim 9, wherein the interacting first and second latching members include an integrally molded tensioning member for removing free play between the lower and upper housings.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
42 words
The adapter assembly of claim 1, wherein the lower housing and the upper housing each have a first end, the first end of the lower housing and the first end of the upper housing abutting the back surface of the first connector.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
The adapter assembly of claim 11, wherein an outer surface of the lower housing and an outer surface of the upper housing are coplanar with a lower surface and an upper surface, respectively, of the first connector.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The adapter assembly of claim 11, wherein the first end of the lower housing and the first end of the upper housings each include a lip.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
The adapter assembly of claim 13, wherein the lips of the lower and upper housings rest on the solder tails extending from the back of the first connector.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
The adapter assembly of claim 1, further comprising means for maintaining spacing between the upper and lower housings and opposed surfaces of the printed circuit board.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
The adapter assembly of claim 15, wherein the means for maintaining spacing includes ribs connected to opposed planar surfaces of the lower and upper housings within the cavity.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
The adapter assembly of claim 1, wherein the first connector is a PCMCIA connector and the second connector is a CF connector.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
The adapter assembly of claim 1, wherein the first connector is a CF connector and the second connector is a PCMCIA connector.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
The adapter assembly of claim 1, wherein the engaged lower and upper housings enclose the printed circuit board and the second connector.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
114 words
An IC card assembly comprising: a printed circuit board attached to solder tails extending from a back surface of a first I/O device, wherein the printed circuit board and first I/O device form a subassembly, the subassembly including a first keyed interlock surface; a lower molded housing adapted to receive the subassembly, the lower housing including a second keyed interlock surface for oriented engagement with the first keyed interlock surface of the subassembly, and a first latching member; an upper molded housing having a second latching member adapted for engagement with the first latching member of the lower housing, wherein the engaged lower and upper housings define a cavity enclosing the printed circuit board.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
114 words
An IC card assembly comprising: a printed circuit board attached to solder tails extending from a back surface of a first I/O device, wherein the printed circuit board and first I/O device form a subassembly, the subassembly including a first keyed interlock surface; a lower molded housing adapted to receive the subassembly, the lower housing including a second keyed interlock surface for oriented engagement with the first keyed interlock surface of the subassembly, and a first latching member; an upper molded housing having a second latching member adapted for engagement with the first latching member of the lower housing, wherein the engaged lower and upper housings define a cavity enclosing the printed circuit board.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
The adapter assembly of claim 20, wherein the first and second latching members are adapted for snap-fitting engagement with each other.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
21 words
The adapter assembly of claim 20, wherein the first and second latching members are adapted for press-fitting engagement with each other.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
12 words
The adapter assembly of claim 20, further comprising a second I/O device.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
15 words
The adapter assembly of claim 23, wherein the second I/O device is a telephone jack.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
15 words
The adapter assembly of claim 23, wherein the second I/O device is an infrared transceiver.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
42 words
The adapter assembly of claim 20, wherein the lower housing and the upper housing each have a first end, the first end of the lower housing and the first end of the upper housing abutting the back surface of the first connector.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
36 words
The adapter assembly of claim 26, wherein an outer surface of the lower housing and an outer surface of the upper housing are coplanar with a lower surface and an upper surface, respectively, of the connector.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
40 words
The adapter assembly of claim 26, wherein the first end of the lower housing and the first end of the upper housings each include a lip which rests on the solder tails extending from the back of the first connector.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-12-07 | 2002-06-08 | 2002-12-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-12-07 | 2006-06-08 | 2006-12-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-12-07 | 2010-06-08 | 2010-12-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |