US5890920A — Card security mechanism for a memory card connect…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 216 words

A connector apparatus for a card-like data processing medium, said connector apparatus comprising: (a) a frame having a rear transverse element and opposed longitudinal elements forward from said rear transverse element and spaced at an interval substantially equal to the width of said card-like data processing medium, said opposed longitudinal elements defining a storage space, one end of said frame defining an insertion inlet for inserting the card-like data processing medium into the storage space; (b) a header positioned adjacent the rear transverse element of the frame opposite the insertion inlet; (c) an eject plate movably mounted on the frame and operable to slide toward the header to allow engagement of the card-like date processing medium with the header and away from the header to eject the card-like data processing medium; (d) closure means for preventing withdrawal of the card-like data processing medium from the connector apparatus; and (e) means for coordinating activation of the closure means for preventing withdrawal of the card-like data processing medium with movement of the eject plate, wherein the means for coordinating activation of the closure means is responsive to being energized with an electrical current to activate said closure means when the eject plate slides toward the header to allow engagement of the card-like data processing medium with the header.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 216 words

A connector apparatus for a card-like data processing medium, said connector apparatus comprising: (a) a frame having a rear transverse element and opposed longitudinal elements forward from said rear transverse element and spaced at an interval substantially equal to the width of said card-like data processing medium, said opposed longitudinal elements defining a storage space, one end of said frame defining an insertion inlet for inserting the card-like data processing medium into the storage space; (b) a header positioned adjacent the rear transverse element of the frame opposite the insertion inlet; (c) an eject plate movably mounted on the frame and operable to slide toward the header to allow engagement of the card-like date processing medium with the header and away from the header to eject the card-like data processing medium; (d) closure means for preventing withdrawal of the card-like data processing medium from the connector apparatus; and (e) means for coordinating activation of the closure means for preventing withdrawal of the card-like data processing medium with movement of the eject plate, wherein the means for coordinating activation of the closure means is responsive to being energized with an electrical current to activate said closure means when the eject plate slides toward the header to allow engagement of the card-like data processing medium with the header.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 36 words

The connector apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for coordinating activation of the closure means opens said closure means when the eject plate slides away from the header to eject the card-like data processing medium.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 58 words

The connector apparatus of claim 2 wherein a lever arm is pivotally connected to the frame at a pivot point to pivot in a horizontal arc parallel to the plane of the eject plate and is operatively connected to the eject plate to move said eject plate away from the header to eject the card-like data processing medium.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 44 words

The connector apparatus of claim 3 wherein the closure means comprises at least one cam means projecting from at least one of the side elements of the frame and said cam means is operatively connected to the eject plate by a timing bar means.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 55 words

The connector apparatus of claim 4 wherein there is a means for applying rearward longitudinal force on the timing bar and the exertion of rearward longitudinal force on the timing bar results in the cam means being displaced transversely from a position projection into the storage space to a position withdrawn from the storage space.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 18 words

The connector apparatus of claim 5 wherein the means for exerting rearward longitudinal force is a memory wire.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 17 words

The connector apparatus of claim 5 wherein the means for exerting rearward longitudinal force is a solenoid.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 56 words

The connector apparatus of claim 5 wherein there is a diagonal slot on the timing bar means which extends outwardly and forwardly and a projection from the cam means extends through said slot such that as the timing bar is displaced rearwardly the cam means will be displaced transversely to position withdrawn from the storage space.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 31 words

The connector apparatus of claim 8 wherein the diagonal slot has forward and rearward ends and at both its forward and rearward ends the diagonal slot is connected to longitudinal slots.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 20 words

The connector apparatus of claim 9 wherein a forwardly directed longitudinal force is continuously applied to the timing bar means.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 19 words

The connector apparatus of claim 10 wherein the forwardly directed longitudinal force is applied by a stored energy means.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 14 words

The connector apparatus of claim 11 wherein the stored energy means is a spring.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 23 words

The connector apparatus of claim 10 wherein the means for applying rearward longitudinal force exerts greater force that the forwardly directed longitudinal force.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 37 words

The connector apparatus of claim 13 wherein the timing bar means is displaceable by the means for exerting rearward longitudinal force to a rearward position where said timing bar means is engaged by a timing bar lock.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 22 words

The connector apparatus of claim 14 wherein the closure means are opened when the timing bar means is in the rearward position.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 34 words

The connector apparatus of claim 15 wherein the eject plate is positioned away from the header when the closure means are open and the timing bar is locked and positioned in its rearward position.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 39 words

The connector apparatus of claim 16 wherein the eject plate has a timing bar release means which disengages the timing bar means when the eject plate moves toward the header to allow engagement of the card-like data processing medium.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 45 words

The connector apparatus of claim 17 wherein the timing bar means is moved from its rearward position to a forward position by the forwardly directed longitudinal force when the timing bar lock is disengaged such that the closure means moves into the card storage space.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 149 words

In a connector apparatus for receiving a card-like data processing medium in a frame element having a rear transverse element and a pair of spaced lateral elements, a header means disposed adjacent the rear element of the frame member and means for moving a card-like data processing medium out of engagement with the header comprising an eject plate moved by a link arm connected at the frame at a pivot point wherein the improvement comprises closure means for preventing withdrawal of the card-like data processing medium from the connector apparatus and means for coordinating movement of said closure means with movement of the eject plate, wherein the means for coordinating activation of the closure means is responsive to being energized with an electrical current to activate said closure means when the eject plate slides toward the header to allow engagement of the card-like data processing medium with the header.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 149 words

In a connector apparatus for receiving a card-like data processing medium in a frame element having a rear transverse element and a pair of spaced lateral elements, a header means disposed adjacent the rear element of the frame member and means for moving a card-like data processing medium out of engagement with the header comprising an eject plate moved by a link arm connected at the frame at a pivot point wherein the improvement comprises closure means for preventing withdrawal of the card-like data processing medium from the connector apparatus and means for coordinating movement of said closure means with movement of the eject plate, wherein the means for coordinating activation of the closure means is responsive to being energized with an electrical current to activate said closure means when the eject plate slides toward the header to allow engagement of the card-like data processing medium with the header.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 154 words

In a method of operating a connector for receiving a card-like data processing medium in a frame element having a rear transverse apparatus element and a pair of spaced lateral elements, a header means disposed adjacent the rear element of the frame member and means for moving a card-like data processing medium out of engagement with the header comprising an eject plate moved by a link arm connected at the frame at a pivot point wherein the improvement comprises the steps of providing a closure means for preventing withdrawal of the card-like data processing medium from the connector apparatus and coordinating said closure means with movement of the eject plate, wherein the means for coordinating activation of the closure means is responsive to being energized with an electrical current to activate said closure means when the eject plate slides toward the header to allow engagement of the card-like data processing medium with the header.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 154 words

In a method of operating a connector for receiving a card-like data processing medium in a frame element having a rear transverse apparatus element and a pair of spaced lateral elements, a header means disposed adjacent the rear element of the frame member and means for moving a card-like data processing medium out of engagement with the header comprising an eject plate moved by a link arm connected at the frame at a pivot point wherein the improvement comprises the steps of providing a closure means for preventing withdrawal of the card-like data processing medium from the connector apparatus and coordinating said closure means with movement of the eject plate, wherein the means for coordinating activation of the closure means is responsive to being energized with an electrical current to activate said closure means when the eject plate slides toward the header to allow engagement of the card-like data processing medium with the header.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2002-04-05	2002-10-05	2003-04-06	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2006-04-05	2006-10-05	2007-04-06	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2010-04-05	2010-10-05	2011-04-06	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Card security mechanism for a memory card connector and method of use

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