US6272017B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Adaptor for connecting a chip card to a computer slot
Assignee: Stocko Metallwarenfabriken Henkels and Sohn GmbH and Co
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Filing: 1998-12-16
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Granted: 2001-08-07
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Expires: 2018-12-16
Abstract
Abstract An adaptor for connecting a chip card to a PCMCIA-standard computer slot has a housing with a top cover, a separate bottom cover, and at least one intermediate insulative element or frame connecting the top cover to the bottom cover at a spacing to one another. The top cover and bottom cover have substantially congruent outer contours. The housing has a receiving channel. A printed circuit board is mounted in the housing and extends parallel to the receiving channel. The circuit board has contact elements for electrically contacting a chip card received in the receiving channel. The housing has a front face and a back face wherein the front face has an insertion slot communicating with the receiving channel. The back face has a contact plug electrically connected to the printed circuit board and adapted to electrically contact the PCMCIA-standard computer slot. Cams at the channel entrance are used for card retention. The intermediate element is formed of plural parts which are joined by pins fitted into holes and which are molded about tabs that extend from the covers.
Inventors
- 👤 Dieter Klatt
- 👤 Heinz Ungermann
- 👤 Bernhard Pelke
- 👤 Arnd Bäcker
- 👤 Thomas Klenner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 10:01
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K7/00; G06K7/0013; G06K7/0021; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S439/00; Y10S439/945
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
371 words
An adaptor for connecting a chip card ( 4 ) to a PCMCIA-standard computer slot, said adaptor comprising: a housing ( 1 ) having a top cover ( 13 ), a separate bottom cover ( 14 ), and at least one intermediate element ( 15 , 16 , 17 ) connecting said top cover ( 13 ) and said bottom cover ( 14 ) at a spacing to one another, wherein said top cover ( 13 ) and said bottom cover ( 14 ) have substantially congruent outer contours; said housing ( 1 ) having a receiving channel ( 5 ); a printed circuit board ( 21 ) mounted in said housing ( 1 ) and extending parallel to said receiving channel ( 5 ); said printed circuit board ( 21 ) having contact elements ( 28 ) for electrically contacting a chip card received in said receiving slot ( 5 ); said top cover ( 13 ) having a first one of said intermediate elements ( 15 ) and wherein said bottom cover ( 14 ) has a plurality of second ones of said intermediate elements ( 16 , 17 ), wherein said first intermediate element ( 15 ) has a first contact surface and said second intermediate elements ( 16 , 17 ) have second contact surfaces ( 16 , 17 ) opposite said first contact surface, wherein said first and said second contact surfaces are connected to one another; said first intermediate element ( 15 ) comprising a U-shaped frame having two legs between which said printed circuit board is received, wherein an outer contour of said U-shaped frame matches an outer contour of said top cover ( 13 ) and wherein an inner contour of said U-shaped frame has guide portions ( 19 , 20 ) in which said printed circuit board ( 21 ) is received; said housing ( 1 ) having a front end and a back end; said front end having an insertion slot ( 3 ) communicating with said receiving channel ( 5 ); said back end having a contact plug ( 2 ) electrically connected to said printed circuit board ( 21 ) and adapted to electrically contact the PCMCIA-standard computer slot.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
371 words
An adaptor for connecting a chip card ( 4 ) to a PCMCIA-standard computer slot, said adaptor comprising: a housing ( 1 ) having a top cover ( 13 ), a separate bottom cover ( 14 ), and at least one intermediate element ( 15 , 16 , 17 ) connecting said top cover ( 13 ) and said bottom cover ( 14 ) at a spacing to one another, wherein said top cover ( 13 ) and said bottom cover ( 14 ) have substantially congruent outer contours; said housing ( 1 ) having a receiving channel ( 5 ); a printed circuit board ( 21 ) mounted in said housing ( 1 ) and extending parallel to said receiving channel ( 5 ); said printed circuit board ( 21 ) having contact elements ( 28 ) for electrically contacting a chip card received in said receiving slot ( 5 ); said top cover ( 13 ) having a first one of said intermediate elements ( 15 ) and wherein said bottom cover ( 14 ) has a plurality of second ones of said intermediate elements ( 16 , 17 ), wherein said first intermediate element ( 15 ) has a first contact surface and said second intermediate elements ( 16 , 17 ) have second contact surfaces ( 16 , 17 ) opposite said first contact surface, wherein said first and said second contact surfaces are connected to one another; said first intermediate element ( 15 ) comprising a U-shaped frame having two legs between which said printed circuit board is received, wherein an outer contour of said U-shaped frame matches an outer contour of said top cover ( 13 ) and wherein an inner contour of said U-shaped frame has guide portions ( 19 , 20 ) in which said printed circuit board ( 21 ) is received; said housing ( 1 ) having a front end and a back end; said front end having an insertion slot ( 3 ) communicating with said receiving channel ( 5 ); said back end having a contact plug ( 2 ) electrically connected to said printed circuit board ( 21 ) and adapted to electrically contact the PCMCIA-standard computer slot.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
An adaptor according to claim 1 , wherein said first and second intermediate elements ( 15 , 16 , 17 ) have pins ( 23 ) and openings ( 22 ) matching said pins ( 23 ) for connecting said first and second contact surfaces to one another.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
An adaptor according to claim 2 , wherein said pins ( 23 ) and said openings ( 22 ) form a detachable plug connection for said first and second intermediate elements.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
An adaptor according to claim 1 , wherein said first and said second intermediate elements ( 15 , 16 , 17 ) are parts fastened to said top and bottom covers ( 13 , 14 ) by injection molding.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
An adaptor according to claim 4 , wherein said top and bottom covers ( 13 , 14 ) have tabs ( 18 - 18 c ) embedded by injection molding in said first and second intermediate elements ( 15 - 17 a ).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
50 words
An adaptor according to claim 1 , wherein said U-shaped frame has a base to which said legs are connected, wherein said base has a face facing said insertion slot ( 3 ), wherein said face of said base has a recessed portion ( 9 ) at one side thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
98 words
An adaptor according to claim 1 , wherein said second intermediate elements ( 16 , 17 a ) are spacer segments having a height almost matching a height of a chip card ( 4 ), wherein first ones ( 16 ) of said spacer segments form lateral walls 7 of said insertion slot ( 3 ) and wherein second ones ( 17 ) of said spacer segments are positioned on opposite sides of said contact plug ( 2 ), wherein lateral sides of said receiving channel ( 5 ) between said first and second spacer segments are open.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
57 words
An adaptor according to claim 7 , further comprising a bottom plate ( 27 ), wherein said first spacer segments ( 16 ) are provided as monolithic parts of said bottom plate ( 27 ), wherein said bottom plate ( 27 ) has an outer contour matching an outer contour of said bottom cover ( 14 ).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
An adaptor according to claim 7 , further comprising a reinforcement plate ( 26 ), wherein said bottom cover ( 14 ) has a depression ( 25 ) in which said reinforcement plate ( 26 ) is received.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
An adaptor according to claim 9 , wherein said reinforcement plate ( 26 ) is a metal plate.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
55 words
An adaptor according to claim 7 , further comprising a bottom plate ( 27 ), wherein said first and second spacer segments ( 16 , 17 ) are provided as monolithic parts of said bottom plate ( 27 ), wherein said bottom plate ( 27 ) is congruent with said bottom cover ( 14 ).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
An adaptor according to claim 7 , wherein said second spacer segments ( 17 ) have inwardly directed sides facing one another and wherein said inwardly directed sides have clamping portions ( 19 a ) for securing said contact plug ( 2 ).
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
78 words
An adaptor according to claim 7 , wherein said first spacer segments ( 16 ) have inwardly pointing slants ( 8 ) for guiding a chip card ( 4 ) into said receiving channel ( 5 ) and wherein said second spacer segments ( 17 ) have stops ( 24 ) for limiting an insertion depth of a chip card ( 4 ), wherein said stops have a contour matching corners of the chip card ( 4 ).
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
44 words
An adaptor according to claim 7 , wherein said top cover ( 13 ) has an end face positioned at said front face of said housing, wherein said end face has a contour comprised of part-circular recessed cutouts ( 10 , 10 a ).
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
117 words
An adaptor according to claim 14 wherein said bottom cover ( 14 ) has an end face positioned at said front face of said housing, wherein said end face of said bottom cover ( 14 ) has a projecting surface ( 11 ) at least within one of said part-circular recessed cutouts ( 10 , 10 a ) laterally positioned at said insertion slot ( 3 ), wherein said projecting surface ( 11 ) has a clamping cam ( 12 ) for clamping a chip card ( 4 ) in said receiving channel ( 5 ) against stops ( 24 ) provided within said receiving channel ( 5 ) remote from said insertion slot ( 3 ).
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
An adaptor according to claim 1 , wherein said top and bottom covers ( 13 , 14 ) are made of metal.
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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) | 2004-08-06 | 2005-02-05 | 2005-08-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-08-06 | 2009-02-05 | 2009-08-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-08-06 | 2013-02-05 | 2013-08-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |