Card connector adaptor with indicator

Claim 2

A card connection adaptor for connecting, to a card slot compliant with a predetermined first standard, a card compliant with a second standard which is different from the first standard, the card connection adaptor comprising: a first connector compliant with the first standard; a second connector compliant with the second standard; a housing which holds the first connector and the second connector, the housing having a card insertion port which is oriented to receive a card in a card receiving direction, the card connection adaptor being inserted into the card slot in an adaptor receiving direction which is oriented generally perpendicularly to the card receiving direction, and a card retaining space for retaining therein the second-standard-compliant card inserted from the card insertion port; and an indicator that provides an indication of whether or not the second-standard-compliant card is retained in the housing on a rear face of the adaptor as seen in the adaptor insertion direction.

Claim 3

A card connection adaptor as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the indicator includes a switch member which is operative when the second-standard-compliant card is fitted in the card retaining space, and an indication lamp provided on the rear face of the adaptor as seen in the adaptor insertion direction and adapted to be energized or de-energized by the switch member.

Claim 4

A card connection adaptor as set forth in claim 2 , further comprising a power supplying mechanism through which the indication lamp is powered from the card slot.

Claim 5

A card connection adaptor as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the indicator includes a displacement member which is displaceable in response to insertion and withdrawal of the card with respect to the card retaining space, and a visual mechanism for allowing visual observation of the displacement of the displacement member from the outside of the housing on the rear face of the adaptor as seen in the adaptor insertion direction.

Claim 6

A card connection adaptor as set forth in claim 4 , wherein the displacement member includes a spring member which is deformable in abutment against the card inserted into the card retaining space.

Claim 7

A card connection adaptor as set forth in claim 5 , wherein the visual mechanism includes a window formed in the rear face of the housing, and an indicator member which is displaceable in response to the deformation of the spring member inside the window so as to get into or out of sight from the window.

Claim 8

A card connection adaptor as set forth in claim 6 , wherein the indicator member is colored differently from the rear face of the housing.

Claim 9

A card connection adaptor as set forth in claim 4 , wherein the displacement member is displaceable in the card insertion direction in abutment against a front face of the card as the card is inserted into the card retaining space.

Claim 10

A card connection adaptor as set forth in claim 4 , wherein the displacement member is displaceable generally perpendicularly to the card insertion direction in abutment against either of upper and lower faces of the card as the card is inserted into the card retaining space.

Claim 11

A card connection adaptor as set forth in claim 4 , wherein the displacement member includes an engagement member which is engageable with an engagement portion formed in a side face of the card.

Claim 12

A card connection adaptor as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the indicator includes a card visual mechanism for allowing visual observation of the card retained in the card retaining space from the outside of the housing on the rear face of the adaptor as seen in the adaptor insertion direction.

Claim 13

A card connection adaptor as set forth in claim 11 , wherein the card visual mechanism includes a window extending through the rear face of the housing to the card retaining space.

Claim 14

A card connection adaptor for connecting, to a card slot compliant with a predetermined first standard, a card compliant with a second standard which is different from the first standard, the card connection adaptor comprising: a first connector compliant with the first standard; a second connector compliant with the second standard; a housing which holds the first connector and the second connector, the housing having a card insertion port which is oriented to receive a card in a card receiving direction, the card connection adaptor being inserted into the card slot in an adaptor receiving direction which is oriented generally perpendicularly to the card receiving direction, and a card retaining space for retaining therein the second-standard-compliant card inserted from the card insertion port; and an indicator that provides an indication of whether or not the second-standard-compliant card is retained in the housing on a rear face of the adaptor as seen in the adaptor insertion direction, wherein the indicator includes a card visual mechanism for allowing visual observation of the card retained in the card retaining space from the outside of the housing on the rear face of the adaptor as seen in the adaptor insertion direction, wherein the card visual mechanism includes a window extending through the rear face of the housing to the card retaining space and wherein at least a periphery of the window in the rear face of the housing is imparted with a color which is distinguishable from a color of the card.

Claim 15

A card connection adaptor for connecting, to a card slot compliant with a predetermined first standard, a card compliant with a second standard which is different from the first standard, the card connection adaptor comprising: a first connector compliant with the first standard; a second connector compliant with the second standard; a housing which holds the first connector and the second connector, the housing having a card insertion port which is oriented to receive a card in a card receiving direction, the card connection adaptor being inserted into the card slot in an adaptor receiving direction which is oriented generally perpendicularly to the card receiving direction, and a card retaining space for retaining therein the second-standard-compliant card inserted from the card insertion port; and an indicator that provides an indication of whether or not the second-standard-compliant card is retained in the housing on a rear face of the adaptor as seen in the adaptor insertion direction, wherein the indicator includes a card visual mechanism for allowing visual observation of the card retained in the card retaining space from the outside of the housing on the rear face of the adaptor as seen in the adaptor insertion direction, wherein the card visual mechanism includes a window extending through the rear face of the housing to the card retaining space and wherein at least a periphery of the window in the rear face of the housing is imparted with a color which is distinguishable from a color of the card.

Claim 16

A card connection adaptor as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the card retaining space of the housing is closed on its rear side as seen in the adaptor insertion direction.

Claim 17

A card connection adaptor as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the indication mechanism is visually perceivable from an opening of the card slot when the card connection adaptor is fitted in the card slot.