Plastic cased IC card adapter assembly

United States Patent [w]

Feldman et al.

US005846092A [ii] Patent Number: [45] Date of Patent:

5,846,092 Dec. 8, 1998

[54] PLASTIC CASED IC CARD ADAPTER ASSEMBLY

[75] Inventors: Steven Feldman, Madison; Michael Bashkin, Solon, both of Ohio

[73] Assignee: Minnesota Mining and

Manufacturing Company, St. Paul,
Minn.

[21] Appl. No.: 906,325
[22] Filed: Aug. 5, 1997

[51] Int. CI.6 H01R 9/09

[52] U.S. CI 439/76.1; 361/737; 439/946

[58] Field of Search 361/737; 439/76.1,

439/946

[56] References Cited

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS

4,531,176 7/1985 Beecher, II 361/424

5,017.767 5/1991 Miziino 235/492

5,313.364 5/1994 Omori et al 361/737

5,339,222 8/1994 Simmons et al 361/818

5,414,253 5/1995 Baudouin et al 235/492

5,430,618 7/1995 Huang 361/818

5,510,959 4/1996 Derstine et al 361/816

5,541,448 7/1996 Carpenter 257/679

5.546.278 8/1996 Bethurum 361/737

5,547.397 8/1996 Hirai 439/607

5,548,483 8/1996 Feldman 361/737

5,548,485 8/1996 Bethurum et al 361/737

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.

28 Claims, 7 Drawing Sheets