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US006383027B2
(12) United States Patent ao) Patent No.: us 6,383,027 B2
Cabane et al. (45) Date of Patent: May 7,2002
(54) MICROCIRCUIT CARD CONNECTOR AND PROCESS FOR INSTALLING THE CARD IN SUCH CONNECTOR
(75) Inventors: Francis Cabane, Dole; Olivier Cailler;
Gabriel Camacho, both ol Pontarlier, all of (FR)
(73) Assignee: Framatome Connectors International,
Courbevoie (FR)
( * ) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this patent is extended or adjusted under 35 U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
(21) Appl. No.: 09/746,471
(22) Filed: Dec. 21, 2000
(30) Foreign Application Priority Data
Dec. 22, 1999 (FR) 99 16218
(51) Int. CI.7 H01R 24/00; H01R 13/62;
H01R 13/15
(52) U.S. CI 439/630; 439/331; 439/260
(58) Field of Search 439/630, 60, 331,
439/260, 326
(56) References Cited
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
3,701,071 A 10/1972 Landman 339/4
5,257,414 A 10/1993 Trahan et al 455/90
5,320,552 A 6/1994 Reichardt et al 439/331
5,813,878 A * 9/1998 Kuwata et al 439/326
5,944,549 A 8/1999 Po et al 439/326
5,984,707 A * 11/1999 Kuwata 439/326
6,024,593 A * 2/2000 Hyland 439/326
6,095,868 A * 8/2000 Hyland et al 439/630
6,174,186 Bl * 1/2001 Hashiguchi et al 439/260
6,174,188 Bl * 1/2001 Martucci 439/326
6,193,557 Bl * 2/2001 Luvini et al 439/630
6,210,193 Bl * 4/2001 Ito et al 439/326
6,220,882 Bl * 4/2001 Simmel et al 439/326
6,238,226 Bl * 5/2001 Schempp et al 439/260
FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
EP 0515897 Bl 12/1992
EP 0520080 Al 12/1992
* cited by examiner
Primary Examiner—P. Austin Bradley
Assistant Examiner—Edwin A. Leon
(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Perman & Green, LLP
(57) ABSTRACT
A connector (1) for receiving a microcircuit card, the connector having a resilient arm (9) on a first border (10) of the seat (2) of the connector. The arm is curved inwardly towards the seat to exert pressure on an edge of the card in the direction of a second border (11) of the seat, opposite the first border. It allows to limit a longitudinal mobility of the card in its seat. Further, the connector also has releases (14, 15, 19, 31, 36) on an upper portion of its housing to cover an upper portion of the card, in order to prevent a vertical mobility of the seated card.
11 Claims, 3 Drawing Sheets
