Ikemoto, Shinichi;

IC card connector

Each contact 40 comprises an anchoring portion 41, a connect portion 43, and a V-shaped arm portion 44, which further includes first and second arm portions 46 and 47 extending from a pivot portion 45. The pivot portion 45 of each contact engages with the connector housing 32d and its movement downward is restricted. A contact portion 48 which is provided at the end of the first arm portion is positioned below the card receiving compartment 13 of the connector while a push portion 47a which is provided at the end of the second arm portion is positioned in the card receiving compartment 13. When an IC card 2 is inserted into the card receiving room 13, the tip 2a of the IC card hits and lowers the push portions 47a of the contacts, thereby rocking the V-shaped arm portion 44 of each contact around the pivot portion 45. As a result, the contact portions 48 of the contacts are lifted and brought into contact with the flat contacts of the IC card 2. With this construction, the distance which the flat contacts of the IC card travel sliding on the contact portions of the contacts of the connector is minimized to reduce the wear of the contacts so as to prevent occurrence of contact failure.

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What is claimed is:

1. An IC card connector comprising:

a plate-like connector housing having a card receiving compartment, into which an IC card is inserted through a card insertion slot provided at a front end of said connector housing, and

a plurality of contacts, which are incorporated in said connector housing and are brought into contact with flat contacts provided on a lower surface of said IC card for information interchange;

wherein:

each of said contacts comprises an anchoring portion, a connect portion, and a V-shaped arm portion, said anchoring portion being fixed in said connector housing at a position below said card receiving compartment, said connect portion being continuous from said anchoring portion, said V-shaped arm portion being elastically connected to said connect portion and including a first arm portion which extends obliquely forward and upward from a pivot portion located centrally in said V-shaped arm portion and a second arm portion which extends obliquely rearward and upward from said pivot portion;

each of said contacts is mounted in said connector housing in such a way that said connector housing engages with said pivot portion of said V-shaped arm portion so as to restrict downward movement of said pivot portion, a contact portion which is provided at an end of said first arm portion is positioned below said card receiving compartment, and a push portion which is provided at an end of said second arm portion is positioned in said card receiving compartment; and

when said IC card is inserted through said card insertion slot, a tip of said IC card hits and pushes said push portions of said contacts downward, thereby rocking said V-shaped arm portions of said contacts around said pivot portions such that said contact portions of said contacts are lifted upward and brought into contact with said flat contacts of said IC card.

2. The IC card connector as set forth in claim 1, wherein said connect portion of each of said contacts extends from said anchoring portion obliquely forward and upward continuously to said contact portion.

3. The IC card connector as set forth in claim 1, wherein said connect portion of each of said contacts first extends from said anchoring portion rearward and then makes a U turn and extends obliquely forward and upward continuously to said contact portion.

4. The IC card connector as set forth in claim 1, wherein said contacts further comprise a plurality of first contacts and a plurality of second contacts, said connect portion of each of said first contacts extending from said anchoring portion obliquely forward and upward continuously to said contact portion, said connect portion of each of said second contacts extending from said anchoring portion rearward and then making a U turn and then extending obliquely forward and upward continuously to said contact portion; and

when said anchoring portion and said contact portion of each second contact are placed in front of said anchoring portion and said contact portion of a corresponding first contact, because said first arm portion of each second contact is bent laterally, said second arm portions of said first contacts and said second arm portions of said second contacts are positioned laterally interchangeably in parallel with each other in said connector housing.

5. The IC card connector as set forth in any of the above claims, claim 1 through 4, wherein said contact portions come into contact with said flat contacts of said IC card just before said IC card is completely inserted in said card receiving compartment.

6. The IC card connector as set forth in any of the above claims, claim 1 through 4, wherein when said IC card is set in said card receiving compartment, said tip of said IC card is sandwiched between said push portions of said contacts and said connector housing.

7. The IC card connector as set forth in claim 5, wherein when said IC card is set in said card receiving compartment, said tip of said IC card is sandwiched between said push portions of said contacts and said connector housing.