Connector device

Abstract

A connector device includes a housing having a slide plate with a handle. By the manual operation of the handle, the slide plate is moved by a disengageable link mechanism along the length of the housing. When a data storage medium is fully inserted in the connector device and the handle is in a first position, the link mechanism is disengaged. The link mechanism becomes engaged, and thereby operable to move the slide plate, only after the handle is moved from the first position to an extended position. In this manner, inadvertent ejection of the data storage medium is prevented.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A connector device for connecting to a data storage medium comprising: 
       a housing having an opening at a first end and a space for receiving the data storage medium, the space extends from the opening of the housing to a second end of the housing;  
       a plurality of contacts positioned in the second end of the housing for establishing an electrical interconnection to the data storage medium in the space;  
       a first movable member movable along the length of the housing and capable of being set to first, second and third extension positions in that order in a direction away from the housing so that, in the first position, the first movable member extends to a zero or slight extent from the first end of the housing;  
       a transmitting member connected at one end to the first movable member such that, when the first movable member is situated between the first position and the second position, a movement of the first movable member toward the first position is transmitted to the other end of the transmitting member as a normal-direction force directed toward the second end of the housing, such that, when the first movable member is situated between the second position and the third position, the first movable member is latched, and that, when the first movable member is situated in the third position, a movement of the first movable member toward the first position is transmitted to the other end of the transmitting member as a reverse-direction force directed toward the first end of the housing; and  
       a second movable member connected to the other end of the transmitting member and, together with the data storage medium, movable along the length of the housing in unison such that, when the normal-direction force is received from the transmitting member with the movement of the first movable member to the second end of the housing, the second movable member is moved toward the second end of the housing to allow the data storage medium to be connected to the contacts and, when the reverse-direction force is received from the transmitting member, the second movable member is moved to the first end of the housing to allow the data storage medium to be disconnected from the contacts.  
     
     
       2. A connector device according to claim  1 , wherein the space is divided into a plurality of sub-spaces in the height of the housing, the sub-space comprising at least two first sub-spaces each holding one memory card therein and at least one second sub-space each holding one hard disc drive package. 
     
     
       3. A connector device according to claim  2 , wherein the contacts are replaced by a plurality of independent contacts each provided in a one-to-one correspondence relative to each of the first and second sub-spaces. 
     
     
       4. A connector device according to claim  2 , wherein the first movable member comprises a plurality of the first movable members each independently operable in a one-to-one correspondence relative to each of the first and second sub-spaces. 
     
     
       5. A connector device according to claim  2 , wherein the second movable member comprises a plurality of the second movable members independently operable in a one-to-one correspondence relative to each of the first and second sub-spaces. 
     
     
       6. A connector device for connecting a data storage medium to an electronic apparatus, comprising: 
       a pair of opposing side walls spaced at an interval substantially equal to the width of the data storage medium;  
       a connector body provided at one end of said opposing side walls and having at least one group of contact pins disposed therein for connecting to the data storage medium; and  
       a disengageable release mechanism for ejecting the data storage medium from the connector device upon manual operation of an ejection handle, said release mechanism being disengaged when a data storage medium is fully inserted in the connector device and the ejection handle is in a first position, said release mechanism becoming engaged and operable to eject the data storage device only after the ejection handle is manually moved from the first position to an extended position, whereby inadvertent ejection of the data storage medium is avoided.  
     
     
       7. The connector device of claim  6  further comprising a latch mechanism for releasably latching the ejection handle in said first position. 
     
     
       8. The connector device of claim  6  wherein the ejection handle is slidably mounted on one of the side walls of the connector device and is operative to slide lengthwise of the side wall toward and away from the connector body, and wherein the release mechanism further comprises: 
       a slide member movably mounted on said connector device and operable to slide toward and away from said connector body, said slide member having at least one engaging hook adapted to engage with a forward end face of the data storage medium when the data storage medium is connected to said at least one group of contact pins; and  
       a disengageable link mechanism coupled between the ejection handle and the slide member for translating movement of the ejection handle into movement of the slide member when the link mechanism is in an engaged state, said link mechanism being disengaged when a data storage medium is fully inserted in the connector device and the ejection handle is in a first position, said link mechanism becoming engaged only after the ejection handle is manually moved from the first position to an extended position.  
     
     
       9. The connector device of claim  8  wherein said link mechanism comprises: 
       a first swingable lever rotatably mounted on the connector device and having one end coupled to the ejection handle;  
       a second swingable lever rotatably mounted on the first swingable lever, a free end of said second swingable lever having a recess formed therein; and  
       a third swingable lever rotatably mounted on the connector device, one end of the third swingable lever being connected to the slide member and the other end of the third swingable lever having a projection that engages with the recess of the second swingable lever when the ejection handle reaches said extended position, the first, second and third swingable levers thereafter moving in unison and thereby translating movement of the ejection handle into movement of the slide member.  
     
     
       10. The connector device of claim  7  wherein the latch mechanism includes a spring means that, upon release of the ejection handle from the latch mechanism, pushes the ejection handle outward from the connector device to a second position to facilitate gripping of the ejection handle by an operator. 
     
     
       11. The connector device as recited in claim  10  wherein the end of the second swingable lever opposite the free end includes a spring means that engages the first swingable lever to urge the free end of the second swingable lever toward the third swingable lever to facilitate engagement of said recess with said projection. 
     
     
       12. A connector device for connecting a data storage medium to an electronic apparatus, comprising: 
       a pair of opposing side walls spaced at an interval substantially equal to the width of the data storage medium;  
       a connector body provided at one end of said opposing side walls and having at least one group of contact pins disposed therein for connecting to the data storage medium;  
       a slide member movably mounted on said connector device and operable to slide toward and away from said connector body, said slide member having at least one engaging hook adapted to engage with a forward end face of the data storage medium when the data storage medium is connected to said at least one group of contact pins;  
       an ejection handle slidably mounted on one of the side walls and being operative to slide lengthwise of the side wall toward and away from the connector body; and  
       a disengageable link mechanism coupled between the ejection handle and the slide member for translating movement of the ejection handle into movement of the slide member when said link mechanism is in an engaged state, said link mechanism being disengaged when a data storage medium is fully inserted in the connector device and the ejection handle is in a first position, said link mechanism becoming engaged only after the ejection handle is manually moved from the first position to an extended position, whereby inadvertent ejection of the data storage medium is avoided.  
     
     
       13. The connector device of claim  12  further comprising a latch mechanism for releasably latching the ejection handle in said first position. 
     
     
       14. The connector device of claim  13  wherein the latch mechanism includes a spring means that, upon release of the ejection handle from the latch mechanism, pushes the ejection handle outward from the connector device to a second position to facilitate gripping of the ejection handle by an operator. 
     
     
       15. The connector device of claim  12  wherein said link mechanism comprises: 
       a first swingable lever rotatably mounted on the connector device and having one end coupled to the ejection handle;  
       a second swingable lever rotatably mounted on the first swingable lever, a free end of said second swingable lever having a recess formed therein; and  
       a third swingable lever rotatably mounted on the connector device, one end of the third swingable lever being connected to the slide member and the other end of the third swingable lever having a projection that engages with the recess of the second swingable lever when the ejection handle reaches said extended position, the first, second and third swingable levers thereafter moving in unison and thereby translating movement of the ejection handle into movement of the slide member.  
     
     
       16. The connector device as recited in claim  15  wherein the end of the second swingable lever opposite the free end thereof includes a spring means that engages the first swingable lever to urge the free end of the second swingable lever toward the third swingable lever to facilitate engagement of said recess with said projection. 
     
     
       17. A connector device for connecting a data storage medium to an electronic apparatus, comprising: 
       
         a pair of opposing side walls spaced at an interval substantially equal to the width of the data storage medium;  
       
       
         a connector body provided at one end of said opposing side walls and having at least one group of contact pins disposed therein for connecting to the data storage medium; and  
       
       
         a disengageable release mechanism for ejecting the data storage medium from the connector device upon operation of an ejection handle, said release mechanism being disengaged when a data storage medium is fully inserted in the connector device and the ejection handle is in a first position, said release mechanism becoming engaged and operable to eject the data storage device after the ejection handle is moved from the first position to an extended position, whereby inadvertent ejection of the data storage medium is avoided.  
       
     
     
       18. The connector device of claim  17  wherein the ejection handle is slightly mounted on one of the side walls of the connector device and is operative to slide lengthwise of the side wall toward and away from the connector body, and wherein the release mechanism further comprises: 
       
         a slide member movably mounted on said connector device and operable to slide toward and away from said connector body, said slide member having at least one engaging hook adapted to engage with a forward end face of the data storage medium when the data storage medium is connected to said at least one group of contact pins; and  
       
       
         a disengageable link mechanism coupled between the ejection handle and the slide member for translating movement of the ejection handle into movement of the slide member when the link mechanism is in an engaged state, said link mechanism being disengaged when a data storage medium is fully inserted in the connector device and the ejection handle is in a first position, said link mechanism becoming engaged after the ejection handle is moved from the first position to an extended position.  
       
     
     
       19. The connector device of claim  18  wherein said link mechanism comprises: 
       
         a first swingable lever rotatably mounted on the connector device and having one end coupled to the ejection handle;  
       
       
         a second swingable lever rotatably mounted on the first swingable lever, a free end of said second swingable lever having a recess formed therein; and  
       
       
         a third swingable lever rotatably mounted on the connector device, one end of the third swingable lever being connected to the slide member and the other end of the third swingable lever having a projection that engages with the recess of the second swingable lever when the ejection handle reaches said extended position, the first, second and third swingable levers thereafter moving in unison and thereby translating movement of the ejection handle into movement of the slide member.  
       
     
     
       20. The connector device of claim  17  further comprising a latch mechanism for releasably latching the ejection handle in said first position.  
     
     
       21. The connector device of claim  20  wherein the latch mechanism includes a spring means that, upon release of the ejection handle from the latch mechanism, pushes the ejection handle outward from the connector device to a second position to facilitate gripping of the ejection handle by an operator.  
     
     
       22. The connector device as recited in claim  21  wherein the end of the second swingable lever opposite the free end includes a spring means that engages the first swingable lever to urge the free end of the second swingable lever toward the third swingable lever to facilitate engagement of said recess with said projection.  
     
     
       23. A connector device for connecting a data storage medium to an electronic apparatus, comprising: 
       
         a pair of opposing side walls spaced at an interval substantially equal to the width of the data storage medium;  
       
       
         a connector body provided at one end of said opposing side walls and having at least one group of contact pins disposed therein for connecting to the data storage medium;  
       
       
         a slide member movably mounted to said connector device and operable to slide toward and away from said connector body, said slide member having at least one engaging hook adapted to engage with a forward end face of the data storage medium when the data storage medium is connected to said at least one group of contact pins;  
       
       
         an ejection handle slidably mounted on one of the side walls and being operative to slide lengthwise of the side wall toward and away from the connector body; and  
       
       
         a disengageable link mechanism coupled between the ejection handle and the slide member for translating movement of the ejection handle into movement of the slide member when said link mechanism is in an engaged state, said link mechanism being disengaged when a data storage medium is fully inserted in the connector device and the ejection handle is in a first position, said link mechanism becoming engaged after the ejection handle is moved from the first position to an extended position, whereby inadvertent ejection of the data storage medium is avoided.  
       
     
     
       24. The connector device of claim  23  further comprising a latch mechanism for releasably latching the ejection handle in said first position.  
     
     
       25. The connector device of claim  24  wherein the latch mechanism includes a spring means that, upon release of the ejection handle from the latch mechanism, pushes the ejection handle outward from the connector device to a second position to facilitate gripping of the ejection handle by an operator.  
     
     
       26. The connector device of claim  23  wherein said link mechanism comprises: 
       
         a first swingable lever rotatably mounted on the connector device and having one end coupled to the ejection handle;  
       
       
         a second swingable lever rotatably mounted on the first swingable lever, a free end of said second swingable lever having a recess formed therein; and  
       
       
         a third swingable lever rotatably mounted on the connector device, one end of the third swingable lever being connected to the slide member and the other end of the third swingable lever having a projection that engages with the recess of the second swingable lever when the ejection handle reaches said extended position, the first, second and third swingable levers thereafter moving in unison and thereby translating movement of the ejection handle into movement of the slide member.  
       
     
     
       27. The connector device as recited in claim  26  wherein the end of the second swingable lever opposite the free end thereof includes a spring means that engages the first swingable lever to urge the free end of the second swingable lever toward the third swingable lever to facilitate engagement of said recess with said projection.