JP2025112060A - Card tray and electronic device - Google Patents

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a card tray and electronic device that can prevent damage to slots and card-shaped media. [Solution] The card tray includes a tray portion having a storage space capable of storing card-shaped media, and a handle portion provided at one end of the tray portion. The tray portion includes a frame portion that is rectangular when viewed from a first direction and is formed to surround the storage space, a support portion that supports the card-shaped media stored in the storage space from one side in the first direction, and a ride-up prevention portion that is formed at a base of the frame portion located between the storage space and the handle portion and is located on the other side of the frame portion in the first direction. [Selected Figure] Figure 4

Description

The present invention relates to a card tray and an electronic device.

Patent Document 1 discloses an electronic device in which a card tray (insert) that holds a SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) card can be inserted and removed into a slot formed in the housing.

Utility Model Registration No. 3226896

Such card trays have a frame-like portion that surrounds the space for storing card-like media such as SIM cards. When a user sets a card-like media in the card tray, the card-like media may climb onto the frame-like portion. If the card tray is inserted into the slot in this state, the card-like media may become pinched between the card tray and the slot, potentially damaging the slot or the card-like media.

The present invention was made in consideration of these circumstances and provides a card tray and electronic device that can reduce damage to the slot and card-like media.

In order to solve the above problem, a card tray according to aspect 1 of the present invention comprises a tray portion having a storage space capable of storing card-like media, and a handle portion provided at one end of the tray portion. The tray portion comprises a frame portion formed to surround the storage space and having a rectangular shape when viewed from a first direction, a support portion that supports the card-like media stored in the storage space from one side in the first direction, and a ride-up prevention portion formed on a base portion of the frame portion located between the storage space and the handle portion and located on the other side in the first direction of the frame portion.

Aspect 2 of the present invention is a card tray according to aspect 1, wherein the climbing prevention portion has a protrusion that overlaps with the storage space when viewed from the first direction.

Aspect 3 of the present invention is a card tray according to aspect 2, wherein the frame portion has a pair of side frame portions and a tip frame portion, the base portion and the tip frame portion are arranged to sandwich the storage space in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, the pair of side frame portions are arranged to sandwich the storage space in a third direction perpendicular to both the first direction and the second direction, and the ride-up prevention portion is arranged only on a portion of the base portion in the third direction.

An electronic device according to aspect 4 of the present invention comprises a card tray according to any one of aspects 1 to 3 and an electronic device main body to which the card tray is detachable.

Aspect 5 of the present invention is an electronic device according to aspect 4, wherein the electronic device main body has a housing and a slot provided within the housing into which the card tray can be inserted, and when the card tray is inserted into the slot, a gap is formed between the climbing prevention portion and the slot.

Aspect 6 of the present invention is an electronic device according to aspect 5, wherein the housing has an opening on the outer surface thereof that communicates with the slot, and a guide portion is provided inside the opening to guide the card tray, which is inserted into the housing through the opening, into the slot, and the guide portion has a relief portion that avoids interference with the climbing prevention portion when the card tray is inserted into the slot.

The above aspects of the present invention provide a card tray and electronic device that can reduce damage to the slot and card-like media.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a part of the electronic device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II in FIG. 2 is a view of the opening of the electronic device main body shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from the Y direction. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a card tray according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the card tray of FIG. 4, seen from a different direction than that of FIG. 4. FIG. 5 is a view of the card tray of FIG. 4 as seen from a first direction. 1A and 1B are diagrams showing a state in which a card tray according to an embodiment of the present invention is inserted into a slot of an electronic device body.

The card tray and electronic device of this embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings.
(electronic equipment)
The electronic device 1 according to this embodiment is a smartphone, a tablet terminal, a notebook personal computer, etc. As shown in FIG.

The electronic device main body 2 has a housing 20 and a display (not shown) provided in the housing 20 .
The housing 20 has a housing main surface 21 and a housing back surface 22 facing the opposite side to the housing main surface 21. The housing 20 is formed, for example, in a rectangular shape when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the housing main surface 21. In other words, the housing main surface 21 and the housing back surface 22 are each rectangular.

In describing the housing 20, in this embodiment, the direction in which one side 21a of the housing main surface 21 extends is referred to as the X direction. The direction perpendicular to the X direction and in which the other side 21b of the housing main surface 21 extends is referred to as the Y direction. The direction perpendicular to the X and Y directions, i.e., the thickness direction of the housing 20, is referred to as the Z direction.

The display may be a liquid crystal display panel or the like, and may be provided, for example, on the main surface 21 of the housing 20. The display displays images, videos, etc. The display may also be capable of touch input.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the housing 20 has a slot 30. The slot 30 is mounted on a circuit board 24, such as a motherboard, provided inside the housing 20. The circuit board 24 is plate-shaped and is arranged parallel to the housing main surface 21 and the housing back surface 22. A card tray 5 holding a card-like medium 100 is inserted into the slot 30. The circuit board 24 has terminals (not shown) that can be electrically connected to the card-like medium 100.

As shown in FIG. 2 , the housing 20 has a side surface (outer surface) 23. An opening 25 is formed in the side surface 23. The opening 25 has a shape that extends in the X direction so that the card tray 5 can be inserted. In this embodiment, the opening 25 is oval in shape, but the opening 25 may also be rectangular, for example. The opening 25 communicates with a slot 30 provided in the housing 20.

The slot 30 is configured so that the card tray 5 can be attached and detached through the opening 25. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the slot 30 has a cover plate 31, a first wall portion 32, a second wall portion 33, and an end wall portion 34.

The cover plate 31 has a pair of side plates 31a and a connection plate 31b. The pair of side plates 31a are spaced apart in the X direction. Each of the pair of side plates 31a extends in the Y direction. The connection plate 31b is spaced apart on one side of the circuit board 24 in the Z direction. The connection plate 31b is parallel to the circuit board 24. The connection plate 31b connects the pair of side plates 31a together.

Each of the pair of side plates 31a is formed with a locking protrusion (not shown) that restricts movement of the card tray 5 inserted into the slot 30 in the Y direction. The slot 30 is also provided with a release arm 38 for releasing the locking protrusion from engagement with the card tray 5.

The first wall portion 32 is provided on the other side in the Z direction relative to the connection plate 31b. The second wall portion 33 is provided on the circuit board 24. The second wall portion 33 is provided spaced apart on the other side in the Z direction relative to the first wall portion 32. As shown in Figure 2, the end wall portion 34 is located at the other end of the cover plate 31 in the Y direction.

As shown in FIG. 3, a guide portion 27 is provided inside the opening 25. The guide portion 27 integrally includes a first guide portion 27a, a second guide portion 27b, and an end guide portion 27c. The first guide portion 27a extends in the X direction along the periphery of one side of the opening 25 in the Z direction. The second guide portion 27b extends in the X direction along the periphery of the other side of the opening 25 in the Z direction. The end guide portion 27c extends in a C-shape along the end 25a of the opening 25 on one side in the X direction, connecting the first guide portion 27a and the second guide portion 27b.

The first guide portion 27a and the second guide portion 27b are spaced apart in the Z direction. The guide portion 27 is arranged such that the gap between the first guide portion 27a and the second guide portion 27b communicates with the gap between the first wall portion 32 and the second wall portion 33 when viewed from the X direction. Furthermore, the first guide portion 27a and the second guide portion 27b are disposed at positions spaced apart in the X direction from the end portion 25b of the opening 25 on the other side in the X direction.
The first guide portion 27a is formed with a clearance portion 29 at the center of the opening 25 in the X direction to avoid interference with a riding-up prevention portion 57, which will be described later.

(card tray)
4 to 6 show the card tray 5 that holds the card-shaped medium 100 (see FIG. 6). The card tray 5 is configured to be detachable from the slot 30 (see FIGS. 1 to 3) of the electronic device main body 2 while holding the card-shaped medium 100. Here, the card-shaped medium 100 is, for example, a SIM card. Examples of SIM cards that serve as the card-shaped medium 100 include a full-size SIM card, a mini-SIM card, a micro-SIM card, and a nano-SIM card. The illustrated card-shaped medium 100 is a nano-SIM card.
The card-shaped medium 100 is a rectangular plate and includes a storage unit (not shown) capable of storing information such as subscriber identification information. The card-shaped medium 100 has a notch 101 at one corner for positioning relative to the card tray 5.

The card tray 5 integrally comprises a tray portion 51 and a handle portion 52. The tray portion 51 has a storage space Cs capable of storing card-shaped media 100. The handle portion 52 is provided at one end of the tray portion 51.

(direction definition)
In the following description of the card tray 5, the thickness direction of the card-shaped medium 100 accommodated in the tray portion 51 is referred to as the first direction D1. Furthermore, the direction perpendicular to the first direction D1 and in which the tray portion 51 and the handle portion 52 are aligned is referred to as the second direction D2, and the direction perpendicular to the first direction D1 and the second direction D2 is referred to as the third direction D3. When the card tray 5 is attached to the electronic device main body 2, the first direction D1 coincides with the Z direction, the second direction D2 coincides with the Y direction, and the third direction D3 coincides with the X direction. When loading the card-shaped medium 100 into the card tray 5, users often place the card tray 5 on a desk or the like so that the first direction D1 is aligned vertically. Therefore, in the following description, the first direction D1 will be referred to as the vertical direction, and one side of the first direction D1 will be referred to as the downward direction, and the other side of the first direction D1 will be referred to as the upward direction.

The tray portion 51 integrally includes a frame portion 54 , a support portion 55 , and a climbing prevention portion 57 .
The frame portion 54 is formed in a rectangular shape when viewed in the first direction D1 (the up-down direction), and has a base portion 54a, a pair of side frame portions 54b, and a tip frame portion 54c.

The base 54a is provided at one end of the frame portion 54 in the second direction D2 and is connected to the handle portion 52. The base 54a extends in the third direction D3. The base 54a is located between the storage space Cs and the handle portion 52.

The pair of side frame portions 54b are spaced apart in the third direction D3. The pair of side frame portions 54b extend from both ends of the base portion 54a in the third direction D3 to the other side in the second direction D2. The pair of side frame portions 54b are arranged in the third direction D3 to sandwich the storage space Cs therebetween. The pair of side frame portions 54b are formed with engaged portions 56 that engage with locking protrusions (not shown) formed on the slots 30.

The tip frame portion 54c is provided at the other end of the frame portion 54 in the second direction D2. The tip frame portion 54c extends in the third direction D3 and connects the pair of side frame portions 54b. The base portion 54a and the tip frame portion 54c are arranged in the second direction D2 so as to sandwich the storage space Cs therebetween.

A storage space Cs capable of storing a card-like medium 100 is defined inside the base 54a, the pair of side frame portions 54b, and the tip frame portion 54c. An engagement portion 54k that engages with the notch 101 of the card-like medium 100 is formed at the connection between one end of the tip frame portion 54c in the third direction D3 and one of the side frame portions 54b. This regulates the orientation of the card-like medium 100 relative to the card tray 5.

The support portions 55 are integrally formed with each of the pair of side frame portions 54b of the frame portion 54. The support portions 55 extend in the second direction D2. The support portions 55 protrude from the frame portion 54 in the third direction D3 toward the inside of the storage space Cs. The support portions 55 have a support surface 55f facing the other side (upward) in the first direction D1. The support surface 55f of each support portion 55 supports the card-like medium 100 stored in the storage space Cs from one side (below) in the first direction D1.

As shown in FIG. 4, the ride-up prevention portion 57 is formed on the base portion 54a of the frame-shaped portion 54. The base portion 54a has an upward-facing base surface 54f. The ride-up prevention portion 57 is located above the base surface 54f. The ride-up prevention portion 57 is formed on at least a portion of the base portion 54a in the third direction D3. In this embodiment, the ride-up prevention portion 57 is formed in the center of the base portion 54a in the third direction D3. The ride-up prevention portion 57 has a protrusion 57t that protrudes toward the storage space Cs when viewed from the base 54a. The protrusion 57t overlaps with the storage space Cs when viewed from the first direction D1. The ride-up prevention portion 57 and the protrusion 57t may be formed over the entire third direction D3 of the base portion 54a. Alternatively, multiple ride-up prevention portions 57 and multiple protrusions 57t may be formed at intervals in the third direction D3.

The handle portion 52 is connected to the base 54a of the frame portion 54. The thickness of the handle portion 52 in the first direction D1 is greater than the thickness of the frame portion 54 in the first direction D1. When viewed from the second direction D2, the handle portion 52 is formed in an oval shape with its major axis extending in the third direction D3. When the card tray 5 is inserted into the slot 30, the handle portion 52 is inserted into the opening 25 of the housing 20 to close the opening 25. As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the handle portion 52 has a pin insertion hole 52h. When a pin is inserted through the pin insertion hole 52h with the card tray 5 inserted into the slot 30, the release arm 38 is activated, and the engagement between the engaged portion 56 and the locking protrusion (not shown) is released.

(inserting the card tray into the slot)
7 shows the state in which the card tray 5 with the card-like medium 100 set therein is inserted into the slot 30. At this time, the card tray 5 is in a state in which the first direction D1 coincides with the Z direction of the electronic device main body 2, the second direction D2 coincides with the Y direction, and the third direction D3 coincides with the X direction. The user mainly grasps the handle portion 52 to insert the card tray 5 into the slot 30.

When the card tray 5 is inserted into the slot 30, a guide portion 27 formed on the housing 20 guides the position of the tray portion 51 relative to the slot 30. This allows the user to insert the tray portion 51 into the appropriate position relative to the slot 30, even if the user cannot see the slot 30. At this time, the formation of a relief portion 29 on the guide portion 27 prevents the ride-up prevention portion 57 from interfering with the guide portion 27.

In Figure 7, the card-shaped medium 100 is stored in an appropriate position relative to the storage space Cs. However, when a user sets the card-shaped medium 100 in the tray section 51, there is a possibility that the card-shaped medium 100 may ride up onto the base section 54a. In conventional card trays, even in this state, the tilt of the card-shaped medium 100 is small, so the tray section 51 may be able to be inserted into the slot 30. As a result, the card-shaped medium 100 or the tray section 51 may be deformed or damaged.

In contrast, in this embodiment, a ride-up prevention portion 57 is formed on the base portion 54a. As a result, if the card-shaped medium 100 is set in the card tray 5 so that it rides up on the base portion 54a, the presence of the ride-up prevention portion 57 causes the card-shaped medium 100 to tilt upward relative to the storage space Cs. This makes it easier for the user to recognize that the card-shaped medium 100 is not set properly, compared to when the ride-up prevention portion 57 is not present. Furthermore, even if an attempt is made to insert the card tray 5 into the electronic device main body 2 in this state, the card-shaped medium 100 will interfere with the electronic device main body 2, preventing the card tray 5 from being inserted. As a result, the ride-up prevention portion 57 is effective in preventing the card-shaped medium 100 from riding up on the frame-shaped portion 54.

As described above, the card tray 5 of this embodiment includes a tray portion 51 having a storage space Cs capable of storing a card-like medium 100, and a handle portion 52 provided at one end of the tray portion 51. The tray portion 51 is formed to surround the storage space Cs and includes a rectangular frame portion 54 when viewed from the first direction D1, a support portion 55 that supports the card-like medium 100 stored in the storage space Cs from one side (lower side) in the first direction D1, and a ride-up prevention portion 57 formed on a base portion 54a of the frame portion 54 located between the storage space Cs and the handle portion 52 and located on the other side (upper side) of the frame portion 54 in the first direction D1. This configuration prevents the card tray 5 from being inserted into the slot 30 when the card-like medium 100 has climbed up onto the frame portion 54. This makes it possible to reduce damage to the slot 30 and the card-like medium 100.

The ride-up prevention portion 57 also has a protrusion 57t that overlaps with the storage space Cs when viewed from the first direction D1. This causes the card-like medium 100 to tilt more significantly with respect to the storage space Cs when the card-like medium 100 rides up the ride-up prevention portion 57. This allows the user to more reliably recognize that the card-like medium 100 is not properly set. The protrusion 57t also has the effect of making it easier to maintain the card-like medium 100 properly set in the storage space Cs.

The frame-shaped portion 54 has a pair of side frame portions 54b and a tip frame portion 54c. The base portion 54a and tip frame portion 54c are arranged to sandwich the storage space Cs between them in a second direction D2 perpendicular to the first direction D1. The pair of side frame portions 54b are arranged to sandwich the storage space Cs in a third direction D3 perpendicular to both the first direction D1 and the second direction D2. The climb-up prevention portion 57 is arranged only in a portion (the center) of the base portion 54a in the third direction D3. This makes it easier for the user to see the storage space Cs below the protrusion 57t, making it easier to properly set the card-like medium 100 in the storage space Cs.

The electronic device 1 according to this embodiment also includes the card tray 5 described above and an electronic device main body 2 to which the card tray 5 is detachable. This type of electronic device 1 can reduce damage to the slot 30 and card-like medium 100.

The electronic device main body 2 also has a housing 20 and a slot 30 provided within the housing 20 into which the card tray 5 can be inserted. When the card tray 5 is inserted into the slot 30, a gap S is formed between the climbing prevention portion 57 and the slot 30. In this case, when the card tray 5 is inserted into the slot 30, the climbing prevention portion 57 does not interfere with the slot 30. This allows the card tray 5 and slot 30 to be securely engaged.

The housing 20 also has an opening 25 on its outer surface that communicates with the slot 30, and a guide portion 27 is provided on the inside of the opening 25 to guide the card tray 5, which is inserted into the housing 20 through the opening 25, into the slot 30. The guide portion 27 may have a clearance portion 29 that avoids interference with the ride-up prevention portion 57 when the card tray 5 is inserted into the slot 30. In this case, interference between the ride-up prevention portion 57 and the guide portion 27 can be avoided when inserting the card tray 5 into the slot 30. This allows the card tray 5 to be easily inserted and removed from the slot 30.

The technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

For example, in the above embodiment, the configuration of the slot 30 has been described, but the configuration of the slot 30 is merely an example and can be changed as appropriate.
Furthermore, in the above embodiment, a SIM card is used as an example of the card-shaped medium 100, but the card-shaped medium 100 may be of other types, such as an SD card, a micro-SD card, or a nano-SD card.

In addition, the components in the above-described embodiments may be replaced with well-known components as appropriate, and the above-described embodiments and variations may be combined as appropriate, without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

1...Electronic device 2...Electronic device main body 5...Card tray 20...Housing 25...Opening 27...Guide portion 29...Relief portion 30...Slot 51...Tray portion 52...Handle portion 54...Frame-shaped portion 54a...Base portion 55...Support portion 57...Riding prevention portion 57t...Protrusion 100...Card-shaped medium Cs...Storage space D1...First direction D2...Second direction D3...Third direction S...Gap

Claims (6)

a tray section having a storage space capable of storing card-like media;
a handle portion provided at one end of the tray portion,
The tray portion is
a frame-shaped portion that is formed to surround the accommodation space and has a rectangular shape when viewed from a first direction;
a support portion that supports the card-like medium accommodated in the accommodation space from one side in the first direction;
A card tray comprising: a riding prevention portion formed on a base portion of the frame-shaped portion located between the storage space and the handle portion, and located on the other side of the frame-shaped portion in the first direction. The card tray according to claim 1, wherein the ride-up prevention portion has a protrusion that overlaps with the storage space when viewed from the first direction. The frame-shaped portion has a pair of side frame portions and a tip frame portion,
the base portion and the tip frame portion are arranged to sandwich the accommodation space in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction,
the pair of side frame portions are arranged to sandwich the storage space in a third direction perpendicular to both the first direction and the second direction,
The card tray according to claim 2 , wherein the ride-up prevention portion is disposed on only a portion of the base portion in the third direction. A card tray according to any one of claims 1 to 3;
an electronic device main body to which the card tray is detachable; The electronic device main body includes:
The housing and
a slot provided in the housing into which the card tray can be inserted;
The electronic device according to claim 4 , wherein a gap is formed between the climbing prevention portion and the slot when the card tray is inserted into the slot. the housing has an opening in an outer surface thereof that communicates with the slot;
a guide portion is provided inside the opening to guide the card tray, which is inserted into the housing through the opening, into the slot;
The electronic device according to claim 5 , wherein the guide portion has a clearance portion that avoids interference with the ride-up prevention portion when the card tray is inserted into the slot.