Electronic device having removable tray

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022123775-A1
Application number	US-202117174280-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 11, 2021
Priority date	Oct 20, 2020
Publication date	Apr 21, 2022
Grant date	—

Abstract

A portable electronic device includes a housing member defining at least a portion of a side surface of the portable electronic device, a subscriber identity module (SIM) tray extending through a hole defined through the housing member and movable between a seated position and an at least partially ejected position, a tray ejector arm configured to at least partially eject the SIM tray from the portable electronic device in response to a user actuation, and a biasing member configured to bias the tray ejector arm against the SIM tray when the SIM tray is in the seated position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A portable electronic device comprising:
a housing member defining at least a portion of a side surface of the portable electronic device; a subscriber identity module (SIM) tray extending through a hole defined through the housing member and movable between a seated position and an at least partially ejected position; a tray ejector arm configured to at least partially eject the SIM tray from the portable electronic device in response to a user actuation; and a biasing member configured to bias the tray ejector arm against the SIM tray when the SIM tray is in the seated position.

2 . The portable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein:
the portable electronic device further includes a SIM tray retaining mechanism configured to retain the SIM tray in the seated position; the biasing member imparts a biasing force on the SIM tray when the SIM tray is in the seated position; and the SIM tray retaining mechanism imparts a retention force on the SIM tray when the SIM tray is in the seated position, the retention force opposing the biasing force to retain the SIM tray in the seated position.

3 . The portable electronic device of claim 2 , wherein the SIM tray retaining mechanism comprises a spring member in contact with the SIM tray.

4 . The portable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein:
the portion of the side surface of the portable electronic device is a first portion of the side surface of the portable electronic device; and the SIM tray, when in the seated position, defines a second portion of the side surface of the portable electronic device.

5 . The portable electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising:
an ejector plug configured to receive an actuation force from an ejector tool; and a push rod configured to receive the actuation force from the ejector plug and impart the actuation force to the tray ejector arm.

6 . The portable electronic device of claim 5 , wherein the biasing member is coupled to the ejector plug and imparts a biasing force on the tray ejector arm via the push rod.

7 . The portable electronic device of claim 6 , wherein the biasing member is a conical spring.

8 . A portable electronic device comprising:
a display; a housing surrounding the display and defining a hole; a subscriber identity module (SIM) tray positioned in the hole; a SIM tray retaining mechanism configured to retain the SIM tray in a seated position; a SIM tray ejection mechanism configured to displace the SIM tray in an outward direction, the SIM tray ejection mechanism comprising:
a push rod configured to receive an actuation force;
a tray ejector arm configured to displace the SIM tray in response to the actuation force being imparted on the push rod; and
a biasing member configured to bias the tray ejector arm against the SIM tray when the SIM tray is in the seated position.

9 . The portable electronic device of claim 8 , wherein the tray ejector arm is configured to pivot about a pivot axis defined by a pivot member and defines:
a first portion extending from the pivot member along a first direction; and a second portion extending from the pivot member along a second direction different than the first direction.

10 . The portable electronic device of claim 9 , wherein:
the push rod transfers the actuation force to the first portion of the tray ejector arm; and the second portion of the tray ejector arm contacts the SIM tray to displace the SIM tray in response to the actuation force being imparted on the push rod.

11 . The portable electronic device of claim 9 , wherein:
the biasing member is a first biasing member configured to impart a first biasing force on the tray ejector arm, the first biasing force acting in a first direction; and the portable electronic device further includes a second biasing member configured to impart a second biasing force on the tray ejector arm, the second biasing force acting in a second direction different than the first direction.

12 . The portable electronic device of claim 11 , wherein the second direction is parallel to the pivot axis.

13 . The portable electronic device of claim 12 , wherein:
the first biasing member is a coil spring; and the second biasing member is a beam spring.

14 . The portable electronic device of claim 8 , wherein the biasing member is an elastomer member.

15 . The portable electronic device of claim 8 , wherein:
the hole is a first hole; and the portable electronic device further comprises an ejector plug positioned at least partially in a second hole defined in the housing, the ejector plug configured to contact the push rod to impart the actuation force to the push rod.

16 . The portable electronic device of claim 15 , wherein the biasing member is a conical spring retained to the ejector plug.

17 . A subscriber identity module (SIM) tray assembly for an electronic device, comprising:
a housing; a tray configured to receive a SIM card; a tray ejector arm configured to at least partially eject the tray from the housing; a push rod configured to, in response to an application of an actuation force to an end of the push rod, apply the actuation force to the tray ejector arm; and a biasing member configured to bias the push rod against the tray ejector arm, thereby biasing the tray ejector arm against the tray.

18 . The SIM tray assembly of claim 17 , wherein:
the actuation force moves the push rod along a first direction; and the tray ejector arm is configured to pivot about a pivot axis to at least partially eject the tray along a second direction opposite the first direction.

19 . The SIM tray assembly of claim 17 , wherein:
the biasing member is a first biasing member that imparts a first biasing force on the tray ejector arm, the first biasing force acting along a first direction; and the SIM tray assembly further comprises a second biasing member configured to impart a second biasing force on the tray ejector arm, the second biasing force acting along a second direction different than the first direction.

20 . The SIM tray assembly of claim 19 , wherein:
the SIM tray assembly further comprises a cover member extending over the tray; and the second biasing member is a beam spring integrally formed with the cover member.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Cohen Sawyer I
• Shum Allegra
• Lyons Christopher B
• Kamei Ibuki
• Miller Matthew W

Classifications

• H04B1/3818 Primary

  Arrangements for facilitating insertion or removal of identification devices · CPC title

• G06K13/0831

  the ejection arrangement comprising a slide, carriage or drawer · CPC title

• G06K13/0812

  the ejection arrangement utilizing a push bar for manipulation by hand in order to eject the inserted card · CPC title

• H04B1/3816 Primary

  Mechanical arrangements for accommodating identification devices, e.g. cards or chips; with connectors for programming identification devices · CPC title