Apparatus for securing memory modules and/or subscriber identity module in an electronic device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9106310-B2
Application number	US-201213621855-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 18, 2012
Priority date	Sep 18, 2012
Publication date	Aug 11, 2015
Grant date	Aug 11, 2015

Abstract

An apparatus for securing a memory module or SIM within an electronic device includes an external control (such as a volume control, camera button, or power button) that hides the memory module and/or SIM. When attached to the electronic device, the external control is disposed at the entrance of a cavity in which the memory module and/or SIM is located. The external control may be attached to a tray that holds one or more SIM cards and/or SD cards.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for securing a SIM or memory module within an electronic device, the electronic device having a cavity that is accessible from a surface of the electronic device, the apparatus comprising:
an external control that controls an internal switch that controls an electronic a function of the electronic device, wherein the external control is attachable to, and removable from, the electronic device at the entrance of the cavity;
wherein the external control is part of, and hides a holding tray that holds a SIM or memory module disposed within the cavity.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the holding tray is attached to the external control, and wherein the holding tray extends into the cavity when the external control is attached to the electronic device.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the SIM is a SIM card, the memory module is an SD card, and the holding tray holds one or more of the SIM card and the SD card.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the function controlled by the external control is selected from a group consisting of volume, camera functionality, and power.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the external control is removable by hand from the electronic device.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the external control is removable from the electronic device using a tool.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the external control includes at least one of a rocker control, a slider, and a push button.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the external control is a stand-alone structure that is attachable to, and removable from, the electronic device at the entrance of the cavity.

9. An assembly comprising:
a holding tray;
an electronic device having at least one switch and tray-receiving opening for receiving said holding tray;
said holding tray having at least one opening for receiving a SIM or memory module;
said holding tray having an external control that is part of, and hides the holding tray, the external control operatively associated with said switch for controlling a function of said electronic device; and
said holding tray being moveable from an open position extending outward from said electronic device for access to said memory module or SIM to a closed position disposed in said tray-receiving opening in an interior of said electronic device for substantially preventing access to said memory module or SIM.

10. The assembly of claim 9 , wherein said external control regulates the volume of the electronic device.

11. The assembly of claim 9 , wherein said external control activates a video function of the electronic device.

12. The assembly of claim 9 , wherein said external control turns the electronic device on or off.

13. The assembly of claim 9 , wherein said external control is substantially prevented from being adjusted and controlling electronic device in the open position of said tray.

14. The assembly of claim 9 wherein:
said external control comprises a switch actuator with a tactile contact; and
said external control has a manually graspable portion for pulling said external control outwardly from said electronic device.

15. The assembly of claim 9 , wherein said tray-receiving opening is selected from the group consisting of: a slot, notch, fingernail notch, hole and combinations of any of the preceding.

16. The assembly of claim 9 , wherein:
the memory module is an SD card, and the SIM is a SIM card, and said tray comprises a card-supporting surface for supporting at least one of said SD card or SIM card, said card-supporting surface being positioned in proximity to said card-receiving opening.

17. The assembly of claim 9 , wherein said external control is selected from the group consisting of:
volume key, volume button, volume up button, volume down button, rocker arm, volume dial, volume knob, power on-off button, camera button, and combinations of any of the preceding; and
said switch is selected from the group consisting of: switch, tactile switch, surface mounted tactile (SMT) switch, modular switch, rocker switch, colored switch, and combinations of any of the preceding.

18. A holding tray assembly, comprising:
a holding tray;
an electronic device comprising, at least one external control, an electronic visual display for displaying images, a chassis comprising a housing providing a frame positioned about and securing said electronic visual display, and a tray-receiving opening in said housing for receiving said holding tray;
said electronic visual display comprising a user interface;
said housing having a front comprising a generally rectangular frame with a front surface and having a back with a back surface;
said holding tray having at least one card-receiving opening for receiving a data card and a card-supporting surface position about said card-receiving opening for supporting said data card;
wherein said external control is integrated with the holding tray so as to be part of, and hide, the holding tray and is operatively connected to an internal switch for controlling an electronic function of said electronic device;
said holding tray being moveable from an open position extending outwardly from said electronic device for access to said data card to a closed position located in said tray-receiving opening in an interior of said electronic device for substantially preventing access to said data card.

19. The holding tray assembly of claim 18 wherein
said external control provides an access door for accessing said data card;
said external control has inwardly extending plugs providing contacts;
said electronic device has a pair of longitudinally spaced receptacles operatively connected to a volume switch, said receptacles providing sockets for receiving said contacts of said external control when said tray is in the closed position;
said external control has a manually graspable portion for pulling said external control outwardly from said electronic device, and said manually graspable portion selected from the group consisting of: a pull tab, tab, lip, tongue, finger-nail grippable portion, ledge, indent, and combinations of any of the preceding; and
said function controlled by the external control is selected from a group consisting of: volume, camera, and power.

20. The holding tray assembly of claim 18 wherein
said external control is selected from the group consisting of: a switch actuator with a tactile contact, volume key, volume button, volume up button, volume down button, rocker arm, volume dial, volume knob, colored external control, power button, camera button, and combinations of any of the preceding; and
said switch is selected from the group consisting of: switch, tactile switch, surface mounted tactile (SMT) switch, modular switch, rocker switch, colored switch, and combinations of any of the preceding.

21. The holding tray assembly of claim 18 wherein:
said tray-receiving opening is selected from the group consisting of: a slot, notch, fingernail notch, hole, recessed opening, cavity, and combinations of any of the preceding;
said data-card receiving opening is selected from the group consisting of: cavity, a rectangular-card-receiving opening, a cutout, a cutaway, an undercut, a stepped opening, hole, pad, pocket and combinations of any of the preceding;
said holding tray is selected from the group consisting of a generally rectangular tray, a removable tray, a slidable tray, and combinations of the preceding; and
said data card is selected from

Assignees

• Motorola Mobility Llc
• Google Technology Holdings LLC

Inventors

• Dondzik Daniel P
• Fordham Paul L

Classifications

• H04B1/3816 Primary

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

• H04B1/3888 Primary

  Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers · CPC title