Electronic device with structure for inserting card type external device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9389639-B2
Application number	US-201414194522-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 28, 2014
Priority date	Feb 28, 2013
Publication date	Jul 12, 2016
Grant date	Jul 12, 2016

Abstract

An electronic device includes a structure for inserting a card-type external device. The electronic device includes a case frame, a slot, a first unit, a second unit, and an external device. The slot is formed in the case frame and has a certain size. The first unit is disposed at a location corresponding to the slot inside the electronic device. The second unit corresponds to the slot inside the electronic device and is installed around the first unit. The external device is detachably mounted in the first unit through the slot.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic device comprising:
a case frame;
a slot formed in the case frame;
a first unit disposed at a location corresponding to the slot inside the electronic device;
a second unit corresponding to the slot inside the electronic device and installed around the first unit, wherein the second unit comprises a switching unit operated by a key button, and wherein a portion or all of the key button is installed to be detachable from the slot of the electronic device, such that the key button is usable as a cover and key button for the slot; and
an external device detachably mounted in the first unit through the slot,
wherein the key button comprises:
a body;
at least one pressuring protrusion that protrudes from the body to the slot to pressurize the switching unit; and
at least one hook protrusion that protrudes from the body and prevents the key button from being separated from the slot by hooking on the inner side of the slot when the key button is mounted in the slot.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the body and the pressurizing protrusion is insert-molded with a flexible material and the exterior of the key button is formed of a substantially rigid material.

3. The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein the flexible material comprises at least one of: rubber, silicone, and urethane.

4. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the body further comprises a hook groove configured to be engaged by a user to open the key button from the slot of the electronic device.

5. The electronic device of claim 4 , wherein the hook groove is formed to have a first depth along a longitudinal direction of the body.

6. The electronic device of claim 4 , wherein the hook groove is a groove that is formed to have a first depth in at least a portion of the body and allow a nail or a tool to be hooked in the groove.

7. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the body is insert-molded or assembled with a more flexible material than a surrounding material.

8. The electronic device of claim 7 , wherein the flexible material comprises at least one of: rubber, silicone, and urethane.

9. The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising a separation protrusion configured to protrude from the body along a longitudinal direction of the body.

10. The electronic device of claim 9 , wherein the separation protrusion is insert-molded and assembled with a more flexible material than the body.

11. The electronic device of claim 10 , wherein the flexible material comprises at least one of: rubber, silicone, and urethane.

12. The electronic device of claim 10 , wherein the electronic device comprises a mobile terminal.

13. An electronic device comprising:
a case frame;
a slot formed in the case frame;
a socket disposed at a location inside the electronic device and aligned with the slot, the socket is adapted to receive a card-type external device through the slot;
a switching unit disposed around the socket and aligned with the slot;
the card-type external device detachably mounted in the socket through the slot; and
a key button disposed in the slot to partially enclose the socket and configured to actuate the switching unit by pressurization,
wherein the key button comprises:
a body;

at least one pressuring protrusion that protrudes from the body to the slot to pressurize the switching unit; and
at least one hook protrusion that protrudes from the body and prevents the key button from being separated from the slot by hooking on the inner side of the slot when the key button is mounted in the slot.

14. The electronic device of claim 13 , wherein the body and the pressurizing protrusion is insert-molded with a flexible material and the exterior of the key button is formed of a substantially rigid material.

15. The electronic device of claim 14 , wherein the flexible material comprises at least one of: rubber, silicone, and urethane.

16. The electronic device of claim 13 , wherein the body further comprises a hook groove configured to be engaged by a user to open the key button from the slot of the electronic device.

17. The electronic device of claim 16 , wherein the hook groove is formed to have a first depth along a longitudinal direction of the body.

18. The electronic device of claim 16 , wherein the hook groove is a groove that is formed to have a first depth in at least a portion of the body and allow a nail or a tool to be hooked in the groove.

19. The electronic device of claim 13 , wherein a portion of the body is insert-molded or assembled with a more flexible material than a surrounding material.

20. The electronic device of claim 16 , wherein the flexible material comprises at least one of: rubber, silicone, and urethane.

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Yoon Byoung-Uk
• Choi Jong-Chul
• Yi Hyoung-Wook

Classifications

• H04M1/236 Primary

  including keys on side or rear faces · CPC title

• H04M2250/14

  including a card reading device · CPC title

• G06F1/16 Primary

  Constructional details or arrangements · CPC title

• H04B1/38 Primary

  Transceivers, i.e. devices in which transmitter and receiver form a structural unit and in which at least one part is used for functions of transmitting and receiving · CPC title