Ejectable component assemblies in electronic devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9504179-B2
Application number	US-201414276610-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 13, 2014
Priority date	Jan 5, 2007
Publication date	Nov 22, 2016
Grant date	Nov 22, 2016

Abstract

Electronic devices are provided with ejectable component assemblies that can be substantially flush with the external surfaces of the housings of the devices, despite variations in their manufacture. The ejectable component assemblies may include connectors coupled to circuit boards of the devices, and trays that can be loaded with removable modules, inserted through openings in the housings of the devices, and into the connectors for functionally aligning the removable modules with the circuit boards. The ejectable component assemblies may also include ejectors coupled to the housings of the devices for ejecting the trays from the connectors and, thus, from the devices themselves.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A removable structure configured to be received in an aperture within a housing of an electronic device, the removable structure comprising:
a body removable with respect to the aperture of the housing and configured to hold a card comprising electronic circuitry storing identifying information; and
a notch formed in a side of the body, and comprising:
a sloped edge extending into the body from a first point on the side of the body; and
a return edge connecting the sloped edge to a second point on the side of the body; wherein:

the sloped edge of the notch of the body of the removable structure is configured to receive a head portion of a retainer;
the retainer is fixed within the housing and positioned adjacent to the aperture; and
the retainer is configured to apply a retaining force against the sloped edge to retain the removable structure within the aperture when the removable structure is received within the housing.

2. The removable structure of claim 1 , wherein the card is a subscriber identity module card.

3. The removable structure of claim 1 , wherein the body forms part of a tray configured to hold the card.

4. The removable structure of claim 3 , wherein the card and tray are configured to snap-fit together, such that the card is mechanically retained within the tray.

5. The removable structure of claim 4 , wherein the tray defines a hole extending therethrough.

6. The removable structure of claim 1 , wherein:
the removable structure further comprises an end; and
the notch is further configured to hold the end substantially flush with an external surface of the electronic device.

7. The removable structure of claim 1 , wherein the electronic device comprises a wireless communication device.

8. The removable structure of claim 1 , wherein the notch comprises a substantially triangular shape.

9. An electronic device comprising:
a housing defining a receiving aperture; and
a retainer fixed within the housing adjacent to the receiving aperture and configured to provide a retaining force to retain a removable structure inserted within the aperture, the retainer comprising:
a head portion configured to be received within a sloped notch of the removable structure;
a flexible arm portion coupled to the head portion and configured to provide an inward biasing force such that the head portion is biased toward the center of the receiving aperture; and
a base portion coupling the flexible arm portion to the housing.

10. The electronic device of claim 9 , wherein the inward biasing force is exerted by the head portion to the sloped notch such that, when the removable structure is received within the aperture, the removable structure is inwardly biased with respect to the housing.

11. The electronic device of claim 10 , further comprising a detector configured to detect the insertion of the removable structure.

12. The electronic device of claim 9 , further comprising an ejector fixed to the housing and comprising:
an extension arm pivotably coupled to the housing; and
a contact plate connected to the extension arm;
wherein:
when the removable structure is received within the aperture, the extension arm engages the contact plate against a surface of the removable structure so as to overcome the inward biasing force of the retainer and eject the removable structure from the aperture.

13. A system comprising:
a removable structure comprising:
a body formed between a first and a second end; and
a sloped notch formed into the first end; and

an electronic device comprising:
a housing comprising a receiving aperture within an external surface of the housing; and
a retainer fixed within the housing and positioned proximate to the receiving aperture and configured to provide a retaining force to the sloped notch, the retainer comprising:
a head portion configured to be received within the sloped notch;
a flexible arm portion coupled to the head portion and configured to provide an inward biasing force such that the head portion is biased toward the center of the receiving aperture; and
a base portion coupling the flexible arm portion to the housing.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the body portion is configured to receive a card that comprises electronic circuitry.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the card is a subscriber identity module card.

16. The system of claim 13 , wherein the body forms part of a tray configured to hold a card comprising electronic circuitry.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the card comprises a subscriber identity module card.

18. The system of claim 13 , wherein the retainer is configured to hold the removable structure within the receiving aperture.

19. The system of claim 13 , wherein the retainer is configured to engage the notch to hold the second end substantially flush with an external surface of the electronic device.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Wang Erik L
• Murphy Robert Sean
• Tan Tang Yew
• Neaves Jeffrey Eugene
• Davis Lawrence E
• Kim Sung

Classifications

• G06K13/08

  Feeding or discharging cards · CPC title

• H05K7/1427

  Housings · CPC title

• H04M1/026 Primary

  Details of the structure or mounting of specific components · CPC title

• H04M2250/14

  including a card reading device · CPC title

• H05K1/02

  Details · CPC title