GB2508351A

GB2508351A - A card fixing device for mounting a card in a device so that it is difficult to remove

Info

Publication number: GB2508351A
Application number: GB1221404.5A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Martin Lund
Original assignee: PULSE FUNCTION F6 Ltd
Current assignee: PULSE FUNCTION F6 Ltd
Priority date: 2012-11-28
Filing date: 2012-11-28
Publication date: 2014-06-04
Also published as: WO2014083127A1; GB201221404D0

Abstract

A card fixing means, for mounting a predetermined card in a device (1 fig.1), comprises a card entry slot 50, through which the whole card is inserted for mounting, and a card holding slot 62 arranged to hold the card. The distance between the top 52 of the card entry slot 50 and the bottom 624 of the card holding slot 62 in a direction orthogonal to a plane of the card holding slot 62 is less than a thickness of the card. Preferably, the card holder 60 is further provided with a ramp 64 for guiding a leading edge (76 fig.4) of the card (70 fig.4) into the card holding slot 62. In a preferred embodiment, a communications device may comprise the card fixing means for mounting a SIM card. Once the card has been fully inserted through the card entry slot 50 and is held in the card holding slot 62, it is difficult or impossible to remove again.

Description

CARD FIXING DEVICE

The present invention relates to a card fixing device and may be used, for example, to fix a subscriber identity module (SIM) card in a communications device.

The use of cards in electronic devices is well known. In particular, SIM cards are commonly used in mobile communications devices such as mobile phones and tablet computers, as well as dongles.

Generally, such SIM cards are removably mounted in the electronic device using a specially provided card holder.

SIM cards are also used in vehicle communications systems to pass information such as vehicle position, speed, crash data and traffic information between the vehicle and a central hub. In these and other systems, it is desirable to seal the communications device to prevent tampering. It may also be desirable to ensure that the device case cannot be opened without damaging it. In such cases, SIM cards must be fitted prior to the final assembly stage, and so during manufacture and before shipping of the device, to ensure they cannot be subsequently removed or tampered with.

This further means that the SIM cards must be delivered to the manufacturer in a live' state.

There may also be a requirement to manage different SIM cards for different markets. Thus, any device leaving the manufacturing facility can only be used for the specific market corresponding to the SIM card. Its destination cannot be changed in response to changing customer needs without damaging the case. Accordingly, it may be necessary either to issue different part numbers or to track serial device numbers in order to ensure that devices with the correct pre-installed SIM cards are delivered to each market.

An alternative to fitting the SIM card during manufacture is to ship the device with the enclosure open for later SIM fitting and closing. However, this would compromise security and leave the product contents open to damage, which is undesirable.

It is an object of the invention to provide a card fixing device to alleviate or remove these and other difficulties.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a card fixing means for mounting a predetermined card in a device, comprising: a card entry slot through which the whole card is inserted for mounting, the card entry slot having a top; and a card holding slot arranged to hold the card, the card holding slot having a bottom, wherein the distance between the top of the card entry slot and the bottom of the card holding slot in a direction orthogonal to a plane of the card holding slot is less than a thickness of the card.

This has the significant advantage that the SIM card can be inserted after the device has been manufactured, for example by the end user, but since the distance between the top of the card entry slot and the bottom of the card holding slot is less than a thickness of the card, once the card has been fully inserted through the card entry slot and is held in the card holding slot, it is difficult or impossible to remove it again.

Preferably, the card entry slot is provided in a wall; the card holding slot has a closed end, and a distance between the closed end and an internal surface of the wall is sized to closely fit the length of the card.

Preferably, the card holding slot has top and bottom surfaces, a distance between the top and bottom surfaces are sized to closely fit the thickness of the card.

Preferably, the card holding slot has side surfaces, a distance between the side surfaces being sized to closely fit the width of the card.

It is preferred that guide means are provided in the vicinity of the card entry slot, a distance between the guide means being sized to closely fit the width of the card.

The card fixing means may further comprise a ramp for guiding a leading end of the card into the card holding slot.

Preferably, the card entry slot is provided in a wall, and the card holding slot is provided in a card holder.

In this case, it is preferred that the card holder is provided in a depression in the floor of the casing.

The card holder may be spaced apart from or integral with the wall.

Preferably, the card has a cut corner and uncut corners, the card fixing means further comprising an obstruction to an uncut corner to prevent incorrect mounting of the card.

Preferably, the card is a SIM card.

The bottom of the card holding slot may be above the top of the card entry slot.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a communications device comprising a card fixing means according to any one of the preceding claims.

Preferably, the device further comprises a circuit board disposed above the card entry slot and arranged to make electrical connection with contacts provided on the card.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a communications device with a card fixing means according to a first aspect of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the communications device with the top of the casing removed; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the communications device with the top of the casing and the circuit board removed; Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the communications device showing the card fixing means; Fig. 5 is a perspective cross-sectional view of a portion of the communications device showing the card fixing means with the SIM card removed; and Fig. 6 is a plan view of an alternative arrangement of the present invention.

It should be noted that references in this specification to top, bottom, up, down, upper, lower, left, right, horizontal, vertical, floor, side and like terms are provided as a frame of reference with respect to the card fixing means and the device of the present invention only and are not to be interpreted as limiting on the orientation of the card fixing means or the device in the gravitational or any other

field.

Fig. 1 shows a communications device 1 for installation in a vehicle with a card fixing means in a first embodiment of the present invention. The communications device 1 includes a casing 10, comprising an upper casing 12 and a lower casing 14. A card entry slot 50 for insertion of a SIM card is provided in a side wall 30 of the lower casing 14. The lower casing 14 has projections 18 provided around its inner periphery and corresponding hooks (not shown) are provided around the inner periphery of the upper casing 12. The casing 10 overall is designed such that when the upper casing 12 and the lower casing 14 are joined, the hooks of the upper casing 12 hook the projections 18 of the lower casing with a snap fit such that they cannot be separated without damaging the casing 10. The casing can be made of any suitable material, including plastics materials, such as ABS and PMMA, and metal, such as steel or aluminium.

As shown in Fig. 2, the device 1 includes a circuit board 20, which covers most of the area inside the casing 10. As shown in Figs. 3 and 5, a card holder 60 for holding a SIM card 70 is provided in a depression 42 in the floor 40 of the bottom casing 14. Ribs 16 are provided around the inner periphery of the lower casing 14. The tops of the ribs 16 are at a predetermined height above the card holder 60 and the circuit board 20 rests on the ribs l6so that the bottom surface of the circuit board 20 is mounted above the card holder 60.

As shown in Fig. 5, in which the SIM card 70 is not shown, the card holder 60 comprises a card holding slot 62, which has a card holding slot top 622, a card holding slot bottom 624 and a card holding slot end 626 against which at least part of the card 70 can abut. The card holding slot 62 also has card holding slot sides 625 along at least part of the length of either side of the card holding slot 62.

The card holder 60 is set back from the internal surface 32 of the wall 30 in which the card entry slot is provided. The card entry slot 50 likewise has a card entry slot top 52, a card entry slot bottom 54 and card entry slot sides 56. The card holding slot sides 625 are in line with, or aligned inwards of, the card entry slot sides 56so that the SIM card 70 can be slid through the card entry slot 50 into the card holding slot 62 of the card holder 60.

Moreover, the distance between the card holding slot top 622 and the card holding slot bottom 624 is sized so as to be just greater than the thickness of the SIM card 7Oso that the SIM card 70 can be tightly held in the up-down direction of the drawings. Similarly, the distance between the card holding slot sides 625 is sized so as to be just greater than the width of the card 7050 it can be tightly held in the side to side direction. Thus once inserted, the card holding slot 62 holds the card in a plane of the card holding slot 62.

The card holding slot bottom 624 is further provided relative to the card entry slot top 52 such that the distance between the top 52 of the card entry slot and the bottom 624 of the card holding slot in a direction orthogonal to the plane of the card holding slot (which includes both the width of the slots in the side to side direction and the insertion direction) is less than a thickness of the SIM card between its top 72 and bottom 74. Thus, the bottom 624 of the card holding slot 62 is higher than the bottom 54 of the card entry slot 50. Accordingly, to ease entry of the SIM card 70 into the device 1, the card holder 60 is further provided with a ramp 64.

In addition, the distance between the card holding slot end 626 and the inner surface 32 of the wall adjacent the card entry slot top 52 is sized so as to be just greater than the length of the card 70 so it can be tightly held in the insertion direction.

Finally, a guide 80 is provided on either side between the card holder 60 and the card entry slot 50.

The distance between the guides 80 is sized so as to be just greater than the width of the card 70 SO it can be tightly held in the side to side direction.

To mount the SIM card 70, the user inserts it through the card entry slot 50. As the card 70 is inserted into the card entry slot 50, its leading edge 76 is guided up the ramp 64 and into the card holding slot 62. The thickness of the card holding slot 62 between its top 622 and bottom 624 is sized so that the SIM card 70 sits snugly inside it. Moreover, when the card entry slot 50 is viewed head on, the distance in the up-down direction between the bottom 624 of the card holding slot 62 and the top 52 of the card entry slot 50 is less than the thickness of the card 70. However, although almost rigid, the SIM card 70 and/or the card holder 60 and/or the wall 30 have sufficient flexibility to bend while the card 70 is disposed in both the card entry slot 50 and the card holding slot 62 during insertion. The SIM card 70 is further inserted until its leading edge 76 abuts the card holding slot end 626. Since the distance between the card holding slot end 626 and the inner surface 32 of the wall 30 is just greater than the length of the SIM card 70, the top 52 of the card entry slot 50 no longer bears down on the SIM card 70 after full insertion. Thus, the SIM card 70 and/or components of the card fixing means spring back to their original flat, unbent shape.

Although not shown, the SIM card 70 is provided with terminals on its upper surface. The card holder 60 or the circuit board 20 (or both) has corresponding terminals, which mate with the SIM card terminals when the card 70 is fully inserted. In case the card holder 60 has terminals mating with the SIM card, it in turn is connected to the circuit board 20, whereby the circuit board 20 is connected with the card 70, the circuit board 20 having circuitry for operating the device 1 including to communicate with another device using the SIM card 70.

As illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, in its final insertion position, the SIM card 70 is securely held in all directions by the card holder 60 and the inner surface 32 of the wall 30. In particular, the leading edge 76 of the SIM card 70 abuts the end 626 of the card holding slot 62 and the trailing edge 78 abuts the inner surface 32 of the wall 30, whereby the SIM card 7Ois held in the inwards and outwards directions (the insertion direction and the opposite direction). Similarly, the sides 75 of the SIM card 70 abut the respective card holding slot sides 625 and the guides 80, whereby the SIM card 70 is held in the side-to-side directions. Moreover, the top 7201 the card 70 abuts card holding slot top 622 and the bottom 74 of the card 70 abuts the card holding slot bottom 624, whereby the SIM card 70 is held in the up-down directions.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a SIM card fixing means in which a user has a one-time opportunity to insert a SIM card after manufacture of the device, for example immediately prior to installation of the communications device 1 into the vehicle. The fixing means is designed so that the SIM card 70 cannot be removed after insertion since it is securely held within the card holder 60 and movement in the direction opposite the insertion direction is prevented by abutment of the trailing edge 78 of the card 70 against the inner surface 32 of the wall 30. The card entry slot 50 and/or the guides 80 are sized to make it difficult or impossible to remove the card 70 either manually or by inserting a tool. Thus, a device casing 10 can be provided with the card fixing means without compromising an IP protection rating of IP 40 (under which enclosure of the casing lOis protected against ingress of tools and wires with a thickness of greater than 1mm and particles with a diameter of greater than 1mm). In particular, the fixing means of the present invention allows protection against the insertion of any object greater than 1mm anywhere into the casing and touching of the internal circuitry. Moreover, the casing is proof against shock and vibration, which are significant factors in vehicles, from causing the card 70 to move.

Advantageously, by providing the casing with the SIM card fixing means of the present invention, the product can be manufactured in volume with no variants. Thus, a single part number and configuration can be used, without a requirement to track serial numbers. Further, the manufacturer no longer needs to manage live' SIM cards through the manufacturing process and can pass the risks associated with SIM card management over to customers, who are better placed to handle the different local markets in which they are used to operating, or to end users.

The foregoing embodiment is described by way of example only and many variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention, as defined by the claims.

For example, it would be possible to mount the card 70 upside down compared the foregoing description, so that the terminals on the card 70 face downwards. In this case, it would be necessary to provide corresponding contacts adjacent the floor 40 of the lower casing 14. These corresponding contacts could be sprung so they flex during insertion of the card. However, this would allow external connections to be made with the SIM terminals through the card entry slot 50.

In addition, although the present invention has been described with reference to a SIM card 70, any type of card of any appropriate size can be used depending on the required functionality of the card and device. For example, the card 70 may be credit card sized and include an RFID chip without external terminals and the device 1 may include an RFID reader. Alternatively, the card may only include terminals in a predetermined location with a connection between them so as to make a circuit on the circuit board, thereby activating the device 1.

Although the card holder 60 has been described as having a ramp 64 to guide the leading edge 76 of the SIM card 70 during insertion, in practice this may not be necessary.

The drawings of described embodiment show that after insertion the underside 74 of the SIM card is lower than the top 52 of the card entry slot SOso that only a portion of the trailing edge 78 abuts the inner surface 32 of the wall 30 (see Fig. 4). This is advantageous in so far as it allows a user to see easily whether a SIM card 70 has already been installed because the trailing edge 78 is visible through the card entry slot 50. In addition, it reduces the amount of bending of the SIM card 70 during insertion, thereby reducing the likelihood of damage of circuitry on the card due to insertion.

However, this is not necessary and the relative positions of the card entry slot 50 and the card holding slot 62 may be such that bottom 624 of card holding slot is above the top 52 of the card entry slot 50 when the card entry slot 50 is viewed head on. This has the effect that the trailing end 78 of the card 70 is no longer visible after insertion and that more bending of the card 70 is required during insertion. However, by ensuring that the whole of the trailing edge 78 abuts the inner surface 32 of the wall 30, the card 70 may be more securely mounted. Moreover, the additional bending of the card 70 is not necessarily problematic, particularly if the card 70 is of a larger size and/or it uses an REID device or other localised circuitry. Thus, the expression "the distance between the top of the card entry slot and the bottom of the card holding slot in a direction orthogonal to the plane of the card holding slot is less than the thickness of the card" should be interpreted to include any negative' distance in an arrangement in which the bottom 624 of the card holding slot 62 is higher than the top 52 of the card entry slot 50, even if the absolute value of this negative' distance is greater than the thickness of the card. In other words, the bottom 624 of the card holding slot 62 should not be lower than the top 52 of the card entry slot 50 by as much as the thickness of the card 70, but can be higher than it.

In the embodiment described above, the card holder 60 is disposed in a depression 42 in the floor 40. However, the skilled addressee will recognise that this is not essential.

In addition, the embodiment is described with both the card entry slot 62 having sides 625 for abutting the sides 75 of the card 70 and with guide means 80 for abutting the sides 75 of the card 70. However, it is not essential to include both. Moreover, as will be apparent from Fig. 3, where these side 75 abutment means 625,80 are provided, they need not extend along the whole length of the card 70 or the card holding slot 62. All that is required is for there to be sufficient abutment to prevent (much) movement of the card 70 to the sides during using of the device a. similarly, it is not necessary to provide either the end 626 of the card holding slot 62 or the inner surface 32 of the wall 30 with an abutment face along the entire width the card 70. For example, Fig. 3 shows that the end 626 of the card holding slot 62 only extends along a small part of the width of the card 70.

The dimensions of the card entry slot 50 are not particularly limited and need be selected only so that the card can be inserted through the card entry slot 50 and into the card holding slot 62.

Preferably, the card entry slot 50 is just wider than the card and only as thick as required to allow insertion into the card holding slot 62.

The dimensions of the card entry slot 50 and the card holding slot 62, their positions relative to one another, the amount of abutment (in terms both of length and tightness of fit) against all surfaces of the card, and the tolerances are all selected based on the size and rigidity of the card and the requirements of the device. Thus, for a vehicle-mounted device 1, which can be expected to undergo large amounts of vibration, must be tamper-proof and resistant to large shocks such as may be experienced in a crash, a tight fit and small tolerance may be required. For other less demanding environments, the dimensions and tolerances maybe more relaxed to allow easier insertion of the card 70 for fixing in the device 1. Indeed, the card need not be abutted on all sides and there may be some play so long as the card is held in place sufficiently for it to provide the required functionality. Thus, the relative dimensions and positions of the card holding slot 62 and the card entry slot match the dimensions of the card to the extent required.

Fig. 3 shows that one corner 79 of the card 70 may be cut, as is commonplace in SIM cards 70. This allows correct orientation of the SIM card 70 on insertion to the device. In particular, as shown in an alternative arrangement in Fig. 6, a projection 81 is provided between the guide 80 and the inner surface 32 of the wall 30 at a position corresponding to one corner of the SIM card 70 in the mounted position. Projection 81 acts as an obstruction in case the SIM card 70 is inserted with the wrong orientation. Thus, if the SIM card 70 is inserted the wrong way round so the cut corner 79 is in a position other than that shown in Figs. 3 and 6, an uncut corner will be obstructed by the projection 81 such that card 70 will remain flexed and the trailing edge 78 at least at that corner will not abut the inner surface 32 of the wall 30. The obstructed corner will be visible through the card entry slot SOso the user will be able to tell that the card has not been mounted properly, remove it through the card entry slot 50 and re-orient it before reinsertion.

It should be appreciated that the projection may also be provided at the other side of the card entry slot SOor Ofl one side at the end 626 of the card holder slot 62, depending on the positioning of the required orientation of the SIM card 70 to make contact with the corresponding terminals of the card holder 60 and/or circuit board 20. If the obstruction 81 is provided at the end 626 of the card holder slot 62, the card 70 will be prevented from being fully inserted such that the trailing edge will not abut the inner surface and, depending on the size of the projection 81 and the cut corner 79 and on the thickness of the wall/depth of the card entry slot 50, may still project out of the card entry slot 50 to make removal of the incorrectly oriented card 70 easier.

In the foregoing, the card holder 60 is spaced apart and separate from the side wall 30 of the lower casing 14. However, this is not essential and the two can abut one another or be integral. The card holder can also be integrated with the floor or another wall of the casing 10. The distance in the insertion direction between bottom 624 of the card holding slot 62 and the card entry slot 50 and the differences in height are selected based on the thickness and flexibility of card. Where provided, the ramp 64 can be continuous with the card entry slot 50 and lead straight into the card holding slot 62, its slope being determined based on the relative positions of the card holding slot 62 and the card entry slot 50.

It should also be appreciated that it is not necessary for the trailing edge 78 of the card 70 to abut inner surface 32 of the wall 30. It may be enough in some instances for the trailing edge 78 to be simply shielded so that it cannot be removed, whether easily or at all, so long as the card 70 provides the device 1 with the required functionality. Naturally, this applies to abutment' against the other edges and the top and bottom of the card.

Moreover, it is not necessary for this function of abutment or shielding to be carried out by wall 30 of the casing 14 itself. Rather, another internal wall may be provided for this function, which may be a separate wall, integral with the guides 80 or integral with the card holder 60. Of course, the guides may also be integral with or separate from the wall 30 and/or the card holder 60.

The present invention has been described with reference to a vehicle communications device 1 but the card fixing means may be applied to any device to which a card is mounted or fixed.

The foregoing description has been given by way of example only and it will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. :ii

Claims

Claims 1. A card fixing means for mounting a predetermined card in a device, comprising: a card entry slot through which the whole card is inserted for mounting, the card entry slot having a top; and a card holding slot arranged to hold the card, the card holding slot having a bottom, wherein the distance between the top of the card entry slot and the bottom of the card holding slot in a direction orthogonal to a plane of the card holding slot is less than a thickness of the card.
2. A card fixing means according to claim 1, wherein: the card entry slot is provided in a wall; the card holding slot has a closed end, and a distance between the closed end and an internal surface of the wall is sized to closely fit the length of the card.
3. A card fixing means according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the card holding slot has top and bottom surfaces, a distance between the top and bottom surfaces being sized to closely fit the thickness of the card.
4. A card fixing means according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the card holding slot has side surfaces, a distance between the side surfaces being sized to closely fit the width of the card.
5. A card fixing means according to any one of the preceding claims, guide means being provided in the vicinity of the card entry slot, a distance between the guide means being sized to closely fit the width of the card.
6. A card fixing means according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a ramp for guiding a leading end of the card into the card holding slot.
7. A card fixing means according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: the card entry slot is provided in a wall, and the card holding slot is provided in a card holder.
8. A card fixing means according to claim 7, the card holder being provided in a depression in the floor of the casing.
9. A card fixing means according to claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the card holder is spaced apart from the wall.
10. A card fixing means according to claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the card holder is integral with the wall.
11. A card fixing means according to any one of the preceding claims, the card having a cut corner and uncut corners, the card fixing means further comprising an obstruction to an uncut corner to prevent incorrect mounting of the card.
12. A card fixing means according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the card is a SIM card.
13. A card fixing means according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein bottom of the card holding slot is above the top of the card entry slot.
14. A communications device comprising a card fixing means according to any one of the preceding claims.
15. A communications device according to claim 14, the device further comprising a circuit board disposed above the card entry slot and arranged to make electrical connection with contacts provided on the card.
16. A card fixing means as hereinbefore described with reference to any of the accompanying drawings and/or as shown in any of the accompanying drawings.
17. A communications device as hereinbefore described with reference to any of the accompanying drawings and/or as shown in any of the accompanying drawings.