WO2010026310A1

WO2010026310A1 - Bearing plate for chip card members

Info

Publication number: WO2010026310A1
Application number: PCT/FR2009/001054
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alain Crouan
Original assignee: Moulage Industriel De Perseigne
Priority date: 2008-09-04
Filing date: 2009-09-02
Publication date: 2010-03-11
Also published as: FR2935529A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a bearing plate for chip card members, having a polygonal shape and including a bottom (1), a frame (2) and at least one housing for said members, characterised in that the bearing plate comprises housings (3, 4) adapted for receiving at least two members having different sizes in at least two planes (P1, P2) located at separate levels formed in the body of said bearing.

Description

SUPPORT PLATE FOR CHIP CARD ELEMENTS

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to the field of packaging and support for flat elements like smart card, SIM card, bank card or others. More specifically, the invention aims at a support plate for packaging and protecting cards of different sizes.

STATE OF THE PRIOR ART

In the state of the art, there are known packaging or packaging for disc-shaped recording media such as CDs, DVDs, or other circular flat elements.

The application EP 1 559 103 is an example of such a packaging which comprises a circular-shaped plate having centering means of the disc, as well as radial shoulders which define with the bottom of the tray a slot for maintaining the disk, the shoulders being further configured to allow the introduction and removal of the disk by elastic deformation of a portion of the plate. According to one embodiment of this invention, the plate has a complementary cavity for receiving at least one complementary disk of the same size.

This type of packaging must be associated with a complementary packaging element to form a unitary unit that effectively retains and protects the disk or disks it contains. The complementary packaging element is generally in the form of a rigid cover, single or double, which covers at least one of the faces of the support plate.

Thus the support trays can not be used alone, but only in combination with a protective element because otherwise the disks they support are quickly damaged. Moreover, these trays can only support disks of the same format, and in limited numbers.

[0007] Many other systems exist to support and maintain more or less sophisticated digital recording media. The most complex include small pieces fragile, likely to break, which can cause problems in maintaining the disk or disks; moreover the manufacturing cost of such cases is high because the associated molds are complex, with low manufacturing tolerances.

[0008] A neighboring field concerns the support elements for smart cards, credit cards or other flat elements of polygonal shape, preferably square or rectangular.

By smart card, here is defined a plastic card, a few centimeters of side and less than one millimeter thick, carrying at least one integrated circuit capable of containing information. The integrated circuit (the chip) may contain a microprocessor capable of processing this information, or be limited to nonvolatile memory circuits and possibly a security component (memory card). Smart cards are mainly used as a means of personal identification (identity card, building access badge, health insurance card) or payment (credit card, electronic purse) or proof of subscription to prepaid services (phone card, ticket, card can also include a hologram to prevent counterfeiting, and reading by specialized equipment can be done with or without contact with the chip.- -

Regarding smart cards, there are known flexible or semi-rigid media shaped for example plastic cases or pouches. The known rigid supports, generally made of molded plastic, comprise two flat faces associated by three of their sides, the fourth side being constituted by a slot for the introduction of the card. One or more cutouts may be provided in one and / or the other of the faces, for purposes of visibility, gripping the card, or other functional or aesthetic aspect.

However, this type of medium can contain only one card, of a given format.

Regarding the SIM cards themselves, they can be originally presented on a rigid support which they are bound on their periphery by tenons. By breaking the tenons, the SIM card is detached from its rigid support, and one can then insert this card into a functional support for which it is intended, such as a mobile phone. However, if you later extract the card from the device, it becomes necessary to protect it because it is a fragile element. We will also seek, given its small size (of the order of two cm2, or less) to integrate it into a larger element.

To remind you, the SIM card (English Subscriber Identity Module) is a smart card containing a microcontroller and memory. It is used in mobile telephony to store subscriber-specific information of a mobile network, in particular for GSM or UMTS type networks. It also stores applications of the user, his operator or in some cases third parties. Other mobile phone systems such as CDMAOne, Japanese PDC or CDMA

2000 defined by the 3GPP2 optionally support such a card.

It may be interesting to want to support and keep in the same element both a smart card and a card of another format such as a SIM card.

There is therefore a need for a device for protection and support not only for the SIM cards themselves, but also and simultaneously for smart cards, a separate format. More generally, a need exists for the simultaneous support of rigid or semi-rigid flat elements of polygonal shape having distinct formats.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a new type of support avoiding the disadvantages of the prior art.

To do this is proposed according to a first aspect of the invention a support plate for polygonal chip card elements comprising a bottom, a frame and at least one housing for said elements characterized in that it comprises housings adapted to receive at least two elements of different formats in at least two planes situated at distinct levels formed in the thickness of said support.

Preferably, the housing plan of the larger size element, is located in the upper part, above the bottom.

Thus, when a large-format smart card is housed in the upper part of the tray according to the invention, it protects the card element housed below it. There is here realized a dual function, support and protection, the card element placed at the bottom of the tray.

According to the invention, each housing comprises guide walls of a card element parallel to the direction of insertion of said element into said housing.

This feature is particularly interesting when card elements of very small size must be housed in the support plate: the guide walls then help the positioning and introduction of these elements in their housing.

Advantageously, each housing comprises at least one shoulder configured to allow the introduction and removal of a card element by elastic deformation of a stop. By its simplicity, this feature promotes the movement of the card element vis-à-vis its housing. Preferably, the shoulder covers a marginal area of the card element and defines with the housing plane a slot of height substantially equal to the thickness of the card element.

Furthermore, the shoulder covers an area extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction (X1, X2) of introduction of the card element in the housing.

Additionally, at least one of said housings further comprises a stop disposed at the end of the housing opposite to that carrying the shoulder, said stop being formed by a slot in the thickness of said housing and being intended locking the card element in said support tray.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the housing of the element of larger size has an insertion direction (X1) of the card element perpendicular to the insertion direction (X2) of the housing adjacent level.

According to an additional feature of the invention, at least one housing is provided with an elastic support means of the card element against at least one of said shoulders, in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the card element at rest. This feature improves the holding in position of the card element in its housing.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the bottom has at least one housing for a card element of smaller size. Two houses arranged side by side can be provided in the bottom of the tray.

Without departing from the scope of the invention, the housing (s) of the bottom has (s) a tapered gripping zone with a rounded edge which extends between two planes (P1.P2) of different level, said gripping zone having substantially the size of a finger. The support plate according to the invention is made in one piece, preferably in an injected plastic material and molded.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Other characteristics, details and advantages of the invention will emerge on reading the description which follows, with reference to the appended figures, which illustrate:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a top view of the first embodiment of the invention; and

Figure 3 is a side view of the tray according to Figure 2.

For clarity, identical or similar elements are identified by identical reference signs throughout the figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT [0034] FIG. 1 illustrates a first embodiment of the invention in which a support plate having a bottom 1 of generally rectangular shape, bordered on its four sides by a frame 2, is seen. having a certain thickness, for example of the order of half a centimeter. The plateau may have a size somewhat larger than that of the largest map it supports, the difference being related to the size of the frame 2.

The tray comprises according to this embodiment two slots for two rigid cards type smart card and SIM card. The first housing 3 consists of a first plane P1 substantially defined by the frame 2 of the support plate. Guide walls 31, 32 formed in two parallel sides of the frame 2 make it possible to guide the card in translation into its final position inside the housing 3.

Furthermore, the plate has for each housing 3,4, at least one shoulder 5 configured to allow the introduction and removal of the card. The shoulder 5 covers a so-called marginal area because periphery and of small dimension vis-à-vis that of the card, and it defines with the plane P1 of the housing a slot (not referenced) of height substantially equal to I 'thickness of the card to be lodged.

Preferably and as shown in Figure 1, two shoulders 5 are provided, which extend in a direction perpendicular to the direction X1 arrowed introduction and withdrawal of the largest card vis-à-vis vis-à-vis his dwelling 3.

In addition, at each shoulder 5, an elastically deformable stop 6 may be provided in particular to facilitate removal of the card; the deformable stop 6 also cooperates with another stop 7 disposed at the opposite end of the housing in order to lock the card in its housing. The deformable abutment 6 here consists of a convex flexible lamella towards the bottom 1 and connected at one end to the frame 2, close to the shoulder 5. The abutment 7 is formed by a slot in the thickness of the frame 2 of the housing. Thus, once the card correctly guided in its housing by the user, with one of its sides recessed at the shoulder 5, the other side of the card can be stuck in the slot or slots 7 thanks to Elasticity of the stop 6.

The same principle of positioning and housing applies to at least one other card of a format different from that of the first card. Indeed the support plate according to the invention comprises at least one other housing 4 for at least one other card which is housed in a second plane P2 located at a different level of the first plane P1, in the thickness of the support plate.

Figures 1 and 2 clearly show the second housing 4, smaller in size than the first 3, comprising guide walls 41, 42 of the card parallel to the direction of introduction of the card in its housing: here the direction X2 which is perpendicular to the direction X1. This reciprocal orientation is not mandatory, but is preferred. The second housing 4 further comprises and as the first at least one shoulder 5 and a deformable stop 6 disposed at the opposite of a stop 7 formed by a slot in the thickness of the housing 4.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the shoulders 5 extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to the insertion direction X1, X2 of the card in its housing 3,4. This promotes a good installation of the end of the card in its housing.

In addition, a resilient support member 8 of the flexible lamella type is supported at the bottom of the housing 4, which allows the card which is housed there to be held in abutment against the shoulders 5 and the stops 7.This maintaining the thickness of the plate is just as interesting as the maintenance in the plane of the plate obtained by the cooperation of the shoulders 5, flexible stops 6 and "rear" stops 7.

As visible in Figure 3, the bottom of each of the housing 3,4 is located at a level P1, P2 distinct from each other. This arrangement advantageously makes it possible to superimpose the cards in the thickness of the support plate, and thus to have a reduced bulk.

Without departing from the scope of the invention, it is quite possible to provide several housings 4 in a plane P2; thus, it was realized a support plate having two housings 4 arranged side by side. This number of dwellings may be higher; only dimensional constraints limit the number of dwellings at a different level from the one at the higher level.

Without departing from the scope of the invention, a third level may be envisaged for other dwellings.

Furthermore one can provide a so-called gripping zone 9 inclined rounded edge, which extends between two planes P1.P2 of distinct levels. This area has the effect of facilitating both the introduction of the lower level map, and its removal from the housing. Indeed, being located near the stops 7, she is a slope on which the user can press a finger when manipulating the card vis-à-vis its housing.

As is apparent from the description above, the support plate has a relatively complex shape. However, it can be easily performed by injection and molding of plastic material, a technique well known and controlled. Industrial mass production can be considered without problem, at a reasonable cost.

Claims

1. support tray for polygonal chip card elements comprising a bottom (1), a frame (2) and at least one housing for said elements characterized in that it comprises housing (3,4) adapted to receiving at least two elements of different sizes in at least two planes (P1.P2) located at distinct levels formed in the thickness of said support and in that each housing comprises at least one shoulder (5) configured to allow the introduction and removing a card element by elastic deformation of a stop (6).

2. Support plate according to claim 1 characterized in that the plane (P1) of the housing of the element (3) of larger size is located in the upper part, above the bottom.

3. Support plate according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that each housing (3,4) comprises guide walls (31, 32; 41, 42) of a card element parallel to the direction of introducing said element into said housing.

4. Support plate according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the shoulder (5) covers a marginal zone of the card element and defines with the plane of the housing a slot of height substantially equal to the thickness. of the card element.

5. Support plate according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that said shoulder (5) covers an area extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction (X1.X2) of introduction of the card element in , housing (3,4).

6. Support plate according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that at least one of said housings further comprises a stop (7) disposed at the end of the housing opposite that carrying the shoulder (5), said stop being formed by a slot in the thickness said housing and being intended to lock the card element in said support plate.

7. Support plate according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that the housing (3) of the larger size element has an insertion direction (X1) of the card element perpendicular to the direction of introducing (X2) the adjacent level housing.

8. Support plate according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that at least one housing (3,4) is provided with an elastic means (8) for supporting the card element against the at least one of said shoulders (5) in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the card element at rest.

9. Support plate according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that the bottom has at least one housing (4) for a card element of smaller size.

10. Support plate according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that the bottom housing (4) has a gripping area (9) inclined rounded edge which extends between two planes (P1.P2) level different, said gripping area (9) having substantially the size of a finger.

11. Support plate according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is made in one piece, preferably in an injected plastic material and molded.