Card holder and bracket in computer system

• US 20080298010A1
• Filed: 05/30/2007
• Published: 12/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP (Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Company)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Wang, Hsiu Hsien, Chou, Chi-Wen
• Granted Patent: US 7,672,143 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/679.41
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/186 Securing of expansion boards in correspondence to slots provided at the computer enclosure

Abstract

In a computer system, a card holder is removably attached to a bracket to hold an add-in card in an I/O connector. The card holder is capable of being slid onto the bracket and a side edge of the add-in card.

Claims

1. A computer system comprising:

a housing;

an I/O connector disposed within the housing;

an add-in card removably attached to the I/O connector;

a bracket mounted in the housing near a side edge of the add-in card; and

a card holder removably attached to the bracket and capable of being slid onto the bracket and the side edge of the add-in card to hold the add-in card in the I/O connector.

2. A computer system as defined in claim 1, wherein:

the card holder further comprises a groove that matches at least a portion of the side edge of the add-in card including a top corner thereof.

3. A computer system as defined in claim 1, wherein:

the bracket further comprises a slot into which the card holder is slid until the card holder snaps in place.

4. A computer system as defined in claim 1, wherein:

the card holder reduces shock and vibration of the add-in card.

5. A computer system as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

a printed circuit board on which the I/O connector is mounted;

and wherein the side edge of the add-in card is perpendicular to a plane of the printed circuit board.

6. A computer system as defined in claim 1, wherein:

the add-in card further comprises a printed circuit board and a retainer attached at an end edge of the printed circuit board; and

the side edge of the add-in card is part of the retainer.

7. A computer system as defined in claim 1, wherein:

the add-in card has a printed circuit board and a retainer attached to a free end side edge of the printed circuit board; and

the retainer forms the side edge of the add-in card.

8. A mechanism for holding an add-in card in a computer system, comprising:

a bracket adapted to be mounted in the computer system; and

a card holder removably attachable to the bracket and capable of engaging a side edge, including a top corner thereof, of the add-in card when installed in the computer system to hold the add-in card in place, the card holder also capable of being installed in the computer system by sliding the card holder onto the bracket and the side edge of the add-in card until locking in place on the bracket.

9. A mechanism as defined in claim 8, wherein:

the card holder further comprises a groove with an inner surface that matches at least a portion of an outer surface of the side edge and the corner of the add-in card.

10. A mechanism as defined in claim 8, wherein:

the bracket further comprises a slot into which the card holder is inserted when being slid onto the bracket and the side edge of the add-in card.

11. A mechanism as defined in claim 8, wherein:

the card holder is capable of reducing shock and vibration of the add-in card in the computer system.

12. A mechanism for holding an add-in card in a computer system, comprising:

a means for engaging a side edge of the add-in card, including a top corner thereof; and

a means for removably mounting the engaging means and adapted to be installed in the computer system;

and wherein the engaging means is capable of sliding onto the mounting means and the side edge of the add-in card until locked in place to constrain the add-in card.

13. A method for installing and supporting an add-in card in a computer system, comprising:

inserting the add-in card into an I/O connector within the computer system, the computer system having a bracket near a side edge of the installed add-in card; and

after inserting the add-in card, sliding a card holder onto the bracket and the side edge of the add-in card to constrain the side edge including a corner thereof, the card holder capable of being removed from the bracket before removing the add-in card.

14. A method as defined in claim 13, wherein:

the sliding further comprises sliding the card holder onto the bracket and the side edge of the add-in card until the card holder locks in place on the bracket, the card holder capable of being released and removed from the bracket before removing the add-in card.

15. A method as defined in claim 13, wherein:

the sliding further comprises sliding a portion of the card holder through a slot in the bracket and sliding a groove in the card holder onto the side edge of the add-in card.