Printed circuit board ground clip
First Claim
1. A printed circuit board ground clip, comprising:
- an elongated base having two end portions which are bent to extend substantially parallel to each other at a spaced distance from each other;
at least one leg extending from a first side of each said two end portions;
a retainer extending from a second side opposite the first side of each said two end portions, wherein said retainer terminates as a flange; and
a ground supply bearing hook dimensioned to extend through said ground clip so as to frictionally engage with said flanges of said ground clip, and additionally frictionally engage with a printed circuit board supporting said ground clip by laterally moving said printed circuit board relative to said hook so that a groove in said hook embraces a top and a bottom surface of said printed circuit board.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A printed circuit board ground clip is provided having upwardly extending retainers and downwardly extending legs. The legs are designed to insert within plated-through holes of a variable thickness printed circuit board. The upwardly extending retainers terminate as a spaced pair of flanges which frictionally receive and electrically couple with a hook. The hook extends from the chassis of an electronic device, through a slot within the printed circuit board and between the spaced flanges. Accordingly, the hook and ground clip form an electrical conduit between a ground supply connected to the electronic device chassis and a ground conductor formed within the printed circuit board. Chassis-to-ground conductor attachment is performed during assembly of the board to the chassis backplane. Attachment can be quickly and easily reversed to allow board re-work, without requiring placement of heat upon the board. The present attachment mechanism further avoids user-inserted fasteners and the reliability problems they present.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A printed circuit board ground clip, comprising:
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an elongated base having two end portions which are bent to extend substantially parallel to each other at a spaced distance from each other; at least one leg extending from a first side of each said two end portions; a retainer extending from a second side opposite the first side of each said two end portions, wherein said retainer terminates as a flange; and a ground supply bearing hook dimensioned to extend through said ground clip so as to frictionally engage with said flanges of said ground clip, and additionally frictionally engage with a printed circuit board supporting said ground clip by laterally moving said printed circuit board relative to said hook so that a groove in said hook embraces a top and a bottom surface of said printed circuit board. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An assembly for electrically connecting a ground supply to a ground conductor of a printed circuit board, comprising:
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a printed circuit board having an elongated slot extending through the board between opposed planar surfaces of the board, said board further having plated holes extending as two rows across a portion of said board wherein said rows are spaced substantially parallel to each other and each of the plated holes is electrically connected to a ground conductor configured across a portion of said board; a ground clip having a spaced plurality of legs and a pair of retainers extending from the ground clip toward one another, said legs are adapted for solder retention within respective said plated holes and flanges at terminal ends of said retainers are adapted to separate and bear against sides of a ground supply bearing hook; and said ground supply bearing hook dimensioned to extend through said elongated slot so as to frictionally engage with said flanges of said ground clip, and additionally frictionally engage with a printed circuit board supporting said ground clip by laterally moving said printed circuit board relative to said hook so that a groove of said hook embraces a top and a bottom surface of said printed circuit board. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for applying a ground potential to a ground conductor of a printed circuit board, comprising:
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providing a ground potential to a hook extending upward from a computer chassis; forming a ground conductor across a printed circuit board having a slot formed through the board and a row of plated holes arranged on opposing sides of the slot; providing a ground clip having a plurality of legs extending downward and a pair of retainers extending upward connected to the legs; inserting the legs of said ground clip into said plated holes and soldering said legs to said plated holes; placing the slot over the hook to electrically couple the hook between the pair of retainers; and moving the board in a lateral direction relative to the hook to frictionally dispose an inward facing surface of the hook upon the board at one end of said slot. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification