Locking personal computer expansion card guide

• US 5,914,854 A
• Filed: 12/31/1996
• Issued: 06/22/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dell USA LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell USA LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Holt, George T.
• Primary Examiner(s): FEILD, LYNN DIANA
• Application Number:
  US08/775,635
• Time in Patent Office: 903 Days
• Field of Search: 361/683, 361/732, 361/740, 361/754, 361/759, 361/798, 361/801, 439/152, 439/153, 439/157, 439/377
• US Class Current: 361/679.23
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/184 Mounting of motherboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/185 Mounting of expansion boards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/186 Securing of expansion boards in correspondence to slots provided at the computer enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1404 by edge clamping, e.g. wedges

Abstract

An apparatus for restricting a card within a card cage. The apparatus includes a clamping mechanism for frictionally restricting the facing sides of the card so as to restrict the card within the card cage and an actuating mechanism coupled to the clamping mechanism for actuating the clamping mechanism.

Claims

1. An apparatus for restricting a card within a card cage, the card having sides the apparatus comprising:

a clamping mechanism for frictionally restricting facing sides of the card so as to restrict the card within the card cage; and

an actuating mechanism coupled to the clamping mechanism for actuating the clamping mechanism, wherein the actuating mechanism includes;

a clamp actuator receiver cooperatively coupled to the clamping mechanism so that the clamping mechanism frictionally restricts the card responsive to a force upon the clamp actuator receiver; and

a clamp actuator movably coupled to one of the clamping mechanism and the clamp actuator receiver, the clamp actuator capable of transferring an initial force applied to the clamp actuator to the clamp actuator receiver, the clamp actuator continuously applying a force to the clamp actuator receiver, thereby causing the clamping mechanism to continuously and substantially restrict the card from moving; and

wherein

the clamping mechanism includes clamping fingers;

the clamp actuator receiver includes clamp actuator protrusions; and

the clamp actuator receiver and the clamping mechanism are cooperatively coupled so that the clamping fingers displace inwardly to frictionally restrict the card responsive to an outward force applied to the clamp actuator protrusions by the clamp actuator.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the clamping fingers comprise elongated, flexible channel members, the flexible channel members spaced to receive an edge of the card between the flexible channel members.

3. An apparatus for restricting a card within a card cage, the card having sides, the apparatus comprising:

a clamping mechanism for frictionally restricting facing sides of the card so as to restrict the card within the card cage, the clamping mechanism not for interferingly restricting an edge of the card; and

an actuating mechanism coupled to the clamping mechanism for actuating the clamping mechanism; and

wherein

the actuating mechanism is cooperatively coupled to that the clamping mechanism so that the clamping mechanism frictionally restricts the card responsive to a first force upon the actuating mechanism, the clamping mechanism releasing the card responsive to a second force upon the actuating mechanism;

the first force is an inward force, and

the clamping mechanism includes clamping fingers, the clamping finders displacing inwardly to frictionally restrict the card responsive to the inward force applied to the clamp actuator;

the clamping fingers are flexible and spaced apart a first distance to receive a card;

the actuating mechanism includes substantially inflexible actuating fingers spaced apart a second distance less than the first distance;

the inward force is applied to the clamping fingers by placing the actuating fingers on outside surfaces of the clamping fingers to inwardly displace the clamping fingers; and

the inward force is maintained until the actuating fingers are removed from the outside surfaces of the clamping fingers.

4. An apparatus for restricting a card within a card cage, the card having sides the apparatus comprising:

a clamping mechanism for frictionally restricting facing sides of the card so as to restrict the card within the card cage, the clamping mechanism not for interferingly restricting an edge of the card; and

an actuating mechanism coupled to the clamping mechanism for actuating the clamping mechanism; and

wherein the apparatus is movable on a track in the card cage along an axis parallel to the card to alternately clamp cards of different lengths in the card cage.

5. A locking card guide comprising:

a clamp including a first clamp finger, a second clamp finger, and a fulcrum, the first clamp finger and the second clamp finger coupled to the fulcrum; and

a clamp actuator coupled to the clamp for actuating the clamp so that the clamp continuously and frictionally restricts a card responsive to an initial force upon the clamp actuator; and

wherein

the first clamp finger includes a clamping end and an actuating end;

the second clamp finger includes a clamping end and an actuating end, the second clamp finger in substantially parallel, spaced relation to the first clamp finger, wherein the clamping end of the first clamp finger is opposite the clamping end of the second clamp finger and the actuating end of the first clamp finger is opposite the actuating end of the second clamp finger; and

the fulcrum portion is coupled between the first and second clamp fingers and between the clamping ends and the actuating ends of the first and second clamp fingers, the first and second clamp fingers rotationally flexible around the fulcrum portion; and

the clamp actuator is movably coupled to the clamp, the clamp actuator including a surface, the clamp actuator movable between a first position and a second position, the surface of the clamp actuator in the first position outwardly engaging the actuating ends of the first and second clamp fingers so that the clamping ends of the first and second clamp fingers displace inwardly to clamp the card.

6. The locking card guide of claim 5 wherein the clamp is elongated to provide a guide for installation of the card and to increasingly frictionally restrict the card.

7. A locking card guide comprising:

a clamp including a first clamp finger, a second clamp finger, and a fulcrum, the first clamp finger and the second clamp finger coupled to the fulcrum; and

a clamp actuator coupled to the clamp for actuating the clamp so that the clamp continuously and frictionally restricts a card responsive to an initial force upon the clamp actuator; and

wherein

the clamp includes clamp fingers capable of displacing inwardly to frictionally restrict the card responsive to an inward force applied to the clamping fingers by the clamp actuator;

the clamp fingers are flexible and are spaced apart a first distance to receive a card;

the clamp actuator includes substantially inflexible actuating fingers spaced apart a second distance less than the first distance;

the inward force is applied to the clamp fingers by placing the actuating fingers on outside surfaces of the clamp fingers to inwardly displace the clamp fingers; and

the inward force is maintained until the actuating fingers are removed from the outside surfaces of the clamping fingers.

8. A locking card guide comprising:

a clamp including a first clamp finger, a second clamp finger, and a fulcrum, the first clamp finger and the second clamp finger coupled to the fulcrum ; and

a clamp actuator coupled to the clamp for actuating the clamp so that the clamp continuously and frictionally restricts a card responsive to an initial force upon the clamp actuator; and

wherein

the clamp includes

a generally U-shaped channel for clasping a card, the channel having a base portion coupled to first and second channel legs; and

a generally U-shaped actuator receiver, the actuator receiver having a base portion coupled to first and second actuator receiver legs, the channel and the actuator receiver in positional relation to provide a generally H-shaped cross-section, the channel legs inwardly flexible in response to outward flex of the actuator receiver legs; and

the clamp actuator is hingedly coupled to the clamp;

the clamp actuator movable between a first position and a second position;

the clamp actuator in the first position applying a splitting force on the legs of the actuator receiver, thereby locking the clamp in a clamping position;

the clamp actuator in the second position releasing the splitting force from the actuator receiver.

9. A computer system comprising:

a motherboard including a microprocessor and a connector coupled to the microprocessor;

a computer chassis including an interior surface and an interiorly-positioned card cage associated with the interior surface, the card cage having a card slot therein to couple a card with the motherboard via the connector; and

an apparatus for restricting a card within the card slot of the card cage, the apparatus coupled to the computer chassis, the apparatus including

a clamping mechanism for frictionally restricting facing sides of the card so as to restrict the card within the computer system; and

an actuating mechanism coupled to the clamping mechanism for actuating the clamping mechanism; and

wherein

the actuating mechanism includes;

a clamp actuator receiver cooperatively coupled to the clamping mechanism so that the clamping mechanism frictionally restricts the card responsive to a force upon the clamp actuator receiver; and

a clamp actuator movably coupled to one of the clamping mechanism and the clamp actuator receiver, the clamp actuator capable of transferring an initial force applied to the clamp actuator to the clamp actuator receiver, the clamp actuator continuously applying a force to the clamp actuator receiver, thereby causing the clamping mechanism to continuously and substantially restrict the card from moving;

the clamping mechanism includes clamping fingers;

the clamp actuator receiver includes clamp actuator protrusions; and

the clamp actuator receiver and the clamping mechanism are cooperatively coupled so that the clamping fingers displace inwardly to frictionally restrict the card responsive to an outward force applied to the clamp actuator protrusions by the clamp actuator.

10. The computer system of claim 9 wherein the clamping fingers comprise elongated, flexible channel members, the flexible channel members spaced to receive an edge of the card between the flexible channel members.

11. A computer system comprising:

a motherboard including a microprocessor and a connector coupled to the microprocessor;

a computer chassis including an interior surface and an interiorly-positioned card case associated with the interior surface, the card cage having a card slot therein to couple a card with the motherboard via the connector; and

an apparatus for restricting a card within the card slot of the card cage, the apparatus coupled to the computer chassis, the apparatus including

a clamping mechanism for frictionally restricting facing sides of the card so as to restrict the card within the computer system; and

an actuating mechanism coupled to the clamping mechanism for actuating the clamping mechanism; and

wherein

the actuating mechanism is cooperatively coupled to the clamping mechanism so that the clamping mechanism frictionally restricts the card responsive to a first force upon the actuating mechanism, the clamping mechanism releasing the card responsive to a second force upon the actuating mechanism;

the first force is an inward force;

the clamping mechanism includes clamping fingers, the clamping fingers displacing inwardly to frictionally restrict the card responsive to the inward force applied to the clamp actuator;

the clamping fingers are flexible and spaced apart a first distance to receive a card;

the actuating mechanism includes substantially inflexible actuating fingers spaced apart a second distance less than the first distance;

the inward force is applied to the clamping fingers by placing the actuating fingers on outside surfaces of the clamping fingers to inwardly displace the clamping fingers; and

the inward force is maintained until the actuating fingers are removed from the outside surfaces of the clamping fingers.

12. A computer system comprising:

a motherboard including a microprocessor and a connector coupled to the microprocessor,

a computer chassis including an interior surface and an interiorly-positioned card cage associated with the interior surface, the card cage having a card slot therein to couple a card with the motherboard via the connector; and

an apparatus for restricting a card within the card slot of the card cage, the apparatus coupled to the computer chassis the apparatus including

a clamping mechanism for frictionally restricting facing sides of the card so as to restrict the card within the computer system; and

an actuating mechanism coupled to the clamping mechanism for actuating the clamping mechanism;

wherein the apparatus is movable along an axis parallel to the card to alternately clamp cards of different lengths.

13. A computer system comprising:

a motherboard including a microprocessor and a connector coupled to the microprocessor;

a computer chassis including an interior surface and an interiorly-positioned card cage associated with the interior surface, the card cage having a card slot therein to couple a card with the motherboard via the connector; and

a locking card guide for restricting a card within the card slot of the card cage, the locking card guide coupled to the computer chassis, the locking card guide including

a clamp including a first clamp finger, a second clamp finger and a fulcrum, the first clamp finger and the second clamp finger coupled to the fulcrum; and

a clamp actuator coupled to the clamp for actuating the clamp so that the clamp continuously and frictionally restricts the card responsive to an initial force upon the clamp actuator; and

wherein

the first clamp finger includes a clamping end and an actuating end;

the second clamp finger includes a clamping end and an actuating end, the second clamp finger in substantially parallel, spaced relation to the first clamp finger, wherein the clamping end of the first clamp finger is opposite the clamping end of the second clamp finger and the actuating end of the first clamp finger is opposite the actuating end of the second clamp finger; and

the fulcrum portion is coupled between the first and second clamp fingers and between the clamping ends and the actuating ends of the first and second clamp fingers, the first and second clamp fingers rotationally flexible around the fulcrum portion; and

the clamp actuator is movably coupled to the clamp, the clamp actuator including a surface, the clamp actuator movable between a first position and a second position, the surface of the clamp actuator in the first position outwardly engaging the actuating ends of the first and second clamp fingers so that the clamping ends of the first and second clamp fingers displace inwardly to clamp the card.

14. The computer system of claim 13 wherein the clamp is elongated to provide a guide for installation of the card and to increasingly frictionally restrict the card.

15. A computer system comprising:

a motherboard including a microprocessor and a connector coupled to the microprocessor;

a computer chassis including an interior surface and an interiorly-positioned card cage associated with the interior surface, the card cage having a card slot therein to couple a card with the motherboard via the connector; and

a locking card guide for restricting a card within the card slot of the card cage, the locking card guide coupled to the computer chassis, the locking card guide including

a clamp including a first clamp fingers, a second clamp finger and a fulcrum, the first clamp finger and the second clamp finger coupled to the fulcrum; and

a clamp actuator coupled to the clamp for actuating the clamp so that the clamp continuously and frictionally restricts the card responsive to an initial force upon the clamp actuator;

wherein

the clamp includes clamp fingers capable of displacing inwardly to frictionally restrict the card responsive to an inward force applied to the clamping fingers by the clamp actuator;

the clamp fingers are flexible and are spaced apart a first distance to receive a card;

the clamp actuator includes substantially inflexible actuating fingers spaced apart a second distance less than the first distance;

the inward force is applied to the clamp fingers by placing the actuating fingers on outside surfaces of the clamp fingers to inwardly displace the clamp fingers; and

the inward force is maintained until the actuating fingers are removed from the outside surfaces of the clamping fingers.

16. A computer system comprising:

a motherboard including a microprocessor and a connector coupled to the microprocessor;

a computer chassis including an interior surface and an interiorly-positioned card cage associated with the interior surface, the card cage having a card slot therein to couple a card with the motherboard via the connector; and

a locking card guide for restricting a card within the card slot of the card cage, the locking card guide coupled to the computer chassis, the locking card guide including

a clamp including a first clamp finger, a second clamp finger and a fulcrum, the first clamp finger and the second clamp finger coupled to the fulcrum; and

a clamp actuator coupled to the clamp for actuating the clamp so that the clamp continuously and frictionally restricts the card responsive to an initial force upon the clamp actuator; and

wherein

the clamp includes

a generally U-shaped channel for clasping a card; and

a generally U-shaped actuator receiver, the channel and the actuator receiver in positional relation to provide a generally H-shaped cross-section, the channel legs inwardly flexible in response to outward flex of the actuator receiver legs; and

the clamp actuator is hingedly coupled to the clamp;

the clamp actuator movable between a first position and a second position;

the clamp actuator in the first position applying a splitting force on the legs of the actuator receiver, thereby locking the clamp in a clamping position;

the clamp actuator in the second position releasing the splitting force from the actuator receiver.

17. A locking card guide comprising:

a clamp including a first clamp finger, a second clamp finger, and a fulcrum, the first clamp finger and the second clamp finger coupled to the fulcrum; and

a clamp actuator coupled to the clamp for actuating the clamp so that the clamp continuously and frictionally restricts a card responsive to an initial force upon the clamp actuator;

wherein the locking card guide is movable along an axis parallel to a card on a track in a card cage to alternately clamp cards of different lengths in the card cage.

18. A computer system comprising:

a motherboard including a microprocessor and a connector coupled to the microprocessor;

a computer chassis including an interior surface and an interiorly-positioned card cage associated with the interior surface, the card cage having a card slot therein to couple a card with the motherboard via the connector; and

an apparatus for restricting a card within the card slot of the card cage, the apparatus coupled to the computer chassis, the apparatus including

a clamping mechanism for frictionally restricting facing sides of the card so as to restrict the card within the computer system; and

an actuating mechanism coupled to the clamping mechanism for actuating the clamping mechanism;

wherein the apparatus for restricting the card within the card slot of the card cage is movable along an axis parallel to the card on a track in the card cage to alternately clamp cards of different lengths in the card cage.

19. A computer system comprising:

a motherboard including a microprocessor and a connector coupled to the microprocessor;

a computer chassis including an interior surface and an interiorly-positioned card cage associated with the interior surface, the card cage having a card slot therein to couple a card with the motherboard via the connector; and

a locking card guide for restricting a card within the card slot of the card cage, the locking card guide coupled to the computer chassis, the locking card guide including

a clamp including a first clamp finger a second clamp finger and a fulcrum, the first clamp finger and the second clamp finger coupled to the fulcrum; and

a clamp actuator coupled to the clamp for actuating the clamp so that the clamp continuously and frictionally restricts the card responsive to an initial force upon the clamp actuator;

wherein the locking card guide for restricting the card within the card slot of the card cage is movable along an axis parallel to the card on a track in the card cage to alternately clamp cards of different lengths in the card cage.