Computer expansion card latching and retention mechanism

• US 6,173,843 B1
• Filed: 11/15/1999
• Issued: 01/16/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gateway 2000, Inc. (Acer, Inc.), Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Inventors: Smith, Arthur L., Christensen, David M
• Primary Examiner(s): GIBSON, ROBERT W
• Application Number:
  US09/440,487
• Time in Patent Office: 428 Days
• Field of Search: 211/26, 211/41.17, 361/740, 361/759, 361/801, 361/683
• US Class Current: 211/41.17
• 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 7/1405 by clips or resilient members, e.g. hooks

Abstract

A spring-biased latching mechanism eliminates the use of brackets and screws to retain expansion cards or electronic circuit boards in computers or similar information handling systems. The spring-biased latching mechanism has a latching member that is cammed out of the path of a computer expansion card as the card is inserted into the computer housing; the latching or retention member may be pushed to a fully retracted or withdrawn position and latched, thus removing the latching member from interference with the expansion card and permitting easy removal of the expansion card. The spring-biased latching member is provided with a groove to provide guidance to the expansion card during insertion and may stabilize the card whenever the latching member is extended to retain the expansion card in position relative to a computer motherboard. Elimination of the screws and brackets prevents any potential damage to the electronics of the computer resultant from dropped screws or bracket contact and any subsequent damage to electronic circuit boards in the computer. The spring-biased latching mechanism also greatly improves the speed of assembly and/or disassembly.

Claims

1. A retaining apparatus comprising:

an apparatus housing, said retaining apparatus capable of being inserted into a computer housing for receiving and retaining an expansion card;

a slidably displaceable member in physical communication with said apparatus housing having an outward bias from said apparatus housing;

a biasing spring disposed intermediate said apparatus housing and said slidably displaceable member;

said slidably displaceable member comprising a surface and being capable of being slidably displaced into said apparatus housing by exertion of a force against said surface by insertion of the expansion card into the computer housing;

said slidably displaceable member being capable of returning to an outward bias position relative to said apparatus housing once the expansion card is properly inserted into the computer housing, thereby securing the expansion card in the computer housing; and

said slidably displaceable member being capable of being locked into an inward position relative to said apparatus housing to enable easy removal of the expansion card by avoiding interference with such removal.

2. The retaining apparatus of claim 1 wherein said slidably displaceable member is releaseably latchable in the inward position.

3. The retaining apparatus of claim 2 wherein said slidably displaceable member is stabilized relative to said apparatus housing.

4. The retaining apparatus of claim 3 wherein said biasing spring is stabilized to prevent collapse.

5. The retaining apparatus of claim 4 wherein said biasing spring is stabilized by a stabilizing portion of said slidably displaceable member.

6. The retaining apparatus of claim 2 wherein said apparatus housing further provides a latching member, said latching member being operable to latch said slidably displaceable member in the inward position.

7. The retaining apparatus of claim 6 wherein said latching member is displaceable relative to said slidably displaceable member to unlatch said slidably displaceable member thereby permitting extension thereof from said apparatus housing.

8. The retaining apparatus of claim 1 wherein said apparatus housing is latchably retainable in the computer housing.

9. An article of manufacture comprising:

a housing;

a spring-biased latch within said housing capable of securing a properly inserted expansion card;

a second latch capable of retaining said spring-biased latch in a retracted position within said housing for enabling unobstructed removal of the expansion card; and

a manually-operable release mechanism capable of disengaging said second latch to enable extension of said spring-biased latch outwardly of said housing in order to secure the expansion card in its properly inserted position.

10. The article of manufacture of claim 9 wherein said article of manufacture is latchably attachable to a computer housing.

11. The article of manufacture of claim 10 wherein said housing further comprises a latching mechanism for latchably attaching said article of manufacture to the computer housing.

12. The article of manufacture of claim 9 wherein said housing is formed as an integral part of a panel of the computer housing.

13. The article of manufacture of claim 9 wherein said spring-biased latch is retained in an assembled condition in said housing by said second latch.

14. The article of manufacture of claim 9 wherein said release mechanism comprises a manually deflectable third latching member engageable with said second latch.

15. The article of manufacture of claim 9 wherein said spring-biased latch further comprises a guiding surface for engagement by said expansion card.

16. The article of manufacture of claim 9 wherein said article of manufacture further comprises a surface for constraining said properly inserted expansion card against lateral movement.

17. A rapid assembly/disassembly device, for aiding in the assembly of an expansion card into a computer housing or disassembly of the expansion card from the computer housing, comprising:

a spring-biased latch;

a latch housing capable of allowing said spring-biased latch to retract and allow passage of the expansion card for assembly into the computer housing;

a second latch capable of engaging said spring-biased latch in a withdrawn position; and

said second latch manually displaceable to release said spring-biased latch, thereby permitting extension of said spring-biased latch into a retaining position relative to the expansion card.

18. The rapid assembly/disassembly device of claim 17 wherein said second latch is deflectably mounted on a cantilevered beam.

19. The rapid assembly/disassembly device of claim 17 wherein said spring-biased latch is stabilized relative to said latch housing and capable of preventing possible binding of said spring-biased latch and said latch housing.

20. The rapid assembly/disassembly device of claim 19 wherein said spring-biased latch comprises a stabilizing shaft extendable through said latch housing.

21. The rapid assembly/disassembly device of claim 19 further comprising a spring resiliently engaged intermediate said latch housing and said spring-biased latch.

22. The rapid assembly/disassembly device of claim 21 wherein said spring is further stabilized by said stabilizer shaft.

23. The rapid assembly/disassembly device of claim 22 wherein said latch housing comprises a retaining latch capable of attaching said latch housing to a portion of said computer housing.