Electrically conductive vibration dampener

• US 6,233,140 B1
• Filed: 01/22/1999
• Issued: 05/15/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dell USA LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell USA LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Cummings, John A., Yeager, Susan A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Donels, Jeffrey
• Application Number:
  US09/235,846
• Time in Patent Office: 844 Days
• Field of Search: 361/681-683, 361/807, 361/808, 361/812, 248/917, 345/905
• US Class Current: 361/679.55
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1601 Constructional details related to the housing of computer displays, e.g. of CRT monitors, of flat displays constructional details related to flat displays integrated in a portable computer, e.g. laptop, handheld computer G06F1/1637; constructional details related to television receivers H04N5/64
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1637 Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/183 Internal mounting support structures, e.g. for printed circuit boards, internal connecting means for buses G06F13/409
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1612 Flat panel monitor
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 9/0016 having a spring contact
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/917 Video display screen support
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 345/905 Display device with housing structure

Abstract

An electrically conductive vibration dampener is formed from an electrically conductive base, such as a piece of stamped metal, with at least one tab projecting from the base, and a dampening material member coupled to the base so that the tab can be oriented to provide electrical continuity between other conductors when the electrically conductive vibration dampener is installed into a device. The dampening material member is molded to the base, attached to the base with adhesive, or mechanically attached by for example, registering an edge of the base to a groove formed in the dampening material member. Additionally, the electrically conductive vibration dampener can include an aperture through which a fastener can pass, so that the electrically conductive vibration dampener can be used much like a grommet or washer when fastening components together.

Claims

1. An electrically conductive vibration dampener comprising:

an electrically conductive base having a first surface and an opposing second surface, the base including at least one tab; and

a dampening material member coupled to the base so as to be at least partially located on the first surface of the base;

the at least one tab being located so that when the electrically conductive vibration dampener is installed in a device, the at least one tab is part of an electrically conductive path between a first conductor and a second conductor in the device.

2. The electrically conductive vibration dampener of claim 1 wherein the at least one tab is oriented to extend over the dampening material member such that a portion of the dampening material member is located between the at least one tab and another portion of the base.

3. The electrically conductive vibration dampener of claim 1 wherein the at least one tab is a plurality of tabs.

4. The electrically conductive vibration dampener of claim 1 wherein the dampening material member is coupled to the base so as to be at least partially located on the first surface and the second surface of the base.

5. The electrically conductive vibration dampener of claim 1 wherein the dampening material member is coupled to the base with an adhesive.

6. The electrically conductive vibration dampener of claim 1 wherein the base includes an aperture extending from the first surface to the second surface and having an aperture inner edge, and wherein the dampening material member includes a groove extending around a periphery of the dampening material member, the groove for supporting the inner edge of the aperture.

7. The electrically conductive vibration dampener of claim 6 wherein the dampening material member is a grommet.

8. The electrically conductive vibration dampener of claim 1 wherein the dampening material member is molded onto the base so as to be at least partially located on the first surface and the second surface of the base.

9. The electrically conductive vibration dampener of claim 8 wherein the base includes an aperture extending from the first surface to the second surface and having an aperture inner edge, the dampening material member being molded around the aperture inner edge and including a dampening material member aperture at least partially coextensive with the base aperture.

10. The electrically conductive vibration dampener of claim 9 wherein the base includes a molding aperture extending from the first surface to the second surface, the a portion of the dampening material member extending through the molding aperture.

11. The electrically conductive vibration dampener of claim 8 wherein:

the at least one tab is a plurality of tabs;

a first tab of the plurality of tabs is oriented to extend over the dampening material member such that a first portion of the dampening material member is located between the first tab and the first surface of the base; and

a second tab of the plurality of tabs is oriented to extend over the dampening material member such that a second portion of the dampening material member is located between the second tab and the second surface of the base.

12. The electrically conductive vibration dampener of claim 1 wherein the dampening material member is formed from one of elastomer, rubber, plastic, and resin.

13. The electrically conductive vibration dampener of claim 1 wherein the conductive base is formed from one of a metal and a plastic coated with an electrically conductive material.

14. A computer system comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled to the processor;

a chassis supporting the processor and memory;

a flat panel display secured to the chassis with a fastener; and

an electrically conductive vibration dampener located between the flat panel display and the chassis, the electrically conductive vibration dampener comprising;

an electrically conductive base having a first surface and an opposing second surface, the base including at least one tab; and

a dampening material member coupled to the base so as to be at least partially located on the first surface of the base;

the at least one tab making electrical contact with at least one of a chassis conductor and a flat panel display conductor.

15. The computer system of claim 14 wherein the chassis includes flat panel display retention bracket which serves as the chassis conductor, the fastener coupling the flat panel display to the flat panel display retention bracket.

16. The computer system of claim 14 wherein the flat panel display conductor is one of a flat panel display frame and a flat panel display carrier tray.

17. The computer system of claim 14 wherein the at least one tab is oriented to extend over the dampening material member such that a portion of the dampening material member is located between the at least one tab and another portion of the base.

18. The computer system of claim 14 wherein the dampening material member is coupled to the base so as to be at least partially located on the first surface and the second surface of the base.

19. The computer system of claim 14 wherein the base includes an aperture extending from the first surface to the second surface and having an aperture inner edge, and wherein the dampening material member includes a groove extending around a periphery of the dampening material member, the groove for supporting the inner edge of the aperture.

20. The computer system of claim 14 wherein the dampening material member is molded onto the base so as to be at least partially located on the first surface and the second surface of the base.

21. The computer system of claim 20 wherein the base includes an aperture extending from the first surface to the second surface and having an aperture inner edge, the dampening material member being molded around the aperture inner edge and including a dampening material member aperture at least partially coextensive with the base aperture, the fastener passing through the dampening material member aperture.

22. The computer system of claim 20 wherein:

the at least one tab is a plurality of tabs;

a first tab of the plurality of tabs is oriented to extend over the dampening material member such that a first portion of the dampening material member is located between the first tab and the first surface of the base; and

a second tab of the plurality of tabs is oriented to extend over the dampening material member such that a second portion of the dampening material member is located between the second tab and the second surface of the base.

23. An electrically conductive vibration dampener comprising:

a means for conducting electricity including at least one contact means; and

a means for dampening vibration coupled to the means for conducting electricity;

the at least one contact means being located so that when the electrically conductive vibration dampener is installed in a device, the at least one contact means is part of an electrically conductive path between a first conductor and a second conductor in the device.

24. The electrically conductive vibration dampener of claim 23 wherein the means for dampening vibration is molded to the means for conducting electricity and the at least one contact means protrudes from the means for dampening vibration.

25. The electrically conductive vibration dampener of claim 24 wherein the means for dampening vibration is formed from one of elastomer, rubber, plastic, and resin.

26. The electrically conductive vibration dampener of claim 23 wherein the at least one contact means is oriented so that at least a portion of the means for dampening vibration is located between the at least one contact means and another portion of the means for conducting electricity.

27. The electrically conductive vibration dampener of claim 23 further comprising a fastener aperture through which at least a portion of a fastener can pass.

28. The electrically conductive vibration dampener of claim 23 wherein the means for conducting electricity is formed from a substantially flat piece of one of metal and plastic coated with an electrically conductive material.