Printed circuit board bracket assembly and system

• US 6,239,979 B1
• Filed: 11/04/1998
• Issued: 05/29/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Ruff, Charles C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gandhi, Jayprakash N.
• Application Number:
  US09/185,496
• Time in Patent Office: 937 Days
• Field of Search: 361/683, 361/686, 361/753, 361/759, 361/797, 361/799, 361/801, 361/802, 361/825, 439/62, 439/327, 211/41.17, 248/559, 174/260, 174/267, 174/138 E, 174/138 G
• US Class Current: 361/759
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1405 by clips or resilient members, e.g. hooks

Abstract

A bracket assembly includes a bracket which readily and easily couples with a printed circuit board. The bracket includes at least one tab assembly foldably attached with a support flange for supporting the printed circuit board. The bracket also includes an outer flange which is coupled with the computer chassis. Alignment apertures on the support flange and the printed circuit board facilitate the alignment of the printed circuit board, and allow for rework of the printed circuit board. Each tab assembly is adapted to frictionally engage with corresponding features on the printed circuit board.

Claims

1. A bracket for retaining a printed circuit board comprising:

a support flange adapted to receive the printed circuit board thereon;

an outer flange coupled with and disposed adjacent to the support flange; and

at least one assembly tab foldably coupled with the support flange, the at least one assembly tab including a shoulder portion and a flexible portion, wherein the flexible portion extends to a distal tip, the distal tip adapted for coupling with coupling features of a printed circuit board, the at least one assembly tab foldable from a first unfolded, uncoupled position to a second folded, coupled position.

2. The bracket as recited in claim 1, wherein the distal tip comprises a rounded tip portion.

3. The bracket as recited in claim 1, wherein the support flange further comprises a first set of apertures therein.

4. The bracket as recited in claim 3, wherein the support flange further comprises a second set of apertures therein.

5. The bracket as recited in claim 1, wherein a width of the distal tip is less than a width of the shoulder portion.

6. The bracket as recited in claim 1, wherein the support flange comprises a cutout adapted to receive connector alignment pins therethrough.

7. The bracket as recited in claim 1, wherein the support flange extends from a first end to a second end, and an assembly tab is disposed at the first end and the second end.

8. The bracket as recited in claim 1, wherein the shoulder has a predetermined height of 0.060 inches in a preformed position.

9. The bracket as recited in claim 1, wherein the outer flange is transverse to the support flange.

10. A bracket assembly comprising:

a bracket including a support flange adapted to receive a printed circuit board thereon;

at least one assembly tab foldably coupled with the support flange, the at least one assembly tab including a shoulder portion and a flexible portion, wherein the flexible portion extends to a distal tip, the distal tip adapted for coupling with coupling features of a printed circuit board, the at least one assembly tab foldable from a first unfolded, uncoupled position to a second folded, coupled position;

an outer flange coupled with and disposed adjacent to the support flange; and

a printed circuit board coupled with the support flange, the printed circuit board including coupling features integral therewith.

11. The bracket assembly as recited in claim 10, wherein the printed circuit board has a first set of circuit board apertures disposed therein.

12. The bracket as recited in claim 11, wherein each assembly tab is engaged within at least one circuit board aperture.

13. The bracket as recited in claim 12, wherein the support flange further comprises a first set of apertures therein, where the first set of apertures are aligned with the first set of circuit board apertures.

14. The bracket as recited in claim 13, wherein the support flange further comprises a second set of apertures therein, the second set of apertures adjacent to the first set of apertures of the support flange.

15. The bracket as recited in claim 11, wherein the printed circuit board is electrically grounded with the bracket.

16. A bracket assembly comprising:

a bracket including a support flange, the support flange including a first set of apertures and a second set of apertures;

a first and second assembly tab each foldably coupled with the support flange, each assembly tab including a shoulder portion and a flexible portion, wherein the flexible portion extends to a rounded distal tip;

an outer flange coupled with and disposed adjacent to the support flange; and

a printed circuit board coupled with the support flange, the printed circuit board having a first set of circuit board apertures disposed therein, the first set of circuit board apertures aligned with the first set of support flange apertures;

wherein the first and second assembly tab are engaged within the first set of circuit board apertures.

17. The bracket as recited in claim 16, wherein the distal tip comprises a rounded tip portion.

18. The bracket as recited in claim 16, wherein a width of the distal tip is less than a width of the shoulder portion.

19. The bracket as recited in claim 16, wherein the shoulder has a predetermined height of 0.060 inches in a preformed position.

20. A bracket assembly and computer system comprising:

a computer chassis including a base portion, and walls; and

a bracket assembly disposed within the computer chassis, the bracket assembly comprising;

a support flange;

at least one assembly tab foldably coupled with the support flange, the at least one assembly tab including a shoulder portion and a flexible portion, wherein the flexible portion extends to a distal tip, the distal tip adapted for coupling with coupling features of a printed circuit board, the at least one assembly tab foldable from a first unfolded, uncoupled position to a second folded, coupled position;

an outer flange coupled with and disposed adjacent to the support flange; and

a printed circuit board coupled with the support flange, the printed circuit board including coupling features integral therewith.

21. A bracket for retaining a printed circuit board comprising:

a support flange adapted to receive the printed circuit board thereon, the support flange having a first set of apertures therein;

an outer flange coupled with and disposed adjacent to the support flange; and

at least one assembly tab coupled with the support flange, the at least one assembly tab including a shoulder portion and a flexible portion, the at least one assembly tab folding from a first unfolded, uncoupled position to a second folded and coupled position, the distal tip adapted for coupling with coupling features of a printed circuit board.

22. The bracket as recited in claim 21, wherein the support flange further comprises a second set of apertures therein.

23. The bracket as recited in claim 22, the second set of apertures configured to receive a distal tip of the at least one assembly tab therein.

24. A bracket assembly comprising:

a bracket including a support flange adapted to receive a printed circuit board thereon, the support flange including a first set of apertures therein;

at least one assembly tab foldably coupled with the support flange, the at least one assembly tab including a shoulder portion and a flexible portion, wherein the flexible portion extends to a distal tip, the distal tip adapted for coupling with coupling features of a printed circuit board;

an outer flange coupled with and disposed adjacent to the support flange;

a printed circuit board coupled with the support flange, the printed circuit board including coupling features integral therewith, and

the printed circuit board having a first set of circuit board apertures disposed therein, the first set of apertures being aligned with the first set of circuit board apertures, each assembly tab engaged within at least one circuit board aperture.

25. The bracket as recited in claim 24, wherein the support flange further comprises a second set of apertures therein, second set of apertures adjacent to the first set of apertures of the support flange.

26. A bracket for retaining a printed circuit board comprising:

a support flange adapted to receive the printed circuit board thereon;

an outer flange coupled with and disposed adjacent to the support flange;

at least one assembly tab foldably coupled with the support flange, the at least one assembly tab including a shoulder portion and a flexible portion, wherein the flexible portion extends to a distal tip, the distal tip adapted for coupling with coupling features of a printed circuit board; and

the support flange extends from a first end to a second end, and an assembly tab is disposed at the first end and the second end.

27. A bracket for retaining a printed circuit board comprising:

a support flange adapted to receive the printed circuit board thereon;

an outer flange coupled with and disposed adjacent to the support flange; and

at least one assembly tab foldably coupled with the support flange, the at least one assembly tab including a shoulder portion and a flexible portion, wherein the flexible portion extends to a distal tip, the distal tip adapted for coupling with coupling features of a printed circuit board;

and the shoulder has a predetermined height of 0.060 inches in a preformed position.

28. A bracket assembly comprising:

a bracket including a support flange adapted to receive a printed circuit board thereon;

at least one assembly tab foldably coupled with the support flange, the at least one assembly tab including a shoulder portion and a flexible portion, wherein the flexible portion extends to a distal tip, the distal tip adapted for coupling with coupling features of a printed circuit board;

an outer flange coupled with and disposed adjacent to the support flange;

a printed circuit board coupled with the support flange, the printed circuit board including coupling features integral therewith; and

the printed circuit board has a first set of circuit board apertures disposed therein, the support flange further comprises a first set of apertures therein, where the first set of apertures are aligned with the first set of circuit board apertures, each assembly tab is engaged within at least one circuit board aperture.

29. The bracket as recited in claim 28, wherein the support flange further comprises a second set of apertures therein, the second set of apertures adjacent to the first set of apertures of the support flange.

30. A bracket assembly comprising:

a bracket including a support flange adapted to receive a printed circuit board thereon;

at least one assembly tab foldably coupled with the support flange, the at least one assembly tab including a shoulder portion and a flexible portion, wherein the flexible portion extends to a distal tip, the distal tip adapted for coupling with coupling features of a printed circuit board;

an outer flange coupled with and disposed adjacent to the support flange;

a printed circuit board coupled with the support flange, the printed circuit board including coupling features integral therewith, the printed circuit board having a first set of circuit board apertures disposed therein; and

the printed circuit board is electrically grounded with the bracket.