Printed circuit board top side mounting standoff

• US 6,347,042 B1
• Filed: 10/26/1999
• Issued: 02/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: White, Wade
• Primary Examiner(s): Gaffin, Jeffrey
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran, Thanh Y.
• Application Number:
  US09/427,429
• Time in Patent Office: 840 Days
• Field of Search: 361/716, 361/736, 361/748, 361/719, 361/742, 361/785, 361/801, 361/803, 361/804, 361/683, 361/758, 439/71, 174/138.D, 174/138.G, 174/138.R
• US Class Current: 361/784
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/142 Spacers not being card guides

Abstract

A printed circuit board top side mounting system is presented and includes a printed circuit board having a primary side and a secondary side. The printed circuit board top side mounting system also has a surface member that has a point with a generally constant distance in relation to the primary side. The printed circuit board top side mounting system further includes a standoff with a elongated shape which has a predetermined set dimension that includes the constant distance disposed in going through a slot in the printed circuit board. The standoff further includes a first end disposed to fixing the first end rigidly on the printed circuit board and a second end disposed in connecting rigidly to the surface member.

Claims

1. A printed circuit board mounting assembly, comprising:

a printed circuit board having a primary side and a secondary side;

a surface member having a point with generally a constant distance in relation to the primary side; and

a standoff with a elongated shape having a predetermined set dimension including the generally constant distance extending through a slot in the printed circuit board, the standoff further comprising;

a threaded inner surface and a threaded outer surface on an elongated section;

a first end connected to the printed circuit board and a second end connected to the surface member; and

the elongated section having a curved surface and a complementary curved surface, and the elongated section further having a flat surface and a complementary flat surface.

2. The printed circuit board mounting assembly of claim 1 further comprising:

a first affixing member to affix the standoff rigidly to the surface member.

3. The printed circuit board mounting assembly of claim 2 wherein the first affixing member comprises a screw threadedly connected to the threaded inner surface of the standoff.

4. The printed circuit board mounting assembly of claim 2 wherein the surface member comprises a sheet metal plate having an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the inner surface defines a starting point for the generally constant distance with the primary side.

5. The printed circuit board mounting assembly of claim 2 wherein the surface member includes a hole therein for receiving the first affixing member affixed to the standoff.

6. The printed circuit board mounting assembly of claim 1 further comprising:

a second affixing member to affix the standoff rigidly to the printed circuit board.

7. The printed circuit board mounting assembly of claim 6 wherein the second affixing member comprises a nut threadedly connected to the threaded outer surface of the standoff.

8. The printed circuit board mounting assembly of claim 1 wherein the primary side has components mounted thereon with the components including a surface connector.

9. The printed circuit board mounting assembly of claim 1 wherein the slot has a dimension greater than that of the standoff, wherein the printed circuit board is adjustably connected to the standoff.

10. The printed circuit board mounting assembly of claim 9 wherein the slot has a generally oval shape for adjustment, wherein the printed circuit board is adjustably connected to the standoff.

11. A method for adjustably mounting a printed circuit board on a surface member using a standoff, the method comprising:

determining a primary side and a secondary side of the surface member;

locating the standoff having a generally constant distance with the primary side, the standoff further comprising;

a threaded inner surface and a threaded outer surface; and

an elongated section having a curved surface and a complementary curved surface, and the elongated section further having a flat surface and a complementary flat surface;

creating a slot on the printed circuit board with the slot having greater dimension than a segment of the standoff;

extending the segment of the standoff through the slot;

adjusting the printed circuit board to reduce tension therein; and

affixing the standoff to the surface member at the generally constant distance.

12. The method for adjustably mounting the printed circuit board on the surface member using the standoff of claim 11 further comprising:

affixing a first affixing member to an end of the standoff to rigidly connect the standoff to the surface member; and

affixing a second affixing member to the segment of the standoff to rigidly connect the standoff to the printed circuit board.