Grounding structure for network card

• US 6,641,409 B1
• Filed: 06/06/2002
• Issued: 11/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Yin Tsair Gu
• Original Assignee: Yin Tsair Gu
• Inventors: Gu, Yin Tsair
• Primary Examiner(s): TA, THO DAC
• Application Number:
  US10/162,649
• Time in Patent Office: 516 Days
• Field of Search: 439/76.1, 439/946, 439/95, 439/607, 361/737
• US Class Current: 439/76.1
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/04 for network, e.g. LAN connectors
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/3405 Edge mounted components, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0269 Card housings therefor, e.g. covers, frames, PCB
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/946 Memory card cartridge

Abstract

A grounding structure for network card, particularly the network card for notebook computers, mainly includes a grounding member connected to a top of a connector of the network card. The grounding member is provided at an edge with a plurality of pins for welding to or contacting with a circuit board of the network card. The grounding member has an upper grounding plane that is exposed from a front edge of an upper case of the network card to flush with a top of the upper case. A plurality of conductive dots are equally spaced on the grounding plane for the grounding member to function as a grounding conductor and thereby protect electronic elements on the circuit board against burning out.

Claims

1. A grounding structure for a network card, comprising a network card and a grounding member;

said network card including an upper case, a lower case, a circuit board mounted between said upper and lower cases, and a connector welded to a front edge of said circuit board;

said upper case being provided at two front corners with two forwardly extending retaining arms, which together with a front edge of said upper case form a generally U-shaped frame defining a forward opened space;

said lower case being provided at inner wall surfaces near two front corners with two laterally inward opened sockets, and at said two front corners with two catches for engaging with said retaining arms of said upper case, so that said upper case is closed onto said lower case; and

said connector being an elongated member and being provided at two lateral ends with two laterally outward projected retaining blocks for engaging with said sockets on said lower case and thereby locating said connector in place on said lower case, and said two retaining blocks being provided on respective top surfaces with two vertically extended slots; and

said grounding member being provided at two lateral ends with two vertically downward extended lugs for engaging with said slots on said retaining blocks of said connector to fixedly connect said grounding member to a top of said connector, at an edge adjacent to the front edge of said circuit board with a plurality of bent pins for welding to or contacting with said circuit board, and at an upper surface that is adjacent to said bent pins and serves as a grounding plane with a plurality of equally spaced and upward protruded conductive dots for said grounding member to function as a grounding conductor;

whereby when said upper case is closed onto said lower case, said forward opened space defined at a front end of the said upper case allows said grounding plane of said grounding member to be exposed from and flush with a top of said upper case to provide the function of a grounding conductor and accordingly protect electronic elements on said circuit board against burning out, and whereby said network card could be quickly assembled for use and disassembled for repair and maintenance without causing damages to components thereof.

2. The grounding structure for a network card as claimed in claim 1, wherein said two retaining arms of said upper case constitute two short lateral sides of said U-shaped frame and are provided at respective inner longitudinal edges with two laterally inward opened notches, with which said two vertically downward extended lugs provided at two lateral ends of said grounding member are engaged to secure said upper case to said lower case.

3. The grounding structure for a network card as claimed in claim 1, wherein said two lugs at two lateral ends of said grounding member are provided at respective outer vertical surfaces with two outward and upward inclined elastic tabs, which automatically press against inner walls of said slots provided at two lateral ends of said connector when said lugs are engaged with said slots, so as to ensure tight connection of said grounding member to the top of said connector.