Apparatus for securing a removable circuit card in a computing system

• US 6,760,228 B1
• Filed: 02/25/2003
• Issued: 07/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Makley, Albert Vincent, Crockett, Timothy Wayne, Chi, Hye Suk
• Primary Examiner(s): Martin, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): Levi, Dameon E.
• Application Number:
  US10/374,121
• Time in Patent Office: 497 Days
• Field of Search: 361/737, 361/747, 361/740, 361/759, 361/726, 361/785, 361/787, 439/680, 439/681, 235/382, 235/475, 235/479, 235/492
• US Class Current: 361/737
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1415 manual gripping tools

Abstract

A circuit card includes a key receptacle and at least one movable braking member, holding the circuit card in place within a card receptacle of an electronic device when a key is not fully inserted within the key receptacle. When the key is so inserted, the circuit card can be easily removed. Preferably, the key includes a releasable latch holding the key within the key receptacle.

Claims

1. Circuit card apparatus selectively removable from a card receptacle, comprising:

a circuit board;

guiding surfaces attached to said circuit board and extending along opposite edges of said circuit board for guiding said circuit board into said card receptacle;

a key receptacle attached to said circuit board;

a key removably insertable within said key receptacle; and

a first braking member movably mounted within said circuit card apparatus, wherein said first braking member is held in an extended position, extending outward to contact said card receptacle, with said key removed from said key receptacle, and wherein said first braking member is held in a retracted position, displaced inward from said extended position, when said key is fully inserted in said key receptacle.

2. The circuit card apparatus of claim 1, additionally comprising a first releasable latch holding said key fully inserted within said key receptacle.

3. The circuit card apparatus of claim 1, wherein

said key includes an insertion limiting structure, and

said circuit card apparatus additionally comprises an interposing member providing a path for passage of said insertion limiting structure as said key is fully inserted within said key receptacle.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, additionally comprising a second braking member movably mounted within said circuit card apparatus, wherein said second braking member is held in an extended position, extending outward to contact said card receptacle, with said key removed from said key receptacle, and wherein said second braking member is held in a retracted position, displaced inward from said extended position, when said key fully inserted in said key receptacle.

5. The circuit card apparatus of claim 4, wherein

said first braking member extends outward from a first edge of said circuit card apparatus with said key removed from said key receptacle, and

said second braking member extends outward from a second edge of said circuit card apparatus, opposite said first edge of said circuit card apparatus, with said key removed from said key receptacle.

6. Circuit card apparatus selectively removable from a card receptacle, comprising:

a circuit board;

guiding surfaces attached to said circuit board and extending along opposite edges of said circuit board for guiding said circuit board into said card receptacle;

a key receptacle attached to said circuit board;

a key removably insertable within said key receptacle; and

a first braking member movably mounted within said circuit card apparatus, wherein said first braking member is held in an extended position, extending outward to contact said card receptacle, with said key removed from said key receptacle, and wherein said first braking member is held in a retracted position, displaced inward from said extended position, when said key is fully inserted in said key receptacle, and wherein said first braking member extends outward from a first edge of said circuit card apparatus with said key removed from said key receptacle

a second braking member movably mounted within said circuit card apparatus, wherein said second braking member is held in an extended position, extending outward to contact said card receptacle, with said key removed from said key receptacle, and wherein said second braking member is held in a retracted position, displaced inward from said extended position, when said key fully inserted in said key receptacle, and wherein said second braking member extends outward from a second edge of said circuit card apparatus, opposite said first edge of said circuit card apparatus, with said key removed from said key receptacle; and

a spring member extending between said first and second braking members, wherein said spring member holds said first braking member in said extended position of said first braking member and said second braking member in said extended position of said second braking member with said key removed from said key receptacle, and wherein said key has a distal end deflecting said spring member as said key is fully inserted in said key receptacle to move said first braking member into said retracted position of said first braking member and to move said second braking member into said retracted position of said second braking member.

7. The circuit card apparatus of claim 6, wherein

said first and second braking members are each pivotally mounted within said circuit card apparatus,

a first end of said spring member is rigidly attached to said first braking member,

a second end of said spring member, opposite said first end of said spring member, is rigidly attached to said second braking member,

said distal end of said key contacts said a central portion of said spring member to cause pivoting movement of said first and second braking members as said key is fully inserted into said key receptacle.

8. The circuit card apparatus of claim 7, additionally including an interposing structure having a pathway, wherein said key additionally includes a tab moving within said pathway as said key is fully inserted within said key receptacle.

9. The circuit card apparatus of claim 6, wherein

said key receptacle includes a first latching surface,

said key includes a first releasable latch movable with said key in said fully inserted position between a latched position and an unlatched position,

said first releasable latch in said latched position contacts said first latching surface as said key is moved from said fully inserted position to prevent removal of said key from said key receptacle, and

said first releasable latch in said released position moves past said first latching surface as said key is moved from said fully inserted position to allow removal of said key from said key receptacle.

10. The circuit card apparatus of claim 9, wherein

said first latching surface is disposed adjacent said first edge of said circuit card apparatus,

said key receptacle additionally includes a second latching surface, disposed adjacent said second edge of said circuit card apparatus,

said key additionally includes a second releasable latch movable with said key in said fully inserted position between a latched position and an unlatched position,

said second releasable latch in said latched position contacts said second latching surface as said key is moved from said fully inserted position to prevent removal of said key from said key receptacle, and

said second releasable latch in said released position moves past said second latching surface as said key is moved from said fully inserted position to allow removal of said key from said key receptacle.

11. The circuit card apparatus of claim 10, wherein

each of said first and second releasable latches includes an accessible portion extending outward from said key receptacle with said key fully inserted in said key receptacle, and

moving said accessible portions of said first and second releasable latches toward one another moves said first releasable latch into said released position of said first releasable latch and moves said second releasable latch into said released position of said second releasable latch.

12. Apparatus comprising an electronic device including a card receptacle and a circuit card selectively removable from said card receptacle, wherein said circuit card includes:

a circuit board;

guiding surfaces attached to said circuit board and extending along opposite edges of said circuit board for guiding said circuit board into said card receptacle

a key receptacle attached to said circuit board;

a key removably insertable within said key receptacle; and

a first braking member movably mounted within said circuit card, wherein said first braking member is held in an extended position, extending outward to contact said card receptacle, with said key removed from said key receptacle, and wherein said first braking member is held in a retracted position, displaced inward from said extended position, when said key is fully inserted in said key receptacle.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein

said circuit card is removed from said card receptacle by moving said circuit card in a withdrawal direction within said card receptacle with said key fully inserted in said key receptacle, and

a friction force generated between said first braking member and said key receptacle by moving said circuit card in said withdrawal direction with said key removed from said card receptacle increases a normal force exerted between said first braking member and said card receptacle.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein

said first braking member extends outward from a first edge of said circuit card with said key removed from said key receptacle, and

said circuit card additionally includes a second braking member movably mounted within said circuit card,

said second braking member is held in an extended position, extending outward from a second edge of said card receptacle, opposite said first edge to contact said card receptacle, with said key removed from said key receptacle,

said second braking member is held in a retracted position, displaced inward from said extended position, when said key is fully inserted in said key receptacle, and

a friction force generated between said second braking member and said key receptacle by moving said circuit card in said withdrawal direction with said key removed from said card receptacle increases a normal force exerted between said second braking member and said card receptacle.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein

said circuit card is removed from said card receptacle by moving said circuit card in a withdrawal direction within said card receptacle with said key fully inserted in said key receptacle, and

said card receptacle includes a first stopping surface contacting said first braking member in said extended position when said circuit card is moved in said withdrawal direction from said fully inserted position to prevent removal of said circuit card from said card receptacle with said key removed from said key receptacle.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein

said first braking member extends outward from a first edge of said circuit card with said key removed from said key receptacle, and

said circuit card additionally includes a second braking member movably mounted within said circuit card,

said second braking member is held in an extended position, extending outward from a second edge of said circuit card, opposite said first edge, to contact said card receptacle, with said key removed from said key receptacle,

said second braking member is held in a retracted position, displaced inward from said extended position, when said key is fully inserted in said key receptacle, and

said card receptacle includes a second stopping surface contacting said second braking member in said extended position when said circuit card is moved in said withdrawal direction from said fully inserted position to prevent removal of said key from said card receptacle with said key removed from said key receptacle.

15. Apparatus comprising an electronic device including a card receptacle and a circuit card selectively removable from said card receptacle, wherein said circuit card includes:

a circuit board;

guiding surfaces attached to said circuit board and extending along opposite edges of said circuit board for guiding said circuit board into said card receptacle

a key receptacle attached to said circuit board;

a key removably insertable within said key receptacle; and

a first braking member pivotally mounted within said circuit card, wherein said first braking member is held in an extended position, extending outward to contact said card receptacle, with said key removed from said key receptacle, and wherein said first braking member is held in a retracted position, displaced inward from said extended position, when said key is fully inserted in said key receptacle, wherein said circuit card is removed from said card receptacle by moving said circuit card in a withdrawal direction within said card receptacle with said key fully inserted in said key receptacle, wherein a friction force generated between said first braking member and said key receptacle by moving said circuit card in said withdrawal direction with said key removed from said card receptacle increases a normal force exerted between said first braking member and said card receptacle, and wherein said first braking member extends outward from a first edge of said circuit card with said key removed from said key receptacle;

a second braking member pivotally mounted within said circuit card wherein said second braking member is held in an extended position, extending outward from a second edge of said card receptacle, opposite said first edge to contact said card receptacle, with said key removed from said key receptacle, wherein said second braking member is held in a retracted position, displaced inward from said extended position, when said key is fully inserted in said key receptacle, and wherein a friction force generated between said second braking member and said key receptacle by moving said circuit card in said withdrawal direction with said key removed from said card receptacle increases a normal force exerted between said second braking member and said card receptacle; and

a spring member extending between said first and second braking members, wherein said spring member holds said first braking member in said extended position of said first braking member and said second braking member in said extended position of said second braking member with said key removed from said key receptacle, wherein said key has a distal end deflecting said spring member as said key is fully inserted in said key receptacle to move said first braking member into said retracted position of said first braking member and to move said second braking member into said retracted position of said second braking member, a first end of said spring member is rigidly attached to said first braking member, wherein a second end of said spring member, opposite said first end of said spring member, is rigidly attached to said second braking member, and wherein said distal end of said key contacts said a central portion of said spring member to cause pivoting movement of said first and second braking members as said key is fully inserted into said key receptacle.

18. Apparatus comprising an electronic device including a card receptacle and a circuit card selectively removable from said card receptacle, wherein said circuit card includes:

a circuit board;

guiding surfaces attached to said circuit board and extending along opposite edges of said circuit board for guiding said circuit board into said card receptacle

a key receptacle attached to said circuit board;

a key removably insertable within said key receptacle; and

a first braking member movably mounted within said circuit card, wherein said first braking member is held in an extended position, extending outward to contact said card receptacle, with said key removed from said key receptacle, and wherein said first braking member is held in a retracted position, displaced inward from said extended position, when said key is fully inserted in said key receptacle, wherein said circuit card is removed from said card receptacle by moving said circuit card in a withdrawal direction within said card receptacle with said key fully inserted in said key receptacle, wherein said card receptacle includes a first stopping surface contacting said first braking member in said extended position when said circuit card is moved in said withdrawal direction from said fully inserted position to prevent removal of said circuit card from said card receptacle with said key removed from said key receptacle, and wherein said first braking member extends outward from a first edge of said circuit card with said key removed from said key receptacle;

a second braking member movably mounted within said circuit card, wherein said second braking member is held in an extended position, extending outward from a second edge of said circuit card, opposite said first edge, to contact said card receptacle, with said key removed from said key receptacle, wherein said second braking member is held in a retracted position, displaced inward from said extended position, when said key is fully inserted in said key receptacle, and wherein said card receptacle includes a second stopping surface contacting said second braking member in said extended position when said circuit card is moved in said withdrawal direction from said fully inserted position to prevent removal of said key from said card receptacle with said key removed from said key receptacle; and

a spring member extending between said first and second braking members, wherein said spring member holds said first braking member in said extended position of said first braking member and said second braking member in said extended position of said second braking member with said key removed from said key receptacle, wherein said key has a distal end deflecting said spring member as said key is fully inserted in said key receptacle to move said first braking member into said retracted position of said first braking member and to move said second braking member into said retracted position of said second braking member, wherein said first and second braking members are each pivotally mounted within said circuit card, wherein a first end of said spring member is rigidly attached to said first braking member, wherein a second end of said spring member, opposite said first end of said spring member, is rigidly attached to said second braking member, and wherein said distal end of said key contacts said a central portion of said spring member to cause pivoting movement of said first and second braking members as said key is fully inserted into said key receptacle.

19. Apparatus including a plurality of different types of circuit cards, wherein each of said circuit cards includes:

a circuit board;

guiding surfaces attached to said circuit board for guiding said circuit board into said card receptacle

a key receptacle attached to said circuit board;

an interposing structure including a pathway unique to each of said different types of circuit cards,

a key removably insertable within said key receptacle, wherein said key includes key surfaces unique to one of said different types of circuit cards, movable within said pathway to allow said key to be fully inserted within said key receptacle; and

a first braking member movably mounted within said circuit board, wherein said first braking member is held in an extended position, extending outward to contact said card receptacle, with said key removed from said key receptacle, and wherein said first braking member is held in a retracted position, displaced inward from said extended position, when said key is fully inserted in said key receptacle.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, additionally comprising a first releasable latch holding said key fully inserted within said key receptacle.