Auxiliary mounting apparatus for expansion cards

• US 7,310,241 B2
• Filed: 08/15/2006
• Issued: 12/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.), Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.), Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Peng, Wen-Tang, Zhang, Guang-Yi, Hu, Hang-Kong
• Primary Examiner(s): Reichard, Dean A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chen, Xiaoliang
• Application Number:
  US11/504,409
• Publication Number:
  US 20070081316A1
• Time in Patent Office: 490 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679, 361/683, 361/695, 361752-754, 361796-798, 361/801, 361/726, 361/732, 361/740, 361/747, 361/759, 439/160, 439/325, 710/62, 312/223.1, 312/223.2, 312/223.3
• US Class Current: 361/801
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/185 Mounting of expansion boards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/186 Securing of expansion boards in correspondence to slots provided at the computer enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1408 by a unique member which latches several boards, e.g. locking bars

Abstract

An exemplary mounting apparatus for aiding in mounting a plurality of long expansion cards in electrical devices includes a locating member, and a retention member rotatably attached to the locating member. The locating member includes a base wall, a pair of sidewalls, and a top wall. Pairs of guiding rails extend from the base wall for slidably receiving ends of the expansion cards opposite to ends with cover plates. Two pairs of first positioning blocks extend from the top wall. The retention member includes a base plate, a pair of flanges, and a pair of resilient arms. A plurality of retaining tabs extends from the base plate to abut against top edges of the expansion cards. The flanges are rotatably attached to the sidewalls of the locating member. The resilient arms each include a pair of second positioning blocks for engaging with the first positioning blocks of the locating member.

Claims

1. An auxiliary mounting apparatus for expansion cards, the auxiliary mounting apparatus comprising:

a locating member comprising a base wall, and a pair of sidewalls each having a seat extending from the base wall, the base wall comprising a plurality of pairs of guiding rails for slidably locating ends of the expansion cards opposite to ends with cover plates;

a retention member rotatably attached to the locating member and comprising a base plate, and a pair of flanges each having a post extending from the base plate, the retention member comprising a plurality of retaining tabs for pressing the expansion cards; and

a positioning mechanism to position the retention member on the locating member,

wherein each of the posts comprises a pair of flat surfaces formed thereon, each of the seats comprises a first groove in an outer portion thereof, each of the first grooves comprises a straight entry, and a pivoting hole connecting with the entry, the posts are movably received in the seats, respectively.

2. The auxiliary mounting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flanges extend from two opposite ends of the base plate respectively, each of the posts extend inward from the flanges, the pair of sidewalls perpendicularly extends from-the base wall.

3. The auxiliary mounting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the posts comprises an enlarged distal end, each of the fixing seats comprises a second groove in an inner portion thereof, the distal ends of the posts are slidably received in the second grooves.

4. The auxiliary mounting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the positioning mechanism comprises two pairs of spaced first blocks, and two pair of second blocks engaging with the first blocks respectively.

5. The auxiliary mounting apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the locating member further comprises a top wall perpendicularly extending from a top edge of the base wall, the two pairs of first blocks extends from the top wall, the retention member comprises a pair of resilient arms extending from the base plate thereof, the two pairs of second blocks extend from each of the resilient arms respectively, each pair of second blocks extending from opposite sides of the resilient arms respectively.

6. The auxiliary mounting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the positioning mechanism comprises a fixing hole, and a positioning block engaging in the fixing hole.

7. The auxiliary mounting apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the fixing hole is defined in the base wall of the locating member, the retention member comprises a connecting plate extending from the base plate thereof, the connecting plate comprises a resilient tab extending therefrom, the positioning block extends from the resilient tab in a first direction.

8. The auxiliary mounting apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the retention member comprises a handle portion extending from the resilient tab in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

9. A mounting apparatus assembly comprising:

a locating member comprising a plurality of guiding rails, a pair of sidewalls each having a seat, and a first positioning portion;

a plurality of expansion cards comprising ends slidably moving along the guiding rails opposite to ends with cover plates; and

a retention member rotatably attached to the locating member, the retention member comprising a plurality of retaining tabs for pressing edges of the expansion cards, a pair of flanges each having a post, and a second positioning portion engaging with the first positioning portion to position the retention member,

wherein each of the posts comprises a pair of flat surfaces formed thereon, each of the seats comprises a first groove in an outer portion thereof, each of the first grooves comprises a straight entry, and a pivoting hole connecting with the corresponding entry, the posts enter the seats via the straight entry and are pivotably received in the pivoting holes.

10. The mounting apparatus assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein the locating member comprises a base wall, the guiding rails extend from the base wall, the retention member comprises a base plate, the retaining tabs extend from the base plate.

11. The mounting apparatus assembly as claimed in claim 10, wherein the flanges extend from two opposite ends of the base plate respectively, the posts extend in from the flanges, the sidewalls perpendicularly extend from two opposite sides of the base wall.

12. The mounting apparatus assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein each of the posts comprises an enlarged distal end, each of the fixing seats comprises a second groove in an inner portion thereof, the distal ends of the posts are slidably received in the second grooves.

13. The mounting apparatus assembly as claimed in claim 10, wherein the locating member further comprises a top wall perpendicularly extending from a top edge of the base wall, the first positioning portion is two pairs of first blocks extending from the top wall, the retention member comprises a pair of resilient arms extending from the base plate thereof, the second positioning portion is two pairs of second blocks extending from the resilient arms respectively corresponding to the first blocks.

14. The mounting apparatus assembly as claimed in claim 10, wherein the first positioning portion is a fixing hole defined in the base wall of the locating member, the retention member comprises a connecting plate extending from the base plate thereof, the connecting plate comprises a resilient tab extending therefrom, the second positioning portion is a positioning block extending from the resilient tab.

15. An electronic device comprising:

a chassis enclosing said electronic device, and defining a panel extending along a side thereof;

a plurality of functional parts installable in said chassis beside said panel of said chassis for functional extension of said electronic device, each of said plurality of functional parts comprising a first end retainably attachable to said panel to be user-accessible through said panel, and a second end extending away from said panel;

a locating member installable in said chassis beside said second end of said each of said plurality of functional parts, said locating member comprising a plurality of guiding rails to guidably and respectively receive said second end of said each of said plurality of functional parts therein in order for positioning said each of said plurality of functional parts together with said panel; and

a retention member movably attachable to said locating member beside said plurality of guiding rails so as to fixedly retain said second end of said each of said plurality of functional parts in a corresponding one of said plurality of guiding rails;

wherein the locating member comprises a pair of sidewalls each having a seat, each of the seats comprises a first groove in an outer portion thereof, each of the first grooves comprises a straight entry, and a pivoting hole connecting with the corresponding entry, the retention member comprises a pair of flanges each having a post, each of the posts comprises a pair of flat surfaces formed thereon to enter the straight entry and pivotably engage in the pivoting hole.

16. The electronic device as claimed in claim 15, wherein said retention member comprises a base plate extending across said plurality of guiding rails of said locating member to abut against said second end of said each of said plurality of functional parts for retaining, and at least one flange extending perpendicular to said base plate to movably attach to said locating member.

17. The mounting apparatus assembly as claimed in claim 15, wherein each of the posts comprises an enlarged distal end, each of the fixing seats comprises a second groove in an inner portion thereof, the distal ends of the posts are slidably received in the second grooves.