Retainer for electronic modules

• US 5,224,016 A
• Filed: 05/31/1990
• Issued: 06/29/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Calmark Corp. (Pentair Plc (Ireland))
• Original Assignee: Calmark Corp. (Pentair Plc (Ireland))
• Inventors: Merritt, Mitchell, Weisman, Arnold M., Costigan, Larry IV
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WHANG, YOUNG
• Application Number:
  US07/530,991
• Time in Patent Office: 1,125 Days
• Field of Search: 361/386, 361/387, 361/388, 361/389, 361/391, 361/395, 361/415, 165/80.1, 165/80.2, 165/80.3, 174/16.3
• US Class Current: 361/728
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1404 by edge clamping, e.g. wedges
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1409 by lever-type mechanisms

Abstract

A retainer for retaining an electronic module, such as a printed circuit board, in the slot of a casing. Oppositely oriented wedge-shaped elements are slidingly received on a rail in a manner which prevents rotation of the wedge-shaped elements about the rail. A pivotable lever having a cam surface is provided such that rotation of the lever actuates the retainer by compressing the wedge-shaped elements. In one embodiment, the lever is provided with a projection which engages the casing to extract the module when the lever is pivoted to release the retainer.

Claims

1. A retainer for retaining an electronic module in a case, comprising:

a rail;

a first stop coupled to the rail;

a second stop coupled to the rail, the second stop being pivotable between a first position and a second position and having a cam surface shaped to define first and second camming surface portions such that the distance between the first stop and the first camming surface portion of the second stop when the second stop is in the first position is greater than the distance between the first stop and the second camming surface portion of the second stop when the second stop is in the second position;

a wedge member slidingly carried by the rail between the first stop and the second stop and mechanically coupled to the second camming surface of the second stop so as to be actuated by the second stop, the rail and wedge member being configured such that the wedge member is substantially prevented from rotating about the rail.

2. The retainer of claim 1 wherein the rail has a generally T-shaped cross section.

3. The retainer of claim 2 wherein the wedge member has a hollow rectangular cross section.

4. The retainer of claim 1 wherein the second stop comprises a lever to pivot the second stop between the first and second positions.

5. The retainer of claim 4 wherein the second stop is shaped to engage the casing as the second stop is pivoted from the second position to the first position to facilitate extraction of the retainer.

6. The retainer of claim 5 wherein the retainer is attached to the module.

7. A retainer for retaining an electronic module in a case, comprising:

a rail;

a wedge member slidingly received by the rail;

a first stop attached to the rail on a first side of said wedge member; and

a second stop attached to the rail on a second side of said wedge member, the second stop being pivotable between a first position and an intermediate position and between the intermediate position and a second position and having a cam surface mechanically coupled to the wedge member and shaped to bias the wedge member as the second stop is pivoted from the intermediate position to the second position to cause the wedge member to exert a retaining force against the case, the second stop having a portion shaped to engage the case to exert an extraction force on the retainer as the second stop is provided from the intermediate position to the first position.

8. The retainer of claim 7 wherein the rail has a T-shaped cross section and the wedge member has a hollow interior which defines a rectangular cross section with a slot on one side, the top of said T-shaped cross section being received within the hollow interior of the wedge member and the base of the T-shaped cross section extending through the slot.

9. The retainer of claim 8 wherein the second stop comprises a lever to pivot the second stop between the first position and second position.

10. A retainer for retaining an electronic module in a case, comprising:

a rail having a surface;

a plurality of wedge members slidingly carried by the rail surface in an aligned manner, said wedge members each having a support surface slidingly engaging the rail surface, and an angled surface adapted to slidingly engage a corresponding angled surface of an adjacent wedge member when actuated; and

a lever pivotally coupled to the rail and having a camming surface mechanically coupled to the wedge members so that pivoting of the lever causes the wedge members to be actuated;

wherein the rail surface and the wedge member support surfaces are shaped to retain the wedge members substantially aligned.

11. A retainer for retaining an electronic module in a case, comprising:

a rail having a top portion of rectangular cross section and a stem portion so that the rail has a T-shaped cross section;

means for fastening the rail to an electronic module;

a first stop carried adjacent one end of the rail;

means for adjusting the position of the first stop on the rail;

a plurality of hollow tubular wedge members slidingly carried on the top portion of the rail in an aligned manner, said wedge members each having a generally rectangular cross-section to define an interior of rectangular cross section, and an angled surface adapted to slidingly engage a corresponding angled surface of an adjacent wedge member when compressed together to thereby engage the case in a direction lateral to the rail, each wedge member further defining an aperture along one side of the wedge member adapted to receive the stem portion of the rail with the rectangular top portion of the rail being received within the rectangular interior of the member to retain the wedge members substantially aligned; and

a lever pivotally coupled to the other end of the rail and having a camming surface mechanically coupled to the wedge members so that pivoting of the lever in a first direction causes the wedge members to be compressed together between the lever camming surface and the first stop, said lever further having a projection positioned to engage the case when the lever is pivoted in a second direction and to cause the retainer and the module to be extracted from the case.