U.S. patent application number 09/372488 was filed with the patent office on 2001-11-29 for locking spring for a circuit board ejector.
Invention is credited to KORADIA, AMIR, POGATETZ, DOUGLAS J., RAVLIN, PHILIP A..
Application Number | 20010046800 09/372488 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 23468338 |
Filed Date | 2001-11-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010046800 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
KORADIA, AMIR ; et
al. |
November 29, 2001 |
LOCKING SPRING FOR A CIRCUIT BOARD EJECTOR
Abstract
A locking spring for a circuit board ejector includes a body
portion, a first end portion and a second end portion. The second
end portion includes a manually operable portion. The manually
operable portion includes a plurality of ridge portions to allow a
user to apply a load to the manually operable portion at an optimum
location along the manually operable portion to unlock a circuit
board ejector.
Inventors: |
KORADIA, AMIR; (PALATINE,
IL) ; RAVLIN, PHILIP A.; (BARTLETT, IL) ;
POGATETZ, DOUGLAS J.; (ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BANIAK PINE & GANNON
150 N. WACKER DRIVE,
SUITE 1200
CHICAGO
IL
60606-1606
US
|
Family ID: |
23468338 |
Appl. No.: |
09/372488 |
Filed: |
August 12, 1999 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
439/160 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H05K 7/1409
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
439/160 |
International
Class: |
H01R 013/62 |
Claims
We claim:
1. A locking spring for a circuit board ejector comprising: a body
portion, a first end portion and a second end portion, the second
end portion including a manually operable portion, the manually
operable portion including a plurality of ridge portions to allow a
user to apply a load to the manually operable portion at an optimum
location along the manually operable portion to unlock a circuit
board ejector.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of ridge
portions extend outward from an outer surface of the manually
operable portion.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of ridge
portions has an arcuate surface.
4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein each of the plurality of ridge
portions extend outward the same distance from the outer surface of
the manually operable portion.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first end portion includes
a contact surface for contacting the circuit board ejector.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the circuit board ejector
includes a hook portion, the contact surface contacting the hook
portion of the circuit board ejector.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second end portion further
includes a latch portion to engage the circuit board ejector.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the latch portion is adjacent
to the manually operable portion.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the body portion includes at
least one opening formed therein to allow the body portion to be
fastened to a bracket member.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the locking spring in
comprised from a single piece of rigid material.
11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the locking spring is
comprised of metal.
12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the locking spring is
comprised of plastic.
13. A locking spring for a circuit board ejector comprising: a body
portion, a first end portion and a second end portion, the first
end portion including a contact surface for contacting a circuit
board ejector, the second end portion including a manually operable
portion, the manually operable portion including a plurality of
ridge portions to allow a user to apply a load to the manually
operable portion at an optimum location along the manually operable
portion to unlock the circuit board ejector.
14. A method of operating a locking spring for a circuit board
ejector comprising: providing a body portion, a first end portion
and a second end portion, the second end portion including a
manually operable portion, the manually operable portion including
a plurality of ridge portions; and applying a load to the manually
operable portion.
15. The method of claim 14 further comprising: providing a circuit
board ejector operatively secured to a circuit board ejector; and
unlocking the circuit board ejector.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates generally to the field of circuit
board ejectors used for mounting a circuit board to an electronic
chassis, and in particular, to a locking spring for a circuit board
ejector.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] An electronic chassis which houses electronic components for
high speed telecommunication and networking applications typically
includes a plurality of vertically oriented circuit board
assemblies that are inserted into the chassis. Each circuit board
assembly is typically comprised of a circuit board attached to a
U-shaped channel member that serves as a front faceplate of the
assembly. When the assembly is fully inserted, the circuit board is
connected to a backplane circuit board located along the backside
of the chassis. The insertion force required to connect the circuit
board to the backplane may make it difficult, if not impossible,
for a user to make the connection by manually forcing the channel
member in a direction towards the backplane.
[0003] In order to facilitate the connection of the circuit board
to the backplane, attempts have been made to provide a mechanical
connector at each end of the channel member, each mechanical
connector having a handle portion and a hook portion. The
mechanical connectors are typically rotatably attached to each end
of the channel member and are able to rotate freely about a pin
that is attached to the channel member. When installing the circuit
board assembly, a user typically orients each hook portion to allow
each hook portion to engage a flange portion of the chassis. After
each hook portion engages the flange portion, the handle portion of
each mechanical connector is then manually rotated about the pin,
which forces the circuit board into the backplane. When the circuit
board is fully inserted and the handle portion is completely
rotated, the handle portion is secured relative to the channel
member in a locked position.
[0004] Attempts have been made to provide a mechanical means to
retain the handle portion in the locked position. For example,
mechanical fasteners such as screws or bolts have been used to
ensure that the channel member of the circuit board assembly is
firmly secured to the electronic chassis. However, there are
increased manufacturing costs associated with the large number of
fastening components that are typically required to secure numerous
circuit board assemblies to the chassis. Moreover, these fastening
components require close tolerances which also increases
manufacturing costs and increases the amount of time required to
install and remove the circuit board from the electronic chassis.
Finally, tools are required with conventional fasteners, which also
increases installation and removal times.
[0005] Attempts have been made to provide springs formed from thin
planar strips of metal to retain the handle portion in the locked
position. The spring is typically attached to the channel member,
and is configured so that an end portion of the spring engages the
handle portion to lock the handle portion in place. When the user
desires to unlock the handle portion, the user applies a load to
the end portion of the spring, which releases the handle portion
from the spring. However, conventional springs typically have a
smooth surface along its outer surface. When a user applies a load
to the smooth outer surface of the end portion of the spring to
unlock the handle portion, the smooth surface may cause the user's
fingers to slip off the spring during actuation of the spring.
Moreover, the spring typically does not have a designated area
along its outer surface to provide the optimum location for the
user's fingers to make contact with the spring. As a result, a user
may apply a load to the spring at a location that is not optimum to
cause movement of the spring. This in turn may result in greater
loads having to be applied to the spring making unlocking the
handle portion more difficult, if not impossible.
[0006] Accordingly, it would be desirable to have a locking spring
for a circuit board ejector that overcomes the disadvantages
described above.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] One aspect of the invention provides a locking spring for a
circuit board ejector including a body portion, a first end portion
and a second end portion. The second end portion includes a
manually operable portion. The manually operable portion includes a
plurality of ridge portions to allow a user to apply a load to the
manually operable portion at an optimum location along the manually
operable portion to unlock a circuit board ejector. Each of the
plurality of ridge portions may preferably extend outward from an
outer surface of the manually operable portion. In particular, each
of the plurality of ridge portions may preferably extend outward
the same distance from the outer surface of the manually operable
portion. Each of the plurality of ridge portions may preferably
have an arcuate surface. The first end portion may preferably
include a contact surface for contacting the circuit board ejector.
The circuit board ejector may preferably include a hook portion,
and the contact surface may preferably contact the hook portion of
the circuit board ejector. The second end portion of the locking
spring may further include a latch portion to engage the circuit
board ejector. The latch portion may preferably be adjacent to the
manually operable portion. The body portion may preferably include
at least one opening formed therein to allow the body portion to be
fastened to a bracket member. The locking spring may preferably be
comprised from a single piece of rigid material such as metal or
plastic.
[0008] Another aspect of the invention provides a locking spring
for a circuit board ejector including a body portion, a first end
portion and a second end portion. The first end portion includes a
contact surface for contacting a circuit board ejector. The second
end portion includes a manually operable portion. The manually
operable portion includes a plurality of ridge portions to allow a
user to apply a load to the manually operable portion at an optimum
location along the manually operable portion to unlock the circuit
board ejector.
[0009] Another aspect of the invention provides a method of
operating a locking spring for a circuit board ejector. A body
portion, a first end portion and a second end portion are provided.
The second end portion includes a manually operable portion having
a plurality of ridge portions. A load is applied to the manually
operable portion. A circuit board ejector operatively secured to a
circuit board ejector may also be provided, and the circuit board
ejector may preferably be unlocked.
[0010] The invention provides the foregoing and other features, and
the advantages of the invention will become further apparent from
the following detailed description of the presently preferred
embodiments, read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
The detailed description and drawings are merely illustrative of
the invention and do not limit the scope of the invention, which is
defined by the appended claims and equivalents thereof.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a
locking spring that is made in accordance with the invention;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing locking spring of FIG.
1 mounted to a bracket member with a circuit board ejector in the
locked position;
[0013] FIG. 3 is an enlarged side view of the embodiment of FIG.
2;
[0014] FIG. 4 is an enlarged front view of the embodiment of FIG.
2; and
[0015] FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG.
4.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0016] As shown in FIG. 1, a preferred embodiment of a locking
spring 10 for a circuit board ejector 12 (see FIGS. 2-5) includes a
body portion 14, a first end portion 16 and a second end portion
18. The second end portion 18 includes a manually operable portion
20. The manually operable portion 20 includes a plurality of ridge
portions 22, 23, 25, 27. The locking spring 10 shown in FIG. 1
allows a user to apply a load to the manually operable portion 20
at an optimum location along the manually operable portion 20 to
unlock the circuit board ejector 12 (see FIGS. 2-5).
[0017] As shown in FIGS. 2-3, the circuit board ejector 12 includes
a hook portion 13 and a handle portion 15. The circuit board
ejector 12 is rotatably attached to a bracket member 24, which in
turn is operatively attached to a circuit board (not shown). The
circuit board ejector 12 facilitates the insertion of a circuit
board into an electronic chassis. A preferred embodiment of a
circuit board ejector and its operation is described in U.S. Patent
Application Ser No. 09/144,830, the entire disclosure of which is
incorporated herein by reference.
[0018] Referring again to FIG. 1, each of the plurality or ridge
portions 22, 23, 25, 27 of the second end portion 18 of the locking
spring 10 may preferably extend outward from an outer surface 26 of
the manually operable portion 20. In the embodiment shown, for
example, each of the plurality of ridge portions 22, 23, 25, 27 may
preferably extend outward the same distance from the outer surface
26 of the manually operable portion 20. In addition, each of the
plurality of ridge potions 22, 23, 25, 27 may also preferably have
an arcuate surface 22A, 23A, 25A, 27A, respectively, to facilitate
contact of an operator's finger with the manually operable portion
20 of the second end portion 18 of the locking spring 10. However,
the plurality of ridge portions 22, 23, 25, 27 may preferably have
other configurations and shapes depending upon the particular
application. The plurality of ridge portions 22, 23, 25, 27
provides a fixed location for a user to contact the manually
operable portion 20 of the locking spring 10. As a result, the
plurality of ridge portions 22, 23, 25, 27 allow a user to quickly
and easily apply a load to the locking spring 10 at the optimum
location along manually operable portion 20 of the locking spring
10. The plurality of ridge portions 22, 23, 25, 27 also prevents a
user's finger from slipping off the manually operable portion 20 of
the locking spring 10 when a user depresses the manually operable
portion 20 of the locking spring 10.
[0019] The first end portion 16 of the locking spring 10 may
preferably include a contact surface 28 for contacting the circuit
board ejector 12. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2-5, for
example, the contact surface 28 of the first end portion 16 may
preferably contact the hook portion 13 of the circuit board ejector
12.
[0020] The second end portion 18 of the locking spring 10 may also
preferably include a latch portion 30 to engage the circuit board
ejector 12. In the embodiment shown, the latch portion 30 may
preferably be adjacent to the manually operable portion 20.
[0021] The body portion 14 of the locking spring 10 may preferably
include at least one opening 32 formed therein to allow the body
portion 14 to be fastened to the bracket member 24. In the
embodiment shown, a second opening 34 is provided, although the
number of openings may vary depending upon the particular
application.
[0022] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the locking spring 10 may
preferably be approximately 3 inches in length and 0.312 inches in
width. Alternatively, the locking spring 10 may have other
dimensions depending upon the particular application. The locking
spring 10 may preferably be comprised from a single piece of rigid
material. The rigid material may be, for example, aluminum or any
other suitable metallic material. For example, the locking spring
10 may preferably be manufactured from metal such as, for example,
stainless steel, beryllium copper, or any other suitable material
that can function as a spring. Alternatively, the locking spring 10
may preferably be comprised of any other suitable rigid material
such as, for example, plastic. The plurality of ridge portions 22,
23, 25, 27 may preferably be integrally formed with the locking
spring 10. For example, the plurality of ridge portions 22, 23, 25,
27 may preferably be stamped into the manually operable portion 20
of the locking spring 10 during the fabrication process. An
advantage of this arrangement is the elimination of discrete
components for the plurality of ridge portions 22, 23, 25, 27,
which results in reduced manufacturing costs.
[0023] As shown in FIGS. 2-5, the body portion 14 of the locking
spring 10 is operatively attached to the bracket member 24.
Conventional mechanical fasteners such as, for example, rivets,
screws, bolts, and nuts may be used to attach the body portion 14
to the bracket member 24. Alternatively, other conventional means
may be used to fasten the locking spring 10 to the bracket member
24 including, for example, adhesives or spot welding. The handle
portion 15 of the circuit board ejector 12 may preferably be
retained in a locked position by the latch portion 30 of the
locking spring 10. In operation, a user may apply a load to the
manually operable portion 20 of the locking spring 10. When the
manually operable portion 20 is deflected by the load, the latch
portion 30 of the locking spring 10 separates from the handle
portion 15 of the circuit board ejector 12 thereby unlocking the
circuit board ejector 12.
[0024] While the embodiments of the invention disclosed herein are
presently considered to be preferred, various changes and
modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and
scope of the invention. The scope of the invention is indicated in
the appended claims and all changes that come within the meaning
and range of equivalents are intended to be embraced therein.
* * * * *