U.S. patent application number 10/900678 was filed with the patent office on 2005-10-20 for interface card fastener.
Invention is credited to Shih, Yu-Lin.
Application Number | 20050231924 10/900678 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33448986 |
Filed Date | 2005-10-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050231924 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Shih, Yu-Lin |
October 20, 2005 |
INTERFACE CARD FASTENER
Abstract
The present invention relates to an interface card fastener,
which is set in a computer system host or any other electronic
device comprising expansion slots, comprising a bracket and a
plurality of pivot assemblies. The bracket is set upon the frame
above the expansion slots inside the chassis, and comprises a back
frame engaged with the chassis and a plurality of the inner frames
extended from the back frame. Each two inner frames define a fasten
chamber, and the back frame comprises a horizontal extended L-shape
hook in the appropriate position. The pivot assembly is set in the
fastener chamber, which rotates between the fastening and the
release positions of the interface card, and comprises a hook and a
handle linked with the hook. To operate the fastener, pushing the
handle directly to hook with the L-shape hook or unhook in
interface card positioning, which is easy operating and stable
positioning.
Inventors: |
Shih, Yu-Lin; (Taipei City,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Keith Kline
PRO-TECHTOR INTERNATIONAL SERVICES
20775 Norada Court
Saratoga
CA
95070-3018
US
|
Family ID: |
33448986 |
Appl. No.: |
10/900678 |
Filed: |
July 27, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
361/759 ;
361/679.31; 361/740; 361/741; 361/801 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H05K 7/1408
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
361/759 ;
361/686; 361/740; 361/741; 361/801 |
International
Class: |
H05K 005/00; H05K
005/04; H05K 005/06 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 16, 2004 |
TW |
093110777 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An interface card fastener, which is set in a computer system
host or any other electronic device comprising interface card,
comprising: a bracket, fitting in a chassis upon a frame of the
chassis above a plurality of expansion slots, which comprises a
back frame with the chassis engagement and a plurality of inner
frames extending out from said back frame; each two inner frames
define a fastener chamber, and inside the back frame in each said
fastener chamber comprises a horizontal extended L-shape hook; a
plurality of pivot assemblies, set and pivoted in said fastener
chambers, which comprises a hook and a handle linked said hook,
rotate in said fastener chambers respectively between a fastening
or a release position of each the interface card; which is
characterized in pushing the handle to hook said linked hook with
said L-shape hook or to unhook in operating each the single
interface card position.
2. The interface card fastener of claim 1, wherein said inner frame
of the bracket comprises a bearing hole, which is for said pivot
assembly set to pivot in the fasten chamber.
3. The interface card fastener of claim 1, wherein said pivot
assembly comprises a pivot, which is set into said bearing hole of
the bracket, to rotate in a appropriate angle.
4. The interface card fastener of claim 1, wherein said bracket
comprises a prominent crosspiece in an appropriate place below the
L-shape hook to limit the rotation of the pivot assembly.
5. The interface card fastener of claim 1, wherein said pivot
assembly comprises two aprons on both sides, and a press board in
the bottom, which said press board comprises a engagement body 524
in front, to position the interface card.
6. The interface card fastener of claim 1, wherein the maximum
rotation angle of said pivot assembly is 90.degree..
7. The interface card fastener of claim 1, wherein said computer
system host or any other electronic device comprises a chassis and
a mainboard set in the chassis, said mainboard comprises a
plurality of expansion slots for interface cards, and said chassis
comprises a frame to engage a bulkhead of the interface card.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to an interface card fastener,
which set in computer chassis or any other electronic devices
comprising expansion interface card slots, especially to a device
that can be easily pushed to fasten and pulled to release a single
card with no further need of tools or hardware. The fastener in
this present invention can be easily handled to fasten interface
cards stably.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Electronics industries develop and upgrade soon. In a
computer system, many different devices and peripherals are
collocated to work. Nowadays most devices and peripherals are
designed to "Plug-n-Play" compliant for more convenient use.
Various kinds of interface cards are common used to upgrade a
computer system to enhance efficacy. For example, interface cards,
like sound cards, graphic cards, network cards, or many other
multimedia interface cards, are used as a bridge to connect host
and other hardware, thus interface cards are changed or swapped due
to installation, replacement, or upgrade of computer systems from
time to time. To make sure the interface cards are installed stably
and fixed in card slots, there are several prior arts in this skill
to fasten interface cards.
[0005] The most common traditional method utilizes a screw to
fasten interface card into the slot. To screw interface card, user
needs extra a screwdriver to work. Screwing is the most
inconvenient work to swap interface card. Screw is small and cause
risk to damage other electronic device like mainboard when falling.
Magnetic screwdriver that common used in screwing also does not
suit to screw in electronic device.
[0006] Most common prior arts in this skill attempted to fasten
interface card without screw. In a prior art, as shown in FIG. 1,
an interface card retainer 7 is set in a computer host, which
comprises a chassis 10, a mainboard 11 set in the chassis 10, and a
plurality of expansion slot 12, wherein a interface card 13 is
installed in the expansion slot 12 to connect and communicate with
the mainboard 11. Inside the chassis 10 corresponding to the
expansion slot 12 and the interface card 13, an oblong frame 14 is
set to fit a bulkhead 131 of the interface card 13 installing. A
long batten 71 of the retainer 7 presses a bulkhead top 132 of the
bulkhead 131, wherein two ends 72, 73 of the retainer 7 are
conjugated with corresponding devices (not shown in FIG. 1) inside
the chassis 10, and a ear 133 of the bulkhead 131 is screwed with
the interface card 13 to fix the card 13 in the slot 12.
[0007] In the foregoing design of retainer 7, a purpose of screw
free to fix the bulkhead 131 with the frame 14 is achieved, and
interface cards swapping can be easily operated with no extra tool
needed. However, the only single batten 71 presses all bulkheads
131 of interface cards 13 to fix. Once swapping single one of the
interface cards 13, the batten 71 of the retainer 7 should be
opened and all other cards are released. This will be a serious
defect when utilizing this design in an interfaced card
hot-swappable computer system, which most is server.
[0008] Another prior art is an interface card fixing device 8, as
shown in FIG. 2, which comprises a bracket 81 and a plurality of
U-shape glands 82 which can slide along the bracket 81. On both
sides of each the gland 82 and corresponding inner of the bracket
81 comprise a set of racks 83 and 84 respectively. With the racks
83 and 84 gearing, the gland 82 and press the bulkhead 131 in a
specific and stable position.
[0009] Compare with the retainer 7, the fixing device 8 can press
and release each the bulkhead 131 independently with the gland 82,
but the teeth of the rack will be abraded after repeat operations
and the abrasion affects the fixing.
[0010] FIG. 3 illustrates an interface card latch 9, which
comprises a bracket 91, a plurality of pivot devices 92, a buckle
93 and a spring 94 to press or release the bulkhead 131 without
screw. The buckle 93 comprises a button 931, a handle 932, and two
bars 933 on both sides of the handle 932. The bar 933 is set to fix
the pivot device 92. The structures of the pivot device 92 and the
buckle 93 are complicated and hard to manufacture. Besides, the
buckle 93 utilizes the spring 94 to control and fix the pivot 92,
but the spring 94 has risk of elastic deformation.
[0011] Therefore, a need exists for a fastener, which has simple
structure and is easy to use, to secure the interface card in
place.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0012] Accordingly, the primary object of the present invention is
to provide an interface card securing device, which is easy to
handle and stably to secure the interface card.
[0013] To achieve the object, the present invention provides an
interface card fastener to utilize in a computer system or other
electronic devices comprising interface cards. The computer system
or the electronic device comprises a mainboard set in a chassis,
and a plurality of expansion slots on the mainboard. The chassis
forms an interface card bay corresponding to each bulkhead of
interface card and card slot to position. The fastener comprises a
bracket and a plurality pivot assemblies. Said bracket is set on
the upside of card bay in the inner chassis, which comprises a back
frame against the backplane of the chassis and a plurality of inner
frames extending toward inside the chassis. Each two inner frames
define a fastener chamber, and inside the back frame in each the
fastener chamber comprises a horizontal extended L-shape hook. The
pivot assembly is set in the fastener chamber, and comprises a hook
and a handle. The pivot assembly can be easily switched between a
fastening position and a release position in the fastener chamber,
and the fastener can fastening or release a single interface card
simply with the handle pushing the hook into or pulling it out of
the L-shape hook.
[0014] Each the inner frame comprises a bearing hole, which can set
the pivot assembly as an axle center to rotate. The back frame
below the L-shape hook comprises a prominent crosspiece, which
positions the pivot assembly. The pivot assembly comprises two
aprons on both sides to fasten the interface card preventing
horizontal movement, and a press board, wherein also comprises a
engagement body, to fasten the interface card preventing
2-dimensional vertical and horizontal movements.
[0015] Comparing with prior arts, the present invention discloses
an interface card fastener, which positions cards more stably and
operations easier. With a bracket and a plurality of pivot
assemblies, this present design utilizes a handle, which drives a
hook to fasten with or release from a L-shape hook of the bracket,
to position and secure an interface card. With no complex structure
and difficult operation, the present invention is durable and
stably positioning, which can satisfy various applications with
economic efficiency.
[0016] The various objects and advantages of the present invention
will be more readily understood from the following detailed
description when read in conjunction with the appended
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a prior art a;
[0018] FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of a prior art b;
[0019] FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of a prior art c;
[0020] FIG. 4 illustrates an exploded perspective view of an
embodiment of the present invention;
[0021] FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of
the present invention;
[0022] FIG. 6 illustrates an exploded perspective lateral view of
an embodiment of the present invention;
[0023] FIG. 7, 8, 9 illustrate a perspective view of an embodiment
of the present invention with rotation;
[0024] FIG. 10 illustrates a horizontal view of an embodiment of
the present invention; and
[0025] FIG. 11 illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of
the present invention engagement in the computer chassis.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0026] In the following, a better embodiment of this invention is
described with figures for further details.
[0027] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of this embodiment.
An interface card fastener 5 is set in a computer system or other
electronic devices with expansion slots. The interface card
fastener comprises a bracket 51 and a plurality of pivot assemblies
52. Said bracket 51 comprises a back frame 516 set in computer
chassis and a plurality of inner frames 512 extended toward inside
of computer chassis from the back frame 516. Each two inner frames
512 define a fastener chamber 515, inside the back frame 516 in
each the fastener chamber 515 comprises a horizontal extended
L-shape hook 513, and each the inner frame 512 comprises a bearing
hole 511, which can set said pivot assembly 52 as an axle center to
rotate in the fastener chamber 515. The back frame 516 below the
L-shape hook 513 comprises a prominent crosspiece 514, which
positions the pivot assembly 52. The pivot assembly 52 is set in
the fastener chamber 515 of the bracket 51, and comprises a hook
526 (shown in FIG. 6) and a handle 522. Said handle 522 drives said
hook 526 to hook and position. Furthermore, the pivot assembly 52
comprises two aprons 525 on both sides, and a press board 523,
wherein also comprises a engagement body 524 in front. The pivot
assembly 52 also comprises a cannular pivot 521 on upside.
[0028] FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of this embodiment.
The interface card fastener 5 comprises said bracket 51 and said
plurality of pivot assemblies 52, which the pivot assemblies 52 are
set in the fastener chamber 515 of the bracket 51 to position the
interface cards, and avoid problems of complex structure and hard
operation.
[0029] FIG. 6 illustrates the exploded perspective lateral view of
an embodiment of the present invention. The bracket 51 is set with
screws or other applicable methods in a computer chassis 6 above a
bulkhead 631, and comprises said L-shape hook 513 and said
prominent crosspiece 514, each said inner frame 512 of the bracket
51 comprises said bearing hole 511. The pivot assembly 52 comprises
said handle 522 and said press board 523. Said press board 523
comprises said engagement body 524 in front. The pivot assembly 52
also comprises said cannular pivot 521 on upside and said hook 526.
To assemble the interface card fastener 5, the pivot 521 of the
pivot assembly 52 is buckled into said bearing hole 511 of the
bracket 51 (as the dotted line arrow indicated), so that the
interface card fastener 5 presses an upper plate 632 of the
bulkhead 631 with the corresponding pivot assembly 52.
[0030] FIG. 7, 8, 9 illustrate a perspective view of an embodiment
of the present invention with rotation. When fastening an interface
card, pushing said handle 522 of the pivot assembly 52 down, the
hook 526 is easily engaging with the L-shape hook 513 of the
bracket 51 to process interface card positioning. As the hook 526
is engaged with the L-shape hook 513, as shown in FIG. 8, end of
said press board 523 of the pivot assembly 52 is close to said
prominent crosspiece 514 of the bracket 51 with a buffer space for
the hook 526 releasing from the L-shape hook 513, and when the
pivot assembly 52 is continued pushed inside, the prominent
crosspiece 514 will limit the further rotating of the pivot
assembly 52. As the pivot assembly 52 is pushed to press the
interface card, said aprons 525 (as shown in FIG. 10) and said
engagement body 524 will fasten and position bulkhead 631 of the
interface card to avoid loose. To release the interface card,
further pushing the handle 522 of the pivot assembly 52 will lead
the hook 526 down to release from the L-shape hook 513 and the
pivot assembly 52 can be rotated to the opening release angle,
which is up to 90.degree. (as shown in FIG. 9).
[0031] FIG. 10 illustrates a horizontal view of an embodiment of
the present invention. When the pivot assembly 52 presses an
interface card 63, the both two aprons 525 and the engagement body
524 will position the bulkhead 631 of the interface card 63 stably
to avoid loose by hitting or shaking.
[0032] FIG. 11 illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of
the present invention engagement in the computer chassis. The
interface card fastener 5 is set in a computer system host or other
electronic devices comprising interface cards. The host or device
comprises a chassis 6, and a mainboard 61 set in the chassis 6.
Said mainboard 61 comprises a plurality of expansion slots 62 for
the interface cards 63. The chassis 6 comprises a frame 64 in inner
corresponding to the expansion slots 62 and the interface card 63.
Each the interface card 63 comprises a bulkhead 631 corresponding
to the inner frame 64 of the chassis 6. The bracket 51 of the
interface card 5 is set upon the frame 64 above the bulkhead 631
inside the chassis 6. Each the pivot assembly 52 is set into each
corresponding the fastener chamber. The interface card fastener 5
fastens the interface card 63 by the pivot assembly pressing the
upper plate 632 of the bulkhead 631 of the interface card 63, and
the both two aprons 525 and the engagement body 524 of the pivot
assembly 52 will position the bulkhead 631 of the interface card 63
stably. Pushing the handle 522 can easily hook the hook 526 into or
release the hook 526 from the L-shape hook 513 to operate plugging
position or unplugging of a single interface card 63.
[0033] Although the present invention has been described with
reference to the preferred embodiments, it will be understood that
the invention is not limited to the details described thereof.
Various substitutions and modifications have been suggested in the
foregoing description, and others will occur to those of ordinary
skill in the art. Therefore, all such substitutions and
modifications intend to be embraced within the scope of the
invention as defined in the appended claims.
* * * * *