Electricity: electrical systems and devices – Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical... – For electronic systems and devices
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-18
2001-07-03
Picard, Leo P. (Department: 2835)
Electricity: electrical systems and devices
Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical...
For electronic systems and devices
C361S679090, C361S689000, C361S689000, C361S736000, C361S740000, C361S748000, C361S785000, C361S787000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06256191
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
The disclosures herein relate generally to computer systems and more particularly to retention apparatus for retaining removable cards in computers.
Current AGP video cards and PCI expansion cards have the tendency to become unseated during shipping and during handling of the computer in the manufacturing process. This problem is an industry wide issue due to the design of the current AGP video card connector and mating cards. Removable cards of various types will hereinafter be referred to as cards.
When a card becomes unseated from the connector after the computer is shipped, the computer fails to operate properly when the purchaser initiates use. This is an out of the box failure typically resulting in the purchaser having to contact the manufacturer to rectify the problem. This is a costly inconvenience to both the purchaser and the manufacturer. When a card becomes unseated from the connector during manufacturing due to handling of the computer, the computer fails to operate properly when being tested by the manufacturer. These failures reduce the manufacturer's productivity and profitability.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,680,296 to Hileman et al discloses a card guide that both restrains an installed electronic card and allows the card to be inserted into a computer chassis in a direction that is parallel to the motherboard of the computer. The card guide extends from a beam that is cantilevered from a frame of a computer chassis. The card guide has a groove that guides an edge of the electronic card so that the card is aligned with a connector of the motherboard. The card guide also has a ramp that guides the card into the groove in a direction parallel with the motherboard and perpendicular to the groove. The card is installed by initially pushing the electronic card along the ramp until the edge of the card snaps into the groove. The cantilevered beam is deflected by the installation force of the user to allow the card to move down the ramp. Once in the groove, the electronic card is pushed in a direction perpendicular to the motherboard to plug the card into the motherboard connector.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,706,173 to Carney et al discloses an apparatus in which an edge of a long PCI card plugs into a connector at one end of a computer enclosure. The opposite end extends into the enclosure and may be superimposed over a component such as a disk drive. A support is rigidly mounted on the enclosure to fit under the inner end of the card. A slide on the support grips the inner end of the card. The slide is adjustably positioned on the support to accommodate cards of different lengths.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,317,483 to Swindler et al discloses a sheet metal support cage structure within a computer. The cage has an inturned side wall ledge portion and removably receives a spaced series of expansion cards. Extending along edge portions of the cards that face the ledges are sheet metal mounting brackets having outwardly bent end tab portions that overlie and engage the side wall ledge. The tabs are removably held in place on the ledge by an elongated hold-down bar secured at an inner end thereof to the cage structure. This arrangement provides for pivotal movement of the bar between a closed position and an open position.
These references disclose apparatus for mounting and securing cards of various types in connectors. The references disclose retention apparatus wherein hand manipulation is required to either engage or disengage the apparatus. Furthermore, at least one of the apparatus disclosed in the references requires a different construction for each different card size.
Accordingly, a need has arisen for an apparatus for retaining cards in connectors that overcomes the shortcomings of previous apparatus, and in particular for an apparatus that is simple, inexpensive and effective for retaining cards in connectors. A retention apparatus according to this disclosure will not require hand manipulation to engage or disengage the apparatus. It will also automatically adjust to accommodate different size cards.
SUMMARY
One embodiment, accordingly, provides a card retention apparatus that is in combination with the enclosure of a computer and constructed such that it does not require hand manipulation to engage or disengage the apparatus. The card retention apparatus applies a force to hold the card in place, thereby preventing the card from unseating during shipping or during handling in the manufacturing process. To this end, a card retention apparatus has an enclosure including an attachable cover. A connector having a card seated therein is mounted in the enclosure. A card retaining member is connected to extend from the enclosure into contact with the card. The card retaining member urges the card into seated engagement with the connector.
A principal advantage of this embodiment is that the engagement and disengagement of the card retention apparatus is transparent to an individual removing the cover and servicing the card. The apparatus does not need to be manually engaged or disengaged. Another principal advantage is that the card retention apparatus will automatically adjust to accommodate different size expansion cards. Yet another advantage is that the retention apparatus is simple, yet effective without being costly to make or install.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5317483 (1994-05-01), Swindler
patent: 5601349 (1997-02-01), Holt
patent: 5640309 (1997-06-01), Carney et al.
patent: 5642263 (1997-06-01), Lauruhn
patent: 5680296 (1997-10-01), Hileman et al.
patent: 5706173 (1998-01-01), Carney et al.
patent: 5715146 (1998-02-01), Hoppal
patent: 5761030 (1998-06-01), Roscoe
patent: 6017004 (2000-01-01), Grantham
Chang Yean-Hsi
Dell USA L.P.
Haynes and Boone LLP
Picard Leo P.
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