Circuit card mounting structure

Details Circuit card mounting structure Circuit card mounting structure

1999-12-29

2001-02-20

Gaffin, Jeffrey (Department: 2841)

Electricity: electrical systems and devices

Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical...

For electronic systems and devices

C361S752000, C361S753000, C361S788000, C361S801000, C361S810000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06191953

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to circuit card enclosures and, more particularly, to improved structure for mounting a circuit card to a back wall of such an enclosure.
Complex electronic systems typically include a rectilinear sheet metal enclosure for the circuit cards making up the electronic system. Usually, a backplane board (i.e., a particular form of circuit card) is supported along a back wall of the enclosure and card guides are provided on the top and bottom walls of the enclosure so that the circuit cards making up the electronic system can be slid into the enclosure for mating engagement with connectors provided on the backplane board. Conventionally, the circuit card enclosure is formed of sheet metal and standoffs formed directly on the back wall of the enclosure are used for mounting the backplane thereto. These standoffs typically require screws extending through appropriately located openings in the backplane board to secure the backplane board to the back wall. Such screws add parts cost to the system and sometimes add assembly costs because they can be difficult to secure because of obstructions or inconvenient standoff location in the enclosure. For example, when the backplane board is located relatively low along the back wall of the enclosure, it is often difficult to have sufficient clearance for a screwdriver. It would therefore be desirable to provide circuit card mounting structure which eliminates screws to reduce part and assembly costs and also simplifies the assembly, further reducing assembly costs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, there is provided mounting structure for mounting a circuit card parallel to a sheet metal wall. The inventive structure includes at least one lower standoff formed integrally from the wall. Each lower standoff includes a projecting portion extending a predetermined distance away from the wall, and a hook portion. The hook portion has a support portion extending away from the projecting portion and a securement portion extending upwardly from the support portion and spaced from the projecting portion by a distance equal substantially to the thickness of the circuit card. The mounting structure also includes at least one upper standoff formed integrally from the wall. Each upper standoff extends the predetermined distance from the wall and is adapted to receive and hold a fastening member. Accordingly, a lower edge of the circuit card is supported by each lower standoff hook portion and a fastening member is utilized to secure the circuit card to each upper standoff.
In accordance with an aspect of this invention, there are a plurality of lower standoffs arrayed on the wall with the support portions of the plurality of lower standoffs all lying along a predetermined straight line.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5138529 (1992-08-01), Colton et al.
patent: 5400214 (1995-03-01), Antonnucio et al.
patent: 5519585 (1996-05-01), Jones et al.
patent: 5590023 (1996-12-01), Hernandez et al.
patent: 5691504 (1997-11-01), Sands et al.
patent: 5801928 (1998-09-01), Burstedt et al.
patent: 5999416 (1999-12-01), McAnally et al.

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