Electricity: electrical systems and devices – Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical... – For electronic systems and devices
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-01
2001-11-20
Gaffin, Jeffrey (Department: 2841)
Electricity: electrical systems and devices
Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical...
For electronic systems and devices
C361S741000, C361S747000, C361S756000, C361S759000, C361S801000, C361S802000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06320752
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for fixing option or expansion cards or circuit boards when installing the same into a main body(also called a “motherboard” or a “back plane”) of a personal computer and the like, and in particular to a fixing apparatus for a mounting type card member which enables an easier mounting operation without requiring an additional tool for fixing an option card into a computer main chassis.
2. Description of the Background Art
FIG. 1
is an exploded perspective view illustrating the internal structure of a typical conventional desktop personal computer. The structure in which an option card is installed into a computer main chassis will be explained with reference to FIG.
1
.
Generally, an option card
10
represents a data processing apparatus such as an internal type communication MODEM, a printer connection card, a TV signal receiving card, a sound card, etc. which is capable of providing a computer with an optional function and is installed on a motherboard
20
installed in a computer main chassis
1
.
The above-described option card
10
generally includes a card bracket
15
provided at one end of the option card
10
which includes a bent plate
12
having a hole
11
therein, and an insertion plate
13
formed at a lower side of the option card
10
insertable into a card position determining slot
25
in the computer main chassis
1
.
In the interior of the computer main chassis
1
, a main chassis bracket
30
is installed at a side of the computer main chassis
1
extending in a direction perpendicular to the motherboard
20
. A plurality of engaging grooves
31
are formed at the main chassis bracket
30
at a regular interval for thereby engaging a plurality of the option cards
10
thereto. A screw hole
32
is formed between each of the neighboring option cards
10
for fixing the option cards
10
using a corresponding screw
40
through the hole
11
formed in the card bracket
15
.
A card position determining slot
25
is formed either in the main chassis bracket
30
or the motherboard
20
below the engaging groove
31
for thereby determining the position of the option card
10
in a state that the insertion plate
13
of the card bracket
15
of the option card
10
is inserted thereinto.
In the drawings, reference numeral
22
designates expansion slots mounted on the motherboard
20
into which the optical cards
10
are engaged,
10
a
designates a card edge connector of the option card
10
which is inserted into a corresponding expansion slot
22
for electrically connecting the option card
10
and the motherboard
20
.
With reference to the above-described conventional structure for fixing the option card, the operation for fixing the option card will be explained.
First, the connector
10
a
of an option card
10
is engaged in an expansion slot
22
of the motherboard
20
, and the insertion plate
13
of the option card bracket
15
is inserted into the corresponding card position determining slot
25
of the motherboard
20
. The hole
11
in the option card bracket
15
and the screw hole
32
in the main chassis bracket
30
are aligned. Thereafter, a screw
40
is fastened using a driver tool for thereby fixing the option card
10
.
In order to change or remove the option card
10
, the above-described operation is performed in the reverse sequence.
In the above-described conventional option card fixing structure, the option card
1
is inserted into a portion of the motherboard
20
, and the option card bracket
15
is fixed to the main chassis bracket
30
using the screw
40
.
However, in the above-described conventional option card fixing structure, since the option cards are installed into the computer main chassis using screws, a certain tool such as a screw driver must be used for installing the option cards using the screws, thereby causing much inconvenience.
In addition, when engaging the screws, if the screws are dropped onto the motherboard, it is difficult to find and retrieve the screws. If the screws are dropped into a portion between the motherboard and the main chassis, the motherboard must be disassembled in order to retrieve the dropped screws. If the screws are missing, it is impossible to fix the option card.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a fixing apparatus for a mounting type card member which is capable of easily fixing an option card using an option card fixing member without needing an additional tool for fixing the optical card.
To achieve the above objects, there is provided a fixing apparatus or a mounting type card member in a computer which includes a main chassis having a bracket having a fixing portion, a motherboard being engaged to the main chassis and having one or more slots, the card members each having a connector portion to be connected with the slot and a bracket formed at one end of the same. A fixing member has a body portion which supports the bracket of the card members and fixing portions formed at both ends of the body portion, whereby when the fixing portion is fixed to the fixing portion of the main chassis, the body portion contacts with the bracket of the card member for thereby preventing a movement or escape of the card member.
Additional advantages, objects and features of the invention will become more apparent from the description which follows.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5757618 (1998-05-01), Lee
patent: 5936835 (1999-08-01), Astier
patent: 5947571 (1999-09-01), Ho
Birch & Stewart Kolasch & Birch, LLP
Gaffin Jeffrey
LG Electronics Inc.
Vu Phuong T.
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