Electronic device retainer

Details Electronic device retainer Electronic device retainer

1999-04-13

2001-08-14

Gandhi, Jayprakash N. (Department: 2841)

Electricity: electrical systems and devices

Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical...

For electronic systems and devices

C361S801000, C361S809000, C439S064000, C439S564000, C439S573000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06275389

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a retainer for mounting an electronic device to a circuit board, and in particular to a retainer structure capable of retaining fasteners for securing the retainer to the circuit board in the retainer when mounting the retainer to the circuit board.
2. The Prior Art
Electronic devices, such as a CPU module, may be mounted to a circuit board by means of a retainer pre-mounted on the circuit board. There are a number of retainers serving this purpose available on the market. Some of the retainers are fixed to the circuit board by means of fasteners, such as a bolt and nut assembly. Conventionally, the bolt and the nut are separate from the retainer before the retainer is mounted to the circuit board. However, the fasteners may be inadvertently dropped into the computer casing during the process of mounting the retainer to the circuit board. Due to the small size of the fasteners, especially the nuts, it may be extremely difficult to recover the fastener immediately thereby delaying and complicating the operations, such as maintenance and assembly, of the computer.
It is thus desirable to have an electronic device retainer having a structure capable to firmly hold the fastener therein so as to overcome the above problem.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an electronic device retainer which is capable of firmly holding a nut therein.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an electronic device retainer having a structure that allows the mounting of the retainer on a circuit board to be carried out easily and efficiently.
To achieve the above objects, a retainer in accordance with the present invention that is adapted to mount an electronic device, such as a central processing unit (CPU) module, to a circuit board comprises two arms, each having an elongate body defining a channel for receiving an edge of the CPU module thereby retaining the CPU module between the two arms. Each retaining arm defines two cavities therein respectively proximate opposite ends of the body. Each cavity has a square configuration to snugly receive a square nut therein. The cavity has a bottom periphery to support the nut and a top periphery to retain the nut in the cavity. A through hole is defined in the bottom periphery to receive a bolt that extends from the circuit board and threadingly engages with the nut thereby securing the retaining arm to the circuit board. The top periphery of the cavity defines a circular recess and a cylindrical section of the nut is received and retained in the recess for further securing the nut in the cavity.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5984689 (1999-11-01), Dong
patent: 6099323 (2000-08-01), Ho et al.
patent: 6157536 (2000-12-01), Huang et al.

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