Patent ID: 6299468
Filing Date: 2001-10-09
Classification: H05K

Abstract:
A retention mechanism for use with an edge card mounted on a printed circuit board, comprising:a post including a plurality of serrations formed along an elongated side thereof, and a locking portion attached at a lower end of the post for securing to the printed circuit board;a movable arm having a canister adapted to enclose and latch with the serrations and a securing portion integrally extending from an outside wall of the canister for clamping the edge card, wherein the canister also forms a pair of opposite stoppers in a side wall of the canister, the stoppers being latchable with the serrations for stopping the movable arm at a set position on the post on which the securing portion presses downwardly against an upper edge of the edge card, thereby securing the edge card on the printed circuit board;wherein the canister of the movable arm has a pair of rectangular holes on opposite sides thereof, the stoppers being formed in corresponding holes, each stopper including a lever extending along the elongated side of the post and two ribs extending between the lever and the side wall of the canister for providing the lever a pivot to rotate about, each lever forming a pushing end projecting outwardly on one end thereof and a protrusion projecting inwardly on an opposite end thereof, and when the pushing ends are pushed inwardly towards each other, the protrusions move outwardly from between the serrations, and the movable arm can slide along the elongated side of the post freely, and when the pushing ends are released, the protrusions move inwardly to latch with the serrations thereby securing the movable arm at a set position on the post;wherein the locking portion of the post is a screw made of metal, and is insert-molded within the lower end of the post;wherein a lower end of the post forms a recess along the longitudinal axis thereof, which has a radius larger than that of the locking portion;wherein the securing portion includes a plurality of triangular clamps which form plural grooves therebetween to secure an upper edge of the edge card.