Abstract:
An interface card fixing device that is installed within a computer case, and is provided with a plurality of sets of push rods, which an assembler can move using his hand to cause the push rods to hold down the L-shaped installation pieces of interface cards. Application of pressure to these installation pieces is used to complete quick fixation of the interface cards to corresponding positions of the interior of the computer case, and the assembler does not need to use any hand tools to complete assembly or disassembly of the interface card.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    (a) Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to an interface card fixing device, which is installed in a computer case to enable interface cards to be effectively fixed therein, and more particularly to an interface card fixing device that enables rapid fixing or disassembling of interface cards without the need for hand tools. 
         [0003]    (b) Description of the Prior Art 
         [0004]    Interface cards are the communication bridges between the computer and peripheral hardware, and hardware such as the monitor, keyboard, CD-ROM (Compact Disk-Read Only Memory) drive, printer, hard disk, and so on, can only operate normally by the transmission of data through the interface cards. Present day computers have a number of built-in interfaces, and only if needed are external interfaces added. However, the development of digital information has made the built-in interfaces of the host computer inadequate to meet the needs of current use. For example, computer game players place considerable importance on the acoustic-optic effects when playing computer games. Hence, only high-end computer hardware specifications can satisfy the associated requirements, and these kinds of requirements usually need the separate assembly of high-end graphic display cards, sound effect cards, and the like. Another example is the requirements for Internet connection, which needs the additional installation of a modem card, and so on. 
         [0005]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , which shows an assembly schematic view for an interface card of the prior art, and as depicted in the drawing, a plurality of sets of interface card installation holes  102  are formed at a rear end portion of a computer case  101  of a host computer  10 , and a screw hole  1021  is formed in a side portion of each of the sets of interface card installation holes  102 . Furthermore, when installing an interface card  103  using prior art, a L-shaped installation piece  1031  at one end of the interface card  103  is first located close to one of the sets of interface card installation holes  102 , and a U-shaped groove  1032  formed in the L-shaped installation piece  1031  is made to correspond with the screw hole  1021  in the side portion of the set of interface card installation holes  102 , and after a screw  104  is made to penetrate the U-shaped groove  1032 , then a hand tool is used, such as a screw driver, to screw tight the screw  104  into the screw hole  1021 . Fixed locking of the screw  104  is used to cause the L-shaped installation piece  1031  to be mounted tight to the side portion of the set of interface card installation holes  102 , thereby accomplishing installation of the interface card  103 , after which supplementary electrical connection thereof is carried out to complete the associated installation. 
         [0006]    According to the above, although such an installation method of the prior art enables accomplishing fixation of the interface card  103 , however, each time the interface card  103  needs to be disassembled, a hand tool is necessary to assist in the disassembling operation. Regardless of whether installing or disassembling, because a hand tool is required to assist in the operational procedure, thus, the entire process consumes a considerable amount of time. Furthermore, because the interface card  103  itself is a precision electronic device, and the various electronic components on the surface of the interface card  103  are exposed, thus, during the installation or disassembling process, an inadvertent application of force, or the hand tool accidentally contacting the surface of the interface card  103  could result in damage to the interface card  103 . 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    In light of the aforementioned problems, the inventor of the present invention, having accumulated many years of experience in the design of related products, has carried out extensive research and analysis of the conditional requirements for the use and the installation and disassembly process of an interface card with the intention of further improving the assembly structure to enable the entire assembly or disassembly process simpler and safer. Accordingly, a primary objective of the present invention is to provide an interface card fixing device that enables implementing quick installation or disassembly without the assistance of hand tools. 
         [0008]    In order to achieve the aforementioned objective, the present invention is primarily formed from a base, a plurality of sets of push rods are assembled to the base, and a press piece is formed on an end of each of the push rods. During implementation, the entire base is first assembled close to the rear side of a computer case to effect correspondence with positions of side portions of sets of interface card installation holes. When it is required to install an interface card, the L-shaped installation piece at one end of the interface card need only be made to abut against one of the sets of interface card installation holes, and then the push rod is moved using the hand to cause the push rod to press against the L-shaped installation piece, thereby effectively fixing the interface card. When it is required to disassemble the interface card, the push rod is moved in a reverse direction to cause the press piece to separate from the interface card, thereby completing disassembly. Hence, the installation or disassembly process is completed entirely without the assistance of hand tools. 
         [0009]    To enable a further understanding of said objectives and the technological methods of the invention herein, a brief description of the drawings is provided below followed by a detailed description of the preferred embodiments. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is an assembly schematic view for an interface card of the prior art. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is an external elevational view of the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a sectional schematic view ( 1 ) of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is an implementation schematic view ( 1 ) of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is an implementation schematic view ( 2 ) of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a sectional schematic view ( 2 ) of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0016]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , which shows an external elevational view of the present invention, and an interface card fixing device  20  depicted in the drawing is primarily assembled from a base  201 , a plurality of sets of push rods  205 , and a press piece  207  assembled to each end of the push rod  205 , wherein a plurality of shaft portions  202  are segmentally formed on one side surface of the base  201 , and each of the shaft portions  202  enables a poke rod  203  to be respectively assembled thereto. The poke rod  203  assumes an approximate L-shape, and central position thereof is provided with a relative shaft portion  2031 , which is pivotally disposed on the shaft portion  202 . A poke portion  2032  is formed at one end of the poke rod  203 , and a linkage portion  2033  is formed at the other end. Moreover, a corresponding linkage portion  2041  is formed at one end of a linkage member  204 , which takes the form of an approximate inverted L shape, and is pivotal disposed on the corresponding linkage portion  2033  of the poke rod  203 , while the other end of the linkage member  204  is pivotal disposed on one end of the push rod  205 . Furthermore, another end of the push rod  205  penetrates a though hole  2061  formed in a wall portion  206  of a corresponding side of the base  201 , and the end of the push rod  205  is assembled with a press piece  207 . A protruding column  2071  is formed on a surface of the press piece  207  to enable a better pressing effect; moreover, the surface can be further assembled with an elastic cushion  2072 . 
         [0017]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , which shows a sectional schematic view ( 1 ) of the present invention, and as depicted in the drawing, it is clear that when the poke portion  2032  of the poke rod  203  is subjected to a force and made to move, then the relative shaft portion  2031  of the poke rod  203  serves as an actuating central point to enable rotation, at which time, the linkage portion  2033  linked to the corresponding pivotally disposed linkage member  204  actuates the linkage member  204  which pushes the push rod  205 , thereby causing rectilinear displacement of the push rod  205  through the through hole  2061  and subject to the limitation thereof, while at the same time, displacement of the push rod  205  is used to cause the end press piece  207  to move in a forward direction. Furthermore, when the poke rod  203  is subjected to a reverse poke, then the push rod  205  is displaced backward, and the press piece  207  is reverse displaced along with it. 
         [0018]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , which shows an implementation schematic view ( 1 ) of the present invention, and as depicted in the drawing, a plurality of sets of interface card installation holes  302  are formed in a rear end of a computer case  301  of a host computer  30 , and screw holes, or though holes (not shown in the drawing, refer to the screw holes  1021  of  FIG. 1 ) are formed in side portions  3021  of the sets of interface card installation holes  302 . Such a structure is a standard structure for current common computer cases. As depicted in the drawing, the so called interface card fixing device  20  of the present invention is first fixedly located to the case surface close to the side portion  3021  of the set of interface card installation holes  302 , and after completing installation, each of the push rods  205  and the press pieces  207  of the interface card fixing device  20  are able to correspond exactly to the side portion  3021  of each respective set of the interface card installation holes  302 , which, after completing installation, exhibits the configuration as depicted in the drawing. 
         [0019]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , which shows an implementation schematic view ( 2 ) of the present invention, and as depicted in the drawing, when an interface card  40  is required to be assembled to the set of interface card installation holes  302 , then an L-shaped installation piece  401  at an end of the interface card  40  is first made to correspond to one of the sets of interface card installation holes  302 , wherein the L-shaped installation piece  401  is of standard specifications, and a U-shaped groove  4012  (or a though hole) is formed in a surface of a bent portion  4011  of the L-shaped installation piece  401 . When alignment of the interface card  40  and the set of interface card installation holes  302  is completed, then the U-shaped groove  4012  is made to correspond with the screw hole (not shown in the drawing, refer to the screw holes  1021  of  FIG. 1 ) of the side portion  3021  of the set of interface card installation holes  302 . After alignment, the poke rod  203  (that is, the poke portion  2032 ) of the interface card fixing device  20  is poked using the fingers to cause the linkage member  204  mutually linked and pivotally disposed on the poke rod  203  to further actuate the push rod  205  and push the press piece  207  toward the direction of the L-shaped installation piece  401 . When the surface of the L-shaped installation piece  401  has been held down by the press piece  207 , then the protruding column  2071  of the press piece  207  exactly penetrates the U-shaped groove  4012  of the L-shaped installation piece  401 , and further penetrates the screw hole of the side portion  3021  of the set of interface card installation holes  302 . When the press piece  207  is completely tight against the surface of the side portion of the L-shaped installation piece  401 , then fixation of the interface card  40  is complete. Furthermore, when requiring disassembly, the poke rod  203  need only be pushed in the reverse direction to cause the push rod  205  to withdraw, and the unclasping operation is complete. 
         [0020]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , which shows a sectional schematic view ( 2 ) of the present invention, and as depicted in the drawing, when the poke rod  203  is actuated, circumferential displacement (see the dotted arrow depicted in the drawing) of a peripheral circle of the corresponding linkage portion  2041  at one end of the linkage member  204  is effected along a peripheral circle of the shaft portion  202  (see the dotted line areas depicted in the drawing), which further pushes the push rod  205 , thereby pushing the press piece  207  in a forward direction to achieve the effectiveness to hold down the L-shaped installation piece  401  and enable effective fixation of the entire interface card  40  (refer to  FIG. 5 ). 
         [0021]    From the above description, the interface card fixing device of the present invention primarily uses a poke rod, which, after linking with a linkage member, forces a push rod in a forward direction, thereby causing a press piece to hold down a L-shaped installation piece assembled at one end of an interface card end, thus enabling rapid securing of the interface card and completing the assembly operation thereof. When disassembling, a reverse force need only be applied to the poke rod to rapidly complete the unclasping operation, and thereby accomplish rapid disassembly of the interface card. Accordingly, based on the embodiments as described above, the present invention indeed is able to achieve the objective of providing an interface card fixing device able to implement fast assembly or disassembly without the assistance of hand tools. 
         [0022]    In conclusion, the effectiveness of the present invention to provide new commercial practicability, originality and advancement clearly complies with the essential elements as required for a new patent application, and in accordance with patent law, a new patent application is proposed herein. 
         [0023]    It is of course to be understood that the embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the principles of the invention and that a wide variety of modifications thereto may be effected by persons skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.