Abstract:
An article of manufacture, method, and system for communicating with circuit boards, which has a grounding element with first and second portions, and the first portion is a forked member adopted for providing contact to a circuit board, and the second portion is adopted to provide contact to a grounding feature.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to grounding and more particularly to grounding components, which create a grounding condition for an electrical apparatus. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Grounding is the intentional electrical connection to a reference-conducting plane, which generally consists of a specific array of interconnected electrical conductors referred to as the grounding conductor. Grounding provides a zero point for an electrical conductor system. 
     Typically, grounding from a printed circuit board (hereinafter “circuit board”) to a grounding feature is done by soldering or pressing a pin of a grounding element into a circuit board, and contacting the grounding element to the grounding feature. The pin is pressed or soldered into the circuit board to provide a grounding path from the circuit board, or another electrical element, to the grounding feature. When the circuit board is contained in a plastic housing, the grounding element is also contained, at least partially, inside of the plastic housing. 
     As a result of being partially contained in a plastic housing, the grounding element must be configured to partially integrate into the plastic housing to contact the circuit board, while maintaining contact with the grounding feature, which is outside of the plastic housing. Due to the configuration of plastic housings it may become cumbersome and unreliable to press fit or solder a pin into a circuit board. 
     In view of the foregoing, there is a need to have a permanent and reliable grounding path from a circuit board to a grounding feature via a grounding element. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides for articles of manufacture, systems and methods for communicating with at least one circuit board. In one embodiment, there is a grounding element with a first and second portion. In this particular exemplary embodiment, the first portion is configured as a fork to provide for contact to a circuit board, and the second portion is configured to provide contact to a grounding feature. The grounding feature can, among a number of other grounding features, be a vehicle. In this embodiment, the fork has two prongs extending substantially parallel from the second portion, and the fork is configured to engage the top and bottom portion of a circuit board. 
     In another embodiment, a grounding system utilizes the exemplary grounding element described above. In this particular embodiment, a housing integrates an exemplary fork and a mounting pad extends externally from the housing integrating the second portion. 
     In yet another embodiment, there is a method for grounding a circuit board contained in a substantially non-metallic housing, with a grounding element. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a grounding element 
     FIG. 2 is a front cross sectional view of a grounding element integrated into a housing, and a circuit board, which can be placed in the housing and contacted to the grounding element 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective transparent view of a grounding element integrated into a housing and mounting pads. 
     FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of a circuit board integrated into the exemplary housing of FIGS. 2 and 3 and contacted to a grounding element. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     While the present invention is susceptible to embodiments in varied forms, what is shown in the drawings will hereinafter be understood to be an embodiment of the present invention. The present disclosure is to be considered as setting forth an exemplification of the invention, which in no way is intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiment illustrated below. In referring to the drawings, like reference numerals indicate like parts throughout the several drawings. 
     FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a grounding element  10 . In this embodiment the grounding element  10  is comprised of a first portion  12  and second portion  14 . In this exemplary embodiment the first portion  12  has a forked member  16 . The forked member  16  has two prongs a and b extending substantially parallel to one another from the second portion  14 . FIG. 1 further shows an embodiment of the second portion  14  having a substantially annular ring member  18  with an aperture  40 . 
     Turning now to FIG. 2, which shows an exemplary embodiment of the grounding element  10  integrated into an exemplary housing  20 . In this particular embodiment, the cross sectional view of the housing  20  illustrates one of the two rails  22  contained in the housing  20 . The rails  22  act to accept and guide the circuit board  30  into position in the housing  20 . FIG. 2 also shows the top portion  32  and the bottom portion  34  of the circuit board  30 . 
     FIG. 2 further shows the integration of the grounding element  10 , and more particularly, the integration of the forked member  16  into the housing  20 . In this embodiment, the forked member  16 , and its two prongs a and b, slide over and contact the top portion  32  and bottom portion  34  of the circuit board  30  when the circuit board  30  is integrated into the housing  20 . The forked member  16  provides contact for grounding the circuit board  30  and also helps to physically secure the circuit board  30 . 
     In one embodiment the grounding element  10  is integrated into the housing after the housing is formed, but in another exemplary embodiment, the grounding element  10  is integrated into the housing by insert molding. As a result the grounding element  10  can be introduced into the housing  20  during the formation of the housing  20  or after the housing  20  has already been molded and stamped. 
     The embodiment in FIG. 3 shows a semi-transparent perspective view of housing  20  having a grounding element  10  integrated into the housing  20 . In this embodiment, the housing  20  has two mounting pads  28  extending there from. The mounting pads  28  are used to secure the housing  20  to a grounding feature  70 . In an exemplary embodiment, the grounding feature is a vehicle. The mounting pads  28  have an aperture  26 , which allow a clamping member  50  to pass through the aperture  40  of the second portion  14 , and then pass through aperture  26  of the mounting pad  28  to secure the housing to the grounding feature  70 . The clamping member  50  provides contact from the second portion  14  to the grounding feature  70 , thus providing grounding for the circuit board  30  contained within the housing  20 . In this particular embodiment, the clamping member  50  comprises a bolt, but in other embodiments the clamping member may comprise other fastening members including, but not limited to, a rivet, a screw, a pin or a press-stud. When the clamping member  50  is fully integrated into the grounding feature  70  a grounding condition is created. 
     In this exemplary embodiment, the housing  20  is engaged with the grounding feature  70 , and wherein the clamping member  50  passes through the aperture  26  of the mounting pads and the aperture  40  of the substantially annular ring member  18  and into the grounding feature  70  securing the housing  20  to the grounding feature  70 . 
     FIG. 4 shows a circuit board  30  integrated into the exemplary housing of FIG.  2 . This embodiment shows the two prongs a and b of the forked member  16  contacting the top portion  32  and bottom portion  34  of the circuit board  30 . A grounding path travels from the circuit board  30  through the prongs a and b of the forked member  16 , and into the second portion  14 , which is contacted by clamping member  50 . Finally the grounding path travels from the clamping member  50  into the grounding feature  70  to provide grounding for the circuit board  30 . 
     For purposes of this invention, and without limitation, the grounding element  10  and grounding feature  70  described in the present embodiment is preferably comprised of stainless steel, aluminum, titanium, copper, or any other material which is conductive and exhibits appropriate grounding capacity. The housing and grounding feature in the aforementioned embodiments is comprised of a substantially non-conductive material, such as polyethylene, PBT, plastic or Teflon. 
     The above description and the views and material depicted by the figures are for the purpose of illustration only and are not intended to be, and should not be construed as, limitations on the invention. 
     Moreover, certain modifications or alterations may suggest themselves to those skilled in the art upon reading of this specification, all of which are intended to be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the attached claims.