Abstract:
The invention relates to an insertion/extraction tool for inserting and extracting printed circuit boards from a card cage. The invention uses fewer parts than the prior art and reduces bending stress on the printed circuit board by simultaneously applying the insertion or extraction force to both sides of the plane of the printed circuit board.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to an insertion/extraction tool for inserting and extracting a printed circuit board. Specifically, the invention comprises an improved insertion/extraction tool where fewer components are required than in the prior art, more space is available on the printed circuit board for electrical components since the handle of the tool is only on one side of the printed circuit board, and less wear and tear of the printed circuit board is achieved during insertion and extraction since the invention transmits the insertion and extraction force on both sides of the plane of the printed circuit board. 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a novel insertion/extraction tool which requires fewer components than the prior art. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel insertion/extraction tool that minimizes bending stress on the printed circuit board due to the simultaneous transmission of force on both sides of the plane of the printed circuit board during insertion and extraction operations. 
     These and many other objects and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art to which the invention pertains from a perusal of the claims, the appended drawings, and the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one preferred embodiment of the insertion/extraction tool with an exploded view of the pivot means. 
     FIG. 2 is a partial plan view of one preferred embodiment of the insertion/extraction tool showing the printed circuit board fully inserted into the chassis. 
     FIG. 3 is a partial plan view of one preferred embodiment of the insertion/extraction tool showing the printed circuit board in a partially ejected state. 
     FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view of the insertion/extraction tool showing the lower section of the tool. 
     FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view of the insertion/extraction tool showing the upper section of the tool. 
     FIG. 6 is a partial plan view of the printed circuit board showing one preferred embodiment of the printed circuit board. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Reference is now made to FIGS. 1 through 6, wherein like parts are designated with like numerals throughout. One preferred embodiment of the insertion/extraction tool is illustrated. 
     The insertion/extraction tool 2, in the preferred embodiment shown, has a handle 4 which is integrally connected to lower body portion 14. Lower toe portion 28 and lower heel portion 30 extend from lower body portion 14 to form an aperture for receiving the protruding portion of chassis 18. Lower hole 13 for receiving pivot means 17 is positioned substantially between lower toe portion 28 and lower heel portion 30. Handle 4, lower body portion 14, lower toe portion 28, and lower heel portion 30 are below the plane of printed circuit board 6. 
     The elongated portion of handle 4 closest to the lower body portion is oriented substantially parallel to the front edge of printed circuit board 6 when printed circuit board 6 is in the fully inserted position. The tail end of the elongated portion of handle 4 is angled out away from printed circuit board 6 to allow the operator of the insertion/extraction tool to more easily grip handle 4 during extraction of printed circuit board 6 from the fully inserted position. 
     Upper body portion 16 is positioned above the plane of printed circuit board 6 and directly above lower body portion 14. Upper toe portion 29 and upper heel portion 31 extend from upper body portion 16 to form an aperture for receiving the protruding portion of chassis 18. Upper hole 12 for receiving pivot means 17 is positioned substantially between upper toe portion 29 and upper heel portion 31. 
     Upper and lower toe portions 28 and 29, respectively, are integrally connected at sections 32 and 34, respectively so as to form a slot for receiving printed circuit board 6 between the upper and lower portions of the tool. 
     Hole 8 in printed circuit board 6 is positioned to receive pivot means 17. Holes 8, 12, and 13 align to receive pivot means 17. Pivot means 17 securely attaches printed circuit board 6 to insertion/extraction tool 2. 
     Notch 10 in printed circuit board 6 is positioned to allow space for toe section 32 during pivoting motion of the insertion/extraction tool 2. 
     Insertion/extraction tool 2 operates as follows. FIG. 2 shows the printed circuit board 6 in the fully inserted position. Upper insertion surface 24 and lower insertion surface 20 of upper and lower toe portions, 28 and 29 respectively, engage the protruding portion of chassis 18. Upper extraction surface 26 and lower extraction surface 22 of upper and lower heel portions, 30 and 31, respectively, are disengaged from the protruding portion of chassis 18. 
     To extract printed circuit board 6 from the fully inserted position, handle 4 is rotated away from printed circuit board 6, pivoting insertion/extraction tool 2 clockwise about pivot means 17. This pivoting action causes upper and lower insertion surfaces, 24 and 20, respectively, to disengage from the protruding portion of chassis 18. This pivoting action also causes upper and lower extraction surfaces, 26 and 22, respectively, to engage the protruding portion of chassis 18. The force used to rotate handle 4 about pivot means 17 is transmitted to the chassis simultaneously through the upper and lower extraction surfaces, 26 and 22, respectively, impelling printed circuit board 6 outward from the fully inserted position. The simultaneous transmission of force both above and below the plane of printed circuit board 6 prevents printed circuit board 6 from bending out of its original plane. 
     To insert printed circuit board 6 to the fully inserted position, handle 4 is rotated towards printed circuit board 6, pivoting insertion/extraction tool 2 counter-clockwise about pivot means 17. This pivoting action causes upper and lower extraction surfaces, 26 and 22, respectively, to disengage from the protruding portion of chassis 18. This pivoting action also causes upper and lower insertion surfaces, 24 and 20, respectively, to engage the protruding portion of chassis 18. The force used to rotate handle 4 about pivot means 17 is transmitted to the chassis simultaneously through the upper and lower insertion surfaces, 24 and 20, respectively, impelling printed circuit board 6 inward toward the fully inserted position. The simultaneous transmission of force both above and below the plane of printed circuit board 6 prevents printed circuit board 6 from bending out of its original plane. 
     While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described, it is to be understood that the embodiments described are illustrative only and the scope of the invention is to be defined solely by the appended claims when accorded a full range of equivalence, many variations and modifications naturally occurring to those of skill in the art from a perusal hereof.