Option board holder for use in a computer

An option board holding apparatus for accomodating a plurality of option boards, e.g., memory boards or various ROM boards to be plugged in the expansion slots in a computer system to extend the computer's capability. The option board holding apparatus comprises a front chassis of a computer and a holding plate which is fitted into the front chassis. The front chassis has pairs of slots and the holding plate has mating pairs of latching means to be slidably received and retained in the slots. On the face of the holding plate opposite to the latching means is provided a plurality of rails defining channeled grooves for receiving one side edges of the option boards.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to a holding apparatus and more particularly to a 
holder for supporting option boards e.g., memory boards or ROM boards 
which are plugged in the expansion slots to extend computer's capability. 
There are various kinds of option boards such as graphic boards, drive 
controller boards, boards for serial port and mouse or game port which can 
be plugged in the expansion slot in a computer system to extend the 
computer's capability. 
Of the option boards the board for serial port, mouse or game port is 
comparatively light in weight and of substantially the same width as the 
computer's main body. Accordingly, no serious problems are raised when 
only the rear end of the board is fixed to the rear surface of the 
computer with the front end remaining free. However, such option boards as 
memory boards or various ROM function boards are generally heavy and long, 
thereby, by stabilizing it only at the rear end the structure form becomes 
deformed or it is bent by the shock caused during conveyance or by the 
generated heat during operation. Besides, there is a high likelihood that 
such boards would be determined as inferior goods in the drop test. 
Accordingly, the heavy and long option boards have been used with the same 
numbered holders that accommodates the boards in such a way that they can 
individually be inserted or removed. The holding apparatus has been 
constructed to have aproximately the same length as the length between the 
front and rear ends of the computer and to have the front end fixed to the 
front chassis of the computer's main body. 
As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the prior art board holder 1 consists of a 
channel upright 1. In the vertically channeled portion 2 are pairs of 
inwardly protruding opposite contact spring members 3. The vertical edge 
of one side of the option board B is resiliently and demountably inserted 
in the vertical passage defined by the pairs of the opposite contact 
spring members 3. The fitting of the board holder 1 to a front chassis 5 
is accomplished by press fitting a plurality of cylindrical spring 
protrusions 4 into matching apertures 6. As shown in FIG. 5, the spring 
protrusions 4 are provided on the rear surface of the board holder 1. The 
matching aligned apertures 6 are located on the front chassis. 
The individual injection molding of the prior art board holder tends to 
prevent the finished holder from forming the correct structure. Therefore, 
an undesirable opening is formed between the front chassis 5 and the rear 
surface of the channel upright 1, which will prevent the exact fitting of 
the upright 1 in the front chassis 5. 
Granting that the channel upright 1 is fitted to the front chassis 5, the 
fit is achieved loosely which will cause damage to the board holder 1 
during conveyance or drop test because of shock. 
In addition, the process of fitting the plurality of individual board 
holders to the front chassis is cumbersome, thus increasing the labor 
force and time. Furthermore, the injection molding is complicated, thus 
increasing the manufacture cost. 
In another prior art board holder, the fastening of the board holder to the 
front chassis is accomplished by heating protrusions which have been 
received in matching apertures. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
One object of the present invention is to provide an integrally formed 
holding apparatus for carrying a plurality of individual option boards. 
Another object of the present invention is to provide an integrally formed 
holding apparatus which is not deformed through injection molding. 
Another object of the present invention is to provide an integrally formed 
holding apparatus in which the molding process by injection is simple and 
therefore inexpensive to manufacture. 
The above objects of the present invention are achieved in the option board 
holding apparatus of the present invention which includes a channeled 
holding plate and a front chassis of a computer in which the holding plate 
is fitted. The front chassis has pairs of upper and lower slots for 
slidably receiving mating latch means which are integrally molded with the 
board holding plate. The board holding plate has integrally molded 
therewith a plurality of vertical rail portions for slidably receiving and 
retaining vertical edges of one side of the option boards therein. The 
latch means comprises two pairs of upper and lower downturned depending 
resilient protrusions and a pair of middle elongated cantilever spring 
portions. Each latch means has integrally molded therewith resilient edges 
for assuring that the board holder is properly engaged to the front 
chassis. 
The objects and features of the present invention are set forth with 
particularity in the appended claims. The present invention may be best 
understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection 
with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals indicate like parts.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
Referring to the drawings, a front chassis 10 includes substantially square 
upper slots 11 spaced parallel to one another. Directly below each square 
upper slot 11 there is a substantially elongated lower slot 12. As is 
readily apparent from the ensuing description, the slots 11 and 12 for 
engaging a board holder member 20 are shown in FIGS. 1-4. 
Referring now particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, the construction of the board 
holder member 20 is disclosed. The board holder member 20 comprises a 
vertical plate 21. The vertical plate 21 has vertical rail portions 22. 
Each vertical rail portion 22 defines a vertical recess 23 to act as a 
guiding groove for removable attachment of the vertical edges of the board 
B. 
It is noted that the number of the rail portions 22 varies by the kinds of 
the computers. 
As is best shown in FIG. 2, the board holder member 20 incorporates upper 
openings 25 with each upper opening 25 directly in front of each mating 
square upper slots 11. In front of each upper opening 25 there is an upper 
downturned depending resilient protrusion 24 to be slidably received and 
retained in the mating square upper slot 11 in the assembled structure. 
The upper downturned depending resilient protrusion 24 extends from the 
vertical plate 21 in a direction opposite to the direction of rail 
portions 22 and includes reinforcing sides 27 having beveled sections 27A 
to facilitate the insertion into square upper slot 11 and to prevent the 
damage that might be caused by the force upon the upper downturned 
depending resilient protrusion 24 during assembly or disassembly. 
Resilient lower end 24A is incorporated in the depending resilient 
protrusion 24 to provide resilient engaging means with with the front 
chassis 10 and displaced below the lower edge of upper square slot 11 in 
the assembled structure. 
Directly below each upper downturned depending resilient protrusion 24 is a 
vertical cantilever spring portion 30 having a peripheral slit 29. 
Vertical cantilever spring portion 30 includes an elongated section 31 and 
a resilient arm 32 which is bent toward the opposite direction of the rail 
protrusions 22 to bias cantilever sping portion 30 upwardly into contact 
with the upper periphery of the elongated lower slot 12. 
Lower downturned depending resilient protrusions 26 are provided on 
opposite portions of the first downturned depending resilient protrusions 
24. Each downturned depending resilient protrusion 26 is displaced below 
the mating vertical cantilever spring portion 30 and includes reinforcing 
sides 28 to prevent damage that might be caused by the force upon the 
second downturned depending resilient protrusion 26 during assembly or 
disassembly. 
With reference to FIG. 3, the assembly of the front chassis 10 and the 
board holder 20 of the present invention will now be discussed. The front 
chassis 10 and the board holder 20 are displaced so that the beveled 
sections of the upper and lower downturned depending portions 24 and 26 
have the same or higher as or than the lower periphery of the square and 
elongated slots 11 and 12. 
After the first and second downturned depending resilient protrusions 24 
and 26 have been positioned as described, the board holder 20 is directed 
toward the front chassis 10 which will slide the the board holder 20 
downwardly due to the cam function between beveled sections 27A and upper 
periphery of the upper square slots 11. In this state, the resilient lower 
ends 24A, 26A are in slightly separated positions from the lower periphery 
of the square and elongated slots 11 and 12, while the resilient arms 32 
are in rearward tilt position by bouncing over the front chassis 10 at the 
leading edges thereof as indicated by dotted lines in FIG. 3-B. 
Thereafter, any downward force on the board holder 20 causes a close fit of 
the first and second resilient lower ends 24A and 26A into the lower 
periphery of the square and elongated slots 11 and 12, thus preventing the 
movement of the board holder 20 with respect to the front chassis 10. The 
vertical edges of the option boards B are then inserted into the mating 
vertical recesses 23. 
The disengagement of the board holder 20 from the front chassis 10 is 
achieved in a reverse manner by simply pushing the resilient arms 32. 
While in accordance with the provisions and statutes, there has been 
illustrated and described the best form of the invention, certain changes 
may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as set 
forth in the appended claims and in some cases, certain features of the 
invention may be used to advantage without a corresponding use of other 
features.