Expansion card mounting apparatus

An expansion card mounting apparatus includes a rear panel (14) defining an opening (16), a mounting frame (20) attached to the rear panel around the opening, a pressing body (30) pivotably mounted to the mounting frame, and two retention members (40) attached to opposite sides of the mounting frame. The mounting frame includes a support plate (22) for supporting an end portion (122) of a slot cover (120) of an expansion card (100). Each retention member defines a retention portion (40B) having a protrusion (44) formed thereon. When the pressing body is pivoted to an engaging position in which the pressing body presses the end portion against the support plate, the protrusion snappingly engages with opposite ends of the pressing body so as to retain the pressing body in said engaging position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to mounting apparatuses, and more particularly to a mounting apparatus for readily and securely mounting expansion cards in a computer enclosure.

2. Related Art

Many computer systems comprise not only a motherboard, but also one or more expansion cards electrically connected to the motherboard to provide specialized functions. It is required that the expansion cards be reliably retained within the computer enclosure to prevent disengagement from the motherboard when the computer is subjected to shock and vibration during delivery and use thereof.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,317,483 discloses a mounting apparatus for mounting an expansion card to a chassis. The mounting apparatus includes a pressing body having one end pivotably mounted to a support plate of the chassis. After the pressing body pivots to a position in which slot covers of expansion cards are sandwiched between the pressing body and the support plate, the other end of the pressing body is fastened to the support plate with a screw. The expansion cards are thus secured to chassis.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,936,835 also discloses an expansion card mounting apparatus. The mounting apparatus has a plurality of spring fingers and a mounting portion. After the mounting apparatus is disposed in a position in which the spring fingers respectively press corresponding slot covers of expansion cards, the mounting portion is screwed to the chassis. The expansion cards are thus secured to the chassis.

Both of the above-mentioned prior art apparatuses can mount a plurality of expansion cards at one time. However, when installing or removing several expansion cards, using the screw fasteners is laborious and time-consuming. In addition, a tool such as a screwdriver or a wrench is usually required.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for easy and quick installation and removal of expansion cards to and from equipment such as a chassis of a computer.

To achieve the above-mentioned object, an expansion card mounting apparatus in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a rear panel defining an opening, a mounting frame attached to the real panel around the opening, a pressing body pivotably mounted to the mounting frame, and a pair of retention members. The mounting frame comprises a support plate for supporting an end portion of a slot cover of an expansion card. The retention members are attached to opposite sides of the mounting frame respectively and each comprises a retention portion. A protrusion is formed at the retention portion. When the pressing body is rotated to an engaging position in which the pressing body presses the end portion against the support plate, the protrusion snappingly engages with the pressing body so as to retain the pressing body in said engaging position.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will be drawn from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the present invention with attached drawings, in which:

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention will be described in its preferred embodiments, and in conjunction with an expansion card.

FIG. 1shows an expansion card mounting apparatus in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention, together with an expansion card100. The mounting apparatus comprises a chassis10, a mounting frame20, a pressing body30, a pivot axle50for pivotably mounting the pressing body30to the mounting frame20, and a pair of retention members40for retaining the pressing body30in a predetermined position.

The expansion card100comprises a printed circuit board110, and a slot cover120attached to an end of the printed circuit board110. The printed circuit board110comprises an edge connecting portion112. The slot cover120comprises a bent end portion122defining a cutout124.

The chassis10comprises a bottom panel12, and a rear panel14extending from an end of the bottom panel12. The bottom panel12has a motherboard15attached thereon. The motherboard15has a connector17, corresponding to the connection portion112of the expansion card100. A rectangular opening16is defined in the rear panel14. A plurality of mounting holes18is defined in the rear panel14around the opening16.

The mounting frame20is used to mount the slot cover120of the expansion card100at the rear panel14. The mounting frame20comprises a vertical plate21. A plurality of evenly spaced vertical expansion slots210is defined in the vertical plate21. A support plate22extends rearwardly from a top end of the vertical plate21. The expansion slots210each span to a portion of the support plate22. A plurality of evenly spaced positioning holes220is defined in the support plate22, adjacent the expansion slots210respectively. A pair of projections23extends upwardly from opposite sides of the support plate23respectively. Each projection23defines a pivot hole230. A pair of side plates24extends rearwardly from opposite sides of the vertical plate21respectively. A pair of hollow mounting posts240is formed from an upper portion of each side plate24. Each side plate24is bent perpendicularly to form a mounting plate25. A pair of mounting holes250is defined in each mounting plate25, corresponding to two respective mounting holes18of the rear panel14. Using fasteners such as screws or bolts extending through the corresponding mounting holes18,250of the rear panel14and mounting plates25, the mounting frame20can be mounted to the rear panel14around the opening16thereof.

Referring toFIG. 2, the pressing body30has a main pressing portion32, and two rolled tabs34at opposite ends of the pressing portion32. Each rolled tab34defines a pivot hole340therein. As best seen inFIG. 4, a plurality of positioning posts320extends from the pressing portion32, corresponding to the positioning holes220of the support plate22. A plurality of evenly spaced spring fingers322extends at slight angles from the pressing portion32, for resiliently pressing one or more end portions122of one or more slot covers120. When the pivot axle50is extended through the pivot holes230of the projections23and the pivot holes340of the rolled tabs34, the pressing body30is pivotably mounted to the mounting frame20above the support plate22thereof. A locking ring52engages around an end portion of the pivot axle50, so as to secure the pivot axle50in the pivot holes230,340.

Referring toFIG. 3, each retention member40is made from resilient material such as plastic. The retention member40sequentially comprises an operation portion40A, a retention portion40B and a mounting portion40C integrally joined together at respective bent junctions therebetween. A pair of mounting holes32is defined in the mounting portion40C, corresponding to the mounting posts240of a respective one of the side plates24. A protrusion44is inwardly formed on the retention portion40B. The protrusion44comprises a convex main surface47, and an engaging face48interconnecting a bottom end of the main surface47with the retention portion40B. The engaging face48is generally perpendicular to the retention portion40B. The engaging face48is for engaging with a corresponding end of the pressing body30. A cap42is attached to the operation portion40A, for facilitating operation of the retention member40.

Referring toFIGS. 4 through 6, in assembly, the mounting frame20is attached to the rear panel14, with said fasteners extending through the mounting holes250,18of the mounting plate25and rear panel14. The pressing body30is pivotably attached to the mounting frame20, with the pivot axle50extending through the pivot holes230,340of the projections23and pressing body30, and the locking ring52being engaged around said end portion of the pivot axle50. The retention members40are fixedly attached to the side plates24respectively. The mounting posts240of the side plates24are extended through the mounting holes46of the retention members40, and ends of the mounting posts240are expanded to retain the retention members40to the side plates24. Alternatively, other fastening means such as rivets may be used. Prior to installation of the expansion card100, the pressing body30is rotated so that it is positioned above the protrusions44of the retention members40.

To install the expansion card100, the connecting portion112of the expansion card100is connected to connector17of the motherboard15, the slot cover120is placed to cover a corresponding expansion slot210, and the cutout124is aligned with a corresponding positioning hole220of the support plate22. The pressing body30is rotated down toward the slot cover120. The ends of the pressing body30slidingly ride over the corresponding convex main surfaces47of the protrusions44, thereby elastically deforming the retention portions40B outwardly. After the ends of the pressing body30have completely ridden over the protrusions44, the retention portions40B spring back to their original states, and the ends of the pressing body30are thus snappingly engaged under the engaging faces48of the protrusions44respectively. Simultaneously, a corresponding spring finger322resiliently presses the end portion122of the slot cover120, and a corresponding positioning post320extends through the cutout124and into a corresponding positioning hole220. The end portion122is sandwiched between the pressing member30and the support plate22, and the expansion card100is accordingly secured within the chassis10by the mounting apparatus.

To remove the expansion card100, the caps42of the operation portions40A are pushed outwardly to disengage the protrusions44from the ends of the pressing body30. The pressing body30is then rotated up from the end portion122of the slot cover120to release the spring finger322from the end portion122, and to release the positioning post320out from the cutout124and positioning hole320. If the spring fingers322have sufficient resiliency, the pressing body30can be automatically rotated up by the resilient force of the spring fingers322themselves. The expansion card100is then easily removed from the chassis10.

In the present invention, the pressing body30is pivotably mounted to the mounting frame20. When removing or installing the expansion card100, it is not necessary to remove the pressing body30. In addition, the pressing body30is snappingly engaged with the end portion122of the slot cover120. These features allow quick and convenient installation and removal of the expansion card100.

FIG. 7illustrates a retention member40′ in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention. The retention member40′ is similar to the retention member40of the preferred embodiment, and comprises an operation portion40A′, a retention portion40B′ and a mounting portion40C′. A cap42′ is attached to the operation portion40A′. A pair of mounting holes46′ is defined in the mounting portion40C′. A portion of the retention portion40B′ is stamped to form a protrusion44′. The protrusion44′ comprises an inclined plate47′, and an engaging plate48′ generally perpendicular to the retention portion40B′. The engaging plate48′ is used for engaging with a corresponding end of the pressing body30so as to retain the pressing body30in place.

Although only one expansion card100is included in the above description, the expansion card mounting apparatus of the present invention is equally capable of mounting a plurality of expansion cards100at the same time.

In a further alternative embodiment of the present invention, the pressing body30may be pivotably mounted to the mounting frame20as follows. The rolled tabs34may be lengthened so that they extend through the pivot holes230and function as pivot axles. In such case, the pressing body30pivots about the rolled tabs34. The pivot axle50and locking ring52of the preferred embodiment are not needed, and accordingly manufacturing costs are reduced. Further, the pressing body30may alternatively be directly pivotably mounted to the rear panel14.

In a still further alternative embodiment of the present invention, the mounting frame20may be integrally formed with the rear panel14.