Mounting apparatus for motherboards

A mounting apparatus for mounting a planar member (10) comprises a base (200), a pair of locking members (160) secured on the base, a supporting tray (130) secured on a bottom of the planar member and an operating shaft (110) pivotally attached to the supporting tray. A plurality of mounting holes (143) is defined in the supporting tray and each comprises an accommodating hole (142) and a retaining hole (144). A plurality of standoffs (210) formed on the base and each comprises a head portion (214) and a neck portion (212). A pair of arms is formed on the operating shaft and each defines a cutout for receiving the locking member. After the head portions of the standoffs are received in corresponding accommodating holes, the operating shaft is pushed towards the base. The planar member is attached to the base when the neck portions are received in corresponding retaining holes.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Relevant subject matter is disclosed in co-pending U.S. Patent Applications entitled “MOUNTING APPARATUS FOR MOTHERBOARDS” with application Ser. No. 10/989,701 filed on Nov. 16, 2004, assigned to the same assignee with this application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to mounting apparatuses, and particularly to a mounting apparatus that readily attach a motherboard in a computer chassis.

2. Description of the Related Art

Conventional methods of installing a circuit board, such as a motherboard, to a computer chassis use small fasteners such as screws or rivets. When using such objects to mount a motherboard to a computer chassis, an appropriate tool must be used, e.g., a screwdriver or riveter. Using tools to connect these components may damage the motherboard, if the tool slips during the assembly process. Additionally, the process of mounting the motherboard to the chassis may require working in tight space or require the use of smaller hardware and tools, which can make the assembly process difficult. Thus, these motherboard installation methods are unduly laborious and time-consuming.

An improvement in the mounting of a motherboard in a computer chassis is illustrated and described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,470,555. In this patent, a method of removably mounting a motherboard is disclosed. The method comprises positioning a first fastener of a mounting device adjacent to a mounting slot in the chassis, inserting the first fastener of the mounting device through the mounting slot in the chassis, releasing the mounting device so that the first fastener clamps onto the chassis through the mounting slot, positioning a second fastener of the mounting device adjacent a mounting hole on the motherboard, and inserting the second fastener of the mounting device into the mounting hole until the second fastener clasps the motherboard through the mounting hole.

However, the motherboard is directly assembled to and disassembled from the chassis when using the above method. The operating space for mounting the motherboard is limited, so components on the motherboard or in the chassis adjoining the motherboard can be damaged.

Thus an improved mounting apparatus for motherboards that overcomes the above-mentioned problems is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a mounting apparatus comprising a locking member, the locking member readily and conveniently secures a planar member, for example, a motherboard, to the computer base and allows ready detachment therefrom.

To achieve the above-mentioned object, a mounting apparatus for mounting a planar member defining a plurality of first mounting holes comprises a base, a pair of locking members secured on the base, a supporting tray secured on a bottom surface of the planar member and an operating shaft pivotally attached to the supporting tray. The first mounting holes each comprise a first accommodating hole and a first retaining hole. A plurality of second mounting holes is defined in the supporting tray. Each second mounting hole comprises a second accommodating hole and a second retaining hole. A plurality of standoffs formed on the base corresponding to the first and second mounting holes respectively and each comprises a head portion and a neck portion. A pair of supporting pieces is bent upwardly from opposite ends of a front portion of the supporting tray. The operating shaft comprises a pair of arms pivotally attached to the supporting tray on the supporting pieces. The arms each define a cutout in a bottom portion. After the head portions of the standoffs on the base are received in corresponding first and second accommodating holes, the operating shaft is pushed towards an inner space of the base. The planar member is attached to the base when the neck portions of the standoffs are received in corresponding first and second retaining holes.

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

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring toFIG. 1, a mounting apparatus in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention is used to assemble and disassemble a first planar member such as a motherboard10on a second planar member such as a computer base. The mounting apparatus comprises a U-shaped operating shaft110, a supporting tray130, a pair of locking members160, and a base200.

The motherboard10defines a plurality of first mounting holes13and four fixing holes11therein. Each mounting hole13is generally calabash-shaped and comprises a first accommodating hole12and a first retaining hole14.

The operating shaft110, which is pivotally attached to the supporting tray130, comprises a handle portion112and a pair of arms120extended downwardly from opposite ends of the handle portion112respectively. A concave122is defined in a lower portion of one of the arms120at an outer side thereof. A pivot hole124is defined in each arm120below the concave122. A bent piece126is bent inwardly from a bottom end of each arm120and then bent downwardly so as to parallel to the arm120. A cutout128is defined in each bending piece126thereby forming a first pressing portion127and a second pressing portion129.

The supporting tray130is removably attached to the base200and secured on a bottom surface of the motherboard10. The supporting tray130is integrally formed from a rectangular planar panel. Two pairs of platforms140are symmetrically projected from the supporting tray130. A fixing hole141is defined in each platform140corresponding to the fixing hole11of the motherboard10. Four screws (not labeled) are used to cooperate with the fixing holes11,141to secure the motherboard10to the supporting tray130. Two supporting pieces150are bent upwardly from opposite corner ends of a front portion of the supporting tray130. A convex152is formed on an inside surface of one of the supporting pieces150corresponding to the concave122of the operating shaft110. Each supporting piece150defines a pivot hole154corresponding to the pivot hole124of the operating shaft110. A stopping piece156is bent inwardly from a top portion of the supporting piece150from an inner edge thereof, for preventing the operating shaft110from being excessively rotated. A plurality of second mounting holes143is defined in the supporting tray130. Each second mounting hole143is generally calabash-shaped and comprises a second accommodating hole142and a second retaining hole144.

The locking member160with a generally n-shaped main body162is secured on the base200using screw-securing manners. Alternatively, the locking member160can be a cylindrical protrusion. The locking member160can also be integrated with the base200if desired.

A plurality of standoffs210is formed on the base200to cooperate with the first and second mounting holes13,143. Each standoff210comprises a head portion214and a neck portion212. A diameter of the head portion212is smaller than that of the first and second accommodating holes12,142of the mounting holes13,143, and is greater than that of the first and second retaining holes14,144of the mounting holes13,143. A diameter of the neck portion214is smaller than that of the first and second retaining holes14,144of the mounting holes13,143.

Referring also toFIGS. 2 to 4, in assembly, the locking members160are firstly secured on the base200, then the supporting tray130and the operating shaft110are assembled together. Thereafter the supporting tray130is put on the base200after that the motherboard10is secured thereon. The steps of assembly and disassembly will be described in detail below.

When assembling the operating shaft110and the supporting tray130together, a pair of rivets111is used to cooperate with the pivot holes124,154to pivotally mount the operating shaft110to the supporting tray130. The operating shaft110is thus positioned between the supporting pieces150of the supporting tray130. Then the motherboard10is secured on the supporting tray130. After that, the supporting tray130with the motherboard10mounted thereon is put on the base200with the standoffs210extending through the first and second accommodating holes12,142of the mounting holes13,143, respectively. At the time, the main bodies162of the locking members160are engaged in corresponding cutouts128of the operating shaft110, so that the operating shaft110can pivot around the rivets111. The handle portion112of the operating shaft110is then pushed towards inner space of the base200, and the first pressing portions127begin to press the main bodies162. Continually pushing the handle portion112, the supporting tray130is driven by the operating shaft110to gently move to the inner space of the base200. The supporting tray130stops moving when the neck portions212of the standoffs210substantially engaged in corresponding first and second retaining holes14,144of the mounting holes13,143of the motherboard10and the supporting tray130. At the time, the convex152of the supporting piece150of the supporting tray130is engaged in the concave122of the operating shaft110, for positioning the operating shaft110to maintain its upstanding state.

In disassembly, the handle portion112is pulled towards an outer space of the base200. As a result, the second pressing portions129begin to press the main bodies162of the locking member160. Continually pulling the handle portion112, the supporting tray130is driven by the operating shaft110to move towards the outer space of the base200. The supporting tray130is stopped when the first and second accommodating holes12,142move to the positions where the standoffs210are located. At the time, an operator can lift the supporting tray130so as to disassemble the motherboard10from the base200.

While the present invention has been illustrated by the description of the preferred embodiment thereof, and while the preferred embodiment has been described in considerable detail, it is not intended to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention will readily appear to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the specific details and illustrative examples shown and described.