Expansion card retention assembly

A retention assembly for an expansion card in an enclosure, the expansion card having an expansion card cover plate. The retention assembly includes an expansion card mounting frame, a limiting member, a resisting member, and an elastic member. The expansion card mounting frame is disposed on the enclosure to fix the expansion card cover plate. The limiting member is disposed on the enclosure adjacent to the expansion card mounting frame, and the limiting member and the enclosure cooperatively define a guide groove. The resisting member includes a resisting portion and a limiting portion connected to the resisting portion and slidably received in the guide groove. The elastic member interconnects the expansion card mounting frame and the resisting member. The resisting portion resists the expansion card cover plate by a resilient force applied by the elastic member.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates generally to retention assemblies for a plurality of expansion cards used in an electronic device enclosure.

2. Description of Related Art

Computers, including servers, often include expansion capabilities to allow addition of various expansion cards, such as peripheral component interconnect (PCI) cards, into the system. Referring toFIG. 4, a frequently used retention assembly for securing an expansion card to an electronic device enclosure13is shown. The retention assembly includes a retaining plate11, a plurality of screws12, and a plurality of slot covers14. An expansion slot (not labeled) is defined in the electronic device enclosure13. A mounting bracket132is formed surrounding a periphery of the expansion slot. The slot covers14cover the expansion slot and secure/protect the expansion cards. Each of the slot covers14is a piece of long strip having a bent portion (not labeled) adjoining the mounting bracket132. When an expansion card is fixed to the electronic device enclosure13, the retaining plate11is positioned on the bent portions of the slot covers14, and is fixed onto the electronic device enclosure13via the screws12, thereby fastening the slot covers14to the electronic device enclosure13.

In the assembly described, the slot covers14are secured to the electronic device enclosure13by the screws12. However, installing or removing the screws12is unduly time-consuming and laborious. This leads to lower efficiency of installation and removal of expansion cards. In addition, a tool for installing or removing screws is needed for installation or removal. These problems are multiplied in mass production facilities. Furthermore, after extended use, the screws12and screw holes may no longer reliably engage.

Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to the drawings in detail,FIG. 1shows an embodiment of a retention assembly30according to the present invention assembled in one wall of an enclosure24such as an electronic device enclosure. The retention assembly30is configured to mount an expansion card cover plate22for expansion cards (not shown) to the enclosure24.

Referring toFIG. 2, the expansion card cover plate22includes a main body222, which is shaped in a long strip, and a fastening portion224extending perpendicular from an end of the main body222. The fastening portion224defines a notch225at an edge of the fastening portion224. The expansion card cover plate22further includes a tab228extending from another end of the main body222opposite to the fastening portion224. A width of the tab228is less than the width of the main body222.

The retention assembly30includes an expansion card mounting frame31disposed on a sidewall of the enclosure24in the form of a depression towards the interior of the enclosure24, a resisting member32, two elastic members34, and a limiting member36.

The expansion card mounting frame31includes a bottom base311, which is substantially rectangular, two first sidewalls312, and a second sidewall314. The two first side walls312extend substantially perpendicular from two opposite sides of the bottom base311respectively towards the exterior of the enclosure24, and connect with the enclosure24. The second sidewall314extends perpendicular from a top side of the bottom base311towards the exterior of the enclosure24, and interconnects the two first side walls312. The bottom base311defines a plurality of expansion slot openings315to correspondingly receive the expansion card cover plates22. Each first sidewall312forms a latching hook316in a middle portion of the first sidewall312. The second sidewall314forms a plurality of positioning protrusions317corresponding to the plurality of notches225of the cover plate22. Each positioning protrusion317can be blocked by the notch225of the expansion card cover plate22, such that each expansion card cover plate22is limited to move parallel along the second sidewall314. The bottom base311forms a plurality of curved portions318adjacent to an end away from the positioning protrusion317. The curved portion318is configured to receive the tab228of the expansion card cover plate22.

The resisting member32includes a resisting portion322, which is shaped substantially as an extended plate, and two first bending portions324extending downwards substantially perpendicular from two opposite ends of the resisting portion322, respectively. A length of the resisting portion322exceeds or equals the length of the second sidewall314. Each first bending portion324defines a latching hole325. The resisting member32further includes a second bending portion326and a limiting portion328. The second bending portion326extends downwards substantially perpendicular from a side of the resisting portion322, and interconnects the two first bending portions324. The second bending portion326is configured to resist an upper portion of the main body222of the expansion card cover plate22. The limiting portion328extends upwards substantially perpendicular from the other side of the resisting portion322away from the second bending portion326.

The elastic member34forms two hooks342at opposite ends, respectively; one hook342is latched in the latching hole325, and the other hook342is latched by the latching hook316of the expansion card mounting frame31. In the illustrated embodiment, the elastic member34is a spring.

The limiting member36is an arched elongated bar. Two ends of the limiting member36are fixed to a side of the enclosure24adjacent to the expansion card mounting frame31. The limiting member36and the enclosure24cooperatively form a guide groove362slidably receiving the limiting portion328of the resisting member32. A length of the guide groove362substantially equals or is larger than the length of the limiting portion328, such that the limiting portion328can only move towards or away from the expansion card mounting frame31. The greatest distance between the limiting member36and the interior surface of the enclosure24is less than a width of the resisting portion322, such that the resisting member32stops moving when the resisting portion322resists the limiting member36.

In assembly, the resisting member32is positioned on the expansion card mounting frame31, and the resisting portion322resists the second sidewall314. Two ends of the limiting member36are then fixed to a side of the enclosure24by welding or using adhesive, and the limiting portion328of the resisting member32are received in the guide groove362. Two ends of the elastic member34are latched in the latching hole325and by the latching hook316, respectively. After assembly, each elastic member34is extended.

Referring also toFIGS. 3 and 4, when the expansion card is to be assembled to the enclosure24, the resisting member32is moved along a sidewall of the enclosure24away from the expansion card mounting frame31. The limiting portion328slides in the guide groove362, and the elastic members34are further extended. The resisting member32stops when the resisting portion322resists the limiting member36. At the same time, the second bending portion326is located above the second sidewall314. The expansion card cover plate22is then positioned corresponding to the expansion slot openings315on the expansion card mounting frame31, with the positioning protrusion317received inside the notch225and the tab228received inside the curved portion318. The resisting member32automatically moves closer to the expansion card mounting frame31along a sidewall of the enclosure24by resilient force of the elastic members34and the limiting effect of the guide groove362when external force is removed. The resisting member32stops when the resisting portion322resists the fastening portion224. The expansion card cover plate22is then firmly fixed to the expansion card mounting frame31of the retention assembly30by the resilient force of the two elastic members34.

The expansion card can be easily detached from the enclosure24by moving the resisting member32along a sidewall of the enclosure24away from the expansion card mounting frame until the second bending portion326is above the second sidewall314so as to allow the expansion card mounting frame31and the fastening portion224of the expansion card cover plate22to be separated from beneath the resisting member32.

It is to be understood that, in alternative embodiments, the number of elastic members34may be one or more than two. The latching hole325and the latching hook316may be omitted, as long as the two ends of the elastic member34are fixed to the expansion card mounting frame31and the resisting member32by various means such as welding. The first bending portion324and the second bending portion326may also be omitted. In other alternative embodiments, the limiting portion328may be two guiding protrusions extending from two ends of the resisting member32, and the enclosure24may define two guide grooves adjacent to the expansion card mounting frame to slidably receive the two guiding protrusions. The limiting member36may also be in the form of two arched elongated bars, each disposed at the opposite sides of the expansion card mounting frame31.