Holding device and electronic product employing the same

A holding device (40) used for helping fasten an interface card (10) in a peripheral component interconnect (PCI) connector (20) includes a top wall (42), at least a pair of opposite sidewalls (44) for clamping the two sides of the PCI connector, and at least a pair of holding portions (48) for fastening the interface card. Wherein the sidewalls connect with the top wall, and the holding portions connect with the top wall.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention pertains to a holding device, and particularly to a holding device for a peripheral component interconnect.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

Presently, an interface card is often electrically connected with a circuit board via a peripheral component interconnect (PCI) connector. Often a latching member is assembled on the circuit board for preventing the interface card disengaging from the PCI connector accidentally.

The latching member is usually mounted on the circuit board. But, with the development of integrated circuitry, space is at a premium and there is little room for the latching member.

Therefore, a need exists in the industry to overcome the aforementioned deficiencies and inadequacies.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In an exemplary embodiment, a holding device used for helping fasten an interface card in a peripheral component interconnect (PCI) connector includes a top wall, at least a pair of opposite sidewalls used for clamping the two sides of the PCI connector, and at least a pair of holding portions used for fastening the interface card. Wherein the sidewalls connect with the top wall, and the holding portions connect with the top wall.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring toFIG. 1, an electronic product100in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown. The electronic product100comprises a holding device40, a peripheral component interconnect (PCI) connector20, and an interface card10received in the PCI connector20. In this embodiment, the holding device40comprises plastic but other suitable material may be used. The PCI connector20comprises a front portion22, and a back portion24having a width greater than that of the front portion22.

Referring also toFIG. 2, the holding device40comprises a top wall42, a pair of opposite sidewalls44, a back wall46, and a pair of opposite holding portions48. The sidewalls44connect with the top wall42, and the back wall46connects with the top wall42and the sidewalls44. The top wall42comprises a rectangular raised portion422projecting from an area extending from a middle of the top wall42to an edge away from the back wall46, and the raised portion422defines a plurality of through holes424. The raised portion422is used for receiving comparatively taller electronic components12on the interface card10, and supplying a space to provide effective heat dissipation for the electronic components12on the interface card10. Each sidewall44comprises a front-side wall442and a back-side wall444. In the exemplary embodiment, a distance between the two front-side walls442is equal to or slightly smaller than a width of the front portion22of the PCI connector20, and a distance between the two back-side portions444is equal to or slightly smaller than a width of the back portion24of the PCI connector20. In this way, when the holding device40is assembled onto the PCI connector20, the sidewalls44of the holding device40clamp the two sides of the PCI connector20.

Referring also toFIG. 3, Each holding portion48comprises a resilient holding wall486, and a latching portion484protruding in from a distal end of the holding wall486. The holding walls486connect with the top wall42and the front-side wall442. Two slots482are respectively defined between the holding walls486and front-side walls442. A distance between the two holding walls486is equal to or slightly smaller than a width of the interface card10. In this way, the two holding walls486clamp the two sides of the interface card10in assembly. In an alternative exemplary embodiment of the present invention, each holding portion48comprises a plurality of holding walls486, and each holding wall486comprises a plurality of latching portions484.

Referring also toFIG. 4, the back wall46comprises a recessed portion467which makes the back wall46more flexible. The sidewalls44, the latching portion484, and the back wall46each comprises a bevel edge448at a lower portion thereof to make the holding device40convenient for assembly.

In assembly, the interface card10is inserted into the PCI connector20, then, the holding device40is pressed onto the PCI connector20, causing the holding walls486to flex outward with the holding portions48being pushed by the interface card10until the interface card10is received between the holding portions48and the holding walls486rebound. In this assembled state, the sidewalls44of the holding device40clamp the two sides of the PCI connector20; the holding walls486of the holding device40clamp the two sides of the interface card; and the latching portions484of the holding device40supports a bottom of the interface card10.

Because the two sides of the PCI connector20are clamped by the sidewalls44of the holding device40, the pressure on the two sides of the interface card10imposed by the PCI connector20is strengthened. Thereby, the interface card10is stably clamped by the two sides of the PCI connector20.

Because the two sidewalls44of the holding device40clamp the two sides of the PCI connector20, and the latching portion484of the holding device40is latched under the bottom of the interface card10received in the PCI connector20, the holding device40is stably fixed on the PCI connector20. Thereby, the holding device40, the PCI connector20, and the interface card10cooperatively form a steady and interdependent connection, thus preventing accidental separation.

Because the holding device40is mounted on the PCI connector20without any external latching device or machining device, the holding device40does not take up any space of the circuit board, which the PCI connector20is positioned on. And because the holding device40can be assembled manually without any external tools, the cost of manufacture is lowered.

While exemplary embodiments have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only and not by way of limitation. Thus the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by the above-described exemplary embodiment, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.