Positioning apparatus for test fixtures

A positioning apparatus for test fixtures in a chassis of an electronic device includes a pair of fixing members, a first blocking bar, and a second blocking bar. The fixing members are attached to sidewalls of the chassis and each include a fixing hole defined therein. The first blocking bar includes a first extruding tab and a hook formed at opposite ends thereof. The first blocking bar further includes a threaded hole defined therein. The second blocking bar includes a slot defined therein to engage with the hook. The second blocking bar further includes a fastener fixed at one end thereof to engage in the threaded hole of the first blocking bar, and a second extruding bar formed at another end thereof. The first and second extruding tab engage in the fixing hole of the fixing members.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to positioning apparatuses, and more particularly to a positioning apparatus which can readily position test fixtures in a chassis.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

Electronic products, such as servers and computers, should undergo a series of tests before they are shipped to market. These tests include checking hardware/firmware/software configurations, virus scans, soft scans, and so on. Conventionally, tests on interfaces of hard disk drives have been made in a chassis of a server by using hard disk driver, to see if interfaces of the server satisfy desired specifications. It is expensive to use a plurality of hard disk drives. Thus, a plurality of test fixtures with mating interfaces has been used to replace the hard disk drives in the test. However, the test fixtures often become separated from the interfaces of the server because of vibrations resulting in wasted time in reconnecting and retesting.

What is needed is a positioning apparatus which can readily position test fixtures in a chassis of an electronic device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An exemplary positioning apparatus for positioning test fixtures in a chassis of an electronic device includes a pair of fixing members, a first blocking bar, and a second blocking bar. The fixing members are attached to sidewalls of the chassis and each includes a fixing hole defined therein. The first blocking bar includes a first extruding tab and a hook formed at opposite ends thereof. The first blocking bar further includes a threaded hole defined therein. The second blocking bar includes a slot defined therein to engage with the hook. The second blocking bar further includes a fastener fixed at one end thereof to engage in the threaded hole of the first blocking bar, and a second extruding bar formed at another end thereof. The first and second extruding tabs engage in the fixing hole of the fixing members.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring toFIG. 1, a positioning apparatus according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention is for positioning a plurality of test fixtures300in a chassis100of an electronic device to test interfaces of the chassis100, such as hard disk drive interfaces. The positioning apparatus includes a pair of fixing members200, a first blocking bar10, a second blocking bar30, and a fastener40.

The chassis100includes a pair of sidewalls120, and a plurality of spacing walls140formed therebetween, cooperatively defining a plurality of receiving spaces to receive the test fixtures300therein.

The fixing members200are separately attached to inner sides of the sidewalls120of the chassis100and each includes a fixing plate210perpendicular to the sidewalls120. A block220defining a hole240extends perpendicularly from each fixing plate210.

The first blocking bar10includes an elongate main body12, each lengthwise edge of the main body12has a flange14extending perpendicularly therefrom in a same direction. The flanges14define a slideway therebetween. The main body12includes a first extruding tab16at one end, and a hook18formed at an opposite end thereof. A threaded hole122is defined in the main body12near the hook18. A pair of arced first notches142is defined in the flanges14, corresponding to the threaded hole142.

The second blocking bar30is attached to the first blocking bar10. The second blocking bar30includes a base32, and a pair of wings34respectively extending perpendicularly from two opposite lengthwise edges of the base32. The wings34slide along the flanges14of the first blocking bar10. The base32includes a second extruding tab36formed at one end thereof. The fastener40may be any appropriate fastener such as a captive screw40used in this embodiment. The base32defines a hole (not shown) in another end thereof to fix the fastener40thereon, corresponding to the threaded hole122of the first blocking bar10. The base32includes a slot324defined therein between the fastener40and the second extruding tab32, corresponding to the hook18of the first blocking bar10. A pair of arced second notches342is defined in the wings34, corresponding to the first notches142of the first blocking bar10.

In assembly, the fixing members200are attached to the sidewalls120of the chassis100. The first blocking bar10is attached to the chassis100with the first extruding tab16extending through a left fixing hole240. The second blocking bar30is slidably attached to the first blocking bar10, with the wings34aligned with the flanges14. The second blocking bar30is moved rightward so that the hook18engages with the slot324and the second extruding tab36extends into a right fixing hole240. The fastener40aligns with and engages in the threaded hole142. The main body12of the first blocking bar10and the base32of the second blocking bar30abut outer ends of the test fixtures300to prevent the interfaces of the test fixtures300disengaging from the interfaces of the chassis100. The first notches142of the first blocking bar10align with the second notches342of the second blocking bar30, providing an operating space for users to conveniently disengage the fastener40.

Referring toFIG. 3, a positioning member according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention has a similar configuration as the first preferred embodiment and includes a contacting member50attached to an outer surface of the main body12of the first blocking bar10by adhesives or glues, for effectively abutting small size test fixtures. The contacting member50is may be a kind of plastic pad, or polystyrene foam.