Handle for a riser card assembly

A riser card assembly includes a bracket with a riser card secured therein, a handle, and a sliding mechanism. At least one expansion card is connected with the riser card and received in the bracket. The sliding mechanism slidably secures the handle to the bracket. The sliding mechanism includes at least one guiding pin formed on one of the handle and the bracket, and at least one slot receiving the guiding pin sliding therein defined in the other of the handle and the bracket. The at least one guiding pin slides in the at least one slot between a first position where the handle is in a retracted state to be together with the bracket, and a second position where the handle is in an extended state to be away from the bracket.

DESCRIPTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to handle mechanisms, and more particularly to a handle for disengaging a riser card assembly from a backplane board.

2. Description of Related Art

With the development of computer technology, computer systems become more and more extensible, and different functions may be enhanced by adding different peripheral components, most of which are mounted on the backplane board. However, the scale of the backplane board is limited, there is not enough space to add all of the desired components thereon.

As a result, riser cards are provided for connecting several peripheral components to the backplane board without occupying too much space. The riser card includes an edge connector connected to a slot of the backplane board and several slots connected to different peripheral components. While the riser card is firmly mounted on the backplane board, high extraction forces are often required to release the edge connector of the riser card from the slot of the backplane board. Furthermore, the riser cards are often closely spaced together such that it is difficult to grip an individual riser card to pull it out of the slot.

Various solutions to the above problems have been proposed. In one method, an ejection mechanism is provided for disengaging a riser card from a backplane board of a computer system. The mechanism includes an elongate lever having an upper manipulation region, a lower abutting region, and a pivot point located between the upper and lower regions. The elongate lever is mounted on a riser card at the pivot and generally extends downward a sufficient distance as to contact the backplane board upon rotation of the lever, and extends upward a sufficient distance to create sufficient leverage for disengaging the riser card. However, the elongate lever may strike the backplane board, and cause damage.

It is therefore desirable to find a mechanism to disengage the riser card and avoid damaging the backplane board.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A riser card assembly includes a bracket with a riser card secured therein, a handle, and a sliding mechanism. At least one expansion card is connected with the riser card and received in the bracket. The sliding mechanism slidably secures the handle to the bracket. The sliding mechanism includes at least one guiding pin formed on one of the handle and the bracket, and at least one slot receiving the guiding pin sliding therein defined in the other of the handle and the bracket. The at least one guiding pin slides in the at least one slot between a first position where the handle is in a retracted state to be together with the bracket, and a second position where the handle is in an extended state to be away from the bracket.

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

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring toFIGS. 1 and 2, a handle50of a riser card assembly15in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention is used to disengage the riser card assembly15from a motherboard20which is received in a chassis10.

The chassis10includes a bottom plate11. One edge of the bottom plate111extends upwardly and perpendicularly to form a side plate12. The motherboard20is secured on the bottom plate11. A screw hole117is defined in the bottom plate11near the motherboard20. The motherboard20defines a plurality of expansion slots21for connecting different components.

The riser card assembly15includes a bracket30, a riser card40, and an expansion card70. The expansion card70defines a plurality of holes71in two edges thereof.

The bracket30includes a rear board31. One portion of the rear board31is stamped outwardly to form two lateral plates311and a securing plate312connecting the two lateral plates311. The securing plate312and the lateral plates311together define a recess314therebetween. A positioning aperture316is defined in each lateral plate311. A plurality of hollow securing posts315is formed inward on the securing plate312.

A plate35is secured on one edge of the rear board31adjacent the recess314. A side board36extends perpendicularly from the opposite edge of the rear board31. The plate35and the side board36respectively form a plurality of support tabs37extending in toward each other. Each support tab37defines an aperture371. A flange361is formed from a bottom of the side board36. A retaining hole363is defined in the flange361corresponding to the screw hole117of the chassis10. A bottom of the flange361is lower than a bottom of the rear board31.

The riser card40includes a circuit board41with an edge connector42adapted for inserting into one of the expansion slots21. Several expansion slots47are formed on the circuit board41, and adapted for connecting the expansion card70. The circuit board41includes a plurality of securing holes415corresponding to the securing posts315of the securing plate312.

The handle50is generally a U-shaped piece. The handle50includes an operating portion51, and two legs53extending from opposites ends of the operating portion51. Each one of the legs53defines a sliding slot56corresponding to the positioning aperture316of the lateral plate311. A distance between the two legs53is generally equal to a distance between the two lateral plates311.

In assembly of the riser card assembly15, the riser card40is mounted on the securing plate312of the bracket30via screws passing through the securing holes415and screwing into the corresponding securing posts315. The expansion card70inserts into one of the expansion slots47with two lateral edges supported on the tabs37of the plate35and the side board36. The holes71of the expansion card70are aligned with the apertures371of the tabs37to secure the expansion card70on the bracket30via screws.

Then, the handle50moves close to the bracket30with the two legs53sliding along the two lateral plates311respectively until the sliding slots56of the legs53are aligned with the positioning apertures316of the lateral pieces311. A guiding pin80extends through a sliding slot56of one of the two legs53, and is secured in the corresponding positioning aperture316of the corresponding lateral piece311. Another guiding pin80extends through a sliding slot56of the other of the two legs53, and is secured in the corresponding positioning aperture316of the corresponding lateral piece311. With the two guiding pins80received in the two sliding slots56, the handle50is slidable up and down on the bracket30. The handle50is held in a lowest position with the operating portion51of the handle50resisting against the bracket30by gravity.

In assembly of the riser card assembly15with the handle50to the chassis10, the edge connector42of the riser card40is firmly inserted into one of the plurality of expansion slots21of the motherboard20. Simultaneously, the flange361of the bracket30is placed on the bottom plate11of the chassis10with the retaining hole363aligned with the screw hole117. A screw82extends through the retaining hole363and screws into the screw hole117to secure the riser card assembly15with the chassis10.

Referring toFIGS. 3 and 4, in disassembly of the riser card assembly15from the chassis10, the screw82is unscrewed from the screw hole117of the chassis10. The handle50is lifted up until the guiding pins80resist against bottoms of the sliding slots56of the handle50thus stopping further upward movement of the handle50, so there is a space between the operating portion51of the handle50and the bracket30for conveniently grasping the handle50. An upward force is exerted on the operating portion51of the handle50to disengage the riser card assembly15from the motherboard20.

It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages have been set forth in the foregoing description of preferred embodiments, together with details of the structures and functions of the preferred embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.