Abstract:
A motherboard fixing device that is installed within a case of a computer host computer, and, after installing a motherboard to a retaining panel, enables rapid assembly of the entire integrated motherboard and retaining panel within the case or extraction and replacement of the motherboard. Moreover, the present invention effectively avoids inadvertent damage to the motherboard when installing within the small space of a case.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   (a) Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a motherboard fixing device which enables a computer motherboard to be mounted thereon, and more particularly to a motherboard fixing device that, after mounting a motherboard thereto, a disposition method of the entire motherboard fixing device enables achieving rapid assembly. 
   (b) Description of the Prior Art 
   When assembling a host computer, an installer first fixedly installs a motherboard within a case of host computer, then related interface cards are inserted according to the requirements of user specifications, and after completing insertion of each of the interface cards, related wiring and transmission flat cables are connected to insertion slots of the corresponding interface cards according to power supply and transmission requirements. Finally, after testing for normal operation of the host computer, assembly of the complete is complete. 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , which shows a schematic view of an embodiment depicting a prior art host computer, wherein a host computer  10  mainly includes a case  101  that serves to provide space for primarily mounting various structural components. Moreover, the case  101  is further provided with the function to protect each of the structural components. In addition, a front surface of the case  101  is the operation panel which enables installing a plurality of operating keys, and provides insertion slots for peripheral equipment.  FIG. 1  further shows that the interior of the case  101  in general provides a flat surface that enables assembling a motherboard  102  thereto. Regarding computer cases of prior art, because the side portion is provided with a relatively large area which enables assembling the large motherboard  102 , thus, the assembled motherboard  102  is mainly positioned close to a side portion of the case  101 . However, during the course of assembling the host computer  10 , in general, after an installer dismantles a cover panel of one side of the case  101 , then the motherboard  102  is installed within the case  101 , and because of the restricted interior space of the case  101 , the installer must be extremely careful during assembly in order to avoid scuffing a surface of the motherboard  102  and other component members attached to the surface thereof. Moreover, a majority of the cases  101  are fabricated from metal components, which results in many metallic angles being formed in the interior of the case  101 , hence, during the course of assembly, any slight inadvertent movement by the installer can extremely easily result in scratching of the hands of the installer, or inadvertently scuffing the motherboard during the course of assembling the motherboard. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In light of the aforementioned problems, the inventor of the present invention has implemented research to improve the structure of a host computer case that better meets needs when assembling a case of a host computer. 
   A primary objective of the present invention is to provide a motherboard fixing device that enables rapid and convenient assembling of a motherboard, and effectively prevents damage to the motherboard during the course of assembling. 
   The motherboard device of the present invention is installed within a case of a host computer, whereafter a side of the case forms an insertion groove of appropriate depth, and a plurality of elastic catch devices are located on a side wall of the insertion groove. Furthermore, a plurality of position fixing points are located on another corresponding side wall, and the present invention further provides a retaining panel. A plurality of assembly holes and position fixing holes are formed on the retaining panel, wherein the assembly holes enable a motherboard to be assembled to the retaining panel, and after assembly, the retaining panel and the motherboard form an integrated body, which can be inserted into the insertion groove. Moreover, after inserting the retaining panel having the motherboard assembled thereon, the position fixing holes are aligned with the corresponding position fixing points. Design of the present invention primarily provides for initial assembly of a motherboard to the retaining panel, whereafter the integrated retaining panel and motherboard can be quickly fixed within the case using an inserting method, thereby effectively preventing inadvertent scuffing of the motherboard when installing, and at the same time improves ease of assembling. 
   To enable a further understanding of said objectives and the technological methods of the invention herein, brief description of the drawings is provided below followed by detailed description of the preferred embodiments. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  shows a schematic view of a host computer of prior art. 
       FIG. 2  shows an external elevational view of a motherboard fixing device according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 2A  shows a partially enlarged schematic view of a motherboard fixing device according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  shows a schematic view of retaining members of the motherboard fixing device according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 3A  shows a partially enlarged schematic view of retaining members of the motherboard fixing device according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 3B  shows a partially enlarged schematic view of retaining members of the motherboard fixing device according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 4  shows a schematic view of the first embodiment of the motherboard fixing device according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 4A  shows a partially enlarged schematic view of the first embodiment of the motherboard fixing device according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 5  shows a schematic view of the second embodiment of the motherboard fixing device according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 6  shows a schematic view of the third embodiment of the motherboard fixing device according to the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Referring to  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 2A , which show external elevational views of an embodiment of a motherboard fixing device of the present invention, wherein a motherboard fixing device installed within a case  201  of a host computer  20  primarily comprises a lower retaining wall  31 , an upper retaining wall  32  and a retaining panel  33 . The lower retaining wall  31  is installed to a bottom surface of the case  201 , and position of installation is close to a side  202  of the case  201 , thereby forming an insertion groove  203  with the side  202  after completing the installation, and depth of the insertion groove  203  is the same as height of the lower retaining wall  31 . Furthermore, a plurality of elastic catch devices  311  are configured on a surface of the lower retaining wall  31 . A fixing end  3111  fixed to the surface of the lower retaining wall  31  is located at an end of each of the catch devices  311 , and another end forms a protruding point  3112 . After fixing the fixing ends  3111 , the protruding points  3112  protrude within the insertion groove  203  to an appropriate distance, and applying force to the protruding points  3112  causes an elastic displacement thereof towards the exterior of the insertion groove  203 . Furthermore, because the fixing ends  3111  are already fixed, thus, the protruding points  3112  are provided with a restoring counterforce toward the interior of the insertion groove  203 . Referring again to  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 2A , the upper retaining wall  32  is installed to or directly formed with above the lower retaining wall  31 , and position of the upper retaining wall  32  is relative to that of the lower retaining wall  31 . A plurality of catch devices  321  are located on an upper portion of the upper retaining wall  32 , function of which is identical to that of the catch devices  311  on the surface of the retaining wall  31 . Furthermore, a plurality of position fixing points  322  are configured close to area of the catch devices  321 , and the plurality of position fixing points  322  protrude out from a surface of the upper retaining wall  32 , thereby enabling fastening down with screws or riveting together using rivets to complete assembly. The retaining panel  33  independently forms a plate, and a plurality of assembly holes  331  are defined in a surface of the retaining panel  33 , and the plurality of assembly holes  331  enable assembling a motherboard (not shown in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 2A ). Furthermore, a bottom edge of the retaining panel  33  is bent to form an assembling portion  332  of appropriate width, and a plurality of keyhole shaped position fixing holes  333  are formed in an upper edge of the retaining panel  33 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 3A , and  FIG. 3B , which show enlarged schematic views of structural members of the motherboard fixing device of the present invention, wherein after completing disposition of the catch devices  311  of the lower retaining wall  31 , the protruding points  3112  protrude within the insertion groove  203 , and applying force enables effecting an elastic displacement thereto. Referring again to  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 3A , and  FIG. 3B , the position fixing points  322  configured on the upper retaining wall  32  protrude out the surface of the upper retaining wall  32  after completing disposition thereof. Recesses  3221  formed after disposition of the position fixing points  322  enable mutually assembly with the position fixing holes  333  of the retaining panel  33 . Referring again to  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 3A , and  FIG. 3B , the retaining panel  33  enables assembling a motherboard  40  to the surface thereof, and after assembling the motherboard  40 , other peripheral interface card devices can then be consecutively inserted within insertion grooves provided by the motherboard  40 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 4 , and  FIG. 4A , which show schematic views of the first embodiment according to the present invention, wherein a completed assembly of the retaining panel  33  and the motherboard  40  forms an integrated body, and after the motherboard  40  has been fixed to the retaining panel  33 , then the retaining panel  33  needs only be assembled to the case  201  to complete assembly. When assembling, the bottom edge of the retaining panel  33  (that is, the assembling portion  332 ) is first inserted into the insertion groove  203 , thereby enabling the assembling portion  332  to fall exactly into the insertion groove  293 , whereupon the surface of the retaining panel  33  presses down on each of the catch devices  311  on the surface of the lower retaining wall  31 , and because each of the catch devices  311  are provided with an elastic property, thus, a clamping effect is formed at the bottom edge of the retaining panel  33 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 5 , which shows a schematic view of the second embodiment of the motherboard fixing device according to the present invention, wherein after disposition of the bottom edge (that is, the assembling portion  332 ) of the retaining panel  33 , each of the position fixing holes  333  of the upper edge of the retaining panel  33  can mount exactly on each of the position fixing points  322  of the upper retaining wall  32 . After an installer has made sure each of the position fixing points  322  of the position fixing holes  333  have been completely fixed, then the retaining panel  33  is transversally pushed to displace the retaining panel  33  sideward, thereby effectively fixing the retaining panel  33 , primarily using positional coordination between the position fixing points  322  and the position fixing holes  333 , and because the position fixing holes  333  are of keyhole shaped, thus, hole portions having relatively large apertures are respectively presented to the position fixing points  322  when the position fixing holes  333  are first mounted thereon. When the user transversally pushes the retaining panel  33 , then hole portions of relatively small aperture of the position fixing holes  333  are pushed towards the position fixing points  322 , as depicted in  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 3A , and  FIG. 3B , and the recesses  3221  of the position fixing points  322  are used to fixedly clasp the retaining panel  33  to achieve fixing effectiveness thereof. After the retaining panel  33  has been fixedly clasped, as shown in  FIG. 6  depicting a schematic view of the third embodiment according to the present invention, wherein after fixedly positioning the retaining panel  33  using the position fixing points  322 , then the position fixing points  322  are positioned with the relatively small hole portions of the position fixing holes  333 . 
   According to the aforementioned description, it can be appreciated that the motherboard fixing device of the present invention primarily provides for initial assembly of a motherboard to the retaining panel  33 , whereupon an inserting method is used to dispose the retaining panel  33  to the case  201  of the host computer  20  to complete assembly. Accordingly, an installer can first complete assembly of the motherboard and related interface cards outside the case  201 , whereupon the entire retaining panel  33  can be assembled to the case  201 , and finally, the installer can implement connecting of wiring, transmission wires, and so on, thereby effectively preventing damage to the motherboard during the course of assembling and disassembling, moreover, assembly space is not restricted by the computer case  201 . 
   In conclusion, according to the aforementioned embodiments, the motherboard fixing device of the present invention assuredly achieves the objectives of enabling convenient and fast installation of a motherboard and effectively preventing the motherboard from being damaged during the course of assembly. Furthermore, effectiveness, practicability and advancement of the motherboard fixing device of the present invention clearly comply with essential elements as required for a new patent application. Accordingly, a new patent application is proposed herein. 
   It is of course to be understood that the embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the principles of the invention and that a wide variety of modifications thereto may be effected by persons skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.