Abstract:
A mounting device assembly includes an expansion card ( 70 ) with a securing clip ( 72 ), a panel ( 10 ) and a retention member ( 50 ). The panel has a supporting member ( 16 ). The retention member includes a fixing portion ( 51 ) and a curved tab ( 58 ) pivotably hooking the supporting member and suspending therefrom. The retention member is pivoted about the supporting member, so that the securing clip of the expansion card is sandwiched between the fixing portion of the retention member and the panel.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to mounting devices, and more particularly to a mounting device for conveniently securing an expansion card to a computer enclosure.  
       DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART  
       [0002]     A typical computer includes expansion ports or slots for attaching expansion cards, for expanding the capabilities of the computer.  
         [0003]     A conventional expansion card mounting apparatus includes a rear panel defining an opening, a retaining bracket slidably attached to the panel and including a main body and a pressing body. A fastening member is fixed to the retaining bracket. A support plate extends rearward from the panel adjacent the opening. A through opening is defined in the main body. A plurality of cutouts is defined in the pressing body. The fastening member includes a plurality of pressing clips extending through the cutouts to abut end portions of slot covers. An operation lever extends through the through opening of the retaining bracket to resiliently engage with the panel at the opening. Thus the end portions of the slot covers are securely sandwiched between the pressing body and the support plate.  
         [0004]     However, it is inconvenient to use the fastening member to secure the expansion cards in a computer enclosure. When the expansion cards need to be removed, the fastening member of the mounting apparatus needs to be removed as well from the computer enclosure.  
         [0005]     What is needed, therefore, is a locking device, which allows convenient securing of expansion cards in a computer enclosure.  
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
       [0006]     A mounting device assembly includes an expansion card with a securing clip, a panel and a retention member. The panel has a supporting member. The retention member includes a fixing portion and a curved tab pivotably hooking the supporting member and suspending therefrom. The retention member is pivoted about the supporting member, so that the securing clip of the expansion card is sandwiched between the fixing portion of the retention member and the panel.  
         [0007]     Other advantages and novel features will be drawn from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment with attached drawings, in which: 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0008]      FIG. 1  is an exploded, isometric view of part of a mounting device for a expansion card of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the mounting device including a back panel, a cover, and a retention member;  
         [0009]      FIG. 2  is an isometric, enlarged view of part of the back panel of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0010]      FIG. 3  is an isometric, enlarged view of the retention member of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0011]      FIG. 4  is an assembled view of part of the retention member, the back panel and the expansion card of  FIG. 1 , showing the retention member in a unlocked position;  
         [0012]      FIG. 5  is similar to  FIG. 4 , but showing the retention member in a locked position;  
         [0013]      FIG. 6  is an assembled view of part of the mounting device of  FIG. 1 , showing the retention member in a locked position;  
         [0014]      FIG. 7  is an isometric view of a retention member of another preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0015]      FIG. 8  is an isometric view of part of a back panel of mounting device of preferred embodiment of the present invention of  FIG. 7 ; and  
         [0016]      FIG. 9  is an assembled, isometric view of part of a mounting device of preferred embodiment of the present invention of  FIG. 7 , showing the retention member in a locked position. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0017]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a mounting device of a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a back panel  10 , a cover  30 , and a retention member  50  for securing an expansion card  70 . A cover flange  32  is formed at an edge of the cover  30 , corresponding to a top edge of the back panel  10 . Two covering portions  322  are formed on the cover flange  32 . An L-shaped securing clip  72  is set on a side of the expansion card  70 .  
         [0018]     Referring also to  FIG. 2 , the back panel  10  has a barrier  12 . A plurality of slots  122  is defined in the barrier  12 . A top flange  124  is bent out from a top portion of the barrier  12 . A plurality of protrusions  126  is formed on the top flange  124  of the barrier  12 . The back panel  10  defines an opening  14  above the barrier  12 . A pair of supporting members  16  is formed on the back panel  10 , above the opening  14 . The supporting members  16  are stamped slantwise from the back panel, thereby forming holding spaces  162  between the supporting members  16  and the back panel  10 . A protrusion  18  is formed above the holding space  162  on the back panel  10 .  
         [0019]     Referring also to  FIG. 3 , the retention member  50  includes a side wall  56 , and a portion of the side wall  56  is bent perpendicularly to form a fixing portion  51 . A fixing flange  52  extends along open side of the fixing portion  51 . The fixing portion  51  defines a plurality of fixing openings  53 , corresponding to the protrusions  126  of the back panel  10 . An operating portion  54  protrudes from a middle of one side of the fixing portion  51 . A pair of rolled tabs  58  extends from a top edge of the side wall  56 , corresponding to the supporting members  16  of the back panel  10 . The rolled tabs  58  are formed by rolling rectangular clips. The rolled tabs  58  are arcuately shaped, thereby defining a gap  588  between each distal edge of the rolled tab  58  and the side wall  56 . Each rolled tab  58  defines a first and a second securing holes  582 ,  584  corresponding to each protrusion  18  of the back panel  10 . Each first securing hole  582  and the corresponding second securing hole  584  are located along a same arc of a curved part of the rolled tab  58 .  
         [0020]     Referring also to  FIG. 4 , in assembling the retention member  50  to the back panel  10 , the rolled tabs  58  of the retention member  50  are pivotably engaged with the corresponding supporting members  16  of the back panel  10  through the spaces  162  respectively. Then, the protrusions  18  of the back panel  10  abut against the rolled tabs  58  of the retention member  50  respectively.  
         [0021]     Referring also to  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6 , in securing the expansion card  70  to the back panel  10 , the retention member  50  is rotated up, until the protrusions  18  of the back panel  10  are received in the corresponding first securing holes  582  of the retention member  50 . Then the securing clip  72  of the expansion card  70  is positioned on the barrier  12  of the back panel  10 . The top portion of the securing clip  72  is pressed against the top flange  124  of the barrier  12 . As the operating portion  54  of the retention member  50  is pressed down. The protrusions  18  of the back panel  10  are disengaged from the corresponding first securing holes  582  of the retention member  50 . The operation portion  54  is continuously pressed down till the fixing portion  51  presses the securing clip  72  against the top flange  124  of the barrier  12 . Simultaneously, the protrusions  126  of the back panel  10  are engaged into the corresponding fixing openings  53  of the retention member  50  respectively, and the protrusions  18  of back panel  10  are received in the corresponding second securing holes  584  of the retention member  50  to prevent the retention member  50  from further rotating. The cover  30  is then secured to the back panel  10 . The rolled tabs  58  of the retention member  50  are received in the covering portions  322  of the cover  30 , thereby further preventing rotation of the retention member  50 . Finally, the expansion card  70  is secured to the back panel  10 .  
         [0022]     In releasing the expansion card  70  from the back panel  10 , the cover  30  is first removed. Then the retention member  50  is rotated up. Therefore, the protrusions  18  of the back panel  10  are disengaged from the corresponding second securing holes  584  of the retention member  50 . The expansion card  70  can then be removed from the back panel  10 .  
         [0023]     Referring also to  FIG. 7  to  FIG. 9 , in another embodiment of the present invention, a mounting device includes a retention member  60  for securing an expansion card  80  to a back panel  20  from an inner side of the back panel  20 . The back panel  20  includes a plurality of slots  222 , a supporting member  26 , and a protrusion  28 . The supporting member  26  is slanted inward on a top portion of the back panel  20 . The retention member  60  is generally V-shaped, and includes a top bending portion  66  and a fixing portion  62 . A pair of rolled tabs  68  extends from a top edge of the bending portion  66  corresponding to the supporting member  26  of the back panel  20 . A first securing hole  682  and a second securing hole  684  are defined in each rolled tab  68  of the retention member  60 . The fixing portion  62  includes a plurality of fixing clips  64 , slots  63 , and resilient rolled tabs  65 . In securing the retention member  60 , the retention member  60  is pivoted to the supporting member  26  of the back panel  20 . When the retention member  60  is pivoted down, the protrusion  28  of the back panel  20  is received in the second securing hole  684  of the retention member  60 . The expansion card  80  is secured by the corresponding fixing clip  64  and rolled tab  65  of the retention member  60 , thereby securing the expansion card  80  to the back panel  20 .  
         [0024]     The protrusions  18 ,  28  of the back panels  10 ,  20  in the above embodiments of the present invention can also be set on the corresponding supporting members  16 ,  26  of the back panels  10 ,  20 .  
         [0025]     It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages have been set forth in the foregoing description of a preferred embodiments, together with details of the structure and function 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.