Abstract:
A standoff assembly for separating a first component from a second component from one another a predetermined distance includes a standoff having a predetermined length defined between a first end and a second end, and an anti-rotational structure formed at the first end. The anti-rotational structure is configured to be inserted into a corresponding opening formed in the first component. The standoff assembly further includes a first fastener to secure the first component to the first end of the standoff and a second fastener to secure the second component to the second end of the standoff. A method for separating a first component from a second component is further disclosed.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a U.S. National Stage Application under 35 U.S.C. §371 of International Application No. PCT/US2013/043661, filed May 31, 2013, and entitled THREADED STANDOFF WITH ANTI-ROTATIONAL STRUCTURE, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of Disclosure 
     The present disclosure relates generally to the fastening systems, and more particularly to a threaded standoff with anti-rotational structure. 
     2. Discussion of Related Art 
     Threaded standoff assemblies are commonly used to mount one component, such as a printed circuit board, above another component, such as a substrate. Usually such standoff assemblies consist of multiple standoffs that are positioned between the components and fasteners that tie or otherwise secure the construction together. In other embodiments, spacers, which may include several pieces of tubing each enabling a bolt to pass through the spacer, may be employed to achieve a similar result. Each standoff functions as a threaded separator of defined length that is used to raise one assembly above another. In certain embodiments, the standoffs are usually round or hex (for wrench tightening), are often made of aluminum, brass, or nylon, and come in male-female or female-female configurations. In electronics, standoff assemblies are frequently used to raise a printed-circuit board above a surface of a substrate. 
     During assembly or disassembly, rotation of the standoff assembly must be prevented to assure that the screw or nut tightens properly on both ends of the standoff. The standoffs typically have flat ends that abut the components during assembly, and freely rotate when tightening the fasteners that are used to secure the assembly. It is possible to use tools to immobilize the standoff when all elements of the standoff assembly are accessible. However, in many instances, it is impossible to access either the standoff or one of the screws or nuts. Thus, the standoff rotates with the applied hardware, which results in the standoff assembly not being properly tightened together. 
       FIG. 1  shows a traditional standoff assembly generally indicated at  10 , which is used to separate a first component  12  from a second component  14 . The standoff assembly  10  includes a standoff  16  and first and second screws, each indicated at  18 . In certain instances, the standoff  16  needs to be pre-assembled to one of components (e.g., component  14 ), with the partial assembly being placed inside an enclosure, which may prevent further access to bottom screw  18  and to the standoff during assembly of the other component (e.g., component  12 ). 
     SUMMARY OF DISCLOSURE 
     One aspect of the disclosure is directed to a standoff assembly for separating a first component from a second component from one another a predetermined distance. In one embodiment, the standoff assembly comprises a standoff including a predetermined length defined between a first end and a second end, and an anti-rotational structure formed at the first end, the anti-rotational structure being configured to be inserted into a corresponding opening formed in the first component. The standoff assembly further comprises a first fastener to secure the first component to the first end of the standoff and a second fastener to secure the second component to the second end of the standoff. 
     Embodiments of the standoff assembly further may include forming a threaded opening at each end of the standoff. The first fastener and the second fastener each may comprise a machine screw fastener. The anti-rotational structure may include a first protrusion formed on one side of the threaded opening. The anti-rotational structure further may include a second protrusion formed on an opposite side of the threaded opening. The standoff may be hexagonal in cross section along a length of the standoff. The opening in the first component may be shaped to receive the first protrusion. The opening in the first component may be shaped to receive the first protrusion and the second protrusion. 
     Another aspect of the disclosure is directed to a method for separating a first component from a second component. In one embodiment, the method comprises: positioning a standoff between the first component and the second component, the standoff including a predetermined length defined between a first end and a second end; securing the first component to the first end of the standoff with a first fastener and the second component to the second end of the standoff with a second fastener; and preventing a rotation of the standoff with an anti-rotational structure formed at the first end of the standoff and inserted into a corresponding opening formed in the first component. 
     Embodiments of the method further may include threadably securing a machine screw fastener within a threaded opening formed in the first end when securing the first component to the first end of the standoff with the first fastener. The method further may include threadably securing a machine screw fastener within a threaded opening formed in the second end when securing the second component to the second end of the standoff with the second fastener. Preventing the rotation of the standoff may include inserting the anti-rotational structure into a corresponding opening formed in the first component. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Various aspects of at least one embodiment are discussed below with reference to the accompanying figures, which are not intended to be drawn to scale. Where technical features in the figures, detailed description or any claim are followed by references signs, the reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the figures, detailed description, and claims. Accordingly, neither the reference signs nor their absence are intended to have any limiting effect on the scope of any claim elements. In the figures, each identical or nearly identical component that is illustrated in various figures is represented by a like numeral. For purposes of clarity, not every component may be labeled in every figure. The figures are provided for the purposes of illustration and explanation and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the disclosure. In the figures: 
         FIG. 1  is an elevational view of a prior art standoff assembly; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of a standoff assembly of an embodiment of the present disclosure that is used to separate a first component from a second component; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the standoff assembly shown in  FIG. 2  taken from a different perspective; 
         FIG. 4A  is an exploded elevational view of the standoff assembly shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4B  is an elevational view of the standoff assembly assembled with the first component and the second component; 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of a fastener used to secure one end of a standoff of the standoff assembly to the first component; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an end of the standoff of the standoff assembly; and 
         FIG. 7  is an enlarged plan view of an opening formed in the first component. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed standoff assemblies. The standoff assemblies may be used to separate one component, such as a printed circuit board, from another component, such as a substrate. In addition to providing the separation function, the standoff assemblies may be used to insulate one component from the other, thereby preventing electrical shorts between the components. In yet another embodiment, the standoff assemblies may be used to provide an electrical connection between two components, such as two printed circuit boards. 
     In a particular embodiment, a standoff assembly includes a standoff having an anti-rotational structure formed on one end of the standoff and a pair of fasteners that are used to secure each end of the standoff to respective components. The anti-rotational structure is configured to be inserted into a correspondingly shaped opening formed in one of the components. In a certain embodiment, the anti-rotational structure includes one or more protrusions that are formed on the end of the standoff. These protrusions are received in the correspondingly shaped opening formed in the component, and prevent the rotation of the standoff when securing the standoff to the two components. 
     Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , a standoff assembly is generally indicated  20 . As shown, the standoff assembly  20  includes an elongate standoff, generally indicated at  22 , a first fastener and a second fastener, each indicated at  24 . In one embodiment, the standoff  24  includes a hexagonal shape body  26  that is six millimeters (“mm”) across flats and 39 mm in total length; however, other shapes and sizes may be selected based on the intended use of the standoff. The body  26  of the standoff has a first end  28  (an upper end illustrated in  FIG. 2 ) and a second end  30  (a lower end illustrated in  FIG. 2 ). In a certain embodiment, each end  28 ,  30  of the body  26  of the standoff  22  is formed with an opening  32 ,  34  threaded to receive a respective fastener  24 . In one embodiment, each opening  32 ,  34  is a M4×0.7 eleven mm deep thread. The standoff  22  may be fabricated from any suitable metal, such as extruded brass material, or a hard dielectric material, such as plastic. 
     In one embodiment, the first and second fasteners  24  may be machine screw fasteners, which are each threaded to be threadably received within respective threaded openings  32 ,  34 . The arrangement is that the first fastener  24  extends through a first component  36  having an opening  38  formed therein when threadably securing the first fastener to the threaded opening  32  of the first end  28  of the standoff in the manner described below. Similarly, the second fastener  24  extends through a second component  40  having an opening  42  formed therein when threadably securing the second fastener to the threaded opening  34  of the second end  30  of the standoff. The standoff assembly  20  separates the first component  36  from the second component  40  upon threadably securing the first and second fasteners  24  within their respective threaded openings  32 ,  34 . Washers may be provided with the first and second fasteners  24  to distribute the load of the fasteners in the typical manner. 
     As shown, the second end  30  of the standoff  22  includes an anti-rotational structure that is formed on the body  26  of the standoff. In one embodiment, the anti-rotational structure includes two protrusions, each indicated at  44 , which are provided on opposite sides of the threaded opening  34 . In a certain embodiment, each protrusion  44  extends two mm from the end of the second end  30  of the body  26 . The size and shapes of the two protrusions  44  may be selected based on the size of the standoff  22 . It should be understood that the anti-rotational structure may alternatively be provided on the first end  28  of the body  26  of the standoff  22  or may be provided in additional to the anti-rotational structure provided on the second end  30 . The two protrusions  44  are configured to be received within the opening  42  of the second component  40  to provide anti-rotational effect on the standoff  22  when assembling the standoff assembly  20  to the first and second components. In one embodiment, the two protrusions  44  are each two mm long, three mm wide, and symmetrically located at the second end  30  of the standoff  22  in such a way that the protrusions allow the passage of second fastener  24  into the threaded portion  34  of standoff. In certain embodiments, the anti-rotational structure may employ only one protrusion  44  instead of two protrusions, and the opening  42  may be formed to correspond to the shape of the protrusion, to prevent the rotation of the standoff  22  when assembling the standoff. 
       FIG. 4A  illustrates the standoff assembly  20  prior to being assembled to the first and second components  36 ,  40 .  FIG. 4B  illustrates the standoff assembly  20  after being assembled to the first and second components  36 ,  40 . As shown, the first and second protrusions  44  of the anti-rotation structure each extend from the second end  30  of the body  26  of the standoff  22  a length that is substantially equivalent to a thickness of the second component  40 , e.g., two mm. The lengths of the first and second protrusions  44  may be selected so that they correspond to or less than the thickness of the second component  40 . As mentioned above, washers may also be provided. The standoff assembly  20  of the present disclosure enables the assembly of the first and second components  36 ,  40  without using tools that prevent standoff  22  from rotating during assembly or disassembly of the standoff assembly. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates the second end  30  of the standoff  22  having the anti-rotation structure.  FIG. 7  illustrates the exemplary opening  42  formed in the second component  40  to receive the anti-rotation structure of the standoff  22  therein. In order for the standoff  22  to function as intended, the opening or slot  42  will receive the two protrusions  44  of the anti-rotation structure of the standoff. In one embodiment, the slot  42  is 7.4 mm in length, 3.4 mm in width, with rounded ends of the slot having a 1.7 mm radius. A center of the slot  42  will have a wider rounded area of 4.5 mm width with a radius of 2.25 mm. A narrower area of the slot  42  will work together with the two protrusions  44  of the standoff  22  to provide the anti-rotational function and a wider area of the slot will provide a clearance for the fastener  24  (e.g., a M4 size screw) that is used in assembly. The arrangement is such that as the protrusions  44  extend into the slot  42 , the end  30  of the body  26  of the standoff  22  engages the second component  40  to provide the necessary engagement of the standoff with the second component. 
     During operation, a first component is separated from a second component by multiple standoff assemblies. In certain embodiments, the standoff assemblies may be provided at or near respective peripheries of the first and second components to achieve separation/insulation functions described above. As shown, the first component  36  and the second component  40  are planar structures. As discussed above, the components may be printed circuit boards and substrates. However, the components may be any structure requiring separation. 
     As described, the shapes and sizes of the standoffs, the protrusions formed on the standoffs, and the openings formed in the component may be varied to achieve the anti-rotational function described herein. 
     It is to be appreciated that embodiments of the devices and methods discussed herein are not limited in application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The devices and methods are capable of implementation in other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Examples of specific implementations are provided herein for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to be limiting. In particular, acts, elements and features discussed in connection with any one or more embodiments are not intended to be excluded from a similar role in any other embodiments. 
     Also, the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. Any references to embodiments or elements or acts of the systems and methods herein referred to in the singular may also embrace embodiments including a plurality of these elements, and any references in plural to any embodiment or element or act herein may also embrace embodiments including only a single element. References in the singular or plural form are not intended to limit the presently disclosed systems or methods, their components, acts, or elements. The use herein of “including,” “comprising,” “having,” “containing,” “involving,” and variations thereof is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. References to “or” may be construed as inclusive so that any terms described using “or” may indicate any of a single, more than one, and all of the described terms. Any references to front and back, left and right, top and bottom, upper and lower, and vertical and horizontal are intended for convenience of description, not to limit the present systems and methods or their components to any one positional or spatial orientation. 
     Having thus described several aspects of at least one embodiment, it is to be appreciated various alterations, modifications, and improvements will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Such alterations, modifications, and improvements are intended to be part of this disclosure and are intended to be within the scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, the foregoing description and drawings are by way of example only, and the scope of the disclosure should be determined from proper construction of the appended claims, and their equivalents.