Abstract:
A board mounting apparatus includes a chassis and a chassis base member positioned in the chassis, the chassis base member defining a channel and an open volume adjacent the channel. A first portion of the channel comprises a first width. A second portion of the channel has a second width greater than the first width. The second portion is operable to accept a sliding connector, and the first portion is operable to secure at least a portion of both a fixed and sliding connector.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
   The present disclosure relates generally to information handling systems, and more particularly to method and apparatus for mounting a board in an information handling system chassis. 
   As the value and use of information continues to increase, individuals and businesses seek additional ways to process and store information. One option available to users is information handling systems. An information handling system generally processes, compiles, stores, and/or communicates information or data for business, personal, or other purposes thereby allowing users to take advantage of the value of the information. Because technology and information handling needs and requirements vary between different users or applications, information handling systems may also vary regarding what information is handled, how the information is handled, how much information is processed, stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the information may be processed, stored, or communicated. The variations in information handling systems allow for information handling systems to be general or configured for a specific user or specific use such as financial transaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise data storage, or global communications. In addition, information handling systems may include a variety of hardware and software components that may be configured to process, store, and communicate information and may include one or more computer systems, data storage systems, and networking systems. 
   Information handling systems typically include a board, such as a motherboard, which includes the information handling systems basic circuitry and components. The board can be secured to a chassis, and system components may then be attached and removed from the board as needed. 
   The assembly of the board to the chassis can raise a number of problems. In some situations, it is more cost efficient to secure the board to the chassis with fixed connectors, such as threaded fasteners. In other situations, cost efficiency is maximized by including a slidable connector on the board to secure the board to the chassis. During the life of a typical information handling system design, the assembly method used for the board may need to be switched to react to changes in board design, price fluctuations, quality considerations, and many other factors that effect cost advantage. 
   Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide for mounting a board in an information handling system chassis absent the disadvantages found in the prior methods discussed above. 
   SUMMARY 
   According to one embodiment, a board mounting apparatus is included that provides a chassis and a chassis base member positioned in the chassis, the chassis base member defining a channel and an open volume adjacent the channel. A first portion of the channel comprises a first width. A second portion of the channel has a second width greater than the first width. 
   A principal advantage of this embodiment is that it provides a board and chassis assembly solution that maximizes flexibility and decreases cost. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic view illustrating an embodiment of an information handling system. 
       FIG. 2   a  is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a board mounting apparatus. 
       FIG. 2   b  is a top view illustrating an embodiment of the board mounting apparatus of  FIG. 2   a.    
       FIG. 2   c  is a cross sectional view illustrating an embodiment of the board mounting apparatus of  FIG. 2   a  taken along line  2   c  of  FIG. 2   a.    
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a board with a fixed connector. 
       FIG. 4   a  is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of the board of  FIG. 3  being secured to a chassis with the board mounting apparatus of  FIG. 2   a.    
       FIG. 4   b  is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of the board of  FIG. 3  secured to a chassis with the board mounting apparatus of  FIG. 2   a.    
       FIG. 4   c  is a partial cross sectional view illustrating an embodiment of the board of  FIG. 3  secured to a chassis with the board mounting apparatus of  FIG. 2   a  taken along line  4   c  of  FIG. 4   b.    
       FIG. 5   a  is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a board with a slidable connector. 
       FIG. 5   b  is a cross sectional view illustrating an embodiment of the board of  FIG. 5   a  taken along line  5   b  of  FIG. 5   a.    
       FIG. 6   a  is a perspective view illustrating the board of  FIG. 5   a  being secured to a chassis with the board mounting apparatus of  FIG. 2   a.    
       FIG. 6   b  is a perspective view illustrating the board of  FIG. 5   a  being secured to a chassis with the board mounting apparatus of  FIG. 2   a.    
       FIG. 6   c  is a perspective view illustrating the board of  FIG. 5   a  secured to a chassis with the board mounting apparatus of  FIG. 2   a.    
       FIG. 6   d  is a cross sectional view illustrating the board of  FIG. 5   a  secured to a chassis with the board mounting apparatus of  FIG. 2   a  taken along line  6   d  of  FIG. 6   c.    
       FIG. 7   a  is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a board mounting apparatus. 
       FIG. 7   b  is a cross sectional view illustrating an embodiment of the board mounting apparatus of  FIG. 7   a.    
       FIG. 7   c  is a top view illustrating an embodiment of the board mounting apparatus of  FIG. 7   a.    
       FIG. 8  is a cross sectional view illustrating the board of  FIG. 3  secured to a chassis with the board mounting apparatus of  FIG. 7   a.    
       FIG. 9  is a cross sectional view illustrating the board of  FIG. 5   a  secured to a chassis with the board mounting apparatus of  FIG. 7   a.    
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   For purposes of this disclosure, an information handling system may include any instrumentality or aggregate of instrumentalities operable to compute, classify, process, transmit, receive, retrieve, originate, switch, store, display, manifest, detect, record, reproduce, handle, or utilize any form of information, intelligence, or data for business, scientific, control, or other purposes. For example, an information handling system may be a personal computer, a network storage device, or any other suitable device and may vary in size, shape, performance, functionality, and price. The information handling system may include random access memory (RAM), one or more processing resources such as a central processing unit (CPU) or hardware or software control logic, ROM, and/or other types of nonvolatile memory. Additional components of the information handling system may include one or more disk drives, one or more network ports for communicating with external devices as well as various input and output (I/O) devices, such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a video display. The information handling system may also include one or more buses operable to transmit communications between the various hardware components. 
   In one embodiment, information handling system  10 ,  FIG. 1 , includes a microprocessor  12 , which is connected to a bus  14 . Bus  14  serves as a connection between microprocessor  12  and other components of computer system  10 . An input device  16  is coupled to microprocessor  12  to provide input to microprocessor  12 . Examples of input devices include keyboards, touchscreens, and pointing devices such as mouses, trackballs and trackpads. Programs and data are stored on a mass storage device  18 , which is coupled to microprocessor  12 . Mass storage devices include such devices as hard disks, optical disks, magneto-optical drives, floppy drives and the like. Computer system  10  further includes a display  20 , which is coupled to microprocessor  12  by a video controller  22 . A system memory  24  is coupled to microprocessor  12  to provide the microprocessor with fast storage to facilitate execution of computer programs by microprocessor  12 . It should be understood that other busses and intermediate circuits can be deployed between the components described above and microprocessor  12  to facilitate interconnection between the components and the microprocessor. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 2   a ,  2   b , and  2   c , a board mounting apparatus  100  includes a chassis  102  with a chassis upper surface  102   a  and a chassis lower surface  102   b . A chassis base member  104  is positioned on the chassis  102 , the chassis base member  104  defining a channel  106  and an open volume  108  adjacent the channel  106  and the chassis bottom surface  102   b . The channel  106  includes a first portion  110  having approximately a width A. A second portion  112  of the channel  106  is situated adjacent the first portion  110  and increases from the width A immediately adjacent the first portion  110  to approximately a width B at the end of the second portion  112  opposite the first portion  110 . In an exemplary embodiment, first portion  110  of channel  106  includes internal threads  114 . 
   Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a board  200  includes an upper surface  202  and a lower surface  204  opposite the upper surface  202 . The board  200  defines a hole  206  extending between the upper surface  202  and the lower surface  204 . A fixed connector  208  is provided and, in one embodiment, includes external threads  208   a  and end  208   b . The fixed connector  208  may be a threaded fastener, as shown in  FIG. 3 , a push rivet, a nut and bolt, or a variety of other equivalent connecting devices. 
   In operation, as illustrated in  FIGS. 4   a ,  4   b , and  4   c , the board  200  is situated above and substantially parallel the chassis  102  such that lower surface  204  on board  200  is facing upper surface  102   a  on chassis  102 . Hole  206  defined by board  200  is positioned such that the hole  206  is directly above first portion  110  on channel  106 . Board  200  is then brought towards chassis  102  until lower surface  204  on board  200  engages upper surface  102   a  on chassis. Fixed connector  208  is placed in hole  206  defined by board  200  and the fixed connector  208  may then secure the board  200  to chassis  102  by situating it in first portion  110  of channel  106 . In an exemplary embodiment, the fixed connector  208  includes external threads  208   a  corresponding to internal threads  114  in first portion  110  of channel  106 , and the board  200  is secured to the chassis  102  by threading the fixed connector  208  to the first portion  100  of channel  106 . When the board  200  is secured to the chassis  102 , end  208   b  of fixed connector  208  may extend into the open volume  108  defined by chassis  102 . 
   In an alternative embodiment, as illustrated in  FIGS. 5   a  and  5   b , a board  300  includes an upper surface  302  and a lower surface  304  opposite the upper surface  302 . The board  300  defines a hole  306  extending between the upper surface  302  and the lower surface  304 . A slidable connector  308  is situated in the hole  306  and coupled to board  300 . The slidable connector  308  includes an upper flange  310  which engages upper surface  302  on board  300 , a annular channel  312  defined by the slidable connector  308  and situated adjacent the lower surface  304  of board  300 , and a lower flange  314  adjacent the annular channel  312 . 
   In operation, as illustrated in  FIGS. 6   a ,  6   b ,  6   c , and  6   d , the board  300  is situated above and substantially parallel the chassis  102  such that lower surface  304  on board  300  is facing upper surface  102   a  on chassis  102 . Slidable connector  308  coupled to board  300  is positioned such that the lower flange  314  on slidable connector  308  is positioned directly above second portion  112  on channel  106 . Board  300  is then brought towards chassis  102  until lower surface  304  on board  300  engages upper surface  102   a  on chassis  102  and annular channel  312  on slidable connector  308  is located in second portion  112  of channel  106  and lower flange  314  is located in open volume  108  defined by chassis  102 , as illustrated in  FIG. 6   b . Board  300  may then be moved in a direction C, as illustrated in  FIG. 6   c , such that annular channel  312  is situated in first portion  110  and lower flange  314  engages lower surface  102   b  on chassis  102  while being situated in open volume  108  defined by chassis  102 . In an exemplary embodiment, when board  300  contacts the end of first portion  110  on channel  106  and can no longer move in a direction C, the board is secured to the chassis  102 . 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 7   a ,  7   b , and  7   c , an alternative embodiment of a board mounting apparatus  400  is substantially identical in design and operation to board mounting apparatus  100  described above with reference to  FIGS. 1 ,  2   a ,  2   b ,  2   c ,  3 ,  4   a ,  4   b ,  4   c ,  5   a ,  5   b ,  6   a ,  6   b ,  6   c , and  6   d  with the addition of an embossed chassis base member  402  positioned on the chassis  102  replacing the chassis base member  104 . 
   Embossed chassis base member  402  is positioned on chassis  102  and raised from chassis upper surface  102   a  such that embossed chassis base member  402  has a substantially trapezoidal cross section, as illustrated in  FIG. 7   b . Embossed chassis base member  402  has a base member upper surface  402   a  and defines channel  106  and open volume  108  adjacent the channel  106 . The channel  106  includes first portion  110  having approximately a width A. Second portion  112  of the channel  106  is situated adjacent the first portion  110  and increases from width A immediately adjacent the first portion  110  to width B at the end of second portion  112  opposite the first portion  110  and adjacent upper surface  102   a  on chassis  102 . In an exemplary embodiment, first portion  110  of channel  106  includes internal threads  114 . In an exemplary embodiment, a base member bottom surface  402   b  may include a lip  404  extending from the base member bottom surface  402   b  around the periphery of the first portion  110 . 
   In an exemplary embodiment, during operation, as illustrated in  FIGS. 3 ,  7   a ,  7   b ,  7   c , and  8 , the board  200  is situated above and substantially parallel the chassis  102  such that lower surface  204  on board  200  is facing base member upper surface  402   a  on embossed chassis base member  402 . Hole  206  defined by board  200  is positioned such that the hole  206  is directly above first portion  110  on channel  106 . Board  200  is then brought towards chassis  102  until lower surface  204  on board  200  secure the board  200  to chassis  102  by situating it in first portion  110  of channel  106 . In an exemplary embodiment, the fixed connector  208  includes external threads  208   a  corresponding to internal threads  114  in first portion  110  of channel  106 , and the board  200  is secured to the chassis  102  by threading the fixed connector  208  to the first portion  100  of channel  106 . When the board  200  is secured to the chassis  102 , end  208   b  of fixed connector  208  may extend into the open volume  108  defined by embossed chassis base member  402 . 
   In an exemplary embodiment, during operation, as illustrated in  FIGS. 5   a ,  5   b ,  7   a ,  7   b ,  7   c , and  9 , the board  300  is situated above and substantially parallel the chassis  102  such that lower surface  304  on board  300  is facing base member upper surface  402   a  on embossed chassis base member  402 . Slidable connector  308  coupled to board  300  is positioned such that the lower flange  314  on slidable connector  308  is positioned directly above second portion  112  on channel  106 . Board  300  is then brought towards chassis  102  until lower surface  204  on board  200  engages base member upper surface  402   a  on chassis  102  and annular channel  312  on slidable connector  308  is located in second portion  112  of channel  106  and lower flange  314  is located in open volume  108  defined by embossed chassis base member  402 . Board  300  may then be moved towards first portion  110  such that annular channel  312  is situated in first portion  110  and lower flange  314  engages base member lower surface  402   b  on embossed chassis base member  402  while being situated in open volume  108  defined by embossed chassis base member  402 . In an exemplary embodiment, when board  300  contacts the end of first portion  110  on channel  106 , the board  300  is secured to the chassis  102 . 
   It is understood that variation may be made in the foregoing without departing from the scope of the disclosed embodiments. Furthermore, the elements and teachings of the various illustrative embodiments may be combined in whole or in part some or all of the illustrative embodiments. 
   Although illustrative embodiments have been shown and described, a wide range of modification, change and substitution is contemplated in the foregoing disclosure and in some instances, some features of the embodiments may be employed without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the scope of the embodiments disclosed herein.