Abstract:
An exemplary motherboard fixing device is for fixing a motherboard onto a case plate inside a computer case. The motherboard fixing device is fixable on the case plate, and includes a first fixing strip and a second fixing strip. The first fixing strip includes a first, second, and third flat plates. The second flat plate is between the first and third flat plates. The first and second flat plates cooperatively define a slide groove for receiving an edge of the motherboard. The second fixing strip includes a bottom plate and a lateral plate. The third flat plate and the bottom plate include first latch hooks. The first latch hooks is engagable in corresponding through holes of the case plate, such that the first and second fixing strips are fixed on the case plate. The lateral plate includes second latch hooks for being latchable on an opposite edge of the motherboard.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The present disclosure relates to motherboard fixing devices, and particularly, to a motherboard fixing device able to fix a motherboard to a computer case without screws. The present disclosure also relates to a computer having the motherboard fixing device fixed on the computer case. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    A core component of a personal computer is a motherboard, with which all other major parts (e.g. display device, keyboard, and mouse) are connected. Typically, the motherboard is fixed on a computer case of the computer. Many motherboards include a plurality of fixing holes, and the computer case correspondingly includes a plurality of screw holes. In the process of assembling the motherboard and the computer case, each of the fixing holes must first be aligned with a corresponding screw hole. Each screw then passes through a corresponding fixing hole, and is screwed into a corresponding screw hole, such that the motherboard is fixed on the computer case. 
         [0005]    Because each of the fixing holes must be aligned with the corresponding screw hole, and each screw must pass through the fixing hole and be screwed into the screw hole, the assembly process is somewhat laborious. It is inconvenient for users to connect the motherboard to the computer case, and the efficiency of assembly is rather low. 
         [0006]    Therefore, what is needed is a means that can overcome the described limitations. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of part of a computer having a motherboard fixed thereto by a motherboard fixing device, according to an exemplary embodiment. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a view of the motherboard fixing device and a case plate of the computer of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the motherboard fixing device and case plate of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is similar to  FIG. 4 , but showing the parts inverted. 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged view of a circled portion VI of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  is an enlarged view of a circled portion VII of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 8  is an enlarged view of a circled portion VIII of  FIG. 5 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 9  is an enlarged, cross-sectional view of part of the motherboard fixing device and case plate of  FIG. 3 , corresponding to line IX-IX thereof. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    Embodiments will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. 
         [0017]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 through 4 , a computer  100  in accordance with an exemplary embodiment is shown. The computer  100  includes a motherboard  30 , a motherboard fixing device  40 , and a computer case  50 . 
         [0018]    The motherboard  30  is substantially square, and includes a first side edge  31 , a second side edge  32  opposite to the first side edge  31 , a third side edge  33 , and a fourth side edge  34  opposite to the third side edge  33 . The computer case  50  includes a case plate  10 , and a vertical plate  20  perpendicular to the case plate  10 . The case plate  10 , the vertical plate  20 , and the motherboard fixing device  40  cooperatively position the motherboard  30  in the computer case  50 . 
         [0019]    The motherboard fixing device  40  fixes the motherboard  30  on the case plate  10  of the computer case  50 . The motherboard fixing device  40  includes a first fixing strip  41 , and a second fixing strip  42  opposite to the first fixing strip  41 . 
         [0020]    The first fixing strip  41  and the second fixing strip  42  are fixed on the case plate  10 , and the motherboard  30  is sandwiched between the first fixing strip  41  and the second fixing strip  42 . 
         [0021]    Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , three spaced latch plates  13  are arranged at each of opposite long sides of the case plate  10 . The three latch plates  13  at one of the long sides spatially correspond to the first fixing strip  41 , and the three latch plates  13  at the other long side spatially correspond to the second fixing strip  42 . The three latch plates  13  at each opposite long side of the case plate  10  are arranged in a row, and each of the latch plates  13  is substantially L-shaped. Two through holes  12  are defined in each of the opposite long sides of the case plate  10 . Each through hole  12  is located between two corresponding adjacent latch plates  13 . The two through holes  12  are arranged in a row, which is aligned differently from (but parallel to) an alignment of the row of the three corresponding latch plates  13 . 
         [0022]    Referring also to  FIG. 6 , each of the latch plates  13  includes a connection portion  131  connected to the case plate  10 , and a latch portion  132  extending from an upper end of the connection portion  131 . 
         [0023]    Referring  FIGS. 3 and 9 , the first fixing strip  41  includes a first flat plate  411 , a second flat plate  412 , a third flat plate  413 , and a connection plate  414 . The first flat plate  411 , the second flat plate  412 , and the third flat plate  413  are parallel with each other, and the second flat plate  412  is located between the first flat plate  411  and the third flat plate  413 . The connection plate  414  connects lateral surfaces of the flat plates  411 ,  412 , and  413 , such that the first flat plate  411 , the second flat plate  412 , and the third flat plate  413  are spaced from each other. Accordingly, a slide groove  410  is defined between the first flat plate  411  and the second flat plate  412 . 
         [0024]    Referring also to  FIGS. 5 and 8 , three latch holes  4131  arranged in a row are defined in the third flat plate  413 . The latch holes  4131  spatially correspond to three respective latch plates  13 . 
         [0025]    Two spaced first latch hooks  4132  arranged in a row extend from the third flat plate  413  towards the case plate  10 . The first latch hooks  4132  spatially correspond to the respective through holes  12 . Each of the latch hooks  4132  includes a latch tongue  4133  located away from the third flat plate  413 . The latch plates  13  pass through the corresponding latch holes  4131 , and latch on the third flat plate  413 . Meanwhile, the latching tongues  4133  pass through the corresponding through holes  12 , and latch on the case plate  10 . Accordingly, the first fixing strip  41  is fixed on the case plate  10 . 
         [0026]    In other embodiments, the latch plates  13  can be omitted. In such case, the first latch hooks  4132  can still connect the first fixing strip  41  to the case plate  10  by engaging in the corresponding through holes  12 . 
         [0027]    The second fixing strip  42  includes a bottom plate  420 , and a lateral plate  421  perpendicular to the bottom plate  420  (see  FIG. 4 ). The bottom plate  420  is identical to the third flat plate  413 , and includes latch holes  4131  and latch hooks  4132 . In addition, the second fixing strip  42  includes a plurality of second latch hooks  422  extending up from the bottom plate  420 . Each of the second latch hooks  422  includes a vertical main body  4221 , and a latch tongue  4222  extending inward from an upper end of the corresponding vertical main body  4221  (see  FIG. 7 ). The latch tongues  4222  latch on the motherboard  30  to fix the motherboard  30  on the second fixing strip  42 . 
         [0028]    For a more secure fixing of the motherboard  30  on the fixing strips  41 ,  42 , the motherboard fixing device  40  also includes two handles  43  respectively arranged at same ends of the first fixing strip  41  and the second fixing strip  42  (see  FIG. 4 ). Each of the handles  43  includes a stop plate  431 . One end of one of the handles  43  is pivotally connected to the first fixing strip  41  by a rotation shaft  44 . One end of the other handle  43  is pivotally connected to the second fixing strip  42  by another rotation shaft  44 . Accordingly, the handles  43  are rotatable relative to the first fixing strip  41  and the second fixing strip  42 , respectively. In addition, two stop portions  11  are arranged on the case plate  10 . In the present embodiment, the stop portions  11  are in the form of elastic fingers extending obliquely up from the case plate  10 . The stop portions  11  engage with the stop plates  431  to help stop the motherboard fixing device  40  from sliding off the fixing strips  41 ,  42 , thereby preventing the motherboard  30  from sliding off the case plate  10 . In other embodiments, the handles  43  and the stop portions  11  may be omitted, because the second latch hooks  422  can still fix the motherboard  30  on the second fixing strip  42  in cooperation with the first fixing strip  41 . 
         [0029]    Referring also to  FIG. 9 , in assembly of the first fixing strip  41 , the second fixing strip  42 , and the case plate  10 , the latch holes  4131  and the latch tongues  4133  respectively align with the corresponding latch plates  13  and the corresponding through holes  12 . Then, each of the latch plates  13  enters a corresponding latch hole  4131 , and each of the latch tongues  4133  enters a corresponding through hole  12 . The first fixing strip  41  is pulled towards an outer end of the case plate  10  (i.e., generally towards the corresponding stop portion  11 ), thereby making the latch plates  13  and the latch tongues  4133  respectively latch in the corresponding latch holes  4131  and the corresponding through holes  12 . By essentially the same method described above, the second fixing strip  42  is fixed on the case plate  10 . Then, the case plate  10  is fixed to the vertical plate  20  by conventional means such as screws. 
         [0030]    After fixing the first fixing strip  41  and the second fixing strip  42  on the case plate  10 , the first side edge  31  of the motherboard  30  is inserted into the slide groove  410 . Then, the motherboard  30  is pressed towards the case plate  10  until the second latch hooks  422  snappingly latch on the second side edge  32  of the motherboard  30 . Next, the third side edge  33  of the motherboard  30  is pushed, so that the motherboard  30  slides towards the vertical plate  20  until the fourth side edge  34  of the motherboard  30  abuts against the vertical plate  20 . Finally, the handles  43  are rotated until they latch on the third side edge  33  of the motherboard. In the latched positions, the handles  43  are limited in an area cooperatively defined by the stop portions  11 , the first fixing strip  41 , and the second fixing strip  42 . Typically, the handles  43  are locked in position by the stop portions  11  and the fixing strips  41 ,  42 . Because the stop portions  11  stop the handles  43  from rotating, the motherboard  30  is fixed between the first fixing strip  41 , the second fixing strip  42 , the handles  43 , and the second side edge  20 . 
         [0031]    When the motherboard  30  needs to be taken off the case plate  10 , each stop portion  11  is pressed down until the stop portion  11  is coplanar with or lower than the case plate  10 . Then the corresponding handle  43  is rotated away from the vertical plate  20 , such that the handle  43  is released from the motherboard  30 . Then, the motherboard  30  is pulled away from the vertical plate  20 , with the first side edge  31  sliding in the slide groove  410  until the motherboard  30  is completely slid out from the first fixing strip  41  and the second fixing strip  42 . In this way, the motherboard  30  can be easily detached from the case plate  10 . 
         [0032]    In another way to detach the motherboard  30  from the case plate  10 , after the handles  43  are released from the motherboard  30 , the second latch hooks  422  can be separated from the motherboard  30  by hand or by using a tool. Then the motherboard  30  can be easily lifted out from the case plate  10 , with the first side edge  31  disengaging from the slide groove  410 . 
         [0033]    In the present embodiment, the motherboard  30  is easily fixed on the case plate  10  by the first fixing strip  41 , the second fixing strip  42  and the handles  43 . Accordingly, no screw holes or screws are needed for fixing the motherboard  30  on the case plate  10 , and the efficiency of assembly of the motherboard  30  onto the case plate  10  can be improved. 
         [0034]    While certain embodiments have been described and exemplified above, various other embodiments will be apparent from the foregoing disclosure to those skilled in the art. The disclosure is not limited to the particular embodiments described and exemplified but is capable of considerable variation and modification without departure from the scope and spirit of the appended claims.