Patent Publication Number: US-2011068240-A1

Title: Interface card fixing device

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a fixing device, and more particularly to an interface card fixing device. 
     2. Related Art 
     Nowadays, with the continuous and vigorous development of technology and information, computer equipments have become popularized. For the computers equipments currently available on the market, no matter desktop computers, notebook computers, or servers, peripheral hardware systems used therein, such as a peripheral component interconnect card (PCI card), a video graphics array card (VGA card), and other external hardware devices, must be electrically connected to a main board, such that a computer host and the peripheral hardware systems communicate with each other and transmit signals to each other, thereby performing default functions of the peripheral hardware. In order to prevent an interface card from being loosened or detached by an external force, the interface card is fixed in a socket of the main board of the computer by a fixing method. 
     Currently, in order to fix interface cards in a server computer, an interface card bracket is disposed in a case of the server computer, such that a patch board including a plurality of interface card sockets is fixed in the bracket. Interface cards are fixed in the interface card bracket, and electrically connected to the interface card sockets. Then, the interface card bracket is locked and fixed at a predetermined position within the case by using screws, and the patch board is electrically connected to a main board, such that the interface cards are electrically connected to the main board. 
     However, when the interface card is mounted or removed, the screws need to be tightened or loosened and removed by using a hand tool, and since it takes time to tighten or loosen and remove the screws, more time is required to replace the interface card. Meanwhile, the screws easily fall onto the main board, causing the main board to be damaged due to short circuit. Since server computers of different types have different case sizes and different circuit configurations, the interface card bracket cannot be applied in server computers of different types, resulting in inconvenience in use and increased manufacturing cost. 
     In addition, U.S. Pat. No. 7,161,798 (hereafter referred to as Patent No. 798) discloses an expansion card retention apparatus, which includes a first retention bracket, a second retention bracket, and a rear panel. The rear panel defines a number of expansion slots, and the first retention bracket is rotatably fixed to the rear panel. The second retention bracket is fixed to the first retention bracket, and defines a number of flexible tongues. The expansion cards are thus fixed in the expansion slots. 
     Although Patent No. 798 can solve the problem resulting from the use of screws for locking and fixing the interface cards, Patent No. 798 only use a pressing element to directly press against a plurality of interface cards by surface contact, so as to fix the interface cards. If the computer device is severely shaken or impacted by an external force, the pressing element is easily loosened or detached from the interface cards, and thus can no longer press against the interface cards. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the above problems, the present invention is an interface card fixing device, so as to solve the problems that a conventional interface card fixing device cannot be applied in server computers of different types, and that since the conventional interface card fixing device only uses a single pressing element to directly press against a plurality of interface cards, the pressing element is easily loosened or detached from the interface cards by an external force, and thus can no longer press against the interface cards. 
     The present invention provides an interface card fixing device for fixing an interface card in a case of a computer device. The interface card fixing device comprises a body and a pressing member. The body is fixed on the case, and has at least one slide rail, an accommodation slot, and a guiding slot crossing the accommodation slot. The interface card slides within the guiding slot to a combination position. One end of the pressing member is a pivoting end, and the other end of the pressing member is a pressing end. The pivoting end is pivotally disposed in the slide rail, such that the pressing member moves along the slide rail, and the pressing end pivotally rotates between a releasing position and a pressing position. 
     When the pressing end pivotally rotates to the pressing position, the pressing end is fixed in the accommodation slot of the body, and presses against the interface card to maintain the interface card at the combination position. The pressing end and the pivoting end form an angle. 
     The present invention further provides an interface card fixing device for fixing an interface card in a case of a computer device. The interface card fixing device comprises a body and a pressing member. The body is fixed on the case. One end of the body is a first pivoting end, and the first pivoting end has an accommodation slot. The body has a guiding slot crossing the accommodation slot. The interface card slides within the guiding slot to a combination position. One end of the pressing member is a second pivoting end, and the other end of the pressing member is a pressing end. The second pivoting end is pivotally connected to the first pivoting end of the body, and the pressing end pivotally rotates between a releasing position and a pressing position. 
     When the pressing end pivotally rotates to the pressing position, the pressing end is fixed in the accommodation slot of the body, and presses against the interface card to maintain the interface card at the combination position. The pressing end and the second pivoting end form an angle. 
     The efficacy of the present invention lies in that, the interface card fixing device can be applied to assemble interface cards to computer devices of different types, the pressing end of the pressing member is fixed in the accommodation slot of the body, so as to interfere with the interface card, and the pressing end and the pivoting end of the pressing member form an angle, so as to stably press against the interface card to maintain the interface card at the combination position without being loosened or detached. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below for illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein: 
         FIG. 1A  is an exploded view of an interface card fixing device according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 1B  is a schematic view of the interface card fixing device according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic partially enlarged view of the first embodiment of the present invention in an assembled state; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic partially enlarged view of the first embodiment of the present invention in an assembled state; 
         FIG. 5  is a plane side view of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6A  is an exploded view of an interface card fixing device according to a second embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6B  is a schematic view of the interface card fixing device according to the second embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is an exploded view of the second embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic partially enlarged view of the second embodiment of the present invention in an assembled state; 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic partially enlarged view of the second embodiment of the present invention in an assembled state; and 
         FIG. 10  is a plane side view of  FIG. 9 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIGS. 1A ,  1 B, and  2  are schematic three-dimensional views of a first embodiment of the present invention. An interface card fixing device  100  according to the first embodiment of the present invention is used for fixing an interface card  200  in a case  310  of a computer device  300 . A plurality of interface cards  200  may be electrically disposed in the computer device  300 , and the number of the interface card fixing device  100  is determined by the number of the interface card  200 , such that the interface card fixing device  100  and the interface card  200  are combined in a one-to-one manner. 
     The interface card fixing device  100  according to the first embodiment of the present invention comprises a body  110  and a pressing member  120 . The body  110  is designed as a bar-shaped structure, and has at least two hooks  114  on a side surface thereof. The hooks  114  are fastened into buckling holes  311  of the case  310 , such that the body  110  is fixed on the case  310 . It should be noted that, persons skilled in the art may also use other methods to combine the body  110  with the case  310 , and the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1A and 1B , corresponding slide rails  111  are respectively formed on two opposite side edges of the body  110 . One end of the body  110  further has an inwardly recessed accommodation slot  112 , and the body  110  further has a guiding slot  113  crossing the accommodation slot  112  (that is, the guiding slot  113  is disposed along a major axis of the body  110 ), such that the accommodation slot  112  and the guiding slot  113  are disposed perpendicular to each other. 
     One end of the pressing member  120  is a pivoting end  121 , and the other end of the pressing member  120  is a pressing end  122 . Two opposite pivot shafts  1211  are protruded from inner wall surfaces of the pivoting end  121 , and are respectively inserted into the two slide rails  111 , such that the pressing member  120  is pivotally connected to the body  110 , the pressing member  120  reciprocally moves along the slide rails  111  relative to the body  110 , and the pressing end  122  slides on the body  110  along with the pressing member  120 . In addition, the pressing member  120  further has two operating portions  123 , such that a user may hold the operating portions  123  to enable the pressing member  120  to slide or pivotally rotate. The pressing end  122  of the pressing member  120  further has a stopping portion  1221 . 
       FIGS. 3 to 5  are schematic views of operation states. When the interface card  200  is disposed in the case  310 , the pressing member  120  of the interface card fixing device  100  firstly slides above the body  110  along the slide rails  111  and pivotally rotates to a releasing position (that is, the pressing member  120  pivotally rotates upwards relative to the body  110 ). Then, the stopping portion  1221  bears against the body  110 , so as to prevent the pressing member  120  from departing from the releasing position. The interface card  200  enters the guiding slot  113  of the body  110  in a downward mounting direction, and slides to a combination position along the guiding slot  113 . The combination position refers to a position at which the interface card  200  is electrically connected to an electrical socket (not shown) in the computer device. 
     After the interface card  200  slides to the combination position, the pressing member  120  departs from the releasing position, and slides downwards along the slide rails  111 . At this time, the pressing end  122  of the pressing member  120  pivotally rotates to a pressing position, and is fixed in the accommodation slot  112  of the body  110  to interfere with the interface card  200  in the mounting direction, so as to press against the interface card  200  to maintain the interface card  200  at the combination position without being loosened or detached. Axial centers of the pressing end  122  and the pivoting end  121  are not located on the same axis, such that the pressing end  122  and the pivoting end  121  form an angle θ, so as to stably press against the interface card  200 , thereby ensuring that the pressing member  120  still presses against the interface card  200  under an counter force of the interface card  200 . 
       FIGS. 6A ,  6 B, and  7  are schematic three-dimensional views of a second embodiment of the present invention. An interface card fixing device  100  according to the second embodiment of the present invention is used for fixing an interface card  200  in a case  310  of a computer device  300 . A plurality of interface cards  200  may be electrically disposed in the computer device  300 , and the number of the interface card fixing device  100  is determined by the number of the interface card  200 , such that the interface card fixing device  100  and the interface card  200  are combined in a one-to-one manner. 
     The interface card fixing device  100  according to the second embodiment of the present invention comprises a body  110  and a pressing member  130 . The body  110  is designed as a bar-shaped structure, and has at least two hooks  114  on a side surface thereof. The hooks  114  are fastened into buckling holes  311  of the case  310 , such that the body  110  is fixed on the case  310 . It should be noted that, persons skilled in the art may also use other methods to combine the body  110  with the case  310 , and the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 6A and 6B , one end of the body  110  is a first pivoting end  115 , and the first pivoting end  115  has an inwardly recessed accommodation slot  112 . The body  110  further has a guiding slot  113  crossing the accommodation slot  112  (that is, the guiding slot  113  is disposed along a major axis of the body  110 ), such that the accommodation slot  112  and the guiding slot  113  are disposed perpendicular to each other. In addition, the first pivoting end  115  further has two opposite first pivot shafts  1151 , two opposite positioning holes  1152 , and two opposite stopping ribs  1153 . 
     One end of the pressing member  130  is a second pivoting end  131 , and the other end of the pressing member  130  is a pressing end  132 . Two opposite first pivot holes  1311  are formed on the second pivoting end  131 , and the two first pivot shafts  1151  of the body  110  are respectively inserted into the first pivot holes  1311 , such that the pressing member  130  is pivotally connected to the body  110 . A stopping protrusion  1321  is respectively protruded from two opposite inner wall surfaces of the pressing member  130 , two opposite bumps  133  are protruded from the pressing member  130 , and a pivotally rotating path of the pressing member  130  causes the bumps  133  to interfere with the stopping ribs  1153  of the body  110 . In addition, the pressing end  132  of the pressing member  130  further has two operating portions  1322 , such that a user may hold the operating portions  123  to enable the pressing member  130  to pivotally rotate. 
       FIGS. 8 to 10  are schematic views of operation states. When the interface card  200  is disposed in the case  310 , the pressing member  130  of the interface card fixing device  100  firstly pivotally rotates to a releasing position (that is, the pressing member  130  pivotally rotates upwards relative to the body  110 ), and the stopping protrusions  1321  bear against the body  110 , so as to prevent the pressing member  130  from departing from the releasing position. The interface card  200  enters the guiding slot  113  of the body  110  in a downward mounting direction, and slides to a combination position along the guiding slot  113 . The combination position refers to a position at which the interface card  200  is electrically connected to an electrical socket (not shown) in the computer device. 
     After the interface card  200  slides to the combination position, the pressing end  132  of the pressing member  130  pivotally rotates to a pressing position, and is fixed in the accommodation slot  112  of the body  110  to interfere the interface card  200  in the mounting direction, so as to press against the interface card  200  to maintain the interface card  200  at the combination position without being loosened or detached. Axial centers of the pressing end  132  and the second pivoting end  131  are not located on the same axis, such that the pressing end  132  and the second pivoting end  131  form an angle θ, so as to stably press against the interface card  200 , thereby ensuring that the pressing member  130  still presses against the interface card  200  under an counter force of the interface card  200 . 
     When the pressing end  132  of the pressing member  130  pivotally rotates to the pressing position, the bumps  133  of the pressing member  130  interfere with and bear against the stopping ribs  1153  of the body  110 . The pressing member is made of a material capable of elastic deformation, and the user needs to apply a small force to force the bumps  133  to pass through the stopping ribs  1153 , so as to successfully enable the pressing member  130  to pivotally rotate downwards. The interference between the bump  133  and the stopping rib  1153  provides a clear operating tactile for the user. In addition, when the pressing end  132  of the pressing member  130  pivotally rotates and is fixed in the accommodation slot  112  of the body  110 , the stopping protrusions  1321  of the pressing member  130  are embedded into the positioning holes  1152  of the body  110 , so as to provide a more effective retention force for the pressing member  130 , thereby preventing the pressing end  132  from being loosened or detached from the pressing position due to an external force. 
     The interface card fixing device according to the present invention can be applied to assemble interface cards to computer devices of different types, and the pressing end of the pressing member interferes with and presses against the interface card to maintain the interface card at the combination position without being loosened or detached. Moreover, the pressing end and the pivoting end of the pressing member form an angle, so as to stably press against the interface card to maintain the interface card at the combination position, thereby preventing the interface card from departing from the combination position due to the counter force thereof or an external force. As such, the interface card is stably disposed on the case without being loosened or detached.