Patent Publication Number: US-2023156950-A1

Title: Adaptable securing devices for electronic equipment

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/280,249 filed Nov. 17, 2021. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The subject matter of this application relates to securing devices for electronic components on chassis of electronic equipment. Electronic equipment commonly use various electronic components and/or modules (e.g., power supply modules) that are installed into or onto the equipment chassis or framework to provide different functionalities. The electronic components/modules are manufactured by different vendors and thus the electronic components/modules generally have different dimensions and/or different fastening and/or securing devices. Therefore, the chassis needs to have fastening and/or securing devices that correspond with the dimensions and/or fastening and/or securing devices of the desired electronic components/modules. 
     However, having different chassis for each desired electronic component/module requires a lot of quality control, production logistics, and storage space. Additionally, when an electronic component/module of electronic equipment needs to be replaced in the field with an electronic component/module having different dimensions and/or fastening and/or securing devices, it can become difficult to mount the replacement electronic component/module to the equipment chassis. 
     What is desired, therefore, are securing devices that can adapt to fastening and/or securing devices of various electronic components/modules (such as various mounting positions). 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a better understanding of the invention, and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG.  1    is an isometric view of an example of a securing device attached to a chassis. 
         FIG.  2    is sectional view of the securing device of  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  3    is an exploded view of the securing device of  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  4    is a top view of an example of a chassis having four securing devices of  FIG.  1    attached. 
         FIG.  5    is an isometric view of an example of a first electronic module attached to the chassis of  FIG.  4    via securing devices of  FIGS.  1 - 3   . 
         FIG.  6    is an isometric view of an example of a second electronic module attached to the chassis of  FIG.  4    via securing devices of  FIGS.  1 - 3   . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIGS.  1 - 3   , an example of a securing device  20  pivotably attached to a base  22  of chassis  24  is shown allowing the securing device to pivot or rotate relative to base  22 . Securing device  20  includes a connector  26 . In the example shown in  FIGS.  1 - 3   , connector  26  is elongate and planar. However, other embodiments of connector  26  may be non-elongate and/or nonplanar. In the example shown in  FIGS.  1 - 3   , elongate connector  26  is stadium-shaped but connector  26  may have other shape(s), such as square, rectangular, circular, etc. 
     Connector  26  includes opposed first and second end portions  28 ,  30 . First end portion  28  is pivotably coupled or connected to base  22 . In the example shown in  FIGS.  1 - 3   , first end portion  28  includes a first hole  32  that receives a pivot  34 . Pivot  34  is attached to base  22 , such as received in base hole  36 . However, pivot  34  may alternatively be formed with base  22  in other examples. When connector  26  is elongate (such as shown in  FIGS.  1 - 3   ), first and second end portions  28 ,  30  may also be referred to as first and second longitudinal end portions  28 ,  30 . 
     In the examples shown in  FIGS.  1 - 3   , securing device  20  includes a washer  38  disposed between connector  26  and base  22  and/or in contact with connector  26  and base  22  to facilitate pivoting of connector  26  relative to base  22 , such as by spacing connector  26  from base  22  (or creating a gap between connector  26  from base  22 ). In the example shown in  FIGS.  1 - 3   , washer  38  is attached to, or formed with, pivot  34 . In other examples, washer  38  may be separate from pivot  34 . In those examples, washer  38  includes a washer hole and pivot  34  is received in that washer hole. In other examples of securing device  20 , the device may exclude washer  38 . When securing device  20  does not include washer  38 , pivot  34  may include a rib or ledge to support connector  26  spaced apart from base  22 . 
     Securing device  20  includes a coupler  42  that receives a fastener, such as a fastener  43  to attach an electronic component to base  22  (e.g., screw, bolt, etc.). Coupler  42  includes opposed third and fourth end portions  44 ,  46 . In the example shown in  FIGS.  1 - 3   , coupler  42  is elongate so the opposed third and fourth end portions may also be referred to as third and fourth longitudinal end portions  44 ,  46 . Third end portion  44  is attached to, or formed with, second end portion  30  of connector  26 . In the example shown in  FIGS.  1 - 3   , second end portion  30  includes a second hole  48  that receives coupler  42 . Coupler  42  has any suitable shape(s). In the example shown in  FIGS.  1 - 3   , coupler  42  is cylindrical and elongate with a flange portion  47  that corresponds to the shape of second hole  48 . In other examples, second hole  48  may include threads that correspond with threads of third end portion  44 . Coupler  42  may include other suitable shape(s), such as spherical, cubical, triangular prism, hemispherical, cuboid, etc. 
     Fourth end portion  46  of coupler  42  includes an aperture  48  that receives a fastener, such as to fasten an electronic component to the fourth end portion. Aperture  48  may include one or more structures that correspond with structures of the fastener to fasten the fastener to the aperture, such as an aperture  50  having threads (or a threaded aperture) that correspond with the threads of the fastener. In the example shown in  FIGS.  1 - 3   , coupler  42  is a standoff that is received in second hole  48 . However, other examples of coupler  42  may include structure(s) other than standoffs. In some embodiments, securing device  20  may exclude coupler  42 . In some of those embodiments, second end portion  30  of connector  26  may include aperture  50 . 
     In some examples, chassis  24  includes one or more stoppers  52  attached to, or formed with, base  22 , as shown in  FIG.  1   . The stopper(s) are positioned on base  22  to limit pivoting of connector  26  to within any suitable ranges, such as 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, and 45 degrees. Stopper(s)  52  may be any suitable shape(s). In the example shown in  FIG.  1   , stoppers  52  are bridge- or hat-shaped embossments of base  22 . However, other examples of stoppers  52  include stoppers that are attached to, or formed with, base  22  without stamping or punching base  22  and/or that have different shape(s) and size(s). 
     Referring to  FIGS.  4 - 6   , an example of chassis  24  having four securing devices  20  is shown. The securing devices are spaced from each other and positioned on base  22  of chassis  24  to allow attachment of a first electronic component/module  100  or a second electronic component/module  102  onto chassis  24 . Base  22  includes stoppers  52  positioned on either side of each of the connectors  26  of securing devices  20  to limit pivoting of those connectors between a proximal position  104  and a distal position  106 . 
     Electronic module  100  includes a frame  108  having various electronic components  110  attached to frame  108 . Frame  108  has a perimeter portion  112  and has a first length  114  and a first width  116 . First length  114  and first width  116  comprise a first area or first footprint  118 . Perimeter portion  112  includes corners  120  having apertures  122  that receive fasteners  124 . Fasteners  124  are received in couplers  42  of securing devices  20  when those securing devices are in proximal position  104 . 
     Similarly, electronic module  102  includes a frame  126  having various electronic components  128  attached to frame  126 . Frame  126  has a perimeter portion  130  and has a second length  132  and a second width  134 . Second length  132  and second width  134  comprise a second area or second footprint  136 . Perimeter portion  130  includes apertures  138  that receive fasteners  140 . Fasteners  140  are received in couplers  42  of securing devices  20  when those securing devices are in distal position  106 . Second length  132  and/or second width  134  of electronic module  102  is larger than first length  114  and/or first width  116 . In other words, second footprint  136  is larger than first footprint  118 . 
     Although  FIGS.  4 - 6    show four securing devices  20 , other examples of chassis  24  may include two, three, five, six, or more securing devices. Additionally, although chassis  24  in  FIGS.  4 - 6    accommodates two different sized electronic modules, the chassis may accommodate additional different sized electronic modules, such as one or more electronic modules having a footprint that is larger than first footprint  118  but smaller than second footprint  136 . 
     The securing devices of the present disclosure provide adjustable mounting points or holes that can be moved to match mounting points or holes of electronic components/modules of various sizes. Thus, a user has the ability to mount electronic components/modules of different sizes onto the chassis of electronic equipment whether the equipment is in the factory or in the field. Benefits of the present disclosure include chassis inventory reduction, ability to use same existing hard tooling to make the chassis, and ground continuity for power supplies. 
     It will be appreciated that the invention is not restricted to the particular embodiment that has been described, and that variations may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims, as interpreted in accordance with principles of prevailing law, including the doctrine of equivalents or any other principle that enlarges the enforceable scope of a claim beyond its literal scope. Unless the context indicates otherwise, a reference in a claim to the number of instances of an element, be it a reference to one instance or more than one instance, requires at least the stated number of instances of the element but is not intended to exclude from the scope of the claim a structure or method having more instances of that element than stated. The word “comprise” or a derivative thereof, when used in a claim, is used in a nonexclusive sense that is not intended to exclude the presence of other elements or steps in a claimed structure or method.