Abstract:
A holding apparatus for a fastener ( 40 ) includes a board ( 10 ) and a holding member ( 30 ). The board defines at least one hole ( 12 ) for receiving the fastener. The holding member is attached to the board. At least one resilient arm ( 34 ) is formed on the holding member adjacent to the at least one hole for supporting the fastener.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to holding apparatuses, and more particularly to a holding apparatus for conveniently retaining and detaching fasteners.  
       DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART  
       [0002]     In many devices or apparatuses, such as computers, screws are often uses as convenient mounting means to secure elements to the devices or apparatuses. However, in operation of the devices or apparatuses, vibration often has the screws loosing from the devices of apparatuses. After long-time vibration, the screws would be detached from the devices or apparatuses. If the screws disengage from the devices or apparatuses, the loss of the screws would result in inconvenient reinstallation of element to the device for finding same type of screws.  
         [0003]     What is needed, therefore, is a holding apparatus for conveniently retaining and detaching spare fasteners easy to use after the screws on a device are lost.  
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
       [0004]     A holding apparatus for a fastener includes a board and a holding member. The board defines at least one hole for receiving the fastener. The holding member is attached to the board. At least one resilient arm is formed on the holding member adjacent to the at least one hole for supporting the fastener.  
         [0005]     Other advantages and novel features will be drawn from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment with attached drawings, in which: 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0006]      FIG. 1  is an exploded, isometric view of a holding apparatus for spare fasteners of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the holding apparatus including a board, and a holding member;  
         [0007]      FIG. 2  is an isometric, view of the holding member of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0008]      FIG. 3  is an assembled, isometric view of the holding apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0009]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a holding apparatus for holding a plurality of fasteners, such as screws  40 , includes a board  10  and a holding member  30 . Each screw  40  includes a head  42  and a post  44 .  
         [0010]     A pair of L-shaped hooks  16  is formed down aligning along a vertical direction on the board  10 . A resilient tab  18  is formed between the two hooks  16 . An extending direction of the resilient tab  18  is opposite to that of the hooks  16 . A free distal of the resilient tab  18  is bent out at some angle. The board  10  defines a plurality of holes  12  at both sides of the hooks  16 . The holes  12  are aligned along vertical direction.  
         [0011]     Referring also to  FIG. 2 , the holding member  30  includes a body  32  and a deformable mechanism. The mechanism includes a plurality of resilient arms  34 . The body  32  includes a front wall  322 , and a pair of side walls  324 . The front wall  322  defines two rectangular openings  3224  corresponding to the hooks  16  of the board  10 , and a securing opening  3226  corresponding to the resilient tab  18  of the board  10 . A width of each opening  3224  is generally equal to a width of the corresponding hook  16 . The resilient arms  34  are respectively formed on opposite side walls  324  of the body  32 . Each resilient arm  34  has an operating portion  344  at a distal end. An arcuate receiving space  342  is defined at a proper portion of each resilient arm  34 .  
         [0012]     Referring also to  FIG. 3 , in assembling the holding member  30  to the board  10 . The hooks  16  are positioned into the corresponding openings  3224  of the holding member  30 . The resilient tab  18  is pressed toward the board  10  by the front wall  322  of the holding member  30 . The holding member  30  is pushed up, until a bottom edge of each opening  3224  abuts against a bottom end of the corresponding hook  16  of the board  10 . The securing opening  3226  just moves over the resilient tab  18  of the board  10 . The resilient tab  18  rebounds to the original form. The free distal of resilient tab  18  abuts against a top edge of the securing opening  3226 . The holes  12  of the board  10  are in alignment with the corresponding resilient arms  34  of the holding member  30 . Thus, the holding member  30  is secured to the board  10 .  
         [0013]     In securing one of the screws  40  into the board  10 , one of the resilient arms  34  of the holding member  30  is pressed down. Then, the corresponding hole  12  of the board  10  is revealed. The post  44  of the screw  40  is inserted into the corresponding hole  12  of the board  10 . The head  42  of the screw  40  abuts on the board  10 . When the resilient arm  34  is released, the resilient arm  34  rebounds to the original position. The head  42  of screw  40  is received in the receiving space  342  of the resilient arm  34 . Then the screw  42  is retained on the board  10  with the holding member  30 . The other screws  40  can be retained on the board  10  in the same way. When the screws  40  are needed, the resilient arms  34  of the holding member  30  are deflected down. The screws  40  then can be removed from the board  10 .  
         [0014]     In this description of a preferred embodiment, the board  10  can be set in or be one part of a machine for providing spare fasteners. The screws  40  can be assembled in different specs for needed. The securing method of the holding member  30  with the board  10  is not exclusive.  
         [0015]     When the holding apparatus is used as in the description of a preferred embodiment, a holding member of the holding apparatus is secured to a side panel of a computer for holding a plurality of spare screws thereon. When an expansion card or any functional drive is added in the computer, an assembler can conveniently get a screw from the holding apparatus to secure the expansion card to the computer.  
         [0016]     Furthermore, the screws  40  and the holding member  30  can be utilized as a securing apparatus for securing electronic devices behind the board  10 , for example, a securing apparatus for securing disk drives in a bracket of a computer. The bracket has a base and a pair of side boards  10  extending perpendicularly from opposite sides of the base. The disk drives are mounted between the side boards  10 . The holding member  30  and the plurality of screws  40  are mounted outside one of the side boards  10 . The disk drive defines holes for receiving the posts  44  of the screws  40 . Thereby, assemblers can conveniently assemble the screws for securing the screws to the disk drives without orientating the screws by hand.  
         [0017]     It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages have been set forth in the foregoing description of a preferred embodiment, together with details of the structure and function of the preferred embodiment, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.