Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6769927
-
Patent Number
6,769,927
-
Date Filed
Thursday, July 18, 200221 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, August 3, 200419 years ago
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Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 439 327
- 439 328
- 439 357
- 439 358
- 361 749
- 361 759
- 361 801
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International Classifications
-
Abstract
Apparatus for securing an I/O card in a connector includes a connector having a catch. A card is removably mounted in the connector by a card retention member which is movably mounted on the card. The retention member includes a hook and is resiliently urged to a first position wherein the hook engages the catch. The retention member is movable to a second position wherein the hook is released from the catch allowing the I/O card to be removed.
Description
BACKGROUND
The disclosures herein relate generally to information handling systems and more particularly to a card retention device for use in such systems.
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.
Current PCI cards and other I/O cards are inserted into a system slot and either locked down with a lever or a screw. During shipping or customer handling, the card edge tab connector end furthest away from the locked I/O bracket may partially or completely slip out of the motherboard socket. This problem tends to occur with cards that have a lot of mass or cards that are inserted into shorter edge-tab connectors. When the problem occurs, a service call is generated because the I/O card becomes physically disconnected from the motherboard and can no longer respond to system commands.
AGP cards utilize an āLā shaped hook built into the card just beyond the connector edge tab. To insert or remove an AGP card, the user must reach down and hook (or unhook) a retention strap which is fixed into the motherboard. This is very inconvenient and often causes a service call when a customer doesn't realize the card has a retention strap and therefore doesn't release it before removing (or forcing) the AGP card from the system. Some systems design a foam retainer into the case to hold the I/O cards in place. This can work but it diminishes heat flow and is difficult to implement when various heights of cards are used.
Therefore, what is needed is a device for retaining a PCI or other I/O card once it is plugged into a system, that is convenient to access, visible to the user and does not diminish heat flow.
SUMMARY
One embodiment, accordingly, provides an apparatus for securing an I/O computer card. To this end, the apparatus includes a connector having a catch. A card is removably mounted in the connector. A card retention member is movably mounted on the card and includes a hook. The card retention member is resiliently urged into a first position wherein the hook engages the catch, and is movable to a second position wherein the hook is released from the catch.
A principal advantage of this embodiment is that the connector housing is used to lock the I/O card in place. If an I/O card needs retention, a latch is incorporated with the card for engagement with the housing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is a diagrammatic view illustrating an embodiment of a computer system.
FIG.
2
. is a partial perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a computer chassis.
FIG. 3
is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a card and a card connector.
FIG. 4
is an end view illustrating an embodiment of a card inserted and secured in a connector.
FIGS. 4A and 4B
are partial views illustrating an embodiment of a hook and a catch of a card connector system.
FIGS. 5A and 5B
are partial views illustrating alternate embodiments of a pivotable connection between a card and a card retention member.
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, computer 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.
A chassis
26
,
FIG. 2
, is provided with a system board or motherboard
28
to accommodate many of the components of system
10
as described above. Motherboard
28
also carries a connector
30
for receiving a card such as the card
32
illustrated in FIG.
3
. The connector
30
includes a slot
31
for removably receiving edge connectors
34
of the card
32
. Connector
30
also includes a catch
36
. Card
32
further includes a card retention member
38
pivotably mounted thereon at a pivotable connection
40
. A first end
42
of card retention member
38
functions as a leverage handle which when moved, pivots a second end
44
of card retention member
38
about pivotable connection
40
. Second end
44
includes a hook
46
. A resilient member
48
is positioned between retention member
38
and card
32
.
Retention member
38
,
FIG. 4
, is movably mounted on card
32
to pivot between a first position P
1
, wherein the hook
46
is engaged with the catch
36
, and a second position P
2
wherein the hook
46
is released from the catch
36
. The retention member may be moved manually from position P
1
to position P
2
by application of a force applied in a direction designated by the arrow F
1
. This force F
1
disengages the hook
46
from the catch
36
for removal of card
32
from connector
30
.
Hook
46
,
FIG. 4A
, is provided with a first inclined surface
50
and a second gripping surface
52
. Catch
36
is provided with a first inclined surface
54
and a second gripping surface
56
.
The catch surface
54
,
FIGS. 4
,
4
A and
4
B, engages the hook surface
50
when card
32
is inserted into connector
30
. This moves retention member
38
from position P
1
to position P
2
. When card
32
is fully inserted in connector
30
, retention member
38
is resiliently urged to return to its at rest position P
1
.
This return movement is caused by resilient member
48
,
FIGS. 3 and 4
, which is mounted on retention member
38
and extends into contact with card
32
. Thus, when the force F
1
,
FIG. 4
, is applied, resilient member
48
is compressed between the retention member
38
and the card
32
. The compression stores energy sufficient to automatically apply a return force, illustrated in a direction designated by the arrow FR, to return retention member
38
to position P
1
, wherein hook
46
engages catch
36
.
Retention member
38
is thus manually and automatically movable about pivotable connection
40
for removal and insertion, respectively, of card
32
in connector
30
. Pivotable connection
40
,
FIG. 4
, is secured to card
32
by a connector
41
. Such connection requires minimal space on card
32
. It is also possible to provide a pivotable connection which is resiliently mounted on card
32
such as by means of a torsion spring S or a flexible pivotable connection FPC illustrated at
FIGS. 5A and 5B
.
The connector
30
containing catch
36
should be secured to the system board
28
to reduce shock and vibration stress on electrical pins held within connector
30
. Securing the connector
30
is accomplished by using posts (not shown) extending out of the connector
30
and going through the system board
28
where they can either be expanded beyond the size of the post hole or a locking device can be placed on the end of the post.
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 embodiment 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.
Claims
- 1. An apparatus for securing an input/output computer card comprising:a connector in a computer chassis, the connector including a catch; a card removably mounted in the connector, the card having opposed surfaces; and a card retention member movably mounted on one of the surfaces and including a hook, the card retention member being automatically resiliently urged into a first position wherein the hook engages the catch, and being positioned on the card for manual movement by simultaneous gripping of the card and a leverage handle adjacent the one surface, to a second position wherein the hook is released from the catch.
- 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the card retention member is resiliently urged by a resilient member engaged between the card and the card retention member.
- 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the resilient member is attached to the card retention member and extends into engagement with the card.
- 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the card retention member is pivotally connected to the card.
- 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the catch includes a first inclined surface for urging the card retention member to the second position.
- 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the catch includes a gripping surface for maintaining connection with the hook.
- 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the hook has a first inclined surface for being urged to the second position by the first inclined surface of the catch.
- 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the hook has a gripping surface for engaging the second inclined surface of the catch.
- 9. An information handling system comprising:a chassis; a microprocessor mounted in the chassis; a storage coupled to the microprocessor; a connector including a catch mounted on the chassis; a card removably mounted in the connector, the card having opposed surfaces; and a card retention member movably mounted on one of the surfaces and including a hook, the card retention member being automatically resiliently urged into a first position wherein the hook engages the catch, and being positioned on the card for manual movement by simultaneous gripping of the card and a leverage handle adjacent the one surface to a second position wherein the hook is released from the catch.
- 10. The system of claim 9, wherein the card retention member is resiliently urged by a resilient member engaged between the card and the card retention member.
- 11. The system of claim 10, wherein the resilient member is attached to the card retention member and extends into engagement with the card.
- 12. The system of claim 9, wherein the card retention member is pivotally connected to the card.
- 13. The system of claim 9, wherein the catch includes a first inclined surface for urging the card retention member to the second position.
- 14. The system of claim 13, wherein the catch includes a gripping surface for maintaining connection with the hook.
- 15. The system of claim 14, wherein the hook has a first inclined surface for being urged to the second position by the first inclined surface of the catch.
- 16. The system of claim 15, wherein the hook has a gripping surface for engaging the second inclined surface of the catch.
- 17. A method of securing an I/O card in a connector in a computer housing comprising:providing a chassis; providing a connector including a catch mounted on the chassis; mounting a card in the connector, the card having opposed surfaces; providing a card retention member movably mounted on one of the surfaces including a hook; automatically engaging the hook with the catch on the connector in response to inserting the card in the connector; and disengaging the hook with the catch on the connector in response manually simultaneous gripping of the card and moving a leverage handle on the card retention member, the leverage handle being adjacent the one surface.
- 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the card retention member is pivotally connected to the card.
- 19. The method of claim 17, wherein the catch includes an inclined surface for moving the card retention member in response to contact with the hook.
- 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the hook has an inclined surface for moving the card retention member in response to contact with the catch.
US Referenced Citations (11)