The present invention relates generally to a method and apparatus for fastening two coplanar edges without a weld and more specifically to a method and apparatus for fastening a docking cassette for printed circuit boards that eliminates use of a spot or fillet weld and a resulting burn mark thus eliminating touch-up to coat the welded area.
As integrated circuit (IC) and printed circuit board (PCB) design and fabrication techniques become more sophisticated, computer system design techniques must also become more sophisticated. This is because as IC's and PCB's become more densely populated, their performance capabilities and speeds increase and computer systems which employ these IC's and PCB's must be able to support the increase in performance. In addition, as businesses that employ these computer systems and components become more sophisticated, they demand greater performance from their computer systems resulting in increasingly densely populated PCB's and computer systems having tightly packed packages. As a result of these tightly packed packages, these PCB's and computer systems are susceptible to a variety of problems which must be considered.
In order to increase decorative appearance of packaging while providing denser packages, it has become necessary to eliminate a weld pad area such as spot and fillet welds. Elimination of a weld pad area allows the use of pre-plated materials in areas where customers have a clear view without burn marks typically associated with a weld pad area. Furthermore, by eliminating burn marks, an additional costly touch-up process to coat the welded area is eliminated
For example, it is known to join complimentary configured dovetailed edges using a “cross” patterned swage across an interface thereof to join mating dovetail edges without a spot or fillet weld. The “cross” patterned swage forms three edge swaging contact points. However, this process appears to work only for light loads and small applications.
Accordingly, a method and apparatus for fastening two coplanar edges without using welding and touch-up processes that creates a stronger bond for use with heavier loads and/or larger applications is desired.
A method and apparatus for fastening two substantially coplanar edges without a weld is disclosed. The method and apparatus include configuring a dovetail feature on a first edge and configuring a complementary dovetail feature receptacle on a second edge to receive the dovetail feature therein. The dovetail feature is disposed within the complementary dovetail receptacle and an interface defined between the dovetail feature in said first edge and said complementary dovetail feature in the second edge is swaged to swage mating edges defining the dovetail feature and the dovetail receptacle at least six swage contact points. In one embodiment the swaging is with a hollow circle punch.
In another embodiment, a docking apparatus includes a cassette housing defining a housing cavity for one of a printed circuit board and allowing air flow therethrough; a dovetail feature configured on a first edge defining the cassette housing; a complementary dovetail feature receptacle configured on a second edge defining the cassette housing to receive the dovetail feature therein, the dovetail feature being disposed within the complementary dovetail receptacle; and a swaged interface defined between the dovetail feature in the first edge and the complementary dovetail receptacle in the second edge, the swaged interface mating edges defining the dovetail feature and the dovetail receptacle at least six swage contact points. In an exemplary embodiment the swaging is with a hollow circle punch.
Referring now to the figures, which are exemplary embodiments, and wherein the like elements are numbered alike:
Referring generally to the
Docking cassette 10 is disposed onto a computer system main board 14 or main printed circuit board (PCB) having a PCB connector receptacle 16, a first receptacle 18 and a second receptacle 20. Docking cassette 10 is preferably disposed onto computer system main board 14 such that a PCB connector is adjacent to PCB connector receptacle 16. In addition, main board 14 is slidably engaged with a cable tray 22 for releasably supporting and securing computer system 12 in a system rack (not shown)
Referring to
In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, housing base 32 preferably includes a linkage cavity 42 and four mounting devices 44 for movably holding PCC 40. PCC 40 preferably includes a PCC mounting mechanism 46 and mounting device 44 preferably includes a device opening 48 for slidingly containing PCC mounting mechanism 46, wherein PCC mounting mechanism 46 may be a screw, a pin or any mounting mechanism suitable to the desired end purpose. In addition, housing base 32 preferably includes a linkage mounting receptacle 50 for associating linkage mechanism 26 with housing base 32. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, although linkage mounting receptacle 50 is preferably a receptacle opening for receiving a linkage mounting screw 52, linkage mounting receptacle 50 may be any receptacle device suitable to the desired end purpose, such as a clip receptacle. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, it is considered within the scope of the disclosure that PCC 40 may be movably associated with housing base 32 using any device or method suitable to the desired end purpose, such as a screw or pin.
Housing wall 36 preferably includes a cable opening 54, a PCB connector opening 56 and a plurality of vent openings 58. In addition, housing wall 36 preferably includes a first protrusion 60 and a second protrusion 62, wherein first protrusion 60 and second protrusion 62 are disposed so as to lockingly engage with main board 14 of computer system 12. In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, first protrusion 60 and second protrusion 62 are shown as being disposed on housing wall 36. However, it is considered within the scope of the invention that first protrusion 60 and second protrusion 62 may be disposed anywhere on cassette housing 24 in a manner suitable to the desired end purpose. Moreover, housing wall 36 preferably includes at least one mounting structure 64 which defines a threaded cavity 66 for receiving a mounting apparatus 68, such as a screw. In addition, PCB connector opening 56 and cable opening 54 are preferably disposed so as to allow communication with the PCB connector 70 and the PCC cable connections 72 when PCC 40 is disposed within housing cavity 38.
Housing cover 34 preferably includes at least one cover opening 74 disposed so as to allow communication with mounting structure 64 when housing cover 34 is associated with housing wall 36. Cover opening 74 is preferably disposed so as to allow mounting apparatus 68 to communicate with threaded cavity 66 for removably securing housing cover 34 with housing wall 36. Although an exemplary embodiment describes housing cover 34 being removably secured with housing wall 36, it is considered within the scope of the disclosure that housing cover 34 may also be removably secured with housing base 32 and/or housing wall 36 using any mounting device or method suitable to the desired end purpose.
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In this manner, retention in an x and y directions is seen as at least doubled compared with the cross pattern punch profile illustrated in
While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.
This application is a continuation application of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/853,425 filed Oct. 18, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,404,252 to which U.S. application Ser. No. 11/834,918, filed Apr. 15, 2008, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,357,682 claims the benefit of priority, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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3678725 | Langewis | Jul 1972 | A |
4976008 | Baer | Dec 1990 | A |
5525065 | Sobhani | Jun 1996 | A |
5775060 | Ferrero | Jul 1998 | A |
5974937 | Doughty et al. | Nov 1999 | A |
6246548 | Williams | Jun 2001 | B1 |
6430809 | Bauer | Aug 2002 | B1 |
6450842 | Matsuda | Sep 2002 | B1 |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20080250627 A1 | Oct 2008 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 10853425 | Oct 2004 | US |
Child | 12143906 | US |