The present disclosure relates generally to information handling systems, and more particularly to a retractable circuit board guide and bracket 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 is an information handling system (IHS). An IHS generally processes, compiles, stores, and/or communicates information or data for business, personal, or other purposes. Because technology and information handling needs and requirements may vary between different applications, IHSs 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 IHSs allow for IHSs 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, IHSs 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.
Large circuit boards can pose alignment and installation difficulties to the user. Once installed the circuit boards can flex, and boards equipped with heavy components may be more vulnerable to shock and vibration effects. In space-constrained environments a fixed alignment device is not viable, due to component placement, thermal requirements, or package configuration for shipping.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide an improved collapsible circuit board guide and bracket device absent the disadvantages discussed above.
According to one embodiment, a circuit board guide and bracket includes a first member for attachment to a planar member. A second member is collapsibly attached to the first member. Means are provided on the secured member guiding a circuit board being mounted into a connector on the planar member and for supporting the board subsequent to being mounted.
For purposes of this disclosure, an IHS 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, entertainment, or other purposes. For example, an IHS may be a personal computer, a PDA, a consumer electronic device, a network server or storage device, a switch router or other network communication device, or any other suitable device and may vary in size, shape, performance, functionality, and price. The IHS may include memory, one or more processing resources such as a central processing unit (CPU) or hardware or software control logic. Additional components of the IHS may include one or more storage devices, one or more communications 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 IHS may also include one or more buses operable to transmit communications between the various hardware components.
Other resources can also be coupled to the system through the memory I/O hub 104 using a data bus, including an optical drive 114 or other removable-media drive, one or more hard disk drives 116, one or more network interfaces 118, one or more Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports 120, and a super I/O controller 122 to provide access to user input devices 124, etc. The IHS 100 may also include a solid state drive (SSDs) 126 in place of, or in addition to main memory 108, the optical drive 114, and/or a hard disk drive 116. It is understood that any or all of the drive devices 114, 116 and 126 may be located locally with the IHS 100, located remotely from the IHS 100, and/or they may be virtual with respect to the IHS 100. Portions of the system 100 are provided in an IHS chassis 130,
Not all IHSs 100 include each of the components shown in
A circuit board guide and bracket
A second member 216 is collapsibly attached to the first member 210,
Rotation of member 216
In further detail, the snap feature includes the catch tabs 221,
In
The disclosed device provides positive guidance of circuit boards during insertion and removal, provides rigid support of the board once installed, and is able to retract into a low-profile configuration when not in use (as in shipping). The device may be affixed to a planar or motherboard assembly, thereby limiting the need for an external bracket.
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 embodiments 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.