# US 10,481,648 B2 · Securing an expansion card in a computing device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,481,648 B2 - Document ID: US10481648B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/009,126 - Filed: 2016-01-28 - Published: 2017-08-03 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2016-01-28 - Assignees: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP - Applicants: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP - Inventors: James Jeffery Schulze; Kevin D. Conn; Keith A. Sauer - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10481648B2 ## CPC - G06F 1/185: Mounting of expansion boards - H05K 7/1487: {Blade assemblies, e.g. blade cases or inner arrangements within a blade} - H05K 5/0221: {Locks; Latches} - H05K 7/1417: {having securing means for mounting boards, plates or wiring boards (H05K7/1461 takes precedence)} - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS ## Abstract Example techniques for securing an expansion card in a computing device are disclosed. An example method includes securing a mounting bracket within the computing device. An adjustable retention clip is installed in a preferred location at the mounting bracket. An expansion card is then installed in a space created by the adjustable retention clip and the mounting bracket, and the expansion card is secured to the adjustable retention clip. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for securing an expansion card, comprising: a printed circuit board; an adjustable retention clip that includes mounting guides and a snap-in detent flange; and a bracket affixed to a first surface of the printed circuit board, the bracket including a plurality of mounting locations at which the adjustable retention clip can be installed, each of the plurality of mounting locations including a set of grooves and a detent, wherein, for each of the plurality of mounting locations, when the adjustable retention clip is installed at the mounting location: the set of grooves of the mounting location engage with the mounting guides to attach the adjustable retention clip to the bracket, the detent of the mounting location engages with the snap-in detent flange, and the mounting bracket and the adjustable retention clip define a space in which the expansion card can be installed on the printed circuit board parallel to the first surface with the adjustable retention clip engaging the expansion card to secure it to the printed circuit board, and wherein the bracket includes a first portion that includes the plurality of mounting locations and that is located between the expansion card and the printed circuit board when the expansion card is installed on the printed circuit board. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein, for each of the plurality of mounting locations, when the adjustable retention clip is installed at the mounting location, the detent of the mounting location engages with the snap-in detent flange to secure the adjustable retention clip at the respective mounting location. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the expansion card comprises an M.2 cartridge. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the space defined by the mounting bracket and the adjustable retention clip in which the expansion card can be installed changes sizes based on which one of the plurality of mounting locations the adjustable retention clip is attached to. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The system of claim 4, wherein the plurality of mounting locations are located such that the sizes of the space defined by the mounting bracket and the adjustable retention clip in which the expansion card can be installed correspond to different M.2 cartridge sizes. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the adjustable retention clip includes a support ledge that is to, when the expansion card is installed on the printed circuit board, position the expansion card to a suitable height above the printed circuit board. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the bracket includes a second portion that is higher above the printed circuit board than the first portion and that forms a boundary of the space in which the expansion card is to be installed. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A method, comprising: providing the system of claim 1; installing the adjustable retention clip in one of the plurality of mounting locations; and installing the expansion card in the space defined by the mounting bracket and the adjustable retention clip. ### Claim 9 A system for securing an expansion card, comprising: a printed circuit board having a connector in which the expansion card can be installed; an adjustable retention clip that includes mounting guides and a snap-in detent flange; and a bracket connected to the printed circuit board, the bracket including a plurality of mounting locations at which the adjustable retention clip can be installed, each of the plurality of mounting locations including a set of grooves and a detent, wherein, for each of the plurality of mounting locations, when the adjustable retention clip is installed at the mounting location: the set of grooves of the mounting location engage with the mounting guides to attach the adjustable retention clip to the bracket, the detent of the mounting location engages with the snap-in detent flange to secure the adjustable retention clip at the respective mounting location, and the mounting bracket and the adjustable retention clip define a space in which the expansion card can be installed on the printed circuit board with one end of the expansion card connecting to the connector and an opposite end of the expansion card being engaged by the adjustable retention clip, and wherein the space defined by the mounting bracket and the adjustable retention clip in which the expansion card can be installed changes sizes based on which one of the plurality of mounting locations the adjustable retention clip is attached to, and the plurality of mounting locations are located such that the sizes of the space defined by the mounting bracket and the adjustable retention clip in which the expansion card can be installed correspond to different M.2 cartridge sizes. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the expansion card comprises an M.2 cartridge. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the adjustable retention clip includes a support ledge that is to, when the expansion card is installed on the printed circuit board, position the expansion card to a suitable height above the printed circuit board. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the bracket includes a first portion that includes the plurality of mounting locations and that is located between the expansion card and the printed circuit board when the expansion card is installed on the printed circuit board. ### Claim 13 A system for securing an expansion card, comprising: a printed circuit board having a connector in which the expansion card can be installed; an adjustable retention clip that includes mounting guides and a snap-in detent flange; and a bracket connected to the printed circuit board, the bracket including a plurality of mounting locations at which the adjustable retention clip can be installed, each of the plurality of mounting locations including a set of grooves and a detent, wherein, for each of the plurality of mounting locations, when the adjustable retention clip is installed at the mounting location: the set of grooves of the mounting location engage with the mounting guides to attach the adjustable retention clip to the bracket, the detent of the mounting location engages with the snap-in detent flange to secure the adjustable retention clip at the respective mounting location, and the mounting bracket and the adjustable retention clip define a space in which the expansion card can be installed on the printed circuit board with one end of the expansion card connecting to the connector and an opposite end of the expansion card being engaged by the adjustable retention clip, wherein the bracket includes a first portion that includes the plurality of mounting locations and that is located between the expansion card and the printed circuit board when the expansion card is installed on the printed circuit board, and wherein the bracket includes a second portion that is higher above the printed circuit board than the first portion and that forms a boundary of the space in which the expansion card is to be installed. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) A method, comprising: providing the system of claim 9; installing the adjustable retention clip in one of the plurality of mounting locations; and installing the expansion card in the space defined by the mounting bracket and the adjustable retention. ### Claim 15 A system for securing an expansion card, comprising: a printed circuit board; an adjustable retention clip that includes mounting guides and a snap-in detent flange; and a bracket connected to the printed circuit board, the bracket including a plurality of mounting locations at which the adjustable retention clip can be installed, each of the plurality of mounting locations including a set of grooves and a detent, wherein, for each of the plurality of mounting locations, when the adjustable retention clip is installed at the mounting location: the set of grooves of the mounting location engage with the mounting guides to attach the adjustable retention clip to the bracket, the detent of the mounting location engages with the snap-in detent flange, and the mounting bracket and the adjustable retention clip define a space in which the expansion card can be installed on the printed circuit board with the adjustable retention clip securing the expansion card, and the space defined by the mounting bracket and the adjustable retention clip in which the expansion card can be installed changes sizes based on which one of the plurality of mounting locations the adjustable retention clip is attached to, the plurality of mounting locations are located such that the sizes of the space correspond to different M.2 cartridge sizes, wherein the adjustable retention clip includes a support ledge that is to, when the expansion card is installed on the printed circuit board, position the expansion card to a suitable height above the printed circuit board. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) A method, comprising: providing the system of claim 15; installing the adjustable retention clip in one of the plurality of mounting locations; and installing the adjustable retention clip in the space defined by the mounting bracket and the adjustable retention. ### Claim 17 A system for securing an expansion card, comprising: a printed circuit board; an adjustable retention clip that includes mounting guides and a snap-in detent flange; and a bracket affixed to the printed circuit board, the bracket including a plurality of mounting locations at which the adjustable retention clip can be installed, wherein each of the plurality of mounting locations includes a set of grooves and a detent that are to engage with the mounting guides and the snap-in detent flange, respectively, when the adjustable retention clip is installed at the mounting location, such that the expansion card can be installed in the printed circuit board with the adjustable retention clip securing the expansion card; wherein the adjustable retention clip includes a support ledge that is to, when the expansion card is installed on the printed circuit board, position an end of the expansion card to a suitable height above the printed circuit board.