# US 12,015,217 B2 · Card retention connector system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,015,217 B2 - Document ID: US12015217B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/131,924 - Filed: 2020-12-23 - Published: 2022-06-23 - Granted: 2024-06-18 - Earliest claimed: 2020-12-23 - Assignees: International Business Machines Corporation - Applicants: International Business Machines Corporation - Inventors: Tyler Jandt; Mark Plucinski; Sandra J. Shirk/Heath; Phillip V. Mann - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12015217B2 ## CPC - G06F 1/185: Mounting of expansion boards - H01R 12/724: {containing contact members forming a right angle} - G06F 1/186: Securing of expansion boards in correspondence to slots provided at the computer enclosure - H01R 12/7058: {characterised by the movement, e.g. pivoting, camming or translating parallel to the PCB} - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS ## Abstract An electronic component assembly includes a board having an electronic component, a connector mounted to the board and electrically connected to the electronic component and having an anchoring feature positioned on an exterior of the connector, and a card having another electronic component and a securing feature. The electronic component assembly also includes a movable member positioned on one of the connector or the card. The movable member is positioned in the securing feature and contacts the anchoring feature to secure the card in a seated position in the connector, or the anchoring feature includes the movable member and contacts the securing feature to secure the card in the seated position in the connector. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electronic component assembly comprising: a board comprising a first electronic component; a connector mounted to the board and electrically connected to the first electronic component, the connector comprising a first anchoring feature positioned on an exterior of the connector; and a card comprising: a second electronic component; a first securing feature; a connection portion; and a first tab that extends from the card toward the connection portion; a movable member positioned on one of the connector or the card, wherein the first anchoring feature comprises the movable member and contacts the first securing feature to secure the card in a seated position in the connector. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The electronic component assembly of claim 1, wherein the card includes the connection portion that is no longer than 80% of a length of a connection side on which the connection portion is located. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The electronic component assembly of claim 1, wherein the first anchoring feature is a detent. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The electronic component assembly of claim 1, wherein: the connector comprises a second anchoring feature positioned on the exterior of the connector opposite the first anchoring feature; and the card comprises a second securing feature opposite the first securing feature. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The electronic component assembly of claim 4, wherein the first anchoring feature and the second anchoring feature move away from each other, in opposite directions, as the card is moved from a disengaged position to the seated position. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The electronic component assembly of claim 5, wherein the first anchoring feature and the second anchoring feature initially move toward each other, in opposite directions, as the card is moved from the disengaged position to the seated position, and subsequently the first anchoring feature and the second anchoring feature move away from each other, in opposite directions, as the card is moved to the seated position. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The electronic component assembly of claim 1, wherein: the card further comprises a second securing feature that is a second tab that extends from the card; and the first tab and the second tab extend from the card towards each other. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The electronic component assembly of claim 1, wherein the first tab extends beyond the connection portion towards the board. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The electronic component assembly of claim 1, wherein: the card includes a wing alongside the connection portion; and the first tab extends from the wing. ### Claim 10 An electronic component assembly comprising: a board comprising a first electronic component; a connector mounted to the board and electrically connected to the first electronic component, the connector comprising a first anchoring feature and a second anchoring feature; and a card comprising a second electronic component and a first securing feature, wherein the first securing feature is configured to be engaged by the first anchoring feature and the second anchoring feature to secure the card in a seated position in the connector; wherein the first anchoring feature and the second anchoring feature initially move toward each other, in opposite directions, as the card is moved from a disengaged position to the seated position, and subsequently the first anchoring feature and the second anchoring feature move away from each other, in opposite directions, as the card is moved to the seated position. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The electronic component assembly of claim 10, wherein the card includes a connection portion that is no longer than 80% of a length of a side on which the connection portion is located. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The electronic component assembly of claim 10, wherein the first securing feature is cut into the card at a first distance that is shorter than a second distance between the first anchoring feature and the second anchoring feature when the card is in the disengaged position. ### Claim 13 An electronic component assembly comprising: a board comprising a first electronic component; a connector mounted to the board and electrically connected to the first electronic component, the connector comprising a first anchoring feature positioned on an exterior of the connector; and a card comprising: a second electronic component; a first securing feature; a connection portion; and a wing alongside the connection portion; and a first tab that extends from the wing; a movable member positioned on one of the connector or the card, wherein the first anchoring feature comprises the movable member and contacts the first securing feature to secure the card in a seated position in the connector. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The electronic component assembly of claim 13, wherein: the card further comprises a second securing feature that is a second tab that extends from the card; and the first tab and the second tab extend from the card towards each other. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The electronic component assembly of claim 13, wherein the first tab extends beyond the connection portion towards the board. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The electronic component assembly of claim 13, wherein the connection portion is no longer than 80% of a length of a connection side on which the connection portion is located. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The electronic component assembly of claim 13, wherein the first anchoring feature is a detent. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The electronic component assembly of claim 13, wherein: the connector comprises a second anchoring feature positioned on the exterior of the connector opposite the first anchoring feature; and the card comprises a second securing feature opposite the first securing feature. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The electronic component assembly of claim 18, wherein the first anchoring feature and the second anchoring feature move away from each other, in opposite directions, as the card is moved from a disengaged position to the seated position. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The electronic component assembly of claim 19, wherein the first anchoring feature and the second anchoring feature initially move toward each other, in opposite directions, as the card is moved from the disengaged position to the seated position, and subsequently the first anchoring feature and the second anchoring feature move away from each other, in opposite directions, as the card is moved to the seated position.