# US 12,184,000 B2 · Biasing covers with clips

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- Number: US 12,184,000 B2
- Document ID: US12184000B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/877,383
- Filed: 2022-07-29
- Published: 2024-02-01
- Granted: 2024-12-31
- Earliest claimed: 2022-07-29
- Assignees: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
- Applicants: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
- Inventors: Hsin-Tso Lin; Hung-Sung Pan
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12184000B2

## CPC

- G06F 1/183: Internal mounting support structures, e.g. for supporting printed circuit boards
- H01R 12/7023: {integral with the coupling device}
- G06F 1/185: Mounting of expansion boards
- H01R 12/716: {Coupling device provided on the PCB}
- H01R 13/6273: {comprising two latching arms}
- H01R 13/635: by mechanical pressure, e.g. spring force
- 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

In some examples, the disclosure describes a connector comprising a cover comprising a cover top, a first clip coupled to a first end of the cover, the first clip including a first lever and a first hook, a second clip coupled to a second end of the cover, the second clip including a second lever and a second hook, and a biasing member coupled to the cover top and disposed between the first clip and the second clip, the biasing member to apply pressure to the connector while the connector is disposed between the biasing member and the first hook and the second hook.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A connector comprising:
a cover comprising:
a cover top;
a first clip coupled to a first end of the cover, the first clip including a first lever and a first hook;
a second clip coupled to a second end of the cover, the second clip including a second lever and a second hook; and
a biasing member coupled to the cover top and disposed between the first clip and the second clip, the biasing member to apply pressure to the connector while the connector is disposed between the biasing member and the first hook and the second hook.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The connector of claim 1, wherein the first hook is moved by actuating the first lever and the second hook is moved by actuating the second lever.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The connector of claim 2, wherein:
actuating the first lever disengages the first hook from the connector disposed between the biasing member and the first hook and actuating the second lever disengages the second hook from the connector disposed between the biasing member and the second hook; and
simultaneously actuating the first lever and the second lever disengages the cover from the connector.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The connector of claim 1, wherein the cover further comprises:
a first edge guide disposed between the first end of the cover and the second end of the cover;
a second edge guide opposite the first edge guide and disposed between the first end of the cover and the second end of the cover, the second edge guide being substantially parallel to the first edge guide;
a first end guide disposed at the first end of the cover; and
a second end guide opposite the first end guide and disposed at the second end of the cover, the second end guide being substantially parallel to the first end guide;
wherein the first edge guide, the second edge guide, the first end guide, and the second end guide align the cover to the connector.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The connector of claim 1, wherein the connector comprises a first segment and a second segment and while the first hook and the second hook are engaged, the cover couples and secures the first segment to the second segment.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The connector of claim 5, wherein the second segment of the connector is coupled to a circuit board at a first side of the circuit board and the first hook and the second hook engage with the circuit board at a second side of the circuit board.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The connector of claim 6, wherein the biasing member of the cover contacts and applies pressure to the connector at the first segment while the first hook and the second hook are engaged with the second side of the circuit board, to cause a physical and electrical connection between the first segment and the second segment.

### Claim 8 (depends on 5)

The connector of claim 5, further comprising a first guidepost and a second guidepost coupled to the cover top, wherein the first guidepost and the second guidepost extend into and align the first segment with the second segment.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The connector of claim 1, wherein the biasing member is a leaf spring.

### Claim 10

A circuit board, comprising:
a connector coupled to the circuit board;
a computing module connected to the connector; and
a cover coupled to the connector, the cover comprising:
a cover top;
a first guidepost and a second guidepost coupled to the cover top;
a first edge guide and a second edge guide disposed between a first end of the cover and a second end of the cover, the second edge guide being substantially parallel to the first edge guide;
a first end guide coupled to the first end of the cover;
a second end guide coupled to the second end of the cover, the second end guide being substantially parallel to the first end guide; and
a biasing member coupled to the cover top and disposed between the first guidepost and the second guidepost.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The circuit board of claim 10, wherein:
the first edge guide and the second edge guide align the cover to the connector in a first alignment direction; and
the first end guide and the second end guide align the cover to the connector in a second alignment direction.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The circuit board of claim 10, further comprising a first clip and a second clip coupled to the cover, wherein the connector and a first portion of the computing module are disposed between the biasing member and the first clip and the second clip.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The circuit board of claim 12, wherein:
the connector comprises a first segment and a second segment and the computing module is disposed between the first segment and the second segment; and
the first guidepost and the second guidepost extend into the first segment, the computing module, and the second segment to align physical and electrical connections of the connector and the computing module.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The circuit board of claim 13, wherein:
the connector and the computing module are disposed on a first side of the circuit board;
the first clip and the second clip engage with the circuit board at a second side of the circuit board;
in response to the first clip being moved in a first direction the first clip is disengaged from the second side of the circuit board;
in response to the second clip being moved in a second direction the second clip is disengaged from the second side of the circuit board; and
in response to the first clip being moved in the first direction and the second clip being moved in the second direction the biasing member applying pressure to the first segment of the connector exerts a force that causes the cover to disengage from the circuit board.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The circuit board of claim 14 wherein, while the first clip and the second clip are engaged, the biasing member applies pressure to the first segment of the connector and the second segment of the connector supports the first portion of the computing module.

### Claim 16 (depends on 10)

The circuit board of claim 10, further comprising a standoff including an aperture, the computing module coupled to the standoff at the aperture of the standoff to support a second portion of the computing module.

### Claim 17

A computing device comprising:
a circuit board including a first side and a second side, the circuit board comprising:
a connector coupled to the first side of the circuit board, the connector including a first segment and a second segment;
a computing module connected to the connector;
a cover to couple to and support a first portion the computing module, the cover comprising:
a cover top;
a first guidepost and a second guidepost coupled to the cover top, wherein the first guidepost and the second guidepost slide into corresponding apertures of the first segment of the connector, the computing module, and the second segment of the connector to align the computing module with the connector;
a first edge guide coupled to a first edge of the first segment of the connector and a second edge guide coupled to a second edge of the first segment of the connector to align the cover to the connector in a first alignment direction;
a first end guide coupled to a first end of the first segment of the connector and a second end guide coupled to a second end of the first segment of the connector to align the cover to the connector in a second alignment direction:
a biasing member coupled to the cover top to apply pressure to the first segment of the connector;
a first clip coupled to a first end of the cover and including a first hook to engage with the circuit board at the second side of the circuit board; and
a second clip coupled to a second end of the cover and including a second hook to engage with the circuit board at the second side of the circuit board; and
a standoff to couple to and support a second portion of the computing module.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The computing device of claim 17, wherein:
the first clip includes a first lever, wherein while the first lever is actuated the first lever causes the first hook to move in a first direction; and
the second clip includes a second lever, wherein while the second lever is actuated the second lever causes the second hook to move in a second direction;
wherein:
in response to releasing the first lever the first hook moves in a third direction, opposite the first direction, and engages with the circuit board at the second side of the circuit board; and
in response to releasing the second lever the second hook moves in a fourth direction, opposite the second direction, and engages with the circuit board at the second side of the circuit board.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The computing device of claim 18, wherein while the first hook and the second hook are engaged with the circuit board at the second side of the circuit board the biasing member of the cover physically engages with the first side of the circuit board at the first segment of the connector, the first segment of the connector physically and electrically engages with the computing module, the computing module physically and electrically engages with the second segment of the connector, and the second segment of the connector physically and electrically engages with the circuit board.

### Claim 20 (depends on 18)

The computing device of claim 18, wherein:
in response to actuating the first lever, the first lever disengages the first hook from the second side of the circuit board;
in response to actuating the second lever, the second lever disengages the second hook from the second side of the circuit board; and
in response to simultaneously disengaging the first hook and the second hook from the second side of the circuit board, in combination with the force exerted by the biasing member on the first segment of the connector, the cover top pushes away from the first segment of the connector for removal of the cover from the circuit board.