US 12,690,134 B2 · Printed circuit board thumbscrew locking reinforcement structure

Abstract

A reinforcement structure is provided for reinforcing a thumbscrew that fastens a printed circuit board (PCB) assembly to a metal carrier. The reinforcement structure may include a cap configured to engage with the thumbscrew. The cap may include a hollow cylindrical body having an outer sidewall and outer gears on the outer sidewall. The reinforcement structure may also include a base configured to attach to the PCB assembly. The base may include a planar plate having two or more outer edges and an inner hole. The base may also include an inner sidewall extending from the inner hole downward perpendicularly from the planar plate. The base may also include internal gears on an upper portion of the inner sidewall. The outer gears of the cap are coupled to the internal gears of the base to transfer the torque from the thumbscrew to the cap and to the base and then to nearby PCB components.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A reinforcement structure for reinforcing a thumbscrew that fastens a printed circuit board (PCB) assembly to a metal carrier, the reinforcement structure comprising:

a cap configured to engage with the thumbscrew, the cap comprising:
a hollow cylindrical body having an outer sidewall;
and
outer gears disposed on the outer sidewall;
and
a base configured to attach to the PCB assembly, the base comprising:
a planar plate having two or more outer edges and an inner hole;
an inner sidewall extending from the inner hole downward perpendicularly from the planar plate;
first and second retaining tabs on a lower portion of the inner sidewall, wherein the first and second retaining tabs are opposite each other;
and
internal gears on an upper portion of the inner sidewall,
wherein the outer gears of the cap are coupled to the internal gears of the base to transfer torque from the thumbscrew to the cap and to the base and then to structures mounted on the PCB assembly.

9 more elements

A reinforcement structure for reinforcing a thumbscrew that fastens a PCB assembly to a metal carrier, the reinforcement structure comprising:

a base comprising:
a planar plate having two or more outer edges and an inner hole;
an inner sidewall extending from the inner hole downward perpendicularly from the planar plate;
internal gears on an upper portion of the inner sidewall;
features along the two or more outer edges configured to abut against structures of the PCB assembly;
a first side flange extending from a first outer edge of the two or more outer edges and a second side flange extending from a second outer edge of the two or more outer edges;
and
a cap comprising:
a hollow cylindrical body having an outer sidewall;
a plurality of inner teeth extending downward from the bottom of the outer sidewall, the plurality of inner teeth configured to align with outer teeth of the thumbscrew to tighten the thumbscrew;
outer gears on the outer sidewall, wherein the outer gears of the cap are aligned to engage with the internal gears of the base to transfer a torque from the thumbscrew to the base through the cap and then to the structures mounted on the PCB assembly;
and
a tab engaged with the hollow cylindrical body to slightly rotate the cap to engage the cap with the thumbscrew.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Printed circuit board thumbscrew locking reinforcement structure

Life of this patent

Printed circuit board thumbscrew locking reinforcement structure

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18