US 2010/0134988 A1 · EXPANSION BOARD RETENTION AND EXTRACTION MECHANISM

Abstract

An apparatus for applying a uniform retention and extraction force to a computer expansion board. The apparatus includes a body with upper and lower retaining members that define a retention channel between them sized to receive an edge of an expansion board. At each end of the catch body pins are provided that extend into a support structure, which is mounted to the computer chassis adjacent a mounting surface for the expansion board. A handle assembly is provided with arms pivotally mounted to the support structure. Each arm includes a dowel that extends into a groove in the catch body. During operation of the mechanism, a handle attached to the arms is moved to pivot the arms and force the catch body from an open position to a closed position with the side pins riding in the guide slots and the dowels riding in the grooves of the catch body.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An apparatus for retention and extraction of expansion boards within a computer chassis, comprising:

a support assembly adapted for mounting to the computer chassis including an elongate body, the support assembly body comprising a pair of spaced apart slots on opposing portions of the support assembly body;
a board retention catch assembly comprising a body with a pair of alignment pins extending outward from the board retention catch body and into the slots of the support assembly body, wherein the board retention catch assembly further comprises a pair of elongate retaining members extending parallel to each other on the board retention catch body and defining a retention channel therebetween for receiving an edge of an expansion board;
and
a handle assembly attached to the board retention catch body and operating to move the board retention catch body and the retaining members between a closed and an open position by applying a force to cause the alignment pins to move concurrently within the slots of the support assembly body.

1 more element

A mechanism for effecting toolless loading and unloading of an expansion board from a computing device, the mechanism comprising:

an elongated body including first and second mounting zones and a recessed surface between the first and second mounting zones, the recessed surface including a platform;
a retention catch adapted to receive the expansion board and to be received within the recessed surface of the elongated body;
and
a handle assembly movable between open and closed configurations;
wherein the handle assembly positions the retention catch at a first angle to the platform in the open configuration and at a second angle to the platform in the closed configuration, the first angle being different than the second angle.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Expansion board retention and extraction mechanism

Life of this patent

Expansion board retention and extraction mechanism

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20