# US 2023/0273655 A1 · Toolless card/bracket coupling system

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- Number: US 2023/0273655 A1
- Document ID: US20230273655A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 17/681,965
- Filed: 2022-02-28
- Published: 2023-08-31
- Earliest claimed: 2022-02-28
- Assignees: Dell Products L.P.
- Applicants: Dell Products L.P.
- Inventors: Shree Rathinasamy; Maunish Shah
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20230273655A1

## CPC

- G06F 1/183: Internal mounting support structures, e.g. for supporting printed circuit boards
- H05K 7/1487: {Blade assemblies, e.g. blade cases or inner arrangements within a blade}
- G06F 1/185: Mounting of expansion boards
- G06F 1/186: Securing of expansion boards in correspondence to slots provided at the computer enclosure
- H05K 5/0265: {of PCMCIA type}
- 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

A toolless card/bracket coupling system includes a card bracket base that mounts to a chassis with a chassis mounting configuration, spaced-apart card securing support members extending from the card bracket base, and a toolless card securing subsystem on each of the card securing support members. Each toolless card securing subsystem may move towards a respective card aperture defined by the card while in a securing orientation, engage its respective card aperture and, in response, transition to a coupling orientation that allows that toolless card securing subsystem to move through its respective card aperture and, in response to extending through its respective card aperture and through the card, transition back to the securing orientation to secure the card to the card bracket base via engagement with the card.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A toolless card/bracket coupling system, comprising:
a card;
a first card bracket base that includes a first chassis mounting configuration and that is configured to mount to a first chassis mounting element that provides the first chassis mounting configuration;
a plurality of first card securing support members that extend from the first card bracket base in a spaced-apart orientation;
a toolless card securing subsystem that is included on each of the plurality of first card securing support members, wherein each toolless card securing subsystem that is included on each of the plurality of first card securing support members is configured to:
move, from a first side of the card while in a securing orientation, towards a respective card aperture defined by the card;
engage its respective card aperture defined by the card;
transition, in response to engaging and moving into its respective card aperture defined by the card, from the securing orientation to a coupling orientation that allows that toolless card securing subsystem to move through its respective card aperture defined by the card; and
transition, in response to extending through its respective card aperture defined by the card and past a second side of the card that is opposite the card from the first side of the card, from the coupling orientation to the securing orientation that secures the card to the first card bracket base via engagement with the second side of the card; and
a second card bracket base that includes a second chassis mounting configuration that is different than the first mounting configuration and that is configured to mount to a second chassis mounting element that provides the second chassis mounting configuration;
a plurality of second card securing support members that extend from the second card bracket base in the spaced apart orientation such that the spacing of the plurality of second card securing support members is the same as the spacing of the plurality of first card securing support members;
the toolless card securing subsystem that is included on each of the plurality of second card securing support members, wherein each toolless card securing subsystem that is included on each of the plurality of second card securing support members is configured to:
move, from the first side of the card while in the securing orientation, towards a respective card aperture defined by the card;
engage its respective card aperture defined by the card;
transition, in response to engaging and moving into its respective card aperture defined by the card, from the securing orientation to the coupling orientation that allows that toolless card securing subsystem to move through its respective card aperture defined by the card; and
transition, in response to extending through its respective card aperture defined by the card and past the second side of the card that is opposite the card from the first side of the card, from the coupling orientation to the securing orientation that secures the card to the second card bracket base via engagement with the second side of the card.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the first chassis mounting configuration is one of: a full-height mounting configuration or a half-height mounting configuration.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of first card securing support members are provided by a pair of first card securing support members that are spaced apart by a first distance, and wherein the plurality of second card securing members are provided by a pair of second card securing support members that are spaced apart by the first distance.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the first chassis mounting configuration is a full-height mounting configuration, and wherein the second chassis mounting configuration is a half-height mounting configuration.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the card is a PCIe card.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein each toolless card securing subsystem that is included on each of the plurality of first card securing support members includes a pair of toolless card securing members that each extend from its first card coupling support member, that each include a first portion having a first width, and that each include a second portion that is located opposite the first portion from its first card coupling support member and that has a second width that is greater than the first width, wherein the pair of the toolless card securing members included in each toolless card securing subsystem that is included on each of the plurality of first card securing support members are configured to:
move, from the first side of the card while in the securing orientation in which the second portions on each of that pair of toolless card securing members are spaced apart by a first distance, towards a respective card aperture defined by the card;
engage the second portions on each of that pair of toolless card securing members with their respective card aperture defined by the card;
transition, in response to engaging and moving the second portions on each of that pair of toolless card securing members into their respective card aperture defined by the card, from the securing orientation to the coupling orientation in which the spacing between the second portions on each of that pair of toolless card securing members is reduced to allow that pair of toolless card securing members to move through their respective card aperture defined by the card; and
transition, in response to the second portions on each of that pair of toolless card securing members extending through their respective card aperture defined by the card and past the second side of the card that is opposite the card from the first side of the card, from the coupling orientation to the securing orientation that secures the card to the first card bracket base via engagement of the second portions on each of that pair of toolless card securing members with the second side of the card.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein each toolless card securing subsystem that is included on each of the plurality of first card securing support members is configured to:
transition, while the card is secured to the first card bracket base and in response to a force that is provided without the use of a tool, from the securing orientation to the coupling orientation; and
move, while in the coupling orientation, from the second side of the card and through its respective card aperture defined by the card in order to unsecure the card from the first card bracket base.

### Claim 8

An Information Handling System (IHS), comprising:
a first chassis;
a first card slot that is defined by the first chassis and that includes a first card mounting configuration;
a first card connector that is located adjacent the first card slot in the first chassis;
a second chassis;
a second card slot that is defined by the second chassis and that includes a second card mounting configuration;
a second card connector that is located adjacent the second card slot in the second chassis;
a first card that is connected to the first card connector;
a second card that includes the same form-factor as the first card and that is connected to the second card connector;
a first card bracket base that is mounted to the first chassis and provided in the first card mounting configuration;
a plurality of first card securing support members that extend from the first card bracket base in a spaced-apart orientation;
a toolless card securing subsystem that is included on each of the plurality of first card securing support members, wherein each toolless card securing subsystem that is included on each of the plurality of first card securing support members extends from a first side of the first card and through a respective first card aperture defined by the first card, and engages a second side of the first card that is opposite the first card from the first side of the first card in a securing orientation that secures the first card to the first card bracket base, and wherein each toolless card securing subsystem that is included on each of the plurality of first card securing support members is configured to:
transition, while the first card is secured to the first card bracket base and in response to a force that is provided without the use of a tool, from the securing orientation to a coupling orientation that allows that toolless card securing subsystem to move through its respective first card aperture defined by the first card; and
move, while in the coupling orientation, from the second side of the first card and through its respective first card aperture defined by the first card in order to unsecure the first card from the first card bracket base;
a second first card bracket base that is mounted to the second chassis and provided in the second card mounting configuration;
a plurality of second card securing support members that extend from the second card bracket base in the spaced-apart orientation such that the spacing of the plurality of second card securing support members is the same as the spacing of the plurality of first card securing support members; and
the toolless card securing subsystem that is included on each of the plurality of second card securing support members, wherein each toolless card securing subsystem that is included on each of the plurality of second card securing support members extends from a first side of the second card and through a respective second card aperture defined by the second card, and engages a second side of the second card that is opposite the second card from the first side of the second card in the securing orientation that secures the second card to the second card bracket base, and wherein each toolless card securing subsystem that is included on each of the plurality of second card securing support members is configured to:
transition, while the second card is secured to the second card bracket base and in response to a force that is provided without the use of a tool, from the securing orientation to a coupling orientation that allows that toolless card securing subsystem to move through its respective second card aperture defined by the second card; and
move, while in the coupling orientation, from the second side of the second card and through its respective second card aperture defined by the second card in order to unsecure the second card from the second card bracket base.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The IHS of claim 8, wherein the first chassis mounting configuration is one of:
a full-height mounting configuration or a half-height mounting configuration.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The IHS of claim 8, wherein the plurality of first card securing support members are provided by a pair of first card securing support members that are spaced apart by a first distance, and wherein the plurality of second card securing members are provided by a pair of second card securing support members that are spaced apart by the first distance.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The IHS of claim 8, wherein the first chassis mounting configuration a full-height mounting configuration, and wherein the second chassis mounting configuration is a half-height mounting configuration.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The IHS of claim 8, wherein the first card and the second card are PCIe cards.

### Claim 13 (depends on 8)

The IHS of claim 8, wherein each first toolless card securing subsystem that is included on each of the plurality of first card securing support members includes a pair of toolless card securing members that, while that first toolless card securing subsystem is in the securing orientation, include a first portion that has a first width that is located in the first card aperture defined by the first card, and a second portion that is located opposite the first portion from its first card coupling support member, that has a second width that is greater than the first width, and that engages the second side of the first card that is opposite the first card from the first side of the first card to secure the first card to the first card bracket base, and wherein the pair of toolless card securing members on each first toolless card securing subsystem that is included on each of the plurality of first card securing support members are configured to:
transition, while the first card is secured to the first card bracket base and in response to a force that is provided on the pair of toolless card securing members without the use of a tool, from the securing orientation to the coupling orientation that allows that pair of toolless card securing members to move through their respective first card aperture defined by the first card; and
move, while in the coupling orientation, from the second side of the first card and through their respective first card aperture defined by the first card in order to unsecure the first card from the first card bracket base.

### Claim 14

A method for toollessly coupling a card to a bracket, comprising:
moving, from a first side of a first card by each toolless card securing subsystem on respective first card coupling support members that extend in a spaced-apart orientation from a first card bracket base that includes a first chassis mounting configuration and that is configured to mount to a first chassis mounting element that provides the first chassis mounting configuration, towards a respective card aperture defined by the first card while in a securing orientation;
engaging, by each toolless card securing subsystem on the respective first card coupling support members, its respective card aperture defined by the first card;
transitioning, by each toolless card securing subsystem on the respective first card coupling support members in response to engaging and moving into its respective card aperture defined by the first card, from the securing orientation to a coupling orientation that allows that toolless card securing subsystem to move through its respective card aperture defined by the first card;
transitioning, by each toolless card securing subsystem on the respective first card coupling support members in response to extending through its respective card aperture defined by the first card and past a second side of the first card that is opposite the first card from the first side of the first card, from the coupling orientation to the securing orientation that secures the first card to the first card bracket base via engagement with the second side of the first card;
moving, from the first side of a second card that is identical to the first card by each toolless card securing subsystem on respective second card coupling support members that extend in the spaced-apart orientation from a second card bracket base that includes a second chassis mounting configuration and that is configured to mount to a second chassis mounting element that provides the second chassis mounting configuration, towards a respective card aperture defined by the second card while in the securing orientation, wherein the spacing of the plurality of second card securing support members is the same as the spacing of the plurality of first card securing support members;
engaging, by each toolless card securing subsystem on the respective second card coupling support members, its respective card aperture defined by the second card;
transitioning, by each toolless card securing subsystem on the respective second card coupling support members in response to engaging and moving into its respective card aperture defined by the second card, from the securing orientation to a coupling orientation that allows that toolless card securing subsystem to move through its respective card aperture defined by the second card; and
transitioning, by each toolless card securing subsystem on the respective second card coupling support members in response to extending through its respective card aperture defined by the second card and past a second side of the second card that is opposite the second card from the first side of the second card, from the coupling orientation to the securing orientation that secures the second card to the second card bracket base via engagement with the second side of the second card.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein the first chassis mounting configuration is one of: a full-height mounting configuration or a half-height mounting configuration.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein the plurality of first card securing support members are provided by a pair of first card securing support members that are spaced apart by a first distance, and wherein the plurality of second card securing members are provided by a pair of second card securing support members that are spaced apart by the first distance.

### Claim 17 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein the first chassis mounting configuration a full-height mounting configuration, and wherein the second chassis mounting configuration is a half-height mounting configuration.

### Claim 18 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein the first card and the second card are PCIe cards.

### Claim 19 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein each toolless card securing subsystem that is included on each of the plurality of first card securing support members includes a pair of toolless card securing members that each extend from its first card coupling support member, that each include a first portion having a first width, and that each include a second portion that is located opposite the first portion from its first card coupling support member and that has a second width that is greater than the first width, wherein the method includes:
moving, from a first side of the first card by the pair of toolless card securing members on each toolless card securing subsystem on the respective first card coupling support members, towards a respective card aperture defined by the first card while in the securing orientation;
engaging, by the second portion of the pair of toolless card securing members on each toolless card securing subsystem on the respective first card coupling support members, its respective card aperture defined by the first card;
transitioning, by each toolless card securing subsystem on the respective first card coupling support members in response to its pair of toolless card securing members engaging and moving into its respective card aperture defined by the first card, from the securing orientation to a coupling orientation that allows the second portion of its pair of toolless card securing members to move through its respective card aperture defined by the first card; and
transitioning, by each toolless card securing subsystem on the respective first card coupling support members in response to its pair of toolless card securing members extending through its respective card aperture defined by the card and past a second side of the card that is opposite the card from the first side of the first card, from the coupling orientation to the securing orientation that secures the card to the first card bracket base via engagement of its pair of toolless card securing members with the second side of the first card.

### Claim 20 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, further comprising:
transitioning, by each toolless card securing subsystem on the respective first card coupling support members while the first card is secured to the first card bracket base and in response to a force that is provided without the use of a tool, from the securing orientation to a coupling orientation that allows that toolless card securing subsystem to move through its respective first card aperture defined by the first card; and
moving, by each toolless card securing subsystem on the respective first card coupling support members while in the coupling orientation, from the second side of the first card and through its respective first card aperture defined by the first card in order to unsecure the first card from the first card bracket base.