Electronic assembly circuit board guide apparatus

A circuit board guide apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of circuit board guides, each circuit board guide substantially parallel to the remaining circuit board guides of the plurality of circuit board guides, each circuit board guide comprising a flared portion at a front portion of the guide and a guide stop at the end of the guide the plurality of circuit board guides being in a first plane;
• a front extension coupled to the front portion of the guide, the front extension being in a second plane that is parallel to and offset from the first plane, the front extension comprising protrusions extending upward from the second plane in the direction of the first plane, the protrusions having a shape that accepts a complimentary shape for alignment of the apparatus;
• a plurality of guide retention devices, coupled to the plurality of circuit board guides, for separating and retaining the plurality of circuit board guides in a parallel manner, the guide retention devices having means for elevating the plurality of circuit board guides according to the size of the circuit board that is to be installed so as to securely hold the circuit board;
• and
• a backplane retention portion, coupled to the plurality of circuit board guides, the backplane retention portion comprising:
• a retaining lip for holding the backplane substantially immobile against the indentations;
• and
• a U-shaped depression in front of the retaining lip, the depression having the same depth as the means for elevating.

An electronic assembly including a plurality of circuit boards, the assembly comprising:

• a plurality of circuit board guides, each circuit board guide substantially parallel to the remaining circuit board guides of the plurality of circuit board guides;
• a front extension coupled to a front portion of the guide, the front extension comprising protrusions extending upward from the front extension, each protrusion having a shape that accepts a front panel extension of the plurality of extensions;
• a guide retention device, coupled to the plurality of circuit board guides, for separating and retaining the plurality of circuit board guides, each of the guide retention devices defining an elevation amount according to a size of the circuit boards that are to be installed;
• and
• a backplane retaining portion, coupled to the plurality of circuit board guides, the backplane retaining portion comprising a plurality of indentations, for accepting raised areas on a backplane, and a retaining lip for holding the backplane substantially immobile against the indentations.