# US 6,295,208 B1 · Backplate for securing a circuit card to a computer chassis

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- Number: US 6,295,208 B1
- Document ID: US6295208B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 09/248,780
- Filed: 1999-02-12
- Granted: 2001-09-25
- Earliest claimed: 1999-02-12
- Assignees: 3Com Corporation
- Inventors: Loren Murchison; Carlos Burbano; Brian Geroge Reeve
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6295208B1

## CPC

- H05K 7/1429: {for circuits carrying a CPU and adapted to receive expansion cards}
- H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS

## Abstract

A backplate is provided having an elongated section with one or more tab sets. Each tab sets includes a first and second tab that extends from the elongated section. The first and second tabs are laterally spaced apart and longitudinally offset with respect to each other to define a slot for retaining a substrate such as a circuit card. The first tab may include a tang that contacts a fastener hole of the substrate, and may include a distal contact surface for contacting a grounding plane on the substrate. The second tab may be curved, or may include a tang that contacts another fastener hole of the substrate.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A backplate for retaining a substrate to a computer chassis, comprising:
a body having an elongated section, and a top section orthogonal to the elongated section for attaching the backplate to the computer chassis;
a first tab set having a first and second tab, each tab extending from the elongated section, the first and second tabs being longitudinally offset and laterally spaced apart to define a longitudinal slot for retaining the substrate; and
a first biased tang that is extended laterally from the first tab to engage a fastener hole of the substrate.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The backplate of claim 1, wherein the second tab of each tab set is curved to have a maximum deflection region extending into the slot and a rounded end that combines with the first tab to form an enlarged mouth for the slot.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The backplate of claim 1, wherein the second tab includes a second tang that extends into the slot for engaging a fastener hole of the inserted substrate.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The backplate of claim 1, wherein the substrate forms a network circuit card.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The backplate of claim 1, further comprising a second tab set having a first and second tab extending from the elongated section.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The backplate of claim 5, wherein the tabs of the first and second tab sets extend from an edge of the elongated section.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The backplate of claim 5, wherein the first tabs of each tab set further include a distal surface for contacting a grounding plane adjacent to the fastener hole on the substrate.

### Claim 8 (depends on 5)

The backplate of claim 5, wherein the second tabs of each tab set include a distal surface for contacting a grounding plane adjacent to the fastener hole on the substrate.

### Claim 9 (depends on 5)

The backplate of claim 5 further comprising additional tab sets.

### Claim 10 (depends on 5)

The backplate of claim 5, wherein each tab set includes more than two tabs extending from the elongated section.

### Claim 11

A backplate for retaining a substrate to a computer chassis, comprising:
a body having an elongated section and a top section orthogonal to the elongated section for attaching the backplate to the computer chassis;
a first and second tab set aligned longitudinally on the elongated section;
each tab set having at least a first tab and a second tab extending from the elongated section, the first and second tabs of each tab set being longitudinally offset and laterally spaced apart to define a slot for retaining the substrate;
said first tab of each tab set including a first tang that extends into the slot for engaging a fastener hole on the substrate, and a distal contact surface for contacting a ground plane on the substrate; and
said second tab of each tab set being curved to have a maximum deflection region extending into the slot and a rounded end that combines with the first tab to form an enlarged mouth for the slot.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The backplate of claim 11, wherein the first and second tabs of each tab set are sufficiently resilient to expand upon receiving the substrate inserted therebetween.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The backplate of claim 11, wherein the substrate is a network circuit card.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The backplate of claim 11, wherein the first and second tab set are positioned longitudinally along an edge of the backplate so that the first tabs of the first and second tab set contact a corresponding grounding plane on the top and bottom of the substrate.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The backplate of claim 14, further comprising additional tab sets.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The backplate of claim 14, wherein the tab sets include additional tabs extending from the elongated section.

### Claim 17

A backplate for retaining a substrate to a computer chassis, comprising:
a body, having an elongated section and a top section orthogonal to the elongated section for attaching the backplate to the computer chassis;
a first and second tab set aligned longitudinally on the elongated section;
each tab set having at least a first tab and a second tab extending from the elongated section, the first and second tabs of each tab set being longitudinally offset and laterally spaced apart to define a slot for retaining the substrate;
said first tab of each tab set including a first tang that extends into the slot for engaging a first fastener hole on the substrate, and a distal contact surface contacting a grounding plane on the inserted substrate; and
said second tab of each tab set including a second tang that extends into the slot for engaging a second fastener hole on the substrate.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The backplate of claim 17, further comprising additional tab sets.

### Claim 19 (depends on 17)

The backplate of claim 17, wherein the tab sets include additional tabs extending from the elongated section.

### Claim 20 (depends on 17)

The backplate of claim 17, wherein the first and second tab set are positioned longitudinally along an edge of the backplate so that the first tabs of the first and second tab set contact a corresponding grounding plane on the top and bottom of the substrate.

### Claim 21 (depends on 17)

The backplate of claim 17, wherein the first and second tabs of each tab set are sufficiently resilient to expand upon receiving the substrate inserted therebetween.

### Claim 22 (depends on 17)

The backplate of claim 17, wherein the substrate is a network circuit card.

### Claim 23

A network circuit card assembly, comprising:
a substrate having a plurality of fastener holes;
a backplate having an elongated section, and a top section orthogonal to the elongated section for attaching the backplate to the computer chassis;
a first tab set having a first and second tab, each tab extending from the elongated section, the first and second tabs being longitudinally offset and laterally spaced apart to define a longitudinal slot for retaining the network circuit card; and
a first biased tang that is extended laterally from the first tab to engage one of the fastener holes on the substrate of the network circuit card.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The network circuit card assembly of claim 23, further comprising a second tab set having a first and second tab extending from an edge of the elongated section.

### Claim 25 (depends on 23)

The network circuit card assembly of claim 23, wherein the second tab includes a second tang that extends into the slot for engaging one of the fastener hole on the substrate of the network circuit card.

### Claim 26 (depends on 23)

The network circuit card assembly of claim 23, further comprising additional tab sets.

### Claim 27 (depends on 23)

The network circuit card assembly of claim 23, wherein each tab set includes more than two tabs extending from the elongated section of the backplate.

### Claim 28 (depends on 23)

The network circuit card assembly of claim 23, wherein a grounding plane is adjacent to one of the fastener holes on the substrate of the network circuit card.

### Claim 29 (depends on 28)

The network circuit card assembly of claim 28, wherein the second tab of each tab set is curved to have a maximum deflection region extending into the slot and a rounded end that combines with the first tab to form an enlarged mouth for the slot.

### Claim 30 (depends on 28)

The network circuit card assembly of claim 28, wherein the first tabs of each tab set further include a distal surface for contacting the grounding plane on the substrate of the network circuit card.

### Claim 31 (depends on 30)

The network circuit card assembly of claim 30, wherein the second tabs of each tab set include a distal surface for contacting the grounding plane on the substrate of the network circuit card.

### Claim 32

A backplate for coupling a substrate to a computer chassis, the backplate comprising:
an elongate body;
a plurality of tab sets, each tab set including a plurality of tabs that extend from the elongate body and combine to form a longitudinal slot for retaining the substrate; and
a plurality of biased tangs, each of the plurality of tangs being laterally extendible from one of the plurality of tabs in each of the plurality of tab sets to engage a fastener hole in the substrate.

### Claim 33 (depends on 32)

The backplate of claim 32, wherein the elongate body includes a top section that is orthogonal to the elongated section to attach the back plate to the computer chassis.

### Claim 34 (depends on 32)

The backplate of claim 32, wherein each tab set includes a first tab and a second tab, the first tab being enlarged relative to the second tab, the first tab including one of the plurality of tangs.

### Claim 35 (depends on 32)

The backplate of claim 32, wherein each tab set is positioned so that at least one of the plurality of tabs makes contact with a grounding plane on the substrate.

### Claim 36

A backplate for coupling a substrate to a computer chassis, the backplate comprising:
an elongate body;
a first tab extending from the elongate body;
a second tab extending from the elongate body to form a longitudinal slot with the first tab for receiving the substrate; and
a first tang that is extended from the first tab into the longitudinal slot, the tang being biased to retain the substrate when the substrate is received in the longitudinal slot.

### Claim 37 (depends on 36)

The backplate of claim 36, wherein the first tab is positioned on the elongate body to make contact with a grounding plane when the substrate is received in the longitudinal slot.

### Claim 38 (depends on 36)

The backplate of claim 36, wherein the second tab is positioned on the elongate body to make contact with a grounding plane when the substrate is received in the longitudinal slot.