Circuit board leverage mechanism

A circuit board leverage mechanism, comprising:

• a first gear member configured to rotatably mount to a circuit board, the first gear member including an arcuate edge on which gear teeth are provided, a first tab configured to engage an outer surface of a card guide during circuit board removal, and at least one second tab configured to engage an inner surface of the card guide during circuit board insertion;
• a second gear member configured to rotatably mount to the circuit board in proximity to the first gear member, the second gear member including an arcuate edge on which gear teeth are provided that mesh with the gear teeth of the first gear member, the arcuate edge of the second gear member having a radius that is smaller than the radius of the arcuate edge of the first gear member, the second gear member further including a lever that when actuated effects rotation of the second gear member;
• and
• a mounting plate that overlies the first and second gear members so as to hold the members in place in engagement with each other;
• wherein the lever of the second gear member overlies the mounting member when the leverage mechanism is in a complete insertion position and wherein rotation of the lever toward an extended position effects rotation of the second gear member and opposite rotation of the first gear member which causes one of the first tab and the at least one second tab to engage the card guide.

A circuit board including a leverage mechanism, the circuit board comprising:

• side surfaces defined by a plurality of edges;
• a first gear member rotatably mounted to the circuit board, the first gear member including gear teeth and at least one tab that is configured to engage a card guide in which the circuit board may be inserted;
• and
• a second gear member rotatably mounted to the circuit board in proximity to the first gear member, the second gear member including gear teeth that mesh with the gear teeth of the first gear member, the second gear member further including a lever;
• wherein rotation of the lever effects rotation of the second gear member and opposite rotation of the first gear member which causes the at least one tab of the first gear member to engage the card guide and urge the circuit board into or out of contact with an electrical connector.

A circuit board including a leverage mechanism, the circuit board comprising:

• side surfaces defined by a front edge, a rear edge, a top edge, and a bottom edge of the circuit board;
• a first gear member rotatably mounted to the circuit board adjacent the front edge of the circuit board and one of the top and bottom edges of the circuit board, the first gear member including an arcuate edge on which gear teeth are provided, a first tab configured to engage an outer surface of a card guide during circuit board removal, and at least one second tab configured to engage an inner surface of the card guide during circuit board insertion;
• a second gear member rotatably mounted to the circuit board in proximity to the first gear member, the second gear member including an arcuate edge on which gear teeth are provided that mesh with the gear teeth of the first gear member, the arcuate edge of the second gear member having a radius that is smaller than the arcuate edge of the first gear member, the second gear member further including a lever that when actuated effects rotation of the second gear member;
• and
• a mounting plate that overlies the first and second gear members so as to hold the members in place in engagement with each other;
• wherein the lever of the second gear member overlies the mounting member when the leverage mechanism is in a complete insertion position and wherein rotation of the lever toward an extended position effects rotation of the second gear member and opposite rotation of the first gear member which causes one of the first tab and the at least one second tab to engage the card guide.

A method for inserting a circuit board, comprising:

• sliding the circuit board along a card slot of a computing device;
• actuating a lever of a leverage mechanism provided on the circuit board so as to cause rotation of a gear member of the leverage mechanism, wherein rotation of the gear member causes opposite rotation of another gear member that includes a tab;
• and
• continuing actuation of the lever so that the tab engages an inner surface of a card guide provided in the card slot and the circuit board is urged into firm contact with an electrical connector associated with the card slot.