Space effective structure and method for retaining printed circuit boards within a housing

A circuit board comprising:

• a planar board member defined by a peripheral edge, said peripheral edge comprising:
• a front edge;
• first and second spaced-apart lateral edges each connected to said front edge, wherein said first and second spaced-apart lateral edges extend transversely relative to said front edge;
• a first projecting tab defined by a first inclined ramp surface and a first locking face that terminates and lies transverse to said first inclined ramp surface, said first projecting tab projecting outwardly in a first direction from said first lateral edge;
• a second projecting tab defined by a second inclined ramp surface and a second locking face that terminates and lies transverse to said second inclined ramp surface, said second projecting tab projecting outwardly in a second direction from said second lateral edge;
• said first and second projecting tabs adapted for securing said planar board member in an associated housing without separate fasteners by engagement with respective first and second latches of the associated housing.

A circuit board comprising:

• a planar board member defined by a peripheral edge, said peripheral edge comprising:
• a front edge;
• first and second spaced-apart lateral edges that extend transversely relative to said front edge;
• a first projecting tab defined by a first inclined ramp surface and a first looking face that terminates and lies transverse to said first inclined ramp surface;
• a second projecting tab defined by a second inclined ramp surface and a second locking face that terminates and lies transverse to said second inclined ramp surface;
• said first and second projecting tabs adapted for securing said planar board member in an associated housing without separate fasteners by engagement with respective first and second latches of the associated housing;
• wherein said circuit board is installed in an enclosure housing portion, said enclosure housing portion comprising:
• a first side wall;
• a first latch defined as a one-piece construction with said first side wall, said first latch comprising a first aperture in which said first projecting tab is positioned;
• a second side wall;
• a second latch defined as a one-piece construction with said second side wall, said second latch comprising a second aperture in which said second projecting tab is positioned;
• and,
• wherein said first and second side walls of said enclosure housing portion further define respective first and second grooves that cooperate to define a slot therebetween, and wherein said circuit board is located in said slot with said first and second lateral edges thereof seated in said first and second grooves, respectively.

An enclosure housing portion comprising:

• a first side wall defined as a molded polymeric construction;
• a first latch defined as a one-piece construction with said first side wall;
• a second side wall defined as a molded polymeric construction;
• a second latch defined as a one-piece construction with said second side wall;
• a circuit board connected to said enclosure housing portion, said circuit board comprising a planar board member defined by a peripheral edge that outlines a plane of said circuit board, said peripheral edge comprising and defining:
• (i) a first projecting tab defined by a first inclined ramp surface and a first locking face that lies transverse to said first inclined ramp surface, wherein said first projecting tab is engaged with said first latch of said first side wall;
• and, (ii) a second projecting tab defined by a second inclined ramp surface and a second locking face that lies transverse to said second inclined ramp surface, wherein said second projecting tab is engaged with said second latch of said second side wall;
• said enclosure housing portion comprising a structure that prevents movement of said circuit board in a direction transverse to said plane of said circuit board;
• said circuit board adapted for selective disengagement from said enclosure housing portion by disengagement of said first and second latches and by sliding movement relative to said enclosure housing portion in a direction parallel to said plane of circuit board.