Mechanism for securing a printed circuit board to a bracket

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11778767-B2
Application number	US-202017005563-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 28, 2020
Priority date	May 15, 2020
Publication date	Oct 3, 2023
Grant date	Oct 3, 2023

Abstract

A swing arm lock mechanism for securing a printed circuit board to a bracket includes a main body, a hooked arm, and an aperture in the main body. The hooked arm extends from and is integral with the main body. The hooked arm and main body define an open-ended slot for engaging a lock pin disposed on the bracket. The aperture receives a fastener for securing the main body to the printed circuit board such that the main body and hooked arm can rotate about a central axis of the fastener from a first unlocked position to a second locked position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A swing arm lock mechanism for securing a printed circuit board (“PCB”) to a bracket, the PCB having a second aperture that engages a fastening pin disposed on the bracket, the swing arm lock mechanism comprising:
a main body;
a hooked arm extending from and integral with the main body, the hooked arm and main body defining an open-ended slot for engaging a lock pin disposed on the bracket; and
a securing aperture in the main body for receiving a fastener to secure the main body to the PCB such that a separation between the main body and the lock pin is adjustable between a first distance and a second distance based on the engagement of the fastening pin on the bracket and the second aperture of the PCB, wherein the main body and hooked arm can rotate about a central axis of the fastener from a first unlocked position to a second locked position when the separation is the first distance, the first distance being greater than the second distance.

2. The swing arm lock mechanism of claim 1 , further comprising a first dimple on a bottom surface of the main body for engaging a constraining aperture in the PCB to constrain the main body and hooked arm in the first unlocked position.

3. The swing arm lock mechanism of claim 1 , further comprising a second dimple on an interior surface of the open-ended slot for engaging the lock pin to constrain the main body and hooked arm in the second locked position.

4. The swing arm lock mechanism of claim 3 , wherein the hooked arm bends away from the open-ended slot as the second dimple engages the lock pin.

5. The swing arm lock mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the main body includes a partially curved edge for engaging the lock pin to align the PCB during the securing of the PCB to the bracket.

6. The swing arm lock mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the main body and the hooked arm are a semi-rigid polymer material.

7. The swing arm lock mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the fastener includes a nut extending upwardly from the PCB through the entire height of the securing aperture to above a top surface of the main body.

8. The swing arm lock mechanism of claim 7 , wherein the fastener further includes a screw with a head having a diameter greater than a diameter of the nut and the securing aperture, such that a gap is formed between a bottom surface of the head and the top surface of the main body when the screw is secured to the nut, thereby allowing rotation of the main body and hooked arm.

9. The swing arm lock mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the locked pin includes a groove having a first diameter that is less than a diameter of the locked pin above and below the groove, and wherein the open-ended slot includes a slot opening that is wider than the first diameter and less than the diameter of the lock pin immediately above and below the groove.

10. A printed circuit board assembly including a swing arm lock mechanism for securing a printed circuit board (“PCB”) to a bracket, the PCB assembly comprising:
a swing arm lock mechanism including
a main body,
a hooked arm extending from and integral with the main body such that the hooked arm and main body define an open-ended slot for engaging a lock pin secured to a bracket, and
a first aperture in the main body for receiving a fastener to secure the main body to the PCB such that the main body and hooked arm can rotate about the fastener from a first unlocked position to a second locked position; and

the PCB including a second aperture configured to engage a fastening pin with a head extending from the bracket, the PCB configured to slide along a direction parallel to the bracket when the fastening pin engages with the second aperture, the PCB configured to slide along the bracket to displace the fastening pin from a first engagement position within the second aperture to a second engagement position within the second aperture such that movement of PCB is constrained when the main body and hooked arm are rotated into the second locked position.

11. The printed circuit board assembly of claim 10 , wherein the second aperture is having a keyhole shape.

12. The printed circuit board assembly of claim 10 , wherein the swing arm lock mechanism includes a first dimple on a bottom surface of the main body for engaging a third aperture in the PCB to constrain the main body and hooked arm in the first unlocked position.

13. The printed circuit board assembly of claim 10 , wherein the swing arm lock mechanism includes a second dimple on an interior surface of the open-ended slot for engaging the lock pin to constrain the main body and hooked arm in the second locked position.

14. The printed circuit board assembly of claim 13 , wherein the hooked arm bends away from the open-ended slot as the second dimple engages the lock pin.

15. The printed circuit board assembly of claim 10 , wherein the main body includes a partially curved edge for engaging the lock pin to align the PCB during the securing of the PCB to the bracket.

16. The printed circuit board assembly of claim 10 , wherein the main body and the hooked arm are a semi-rigid polymer material.

17. The printed circuit board assembly of claim 10 , wherein the fastener includes a nut extending upwardly from the PCB through the entire length of the first aperture to above a top surface of the main body.

18. The printed circuit board assembly of claim 17 , wherein the fastener further includes a screw with a head having a diameter greater than a diameter of the nut and the first aperture, such that a gap is formed between a bottom surface of the head and the top surface of the main body when the screw is secured to the nut, thereby allowing rotation of the main body and hooked arm.

19. The printed circuit board assembly of claim 9 , wherein the PCB is a fan board.

20. The printed circuit board assembly of claim 9 , wherein the bracket is a horizontal bracket connected to a vertical structure in the computer chassis.

Assignees

• Quanta Comp Inc

Inventors

• Chen Ta-Wei
• Chen Chia-Chun
• Chang Chun
• Hou Jyue

Classifications

• H05K7/1405 Primary

  by clips or resilient members, e.g. hooks · CPC title

• H05K7/1407

  by turn-bolt or screw member · CPC title

• H05K7/1408

  by a unique member which latches several boards, e.g. locking bars · CPC title

• G06F1/185 Primary

  Mounting of expansion boards · CPC title

• G06F1/186

  Securing of expansion boards in correspondence to slots provided at the computer enclosure · CPC title