Circuit board actuator system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016261083-A1
Application number	US-201514704166-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 5, 2015
Priority date	Mar 6, 2015
Publication date	Sep 8, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Technology is provided for circuit board actuator systems for ejecting and inserting a circuit board into a circuit board connector. The actuator system includes a cross-member attached to a circuit board and a pair of levers pivotably coupled to opposite end portions of the cross-member. Each lever is moveable between a closed position and an open position and includes an arm with an insertion pawl and an ejector pawl extending from the arm. The system further includes a pair of circuit board guides, each including a keeper and mountable adjacent a circuit board connector. The insertion pawls operate against the keepers to insert the circuit board into the connector when the levers are moved toward the closed position, and the ejector pawls operate against the keepers to eject the circuit board from the connector when the levers are moved toward the open position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A circuit board actuator for ejecting and inserting a circuit board into a circuit board connector, comprising:
a cross-member attachable to a circuit board, the cross-member having a catch portion; and at least one lever pivotably coupled to the cross-member and moveable between a closed position and an open position, including:
an arm;
a pair of opposed pawls extending from a first end portion of the arm; and
a latch disposed on a second end portion of the arm and configured to engage the catch portion on the cross-member when the at least one lever is in the closed position.

2 . The circuit board actuator of claim 1 , wherein the latch includes a release tab operable to disengage the latch from the catch when activated by a user.

3 . The circuit board actuator of claim 2 , wherein the latch includes a tooth disposed on the release tab configured to engage the catch portion.

4 . The circuit board actuator of claim 3 , wherein the catch portion comprises a catch groove formed in the cross-member.

5 . The circuit board actuator of claim 3 , wherein the catch portion comprises a flange extending from the cross-member.

6 . The circuit board actuator of claim 1 , wherein the pair of opposed pawls include an insertion pawl and an ejector pawl.

7 . The circuit board actuator of claim 1 , wherein the cross-member is attachable along an edge of the circuit board.

8 . The circuit board actuator of claim 1 , wherein the cross-member is attachable to a side surface of the circuit board.

9 . The circuit board actuator of claim 1 , wherein the at least one lever is pivotably coupled to the cross-member by a fastener.

10 . The circuit board actuator of claim 9 , wherein the fastener is operable to mount the cross-member to the circuit board.

11 . The circuit board actuator of claim 1 , including a resilient member positioned to urge the at least one lever toward the open position.

12 . A circuit board actuator system for ejecting and inserting a circuit board into a circuit board connector, the circuit board actuator system comprising:
a cross-member attachable to a circuit board and having catch portions; a pair of levers pivotably coupled to opposite end portions of the cross-member and moveable between a closed position and an open position, the pair of levers each including:
an arm;
a pair of opposed pawls extending from a first end portion of the arm; and
a latch disposed on a second end portion of the arm and configured to engage a catch portion on the cross-member when the pair of levers are in the closed position; and a pair of circuit board guides mountable adjacent a circuit board connector, the pair of circuit board guides each including a keeper against which the pair of opposed pawls operate for ejection and insertion of the circuit board into the circuit board connector.

13 . The circuit board actuator system of claim 12 , wherein the pair of circuit board guides each include a groove sized and configured to receive an edge margin of the circuit board.

14 . The circuit board actuator system of claim 13 , wherein each groove is oriented orthogonally to a corresponding keeper.

15 . The circuit board actuator system of claim 12 , wherein the pair of opposed pawls include an insertion pawl and an ejector pawl, wherein the insertion pawls each operate against a first surface of the keepers to insert the circuit board into the circuit board connector when the pair of levers are moved toward the closed position, and the ejector pawls each operate against a second surface of the keepers to eject the circuit board from the circuit board connector when the pair of levers are moved toward the open position.

16 . The circuit board actuator system of claim 12 , wherein the pair of levers are pivotably coupled to the cross-member by fasteners.

17 . The circuit board actuator system of claim 16 , wherein the fasteners are operable to mount the cross-member to the circuit board.

18 . The circuit board actuator system of claim 12 , further comprising a resilient member positioned to urge each lever toward the open position.

19 . The circuit board actuator system of claim 12 , further comprising a chassis, wherein the pair of circuit board guides are mounted to the chassis adjacent the circuit board connector.

20 . A circuit board actuator system for ejecting and inserting a circuit board into a circuit board connector, the circuit board actuator system comprising:
a circuit board; a cross-member attached to the circuit board and having catch portions; a pair of levers pivotably coupled to opposite end portions of the cross-member and moveable between a closed position and an open position, the pair of levers each including:
an arm;
an insertion pawl extending from a first end portion of the arm;
an ejector pawl opposite the insertion pawl extending from the first end portion of the arm; and
a latch disposed on a second end portion of the arm and configured to engage a catch portion on the cross-member when the pair of levers are in the closed position; and
a pair of circuit board guides each including a keeper and mountable adjacent a circuit board connector, wherein the insertion pawls each operate against a first surface of the keepers to insert the circuit board into the circuit board connector when the pair of levers are moved toward the closed position, and the ejector pawls each operate against a second surface of the keepers to eject the circuit board from the circuit board connector when the pair of levers are moved toward the open position.

21 . The circuit board actuator system of claim 20 , wherein each latch includes a release tab operable to disengage the latch from the corresponding catch portion when depressed by a user.

22 . The circuit board actuator system of claim 20 , wherein the cross-member is attachable along an edge of the circuit board.

23 . The circuit board actuator system of claim 20 , wherein the cross-member is attachable to a side surface of the circuit board.

24 . The circuit board actuator system of claim 23 , wherein each lever is pivotably coupled to the cross-member by a fastener.

25 . The circuit board actuator system of claim 24 , wherein the fasteners are operable to mount the cross-member to the circuit board.

Assignees

• Facebook Inc

Inventors

• Chu Renee

Classifications

• H01R43/205 Primary

  with a panel or printed circuit board · CPC title

• H05K7/1409 Primary

  by lever-type mechanisms · CPC title

• H05K7/20736

  within cabinets for removing heat from server blades · CPC title

• H05K7/1489

  characterized by the mounting of blades therein, e.g. brackets, rails, trays (H05K7/1491 takes precedence) · CPC title