Mechanism to release cards and other components from computer

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2019294219-A1
Application number	US-201816047390-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 27, 2018
Priority date	Mar 22, 2018
Publication date	Sep 26, 2019
Grant date	—

Abstract

This disclosure relates to a structure that conveniently and easily releases computer components from a supporting structure. A typical computer component would be a PCIe card within a GPU tray. The disclosed structure does not require the use of tools to release computer components, and can be used where computer components ordinarily cannot be released due to limitations of space. The structure lifts the computer component to a height where the computer component can be easily grasped by human fingers for removal of the component.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An article of manufacture to release a computer component from a supporting structure, the article of manufacture comprising:
a release hook, the release hook comprising at least one claw for engaging with, and capable of lifting, a computer component to be released from its supporting structure; and a fixing structure, the fixing structure being attached to the release hook, the fixing structure being provided with a lifting structure capable of lifting both the fixing structure and the at least one claw.

2 . The article of manufacture according to claim 1 , further comprising two arms on the fixing structure to act as levers, the arms extending in a direction away from the at least one claw.

3 . The article of manufacture of claim 1 , wherein the computer component is an PCIe card.

4 . The article of manufacture of claim 2 , wherein the at least one claw engaging with the computer component to release and lift the computer component from its supporting structure.

5 . The article of manufacture of claim 2 , wherein the supporting structure comprises a GPU tray, and wherein the computer component is contained in the tray.

6 . The article of manufacture of claim 4 , wherein the amount of lift of the PCIe card is sufficient for the PCIe card to be grasped by human fingers.

7 . The article of manufacture of claim 6 , wherein the computer component is a PCIe card, and the supporting structure comprises a GPU tray.

8 . An article of manufacture to release a computer component from a supporting structure, the manufacture comprising:
a release lever; the manufacture further comprising a release lever base; the release lever base and the release lever being pivotably joined to one another with a shaft; wherein a nose of the release lever is shaped to engage and lift the computer component from its supporting structure.

9 . The article of manufacture according to claim 8 , wherein the shaft permits rotation of the release lever through an angle sufficient to lift the computer component to a position where it can be grasped by human fingers.

10 . The article of manufacture according to claim 8 , wherein the computer component is lifted from its supporting structure to a position where it can be grasped by human fingers.

11 . A combination comprising:
a plurality of computer components in one of a tray or chassis; and at least one article of manufacture for releasing and lifting at least one of the computer components of the plurality of computer components from the tray or chassis, wherein the at least one article of manufacture comprises a release lever, the release lever being pivotably mounted on a supporting base, the release lever comprising a nose to engage and lift the computer component from its supporting structure.

12 . The combination of claim 11 , further comprising a rail on the tray or chassis, the rail defining a plurality of slots therein.

13 . The combination of claim 12 , further comprising a release hook in combination with the release lever, the release hook further comprising at least one arm, the at least one arm extending through a slot defined by the rail.

14 . The combination of claim 13 , wherein the release hook further comprises a flange on the end of the at least one arm.

15 . The combination of claim 11 , wherein the lifting of the computer component away from the tray or chassis lifts the computer component sufficient to be grasped by human fingers.

16 . The combination of claim 11 , wherein the pivot permits rotation of the release arm through an angle sufficient to lift the computer component sufficient to be grasped by human fingers.

Assignees

• Quanta Comp Inc

Inventors

• Tsorng Yaw-Tzorng
• Chang Chun
• Wang Jhih-Hong

Classifications

• G06F1/183

  Internal mounting support structures, e.g. for supporting printed circuit boards · CPC title

• G06F1/185

  Mounting of expansion boards · CPC title

• G06F1/186

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

• H05K7/1409 Primary

  by lever-type mechanisms · CPC title

• G06F1/182 Primary

  with special features, e.g. for use in industrial environments; grounding or shielding against radio frequency interference [RFI] or electromagnetical interference [EMI] · CPC title