DE29817644U1 - Positioning device for interface cards and the like - Google Patents

Description

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Guiy Shing Lee, Hualian City, Taiwan

AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVES!? AT THE EUROPEAN PATENT OFFICE

RICHARD GLAWE, Dr.-Ing. (1952-1985)

KLAUS DELFS, Dipl.-Ing., Hamburg

WALTER MOLL, Dipl.-Phys. Dr. rer. nat., Munich

HEINRICH NIEBUHR, Dipl.-Phys. Dr. phil. habil., Hamburg

ULRICH GLAWE, Dipl.-Phys. Dr. rer. nat., Munich BERNHARD MERKAU, Dipl.-Phys., Munich CHRISTOF KEUSSEN, Dipl.-Chem. Dr. rer. nat., Hamburg

PO Box 26 01 62 80058 Munich

Liebherrstrasse 20 80538 Munich

Tel. (089) 22 46 65 Fax (089) 22 39 38 (G3) Telex 5 22 505

PO Box 13 03 91 20103 Hamburg

Rothenbaumchaussee 58 20148 Hamburg

Phone (040)4 10 20 08

Fax (040) 45 89 84 (G4.G3)

HAMBURG,

&rgr; 19392/98 N/at(161)

Positioning device for interface cards and

the like

The present invention relates to a device for positioning interface cards and the like.

In view of future easy maintenance, expansion and replacement, the internal components of computers are designed to be easily replaced or to be easily expanded. The most effective and most commonly used way is to provide a slot on the computer case, with the components or circuit boards designed as cards, such as expansion cards, interface cards, etc., which can be selectively mounted in the computer. Quick installation, maintenance, quick replacement or expansion can be achieved in this way.

With the rapid development and continuous improvement of computers, it is possible that card components

Dresdner Bank AG Hamburg 04 030 448 00 (bank code 200 800 00) Postbank Hamburg 1476 07-200 (bank code 200 100 20)

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replaced or added. As shown in Figure 2, a card 2 together with its card member 3 is positioned in a card mounting slot 4 near the back of a computer case so that it can be connected to the computer itself or its exterior for expansion and replacement purposes. The suspended interface card (which includes circuit boards, electronic elements, sockets, insert elements, etc.) is secured by means of a screw 5. The screw 5 may become loose due to transportation, removal of the card or prolonged use, resulting in poor contact.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a device for positioning interface or expansion cards and the like, in which the disadvantages of the prior art are avoided.

The solution according to the invention is characterized in that a positioning plate is provided which is screwed to a computer housing to cooperate with an adjustment screw, to which a connecting member is attached in order to hold cards firmly and securely in the housing and to prevent possible loosening of the screw and poor electrical contact.

The invention is described below using an advantageous embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Show it:

Fig. 1 shows the application of the device according to the invention in a computer;

Fig. 2 shows an embodiment of the device according to the invention; and

Fig. 3 shows another embodiment of the application of the device of the invention.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the positioning plate 1 has a right-angled triangle shape with a first bent side 11 with holes 111 and a second bent side 13 with screw holes 131. Threaded holes 16 are formed in the computer case at locations corresponding to the ends or sides of the cards 3. Screws 12 are used to screw into the threaded holes 16 in the computer case corresponding to the side or end of the card 3, with each screw hole 131 on the second side 13 of the positioning plate 1 aligned with the side or end of the card 3. An adjustment screw 14 can be inserted into one of the screw holes 131 and a sleeve 15 is fitted onto one end of the adjustment screw 14. An end opening 151 of the sleeve allows the insertion of the adjustment screw 14, while an open slot 152 at the opposite end can hold the card 3. The adjustment screw 14 allows safe and firm positioning of the expansion or interface card.

As shown in Fig. 1, the positioning plate 1 shown in solid lines is on the side of the card 3

but may be positioned at the end of the card 3 as shown by the positioning plate 1 shown in dashed lines. The present invention is applicable regardless of whether the card slots are arranged horizontally or vertically. In the embodiment of Fig. 1, the present invention is used with horizontal slots, and in Fig. 3, the present invention is used with vertical slots.

The invention can be summarized as follows. The device for positioning interface or expansion cards and the like comprises a positioning plate that is screwed to a computer case. The positioning plate cooperates with an adjustment screw and a sleeve that is fitted on the adjustment screw to hold the interface or expansion card firmly in place. Cards such as VGA cards, network cards, IDE cards, sound cards and input/output cards can be firmly positioned after installation, and possible loosening or poor electrical contact due to transportation or long-term use can be avoided.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment, it will be understood that it is in no way limited to the details of such embodiment. Rather, numerous modifications may be made within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

Claims (2)

Protection claims 1. Positioning device for interface cards and the like, characterized in that it cooperates with threaded holes (16) in a computer housing at locations corresponding to an end or side of an inserted card (3); in that it comprises a positioning plate (1) in the form of a right-angled triangle having a first bent side (11) with holes (111) and a second bent side (13) with holes (131), screws (12) being inserted through the screw holes (111) of the first bent side (11) into the threaded holes (16) to position the positioning plate (1) at the end or side of the card (3) so that each screw hole (131) in the second bent side (13) is aligned with the end or side of a card; and wherein an adjusting screw (14) is inserted into one of the screw holes (131) and is provided with a sleeve (15) having an open slot (152) on its back for holding the card (3) in order to securely hold the card 3. 2. Positioning device according to claim 1, characterized in that the positioning plate (1) is designed for use with vertically or horizontally aligned slots.