FR2544158A1 - ASSEMBLY DEVICE FOR COMPUTER SYSTEM - Google Patents

Abstract

THIS DEVICE, DESIGNED TO ASSEMBLE THE CASINGS OF TWO UNITS OF A COMPUTER SYSTEM WHICH INCLUDE TWO ADJACTING SURFACES FORMING FIRST AND SECOND STOP SURFACES, INCLUDES: TWO CLAMP ARMS 54, 56 FIXED PERPENDICULARLY TO THE FIRST SURFACE 16 AND EQUIPPED, AT THEIR FREE END, WITH A BULKHEAD 58, 59 DIRECTED TOWARDS THE OTHER ARM, AND TWO ALVEOLES (NOT SHOWN) SHAPED IN THE SECOND STOP SURFACE TO RECEIVE THE ARMS AND HOLD THEM BY HANGING THE BODIES. ADVANTAGEALLY, A LOCKING DEVICE 100 IS ASSOCIATED WITH AT LEAST ONE OF THE ARMS.

Description

The present invention relates generally

  to assembly devices for computer systems

  and more particularly to assembly devices which serve to assemble together the individual units of a computer system, for example, to assemble a computer

  with its peripheral units.

  We have already used in different computer systems

  many types of conventional assembly devices for assembling

  wire between them the computer and a peripheral unit, such as a printer One such type of assembly device is the butterfly screw device constituted by a screw head and two threaded screw rods, one from each city The two rods can be screwed into the two surfaces of the computer and the peripheral unit respectively to assemble the two surfaces together Screwing the wing screw in the two surfaces takes time To securely assemble the computer and the peripheral unit, it may be necessary to use several butterfly screws.

  butterfly screw type assembly device may be ineffective

  effective due to the time required for assembly.

  Another conventional assembly device used is the slit and mushroom head assembly device. One of the surfaces to be assembled is provided with a pin having an enlarged head in the form of a mushroom. The other surface to be assembled is provided with a '' a slot large enough to allow the mushroom head to enter it The slot is

  extended on one side by a narrow slit which is sufficient

  large enough to receive the stem part of the mushroom head pin but small enough to prevent the mushroom head from passing To assemble the two surfaces, introduce the mushroom head pin into the slot through the part of the slot having larger dimensions: On

  then pushes the stem portion of the chamfer spindle

  pinion in the narrow part of the slot so as to join the two surfaces The assembly device with slot and chamignon head may have low tolerances

  mechanical and therefore be expensive.

  The locking apparatus of the present invention is designed to assemble the housings of two individual units in a computer system, such as a computer housing and

  the casing of a peripheral unit, in a box arrangement

  The adjoining surfaces of the two housings define a first abutment surface and a second abutment surface. The assembly device comprises two fixed clamping arms.

  to the first abutment surface from which they spread

  tend and two female assembly members which form two cells in the casing which comprises the second abutment surface The two cells are designed to receive the two clamping arms in a relative clamping arrangement of

  so that when the two arms are arranged in the al-

  voles, the friction between the arms and the surfaces of the

  véoles assembles together in a sure way the two housings

in a stop arrangement.

  Other characteristics and advantages of the invention

  will appear on reading the description which follows

  and examining the appended drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the casing of a computer, of the casing of a peripheral unit and of two parts of an assembly device used for assembling

  between them the two housings, to illustrate the present in-

  vention; Fig 2 is a perspective view of part of

  the peripheral unit and the clamping part of the device

  assembly tif which represents the pre-

  beast of the present invention; Fig 3 is a perspective view of part of the

  computer housing and the female part of a device

  assembly sitive which represents the pre-

  beast of the present invention; FIGS. 4 A and 4 B are perspective views of the casing of a computer, of the casing of a peripheral unit and of the two parts of an assembly device, these views showing how the assembly device functions to assemble

  the two housings in order to illustrate the pre-embodiment

  beast of the present invention; Figs SA and 5B are partial views, in section, of an assembly device which assembles together a computer case and a peripheral unit case, to illustrate the preferred embodiment of the present invention ;

  Fig 6 A is a sectional view of a suction device

  a semblage which joins together a part of the casing of a computer and a part of the casing of a peripheral unit to illustrate another embodiment of the present invention; and Fig 6 B is a perspective view of parts of a

  device for assembling and housing a peripheral unit

  risk representing another embodiment of the pre-

invention.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the casing 10 of a computer and of the casing 12 of a peripheral unit and of assembly devices 22 and 28 which serve to assemble

  the two casings, this view serving to illustrate the invention.

  As shown in Fig 1, surfaces 14 and 16 remain

  pectively of the casing 10 and of the casing 12 are the surfaces which are contiguous when the two casings are assembled

  between them Electrical connectors 18 and 20 are connected

  plés when surfaces 14 and 16 are in abutment to connect -

  electrically ter the computer and the peripheral unit

  The two assembly devices 22 and 28 are identical and each has two parts: a clamping part (24, 30) and a female part (26, 32).

  only one assembly device may be sufficient to

  seem to them the two housings, we use two arrangements

  assembly tifs in the preferred embodiment to securely assemble the two housings together Since the two assembly devices 22 and 28 are

  essentially identical, the description which follows will not

  will refer to the assembly device 22.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a part of the casing 12 of the peripheral unit and of the clamping part 24 of the assembly device 22 The clamping part 24 comprises an upper part 54 forming a blade or wing and a lower arm 56 Given that the upper blade 14 plays the role of one of the two clamping arms, the blade 54 will hereinafter be called the arm 54 even if it does not resemble an arm in the conventional sense For this purpose, the arm

  54 has a rib 58 which, again for reasons

  functional sounds, can be called a finger 58 directed towards the arm 56 The arm 56 has at its end a projection 59 which faces the arm 54 Below the arm 56

an arm 60 is arranged.

  Fig 3 is a perspective view of part of the

  computer housing 10 and a female part 26 of the device

  positive of assembly 22 The casing 10 of the computer

  has two recesses: a recess 74 (shown in the

  Fig 5 A), at the base, and a recess or cell 76, at the top.

  The female part 26 comprises the cell 76 which is formed

  to receive finger 58 from the clamping part of the device

  assembly sitive and adapt to it and a socket 78 (formed

  -in recess 74 as explained below) whose par-

  upper tie is shaped to receive the projection 59 of

  the clamping part and adapt to it To assemble the

  ter 10 from the computer to the casing of the peripheral unit 12 so that the surfaces 14 and 16 are in abutment, the finger 58 is placed in the cell 76 so that the finger 58 forms a fulcrum or pivot point around from which the surface 16 can be rotated in the direction of the surface 14 This operation has been shown in FIGS 4 A and 4 B When the surface 16 is rotated in the direction of the surface 14 around this fulcrum, the projection 59 penetrates into the upper part of the cell 78 Such an action of the projection 59 is shown more clearly in FIG. 5A. FIG. 5A is a sectional view of the lower part of the assembly device 22 showing the assembly between

  lower elements of the clamping part 24 and of the

  female tie 26 of the assembly device An upper lip

  lower 80 extends along the upper part of the

  74 The recess 74 formed in the surface 14 has a surface 82 which is extended at its base by a rib 84.

  The cell 78 is formed by an elastic keeper 86 which

  fits in the lower part of a recess 74 formed in the surface 14 and is held in place by the lip 80, at the top, by the recessed surface 82, on the side, and by the

  rib 84, at the base The spring 86 has a part

  81 which has, in cross section, the shape of an S, part of the S being shaped so as to adapt to the lip 80 and the other part forming the upper part of

  the cell 78 designed to adapt to the projection 58.

  As shown in FIG. 5 A, the projection 59 comprises

  an inclined part 88 which faces the cell 78 The part

  inclined tie allows the projection 59 to easily penetrate into the cell 78 The surface 90, which forms the rear face of the projection 59, is inclined at a greater angle on the arm 56 than the surface of the part 88 Thus, when the projection 59 is engaged in the cavity 78, as shown in Fig SA, the friction force between the surface 90 and the surface 9 Sa of the strike portion 91 of the spring 86 practically pockets the projection 59 and the arm 56 can be removed from the socket 78 The housings 10 and 12 are thus securely assembled together The clamping action of the arm 56 on the elastic keeper 86 reduces the movements of the surface 14 relative to the surface 16 in directions normal to both surfaces So even if connector 22 is not precisely fabricated so

  that such movements are possible, the stop between the

  fate 86 and part 90 of the arm reduces such movements.

  The lower part of the spring 86 has a part

  92 which we will designate here, also for func-

  tional, an arm 92 The arm 92 of the spring 86 has a shape suitable for coming into abutment against the arm 60 of the clamping part 24 of the assembly device when the projection 59 is inserted in the socket 78 The support of the arm 92 against the arm 60 strengthens the assembly of the two casings in the directions parallel to the surfaces 14 and 16 and reduces the play

  lateral in such directions so even if the ele-

  elements of the assembly device 22 are not manufactured

  precisely so that surface 14 can slide sideways

  relatively to the surface 16, the support between the arm

  92 and the arm 60 reduces such lateral movement.

  quent, the assembly device 22 is insensitive to tight mechanical tolerances so that it functions correctly even if its elements are not manufactured with precision. Although the friction forces between the arms 54 and 56 without the finger 58 or the projection 59 may be sufficient to keep the two abutment surfaces applied against each other, in the preferred embodiment, the

  arms are provided with this finger and this projection for ac-

  increasing the friction forces between the clamping arms and the surfaces of the cells in order to assemble the two abutment surfaces more securely. Considered from another angle, the ends of the arms 54, 56 have such a shape (for example , they have protrusions) that

  the friction forces between them and the surfaces of the

  are sufficient to assemble the housings between

them in a safe way.

  As shown in Figs 2 and 4 to which reference will be made, the casing 12 has a passage for a mechanism

  unlocking device 100 which includes an unlocking member

  vertical beam 102 in contact with arm 56, at its end

  lower part, and assembled with a button 104, at its upper end Thus, as shown in Fig 5 B, when the button 104 is pressed, the arm 56 is bent downwards which removes the projection 59 from the part upper part of the socket 78 and spreads the surface 90 of the spring so that the surface 16 can be rotated away from the

  surface 16 around finger 58 to separate the two casings.

  In the preferred embodiment described above, 2544 t 58 -7 the clamping part 24 of the assembly device comprises two arms which engage in two cells formed in the surface 14 It will be understood that one can use d other embodiments insofar as they fulfill the same function as the part 24 It is not essential that the cells 76 and 78 formed in the female part 26

  of the assembly device is adjacent to the surface 14.

  They can be moved away from the surface 14 in which case the arms 54 and 56 will be longer than they have been shown in the figures Although it is preferable that the finger 58

  serve as a fulcrum around which the surface is rotated

  face 16 in the direction of surface 14, such a function is not essential for the implementation of the invention

  which only requires that the clamping arms be

  cés so as to engage in the cells 76, 78 for as-

  seem to each other the two abutment surfaces Similarly, the clamping portion 24 and the female portion 26 can be

  interchanged so that part 24 is fixed to the over-

  face 14 and the part 26 is fixed to the surface 16; in this

  In this case, the assembly device also works in the same way.

niere described above.

  Figs 6 A and 6 B represent another embodiment.

  The two arms 200, 202 are essentially similar

  arm 56 of the preferred embodiment described above.

  The two arms engage in two cells 204, 206 approxi-

  matively similar to cell 78 of the preferred embodiment The projections 200a, 202a come to bear against

  the S-shaped parts of springs 212, 214 which delimit the

  vesoles 204, 206 to assemble the surfaces 14, 16 together, as previously described A toggle lever 230 -is used to unlock the two arms of the two cells As shown in Fig 6 B, if the button 232 is pressed in the casing 12, the bar 234 slidably mounted in the passage 236 formed in the casing 12 spreads the toggle joint and the

  two links 238, 240 push the arms 200, 202 away

  gment from one another to release the projections 200a, 202a respectively from the spring 212 and the spring 214 One can then 2544 t 58 detach the casing 12 by pulling it away from the casing When the button 232 is released, the two arms return to their original position, pushing the links 238, 240 from the toggle joint to their retracted position and the bar 234 and the button 232 protruding above the casing 12 The two arms are then in position to assemble together the two housings The button of the toggle lever can be arranged

  on the lateral surface of the casing 12.

  In the preferred embodiment as in the alternative embodiment, the assembly device is used to assemble between them the casing of a computer and the casing of a peripheral unit It is, however, of course

  that in the two embodiments the device for-

  semblage can join together any two individual units of a computer system or even two units

of any system.

  In the preferred embodiment and in the alternative embodiment, the two housings 10, 12, including the parts

  which form the recesses and the arms, are made of ma-

  plastic, the recesses 74, 76 being simply

  recesses formed in the housing 10 and the arms 54, 56 make

  being an integral part of the casing 12 A metal cast in co-

  keel, such as aluminum, is also a sa-

  satisfactory for the housings The springs 86, 212, 214 can be made of steel, spring steel, phosphor bronze or beryllium copper The toggle lever 230 can be made of die cut sheet metal.

  The above description of the process and construction

  tion was given only as an illututration of the invention.

  tion and various modifications may be made to the shapes, dimensions, materials or other details of the process and construction without departing from the scope of the

appended claims.

Claims (8)

  1 An apparatus for joining together the housings (12, 10) of two individual units of a computer system in a stop arrangement, the adjoining surfaces of the two housings forming first and second hill surfaces (16, 14) , this device being characterized in that it comprises: two clamping arms (54, 56; 200, 202) fixed to the first abutment surface (16) from which they extend; and two female assembly members comprising two cells (76, 78; 204, 206) formed in the casing (10) which comprises the   second abutment surface, the cells being arranged to re-   have both clamping arms in a clamping relationship   so that when the two arms are engaged in the al-   voles, the friction between the arms and the surfaces of the   véoles securely assembles the two housings in a stop arrangement.   2 Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that each of the arms (54, 56; 200, 202) has C at its end, a projection (58, 59; 200 a, 202 a) which faces the other arm and in that the two cells (76, 78; 204, 206) are made in a form suitable for receiving the two projections, thereby increasing the friction forces between   the arms and the two female joining members for   force the assembly between the two housings.   3 Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises an unlocking member (100) assembled with one (56) of the arms (54, 56) to push the two arms away from one on the other to release the arms of the female assembly members and thus separate the two housings.   4 An apparatus for joining together the housings (12, 10) of the two individual units of a computer system in a stop arrangement, the adjoining surfaces of the two housings forming first and second hill surfaces (16, 14) , this device being characterized in that it comprises:   first and second clamping arms (54, 56) approximately   parallel parallels fixed to the first abutment surface from   shot from which they extend, the first arm (54) comprises   both at its end, a finger (58) directed towards the second   arm and the second arm (56> bearing its end, a sail-   lie (59) directed towards the first arm; a first as-   female coupling comprising a first cavity (76) formed in the casing (10) which comprises the second abutment surface (14), this first cavity being disposed closely approximated to the second abutment surface and being designed to receive said finger (5) so that when this finger is engaged in the first socket, it forms a pivot around which the first abutment surface can be rotated   relative to the second abutment surface; and a second gold-   female assembly gane comprising a second cell (78)   formed in the housing which includes the second bu-   tee, this second alveolus being disposed closely spaced   of the second abutment surface and being arranged in a location   cement such that, when the first abutment surface is moved around the pivot, the end of the second arm and the projection which it carries engage in the second cell, the first and second cells having shapes such as the friction forces between their surfaces and those of the finger and the projection practically pocket that the two housings   can be separated from each other.   Apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that it further comprises an unlocking device (100) assembled on the second arm to withdraw the projection (59) of the arm out of the socket in order to allow the separation of the two housings.   6 Apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that it further comprises a third arm (60) fixed to one   abutment surfaces, the third arm being approximate-   parallel to the first and second arms (54, 56) and adjja-   cent to the second arm (56) when the two abutment surfaces (16, 14) are assembled, and a leaf spring (92) extending from the other abutment surface to bear   against the third arm when the two housings are assembled   to reinforce the connection between the two stop surfaces in directions parallel to the two stop surfaces and to reduce the lateral play of the connection in such directions.   7 Device according to claim 4, characterized in that it comprises a spring <86) forming a keeper housed in the second cell (78) to come into contact with the projection <59) when the projection is engaged in the second cell,   the spring being elastic in a direction perpendicular to   surface to the abutment surfaces (16, 14) so that the movements   relative elements between the abutment surfaces, when they are   in abutment, are reduced in such a direction.   8 An apparatus for joining together the housings (12, 10) of two individual units of a computer system in a stop arrangement, the adjoining surfaces of the two housings forming first and second stop surfaces (16, 14) , this apparatus being characterized in that it comprises: two clamping arms (20; 202) approximately parallel   attached to the first abutment surface (16) from the   which they extend, each of the two arms comprising, at   its end, a projection <200 a, 202 a) oriented in the direction   tion of the other arm; two female assembly components   taking two cells (212, 214) formed in the casing (10) which comprises the second abutment surface (14), the distance between the two cells being approximately equal to the distance between the two arms, the two cells having such a shape that they allow the two ends of the two arms carrying the projections to penetrate therein and that after such an introduction, the friction forces between their surfaces and those of the projections practically prevent the arms from being able to be withdrawn therefrom, thus assembling the two surfaces stop.   9 Apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that it further comprises a toggle lever (230) whose links (238, 240) are assembled in such a way   so with both arms (200, 202) that the spacing of the knee-   1st pushes the arms away from each other, disengages   thus managing the projections (200 a, 202 a) of the cells (212, 214), so that it is then sufficient to pull on the surfaces of stopper to separate them.