TWI810536B - Fixing device - Google Patents

Abstract

A fixing device includes a substrate, a slot, and a fixing frame. The slot is located on the substrate and configured to be inserted by a first end of an expansion unit, and the fixing frame is on the substrate. The fixing frame has an upper resisting portion and a lower supporting portion, in which the accommodating space is defined between the upper resisting portion and the lower supporting portion. A force is applied to or released from the upper resisting portion to elastically deform or elastically recover, such that the fixing frame switches between an open state and a fixing state. Therefore, the accommodating space selectively accommodates a second end of the expansion unit.

Description

Fixtures

The invention relates to a fixing device, in particular to a fixing device for an expansion unit.

The expansion unit is used to provide more expansion functions of the computer, and the expansion unit can be, for example, a video display card, a solid-state hard disk, etc. Most of these electronic devices are fixed on the assembly frame in the electronic equipment in a locking manner. However, the internal density of the FF0C electronic device is very high. When placing the expansion unit in the electronic device or extracting the expansion unit from the electronic device, this fixing method is not convenient for manual operation.

Therefore, how to provide a fixing device that improves stability and binding force while taking into account the convenience of installation so as to be conveniently and firmly combined with the expansion unit is a problem that needs to be solved in the industry.

In view of this, an object of the present invention is to provide a fixing device which can solve the above problems, which includes a base plate, a slot and a fixing frame. The slot is arranged on the base board and used for inserting the first end of the expansion unit. The fixing frame is arranged on the base plate. The fixing frame has an upper resisting part and a lower supporting part, wherein a receiving space is defined between the upper resisting part and the lower supporting part. The fixing frame is in an open state or a fixed state, and enables the receiving space to selectively accommodate the second end of the expansion unit.

In one or more embodiments of the present invention, the upper resisting portion has an inclined surface, and the inclined surface faces the slot and is configured to be biased by the second end of the expansion unit so that the fixing frame elastically deforms to be in an open state.

In one or more embodiments of the present invention, the upper resisting portion has a convex arc surface, and the convex arc surface faces the slot and is configured to be biased by the second end of the expansion unit, so that the fixing frame elastically deforms to be in an open state.

In one or more embodiments of the present invention, when the second end passes through the upper resisting portion and is located in the receiving space, the second end releases force on the upper resisting portion, so that the fixing frame elastically recovers and is in a fixed state.

In one or more embodiments of the present invention, the upper resisting portion has a U-shaped bottom surface.

In one or more embodiments of the present invention, the lower supporting part has a U-shaped top surface.

In one or more embodiments of the present invention, the fixing frame includes a transverse slit, wherein the transverse slit is located between the upper resisting portion and the lower supporting portion.

In one or more embodiments of the present invention, the fixing frame is integrally formed.

In one or more embodiments of the present invention, the fixing frame has pins, wherein the pins are fixed to the substrate and electrically connected to the grounding circuit of the substrate.

In one or more embodiments of the present invention, the fixing frame further has an elastic portion, wherein the elastic portion is configured to push the expansion unit fixed in the receiving space, so that the expansion unit closely contacts the upper resisting portion or the lower supporting portion.

In some embodiments, the fixing device of the present invention has a specially designed fixing frame to replace the conventional locking and fixing means, so the cost of many locking components can be saved. In addition, the fixing frame is elastic and can be easily assembled and fixed to an expansion unit (such as a solid-state hard disk), and even the user can easily disassemble the fixing frame, so considerable time can be saved in assembling and disassembling. To sum up, the fixing device of the present invention is easy to assemble and disassemble, replacing the conventional locking technology, so it can save a lot of time and money costs, and make the product and its assembly process more competitive.

The above description is only used to illustrate the problem to be solved by the present invention, the technical means for solving the problem, and the effects thereof, etc. The specific details of the present invention will be described in detail in the following implementation methods and related drawings.

Several embodiments of the present invention will be disclosed in the following figures. For the sake of clarity, many practical details will be described together in the following description. It should be understood, however, that these practical details should not be used to limit the invention. That is, in some embodiments of the present invention, these practical details are unnecessary. In addition, for the sake of simplifying the drawings, some commonly used structures and elements will be shown in a simple and schematic manner in the drawings.

Please refer to FIG. 1 , which is a schematic perspective view of a fixing device 100 . In some embodiments of the present invention, the fixing device 100 includes a base plate 110 , a slot 120 , a fixing frame 130 and an expansion unit 140 . The socket 120 is disposed on the substrate 110 , and the fixing frame 130 is also disposed on the substrate 110 . In addition, one end of the expansion unit 140 can be inserted into the slot 120, and the other end can be selectively clamped by the fixing frame 130, wherein the fixing frame 130 can be flexibly switched between the open state and the fixed state, so as to facilitate assembly or Remove the expansion unit 140 . The assembly method of the fixing device 100 and its related structural details will be described in detail in the following paragraphs, and will not be repeated here.

Please refer to pictures 1 to 5. FIG. 2 shows a schematic side view of the fixing device 100 fixing the expansion unit 140 in FIG. 1 . FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of the fixing device 100 , where the expansion unit 140 has not been fixed on the fixing frame 130 . FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged view of the expansion unit 140 . FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of the fixing frame 130 . In some embodiments of the present invention, the fixing frame 130 has an upper resisting portion 131, a lower supporting portion 133 and a receiving space 135, wherein the receiving space 135 is defined between the upper resisting portion 131 and the lower supporting portion 133, and the upper resisting portion 131 It is configured to be elastically deformed under force or elastically recovered after releasing force, so that the fixed frame 130 is in an open state or a fixed state, wherein the upper resisting portion 131 can be stressed and move forward (rotation direction A1) or backward (rotation direction A1) along the axis A. The direction A2) is bent so that the expansion unit 140 is fixed to the receiving space 135 or moved out of the receiving space 135 , but the present invention is not limited thereto.

Specifically, the substrate 110 may be a printed circuit board (printed circuit board, PCB), such as a single-sided printed circuit board (single layer PCB) or a multi-layer printed circuit board (multi-layer PCB). limit. In addition, the slot 120 may be an insertion slot of a connector, such as an insertion slot of a plug-in connector. In some embodiments of the present invention, the fixing frame 130 is made of elastic conductive metal, for example, the fixing frame 130 is made of copper beryllium, so the upper resisting portion 131 of the fixing frame 130 is elastically deformed or deformed under force. Release force and elastic recovery. In addition, the fixing frame 130 may be integrally formed, but the present invention is not limited thereto. In other embodiments of the present invention, the fixing frame 130 is made of elastic polymer material.

In addition, the expansion unit 140 is used to provide the expansion function of the computer, and the expansion unit 140 may include a solid state disk (Solid State Disk, SSD) or a display card (Display Card), etc., and the expansion unit 140 is referred to as M in this embodiment. .2 interface (interface) PCI-E is an example, the predecessor of the M.2 interface is Next Generation Form Factor (NGFF), is a kind of computer internal expansion function card and related connector specification, but the present invention is not limited to this, For example, it may also be mini PCI-E (mini Peripheral Component Interconnect, peripheral component interconnect standard), or mSATA (mini Serial Advanced Technology Attachment, serial advanced technology attachment). In addition, the expansion unit 140 can further integrate various functions such as solid-state hard drives and wireless communication modules. The wireless communication modules can be, for example, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, satellite navigation, and near field communication (NFC). The present invention does not rely on this limit.

Specifically, the expansion unit 140 has a corresponding first end 141 and a second end 143, wherein the first end 141 is configured to be inserted into the slot 120, the second end 143 is configured to be selectively fixed in the receiving space 135, and the first end 141 and the second end 143 can be the front end and the rear end of the expansion unit 140 respectively, and the expansion unit 140 further includes a snap-in structure 145, and the snap-in structure 145 is arranged on the second end 143 (such as the rear end) of the expansion unit 140, So that the engaging structure 145 is locked in the receiving space 135 by the upper resisting portion 131 and the lower supporting portion 133 . In some embodiments of the present invention, the engaging structure 145 includes an arc-shaped groove 145a and a rib-shaped engaging block 145b, wherein the rib-shaped engaging block 145b is located in the arc-shaped groove 145a and along the arc-shaped groove 145a. The concave arc surface extends (for example, when the concave arc surface is perpendicular to the horizontal direction X, the rib-shaped engaging block 145b extends along the concave arc surface in the horizontal direction X). When the engaging structure 145 is located in the receiving space 135, the upper resisting portion 131 and the lower supporting portion 133 will limit the rib-shaped engaging block 145b in the vertical direction Y, and the upper resisting portion 131 and the lower supporting portion 133 will also be in the horizontal direction X. The concave arc surface of the arc-shaped groove 145 a is resisted and limited, so that the expansion unit 140 can be firmly fixed between the slot 120 and the fixing frame 130 , but the invention is not limited thereto.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the upper resisting portion 131 has a slope S, the slope S faces the slot 120 , and the top T1 of the slope S is farther away from the slot 120 than the bottom D1 of the slope S. The second end 143 exerts force (for example, it is squeezed by the rib-shaped engaging block 145b of the engaging structure 145), the fixing frame 130 will be elastically deformed, and the upper resisting portion 131 of the fixing frame 130 is bent along the rotation direction A1 and is opened. state. In addition, the user can push the upper resisting portion 131 so that the upper resisting portion 131 is bent along the rotation direction A2 and is in an open state, so that the second end 143 of the expansion unit 140 moves upwards out of the fixing frame 130 along the vertical direction Y, But the present invention is not limited thereto. In addition, when the second end 143 pushes down and passes through the upper resisting portion 131 to the receiving space 135 , the second end 143 releases force on the upper resisting portion 131 , so that the fixing frame 130 elastically recovers and is in a fixed state. At this time, the upper resisting portion 131 and the lower supporting portion 133 of the fixing frame 130 clamp the expansion unit 140 together, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

In one or more embodiments of the present invention, the upper resisting portion 131 has a U-shaped bottom surface, and the lower supporting portion 133 has a U-shaped top surface, wherein the U-shaped bottom surface of the upper resisting portion 131 and the U-shaped top of the lower supporting portion 133 The surface can be formed by simple processing of copper plate, so the fixing frame 130 can be integrally formed. Specifically, the fixing frame 130 includes a transverse slit, the transverse slit is located between the upper resisting portion 131 and the lower support portion 133 and extends along the axial direction A, the transverse slit can be made by cutting, for example, the transverse slit The slit allows the upper resisting portion 131 of the fixing frame 130 to be bent along the transverse slit (for example, bent along the rotation direction A1 or the rotation direction A2 ) when a force is applied. In fact, the copper alloy plate can be cut to form the transverse slit first, and then the copper alloy plate can be bent and other processing procedures are performed to further manufacture the upper resisting portion 131 and the lower supporting portion 133. Of course, the steps of these processes The sequence can be adjusted and changed according to the actual situation, and the present invention is not limited thereto.

In one or more embodiments of the present invention, the fixing frame 130 is made of conductive material, and the fixing frame 130 further has one or more end legs 137 (for example, four end legs 137, two of which are 137 is located at the front side of the fixing frame 130, and the other two end legs 137 are located at the rear side of the fixing frame 130), wherein the end legs 137 are fixed in the base plate 110 and have a grounding function. Specifically, the terminal pin 137 is partially located in the substrate 110 or passes through the substrate 110 , and the terminal pin 137 is electrically connected to the ground circuit of the substrate 110 , so the terminal pin 137 can provide a grounding function. In some embodiments, the rib-shaped engaging block 145b of the expansion unit 140 is also made of conductive material, the rib-shaped engaging block 145b is electrically connected with the internal circuit of the expansion unit 140, when the rib-shaped engaging block 145b contacts and When electrically connected to the fixing frame 130 , the terminal pin 137 can further provide a good grounding function for the expansion unit 140 , but the invention is not limited thereto.

In one or more embodiments of the present invention, the fixing frame 130 further has an elastic portion 139, wherein the elastic portion 139 is configured to push the expansion unit 140 fixed in the receiving space 135, so that the expansion unit 140 closely contacts the upper resisting portion 131 or the lower The support portion 133 . Taking Figure 5 as an example, the elastic portion 139 is disposed on the U-shaped bottom surface of the upper resisting portion 131. When the upper resisting portion 131 and the lower supporting portion 133 clamp the expansion unit 140 together, the elastic portion 139 will elastically deform and continue to support the expansion unit. 140 exerts elastic force so that the expansion unit 140 can be tightly abutted against the U-shaped top surface of the lower support portion 133 , thereby increasing the stability of the overall structure. In addition, the elastic portion 139 may also be disposed on the inner sidewall or the outer sidewall of the upper resisting portion 131 , and the elastic portion 139 protrudes downward from the U-shaped bottom surface, but the invention is not limited thereto. In addition, the elastic portion 139 can be square, trapezoidal, cylindrical, or other suitable shapes, and the elastic portion 139 can also be a spring structure or a shrapnel, and the present invention is not limited thereto.

In some other embodiments of the present invention, the elastic portion 139 is arranged on the U-shaped top surface of the lower supporting portion 133. When the upper resisting portion 131 and the lower supporting portion 133 clamp the expansion unit 140 together, the elastic portion 139 will be elastic. deform and continue to apply elastic force to the expansion unit 140 , so that the expansion unit 140 can closely abut against the U-shaped bottom surface of the upper resisting portion 131 . In addition, the elastic portion 139 may also be disposed on the inner wall or the outer wall of the lower supporting portion 133 , and the elastic portion 139 protrudes upward from the U-shaped top surface, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

Please refer to Figures 1 to 4 and Figure 6 at the same time. Figure 6 is a schematic perspective view of the fixing frame 130a in one or more embodiments of the present invention, and the fixing frame 130a can replace Figures 1 to 4 The fixing bracket 130 in the figure. Specifically, the fixing frame 130a is substantially the same as the fixing frame 130, and the main difference is that the upper resisting portion 131a and the lower supporting portion 133a of the fixing frame 130a are significantly different, wherein the upper resisting portion 131a is roughly a quarter-circle cover. Therefore, the upper resisting portion 131a has a convex arc surface C, and the convex arc surface C faces the slot 120, the top T2 of the convex arc surface C is farther away from the slot 120 than the bottom D2 of the convex arc surface C, and the convex arc surface C It is configured to be biased by the second end 143 of the expansion unit 140 , so that the fixing frame 130 a is elastically deformed along the axis B to bend and be in an open state. Specifically, the expansion unit 140 may apply force from above the fixing frame 130a, so that the upper resisting portion 131a of the fixing frame 130a elastically deforms and bends along the rotation direction B1, so the fixing frame 130a is in an open state, and the expansion unit 140 It can be further inserted into the receiving space 135a. In addition, the user can apply force to the upper resisting portion 131a, so that the upper resisting portion 131a is elastically deformed along the rotation direction B2 and is in an open state. At this time, the expansion unit 140 can be further moved out of the receiving space 135a of the fixing frame 130a. But the present invention is not limited thereto.

In some embodiments, the fixing device of the present invention has a specially designed fixing frame to replace the conventional locking and fixing means, so the cost of many locking components can be saved. In addition, the fixing frame is elastic and can be easily assembled and fixed to an expansion unit (such as a solid-state hard disk), and even the user can easily disassemble the fixing frame, so considerable time can be saved in assembling and disassembling. To sum up, the fixing device of the present invention is easy to assemble and disassemble, replacing the conventional locking technology, so it can save a lot of time and money costs, and make the product and its assembly process more competitive.

While various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that the various embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and not limitation. Many changes may be made to the disclosed embodiments in light of the disclosure herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by the above-described embodiments.

100: Fixtures 110: Substrate 120: slot 130, 130a: fixed frame 131, 131a: upper resisting part 133, 133a: lower support part 135, 135a: containment space 137: end pin 139: elastic part 140: expansion unit 141: first end 143: second end 145: snap structure 145a: arc groove 145b: rib-shaped engaging block 2: section line A, B: Axial A1, A2, B1, B2: Direction of rotation C: Convex surface D1, D2: Bottom S: slope T1, T2: top X: horizontal direction Y: vertical direction

In order to achieve the above advantages and features, the principles of the above brief description will be more specifically explained with reference to the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. These drawings illustrate the invention only, and therefore do not limit the scope of the invention. The principles of the invention will be clearly explained and additional features and details will be fully described by means of the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a fixing device in one or more embodiments of the present invention; Figure 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the fixing device according to the section line 2-2 in Figure 1; FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a fixing device in one or more embodiments of the present invention; Figure 4 shows a partially enlarged view of the expansion unit in Figure 3; Fig. 5 is a schematic perspective view of a fixing frame in one or more embodiments of the present invention; and FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view of a fixing frame in one or more embodiments of the present invention.

Domestic deposit information (please note in order of depositor, date, and number) none Overseas storage information (please note in order of storage country, institution, date, and number) none

100: Fixtures

110: Substrate

120: slot

130: fixed frame

140: expansion unit

141: first end

143: second end

2: section line

Claims (8)

A fixing device, comprising: a base plate; a slot set on the base plate for inserting the first end of an expansion unit; and a fixing frame set on the base plate, the fixing frame has an upper resisting portion and a lower supporting portion, wherein A receiving space is defined between the upper resisting part and the lower supporting part, and the upper resisting part is configured to be elastically deformed under force or elastically recovered after releasing the force, so that the fixing frame is in an open state or a fixed state, and the receiving space is selected. The second end of the expansion unit is permanently accommodated, wherein the fixing frame includes a transverse slit, and the horizontal slit is located between the upper resisting portion and the lower supporting portion, wherein the fixing frame has end feet, and the end feet are fixed on The substrate is electrically connected to the ground circuit of the substrate. The fixing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the upper resisting portion has an inclined surface, and the inclined surface faces the slot and is configured to be biased by the second end of the expansion unit, so that the fixing bracket is elastically deformed to be in an open state . The fixing device according to claim 1, wherein the upper resisting portion has a convex arc surface, and the convex arc surface faces the slot and is configured to be urged by the second end of the expansion unit, so that the fixing frame is elastically deformed while on. The fixing device as described in claim 2 or 3, wherein when the second end passes through the upper resisting portion and is located in the receiving space, the second end releases force on the upper resisting portion, so that the fixing frame elastically recovers and is fixed state. The fixing device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the upper resisting portion has a U-shaped bottom surface. The fixing device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the lower supporting part has a U-shaped top surface. The fixing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fixing frame is integrally formed. The fixing device according to claim 1, wherein the fixing frame further has an elastic part, wherein the elastic part is configured to push the expansion unit fixed in the storage space, so that the expansion unit closely contacts the upper resisting part or the lower support department.

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