US20020071262A1 - Circuit board holders and assemblies - Google Patents
Circuit board holders and assemblies Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20020071262A1 US20020071262A1 US10/003,507 US350701A US2002071262A1 US 20020071262 A1 US20020071262 A1 US 20020071262A1 US 350701 A US350701 A US 350701A US 2002071262 A1 US2002071262 A1 US 2002071262A1
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- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- circuit board
- holder
- retainers
- board holder
- panel
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
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Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H05K—PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS
- H05K7/00—Constructional details common to different types of electric apparatus
- H05K7/14—Mounting supporting structure in casing or on frame or rack
- H05K7/1422—Printed circuit boards receptacles, e.g. stacked structures, electronic circuit modules or box like frames
- H05K7/1427—Housings
- H05K7/1428—Housings for small modular apparatus with terminal block
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H05K—PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS
- H05K7/00—Constructional details common to different types of electric apparatus
- H05K7/14—Mounting supporting structure in casing or on frame or rack
- H05K7/1417—Mounting supporting structure in casing or on frame or rack having securing means for mounting boards, plates or wiring boards
Definitions
- the subject invention relates to circuit board holders and circuit board assemblies.
- circuit Breaker housings for conveniently mounting circuit breakers in corresponding apertures of power switching panels, such as apparent from U.S. Pat. No. 4,812,793, by Bohdan Krasij, issued Mar. 14, 1989 for “Circuit Breaker Housing With Centered Actuator.” Circuit breaker housings such as shown in FIG. 9 of that patent have been and are being sold as “dummies” for covering up panel apertures where no circuit breaker is being mounted at the time. Commercial versions of such dummies accommodate different mounting panel thicknesses by serrations at ends of so-called wings 220 c shown in that patent.
- circuit board holders and assemblies there exists a need for improved circuit board holders and assemblies.
- the need is particularly pressing in applications requiring rapid circuit board replacements, preferably without power interruption.
- the alarm circuit field such as in telephone exchange and the like, where circuit boards of alarm systems need to be replaced without disruption of power to distribution circuits.
- the invention resides in a method of making a circuit board holder and, more specifically, resides in the improvement comprising, in combination, providing that circuit board holder with a face plate and with walls projecting from an inside of that face plate, equipping a pair of opposite ones of such walls with circuit board retainers and equipping that circuit board holder with a holder retainer for releasably retaining that circuit board holder in the mentioned aperture of the panel.
- the invention resides in a circuit board holder comprising, in combination, a face plate and walls projecting from an inside of that face plate, circuit board retainers at a pair of opposite ones of such walls, and a holder retainer at an edge of the face plate.
- the circuit board retainers may be inside and/or outside of the circuit board holder.
- the invention resides in a method of mounting a device, such as a circuit board holder, in an aperture of a panel, comprising, in combination, providing that device with a resilient snap for releasably retaining that device in the panel at that aperture, providing the panel with a slot at that aperture for access to the resilient snap through that panel, and releasing such resilient snap through that slot for removal of the device from the panel.
- the invention resides in a combination of a panel having an aperture, a device, such as a circuit board holder, retained in that aperture by a resilient snap at an edge of that aperture, and a slot in such panel at that aperture exposing the resilient snap through the panel at an edge of the mentioned aperture in that panel.
- Embodiments of the invention extend to assemblies of such circuit board holders with circuit boards therein and with circuit panels.
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a circuit board holder according to an embodiment of the invention.
- FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section through the circuit board holder according to FIG. 1, with an inserted circuit board according to a further embodiment of the invention, and with such circuit board assembly releasably retained in a corresponding aperture of a panel;
- FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a circuit board assembly showing insertion of a circuit board into a circuit board holder according to a related embodiment of the invention
- FIG. 4 is a top view of that circuit board assembly
- FIG. 5 is a top view of a fraction of a panel for mounting a circuit board holder or similar device according to an embodiment of the invention.
- FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 with a section through an inserted circuit board holder or similar device and through a release tool pursuant to an embodiment of the invention.
- FIG. 1 illustrate methods of making circuit board holders, improved circuit board holders and assemblies of such circuit board holders with circuit boards therein, pursuant to the subject invention and embodiments thereof.
- Methods of making a circuit board holder 10 for installation in an aperture 12 of a power panel 13 , provide that circuit board holder with a face plate 14 larger than that aperture and with walls 16 , 17 , 18 and 19 projecting from an inside 20 of that face plate.
- Those embodiments of the invention equip a pair 16 and 18 of opposite ones of the walls 16 , 17 , 18 and 19 with circuit board retainers 21 and 22 and/or 33 and 34 .
- Those embodiments of the invention further equip the circuit board holder 10 with a holder retainer 23 for releasably retaining that circuit board holder in the mentioned aperture 12 of the panel 13 .
- Plastics material molding or other well-known manufacturing techniques may be employed for making the circuit board holders herein disclosed.
- Such holder retainer may be spaced from that face plate by a distance corresponding to a thickness 26 of the panel, such as seen in FIG. 2 showing an assembly of the circuit board holder 10 with a panel 13 and a circuit board 28 .
- At least one of another pair of the walls 16 to 19 may be provided with or has a lateral opening covering at least one half of that wall.
- FIG. 1 by way of example shows both pairs of walls 17 and 18 with such lateral openings 30 and 31 providing, for instance, access to one or more installed circuit boards 28 , such as for cooling air and the like, or for other purposes. In that case, the space 20 is still inside the circuit board holder.
- circuit board retainers may be provided internally of the space 20 inside the circuit board holder 10 , such as seen at 21 and 22 , and may therefor be termed “internal circuit board retainers.”
- circuit board retainers may be provided externally of the inside space 20 , such as seen at 33 and 34 , and may therefor be termed “external circuit board retainers.”
- a circuit board 28 or 280 is inserted into the circuit board holder 10 .
- the inserted circuit board 28 or 280 is substantially retained in a first direction inside of the circuit board holder, such as with internal circuit board retainers 21 and 22 , and is substantially retained in a second direction, such as transversely to that first direction, externally of the inside space 20 of the circuit board holder, such as with external circuit board retainers 33 and 34 .
- the circuit board retainers 21 and 22 include or are shaped as spaced rails for slideably receiving a circuit board 28 or 280 .
- FIGS. 1 and 3 show several such circuit board retainers or spaced rails 21 and 22 in each of the pair of opposite walls 16 and 18 , respectively, for slideably receiving at least one circuit board 28 at one of several levels in the circuit board holder.
- two or more circuit boards may be accommodated in one circuit board holder 10 .
- the circuit board holder 10 has or is provided with external circuit board retainers 33 and 34 in addition to the internal circuit board retainers 21 and 22 .
- the pair of opposite walls 16 and 18 has or is provided with extensions 36 and 37 beyond the inside 20 of the circuit board holder 10 .
- Such extensions 36 and 37 are equipped with circuit board retainers, or such circuit board retainers 33 and 34 are on these extensions 36 and 37 , respectively.
- the circuit board 28 is releasably retained with circuit board retainers inside of the circuit board holder 10 and is stabilized in that circuit board holder.
- the external circuit board retainer 33 and 34 may serve as circuit board stabilizers and may serve the purpose of retaining circuit boards 28 and 280 in the circuit board holder, or the retainers 21 and 22 and 33 and 34 may jointly retain and stabilize the circuit board in the circuit board holder.
- the circuit board holder 10 has or is equipped with accommodations 38 and 39 at rails 21 and 22 , respectively.
- Such accommodations 38 and 39 may be a narrowing of the holder structure permitting the holder retainers 23 and 24 to be bent inwardly for a release of the circuit board holder 10 from the panel 13 .
- the accommodations 38 and 39 may in effect be circuit board stops at a distance 40 from a rear of the face plate 14 .
- the circuit board 28 may be provided with a frontal portion 51 of reduced width relative to a subsequent main portion 52 of that circuit board.
- Such circuit board may be inserted in the circuit board holder 10 by inserting the frontal portion 51 of reduced width in between the spaced external circuit board retainers 33 and 34 and by thereupon forcing apart such spaced circuit board retainers with the main portion 52 of the circuit board and by continuing insertion of the circuit board into the circuit board holder so that the circuit board is releasably retained with the internal circuit board retainers 21 and 22 inside of the circuit board holder and is stabilized in that circuit board holder with the external circuit board retainers and stabilizers 33 and 34 .
- the external circuit board retainers and stabilizers 33 and 34 may be forced apart by flexure of the wall extensions 36 and 37 .
- the circuit board holder includes an inserted circuit board 28 or 280 extending across that circuit board holder between the pair of opposite walls 16 and 18 and circuit board retainers 21 and 22 .
- Such inserted circuit board preferably also extends between the circuit board retainers or stabilizers 33 and 34 , such as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4.
- one or more circuit board stops 380 may be provided in the circuit board holder for stopping insertion of a circuit board 280 at a leading edge or corner 55 .
- catches 133 and 134 corresponding to the external circuit board retainers 33 and 34 may be provided in the circuit board, such as seen in FIG. 3, in order to retain an inserted circuit board in a predetermined position, such as shown in FIG. 4.
- an inserted circuit board 280 has lateral catches 133 and 134 externally of a space 20 inside a circuit board holder which has extensions 36 and 37 of a pair of opposite walls 16 and 18 , and circuit board retainers 33 and 34 are on those extensions and lateral catches.
- these catches 133 and 134 are lateral notches in the circuit board 280 into which the external circuit board retainers 33 and 34 come to rest when the circuit board is completely inserted into its holder.
- different forms of retainers and catches than those illustrated in the drawings may be employed at 33 / 133 and 34 / 134 .
- the catches 133 and 134 may, for instance, be convex, and the external retainers 33 and 34 may be correspondingly concave so as to receive such convex catches.
- the wall extensions 36 and 37 and external circuit board retainers 33 and 34 may be subdivided into external circuit board retaining fingers that may alternate with the internal circuit board retainer rails or shelves 21 and 22 .
- the above mentioned holder retainer 23 preferably is or is shaped as a resilient snap for releasably retaining the circuit board holder 10 in the aperture 12 of the panel 13 .
- such holder retainer may include or be shaped as a pair of resilient snaps 23 and 24 at the pair of opposite walls 16 and 18 for releasably retaining the circuit board holder in aperture 12 of panel 13 .
- such snaps 23 and 24 may be the so-called wings 220 c shown in the above mentioned U.S. Pat. No. 4,812,793 for circuit breaker housings.
- apertures 42 there may be one or more apertures 42 in the face plate 14 , and a signal lamp 43 may be in any or each of those apertures and may be connected to the circuit board 28 , for instance.
- Such apertures 42 may be of a knock-out type, being covered in the face plate 14 until needed.
- circuit board 28 is shown with components 45 , circuitry 48 , and terminals 49 , and similar components may, of course, be provided in the circuit board 280 .
- FIGS. 2, 5 and 6 show provision of the panel 13 with an aperture 12 for receiving the circuit board holder 10 .
- the panel 13 is provided with a slot 56 at the aperture 12 for access to the holder retainer or resilient snap 23 through that panel 13 . That embodiment of the invention also effects release of the holder retainer 10 through the slot 56 for removal of the circuit board holder from the panel.
- FIG. 5 shows the circuit board holder 10 only by a dotted outline of its face plate 14 so as to avoid obstruction of the aperture 12 with lateral slot extensions or slots 56 and 57 .
- FIG. 6 shows the circuit board holder 10 in section through its walls 16 to 19 behind its face plate. In FIG. 6, most of the holder retainers or resilient snaps 23 and 24 are covered up by the panel 13 and are therefore shown by dotted lines, except where they cross under the slots 56 and 57 .
- the panel 13 has an aperture 12 adapted to receive the walls 16 to 19 of the circuit board holder 10 behind the face plate 14 seen in FIGS. 1 to 5 .
- a slot 56 in that panel at that aperture exposes the holder retainer or snap 23 through the panel at an edge of that aperture 12 in the panel.
- FIGS. 5 and 6 may signify a device other than a circuit board holder. Accordingly, FIGS. 5 and 6 may be seen as illustrating a method of mounting a device, such as a circuit board holder, in an aperture 12 of a panel 13 , comprising, in combination, providing that device with a resilient snap 23 for releasably retaining that device in the panel at that aperture, providing the panel with a slot 56 at that aperture for access to the resilient snap 23 through that panel, and releasing such resilient snap through that slot for removal of the device from the panel 13 .
- a device such as a circuit board holder
- FIGS. 5 and 6 also illustrate a combination of a panel 13 having an aperture 12 and a device, such as a circuit board holder 10 , retained in that aperture by a resilient snap 23 at an edge of that aperture, and a slot 56 in such panel at that aperture exposing such resilient snap through the panel at an edge of the mentioned aperture in that panel 13 .
- the embodiment of the invention currently under consideration also provides a tool 58 insertable through slot 56 .
- the tool 58 may be a screwdriver or similar device which has a blade or similar implement having lateral dimensions smaller than the slot 56 so as to be insertable therein and therethrough to the holder retainer or resilient snap 23 .
- the holder retainer or resilient snap 23 may be released with a tool 56 insertable through slot 56 . Such release, may, for instance, be effected by depression of the resilient snap 23 toward the device 10 or its wall 16 , until the depressed snap 23 clears the aperture 12 for a removal of the circuit board holder 10 or other device from the panel 13 .
- the holder retainer 23 is provided with steps or serrations 230 for mounting the circuit board holder 10 in different mounting panels, including the mounting panel 13 of thickness 26 such as shown in FIG. 2 and mounting panels of other thicknesses, such as seen also in FIG. 6.
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Microelectronics & Electronic Packaging (AREA)
- Mounting Of Printed Circuit Boards And The Like (AREA)
Abstract
A circuit board holder has or is provided with a face plate and with walls projecting from an inside of that face plate. A pair of opposite ones of such walls are equipped with circuit board retainers. Such retainers may be inside and/or outside of a space in the circuit board holder. The circuit board holder is equipped with one or more holder retainers or resilient snaps for releasably retaining that circuit board holder in an aperture of a panel. Such holder retainers or resilient snaps may have serrations for engaging panels of different thicknesses at their apertures. Such panel may be provided with a slot or slots at that aperture for access to the holder retainer or resilient snaps through the panel. The holder retainer or resilient snap may be released through such slots, such as by screwdrivers or other release tool, for removal of the circuit board holder or similar device from the panel.
Description
- The subject invention relates to circuit board holders and circuit board assemblies.
- The utility of printed and other circuit boards is well known.
- In the field of circuit breakers, the art has evolved progressive methods and circuit breaker housings for conveniently mounting circuit breakers in corresponding apertures of power switching panels, such as apparent from U.S. Pat. No. 4,812,793, by Bohdan Krasij, issued Mar. 14, 1989 for “Circuit Breaker Housing With Centered Actuator.” Circuit breaker housings such as shown in FIG. 9 of that patent have been and are being sold as “dummies” for covering up panel apertures where no circuit breaker is being mounted at the time. Commercial versions of such dummies accommodate different mounting panel thicknesses by serrations at ends of so-called wings 220c shown in that patent.
- In the circuit board field, there exists a need for improved circuit board holders and assemblies. By way of example and not by way of limitation, the need is particularly pressing in applications requiring rapid circuit board replacements, preferably without power interruption. One example in this respect is the alarm circuit field, such as in telephone exchange and the like, where circuit boards of alarm systems need to be replaced without disruption of power to distribution circuits.
- It is an object of the invention to provide improved methods of making circuit board holders.
- It is a germane object of the invention to provide improved circuit board holders.
- It is a related object of the invention to provide improved methods of making circuit board assemblies.
- It is a related object of the invention to provide improved circuit board assemblies.
- Other objects will become apparent in the further course of this disclosure.
- From a first aspect thereof, the invention resides in a method of making a circuit board holder and, more specifically, resides in the improvement comprising, in combination, providing that circuit board holder with a face plate and with walls projecting from an inside of that face plate, equipping a pair of opposite ones of such walls with circuit board retainers and equipping that circuit board holder with a holder retainer for releasably retaining that circuit board holder in the mentioned aperture of the panel.
- From a related aspect thereof, the invention resides in a circuit board holder comprising, in combination, a face plate and walls projecting from an inside of that face plate, circuit board retainers at a pair of opposite ones of such walls, and a holder retainer at an edge of the face plate.
- The circuit board retainers may be inside and/or outside of the circuit board holder.
- From another aspect thereof, the invention resides in a method of mounting a device, such as a circuit board holder, in an aperture of a panel, comprising, in combination, providing that device with a resilient snap for releasably retaining that device in the panel at that aperture, providing the panel with a slot at that aperture for access to the resilient snap through that panel, and releasing such resilient snap through that slot for removal of the device from the panel.
- From a related aspect thereof, the invention resides in a combination of a panel having an aperture, a device, such as a circuit board holder, retained in that aperture by a resilient snap at an edge of that aperture, and a slot in such panel at that aperture exposing the resilient snap through the panel at an edge of the mentioned aperture in that panel.
- Embodiments of the invention extend to assemblies of such circuit board holders with circuit boards therein and with circuit panels.
- The subject invention and its various aspects and objects will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments thereof, illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings which also constitute a written description of the invention, wherein like reference numerals designate like or equivalent parts, and in which:
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a circuit board holder according to an embodiment of the invention;
- FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section through the circuit board holder according to FIG. 1, with an inserted circuit board according to a further embodiment of the invention, and with such circuit board assembly releasably retained in a corresponding aperture of a panel;
- FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a circuit board assembly showing insertion of a circuit board into a circuit board holder according to a related embodiment of the invention;
- FIG. 4 is a top view of that circuit board assembly;
- FIG. 5 is a top view of a fraction of a panel for mounting a circuit board holder or similar device according to an embodiment of the invention; and
- FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 with a section through an inserted circuit board holder or similar device and through a release tool pursuant to an embodiment of the invention.
- The drawings illustrate methods of making circuit board holders, improved circuit board holders and assemblies of such circuit board holders with circuit boards therein, pursuant to the subject invention and embodiments thereof.
- Methods of making a
circuit board holder 10, according to embodiments of the invention for installation in anaperture 12 of apower panel 13, provide that circuit board holder with aface plate 14 larger than that aperture and withwalls pair walls circuit board retainers circuit board holder 10 with aholder retainer 23 for releasably retaining that circuit board holder in the mentionedaperture 12 of thepanel 13. - Plastics material molding or other well-known manufacturing techniques may be employed for making the circuit board holders herein disclosed.
- In apparatus terms, a
circuit board holder 10 according to an embodiment of the invention installable in theaperture 12 ofpanel 13 according to the illustrated embodiments of the invention comprises aface plate 14 larger than thataperture 12 andwalls inside 20 of that face plate,circuit board retainers walls holder retainer 23 at anedge 25 of the face plate. Such holder retainer may be spaced from that face plate by a distance corresponding to athickness 26 of the panel, such as seen in FIG. 2 showing an assembly of thecircuit board holder 10 with apanel 13 and acircuit board 28. - At least one of another pair of the
walls 16 to 19 may be provided with or has a lateral opening covering at least one half of that wall. FIG. 1 by way of example shows both pairs ofwalls lateral openings circuit boards 28, such as for cooling air and the like, or for other purposes. In that case, thespace 20 is still inside the circuit board holder. - Within the scope of the invention, various devices and features may be used as circuit board retainers. By way of example and not by way of limitation, circuit board retainers may be provided internally of the
space 20 inside thecircuit board holder 10, such as seen at 21 and 22, and may therefor be termed “internal circuit board retainers.” Alternatively or preferably additionally, circuit board retainers may be provided externally of theinside space 20, such as seen at 33 and 34, and may therefor be termed “external circuit board retainers.” - Accordingly to the embodiments of the invention shown in FIGS.2 to 4, a
circuit board circuit board holder 10. The insertedcircuit board circuit board retainers inside space 20 of the circuit board holder, such as with externalcircuit board retainers - The
circuit board retainers circuit board rails opposite walls circuit board 28 at one of several levels in the circuit board holder. Alternatively, two or more circuit boards may be accommodated in onecircuit board holder 10. - According to the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the
circuit board holder 10 has or is provided with externalcircuit board retainers circuit board retainers - Also according to the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the pair of
opposite walls extensions inside 20 of thecircuit board holder 10.Such extensions circuit board retainers extensions - By way of example, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4, the
circuit board 28 is releasably retained with circuit board retainers inside of thecircuit board holder 10 and is stabilized in that circuit board holder. - Notwithstanding such terminology, the external
circuit board retainer circuit boards retainers - As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the
circuit board holder 10 according to an embodiment of the invention has or is equipped withaccommodations rails Such accommodations holder retainers circuit board holder 10 from thepanel 13. - Alternatively or additionally, the
accommodations distance 40 from a rear of theface plate 14. - Within the scope of the invention, the
circuit board 28 may be provided with afrontal portion 51 of reduced width relative to a subsequentmain portion 52 of that circuit board. Such circuit board may be inserted in thecircuit board holder 10 by inserting thefrontal portion 51 of reduced width in between the spaced externalcircuit board retainers main portion 52 of the circuit board and by continuing insertion of the circuit board into the circuit board holder so that the circuit board is releasably retained with the internalcircuit board retainers stabilizers - By way of example, the external circuit board retainers and
stabilizers wall extensions - In this or any other manner within the scope of the invention, the circuit board holder includes an inserted
circuit board opposite walls circuit board retainers stabilizers - According to the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, one or more circuit board stops380, such as at the kind of
distance 40 shown in FIG. 1 from a rear of theface plate 14, may be provided in the circuit board holder for stopping insertion of acircuit board 280 at a leading edge orcorner 55. Alternatively or additionally, catches 133 and 134 corresponding to the externalcircuit board retainers - In apparatus terms, an inserted
circuit board 280 haslateral catches space 20 inside a circuit board holder which hasextensions opposite walls circuit board retainers - According to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, these
catches circuit board 280 into which the externalcircuit board retainers catches external retainers - Within the scope of the invention, the
wall extensions circuit board retainers shelves - The above mentioned
holder retainer 23 preferably is or is shaped as a resilient snap for releasably retaining thecircuit board holder 10 in theaperture 12 of thepanel 13. As seen in the drawings, such holder retainer may include or be shaped as a pair ofresilient snaps opposite walls aperture 12 ofpanel 13. - By way of example and not by way of limitation,
such snaps - As seen in FIGS.1 to 3, there may be one or
more apertures 42 in theface plate 14, and asignal lamp 43 may be in any or each of those apertures and may be connected to thecircuit board 28, for instance.Such apertures 42 may be of a knock-out type, being covered in theface plate 14 until needed. - By way of example and not by way of limitation, the
circuit board 28 is shown withcomponents 45,circuitry 48, andterminals 49, and similar components may, of course, be provided in thecircuit board 280. - FIGS. 2, 5 and6 show provision of the
panel 13 with anaperture 12 for receiving thecircuit board holder 10. According to an embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, thepanel 13 is provided with aslot 56 at theaperture 12 for access to the holder retainer orresilient snap 23 through thatpanel 13. That embodiment of the invention also effects release of theholder retainer 10 through theslot 56 for removal of the circuit board holder from the panel. - In this respect, FIG. 5 shows the
circuit board holder 10 only by a dotted outline of itsface plate 14 so as to avoid obstruction of theaperture 12 with lateral slot extensions orslots circuit board holder 10 in section through itswalls 16 to 19 behind its face plate. In FIG. 6, most of the holder retainers orresilient snaps panel 13 and are therefore shown by dotted lines, except where they cross under theslots - In apparatus terms, the
panel 13 has anaperture 12 adapted to receive thewalls 16 to 19 of thecircuit board holder 10 behind theface plate 14 seen in FIGS. 1 to 5. Aslot 56 in that panel at that aperture exposes the holder retainer or snap 23 through the panel at an edge of thataperture 12 in the panel. - In FIGS. 5 and 6, the
components aperture 12 of apanel 13, comprising, in combination, providing that device with aresilient snap 23 for releasably retaining that device in the panel at that aperture, providing the panel with aslot 56 at that aperture for access to theresilient snap 23 through that panel, and releasing such resilient snap through that slot for removal of the device from thepanel 13. - In this respect, FIGS. 5 and 6 also illustrate a combination of a
panel 13 having anaperture 12 and a device, such as acircuit board holder 10, retained in that aperture by aresilient snap 23 at an edge of that aperture, and aslot 56 in such panel at that aperture exposing such resilient snap through the panel at an edge of the mentioned aperture in thatpanel 13. - As seen in FIG. 6, the embodiment of the invention currently under consideration also provides a
tool 58 insertable throughslot 56. By way of example and not by way of limitation, thetool 58 may be a screwdriver or similar device which has a blade or similar implement having lateral dimensions smaller than theslot 56 so as to be insertable therein and therethrough to the holder retainer orresilient snap 23. In this or any other manner within the scope of the invention, the holder retainer orresilient snap 23 may be released with atool 56 insertable throughslot 56. Such release, may, for instance, be effected by depression of theresilient snap 23 toward thedevice 10 or itswall 16, until thedepressed snap 23 clears theaperture 12 for a removal of thecircuit board holder 10 or other device from thepanel 13. - According to an embodiment of the invention, the
holder retainer 23 is provided with steps orserrations 230 for mounting thecircuit board holder 10 in different mounting panels, including the mountingpanel 13 ofthickness 26 such as shown in FIG. 2 and mounting panels of other thicknesses, such as seen also in FIG. 6. - In principle, and within the scope of the invention, there need only be one holder retainer or
resilient snap 23, in which case only onelateral slot 56 and only onerelease tool 58 is required. However, where there are a pair ofresilient snaps opposite walls circuit board holder 10 or similar device in theaperture 12 of apanel 13, such as shown in FIGS. 2, 5 and 6, then there need to be a pair ofcorresponding slots corresponding tools resilient snaps device 10 from thepanel 13. There also may be panel-accommodatingserrations resilient snap - Accordingly, pursuant to conventional patent practice, expressions such as “a slot” and “a tool” employed in this description and in accompanying claims implicitly stand for “at least one slot” and “at least one tool,” respectively, extending to a provision or utilization of two slots, such as shown at56 and 57 and two release tools, such as shown at 58 and 59 in FIG. 6, for instance.
- This extensive disclosure will render apparent or suggest to those skilled in the art various modifications and variations within the spirit and scope of the invention.
Claims (45)
1. In a method of making a circuit board holder, the improvement comprising in combination:
providing said circuit board holder with a face plate and with walls projecting from an inside of said face plate;
equipping a pair of opposite ones of said walls with circuit board retainers; and
equipping said circuit board holder with a holder retainer for releasably retaining said circuit board holder in said aperture of the panel.
2. A method as in claim 1 , wherein:
at least one of another pair of said walls is provided with a lateral opening covering more than one half of that one wall.
3. A method as in claim 1 , wherein:
said circuit board retainers are provided inside of said circuit board holder.
4. A method as in claim 1 , wherein:
said circuit board retainers are provided externally of an inside space of said circuit board holder.
5. A method as in claim 1 , wherein:
said circuit board retainers are provided inside of said circuit board holder and externally of an inside space of said circuit board holder.
6. A method as in claim 1 , wherein:
a circuit board is inserted into said circuit board holder and is substantially retained in a first direction inside of said circuit board holder and is substantially retained in a second direction externally of an inside space of said circuit board holder.
A method as in claim 1 , wherein:
said pair of opposite walls is provided with extensions beyond said inside of the circuit board holder; and
said extensions are equipped with external circuit board retainers.
8. A method as in claim 1 , wherein:
said circuit board retainers are shaped as spaced rails for slideably receiving a circuit board.
9. A method as in claim 1 , wherein:
said circuit board retainers are shaped as several spaced rails in each of said pair of opposite walls for slideably receiving at least one circuit board at one of several levels in said circuit board holder.
10. A method as in claim 1 , wherein:
said holder retainer is shaped as a resilient snap for releasably retaining said circuit board holder in a panel.
11. A method as in claim 1 , wherein:
said holder retainer is shaped as a pair of resilient snaps at said pair of opposite walls for releasably retaining said circuit board holder in a panel.
12. A method as in claim 1 , wherein:
a circuit board is inserted in said circuit board holder and is releasably retained with said circuit board retainers inside of said circuit board holder.
13. A method as in claim 1 , wherein:
said circuit board holder is provided with external circuit board retainers in addition to internal circuit board retainers; and
a circuit board is inserted in said circuit board holder and is releasably retained with said internal circuit board retainers inside of said circuit board holder and is releasably retained in said circuit board holder with said external circuit board retainers.
14. A method as in claim 1 , wherein:
said circuit board holder is provided with spaced external circuit board retainers in addition to internal circuit board retainers;
a circuit board is provided with a frontal portion of reduced width relative to a subsequent main portion of said circuit board; and
said circuit board is inserted in said circuit board holder by inserting said frontal portion of reduced width in between said spaced external circuit board retainers and by thereupon forcing apart said spaced external circuit board retainers with said main portion of said circuit board and continuing insertion of said circuit board into said circuit board holder so that said circuit board is releasably retained with said internal circuit board retainers inside of said circuit board holder and is stabilized in said circuit board holder with said external circuit board retainers.
15. A method as in claim 1 , wherein:
said circuit board retainers are shaped as spaced rails for slideably receiving a circuit board; and
said circuit board holder is equipped with circuit board accommodations at said rails at a distance from a rear of said face plate.
16. A method as in claim 1 , wherein:
said circuit board retainers are shaped as spaced rails for slideably receiving a circuit board; and
said circuit board holder is equipped with circuit board stops at said rails at a distance from a rear of said face plate.
17. A method as in claim 1 , wherein:
said circuit board holder is provided with spaced external circuit board retainers in addition to internal circuit board retainers;
a circuit board is provided with catches corresponding to said external circuit board retainers; and
said circuit board is inserted in said circuit board holder and is retained in said circuit board holder with said external circuit board retainers and corresponding catches.
18. A method as in claim 1 , wherein:
said holder retainer is provided with serrations for mounting said circuit board holder in different mounting panels.
19. A method as in claim 1 , including:
providing a panel with an aperture for receiving said circuit board holder;
providing said panel with a slot at said aperture for access to said holder retainer through said panel; and
effecting release of said holder retainer through said slot for removal of said circuit board holder from said panel.
20. A method as in claim 1 , including:
shaping said holder retainer as a resilient snap for releasably retaining said circuit board holder in a panel;
providing a panel with an aperture for receiving said circuit board holder;
providing said panel with a slot at said aperture for access to said resilient snap through said panel; and
effecting release of said resilient snap through said slot for removal of said circuit board holder from said panel.
21. A method as in claim 20 , including:
providing a tool insertable through said slot; and
releasing said resilient snap with said tool through said slot in said panel.
22. A method of mounting a device in an aperture of a panel, comprising in combination:
providing said device with a resilient snap for releasably retaining said device in said panel at said aperture;
providing said panel with a slot at said aperture for access to said resilient snap through said panel; and
releasing said resilient snap through said slot for removal of said device from said panel.
23. A method as in claim 22 , including:
providing a tool insertable through said slot; and
releasing said resilient snap with said tool through said slot in said panel.
24. A method as in claim 22 , wherein:
said holder retainer is provided with serrations for mounting said resilient snap in different mounting panels.
25. A circuit board holder, comprising in combination:
a face plate and walls projecting from an inside of said face plate;
circuit board retainers at a pair of opposite ones of said walls; and
a holder retainer at an edge of said face plate.
26. A circuit board holder as in claim 25 , wherein:
at least one of another pair of said walls has a lateral opening covering more than one half of that one wall.
27. A circuit board holder as in claim 25 , wherein:
said circuit board retainers are inside of said circuit board holder.
28. A circuit board holder as in claim 25 , wherein:
said circuit board retainers are external of an inside space of said circuit board holder.
29. A circuit board holder as in claim 25 , wherein:
said circuit board retainers are inside of said circuit board holder and are external of an inside space of said circuit board holder.
30. A circuit board holder as in claim 25 , wherein:
said pair of opposite walls has extensions beyond an inside of the circuit board holder; and
circuit board retainers are on said extensions.
31. A circuit board holder as in claim 25 , wherein:
said circuit board retainers include spaced rails on said pair of opposite walls inside of said circuit board holder.
32. A circuit board holder as in claim 25 , wherein:
said circuit board retainers include several spaced rails in each of said pair of opposite walls.
33. A circuit board holder as in claim 25 , wherein:
said holder retainer is a resilient snap.
34. A circuit board holder as in claim 25 , wherein:
said holder retainer includes a pair of resilient snaps at said pair of opposite walls.
35. A circuit board holder as in claim 25 , including:
an inserted circuit board extending across said circuit board holder between said pair of opposite walls and circuit board retainers.
36. A circuit board holder as in claim 25 , including:
extensions of said pair of opposite walls beyond an inside of the circuit board holder;
circuit board retainers on said extensions; and
an inserted circuit board extending across said circuit board holder between said pair of opposite walls and extending between said circuit board retainers on said extensions.
37. A circuit board holder as in claim 25 , wherein:
said circuit board retainers include spaced rails on said pair of opposite walls inside of said circuit board holder; and
said circuit board holder has circuit board accommodations at said rails at a distance from a rear of said face plate.
38. A circuit board holder as in claim 25 , wherein:
said circuit board retainers include spaced rails on said pair of opposite walls inside of said circuit board holder; and
said circuit board holder has circuit board stops at said rails at a distance from a rear of said face plate.
39. A circuit board holder as in claim 25 , including:
an inserted circuit board having lateral catches externally of a space inside said circuit board holder;
extensions of said pair of opposite walls; and
circuit board retainers on said extensions and lateral catches.
40. A circuit board holder as in claim 25 , including:
an aperture in said face plate; and
a signal lamp in said aperture.
41. A circuit board holder as in claim 25 , including:
panel-accommodating serrations in said holder retainer.
42. A circuit board holder as in claim 25 , in combination with:
a panel having an aperture adapted to receive said walls of said circuit board holder behind said face plate; and
a slot in said panel at said aperture exposing said holder retainer through said panel at an edge of said aperture in said panel.
43. A combination as in claim 42 , including:
a holder retainer release tool having lateral dimensions smaller than said slot.
44. In combination:
a panel having an aperture;
a device retained in said aperture by a resilient snap at an edge of said aperture; and
a slot in said panel at said aperture exposing said resilient snap through said panel at an edge of said aperture in said panel.
45. A combination as in claim 44 , including:
a snap release tool having lateral dimensions smaller than said slot.
46. A combination as in claim 44 , including:
panel-accommodating serrations in said resilient snap.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US10/003,507 US20020071262A1 (en) | 1999-10-04 | 2001-11-01 | Circuit board holders and assemblies |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US09/412,079 US6356450B1 (en) | 1999-10-04 | 1999-10-04 | Circuit board holders and assemblies |
US10/003,507 US20020071262A1 (en) | 1999-10-04 | 2001-11-01 | Circuit board holders and assemblies |
Related Parent Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US09/412,079 Continuation US6356450B1 (en) | 1999-10-04 | 1999-10-04 | Circuit board holders and assemblies |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20020071262A1 true US20020071262A1 (en) | 2002-06-13 |
Family
ID=23631522
Family Applications (2)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US09/412,079 Expired - Lifetime US6356450B1 (en) | 1999-10-04 | 1999-10-04 | Circuit board holders and assemblies |
US10/003,507 Abandoned US20020071262A1 (en) | 1999-10-04 | 2001-11-01 | Circuit board holders and assemblies |
Family Applications Before (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US09/412,079 Expired - Lifetime US6356450B1 (en) | 1999-10-04 | 1999-10-04 | Circuit board holders and assemblies |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
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US (2) | US6356450B1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
TW551793U (en) * | 2002-11-29 | 2003-09-01 | Hon Hai Prec Ind Co Ltd | A bracket for sensors |
DE102006005941A1 (en) * | 2006-02-09 | 2007-08-23 | Knorr-Bremse Systeme für Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH | Holder for a flexible printed circuit board |
WO2008151075A2 (en) * | 2007-05-31 | 2008-12-11 | Extrusion Technology, Inc. | Amc carrier faceplates |
NL1034017C2 (en) * | 2007-06-22 | 2008-12-23 | Smarttip B V | Electrical connection method for sensor with aid of tweezers, by gripping stop between side of sensor and tweezer arm when engaging sensor connection component to external connection component |
US20120056052A1 (en) * | 2010-09-08 | 2012-03-08 | Lu Tung-Ke | Removable apparatus for mounted in an opening of a casing |
CN103974583B (en) * | 2013-02-05 | 2018-03-06 | 鸿富锦精密电子(天津)有限公司 | Electronic installation |
JP6052015B2 (en) * | 2013-03-28 | 2016-12-27 | 富士通株式会社 | Assembly jig |
US9362693B2 (en) * | 2014-01-14 | 2016-06-07 | Tyco Electronics Corporation | Header assembly having power and signal cartridges |
WO2021154304A1 (en) * | 2020-01-31 | 2021-08-05 | Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. | Contact pads-based chassis type detection |
Citations (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4812793A (en) * | 1988-02-03 | 1989-03-14 | Carlingswitch, Inc. | Circuit breaker housing with centered actuator |
Family Cites Families (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
TW324571U (en) * | 1996-12-24 | 1998-01-01 | Hon Hai Prec Ind Co Ltd | Heat dissipating means of an electronic apparatus |
JPH11233194A (en) * | 1997-07-23 | 1999-08-27 | Whitaker Corp:The | Circuit card holder and connector assembly using it |
US6054648A (en) * | 1998-01-28 | 2000-04-25 | Rohm Co., Ltd. | Shield case for a semiconductor optical device |
US5943218A (en) * | 1998-06-01 | 1999-08-24 | Liu; Yen-Wen | Card type CPU-fixing structure |
TW392945U (en) * | 1998-12-31 | 2000-06-01 | Hon Hai Prec Ind Co Ltd | Holder |
TW422459U (en) * | 1999-06-17 | 2001-02-11 | Hon Hai Prec Ind Co Ltd | Electrical connector assembly |
TW419155U (en) * | 1999-06-15 | 2001-01-11 | Hon Hai Prec Ind Co Ltd | Electrical connector assembly |
-
1999
- 1999-10-04 US US09/412,079 patent/US6356450B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
2001
- 2001-11-01 US US10/003,507 patent/US20020071262A1/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4812793A (en) * | 1988-02-03 | 1989-03-14 | Carlingswitch, Inc. | Circuit breaker housing with centered actuator |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
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US6356450B1 (en) | 2002-03-12 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: COMERICA BANK, CALIFORNIA Free format text: SECURITY AGREEMENT;ASSIGNOR:TELECT, INC.;REEL/FRAME:016263/0030 Effective date: 20050526 |