Expansion Card Engagement Component for Secure Mounting
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing fastening structures for network cards in electronic assemblies pose a risk of unexpected removal, potentially damaging the card, connector, or motherboard due to protrusion and manual operation.
Innovation Solution
An electronic assembly design featuring a motherboard with slide rails and engagement components that securely mount an expansion circuit board without protruding fasteners, using movable end portions and protruding portions to engage with the board and rails, ensuring stable mounting and tool-less installation/removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a fastening structure protrudes outward from the chassis to be operated by hand, then the expansion card can be easily installed and removed, but the fastening structure may be unexpectedly moved causing the expansion card to be unexpectedly removed from the connector
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful protruding fastening structure from the chassis and replaces it with an engagement component that integrates the fastening function within the slide rail assembly. The engagement component includes a movable end portion that engages with a hole in the expansion card and a protruding portion that engages with the slide rail, eliminating the need for external protruding fasteners while maintaining ease of operation through the same squeezing motion.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the expansion card is fixed to the chassis via a fastening structure, then the connection is maintained, but the fastening structure requires protrusion outward which creates safety risks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an engagement component as an intermediary element that provides the fastening function without requiring protrusion from the chassis. This engagement component acts as a mediator between the slide rail and the expansion card, using its movable end portion and protruding portion to create secure engagement while remaining contained within the chassis boundaries, thus eliminating the safety hazard of protruding fasteners.
3Strength
If protruding fastening components are used, then the expansion card can be securely fixed, but the components may be accidentally operated causing damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by designing the engagement component with a movable end portion that can transition between engaged and disengaged states through a controlled squeezing motion. The movable end portion moves relative to the connecting portion, allowing the protruding portion to engage with or disengage from the hole in the expansion card. This dynamic design maintains strong fixing when engaged while requiring deliberate two-handed operation to disengage, preventing accidental operation and damage.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic assembly including motherboard, first slide rail, second slide rail, expansion card and engagement component. Motherboard includes main circuit board and first connector. First and second slide rails are fixed on main circuit board. First slide rail has first engagement hole. Expansion card includes expansion circuit board and second connector. Expansion circuit board is disposed on first and second slide rails and has first positioning recess. Second connector is plugged into first connector. Engagement component includes connecting portion, first movable end portion, second movable end portion, first protruding portion, and second protruding portion. First and second movable end portions are respectively connected to two opposite sides of connecting portion. First protruding portion protrudes from first movable end portion and is removably engaged with first positioning recess. Second protruding portion protrudes from second movable end portion and is removably engaged with first engagement hole.