Rear Cover Circuit Card Locking Device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional circuit card assembly and disassembly processes are time-consuming due to the need for screw locking and unlocking, which is inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A circuit card locking device that uses a locking mechanism with a rectangular hole, projection pieces, and an elastic locking piece to securely lock and release a metallic piece at the rear end of the circuit card without screws, allowing for quick assembly and disassembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If screws are used to fix the circuit card on the rear cover, then the circuit card can be securely fixed, but the assembly and disassembly process becomes time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the screw fastening mechanism from the circuit card assembly process. Instead of using screws to fix the circuit card to the rear cover, the invention uses a snap-fit mechanism with a plastic housing that engages with a metallic piece on the circuit card, eliminating the need for screw assembly and disassembly operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The fixing mechanism is divided into separate functional components: a plastic housing with a snap-fit structure and a metallic piece on the circuit card. This segmentation allows for quick engagement and disengagement without requiring screw threads or fastening operations, reducing assembly time while maintaining secure fixation.
2Loss of time
If a locking mechanism without screws is used, then assembly and disassembly time is reduced, but the locking reliability must be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The snap-fit mechanism utilizes curved or angled surfaces that guide the metallic piece into the plastic housing during assembly and provide a secure interlocking action. The curved geometry of the snap-fit structure ensures reliable engagement while allowing for quick manual operation without screws.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention combines plastic and metallic materials in a composite fixing mechanism. The plastic housing provides structural support and snap-fit engagement, while the metallic piece on the circuit card provides mechanical strength and electrical conductivity. This composite approach maintains locking reliability while enabling screwless assembly.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the locking device accommodates different circuit card lengths, then versatility is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The plastic housing incorporates adjustable or movable components that can adapt to different circuit card lengths. The snap-fit mechanism allows for flexible positioning along the rear cover, enabling the same basic structure to accommodate various card sizes without requiring multiple specialized components.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking device is designed as a universal mechanism that can fix different circuit card lengths using the same basic snap-fit structure. The plastic housing and metallic piece interface works for various card sizes, eliminating the need for multiple specialized fixing mechanisms and reducing overall device complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables rapid locking and unlocking of the circuit card, reducing operation time and accommodating different circuit card lengths through adjustable screw holes and fixing pins, ensuring secure fixation regardless of card length.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic locking piece 35 being extended outward from a bottom wall of the locking body 33 vertically
Data Source
AI summary
A circuit card locking device (30) at a rear cover of a computer, is composed of a computer casing (10), a rear side of which is connected with a rear cover (20) which is provided with a rectangular hole (22) and a projection piece (24) that is formed with a tab (241); a locking device (30), which tightly lock and fix a straight metallic piece (82) of a circuit card (80) at a periphery of the rectangular hole (22) of the rear cover (20). The locking device (30) has a body (3) that may be rotated from a retracted position in which it is securely held to a position in which an elastic tongue (35) of the body (3) presses on the metallic piece (82) of the circuit card (80) to urge it toward the projection piece (24) and to cause the tab (241) to lock into an indentation (821) in the metallic piece (82). Accordingly, the straight metallic piece (82) at a rear end of the circuit card (80) can be tightly locked on the rear cover (20) without using screws, and can be quickly released from the rear cover (20).