Screwless Card Holder With Spring Arms
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for attaching logic cards to card holders, such as printed circuit boards, are costly due to the need for threaded associations, which increase both part and labor expenses.
Innovation Solution
A card holding apparatus featuring a base with screwless card associating arms that utilize a grooved frictional fit or interference fit to securely hold cards without the need for screws, employing flexible and resilient materials or spring hinges for a consistent holding force.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If threaded association (screws) is used to attach cards to card holders, then reliable retention is achieved, but manufacturing cost and assembly complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the threaded fastening components (screws, nuts, bolts) from the card holder assembly entirely. Instead, it uses integrated spring-loaded arms with grooves that directly engage with the card edges, eliminating the need for separate fastening hardware and reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining secure retention.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the functions of card support, retention, and release into a single integrated spring arm structure. The spring arm simultaneously provides structural support, secures the card through frictional engagement in the groove, and enables easy release through mechanical actuation, replacing multiple separate threaded components.
2Reliability
If threaded association is used to attach cards to card holders, then secure attachment is achieved, but assembly time and labor cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The spring arms are pre-loaded with elastic energy during manufacturing, storing the force needed for card retention. This preliminary action eliminates the need for time-consuming threading operations during assembly, as the card is simply inserted and automatically secured by the pre-tensioned spring arms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from static threaded fasteners to dynamic spring-loaded arms that can automatically adjust to card insertion and removal. The spring mechanism provides continuous contact force for secure attachment while allowing rapid release through minimal actuation, dramatically reducing assembly and disassembly time.
3Ease of manufacture
If spring-loaded arms with grooves are used for screwless association, then manufacturing cost decreases, but retention force consistency may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent carefully controls critical parameters including spring wire diameter, coil spacing, groove depth and width, and arm length to ensure consistent elastic force and frictional engagement. By precisely specifying these parameters, the design achieves uniform holding force across production batches while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different material properties and geometric features to specific locations: the spring arms use elastic material for consistent force, the grooves have optimized depth and width for proper frictional engagement, and the arm tips have specific curvature for card edge contact. This localized optimization ensures holding force consistency while keeping the overall design manufacturable.
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
This solution reduces costs by eliminating the need for threaded attachments, providing a secure and efficient method to attach logic cards to card holders using a screwless association that ensures reliable retention and easy access.
Implementation Method 1
the second arm is hinge mounted to the base via a spring hinge, wherein the resiliency of the second arm provides a consistent holding force on the card
Implementation Method 2
holding the card with the at least one arm via at least one of a grooved frictional fit and an interference fit
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a holding apparatus for a card used in a computing resource, the apparatus including a holding base, and at least one card associating arm extending from the base, the at least one associating arm being configured to hold the card via a screwless association.