Spring loaded multi-wedge card retainer

Claim 2

A printed circuit board (PCB) heat sink retainer, for retaining a heat sink in a channel, comprising: a plurality of trapezoidal wedges, aligned end-to-end in the channel; and spring means, within the channel, for applying a longitudinal compressive force on said plurality of wedges to displace said wedges laterally, alternate wedges being displaced in opposite lateral directions to bear upon opposing channel walls.

Claim 3

The retainer of claim 1, further comprising end means for applying additional longitudinal compressive forces upon said wedges, for use after a heat sink is inserted between a channel wall and said wedges.

Claim 4

The retainer of claim 1, wherein said plurality of wedges includes an end wedge disposed at one end of the channel and having a cavity therein, and wherein said spring means is a compression spring for insertion in said cavity.

Claim 5

The retainer of claim 1, wherein said spring means is located at an end of the channel opposite an end selected for PCB heat sink insertion.

Claim 6

The retainer of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of wedges has a slot or bore for receiving a wire which extends from one end of the channel to the other through said wedges, said wire being anchored in each end of the channel for loosely holding said wedges in longitudinal alignment and for preventing wedges from falling out of the channel.

Claim 7

The retainer of claim 1, wherein an edge of at least alternate wedges is chamfered at the end closest to the end of the channel where the PCB heat sink is first inserted.

Claim 8

Apparatus for retaining a printed circuit board (PCB), and particularly a PCB heat sink, in a pair of single-open-sided tubular, rectangular channels opposite one another, with open sides facing, in a PCB chassis, each apparatus located within such a channel comprising: a plurality of rectangular-tubed wedges each tube of each wedge having a pair of opposing rectangular sides and two congruent opposing trapezoidal sides formed by slanted end faces which mate with and slidably engage similarly slanted end faces of adjacent wedges alternately flipped for such engagement, said wedges being aligned end-to-end within the channel with the long side of a wedge facing, for engagement with, a channel side opposite the channel side faced by the long side of the next adjacent wedge, said plurality of wedges including an entrance wedge fixed in position at the end of the channel of initial PCB heat sink insertion and including a movable hollow end wedge, open at one end, at the other end of the channel; and a spring, one end of which rests against said other end of the channel, the other end of said spring being inserted within said movable hollow end wedge, for providing a preinsertion force for slidably forcing the ends of the wedges against one another thereby causing oppositely directed lateral movement of alternate wedges and thereby forcing the long sides of alternate wedges against opposite channel sides such that upon insertion of a PCB heat sink between one of the opposite channel sides and one set of alternate wedges, part of the spring force will be transmitted to and exerted by said one set of alternate wedges against a fully inserted heat sink and part of the spring force will be transmitted to and exerted by the other remaining set of alternate wedges against the other opposite side of the channel, whereby the heat sink will thereby be held firmly in place.

Claim 9

Apparatus for retaining a printed circuit board (PCB), and particularly a PCB heat sink, in a pair of single-open-sided tubular, rectangular channels opposite one another, with open sides facing, in a PCB chassis, each apparatus located within such a channel comprising: a plurality of rectangular-tubed wedges each tube of each wedge having a pair of opposing rectangular sides and two congruent opposing trapezoidal sides formed by slanted end faces which mate with and slidably engage similarly slanted end faces of adjacent wedges alternately flipped for such engagement, said wedges being aligned end-to-end within the channel with the long side of a wedge facing, for engagement with, a channel side opposite the channel side faced by the long side of the next adjacent wedge, said plurality of wedges including an entrance wedge fixed in position at the end of the channel of initial PCB heat sink insertion and including a movable hollow end wedge, open at one end, at the other end of the channel; and a spring, one end of which rests against said other end of the channel, the other end of said spring being inserted within said movable hollow end wedge, for providing a preinsertion force for slidably forcing the ends of the wedges against one another thereby causing oppositely directed lateral movement of alternate wedges and thereby forcing the long sides of alternate wedges against opposite channel sides such that upon insertion of a PCB heat sink between one of the opposite channel sides and one set of alternate wedges, part of the spring force will be transmitted to and exerted by said one set of alternate wedges against a fully inserted heat sink and part of the spring force will be transmitted to and exerted by the other remaining set of alternate wedges against the other opposite side of the channel, whereby the heat sink will thereby be held firmly in place.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said entrance wedge is settable to various fixed positions so as to provide the capability, by adjusting the position of the entrance wedge, of exerting additional compressive forces on said plurality of wedges after said PCB heat sink is inserted between said channel and said wedges.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the position of said settable entrance wedge is settable by means of a set screw fixed in place with respect to the chassis.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 7, wherein each of said plurality of wedges has a slot or bore for receiving a wire which extends from one end of the channel to the other through said wedges, said wire being anchored in each end of the channel for loosely holding said wedges in longitudinal alignment and for preventing wedges from falling out of the channel.

Claim 13

The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the two edges at the end of the longest side of each trapezoidal wedge are chamfered.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the edge of each trapezoidal wedge closest to the entrance wedge is chamfered for easing sliding contact with a heat sink.