EP0337399A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Support structure
Assignee: Tektronix Inc
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Filing: 1989-04-11
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2009-04-11
Abstract
Abstract An integrated support structure provides for improved mounting of components such as circuit boards (26), disk drives (28), power supplies (38), and the like. The structure includes an upper frame (10) and a lower frame (12) hinged together and having cooperative elements (20,22,24) for capturing components therebetween as the upper frame and lower frame are brought adjacent to one another in parallel relation. A sliding guide (30) and bridge beam clip (32) secure the disk drive (28) to the structure while a hook and spring latch mount the power supply (38). The frames are suitably formed by structural foam injection molding and the components are secured to the structure without the need for screws. The entire assembly may be inserted in a shell or case for protection thereof. The overall configuration allows rapid assembly for production and rapid disassembly for service.
Inventors
- 👤 Douglas M. Boudon
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 16:40
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05K; H05K7/00; H05K7/14; H05K7/16; G; G06; G06F; G06F1/00; G06F1/16; G06F1/18; G06F1/183
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
105 words
A support structure comprising a plurality of components (26,28,38), in particular electrical components, which are interconnected by electrically-conductive means, characterized by: a first frame (10); a second frame (12); means (14) for coupling said fist frame (10) and said second frame (12) in hinged relation, said first frame and said second frame being movable into confronting relation; means (16,18) for securing said first frame (10) and said second frame (12) in confronting relation; and means (20,22,24) for capturing at least one of said plurality of interconnected components (26,28,38) within said support structure when disposed intermediate of said first frame (10) and said second frame (12).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
105 words
A support structure comprising a plurality of components (26,28,38), in particular electrical components, which are interconnected by electrically-conductive means, characterized by: a first frame (10); a second frame (12); means (14) for coupling said fist frame (10) and said second frame (12) in hinged relation, said first frame and said second frame being movable into confronting relation; means (16,18) for securing said first frame (10) and said second frame (12) in confronting relation; and means (20,22,24) for capturing at least one of said plurality of interconnected components (26,28,38) within said support structure when disposed intermediate of said first frame (10) and said second frame (12).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The structure according to claim 1, characterized in that said first frame (10) and said second frame (12) are produced by a structural foam injection molding process.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The structure according to claim 2, characterized in that said coupling means (14) is formed as an integral portion of said first frame (10) and said second frame (12).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The structure according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that said securing means (16,18) is formed as an integral portion of said first frame (10) and said second frame (12).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The structure according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that said capturing means (20,22,24) is formed thereby as an integral portion of said first frame and said second frame.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
53 words
The structure according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that said coupling means (14) comprises at least first and second complementary interlocks (40,42) with said first interlock (40) being a portion of the first frame (10) and said second interlock (42) being a portion of the second frame (12).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
115 words
The structure according to claim 6, characterized in that each complementary interlock (40,42) includes at least on hook (48;54) and at least one hook seat (46;52), the hook (48) of the first interlock (40) corresponding to the hook seat (52) of the second interlock (42) and the hook (54) of the second interlock (42) corresponding to the hook seat (46) of the first interlock (40) such that as said first frame (10) and said second frame (12) are brought into confronting relation each hook (48;54) engages the corresponding hook seat (46;52) to secure the first frame (10) and the second frame (12) against relative linear movement while permitting relative pivotal movement about said interlocks (40,42).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
77 words
The structure according to any one of claims 2 to 7, characterized in that said securing means (16,18) comprises at least one snap latch (16) formed in the first and second frame (10,12); and a snap latch keeper (18) corresponding to said one snap latch (16) and formed in the second frame (12), said snap latch keeper (18) receiving and retaining said snap latch (16) as said first and second frames (10,12) are brought into confronting relation.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
69 words
The structure according to any one of claims 2 to 8, characterized in that said capturing means (20,22,24) comprises first posts (24) formed in the first frame (10); and second posts (20,22) formed in the second frame (12), said first posts (24) and second posts (20,22) details cooperating to capture a component (26,28,38) therebetween when said first frame (10) and said second frame (12) are secured in confronting relation.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
The structure according to claim 9, characterized in that at least one of said first posts (24) contacts at least one of said second posts (20,22) when said first and second frames (10,12) are in confronting relationship.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
105 words
The structure according to the first part of claim 1, wherein the component such as a disk drive (28) or the like is to be secured at a mounting location upon the support structure, characterized by means (30) for receiving said component in sliding fashion by restricting movement of said component to movement along a selected path (82), and a bridge beam (32) having a first retention formation (84), and the component having a second retention formation (86), the second retention formation being engageable with the first retention formation for coupling said component and said bridge beam to secure said component at the mounting location.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
65 words
The structure according to claim 11, characterized in that said second retention formation (86) includes a slot and said first retention formation (84) comprises a catch (84) affixed to said bridge beam (32), said bridge beam being resilient in a direction (88) transverse to the selected path (82), and the catch being positioned to enter the slot as said component (28) reaches the mounting location.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
44 words
The structure according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that said structure is formed by a structural foam injection molding process, said receiving means (30), said bridge beam (32), and said retention means (84,86) being formed thereby as integral elements of said structure.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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