Device for inserting and clamping a printed circuit board

Claim 1

A device for inserting and clamping a printed circuit board of the type having male pin-type contacts for connection with female interconnects within a chassis wherein the board is received in close array with adjacent boards comprising a circuit board component and a chassis component, said circuit board component consisting of a strut and an integral alignment housing, said strut fastened through depending strut tabs to the end of said circuit board opposite the male contact pins, said strut having a width slightly wider than the thickness of said circuit board, said strut extending over and conforming to a substantial portion of the upper contour of said board, said alignment housing suitably arranged to extend downwardly contiguous to one face of the circuit board and adjacent one end thereof when said strut is attached to said circuit board, a jack screw rotatably received but axially restrained within a central bore of said housing, said jack screw extending below said housing and having a reduced tip to facilitate engagement with a nut member, said jack screw having an enlarged head disposed within a central enlarged bore of said housing, said jack screw adapted to be driven by a tool, said housing having a generally rectangular configuration slightly larger in cross-section than the diameter of said jack screw with a locking projection extending along its length along one face thereof, said chassis component consisting of a substantially U-shaped channel-like guide and an attached guide nut, said guide secured adjacent an open end of said circuit board chassis with the longitudinal axis of said guide extending toward said female interconnects on said chassis, one depending leg of said guide extending further outwardly and then inwardly to form a wraparound portion, said guide adapted to slidably receive with limited clearance said alignment housing in a manner such that the locking projection of said alignment housing is carried within said wraparound portion, said guide arranged with respect to female interconnects on such chassis such that when said alignment housing is within said guide said male contacts on said circuit board are aligned with said female interconnects on said chassis, said locking projection of said alignment housing carried within said wraparound portion of said guide to confine said alignment housing and attached circuit board from tilting relative to the longitudinal axis of said guide, a guide nut attached to said guide for threaded engagement with said jack screw after said alignment housing is received within said guide and the male contacts of said circuit board are aligned with said female interconnects, said male contacts being inserted into electrical engagement with said female interconnects by rotation of said jack screw, and said strut acting to distribute the inserting load over said circuit board as said circuit board is inserted into said chassis.

Claim 2

A device for inserting and clamping a printed circuit board of the type having male pin-type contacts for connection with female interconnects within a chassis wherein the board is received in close array with adjacent boards comprising a circuit board component and a chassis component, said circuit board component consisting of a strut and an integral alignment housing, said strut fastened through depending strut tabs to the end of said circuit board opposite the male contact pins, said strut having a width slightly wider than the thickness of said circuit board, said strut extending over and conforming to a substantial portion of the upper contour of said board, said alignment housing suitably arranged to extend downwardly contiguous to one face of the circuit board and adjacent one end thereof when said strut is attached to said circuit board, a jack screw rotatably received but axially restrained within a central bore of said housing, said jack screw extending below said housing and having a reduced tip to facilitate engagement with a nut member, said jack screw having an enlarged head disposed within a central enlarged bore of said housing, said jack screw adapted to be driven by a tool, said housing having a generally rectangular configuration slightly larger in cross-section than the diameter of said jack screw with a locking projection extending along its length along one face thereof, said chassis component consisting of a substantially U-shaped channel-like guide and an attached guide nut, said guide secured adjacent an open end of said circuit board chassis with the longitudinal axis of said guide extending toward said female interconnects on said chassis, one depending leg of said guide extending further outwardly and then inwardly to form a wraparound portion, said guide adapted to slidably receive with limited clearance said alignment housing in a manner such that the locking projection of said alignment housing is carried within said wraparound portion, said guide arranged with respect to female interconnects on such chassis such that when said alignment housing is within said guide said male contacts on said circuit board are aligned with said female interconnects on said chassis, said locking projection of said alignment housing carried within said wraparound portion of said guide to confine said alignment housing and attached circuit board from tilting relative to the longitudinal axis of said guide, a guide nut attached to said guide for threaded engagement with said jack screw after said alignment housing is received within said guide and the male contacts of said circuit board are aligned with said female interconnects, said male contacts being inserted into electrical engagement with said female interconnects by rotation of said jack screw, and said strut acting to distribute the inserting load over said circuit board as said circuit board is inserted into said chassis.