Printed circuit card guide

Claim 1

An apparatus for containing, electrically isolating and cooling circuit cards comprising: a. a chassis having a top frame and a bottom frame, said top and bottom frames being generally channel shaped having two flanges and a web disposed such that said flanges increase the rigidity of said frames, while said web, supports said circuit cards, said web having a plurality of web sections defining openings, wherein a substantial portion of the sides of said web sections are parallel; b. a card guide being generally elongated with a rectangular cross section, said card guide having; 1. a body containing a generally rectangular shaped trough disposed along the longitudinal axis of said body, said trough having a width slightly larger than the thickness of said circuit cards; 2. a first end having two tabs which are positioned beneath said body a distance approximately equal to the thickness of said frame, said tabs project outwardly from said first end, said tabs being positioned on each side of said body such that said tabs each engage the bottom of said frame in adjacent openings; 3. a second end having two tabs which are positioned beneath said body a distance approximately equal to the thickness of said frame, said tabs positioned so as to extend toward saiD second end such that the distance between said tabs on said first end and said tabs on said second end is approximately equal to the length of said opening, said tabs disposed on each side of said body such that said tabs each engage the bottom of said frame in adjacent openings; and 4. a pair of longitudinal guides disposed on the side of said body and extending downward from said body such that each tab engages a side of said web section in adjacent openings; whereby said card guide may be disposed on and supported by said thin web section, and said circuit cards may be contained within said chassis.

Claim 2

An apparatus for containing, electrically isolating and cooling circuit cards comprising: a. a chassis having a top frame and a bottom frame, said top and bottom frames being generally channel shaped having two flanges and a web disposed such that said flanges increase the rigidity of said frames, while said web, supports said circuit cards, said web having a plurality of web sections defining openings, wherein a substantial portion of the sides of said web sections are parallel; b. a card guide being generally elongated with a rectangular cross section, said card guide having; 1. a body containing a generally rectangular shaped trough disposed along the longitudinal axis of said body, said trough having a width slightly larger than the thickness of said circuit cards; 2. a first end having two tabs which are positioned beneath said body a distance approximately equal to the thickness of said frame, said tabs project outwardly from said first end, said tabs being positioned on each side of said body such that said tabs each engage the bottom of said frame in adjacent openings; 3. a second end having two tabs which are positioned beneath said body a distance approximately equal to the thickness of said frame, said tabs positioned so as to extend toward saiD second end such that the distance between said tabs on said first end and said tabs on said second end is approximately equal to the length of said opening, said tabs disposed on each side of said body such that said tabs each engage the bottom of said frame in adjacent openings; and 4. a pair of longitudinal guides disposed on the side of said body and extending downward from said body such that each tab engages a side of said web section in adjacent openings; whereby said card guide may be disposed on and supported by said thin web section, and said circuit cards may be contained within said chassis.

Claim 3

An apparatus for containing circuit cards comprising: a. a chassis having a top frame and a bottom frame, said top and bottom frames being generally channel shaped having a web and two flanges, said web containing a plurality of oppositely disposed sections; and b. a card guide with an elongated body having a trough disposed in said body along its longitudinal axis, said card guide capable of being disposed on each of said oppositely disposed web sections and secured in position thereon, said trough being capable of receiving and retaining said circuit cards, the length of said card guide being slightly longer than the length of said web section, said card guide being generally rectangular in cross section having: a. a first end with tabs which are positioned beneath the body of said card guide and extend outward from said first end; b. a second end, said second end having tabs positioned beneath said body of said card guide disposed inwardly from said second end such that said tabs on said second end extend towards said second end; and c. at least one pair of lateral support guides disposed intermediate said first and second ends of said card guide, which extend downward from said body of said card guide; whereby said tabs on said first end are engageable with one side of the opening between adjacent web sections, said tabs in the vicinity of said second end engageable with the opposite side of said opening, said lateral support guides being engageable with the sides of said web sections such that said card guide is disposed on, secured to and supported by said oppositely disposed web section, whereby said circuit cards may be disposed in said apparatus and secured into position.

Claim 4

An apparatus for containing circuit cards comprising: a. a chassis having a top frame and a bottom frame, said top and bottom frames being generally channel shaped having a web and two flanges, said web containing a plurality of oppositely disposed sections; and b. a card guide with an elongated body having a trough disposed in said body along its longitudinal axis, said card guide capable of being disposed on each of said oppositely disposed web sections and secured in position thereon, said trough being capable of receiving and retaining said circuit cards, the length of said card guide being slightly longer than the length of said web section, said card guide being generally rectangular in cross section having: a. a first end with tabs which are positioned beneath the body of said card guide and extend outward from said first end; b. a second end, said second end having tabs positioned beneath said body of said card guide disposed inwardly from said second end such that said tabs on said second end extend towards said second end; and c. at least one pair of lateral support guides disposed intermediate said first and second ends of said card guide, which extend downward from said body of said card guide; whereby said tabs on said first end are engageable with one side of the opening between adjacent web sections, said tabs in the vicinity of said second end engageable with the opposite side of said opening, said lateral support guides being engageable with the sides of said web sections such that said card guide is disposed on, secured to and supported by said oppositely disposed web section, whereby said circuit cards may be disposed in said apparatus and secured into position.