US4566325A — Hands-on inspection board for printed circuit car…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 177 words

A hands-on inspection board comprising a spaced parallel pair of side rails, each of said side rails having a series of uniformly spaced stops distributed along the length thereof, a sliding support having upper and lower sliding bearings associated with each of said side rails, said side rails being threaded through openings in said sliding bearings, the opening in one of said sliding bearings having a cross section conforming to the cross section of said side rail, the opening in the other of said sliding bearings being elongated so that either gravity may make the top of said elongated bearing opening rest on the top of said side rail or an inspector may lift said other slide bearing to make the bottom of said elongated bearing opening rest on the bottom of said side rail, latch means associated with the top of said elongated opening for engaging said stop means, and a platen mounted on rods extending between said sliding supports for enabling a back and forth platen traverse across said rods and between said side rails.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 177 words

A hands-on inspection board comprising a spaced parallel pair of side rails, each of said side rails having a series of uniformly spaced stops distributed along the length thereof, a sliding support having upper and lower sliding bearings associated with each of said side rails, said side rails being threaded through openings in said sliding bearings, the opening in one of said sliding bearings having a cross section conforming to the cross section of said side rail, the opening in the other of said sliding bearings being elongated so that either gravity may make the top of said elongated bearing opening rest on the top of said side rail or an inspector may lift said other slide bearing to make the bottom of said elongated bearing opening rest on the bottom of said side rail, latch means associated with the top of said elongated opening for engaging said stop means, and a platen mounted on rods extending between said sliding supports for enabling a back and forth platen traverse across said rods and between said side rails.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 58 words

The inspection board of claim 1 and means for mounting said side rails at an incline which causes said sliding bearings to slide downwardly under gravity each time that said inspector lifts said other slide bearing to remove said latch means from said stop, said downward slide continuing until said latch means engages the next of said stops.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 31 words

The inspection board of claim 1 and inspection means positioned over said platen whereby each incremental area of said platen is presented to said inspection means as said platen is moved.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 44 words

The inspection board of claim 3 wherein said stop means are a series of holes formed along the top of said side rails and said latch is a pin projecting downwardly from the top of said elongated opening, said pin fitting into said hole.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 48 words

The inspection board of claim 4 wherein said pin is made of a plastic material having characteristics which resists shear forces that occur when said pin falls into and collides with said holes to stop said downward slide, without hammering the edge of said holes out of shape.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 24 words

The inspection board of claim 3 wherein said latch pin has a rounded end to facilitate an engagement between said pin and said hole.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 16 words

The inspection board of claim 1 and antistatic means covering at least some of said platen.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 27 words

The inspection board of claim 1 and fence means extending along an edge of said platen for holding a workpiece thereon, and antistatic means covering said fence.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 19 words

The inspection board of claim 1 wherein said side rails are anodized aluminum covered with a film of tetrafloureothylene.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 45 words

The inspection board of claim 1 wherein said platen and said rods have associated parts for enabling said traverse, all of said parts including said platen and said rods being transparent, and a source of light can be positioned under said platen, rods, and parts.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 147 words

An inspection board comprising an inclined pair of spaced parallel side rails, a pair of spaced parallel guide rods perpendicular to and slidably mounted on said side rails, upper and lower bearings sliding on each of said side rails for supporting said guide rods, the lower one of said slide bearings being somewhat elongated, and latch means in said elongated sliding bearing, a plurality of stop means distributed along the length of said side rail to engage said latch means, there being a sufficient amount of play in said elongated slide bearing to enable it to be lifted relative to said side rail far enough to lift said latch out of said stop means, which disengages said latch means from stop means responsive to said lifting, whereby gravity causes said slide bearings to slide downwardly on said side rails until said latch means engages another stop means.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 147 words

An inspection board comprising an inclined pair of spaced parallel side rails, a pair of spaced parallel guide rods perpendicular to and slidably mounted on said side rails, upper and lower bearings sliding on each of said side rails for supporting said guide rods, the lower one of said slide bearings being somewhat elongated, and latch means in said elongated sliding bearing, a plurality of stop means distributed along the length of said side rail to engage said latch means, there being a sufficient amount of play in said elongated slide bearing to enable it to be lifted relative to said side rail far enough to lift said latch out of said stop means, which disengages said latch means from stop means responsive to said lifting, whereby gravity causes said slide bearings to slide downwardly on said side rails until said latch means engages another stop means.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 45 words

The inspection board of claim 11 wherein said stop means are a series of holes formed along the top of said side rails and said latch is a pin projecting downwardly from the top of said elongated slide bearing, said pin fitting into said hole.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 30 words

The inspection board of claim 12 wherein said latch pin is pointed at a slight angle by lifting said platen to facilitate an engagement between said pin and said hole.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 46 words

The inspection board of claim 13 wherein said pin is made of a polycarbonate material which resists shear forces that occur when said pin falls into and collides with said holes to stop said downward slide, without hammering the edge of said holes out of shape.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 37 words

The inspection board of claim 14 and antistatic means corvering at least some of said platen, and fence means extending along an edge of said platen for holding a workpiece thereon, and antistatic means covering said fence.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1989-01-27	1989-07-29	1990-01-28	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1993-01-27	1993-07-29	1994-01-28	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1997-01-27	1997-07-29	1998-01-28	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Hands-on inspection board for printed circuit cards

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