US4866576A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Structure of shelf to be fixed to frame of communications apparatus
Assignee: NEC Corp
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Filing: 1988-05-31
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Granted: 1989-09-12
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Expires: 2008-05-31
Abstract
Abstract An improved mounting apparatus of a shelf housing printed circuit boards in a frame is provided. The shelf is designed to prevent mechanical damage to itself and to the printed circuit boards inside the shelf in the event of deformation of the frame due to vibration during transportation or earthquakes. Guide members which enclose the printed circuit boards are fastened to supporting members in such a manner that the guide members can shift position lengthwise along the supporting members. Thus, mechanical stress causing the frame to deform from a rectangle into a parallelogram does not also deform the guide members holding the printed circuit boards. Accordingly, damage to soldered connections or circuit components on printed circuit boards is prevented.
Inventors
- 👤 Toshimasa Umetsu
- 👤 Yoetsu Aota
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 02:21
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05K; H05K7/00; H05K7/14; H05K7/1422; H05K7/1424; H05K7/1425
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
225 words
A shelf fixed to the frame of a communications apparatus having at least two props disposed in parallel and spaced a predetermined distance apart from each other, comprising: a pair of side plates having upper and lower parts and arranged to be parallel opposite to each other; a pair of first and second supporting members arranged between said side plates perpendicular to the surfaces of said side plates, with the two ends of each being fixed to the upper and lower parts, respectively, of said side plates; first and second guide members slidably joined to said first and second pairs of supporting members, respectively, the first and second guide members being shiftable along the first and second pairs of supporting members in a shifting direction perpendicular to the surfaces of the side plates, the first and second guide members holding printed circuit boards having top ends in a position parallel to the faces of said side plates; and a back member fixed behind said shelf to said first and second guide members, wherein said guide members and back member are arranged to provide first gaps between the side plates and the first and second guide members and between the side plates and the back member, and wherein second gaps are provided between the top ends of said printed circuit boards and said first guide member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
225 words
A shelf fixed to the frame of a communications apparatus having at least two props disposed in parallel and spaced a predetermined distance apart from each other, comprising: a pair of side plates having upper and lower parts and arranged to be parallel opposite to each other; a pair of first and second supporting members arranged between said side plates perpendicular to the surfaces of said side plates, with the two ends of each being fixed to the upper and lower parts, respectively, of said side plates; first and second guide members slidably joined to said first and second pairs of supporting members, respectively, the first and second guide members being shiftable along the first and second pairs of supporting members in a shifting direction perpendicular to the surfaces of the side plates, the first and second guide members holding printed circuit boards having top ends in a position parallel to the faces of said side plates; and a back member fixed behind said shelf to said first and second guide members, wherein said guide members and back member are arranged to provide first gaps between the side plates and the first and second guide members and between the side plates and the back member, and wherein second gaps are provided between the top ends of said printed circuit boards and said first guide member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
66 words
A shelf, as claimed in claim 1, wherein holes are provided in said first and second pairs of supporting members and said first and second guide members, the holes in either said supporting members or said guide members being long in the shifting direction of said guide members, and a joining member is inserted into each ole to join said supporting members and said guide members.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
A shelf, as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the supporting members includes a groove along the shifting direction of said guide members, and at least one guide member includes a part disposed in said groove.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
A shelf, as claimed in claim 1, wherein a third gap is provided between said first pair of supporting members and said first guide member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
A shelf, as claimed in claim 1, wherein connectors are fixed to said back member, and said printed circuit boards are plugged into the connectors.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
231 words
An apparatus for mounting printed circuit boards comprising: a frame including a plurality of props, each prop having a top and a bottom, a base holding the bottoms of the props, and a connecting frame holding the tops of the props; and a plurality of shelves fixed to the frame along the props, the shelves disposed vertically in a row along the props, each shelf accommodating a plurality of printed circuit boards, each shelf including: a plurality of side plates; a first and second pair of supporting members disposed between the side plates; a first and a second guide member, the first guide member disposed adjacent to the first pair of supporting members, the second guide member disposed parallel to the first guide member and adjacent to the second pair of supporting members, the first and second guide members having guides for accommodating printed circuit boards between the first and second guide members; a plurality sliding joint fasteners fastening the first guide member to the first pair of supporting members to permit the first guide member to slide along the first pair of supporting members; a back member rigidly fixed to the first and second guide members such that the back member and the second guide member slide in unison with the first guide member; and a plurality of fitting plates fixed to the side plates and fixed to the props.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
231 words
An apparatus for mounting printed circuit boards comprising: a frame including a plurality of props, each prop having a top and a bottom, a base holding the bottoms of the props, and a connecting frame holding the tops of the props; and a plurality of shelves fixed to the frame along the props, the shelves disposed vertically in a row along the props, each shelf accommodating a plurality of printed circuit boards, each shelf including: a plurality of side plates; a first and second pair of supporting members disposed between the side plates; a first and a second guide member, the first guide member disposed adjacent to the first pair of supporting members, the second guide member disposed parallel to the first guide member and adjacent to the second pair of supporting members, the first and second guide members having guides for accommodating printed circuit boards between the first and second guide members; a plurality sliding joint fasteners fastening the first guide member to the first pair of supporting members to permit the first guide member to slide along the first pair of supporting members; a back member rigidly fixed to the first and second guide members such that the back member and the second guide member slide in unison with the first guide member; and a plurality of fitting plates fixed to the side plates and fixed to the props.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
58 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein: each of the first pair of supporting members has generally round holes; the first guide member has generally elongated holes which align with the round holes of the first pair of supporting members; and the sliding joint fasteners comprise a joining member inserted through the round and elongated holes.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
57 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein: each of first pair of supporting members has generally elongated holes; the first guide member has generally round holes which align with the elongated holes of the first pair of supporting members; and the sliding joint fasteners comprise a joining member inserted through the round and elongated holes.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein at least one of the supporting members includes a groove, and at least one guide member includes a fringe disposed in said groove, thereby forming a sliding joint.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
163 words
A shelf for holding printed circuit boards installed in a frame, the shelf comprising: side plates disposed inside a frame facing each other and generally parallel to props of the frame; first and second pair of supporting members fixed to the side plates generally perpendicular to the side plates; first and second guide members having printed circuit board guides, the guides accommodating printed circuit boards installed in the shelf, the guide members being disposed generally parallel to each other, the first guide member disposed adjacent to the first pair of supporting members, and the second guide member disposed adjacent the second pair of supporting members; a back member fixed to the first and second guide members; and sliding joint fasteners fastening of the first and second guide members to the first and second pair of supporting members respectively, to permit the guide members and the back member to slide along the supporting members in a shifting direction generally perpendicular to the side plates.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
163 words
A shelf for holding printed circuit boards installed in a frame, the shelf comprising: side plates disposed inside a frame facing each other and generally parallel to props of the frame; first and second pair of supporting members fixed to the side plates generally perpendicular to the side plates; first and second guide members having printed circuit board guides, the guides accommodating printed circuit boards installed in the shelf, the guide members being disposed generally parallel to each other, the first guide member disposed adjacent to the first pair of supporting members, and the second guide member disposed adjacent the second pair of supporting members; a back member fixed to the first and second guide members; and sliding joint fasteners fastening of the first and second guide members to the first and second pair of supporting members respectively, to permit the guide members and the back member to slide along the supporting members in a shifting direction generally perpendicular to the side plates.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
42 words
A shelf as set forth in claim 10 wherein the side plates are spaced farther apart than the length of the first and second guide members, thereby providing a first gap between the side plates and the first and second guide members.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
60 words
A shelf as set forth in claim 10 wherein: the printed circuit boards installed in the shelf have upper edges facing the first guide member; and a distance between the first and second guide members is such that a second gap exists between the upper edges of the printed circuit boards installed in the shelf and the first guide member.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein: a distance between the first and second pairs of supporting members is such that a third gap exists between the first guide member and the first pair of supporting members.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
58 words
A shelf as set forth in claim 10 wherein: each of the first pair of supporting members has generally round holes; the first guide member has generally elongated holes which align with the round holes of the first pair of supporting members and the sliding joint fasteners comprise a joining member inserted through the round and elongated holes.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
57 words
A shelf as set forth in claim 10 wherein: each of the first pair of supporting members has generally elongated holes; the first guide members has generally round holes which align with the elongated holes of the first pair of supporting members; and sliding joint fasteners comprise a joining member inserted through the round and elongated holes.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
39 words
A shelf, as claimed in claim 10, wherein at least one of the supporting members includes a groove along the shifting direction of said guide members, and at least one guide member includes a fringe disposed in said groove.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
A shelf as set forth in claim 16 wherein the groove and the fringe are L-shaped.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
A shelf as set forth in claim 10 further comprising fitting plates fixed to the side plates for mounting the shelf inside the frame.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-09-11 | 1993-03-13 | 1993-09-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-09-11 | 1997-03-13 | 1997-09-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-09-11 | 2001-03-13 | 2001-09-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |