US5218760A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of grounding a computer system board
Assignee: Hewlett Packard Development Co LP
•
Filing: 1992-05-01
•
Granted: 1993-06-15
•
Expires: 2012-05-01
Abstract
Abstract A supportive ground clip for a computer system board mounted in a computer chassis and a method for installing a grounded printed circuit board in a computer shassis using the supportive ground clip. The supportive ground clip includes a base member for providing a grounding connection with the chassis, flexible support members attached to opposite ends of the base member and ascending vertical members attached to the flexible support members for mounting the supportive ground clip to the computer system board. Each of the flexible support members includes a contact point for providing a grounding connection with the bottom side of the computer system board and each of the ascending vertical members includes a contact point for providing a grounding connection with the top side of the computer system board. The first and second flexible support members are shaped such that compressive forces exerted on the supportive ground clip support the computer system board within the chassis. To install the computer system board, at least one electrically conductive grounding clip is mounted in an aperture provided in the board such that the grounding clip is positioned to engage grounding pads electrically connected to the board's components and such that at least part of the grounding clip extends below the board. The board is then slideably installed within the chassis and supportably mounted above the base by engaging the grounding clips and the base.
Inventors
- 👤 James H. Colton
- 👤 Francis A. Felcman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 18:07
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05K; H05K9/00; H05K9/0007; H05K9/0015; H05K9/0016; G; G06; G06F; G06F1/00; G06F1/16; G06F1/18; G06F1/183; H05K7/00; H05K7/14; H05K7/1417; H05K7/142; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49002; Y10T29/49117; Y10T29/49124; Y10T29/49147; Y10T29/49151; Y10T29/49153
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
293 words
A method of installing a grounded printed circuit board in a computer chassis, comprising the steps of: providing a printed circuit board having a front edge, top and bottom side surfaces and at least one aperture extending between said top and bottom side surfaces, said printed circuit board having a grounding pad mounted on said top side surface adjacent to each of said at least one aperture and connector means mounted on said top side surface and positioned adjacent to said front edge; insertably mounting an electrically conductive grounding clip in each of said at least one aperture such that a first portion of said grounding clip mounted in each of said at least one aperture extends below said board; positioning said grounding clip mounted in each of said at least one aperture to engage said adjacent grounding pad on said top side surface; providing a computer chassis having a base, a sidewall portion and interface connection means mounted on said sidewall portion; slideably installing said board within said chassis by sliding said board across said base of said chassis until said connector means operatively engages said interface connection means; maintaining said board above said base during said installing step, thereby preventing damage to said board, said first portion of said grounding clip mounted in each of said at least one aperture extending below said board and engaging said base to maintain said board above said base while simultaneously providing a grounding path from said grounding pad on said top side surface adjacent each of said at least one aperture to said base through said grounding clip mounted in each of said at least one aperture; and maintaining said grounding path after operative engagement of said connector means and said interface connection means.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
293 words
A method of installing a grounded printed circuit board in a computer chassis, comprising the steps of: providing a printed circuit board having a front edge, top and bottom side surfaces and at least one aperture extending between said top and bottom side surfaces, said printed circuit board having a grounding pad mounted on said top side surface adjacent to each of said at least one aperture and connector means mounted on said top side surface and positioned adjacent to said front edge; insertably mounting an electrically conductive grounding clip in each of said at least one aperture such that a first portion of said grounding clip mounted in each of said at least one aperture extends below said board; positioning said grounding clip mounted in each of said at least one aperture to engage said adjacent grounding pad on said top side surface; providing a computer chassis having a base, a sidewall portion and interface connection means mounted on said sidewall portion; slideably installing said board within said chassis by sliding said board across said base of said chassis until said connector means operatively engages said interface connection means; maintaining said board above said base during said installing step, thereby preventing damage to said board, said first portion of said grounding clip mounted in each of said at least one aperture extending below said board and engaging said base to maintain said board above said base while simultaneously providing a grounding path from said grounding pad on said top side surface adjacent each of said at least one aperture to said base through said grounding clip mounted in each of said at least one aperture; and maintaining said grounding path after operative engagement of said connector means and said interface connection means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 and further comprising the step of insertably mounting a plurality of electrically conductive grounding clips in apertures positioned at spaced locations on said board, said plurality of mounted grounding clips supporting said installed board.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
84 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the step of insertably mounting an electrically conductive grounding clip in each of said at least one aperture such that a first portion of said grounding clip mounted in each of said at least one aperture extends below said board further comprises the steps of: compressing each said grounding clip; inserting each said grounding clip through said corresponding aperture; and releasing each said compressed grounding clip, each said released grounding clip springingly engaging said board.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as set forth in claim 3 wherein the step of releasing each said compressed grounding clip further comprises the step of wiping said grounding pad engaged by each said grounding clip.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the step of maintaining said board above a base of said chassis during said installing step further comprises the step of sliding each said mounted grounding clip across said base.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
86 words
A method as set forth in claim 5 and further comprising the steps of providing slotted guide means mounted on said base, said slotted guide means sized to receive first and second side edges of said board, and wherein the step of slideably installing said board within said chassis further comprises the steps of: inserting said first and second side edges of said board into said slotted guide means; and sliding said board across said base until said connection means operatively engages said interface connection means.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
178 words
A method of installing a grounded printed circuit board in a computer chassis, comprising the steps of: providing a printed circuit board having top and bottom sides and at least one aperture extending therethrough, said printed circuit board having first and second grounding pads mounted on the top and bottom sides, respectively, adjacent to each of said at least one aperture; insertably mounting a grounding clip in each of said at least one aperture adjacent to said grounding pads; positioning said grounding clip in said corresponding aperture such that a first part of said grounding clip contacts said first and second grounding pads on said top side of said printed circuit board and a second part of said grounding clip projects downwardly from and contacts said first and second grounding pads on said bottom side of said printed circuit board; slideably installing said printed circuit board within said computer chassis; and securing said slideably installed printed circuit board such that said grounding clip provides a conductive path from said grounding pads to a base of said computer chassis.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
178 words
A method of installing a grounded printed circuit board in a computer chassis, comprising the steps of: providing a printed circuit board having top and bottom sides and at least one aperture extending therethrough, said printed circuit board having first and second grounding pads mounted on the top and bottom sides, respectively, adjacent to each of said at least one aperture; insertably mounting a grounding clip in each of said at least one aperture adjacent to said grounding pads; positioning said grounding clip in said corresponding aperture such that a first part of said grounding clip contacts said first and second grounding pads on said top side of said printed circuit board and a second part of said grounding clip projects downwardly from and contacts said first and second grounding pads on said bottom side of said printed circuit board; slideably installing said printed circuit board within said computer chassis; and securing said slideably installed printed circuit board such that said grounding clip provides a conductive path from said grounding pads to a base of said computer chassis.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
107 words
A method according to claim 7 wherein the step of slideably installing said printed circuit board within said computer chassis further comprises the steps of: positioning said printed circuit board to be generally parallel with and spaced above said base of said computer chassis a distance slightly less than the downward projection of said second part of said grounding clip below said bottom side of said printed circuit board; said base of said chassis compressing said grounding clip during said slideable installation of said printed circuit board, said compression causing said grounding clip to wipe said first and second pads on said top and bottom sides, respectively.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
83 words
A method according to claim 8 wherein the step of insertably mounting a grounding clip in each of said at least one aperture further comprises the steps of: compressing said grounding clip; inserting said grounding clip through said corresponding aperture such that said first part projects above said top surface of said printed circuit board and said second part projects below said bottom surface of said printed circuit board; and releasing said compressed grounding clip, said released grounding clips springingly engaging said board.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
69 words
A method according to claim 9 wherein the step of releasing said compressed grounding clip further comprises the steps of: wiping, with said first part of said grounding clip, said first and second grounding pads on said top surface of said printed circuit board; and wiping, with said second part of said grounding clip, said first and second grounding pads on said bottom surface of said printed circuit board.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
279 words
A method of installing a grounded printed circuit board in a computer chassis, comprising the steps of: providing a printed circuit board having a front edge, first and second side edges, top and bottom side surfaces and at least one aperture extending between said top and bottom side surfaces, said printed circuit board having a grounding pad mounted on one of said side surfaces adjacent to each of said at least one aperture; insertably mounting an electrically conductive grounding clip in each of said at least one aperture such that said grounding clip engages said grounding pad adjacent said aperture and a first portion of said grounding clip mounted in each of said at least one aperture extends below said board; providing a computer chassis having first and second slotted guides mounted thereto, said computer chassis having a base, a sidewall portion and interface connection means mounted on said sidewall portion; inserting said first and second side edges of said board within said first and second slotted guides, respectively; slideably installing said board within said chassis by sliding said board across said base until said board operatively engages said interface connection means; maintaining said board above said base during said installing step, said first and second slotted guides and said first portion of said grounding clip mounted in each of said at least one aperture maintaining said board above said base, said grounding clip mounted in each of said at least one aperture simultaneously providing a grounding path from said grounding pad adjacent each of said at least one aperture to said base; and maintaining said grounding path after operative engagement of said board and said interface connection means.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
279 words
A method of installing a grounded printed circuit board in a computer chassis, comprising the steps of: providing a printed circuit board having a front edge, first and second side edges, top and bottom side surfaces and at least one aperture extending between said top and bottom side surfaces, said printed circuit board having a grounding pad mounted on one of said side surfaces adjacent to each of said at least one aperture; insertably mounting an electrically conductive grounding clip in each of said at least one aperture such that said grounding clip engages said grounding pad adjacent said aperture and a first portion of said grounding clip mounted in each of said at least one aperture extends below said board; providing a computer chassis having first and second slotted guides mounted thereto, said computer chassis having a base, a sidewall portion and interface connection means mounted on said sidewall portion; inserting said first and second side edges of said board within said first and second slotted guides, respectively; slideably installing said board within said chassis by sliding said board across said base until said board operatively engages said interface connection means; maintaining said board above said base during said installing step, said first and second slotted guides and said first portion of said grounding clip mounted in each of said at least one aperture maintaining said board above said base, said grounding clip mounted in each of said at least one aperture simultaneously providing a grounding path from said grounding pad adjacent each of said at least one aperture to said base; and maintaining said grounding path after operative engagement of said board and said interface connection means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as set forth in claim 11 wherein said first and second slotted guides are mounted on said base.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
FR911875A
Cited
US3450950A
Cited
US3708618A
Cited
US3747044A
Cited
US3992897A
Cited
US4396242A
Cited
US4640979A
Cited
US4505527A
Cited
DE3436119A1
Cited
EP0222656A1
Cited
US4688148A
Cited
US4803306A
Cited
JPH02250276A
Cited
US5043528A
Cited
US5001297A
Cited
US5047898A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-06-14 | 1996-12-14 | 1997-06-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-06-14 | 2000-12-14 | 2001-06-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-06-14 | 2004-12-14 | 2005-06-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |