Patent US5317481A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5317481A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Circuit board and insertion tool
Assignee: Thinking Machines Corp
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Filing: 1993-04-13
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Granted: 1994-05-31
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Expires: 2013-04-13
Abstract
Abstract A system for installing a circuit board edge connector into a motherboard connector from the side to accommodate high density card arrangements that obstruct overhead clearance. In one embodiment, the system utilizes an insertion tool which conveys the circuit board across the motherboard and positions it with the pins of both boards aligned. The tool locates the board adjacent the motherboard with the aligned connectors just touching and blocked against withdrawal. The cooperation between ramps and pins associated with the tool and circuit board applies a force, upon the withdrawal of the tool from the motherboard, to engage fully the pins of the circuit board with the pins of the motherboard. The extraction of the circuit board from the motherboard uses the tool in a reverse sequence. In a second embodiment the system includes a circuit board incorporating slidably configured rail and groove mechanism and a bell crank that allows the circuit board to slide in over the motherboard through relative sliding of the rail and groove and permits the two boards to be drawn together with mating pins by activation of the bell crank. In yet another embodiment the system includes a circuit board incorporating a spacer and a cardcage incorporating a spacer track which permits increased utilization of the circuit board surface for the placement of components.
Inventors
- 👤 W. Daniel Hillis
- 👤 William Gerner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 05:37
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05K; H05K7/00; H05K7/14; H05K7/1401; H05K7/1415; H01; H01R; H01R43/00; H01R43/26; H01R12/00; H01R12/70; H01R12/7005; H01R12/71; H01R12/72; H01R12/721; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/53; Y10T29/537
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
106 words
A system for inserting a circuit board connector on a circuit board into a motherboard connector on a motherboard, said system comprising: a tool having a sliding surface adapted to convey the circuit board across the motherboard to a stop, pins of the motherboard connector being oriented orthogonal to the direction of conveyance of the circuit board; said tool comprising a force transfer device including a handle for transferring force applied to said handle into force applied between the circuit board connector and motherboard connector in a direction to force the pins of the circuit board connector into contact with the pins of the motherboard connector.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
106 words
A system for inserting a circuit board connector on a circuit board into a motherboard connector on a motherboard, said system comprising: a tool having a sliding surface adapted to convey the circuit board across the motherboard to a stop, pins of the motherboard connector being oriented orthogonal to the direction of conveyance of the circuit board; said tool comprising a force transfer device including a handle for transferring force applied to said handle into force applied between the circuit board connector and motherboard connector in a direction to force the pins of the circuit board connector into contact with the pins of the motherboard connector.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 1 further comprising a cam riding in a ramp in response to handle motion to effect the system of said force between connectors.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
The system of claim 2 wherein said ramp is an edge of a first slot in said tool having said slot angled toward the surface of said motherboard when said tool is positioned on said motherboard, said first slot adapted to allow said cam to slidably move within said first slot.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
The system of claim 3 wherein said force transfer device further comprises a second cam and second slot angled toward the surface of said motherboard when said tool is positioned on said motherboard, said second slot adapted to allow said second cam to slidably move within said second slot.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 2 wherein said force applied to said handle is further transferred to said circuit board by a second cam riding on a second ramp.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said motherboard comprises an alignment member for maintaining the alignment of said tool on said motherboard.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 6 wherein said first slot and said second slot each terminate separately at the front end of said tool.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
62 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said force transfer device further includes: a multiposition pin holding recess on said tool having a first position for board insertion and a second position for board extraction and an escapement which in conjunction with a stop is adapted to transfer the pin between positions for board insertion and extraction separated during tool removal and replacement.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said tool includes a multiposition escapement engagable to toggle between board insertion and withdrawal in response to tool and stop engagement.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
219 words
A system for connecting a circuit board edge connector on a circuit board into a motherboard connector on a motherboard, said system conveying said circuit along a conveying path board across said motherboard, wherein said system comprises: a motherboard comprising: a motherboard connector, pins of the motherboard connector oriented orthogonal to the direction of board conveying; and a circuit board comprising: a circuit board edge connector; a first force transfer pin fixedly attached to said circuit board and a second force transfer pin fixedly attached to said circuit board; and a tool comprising: a force transfer device coupled to said handle for transferring, by said first force transfer pin fixedly attached to said circuit board and said second force transfer pin fixedly attached to said circuit board, force applied to said circuit board along the conveying path into force applied to the circuit board in the direction of the pins of the motherboard connector, said force transfer device comprising a first slot and a second slot each angled toward the surface of said motherboard when said tool is positioned on said motherboard, said first slot adapted to allow said first force transfer pin to slidably move within said first slot and said second slot adapted to allow said second force transfer pin to slidably move within said second slot.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
219 words
A system for connecting a circuit board edge connector on a circuit board into a motherboard connector on a motherboard, said system conveying said circuit along a conveying path board across said motherboard, wherein said system comprises: a motherboard comprising: a motherboard connector, pins of the motherboard connector oriented orthogonal to the direction of board conveying; and a circuit board comprising: a circuit board edge connector; a first force transfer pin fixedly attached to said circuit board and a second force transfer pin fixedly attached to said circuit board; and a tool comprising: a force transfer device coupled to said handle for transferring, by said first force transfer pin fixedly attached to said circuit board and said second force transfer pin fixedly attached to said circuit board, force applied to said circuit board along the conveying path into force applied to the circuit board in the direction of the pins of the motherboard connector, said force transfer device comprising a first slot and a second slot each angled toward the surface of said motherboard when said tool is positioned on said motherboard, said first slot adapted to allow said first force transfer pin to slidably move within said first slot and said second slot adapted to allow said second force transfer pin to slidably move within said second slot.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system of claim 10 further comprising a cardcage comprising a spacer track and in which said circuit board further comprises a spacer, said spacer movably locatable within said spacer track during circuit board insertion and deletion.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
99 words
A tool for inserting a circuit board edge connector on a circuit board into a motherboard connector on a motherboard, said tool comprising: a sliding surface adapted to convey the circuit board across the motherboard to a stop, pins of the motherboard connector being oriented orthogonal to the direction of conveyance of the circuit board on insertion; and a force transfer device including a handle for transferring force applied to said handle into force applied to the circuit board in a direction to force the pins of the circuit board into contact with the pins of the motherboard connector.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
99 words
A tool for inserting a circuit board edge connector on a circuit board into a motherboard connector on a motherboard, said tool comprising: a sliding surface adapted to convey the circuit board across the motherboard to a stop, pins of the motherboard connector being oriented orthogonal to the direction of conveyance of the circuit board on insertion; and a force transfer device including a handle for transferring force applied to said handle into force applied to the circuit board in a direction to force the pins of the circuit board into contact with the pins of the motherboard connector.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
120 words
A circuit board having a circuit board edge connector for insertion into a motherboard connector on a motherboard comprising: a first force transfer coupling fixedly attached to said circuit board; said force transfer coupling adapted to engage a tool simultaneously with the engagement of said tool by a motherboard coupling to cause said motherboard and circuit board connectors to be pulled respectively together and apart upon tool movement across the motherboard in respective first and second opposite directions thereby transferring force applied to said tool into force applied to the circuit board in a direction to force the pins of the circuit board into contact with pins of the motherboard connector without application of bowing force to said circuit board.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
120 words
A circuit board having a circuit board edge connector for insertion into a motherboard connector on a motherboard comprising: a first force transfer coupling fixedly attached to said circuit board; said force transfer coupling adapted to engage a tool simultaneously with the engagement of said tool by a motherboard coupling to cause said motherboard and circuit board connectors to be pulled respectively together and apart upon tool movement across the motherboard in respective first and second opposite directions thereby transferring force applied to said tool into force applied to the circuit board in a direction to force the pins of the circuit board into contact with pins of the motherboard connector without application of bowing force to said circuit board.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
The circuit board of claim 13 further comprising a spacer, said spacer movably locatable within a spacer track of a cardcage during circuit board insertion an deletion.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
45 words
The circuit board of claim 13 wherein said first force transfer coupling is adapted to slidably move within a first slot within said tool, said first slot angled toward the surface of said motherboard when said tool is engaged by the coupling on said motherboard.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
36 words
The circuit board of claim 15 wherein said circuit board further comprises a second force transfer coupling fixedly attached to said circuit board by which force is further transferred to said circuit board by said tool.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
94 words
A motherboard comprising: a motherboard connector adapted for mating with a circuit board connector on a circuit board; said motherboard having a coupling for slidably engaging a tool to convey the circuit board across the motherboard, with pins of the motherboard connector being oriented orthogonal to the direction of conveyance of the circuit board, and to transfer force applied to said tool into a force applied between said circuit board and said motherboard in a direction to force the pins of the circuit board connector into contact with the pins of the motherboard connector.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
94 words
A motherboard comprising: a motherboard connector adapted for mating with a circuit board connector on a circuit board; said motherboard having a coupling for slidably engaging a tool to convey the circuit board across the motherboard, with pins of the motherboard connector being oriented orthogonal to the direction of conveyance of the circuit board, and to transfer force applied to said tool into a force applied between said circuit board and said motherboard in a direction to force the pins of the circuit board connector into contact with the pins of the motherboard connector.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
33 words
The motherboard of claim 17 wherein said circuit board comprises a spacer movably locatable within a spacer track of a cardcage, in which said motherboard is located, during circuit board insertion and deletion.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
23 words
The motherboard of claim 17 wherein said motherboard further comprises an alignment member for maintaining the alignment of said tool on said motherboard.
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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) | 1997-05-30 | 1997-11-29 | 1998-05-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-05-30 | 2001-11-29 | 2002-05-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-05-30 | 2005-11-29 | 2006-05-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |