Snap-in resilient emi grounding clip apparatus for computer structures

Claim 1

Apparatus for creating an electrically conductive grounding path between a first structure having a wall portion with first and second opposite sides, and a second structure positionable against said first wall portion side, said apparatus comprising: a lance structure formed on said wall portion and including an opening extending through said wall portion and an elongated lance strip section of said wall portion outwardly offset from said second side thereof over said opening therein, said lance strip section having an edge periphery configuration substantially identical to that of said opening; and an elongated, resiliently deflectable, electrically conductive grounding strip longitudinally curved along its length and having opposite end portions captively retained between said second wall portion side and said lance strip section for movement toward and away from opposite ends of said lance strip section, and a curved longitudinally intermediate portion extending through said wall portion opening and projecting outwardly beyond said first wall portion side, said wall portion opening having an elongated rectangular configuration With a length generally parallel to the length of said lance strip section, and a width extending between opposite parallel sides of said opening, said grounding strip end portions being transversely enlarged, in the direction of said width, to lengths greater than said width, and said wall portion having notch means formed therein at a longitudinally intermediate portion of said opening, said notch means permitting passage therethrough of said transversely enlarged grounding strip end portions into and out of the space between said lance strip section and said second side of said wall portion.

Claim 9

A method of creating an electrical grounding connection between a first structure having a wall portion with first and second opposite sides, and a second structure positionable against said first wall portion side, said method comprising the steps of: forming a lance structure in said wall portion, said lance structure including an opening extending through said wall portion and a lance strip section of said wall portion outwardly offset from said second side thereof over said opening therein and having an edge periphery configuration substantially identical to that of said opening; providing a resiliently deflectable, electrically conductive grounding strip which is longitudinally curved along its length, about an axis transverse to said length, and has spaced apart opposite end portions; mounting said grounding strip on said wall portion by captively retaining said opposite end portions of said grounding strip within the space between said second wall portion side and said lance strip section, for movement therein parallel to the length of said lance strip section, with a curved longitudinally intermediate portion of said grounding strip extending outwardly through said wall portion opening past said first side thereof; and positioning said second structure against said first wall portion side in a manner causing said second structure to forcibly engage and resiliently deflect said longitudinally intermediate grounding strip portion toward said lance strip section and further separate said grounding strip end portions from one another, said wall portion opening having opposite, generally parallel sides, said wall portion having opposed notches formed therein along said opposite sides of said wall portion opening, said opposite end portions of said grounding strip being transversely enlarged relative to the balance of said grounding strip, and said captively retaining step including the step of inserting said grounding strip end portions inwardly through said wall portion opening at said opposed notches.

Claim 10

A method of creating an electrical grounding connection between a first structure having a wall portion with first and second opposite sides, and a second structure positionable against said first wall portion side, said method comprising the steps of: forming a lance structure in said wall portion, said lance structure including an opening extending through said wall portion and a lance strip section of said wall portion outwardly offset from said second side thereof over said opening therein and having an edge periphery configuration substantially identical to that of said opening; providing a resiliently deflectable, electrically conductive grounding strip which is longitudinally curved along its length, about an axis transverse to said length, and has spaced apart opposite end portions; mounting said grounding strip on said wall portion by captively retaining said opposite end portions of said grounding strip within the space between said second wall portion side and said lance strip section, for movement therein parallel to the length of said lance strip section, with a curved longitudinally intermediate portion of said grounding strip extending outwardly through said wall portion opening past said first side thereof; and positioning said second structure against said first wall portion side in a manner causing said second structure to forcibly engage and resiliently deflect said longitudinally intermediate grounding strip portion toward said lance strip section and further separate said grounding strip end portions from one another, said wall portion opening having opposite, generally parallel sides, said wall portion having opposed notches formed therein along said opposite sides of said wall portion opening, said opposite end portions of said grounding strip being transversely enlarged relative to the balance of said grounding strip, and said captively retaining step including the step of inserting said grounding strip end portions inwardly through said wall portion opening at said opposed notches.