US5691504A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Multilayer computer chassis having integral circuit board mounting and grounding structure
Assignee: Dell USA LP
•
Filing: 1995-05-05
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Granted: 1997-11-25
•
Expires: 2015-05-05
Abstract
Abstract A chassis for containing a circuit board and a method of mounting a circuit board to a chassis. The chassis includes: (1) an outer chassis portion having a conductive material and having a plurality of associated pairs of integral circuit board mounts and outer chassis apertures formed in a substantially planar wall thereof, the circuit board mounts protruding toward an interior of the outer chassis portion and (2) an inner chassis portion having a plurality of associated pairs of integral spring members and inner chassis apertures formed in a substantially planar wall thereof, the plurality of circuit board mounts registerable with the plurality of inner chassis apertures to allow the plurality of circuit board mounts to pass through the plurality of inner chassis apertures as the wall of the inner chassis portion is brought into proximity with the wall of the outer chassis portion, the wall of the inner chassis portion substantially occluding the outer chassis apertures and the wall of the outer chassis portion substantially occluding the inner chassis apertures to form an electromagnetic interference ("EMI") shield, the plurality of circuit board mounts and the plurality of spring members cooperable to mount a circuit board to the chassis and to provide a grounding path from the circuit board to the chassis for electrical currents associated with the circuit board.
Inventors
- 👤 Steven L. Sands
- 👤 George Thomas Holt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 14:21
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F1/00; G06F1/16; G06F1/18; G06F1/183; G06F1/184; G06F1/181; G06F1/182; H; H05; H05K; H05K7/00; H05K7/14; H05K7/1422; H05K7/1427; H05K7/1429; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S174/00; Y10S174/34; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49002; Y10T29/49117; Y10T29/49124; Y10T29/49128
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 40
Claim 1
Independent Claim
246 words
A chassis assembly comprising: a circuit board; an outer chassis portion composed of a conductive material and having a plurality of associated pairs of integral circuit board mounts and outer chassis apertures formed in a substantially planar wall thereof, said circuit board mounts protruding toward an interior of said outer chassis portion; and an inner chassis portion having a plurality of associated pairs of integral spring members and inner chassis apertures formed in a substantially planar wall thereof, said plurality of circuit board mounts registerable with said plurality of inner chassis apertures to allow said plurality of circuit board mounts to pass through said plurality of inner chassis apertures as said wall of said inner chassis portion is brought into proximity with said wall of said outer chassis portion, said wall of said inner chassis portion substantially occluding said outer chassis apertures and said wall of said outer chassis portion substantially occluding said inner chassis apertures to form an electromagnetic interference (EMI) shield, said plurality of circuit board mounts and said plurality of spring members cooperable to mount said circuit board to said chassis and to provide a grounding path from said circuit board to said chassis for electrical currents associated with said circuit boar wherein each of said plurality of circuit board mounts comprises a hook portion, an inner surface of said hook portion bearable against a first surface of said circuit board to retain said circuit board in proximity with said inner chassis portion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
246 words
A chassis assembly comprising: a circuit board; an outer chassis portion composed of a conductive material and having a plurality of associated pairs of integral circuit board mounts and outer chassis apertures formed in a substantially planar wall thereof, said circuit board mounts protruding toward an interior of said outer chassis portion; and an inner chassis portion having a plurality of associated pairs of integral spring members and inner chassis apertures formed in a substantially planar wall thereof, said plurality of circuit board mounts registerable with said plurality of inner chassis apertures to allow said plurality of circuit board mounts to pass through said plurality of inner chassis apertures as said wall of said inner chassis portion is brought into proximity with said wall of said outer chassis portion, said wall of said inner chassis portion substantially occluding said outer chassis apertures and said wall of said outer chassis portion substantially occluding said inner chassis apertures to form an electromagnetic interference (EMI) shield, said plurality of circuit board mounts and said plurality of spring members cooperable to mount said circuit board to said chassis and to provide a grounding path from said circuit board to said chassis for electrical currents associated with said circuit boar wherein each of said plurality of circuit board mounts comprises a hook portion, an inner surface of said hook portion bearable against a first surface of said circuit board to retain said circuit board in proximity with said inner chassis portion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
The chassis assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of spring members comprises a cantilevered projection, said cantilevered projection bearable against a second surface of said circuit board to urge said circuit board into contact with said plurality of circuit board mounts.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
The chassis assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said inner chassis portion has a plurality of associated sidewalls about the perimeter thereof, said plurality of associated sidewalls in proximity with said circuit board to suppress transverse electromagnetic (TEM) waves emanated from said circuit board.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The chassis assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said inner chassis portion is composed of a conductive material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
The chassis assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said plurality of spring members are composed of a conductive material and are bearable against conductors deposited on a second surface of said circuit board to provide said grounding path.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
The chassis assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said outer chassis portion comprises a circuit board guide projecting from a second wall thereof, said circuit board guide prealigning said circuit board for registration with said plurality of circuit board mounts.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
The chassis assembly as recited in claim 1 further comprising an access panel removably couplable to said outer chassis portion to retain said circuit board in engagement with said plurality of circuit board mounts.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
The chassis assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein locations of said plurality of associated pairs of integral circuit board mounts and spring members are predetermined to correspond to locations of grounding traces on said circuit board.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The chassis assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said circuit board is a motherboard of a personal computer (PC).
Claim 11
Independent Claim
288 words
A method of mounting a circuit board to a chassis, comprising the steps of: bringing an outer chassis portion into proximity with an inner chassis portion, said outer chassis portion composed of a conductive material and having a plurality of associated pairs of integral circuit board mounts and outer chassis apertures formed in a substantially planar wall thereof, said circuit board mounts protruding toward an interior of said outer chassis portion, said inner chassis portion having a plurality of associated pairs of integral spring members and inner chassis apertures formed in a substantially planar wall thereof, said plurality of circuit board mounts registerable with said plurality of inner chassis apertures to allow said plurality of circuit board mounts to pass through said plurality of inner chassis apertures as said wall of said inner chassis portion is brought into proximity with said wall of said outer chassis portion, said wall of said inner chassis portion substantially occluding said outer chassis apertures and said wall of said outer chassis portion substantially occluding said inner chassis apertures to form an electromagnetic interference (EMI) shield; and coupling a circuit board to said plurality of circuit board mounts and said plurality of spring members, said circuit board thereby removably mounted to said chassis, said plurality of circuit board mounts and said plurality of spring members providing a grounding path from said circuit board to said chassis for electrical currents associated with said circuit board; wherein each of said plurality of circuit board mounts comprises a hook portion, the method further comprising the step of bearing against a first surface of said circuit board with an inner surface of said hook portion to retain said circuit board in proximity with said inner chassis portion.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
288 words
A method of mounting a circuit board to a chassis, comprising the steps of: bringing an outer chassis portion into proximity with an inner chassis portion, said outer chassis portion composed of a conductive material and having a plurality of associated pairs of integral circuit board mounts and outer chassis apertures formed in a substantially planar wall thereof, said circuit board mounts protruding toward an interior of said outer chassis portion, said inner chassis portion having a plurality of associated pairs of integral spring members and inner chassis apertures formed in a substantially planar wall thereof, said plurality of circuit board mounts registerable with said plurality of inner chassis apertures to allow said plurality of circuit board mounts to pass through said plurality of inner chassis apertures as said wall of said inner chassis portion is brought into proximity with said wall of said outer chassis portion, said wall of said inner chassis portion substantially occluding said outer chassis apertures and said wall of said outer chassis portion substantially occluding said inner chassis apertures to form an electromagnetic interference (EMI) shield; and coupling a circuit board to said plurality of circuit board mounts and said plurality of spring members, said circuit board thereby removably mounted to said chassis, said plurality of circuit board mounts and said plurality of spring members providing a grounding path from said circuit board to said chassis for electrical currents associated with said circuit board; wherein each of said plurality of circuit board mounts comprises a hook portion, the method further comprising the step of bearing against a first surface of said circuit board with an inner surface of said hook portion to retain said circuit board in proximity with said inner chassis portion.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method as recited in claim 10 wherein each of said plurality of spring members comprises a cantilevered projection, the method further comprising the step of bearing against a second surface of said circuit board with said cantilevered projection to urge said circuit board into contact with said plurality of circuit board mounts.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method as recited in claim 10 wherein said inner chassis portion has a plurality of associated sidewalls about the perimeter thereof, the method further comprising the step of bringing said plurality of associated sidewalls into proximity with said circuit board to suppress transverse electromagnetic (TEM) waves emanated from said circuit board.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method as recited in claim 10 wherein said inner chassis portion is composed of a conductive material.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method as recited in claim 10 wherein said plurality of spring members are composed of a conductive material, the method further comprising the step of bearing said spring members against conductors deposited on a second surface of said circuit board to provide said grounding path.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method as recited in claim 10 wherein said outer chassis portion comprises a circuit board guide projecting from a second wall thereof, the method further comprising the step of prealigning said circuit board for registration with said plurality of circuit board mounts with said circuit board guide.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method as recited in claim 10 further comprising the step of coupling an access panel to said outer chassis portion to retain said circuit board in engagement with said plurality of circuit board mounts.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method as recited in claim 10 wherein locations of said plurality of associated pairs of integral circuit board mounts and spring members are predetermined to correspond to locations of grounding traces on said circuit board.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method as recited in claim 10 wherein said circuit board is a motherboard of a personal computer (PC).
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
230 words
A chassis assembly comprising: a circuit board; an outer chassis portion composed of a conductive material and having a plurality of integral circuit board mounts formed in a substantially planar wall thereof, said circuit board mounts protruding toward an interior of said outer chassis portion; and an inner chassis portion having a plurality of integral spring members formed in a substantially planar wall thereof, said plurality of circuit board mounts registerable with a plurality of inner chassis apertures in said inner chassis portion to allow said plurality of circuit board mounts to pass through said plurality of inner chassis apertures as said wall of said inner chassis portion is brought into proximity with said wall of said outer chassis portion, said plurality of circuit board mounts and said plurality of spring members cooperable to pass through corresponding apertures in said circuit board, said plurality of circuit board mounts and spring members providing opposing forces to mount said circuit board to said chassis and to provide a grounding path, from said circuit board to said chassis via said plurality of spring members, for electrical currents associated with said circuit board; wherein each of said plurality of circuit board mounts comprises a hook portion, an inner surface of said hook portion bearable against a first surface of said circuit board to retain said circuit board in proximity with said inner chassis portion.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
230 words
A chassis assembly comprising: a circuit board; an outer chassis portion composed of a conductive material and having a plurality of integral circuit board mounts formed in a substantially planar wall thereof, said circuit board mounts protruding toward an interior of said outer chassis portion; and an inner chassis portion having a plurality of integral spring members formed in a substantially planar wall thereof, said plurality of circuit board mounts registerable with a plurality of inner chassis apertures in said inner chassis portion to allow said plurality of circuit board mounts to pass through said plurality of inner chassis apertures as said wall of said inner chassis portion is brought into proximity with said wall of said outer chassis portion, said plurality of circuit board mounts and said plurality of spring members cooperable to pass through corresponding apertures in said circuit board, said plurality of circuit board mounts and spring members providing opposing forces to mount said circuit board to said chassis and to provide a grounding path, from said circuit board to said chassis via said plurality of spring members, for electrical currents associated with said circuit board; wherein each of said plurality of circuit board mounts comprises a hook portion, an inner surface of said hook portion bearable against a first surface of said circuit board to retain said circuit board in proximity with said inner chassis portion.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
46 words
The chassis assembly as recited in claim 19 wherein each of said plurality of spring members comprises a cantilevered projection, said cantilevered projection bearable against a second surface of said circuit board to urge said circuit board into contact with said plurality of circuit board mounts.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
45 words
The chassis assembly as recited in claim 19 wherein said inner chassis portion has a plurality of associated sidewalls about the perimeter thereof, said plurality of associated sidewalls in proximity with said circuit board to suppress transverse electromagnetic (TEM) waves emanated from said circuit board.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
19 words
The chassis assembly as recited in claim 19 wherein said inner chassis portion is composed of a conductive material.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
32 words
The chassis assembly as recited in claim 19 wherein said plurality of spring members are bearable against conductors deposited on a second surface of said circuit board to provide said grounding path.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
41 words
The chassis assembly as recited in claim 19 wherein said outer chassis portion comprises a circuit board guide projecting from a second wall thereof, said circuit board guide prealigning said circuit board for registration with said plurality of circuit board mounts.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
34 words
The chassis assembly as recited in claim 19 further comprising an access panel removably couplable to said outer chassis portion to retain said circuit board in engagement with said plurality of circuit board mounts.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
37 words
The chassis assembly as recited in claim 19 wherein locations of said plurality of associated pairs of integral circuit board mounts and spring members are predetermined to correspond to locations of grounding traces on said circuit board.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
20 words
The chassis assembly as recited in claim 19 wherein said circuit board is a motherboard of a personal computer (PC).
Claim 31
Independent Claim
287 words
A method of mounting a circuit board to a chassis, comprising the steps of: bringing an outer chassis portion into proximity with an inner chassis portion, said outer chassis portion composed of a conductive material and having a plurality of integral circuit board mounts and outer chassis apertures formed in a substantially planar wall thereof, said circuit board mounts protruding toward an interior of said outer chassis portion, said inner chassis portion having a plurality of integral spring members formed in a substantially planar wall thereof, said plurality of circuit board mounts registerable with a plurality of inner chassis apertures in said inner chassis portion to allow said plurality of circuit board mounts to pass through said plurality of inner chassis apertures as said wall of said inner chassis portion is brought into proximity with said wall of said outer chassis portion; and coupling a circuit board to said plurality of circuit board mounts and said plurality of spring members, said circuit board thereby removably mounted to said chassis, said plurality of circuit board mounts and said plurality of spring members cooperable to pass through corresponding apertures in said circuit board, said plurality of circuit board mounts and spring members providing opposing forces to mount said circuit board to said chassis and to provide a grounding path, from said circuit board to said chassis via said plurality of spring members, for electrical currents associated with said circuit board; wherein each of said plurality of circuit board mounts comprises a hook portion, the method further comprising the step of bearing against a first surface of said circuit board with an inner surface of said hook portion to retain said circuit board in proximity with said inner chassis portion.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
287 words
A method of mounting a circuit board to a chassis, comprising the steps of: bringing an outer chassis portion into proximity with an inner chassis portion, said outer chassis portion composed of a conductive material and having a plurality of integral circuit board mounts and outer chassis apertures formed in a substantially planar wall thereof, said circuit board mounts protruding toward an interior of said outer chassis portion, said inner chassis portion having a plurality of integral spring members formed in a substantially planar wall thereof, said plurality of circuit board mounts registerable with a plurality of inner chassis apertures in said inner chassis portion to allow said plurality of circuit board mounts to pass through said plurality of inner chassis apertures as said wall of said inner chassis portion is brought into proximity with said wall of said outer chassis portion; and coupling a circuit board to said plurality of circuit board mounts and said plurality of spring members, said circuit board thereby removably mounted to said chassis, said plurality of circuit board mounts and said plurality of spring members cooperable to pass through corresponding apertures in said circuit board, said plurality of circuit board mounts and spring members providing opposing forces to mount said circuit board to said chassis and to provide a grounding path, from said circuit board to said chassis via said plurality of spring members, for electrical currents associated with said circuit board; wherein each of said plurality of circuit board mounts comprises a hook portion, the method further comprising the step of bearing against a first surface of said circuit board with an inner surface of said hook portion to retain said circuit board in proximity with said inner chassis portion.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method as recited in claim 28 wherein each of said plurality of spring members comprises a cantilevered projection, the method further comprising the step of bearing against a second surface of said circuit board with said cantilevered projection to urge said circuit board into contact with said plurality of circuit board mounts.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method as recited in claim 28 wherein said inner chassis portion has a plurality of associated sidewalls about the perimeter thereof, the method further comprising the step of bringing said plurality of associated sidewalls into proximity with said circuit board to suppress transverse electromagnetic (TEM) waves emanated from said circuit board.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method as recited in claim 28 wherein said inner chassis portion is composed of a conductive material.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method as recited in claim 28 further comprising the step of bearing said spring members against conductors deposited on a second surface of said circuit board to provide said grounding path.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method as recited in claim 28 wherein said outer chassis portion comprises a circuit board guide projecting from a second wall thereof, the method further comprising the step of prealigning said circuit board for registration with said plurality of circuit board mounts with said circuit board guide.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method as recited in claim 28 further comprising the step of coupling an access panel to said outer chassis portion to retain said circuit board in engagement with said plurality of circuit board mounts.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method as recited in claim 28 wherein locations of said plurality of associated pairs of integral circuit board mounts and spring members are predetermined to correspond to locations of grounding traces on said circuit board.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method as recited in claim 28 wherein said circuit board is a motherboard of a personal computer (PC).
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-11-24 | 2001-05-26 | 2001-11-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-11-24 | 2005-05-26 | 2005-11-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-11-24 | 2009-05-26 | 2009-11-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |