Connector fastener

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to fastening devices and more particularly, to a fastener for securing an interface card to a connector at a circuit board.

2. Description of the Related Art

Following fast development of computer technology, a variety of advanced computers with versatile functions have been developed and have appeared on the market. In a computer, different interface cards may be installed in the motherboard for different purposes. FIG. 1 shows the installation of an interface card in a circuit board according to the prior art. As illustrated, the circuit board 1 has a connector 10 and two U-lugs 30 provided at the top side. After insertion of an interface card 20 into the connector 10 , screw rods 30 a are respectively inserted into respective mounting through holes 20 a at the interface card 20 into a screw hole at each of the U-lugs 30 to affix the interface card 20 . It takes much time to install the screw rods 30 a manually with a screwdriver. Further, if the screw rods 30 a are no accurately installed in position due to improper application of pressure through the screwdriver, the connection between the interface card 20 and the connector 10 may be unstable.

Therefore, it is desirable to provide a fastener that eliminates the aforesaid drawbacks.

The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is the main object of the present invention to provide a fastener, which is practical for securing an interface card to a connector at a circuit board positive. It is another object of the present invention to provide a fastener, which is easy to install. To achieve these and other objects of the present invention, the fastener comprises locating block that supports an interface card on a circuit board, a hollow hook member inserted through a mounting through hole in the interface card into the through hole of the locating block to secure the interface card to the locating block, and a holding down member inserted into the hollow hook member to hold down the hook member so as to lock the interface card to the locating block.

FIG. 1 is an exploded view showing the mounting arrangement of an interface card in a circuit board according to the prior art.

FIG. 2 illustrates the structure of a fastener according to the present invention (the holding down member excluded)

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of a holding down member for fastener according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line B-B of FIG. 2 .

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 2 .

FIG. 6 is a side plain view showing the locating block of the fastener bonded to a circuit board according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of FIG. 6 .

FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing an interface card supported on the locating block according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an applied view of the present invention (before fastening of the holding down bolts to the respective hook members in the respective locating blocks).

FIG. 10 is an assembly view of FIG. 9 .

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken in an enlarged scale along line C-C of FIG. 10 .

FIG. 12 is an elevational view of an alternate form of the holding down member according to the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a sectional view of an alternate form of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is similar to FIG. 3 but showing the holding down member rotated through an angle.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view taken along line E-E of FIG. 14 .

FIG. 16 is a top view taken along line E-E of FIG. 14 .

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3 , a fastener 100 is shown comprising a locating block 40 , a hook member 50 , and a holding down member 70 .

The locating block 40 has a through hole 41 extending through the top and bottom walls and two locating grooves 42 symmetrically vertically disposed at two sides in the through hole 41 .

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5 and FIG. 2 again, the hook member 50 is a hollow cylindrical member inserted into the through hole 41 of the locating block 40 , comprising two obliquely backwardly protruding barbs 51 symmetrically disposed at two opposite lateral sides and respectively engaged into the locating grooves 42 to stop the hook member 50 from rotation relative to the locating block 40 , two longitudinal spring strips 501 arranged in parallel at the rear side and respectively terminating in a clamping portion 501 a , and two obliquely forwardly protruding hooked portions 52 respectively extended from the longitudinal spring strips 501 .

Referring to FIG. 3 again, the holding down member 70 comprises a handle 71 and a bolt 72 .

Referring to FIGS. 6˜11 , a connector 10 and the locating blocks 40 of two fasteners 100 are installed in a circuit board 80 through a SMT (Surface Mounting Technique). An interface card 20 is inserted with the front side thereof into the connector 10 , and then the rear side of the interface card 20 is forced downwards to have the longitudinal spring strips 501 of the hook members 50 of the two fasteners 100 be inserted into respective mounting through holes 20 a of the interface card 20 . Thereafter, the bolts 72 of the holding down members 70 are respectively inserted into the respective hook members 50 between the longitudinal spring strips 501 of each hook member 50 , thereby holding down the hook members 50 in the respective locating blocks 40 . At this time, the protruding hooked portions 52 of the hook members 50 are hooked on the top wall of the interface card 20 , thereby locking the interface card 20 .

FIGS. 12˜16 show an alternate form of the present invention. According to this embodiment, the holding down member 70 comprises a handle 71 and a flat bolt 72 a extending from the handle 71 and terminating in an arrowhead tip 72 b . Further, the longitudinal spring strips 501 of the hook member 50 are respectively terminating in an inwardly protruding and notched clamping portion 501 b . After insertion of the flat bolt 72 a into the hook member 50 between the longitudinal spring strips 501 , the holding down member 70 is rotated through an angle, thereby causing the arrowhead tip 72 b to force the obliquely backwardly protruding barbs 51 radially outwards against the respective peripheral walls of the locating grooves 42 , and at the same time the notched clamping portions 501 b of the longitudinal spring strips 501 are clamped on the bolt 72 a of the holding down member 70 and the protruding hooked portions 52 of the hook members 50 are hooked on the top wall of the interface card 20 to lock the interface card 20 .

Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.