Interface mounting device and printed circuit board assembly with the interface mounting device

The subject matter herein generally relates to an interface mounting device and a printed circuit board with the interface mounting device.

A number of interfaces, such as utility smart network access port, are generally secured to a circuit board by screws with a coupling end coupled to a connector secured to the circuit board.

Implementations of the present technology will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the attached figures.

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an embodiment of a printed circuit board assembly.

FIG. 2 is similar with FIG. 1 , but viewed from a different angle.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of an interface mounting device and an interface device of the printed circuit board assembly of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 4 is an assembled, isometric view of the printed circuit board assembly of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 5 is similar with FIG. 4 , but viewed from a different angle.

It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, where appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated among the different figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. In addition, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments described herein. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments described herein can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, methods, procedures, and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the related relevant feature being described. Also, the description is not to be considered as limiting the scope of the embodiments described herein. The drawings are not necessarily to scale and the proportions of certain parts may be exaggerated to better illustrate details and features of the present disclosure.

Several definitions that apply throughout this disclosure will now be presented.

The term “coupled” is defined as connected, whether directly or indirectly through intervening components, and is not necessarily limited to physical connections. The connection can be such that the objects are permanently connected or releasably connected. The term “comprising,” when utilized, means “including, but not necessarily limited to”; it specifically indicates open-ended inclusion or membership in the so-described combination, group, series and the like.

FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 illustrate a printed circuit board assembly in accordance with an embodiment including an interface device 10 and an interface mounting device 20 configured to mount the interface device 10 .

The interface device 10 can include a case 11 , an operation portion 12 , a coupling portion 13 , a guiding portion 15 , and a limiting portion 16 .

The case 11 can include a top wall 111 , a bottom wall 112 opposite to the top wall 111 , a front wall 113 , a rear wall 114 opposite to the front wall 113 , and two sidewalls 115 . In at least one embodiment, the top wall 111 is substantially parallel to the bottom wall 112 , the front wall 113 is substantially parallel to the rear wall 114 and perpendicular to the top wall 111 , and the sidewall 115 is substantially perpendicular to the top wall 111 and the front wall 113 .

The operation portion 12 extends from the front wall 113 away from the rear wall 114 . The coupling portion 13 extends from the rear wall 114 away from the front wall 113 . The guiding portion 15 includes two guiding blocks 151 . Each guiding block 151 extends from an edge of the top wall 111 , coupled to the rear wall 114 , in a direction substantially perpendicularly to the rear wall 114 . The limiting portion 16 includes two limiting pieces 161 extending substantially perpendicularly from a top edge of each sidewall 115 .

The interface mounting device 20 can include a circuit board 30 and a bracket 50 .

The circuit board 30 secures a connector 31 and defines an installation opening 32 adjacent to the connector 31 . Each side edge of the installation opening 32 defines a cutout 321 . A positioning piece 33 is located between the two cutouts 321 . The positioning piece 33 defines a positioning hole 331 .

The bracket 50 can include a covering plate 51 , two side plates 53 extending from opposite side edges of the covering plate 51 , and a rear plate 55 connected to the covering plate 51 and the two side plates 53 . A first guiding rib 511 extends slantingly from a free edge of the covering plate 51 . A second guiding rib 531 extends slantingly from a free edge of each side plate 53 . The first guiding rib 511 and the second guiding rib 531 are configured for the interface device 10 to be easily inserted. The rear plate 55 defines a guiding slot 551 . The guiding slot 551 extends to the covering plate 51 . A holding plate 58 extends from the rear plate 55 and each side plate 53 . The holding plate 58 is substantially parallel to the covering plate 51 . The bracket 50 further includes two positioning plates 56 located outside of the side plates 53 and substantially parallel to the side plate 53 . A positioning block 561 and two hooks 563 extend from each positioning plate 56 . The positioning block 561 is located between the two hooks 563 . A positioning post 5611 protrudes from the positioning block 561 . A limiting cutout 5311 is defined in the second guiding rib 531 adjacent to the first guiding rib 511 . In at least one embodiment, the limiting cutout 5311 is step-shaped.

FIG. 3 illustrates that in assembly of the bracket 50 , the bracket 50 is positioned above the circuit board 30 and aligned to the installation opening 32 . The bracket 50 is moved in a direction substantially perpendicular to the circuit board 30 , the positioning post 5611 is inserted into the positioning hole 331 , and the hooks 563 are elastically deformed to be received in the cutouts 321 . When the positioning block 561 is blocked by the positioning piece 33 , the bracket 50 is released. The hooks 563 extend out of the positioning holes 331 and rebound to engage edges of the positioning hole 331 . Thus, the bracket 50 is mounted to the circuit board 30 with the connector 31 aligned to the guiding slot 551 .

FIGS. 4-5 illustrate that when in assembly of the interface device 10 , the interface device 10 is inserted into the bracket 50 between the holding plates 58 and the covering plate 51 . The guiding block 151 extends out of the guiding slot 551 and abuts side edge of the guiding slot 551 . The interface device 10 is slid towards the connector 31 until the limiting pieces 161 are blocked by edges of the limiting cutouts 5311 . The coupling portion 13 is coupled to the connector 31 . When the guiding blocks 151 abut side edges of the guiding slot 551 , the coupling portion 13 is aligned with the connector 31 . When the interface device 10 is slid into the bracket 50 , the guiding blocks 151 slide along the guiding slot 551 , guiding the coupling portion 13 to couple to the connector 31 correctly.

The guiding blocks 151 are furthered taken as a fool-proof structure. When the interface device 10 is inserted into the bracket 50 in a wrong direction, the guiding blocks 151 will be blocked by the rear plate 55 , preventing the interface device 10 from further sliding into the bracket 50 . When the coupling portion 13 is coupled to the connector 31 , the guiding blocks 151 are located between the covering plate 51 and the circuit board 30 and holds the interface device 10 upon the circuit board 30 , preventing coupling pins (not shown) of the connector 31 from being damaged by the coupling portion 13 . The edges of the limiting cutouts 5311 block the limiting pieces 161 , preventing the interface device 10 from overly inserting into the connector 31 to damage the coupling pins of the connector 31 .

The embodiments shown and described above are only examples. Many details are often found in the art such as the other features of an interface mounting device and printed circuit board assembly. Therefore, many such details are neither shown nor described. Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present technology have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the present disclosure, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in the details, including in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of the parts within the principles of the present disclosure, up to and including the full extent established by the broad general meaning of the terms used in the claims. It will therefore be appreciated that the embodiments described above may be modified within the scope of the claims.