TOOLLESS CARD/BRACKET COUPLING SYSTEM
A toolless card/bracket coupling system includes a card bracket base that mounts to a chassis with a chassis mounting configuration, spaced-apart card securing support members extending from the card bracket base, and a toolless card securing subsystem on each of the card securing support members. Each toolless card securing subsystem may move towards a respective card aperture defined by the card while in a securing orientation, engage its respective card aperture and, in response, transition to a coupling orientation that allows that toolless card securing subsystem to move through its respective card aperture and, in response to extending through its respective card aperture and through the card, transition back to the securing orientation to secure the card to the card bracket base via engagement with the card.
The present disclosure relates generally to information handling systems, and more particularly to coupling brackets to a card without the use of tools so that the card may be mounted in and coupled to an information handling system.
As the value and use of information continues to increase, individuals and businesses seek additional ways to process and store information. One option available to users is information handling systems. An information handling system generally processes, compiles, stores, and/or communicates information or data for business, personal, or other purposes thereby allowing users to take advantage of the value of the information. Because technology and information handling needs and requirements vary between different users or applications, information handling systems may also vary regarding what information is handled, how the information is handled, how much information is processed, stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the information may be processed, stored, or communicated. The variations in information handling systems allow for information handling systems to be general or configured for a specific user or specific use such as financial transaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise data storage, or global communications. In addition, information handling systems may include a variety of hardware and software components that may be configured to process, store, and communicate information and may include one or more computer systems, data storage systems, and networking systems.
Information handling systems such as, for example, server devices, sometimes utilize cards in order to expand their functionality. For example, Peripheral Component Interconnect express (PCIe) cards are often used to expand the functionality of server devices, with a bracket connected to a PCIe card, and then mounted to the chassis of the server device after the PCIe card has been positioned in a PCIe card slot in the server device and connected to a PCIe card connector on a motherboard in the server device. However, different server devices and/or different PCIe card slots may provide different mounting configurations for PCIe cards. For example, some PCIe card slots may be provided as “full-height” PCIe card slots or “half-height” PCIe card slots, with full-height PCIe card slots requiring a “full-height” bracket on a PCIe card in order to mount to the chassis of the server device, and with half-height PCIe card slots requiring a “half-height” bracket on a PCIe card in order to mount to the chassis of the server device. As such, PCIe cards and/or server devices are often provided with both full-height and half-height brackets in order to enable the use of PCIe cards in either full-height or half-height PCIe card slots.
However, the connection of brackets to PCIe cards can raise some issues. Conventional brackets include a pair of screw coupling elements that define respective screw holes that are configured to align with corresponding holes on the PCIe card, and a user may connect either of the full-height bracket or the half-height bracket discussed above to the PCIe card by aligning the holes on the PCIe card with the screw holes defined by the screw coupling elements on either of the full-height bracket or the half-height bracket, and then threading a respective screw into each of those screw holes. As such, the user is required to locate the correct type of screwdriver and screws, align the PCIe card and bracket, and thread each of the screws using the screwdriver, which is a time-consuming process. Furthermore, these issues can be exacerbated in situations in which a PCIe card is moved between a full-height PCIe card slot and a half-height PCIe card slot, as the user must locate the correct type of screwdriver, remove the screws from the existing bracket using the screwdriver, remove the existing bracket, locate the new bracket, align the PCIe card and the new bracket, and thread each of the screws using the screwdriver.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide card/bracket coupling system that addresses the issues discussed above.
SUMMARYAccording to one embodiment, an Information Handling System (IHS) includes a chassis; a first card slot that is defined by the chassis and that includes a first card mounting configuration; a first card connector that is located adjacent the first card slot; a first card that is connected to the first card connector; a first card bracket base that is mounted to the chassis and provided in the first card mounting configuration; a plurality of first card securing support members that extend from the first card bracket base in a spaced-apart orientation; and a toolless card securing subsystem that is included on each of the plurality of first card securing support members, wherein each toolless card securing subsystem that is included on each of the plurality of first card securing support members extends from a first side of the first card and through a respective first card aperture defined by the first card, and engages a second side of the first card that is opposite the first card from the first side of the first card in a securing orientation that secures the first card to the first card bracket base, and wherein each toolless card securing subsystem that is included on each of the plurality of first card securing support members is configured to: transition, while the first card is secured to the first card bracket base and in response to a force that is provided without the use of a tool, from the securing orientation to a coupling orientation that allows that toolless card securing subsystem to move through its respective first card aperture defined by the first card; and move, while in the coupling orientation, from the second side of the first card and through its respective first card aperture defined by the first card in order to unsecure the first card from the first card bracket base.
For purposes of this disclosure, an information handling system may include any instrumentality or aggregate of instrumentalities operable to compute, calculate, determine, classify, process, transmit, receive, retrieve, originate, switch, store, display, communicate, manifest, detect, record, reproduce, handle, or utilize any form of information, intelligence, or data for business, scientific, control, or other purposes. For example, an information handling system may be a personal computer (e.g., desktop or laptop), tablet computer, mobile device (e.g., personal digital assistant (PDA) or smart phone), server (e.g., blade server or rack server), a network storage device, or any other suitable device and may vary in size, shape, performance, functionality, and price. The information handling system may include random access memory (RAM), one or more processing resources such as a central processing unit (CPU) or hardware or software control logic, ROM, and/or other types of nonvolatile memory. Additional components of the information handling system may include one or more disk drives, one or more network ports for communicating with external devices as well as various input and output (I/O) devices, such as a keyboard, a mouse, touchscreen and/or a video display. The information handling system may also include one or more buses operable to transmit communications between the various hardware components.
In one embodiment, IHS 100,
Referring now to
In the illustrated embodiment, a mounting element 204 is located immediately adjacent the side wall 202e of the chassis 202, although one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure will appreciate that cards may be mounted in a variety of locations in a chassis of a computing device while remaining within the scope of the present disclosure as well. A circuit board 206 is included in the chassis housing 204 and may be provided by a motherboard and/or other circuit boards that would be apparent to one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure. A card connector 208 is included on the circuit board 206 and may be provided by a Peripheral Component Interconnect express (PCIe) card connector, as well as any other card connector that would be apparent to one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure. As illustrated, the configuration of the computing device 200 provides a “full-height” card slot 210, particularly when considered relative to the computing device 300 discussed below with reference to
Referring now to
In the illustrated embodiment, a mounting element 304 is located immediately adjacent the side wall 302e of the chassis 302, although one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure will appreciate that cards may be mounted in a variety of locations in a chassis of a computing device while remaining within the scope of the present disclosure as well. A circuit board 306 is included in the chassis housing 304 and may be provided by a motherboard and/or other circuit boards that would be apparent to one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure. A card connector 308 is included on the circuit board 306 and may be provided by a PCIe card connector, as well as any other card connector that would be apparent to one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure. As illustrated, the configuration of the computing device 300 provides a “half-height” card slot 310, particularly when considered relative to the computing device 200 discussed below with reference to
Furthermore, while the computing devices 200 and 300 in
Referring now to
With reference to
With reference to
As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure and as discussed in further detail below, each of the “full-height” card bracket 500 and the “half-height” card bracket 600 are configured to couple to the card 400. In particular and as discussed above, the card securing support members 506 and 606 on the “full-height” card bracket 500 and the “half-height” card bracket 600, respectively, each include the same spacing that corresponds to the spacing of the card apertures 406a and 406b defined by the card 400 discussed above with reference to
Referring now to
The method 700 begins at block 702 where toolless card securing subsystems on a card bracket are moved from a first side of a card and towards respective card apertures on the card while in a securing orientation. With reference to
The method 700 then proceeds to block 704 where the toolless card securing subsystems on the card bracket are engaged with the respective card apertures on the card while in the securing orientation. With reference to
The method 700 then proceeds to block 706 where the toolless card securing subsystems on the card bracket transition from the securing orientation to a coupling orientation. In an embodiment of block 706 and in response to engagement of each of the pair of toolless card securing members 510 and 512 with the base 402 of the card 400 adjacent the card apertures 406a/406b and the continued movement of the toolless card securing subsystems 508 in the direction B through the card apertures 406a/406b defined by the base 402 of the card 400, the pair of toolless card securing members 510 and 512 on the toolless card securing subsystem 508 will transition into a coupling orientation that is provided as they move out of the securing orientation and towards each other, while also moving in the direction B through the card aperture apertures 406a/406b, as the diameter of the card apertures 406a/406b reduces. While not illustrated, one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure will appreciate how the toolless card securing subsystems 608 on the “half-height” card bracket 600 of
The method 700 then proceeds to block 708 where the toolless card securing subsystems on the card bracket move through the respective card apertures on the card in the coupling orientation. With reference to
The method 700 then proceeds to block 710 where the toolless card securing subsystems on the card bracket extend through the respective card apertures on the card to a second side of the card and transition from the coupling orientation to the securing orientation. With reference to
The method 700 then proceeds to block 712 where the toolless card securing subsystems on the card bracket engage the second side of the card in the securing orientation to secure the card to the card bracket. With continued reference to
As illustrated in
Referring now to
The method 1200 begins at block 1202 where toolless card securing subsystems on a card bracket are transitioned from a securing orientation to a coupling orientation in response to a force that is provided without the use of a tool. With reference to
In an embodiment of block 1202, a force D may be provided on each of the second portions 510b and 512b of the pair of toolless card securing members 510 and 512 without the use of a tool (e.g., a user may use their fingers to “pinch” the second portions 510b and 512b of the pair of toolless card securing members 510 and 512 in order to provide the force D), and one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure will appreciate how the toolless card securing subsystems 608 on the “half-height” card bracket 600 of
The method 1200 then proceeds to block 1204 where the toolless card securing subsystems on the card bracket move from the second side of the card and through respective card apertures on the card while in a coupling orientation to unsecure the card from the card bracket. With reference to
With reference to
Thus, systems and methods have been described that provide for the decoupling of brackets from a PCIe card without the use of a tool, allowing the bracket used with a PCIe card to be quickly and easily switched when the PCIe card is moved between “full-height” PCIe card slots and “half-height” PCIe card slots. For example, the toolless PCIe card/bracket decoupling system of the present disclosure may include a PCIe card bracket base that mounts to a chassis with a chassis mounting configuration, spaced-apart PCIe card securing support members extending from the PCIe card bracket base, and a toolless PCIe card securing subsystem on each of the PCIe card securing support members. Each toolless PCIe card securing subsystem may extend from a first side of a PCIe card and through a respective PCIe card aperture defined by the PCIe card, and may engage a second side of the PCIe card that is opposite the PCIe card from the first side of the PCIe card in a securing orientation that secures the PCIe card to the PCIe card bracket base. Each toolless PCIe card securing subsystem may, while the PCIe card is secured to the first PCIe card bracket base and in response to a force that is provided without the use of a tool, transition from the securing orientation to the coupling orientation and, while in the coupling orientation, move from the second side of the PCIe card and through its respective PCIe card aperture defined by the PCIe card in order to unsecure the PCIe card from the first PCIe card bracket base. As such, one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure will recognize how the methods 700 and 1200 described above allow a PCIe card to be quickly and easily be moved between a “full-height” PCIe card slot and a “half-height” PCIe card slot in the same or different computing device chassis without the use of a tool.
Although illustrative embodiments have been shown and described, a wide range of modification, change and substitution is contemplated in the foregoing disclosure and in some instances, some features of the embodiments may be employed without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the scope of the embodiments disclosed herein.
Claims
1. A toolless card/bracket coupling system, comprising:
- a card;
- a first card bracket base that includes a first chassis mounting configuration and that is configured to mount to a first chassis mounting element that provides the first chassis mounting configuration;
- a plurality of first card securing support members that extend from the first card bracket base in a spaced-apart orientation;
- a toolless card securing subsystem that is included on each of the plurality of first card securing support members, wherein each toolless card securing subsystem that is included on each of the plurality of first card securing support members is configured to: move, from a first side of the card while in a securing orientation, towards a respective card aperture defined by the card; engage its respective card aperture defined by the card; transition, in response to engaging and moving into its respective card aperture defined by the card, from the securing orientation to a coupling orientation that allows that toolless card securing subsystem to move through its respective card aperture defined by the card; and transition, in response to extending through its respective card aperture defined by the card and past a second side of the card that is opposite the card from the first side of the card, from the coupling orientation to the securing orientation that secures the card to the first card bracket base via engagement with the second side of the card; and
- a second card bracket base that includes a second chassis mounting configuration that is different than the first mounting configuration and that is configured to mount to a second chassis mounting element that provides the second chassis mounting configuration;
- a plurality of second card securing support members that extend from the second card bracket base in the spaced apart orientation such that the spacing of the plurality of second card securing support members is the same as the spacing of the plurality of first card securing support members;
- the toolless card securing subsystem that is included on each of the plurality of second card securing support members, wherein each toolless card securing subsystem that is included on each of the plurality of second card securing support members is configured to: move, from the first side of the card while in the securing orientation, towards a respective card aperture defined by the card; engage its respective card aperture defined by the card; transition, in response to engaging and moving into its respective card aperture defined by the card, from the securing orientation to the coupling orientation that allows that toolless card securing subsystem to move through its respective card aperture defined by the card; and transition, in response to extending through its respective card aperture defined by the card and past the second side of the card that is opposite the card from the first side of the card, from the coupling orientation to the securing orientation that secures the card to the second card bracket base via engagement with the second side of the card.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first chassis mounting configuration is one of: a full-height mounting configuration or a half-height mounting configuration.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of first card securing support members are provided by a pair of first card securing support members that are spaced apart by a first distance, and wherein the plurality of second card securing members are provided by a pair of second card securing support members that are spaced apart by the first distance.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first chassis mounting configuration is a full-height mounting configuration, and wherein the second chassis mounting configuration is a half-height mounting configuration.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein the card is a PCIe card.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein each toolless card securing subsystem that is included on each of the plurality of first card securing support members includes a pair of toolless card securing members that each extend from its first card coupling support member, that each include a first portion having a first width, and that each include a second portion that is located opposite the first portion from its first card coupling support member and that has a second width that is greater than the first width, wherein the pair of the toolless card securing members included in each toolless card securing subsystem that is included on each of the plurality of first card securing support members are configured to:
- move, from the first side of the card while in the securing orientation in which the second portions on each of that pair of toolless card securing members are spaced apart by a first distance, towards a respective card aperture defined by the card;
- engage the second portions on each of that pair of toolless card securing members with their respective card aperture defined by the card;
- transition, in response to engaging and moving the second portions on each of that pair of toolless card securing members into their respective card aperture defined by the card, from the securing orientation to the coupling orientation in which the spacing between the second portions on each of that pair of toolless card securing members is reduced to allow that pair of toolless card securing members to move through their respective card aperture defined by the card; and
- transition, in response to the second portions on each of that pair of toolless card securing members extending through their respective card aperture defined by the card and past the second side of the card that is opposite the card from the first side of the card, from the coupling orientation to the securing orientation that secures the card to the first card bracket base via engagement of the second portions on each of that pair of toolless card securing members with the second side of the card.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein each toolless card securing subsystem that is included on each of the plurality of first card securing support members is configured to:
- transition, while the card is secured to the first card bracket base and in response to a force that is provided without the use of a tool, from the securing orientation to the coupling orientation; and
- move, while in the coupling orientation, from the second side of the card and through its respective card aperture defined by the card in order to unsecure the card from the first card bracket base.
8. An Information Handling System (IHS), comprising:
- a first chassis;
- a first card slot that is defined by the first chassis and that includes a first card mounting configuration;
- a first card connector that is located adjacent the first card slot in the first chassis;
- a second chassis;
- a second card slot that is defined by the second chassis and that includes a second card mounting configuration;
- a second card connector that is located adjacent the second card slot in the second chassis;
- a first card that is connected to the first card connector;
- a second card that includes the same form-factor as the first card and that is connected to the second card connector;
- a first card bracket base that is mounted to the first chassis and provided in the first card mounting configuration;
- a plurality of first card securing support members that extend from the first card bracket base in a spaced-apart orientation;
- a toolless card securing subsystem that is included on each of the plurality of first card securing support members, wherein each toolless card securing subsystem that is included on each of the plurality of first card securing support members extends from a first side of the first card and through a respective first card aperture defined by the first card, and engages a second side of the first card that is opposite the first card from the first side of the first card in a securing orientation that secures the first card to the first card bracket base, and wherein each toolless card securing subsystem that is included on each of the plurality of first card securing support members is configured to: transition, while the first card is secured to the first card bracket base and in response to a force that is provided without the use of a tool, from the securing orientation to a coupling orientation that allows that toolless card securing subsystem to move through its respective first card aperture defined by the first card; and move, while in the coupling orientation, from the second side of the first card and through its respective first card aperture defined by the first card in order to unsecure the first card from the first card bracket base;
- a second first card bracket base that is mounted to the second chassis and provided in the second card mounting configuration;
- a plurality of second card securing support members that extend from the second card bracket base in the spaced-apart orientation such that the spacing of the plurality of second card securing support members is the same as the spacing of the plurality of first card securing support members; and
- the toolless card securing subsystem that is included on each of the plurality of second card securing support members, wherein each toolless card securing subsystem that is included on each of the plurality of second card securing support members extends from a first side of the second card and through a respective second card aperture defined by the second card, and engages a second side of the second card that is opposite the second card from the first side of the second card in the securing orientation that secures the second card to the second card bracket base, and wherein each toolless card securing subsystem that is included on each of the plurality of second card securing support members is configured to: transition, while the second card is secured to the second card bracket base and in response to a force that is provided without the use of a tool, from the securing orientation to a coupling orientation that allows that toolless card securing subsystem to move through its respective second card aperture defined by the second card; and move, while in the coupling orientation, from the second side of the second card and through its respective second card aperture defined by the second card in order to unsecure the second card from the second card bracket base.
9. The IHS of claim 8, wherein the first chassis mounting configuration is one of:
- a full-height mounting configuration or a half-height mounting configuration.
10. The IHS of claim 8, wherein the plurality of first card securing support members are provided by a pair of first card securing support members that are spaced apart by a first distance, and wherein the plurality of second card securing members are provided by a pair of second card securing support members that are spaced apart by the first distance.
11. The IHS of claim 8, wherein the first chassis mounting configuration a full-height mounting configuration, and wherein the second chassis mounting configuration is a half-height mounting configuration.
12. The IHS of claim 8, wherein the first card and the second card are PCIe cards.
13. The IHS of claim 8, wherein each first toolless card securing subsystem that is included on each of the plurality of first card securing support members includes a pair of toolless card securing members that, while that first toolless card securing subsystem is in the securing orientation, include a first portion that has a first width that is located in the first card aperture defined by the first card, and a second portion that is located opposite the first portion from its first card coupling support member, that has a second width that is greater than the first width, and that engages the second side of the first card that is opposite the first card from the first side of the first card to secure the first card to the first card bracket base, and wherein the pair of toolless card securing members on each first toolless card securing subsystem that is included on each of the plurality of first card securing support members are configured to:
- transition, while the first card is secured to the first card bracket base and in response to a force that is provided on the pair of toolless card securing members without the use of a tool, from the securing orientation to the coupling orientation that allows that pair of toolless card securing members to move through their respective first card aperture defined by the first card; and
- move, while in the coupling orientation, from the second side of the first card and through their respective first card aperture defined by the first card in order to unsecure the first card from the first card bracket base.
14. A method for toollessly coupling a card to a bracket, comprising:
- moving, from a first side of a first card by each toolless card securing subsystem on respective first card coupling support members that extend in a spaced-apart orientation from a first card bracket base that includes a first chassis mounting configuration and that is configured to mount to a first chassis mounting element that provides the first chassis mounting configuration, towards a respective card aperture defined by the first card while in a securing orientation;
- engaging, by each toolless card securing subsystem on the respective first card coupling support members, its respective card aperture defined by the first card;
- transitioning, by each toolless card securing subsystem on the respective first card coupling support members in response to engaging and moving into its respective card aperture defined by the first card, from the securing orientation to a coupling orientation that allows that toolless card securing subsystem to move through its respective card aperture defined by the first card;
- transitioning, by each toolless card securing subsystem on the respective first card coupling support members in response to extending through its respective card aperture defined by the first card and past a second side of the first card that is opposite the first card from the first side of the first card, from the coupling orientation to the securing orientation that secures the first card to the first card bracket base via engagement with the second side of the first card;
- moving, from the first side of a second card that is identical to the first card by each toolless card securing subsystem on respective second card coupling support members that extend in the spaced-apart orientation from a second card bracket base that includes a second chassis mounting configuration and that is configured to mount to a second chassis mounting element that provides the second chassis mounting configuration, towards a respective card aperture defined by the second card while in the securing orientation, wherein the spacing of the plurality of second card securing support members is the same as the spacing of the plurality of first card securing support members;
- engaging, by each toolless card securing subsystem on the respective second card coupling support members, its respective card aperture defined by the second card;
- transitioning, by each toolless card securing subsystem on the respective second card coupling support members in response to engaging and moving into its respective card aperture defined by the second card, from the securing orientation to a coupling orientation that allows that toolless card securing subsystem to move through its respective card aperture defined by the second card; and
- transitioning, by each toolless card securing subsystem on the respective second card coupling support members in response to extending through its respective card aperture defined by the second card and past a second side of the second card that is opposite the second card from the first side of the second card, from the coupling orientation to the securing orientation that secures the second card to the second card bracket base via engagement with the second side of the second card.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein the first chassis mounting configuration is one of: a full-height mounting configuration or a half-height mounting configuration.
16. The method of claim 14, wherein the plurality of first card securing support members are provided by a pair of first card securing support members that are spaced apart by a first distance, and wherein the plurality of second card securing members are provided by a pair of second card securing support members that are spaced apart by the first distance.
17. The method of claim 14, wherein the first chassis mounting configuration a full-height mounting configuration, and wherein the second chassis mounting configuration is a half-height mounting configuration.
18. The method of claim 14, wherein the first card and the second card are PCIe cards.
19. The method of claim 14, wherein each toolless card securing subsystem that is included on each of the plurality of first card securing support members includes a pair of toolless card securing members that each extend from its first card coupling support member, that each include a first portion having a first width, and that each include a second portion that is located opposite the first portion from its first card coupling support member and that has a second width that is greater than the first width, wherein the method includes:
- moving, from a first side of the first card by the pair of toolless card securing members on each toolless card securing subsystem on the respective first card coupling support members, towards a respective card aperture defined by the first card while in the securing orientation;
- engaging, by the second portion of the pair of toolless card securing members on each toolless card securing subsystem on the respective first card coupling support members, its respective card aperture defined by the first card;
- transitioning, by each toolless card securing subsystem on the respective first card coupling support members in response to its pair of toolless card securing members engaging and moving into its respective card aperture defined by the first card, from the securing orientation to a coupling orientation that allows the second portion of its pair of toolless card securing members to move through its respective card aperture defined by the first card; and
- transitioning, by each toolless card securing subsystem on the respective first card coupling support members in response to its pair of toolless card securing members extending through its respective card aperture defined by the card and past a second side of the card that is opposite the card from the first side of the first card, from the coupling orientation to the securing orientation that secures the card to the first card bracket base via engagement of its pair of toolless card securing members with the second side of the first card.
20. The method of claim 14, further comprising:
- transitioning, by each toolless card securing subsystem on the respective first card coupling support members while the first card is secured to the first card bracket base and in response to a force that is provided without the use of a tool, from the securing orientation to a coupling orientation that allows that toolless card securing subsystem to move through its respective first card aperture defined by the first card; and
- moving, by each toolless card securing subsystem on the respective first card coupling support members while in the coupling orientation, from the second side of the first card and through its respective first card aperture defined by the first card in order to unsecure the first card from the first card bracket base.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 28, 2022
Publication Date: Aug 31, 2023
Inventors: Shree Rathinasamy (Round Rock, TX), Maunish Shah (Austin, TX)
Application Number: 17/681,965