Fixing apparatus for motherboard

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to fixing apparatuses for securing a motherboard in an electronic device, and more particularly to an apparatus which can quickly and readily mounting motherboard therein and detaching therefrom.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] During assembly of a typical personal computer, a motherboard must be fastened to a computer frame or chassis. The motherboard is conventionally mounted to the computer chassis using fasteners such as screws or bolts. China Pats, Nos. 98241276.2 and 00201452.1 each disclose such an arrangement. Coinciding positioning holes are defined in the motherboard and the chassis. The fasteners are inserted into the positioning holes and tightened one by one, thereby securing the motherboard to the chassis.

[0005] When installing or removing the motherboard, tightening or removing the fasteners is laborious and time-consuming. In addition, a tool such as a screwdriver or a wrench is usually required. Moreover, the motherboard is prone to be damaged if the tool slips during manipulation of the fasteners.

[0006] Thus, a fixing apparatus for a motherboard which solves the above-mentioned problems is strongly desired.

[0007] Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a fixing apparatus which allows quickly and readily attachment and removal of a motherboard to and from and a chassis of an electronic device.

[0008] To achieve the above-mentioned object, a fixing apparatus in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention is used for fixing a motherboard in a chassis of an electronic device. The fixing apparatus comprises a supporting plate disposed in the chassis and a plurality of standoffs. The motherboard comprises a plurality of through holes, a plurality of apertures, and a fixing hole. The supporting plate comprises a first clip, a second clip, and a screw hole. The through holes each comprise a circular hole, and a slot. The standoffs each comprise a head, a base, and a neck disposed between the head and the base. The clips each comprise a shoulder, and a catch. The bases of the standoffs and the shoulders of the clips support the motherboard. The necks of the standoffs engage the slots of the through holes and the catches of the clips engage the apertures. A stud extends through the fixing hole and engages the screw hole to secure the motherboard in the chassis.

[0009] Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will be drawn from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the present invention with attached drawings, in which:

[0014] Referring to FIG. 1, a fixing apparatus for motherboard in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention is used for securing a motherboard 60 in an electronic chassis 20. The fixing apparatus comprises a supporting plate 30 assembled in the electronic chassis 20, and a plurality of standoffs 40.

[0015] Referring also to FIG. 2, the supporting plate 30 is alttached to the chassis 20 or integrated with the chassis 20, for supporting the motherboard 60 thereon. A first clip 36 and a second clip 38 extend upwardly from the supporting plate 30. The first clip 36 comprises a convex sidewall 361, and a first upright catch 367 extending upwardly from a top portion of the sidewall 361. A pair of first shoulders 365 is formed at junctions between the catch 367 and the sidewall 361. A second clip 38 comprises a concave sidewall 381, and a second upright catch 387 extending upwardly from atop portion of the sidewall 381. A pair of second shoulders 385 is formed at junctions between the catch 387 and the sidewall 381. The first and the second catch 367 and 387 both have an inverted L-shaped profile. The supporting plate 30 further comprises a bulge 39 extending upwardly therefrom. A screw hole 391 is defined in a top of the bulge 39.

[0016] The standoffs 40 are made of conductive materials. Each standoff 40 comprises a head 42, a base 46, and a neck 44 disposed between the head 42 and the base 46. The head 42 comprising a diameter increasing guiding portion 422, a diameter reduced guiding portion 426 extending downwardly from the diameter increasing guiding portion 422. A critical portion 424 is formed between the diameter increasing guiding portion 422 and the diameter reduced guiding portion 426. A diameter of the critical portion 424 is larger than that of the diameter increasing guiding portion 422 and the diameter reduced guiding portion 426. The neck 44 and the base 46 each have a cylindrical configuration. A diameter of the neck 44 is smaller than that of the base 46 and that of the head 42.

[0017] The motherboard 60 defines a plurality of through holes 62, a plurality of rectangular apertures 64, and a fixing hole 66 therein. Each the through hole 62 comprises a circular hole 622, and a slot 624 extending from the circular hole 622. A diameter of the circular hole 622 is larger than that of the critical portion 424 and less than that of the base 46 of the standoff 40. A width of the slot 624 is larger than the diameter of the neck 44 and less than the diameter of the base 46 and a diameter of the diameter reduced guiding portion 426 of the standoff 40. The rectangular apertures 64 are configured to correspond the first and second clip 36, 38 of the supporting plate 30. The fixing hole 66 is configured to correspond to the screw hole 391 of the supporting plate 30 for engaging with a stud 90.

[0018] Referring also to FIG. 4, in assembly of the fixing apparatus, the standoffs 40 are placed upwardly on the supporting plate 30 of the chassis 20. The motherboard 60 is attached to the supporting plate 30, with the heads 42 of standoffs 40 extending through the circular holes 622 and the first and second clips 36 and 38 extending through the rectangular apertures 64. Then the motherboard 60 is moved parallel to the supporting plate 30. The motherboard 60 is located on the supporting plate 30, with the slots 624 of the through holes 62 engaging the necks 44 of the standoffs 40 and the first and second catch 367,387 engaging with the apertures 64. At the same time, the motherboard 60 is supported on the bases 46 of the standoffs 40 and the shoulders 365 and 385 of the first and second clip 36 and 38. The stud 90 extends through the fixing hole 66 of the motherboard 60 and engages in the screw hole 391 of the supporting plate 30 to secure the motherboard 60 in the chassis 20.

[0019] In disassembly, the stud 90 is unscrewed. The motherboard 60 is drawn to move the neck 44 of each standoff 40 from the slot 624 to the circular hole 622 of the corresponding through hole 62 and the first and second catch 367, 387 from the apertures 64 thereof. Thus the motherboard 60 is easily detached from the supporting plate 30.

[0020] It is understood that the invention may be embodied in other forms without departing from the spirit thereof. Thus, the present example and embodiment is to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and the invention is not to be limited to the details given herein.