Card stiffener and insertion tool
View Patent ↗A removable insertion tool is provided for inserting a circuit board into a socket, wherein the insertion tool generally provides an increased surface area for handling the circuit board and further generally prevents a flexure of the circuit board during insertion. The insertion tool has a generally elongate stiffening member and laterally extending engagement member disposed at each opposing end thereof. The engagement members are operable to receive the circuit board, wherein the insertion tool generally provides a removable truss for the circuit board during handling or insertion into a socket. One or more of the engagement members and stiffening member may comprise a groove defined therein, wherein the groove further provides for selective engagement of the circuit board.
1. An insertion tool for inserting a circuit board into a socket, the insertion tool comprising:
a generally rigid elongate stiffening member having oppositely disposed ends thereof; and
an elongate engagement member extending generally perpendicularly from each respective end of the elongate stiffening member, wherein each elongate engagement member comprises an engagement groove defined therein along a length thereof, wherein each engagement groove is associated with a thickness of the circuit board, and wherein a separation distance is defined between opposing edges of the elongate engagement members, wherein the separation distance is associated with a length of the circuit board, and wherein each elongate engagement member is operable to selectively engage a respective end of the circuit board, therein generally preventing a flexure of the circuit board.
2. The insertion tool of claim 1 , wherein the separation distance generally provides a friction fit between the circuit board and the respective elongate engagement member.
3. The insertion tool of claim 1 , wherein a thickness of the elongate stiffening member is substantially greater than a thickness of the circuit board.
4. The insertion tool of claim 1 , wherein each elongate engagement member is biased toward a center of the elongate stiffening member.
5. An insertion tool for inserting a circuit board, the insertion tool comprising;
a stiffening member having a first engagement member and a second engagement member respectively coupled thereto at distal ends of the stiffening member, wherein the first engagement member and second engagement member are operable to selectively engage the circuit board therebetween via an engagement groove defined in each of the first engagement member and second engagement member, and wherein the elongate stiffening member is substantially rigid, therein generally preventing a flexure of the circuit board.
6. The insertion tool of claim 5 , wherein the stiffening member comprises a lateral groove defined therein, wherein the lateral groove is operable to engage the circuit board, therein further generally preventing flexure of the circuit board.
7. The insertion tool of claim 5 , wherein each engagement groove is associated with a thickness of the circuit board, and wherein each engagement groove is operable to slidingly engage the circuit board.
8. The insertion tool of claim 5 , wherein a distance between the first engagement member and second engagement member associated with a length of the circuit board.