Mounting bracket for use with a computer and method of assembling a computer
View Patent ↗A mounting bracket for securing a mezzanine card in a stacked single board computer includes a main body that includes a first end, an opposite second end, a first side surface, and an opposite second side surface. The main body is sized to be positioned along a side surface of the mezzanine card, wherein the first side surface or the second side surface contacts the side surface of the mezzanine card to facilitate securing the side surface of the mezzanine card with respect to a top PCB. The mounting bracket also includes a first arm formed at the first end of the main body, a second arm formed at the second end of the main body, and at least one top rail coupled to the main body, wherein the top rail is configured to secure a top surface of the mezzanine card with respect to a top PCB.
1. A mounting bracket configured to secure a mezzanine card in a stacked single board computer having a printed circuit board (PCB), said mounting bracket comprising:
a main body comprising a first end, a second end opposite said first end, a first side surface, and a second side surface opposite said first side surface, said main body sized to be positioned along only one side surface of the mezzanine card, one of said first side surface and said second side surface contacting the side surface of the mezzanine card to facilitate securing the side surface of the mezzanine card with respect to the top PCB;
a first arm formed at said first end;
a second arm formed at said second end; and
at least one top rail coupled to said main body, said at least one top rail configured to secure a top surface of the mezzanine card with respect to the top PCB,
wherein said first arm and said second arm are configured to be positioned in a substantially perpendicular direction relative to a top surface of the mezzanine card, and
wherein at least one of said first arm and said second arm further comprises a notch configured to engage an upper surface and a lower surface of said top PCB.
2. A mounting bracket in accordance with claim 1 , wherein at least one of said first arm and said second arm is integrally formed with said main body.
3. A mounting bracket in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said first arm is formed at a first end to a bottom surface of said main body.
4. A mounting bracket in accordance with claim 3 , wherein said notch is sized to interfere with a slot formed in the top PCB in order to secure said mounting bracket with respect to the top PCB.
5. A mounting bracket in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said second arm is formed at a first end to a bottom surface of said main body.
6. A mounting bracket in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising a mounting plate coupled to said main body, said mounting plate configured to couple said mounting bracket to the mezzanine card.
7. A mounting bracket in accordance with claim 6 , wherein said mounting plate defines at least one mounting aperture sized to receive a fastener.
8. A method for assembling a stacked single board computer that includes a top printed circuit board (PCB) and a bottom printed circuit board (PCB), the top PCB including at least one mezzanine card, said method comprising:
coupling the mezzanine card to the top PCB;
positioning a retaining rail along only a first side surface of the mezzanine card, the retaining rail including a main body having a first arm formed at a first end of the main body and a second arm formed at a second end of the main body;
inserting the first arm into the top PCB such that a notch formed in the first arm interferes with a corresponding slot formed in the top PCB, such that said first arm is substantially perpendicular to a top surface of the top PCB; and
positioning at least one top rail of the retaining rail with respect to a top surface of the mezzanine card,
wherein said notch is configured to engage an upper surface and a lower surface of said top PCB.
9. A method in accordance with claim 8 , further comprising inserting the second arm into the top PCB such that a notch formed in the second arm interferes with a corresponding slot formed in the top PCB.
10. A method in accordance with claim 8 , further comprising coupling a mounting plate of the retaining rail to the top surface of the mezzanine card.
11. A method in accordance with claim 8 , further comprising:
positioning a second retaining rail along a second side surface of the mezzanine card opposite the first side surface;
inserting a first arm of the second retaining rail into the top PCB such that a notch formed in the first arm interferes with a corresponding slot formed in the top PCB; and
positioning at least one top rail of the second retaining rail with respect to a top surface of the mezzanine card.
12. A stacked single board computer comprising:
a first printed circuit board (PCB) and a second printed circuit board (PCB) positioned adjacent said first PCB, said first PCB comprising at least one mezzanine card that is secured by at least one retaining rail comprising:
a main body comprising a first end, a second end opposite said first end, a first side surface, and a second side surface opposite said first side surface, said main body sized to be positioned along only one side surface of said mezzanine card, one of said first side surface and said second side surface contacting said side surface of said mezzanine card to facilitate securing said side surface of said mezzanine card with respect to said first PCB;
a first arm formed at said first end;
a second arm formed at said second end; and
at least one top rail coupled to said top surface, said at least one top rail configured to secure a top surface of said mezzanine card with respect to said first PCB, wherein said first arm and said second arm are configured to be positioned in a substantially perpendicular direction relative to a top surface of said first PCB,
wherein at least one of said first arm and said second arm further comprises a notch configured to engage an upper surface and a lower surface of said first PCB.
13. A stacked single board computer in accordance with claim 12 , wherein at least one of said first arm of said retaining rail and said second arm of said retaining rail is integrally formed with said main body of said retaining rail.
14. A stacked single board computer in accordance with claim 12 , wherein said first arm of said retaining rail is formed at a first end to said bottom surface of said retaining rail.
15. A stacked single board computer in accordance with claim 14 , wherein said notch is sized to interfere with a slot formed in said first PCB in order to secure said retaining rail with respect to said first PCB.
16. A stacked single board computer in accordance with claim 12 , wherein said second arm of said retaining rail is formed at a first end to said bottom surface of said retaining rail.
17. A stacked single board computer in accordance with claim 12 , wherein said retaining rail further comprises a mounting plate coupled to said main body, said mounting plate configured to couple said retaining rail to said mezzanine card.
18. A stacked single board computer in accordance with claim 16 , wherein said mounting plate of said retaining rail defines at least one mounting aperture sized to receive a fastener.