Fixing apparatus for expansion card
View Patent ↗A fixing apparatus is used to parallel mount an expansion card to a motherboard. The fixing apparatus includes a mounting bracket fixed to the motherboard, and a retaining member rotatably connected to the mounting bracket. The mounting bracket includes a supporting board supporting the expansion card. The retaining member includes an abutting arm and a locking portion. When the retaining member is rotated to a locking position, the abutting arm abuts against a top of the expansion card to sandwich the expansion card with the supporting board, and the locking portion engages with the mounting bracket to prevent a rotation of the retaining member. When the retaining member is rotated to a releasing position, the abutting arm will move away from the expansion card.
1. A fixing apparatus for fixing an expansion card to a motherboard, the fixing apparatus comprising:
a mounting bracket secured to the motherboard, and comprising a supporting board parallel to the motherboard and supporting the expansion card; and
a retaining member connected to the mounting bracket, and comprising an abutting arm, wherein the retaining member is rotatable relative to the mounting bracket between a locking position, where the abutting arm abutting against a top of the expansion card to sandwich the expansion card between the abutting arm and the supporting board, and a releasing position, where the abutting arm is separated from the expansion card;
wherein the mounting bracket comprises two supporting poles perpendicularly secured to the motherboard, the retaining member further comprises two parallel sidewalls, a connecting wall connected between the sidewalls, a locking portion extending from a rear end of the connecting wall between the sidewalls, the mounting bracket further comprises a beam connected between the supporting poles, adjacent to top ends of the supporting poles, and a protrusion protrudes from the beam and detachably engages with the locking portion of the retaining member in the locking position.
2. The fixing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the mounting bracket comprises a positioning pin extending up from the supporting board and detachably engaging in the expansion card.
3. The fixing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the mounting bracket comprises two connecting arms respectively extending forwards from the supporting poles, the supporting board is connected between the supporting poles and below the connecting arms, and the retaining member is rotatably connected between the connecting arms.
4. The fixing apparatus of claim 3 , wherein each of the connecting arms defines a pivot hole, the retaining member further comprises two pivoting arms, each pivoting arm comprising a shaft rotatably received in the pivot hole of a corresponding one of the connecting arms.
5. The fixing apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the abutting arm extends from a front end of one of the sidewalls towards the other sidewall, the pivoting arms respectively extend from bottom sides of the sidewalls.
6. The fixing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the locking portion is cantilevered, and comprises a convex top surface defining a plurality of antiskid grooves.
7. The fixing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the retaining member further comprises a blocking portion extending from a front end of the connecting wall towards the abutting arm.
8. An assembly, comprising:
a motherboard;
an expansion card parallel mounted to the motherboard;
a mounting bracket secured to the motherboard, and comprising a supporting board parallel to the motherboard and supporting the expansion card; and
a retaining member connected to the mounting bracket, and comprising an abutting arm, wherein the retaining member is rotatable relative to the mounting bracket between a locking portion, where the abutting arm abuts against a top of the expansion card to sandwich the expansion card between the abutting arm and the supporting board, and a releasing position, where the abutting arm is separated from the expansion card;
wherein the mounting bracket comprises two supporting poles perpendicularly secured to the motherboard, the retaining member further comprises two parallel sidewalls, a connecting wall connected between the sidewalls, a locking portion extending from a rear end of the connecting wall between the sidewalls, the mounting bracket further comprises a beam connected between the supporting poles, adjacent to top ends of the supporting poles, and a protrusion protrudes from the beam and detachably engages with the locking portion of the retaining member in the locking position.
9. The assembly of claim 8 , wherein the expansion card defines a positioning hole, the mounting bracket comprises a positioning pin extending up from the supporting board, the positioning pin is detachably engaged in the positioning hole of the expansion card.
10. The assembly of claim 8 , wherein the motherboard defines an elongated through hole, each supporting pole comprises a hook and a stop tab adjacent to a bottom end of the supporting pole, and the hooks of the supporting poles extend through the through hole of the motherboard and sandwich the motherboard with the stop tabs of the supporting poles.
11. The assembly of claim 10 , wherein the supporting board is connected between the supporting poles, the mounting bracket further comprises two connecting arms respectively extending forwards from the supporting poles above the supporting board, the retaining member comprises two pivot arms rotatably connected to the corresponding connecting arms of the mounting bracket.
12. The assembly of claim 10 , wherein the abutting arm is arc-shaped and extends from a front end of one of the sidewalls towards the other sidewall, and the pivoting arms respectively extend from bottom sides of the sidewalls.