Modular cam system
View Patent ↗A cam system includes a beam including a plurality of coupling features. A first handle is operable to be coupled to the beam using the coupling features. A plurality of cam elements are each operable to be coupled to the beam at different locations along the beam using the coupling features. A plurality of cam brackets are each operable to be mounted to a first member having a first connector. The coupled-together beam, first handle, and cam elements are operable to be coupled a second member having a second connector such that, with the cam brackets mounted to the first member, the engagement of the cam elements with the cam brackets mate the first connector and the second connector.
1. A cam system, comprising:
a beam including a plurality of coupling features;
a handle extending from the beam;
a plurality of cam elements that are each positionable and securable to the beam at different locations along the beam using a coupling member that engages a cam element of the plurality of cam elements and any of the plurality of coupling features; and
a plurality of cam brackets that are each configured to be mounted to a first member having a first connector, wherein each of the plurality of cam elements is coupled to the beam using the coupling member that engages that cam element and a respective one of the plurality of coupling features such that the plurality of cam elements are positioned at different relative locations on the beam based on relative positions of the plurality of cam brackets mounted to the first member;
wherein the coupled-together beam and the plurality of cam elements are configured to be coupled to a second member having a second connector such that, with the plurality of cam brackets mounted to the first member, engagement of the plurality of cam elements with the plurality of cam brackets mates the first connector and the second connector.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the handle is a first handle that is configured to be coupled to the beam using a coupling member that engages the handle and any of the plurality of coupling features such that the first handle extends from the beam.
3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the first handle includes a plurality of legs coupled together by an adjustable portion that is configured to vary the distance between the plurality of legs.
4. The system of claim 2 , further comprising:
a second handle that is configured to be coupled to the beam using a coupling member that engages the handle and any of the plurality of coupling features such that the second handle extends from the beam, wherein the coupled-together beam and plurality of cam elements are configured to be coupled a third member having a third connector such that, with the plurality of cam brackets mounted to the first member, the engagement of the plurality of cam elements with the plurality of cam brackets mates the first connector and the third connector.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of cam elements includes a pivotable coupling that is configured to pivotably couple that cam element to the second member.
6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the second member includes a plurality of pivotable couplers that are each configured to pivotally couple the pivotable coupling on a respective one of the plurality of cam elements to the second member.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of cam elements includes a detent feature.
8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first member and the second member are circuit boards.
9. An information handling system (IHS), comprising:
a chassis;
a board located in the chassis and including a processor and a first connector coupled to the processor;
a plurality of cam brackets mounted to the board;
a first component including a second connector; and
a cam system coupled to the first component and mating the first connector and the second connector, wherein the cam system includes:
a beam including a plurality of coupling features;
a handle that extends from the beam; and
a plurality of cam elements that are each positionable and securable to the beam at different locations along the beam using a coupling member that engages a cam element of the plurality of cam elements and any of the plurality of coupling features, wherein each of the plurality of cam elements have been coupled to the beam using the coupling member that engages that cam element and a respective one of the plurality of coupling features such that the plurality of cam elements are positioned at different relative locations on the beam based on relative positions of the plurality of cam brackets mounted to the board, and wherein each of the plurality of cam elements engage a respective one of the plurality of cam brackets to mate the first connector and the second connector.
10. The IHS of claim 9 , wherein the handle is a first handle that is configured to be coupled to the beam using a coupling member that engages the handle and any of the plurality of coupling features such that the first handle extends from the beam.
11. The IHS of claim 10 , wherein the first handle includes a plurality of legs coupled together by an adjustable portion that is configured to vary the distance between the plurality of legs.
12. The IHS of claim 10 , further comprising:
a second handle that is configured to be coupled to the beam using a coupling member that engages the handle and any of the plurality of coupling features such that the second handle extends from the beam, wherein the coupled-together beam and plurality of cam elements are configured to be coupled a second component having a third connector such that, with the plurality of cam brackets mounted to the board, the engagement of the plurality of cam elements with the plurality of cam brackets mates the first connector and the third connector.
13. The IHS of claim 9 , wherein each of the plurality of cam elements includes a pivotable coupling that pivotably couples that cam element to the first component.
14. The IHS of claim 13 , wherein the first component includes a plurality of pivotable couplers that each pivotally couple the pivotable coupling on a respective one of the plurality of cam elements to the first component.
15. The IHS of claim 9 , wherein at least one of the plurality of cam elements includes a detent feature.
16. The IHS of claim 9 , wherein the first component is a board.
17. A method for mating connectors, comprising:
mounting a plurality of cam brackets on a first member having a first connector;
providing a cam system by coupling a plurality of cam elements that are each positionable and securable to any of a plurality of coupling features included on a beam using a coupling member that engages a cam element of the plurality of cam elements and a respective one of the plurality of coupling features such that the plurality of cam elements are positioned at different relative locations on the beam based on the relative positions of the plurality of cam brackets mounted to the first member;
coupling the cam system to a second member having a second connector; and
engaging the plurality of cam elements with the plurality of cam brackets to mate the first connector and the second connector.
18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
coupling a handle to the beam using a coupling member that engages the handle and a respective one of the plurality of coupling features.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the handle includes a plurality of legs coupled together by an adjustable portion, the method further comprising:
adjusting the adjustable portion to vary the distance between the plurality of legs.
20. The method of claim 18 , wherein the handle is selected from a first handle and a second handle that has different dimensions that the first handle.