IP Library Granted Patent US 12,158,178
Granted Patent B2
US 12,158,178 · App. 17/026,663 · Granted Dec 3, 2024

Systems and methods for universal clamping of information handling resource

Inventors: Chun-Kai Tzeng (KeeLung, TW); Chin-Chung Wu (New Taipei, TW); Chien-Cheng Chiu (New Taipei, TW); Te-Sen Chin (Taipei, TW)
Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
F16B5/0621F16B2/065H05K7/1405
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,158,178
App. No.
17/026,663
Granted
Dec 3, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

A clamp may include two substantially planar plates opposite from and generally parallel to one another, each plate having a mounting hole formed therein for receiving a fastener, two teeth, each tooth extending from a respective one of the two plates, such that each tooth is generally perpendicular to the plates, and such that each tooth extends towards the other from its respective plate, and a tongue opposite from and mechanically interfaced between the two plates, such that the tongue has a concave curved profile between the plates, and such that when a force is applied in a first direction by a fastener engaging with the clamp through the mounting holes, compression of the plates towards one another causes deflection of the tongue in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction.

Claims (28)

1. A clamp comprising:

two substantially planar plates opposite from and generally parallel to one another, each plate having a mounting hole formed therein for receiving a fastener;

two teeth, each tooth extending from a respective one of the two plates, such that each tooth is generally perpendicular to the plates, and such that each tooth extends towards the other from its respective plate; and

a tongue opposite from and mechanically interfaced between the two plates, such that the tongue has a concave curved profile between the plates, and such that when a force is applied in a first direction by a fastener engaging with the clamp through the mounting holes, compression of the plates towards one another causes deflection of the tongue in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction.

2. The clamp of claim 1 , wherein the tongue has formed therein a guide hole and a flange on either side of the guide hole.

3. The clamp of claim 2 , wherein the guide hole is configured to guide a path of the fastener through the clamp.

4. The clamp of claim 2 , wherein the flanges are configured to mechanically engage with the fastener during deflection of the tongue in the second direction.

5. The clamp of claim 1 , wherein the clamp is formed of metal.

6. The clamp of claim 1 , wherein the clamp is formed from a single piece of material.

7. A method for coupling a mechanical member to a structural base, comprising:

mechanically coupling a clamp to a mounting rail of the mechanical member with a fastener, wherein:

the clamp comprises:

two substantially planar plates opposite from and generally parallel to one another, each plate having a mounting hole formed therein for receiving the fastener;

two teeth, each tooth extending from a respective one of the two plates, such that each tooth is generally perpendicular to the plates, and such that each tooth extends towards the other from its respective plate; and

a tongue opposite from and mechanically interfaced between the two plates, such that the tongue has a concave curved profile between the plates, and such that when a force is applied in a first direction by the fastener engaging with the clamp through the mounting holes, compression of the plates towards one another causes deflection of the tongue in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction; and

the mechanical member comprises:

a body; and

the mounting rail extending from the body such that two grooves are formed between the body and the mounting rail, each groove configured to engage with a respective tooth of the clamp, wherein the mounting rail comprises at least one semi-cylindrical positioning notch sized and shaped to receive the fastener; and

fastening the fastener to an insert formed in the structural base.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the mounting rail comprises a plurality of positioning notches and coupling the clamp to the mounting bracket comprises selecting one of such positioning notches for coupling the clamp to the mounting rail.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein:

the mechanical member comprises an information handling resource of an information handling system; and

the structural base comprises a portion of an enclosure of the information handling system.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the tongue has formed therein a guide hole and a flange on either side of the guide hole.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising guiding a path of the fastener through the clamp via the guide hole.

12. The method of claim 10 , further comprising mechanically engaging the flanges with the fastener during deflection of the tongue in the second direction.

13. The method of claim 7 , wherein the clamp is formed of metal.

14. The method of claim 7 , wherein the clamp is formed from a single piece of material.

Assignments (9)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (054475/0523) Recorded Jun 10, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
Reel/Frame 060332/0664 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (054475/0434) Recorded Jun 10, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
Reel/Frame 060332/0740 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (054475/0609) Recorded Jun 10, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
Reel/Frame 062021/0570 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST AT REEL 054591 FRAME 0471 Recorded Nov 2, 2021
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 058001/0463 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 18, 2020
From: EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 054475/0609 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 18, 2020
From: EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 054475/0434 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 18, 2020
From: EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 054475/0523 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 13, 2020
From: EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
Reel/Frame 054591/0471 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 21, 2020
From: TZENG, CHUN-KAI; CHIU, CHIEN-CHENG; WU, CHIN-CHUNG; CHIN, TE-SEN
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
Reel/Frame 053830/0282 →