Expansion card securing mechanism and expansion card connecting module comprising the same

1. An expansion card securing mechanism adapted to be mounted on an expansion card connecting device, at least one expansion card being allowed to be inserted in an inserting direction into the expansion card connecting device through an insertion side of the expansion card connecting device, said expansion card securing mechanism comprising:

a rail component extending in a sliding direction that is transverse to the inserting direction, the rail component being adapted to be connected to the insertion side of the expansion card connecting device, the rail component further being pivotable about an axis that extends in the sliding direction;

a sliding unit connected to said rail component, the sliding unit being slidable in the sliding direction, and the sliding unit further being formed with a securing structure that is adapted to be secured detachably to an edge of the expansion card; and

a fastening component interconnecting said rail component and said sliding unit for releasably positioning said sliding unit relative to said rail component.

2. The expansion card securing mechanism as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said sliding unit has a main portion extending in the sliding direction, and a securing portion extending from said main portion in the inserting direction for being aligned with the expansion card in the sliding direction, said securing structure being formed on said securing portion.

3. The expansion card securing mechanism as claimed in claim 2 , wherein said securing structure of said sliding unit is an engaging groove that extends in the inserting direction and that opens toward the edge of the expansion card.

4. The expansion card securing mechanism as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the expansion card connecting device is adapted for accommodating a plurality of expansion cards, said securing portion of said sliding unit being formed with a plurality of said engaging grooves for being engaged respectively with the edges of the expansion cards.

5. The expansion card securing mechanism as claimed in claim 3 , wherein said rail component includes at least one limiting member that is proximate to the axis, said limiting member being stopped by said expansion card connecting device during movement of said sliding unit such that said rail component is pivotable about the axis to a fixed angle where said engaging groove is parallel to the edge of the expansion card.

6. The expansion card securing mechanism as claimed in claim 2 , wherein:

said main portion of said sliding unit and said rail component are plate-shaped and are normal to the inserting direction; and

said securing portion of said sliding unit is plate-shaped and is normal to the sliding direction.

7. The expansion card securing mechanism as claimed in claim 2 , wherein

said rail component is formed with at least one sliding slot extending in the sliding direction,

said main portion of said sliding unit being formed with at least one engaging hole that is registered with said sliding slot,

said sliding unit further having a connecting member that is disposed on a side of said rail component opposite to said main portion of said sliding unit,

said connecting member including a plate body and at least one engaging hook that extends from said plate body through said sliding groove and that engages said engaging hole of said main portion.

8. The expansion card securing mechanism as claimed in claim 7 , wherein said main portion of said sliding unit is further formed with a threaded hole, said connecting member being formed with a through hole that extends through said plate body, said fastening component being a screw that extends through said through hole and said sliding slot to engage threadedly said threaded hole.

9. The expansion card securing mechanism as claimed in claim 7 , wherein said connecting member further includes at least one guiding rib protruding from said plate body into said sliding slot of said rail component and extending in the sliding direction.

10. An expansion card connecting module comprising:

an expansion card connecting device including;

an adapter plate portion,

an adapter mounted on said adapter plate portion, and

an extending plate portion connected perpendicularly to said adapter plate portion and having a distal end that is at an insertion side of said expansion card connecting device, said adapter plate portion and said extending plate portion cooperating to define an accommodating space, at least one expansion card being allowed to be inserted in an inserting direction into said accommodating space through said insertion side of said expansion card connecting device; and

an expansion card securing mechanism including;

a rail component extending in a sliding direction that is perpendicular to the inserting direction, the rail component being connected to the insertion side of said expansion card connecting device, the rail component further being pivotable about an axis that is parallel to the sliding direction,

a sliding unit connected to said rail component, the sliding unit being slidable in the sliding direction, the sliding unit further being formed with a securing structure that is adapted to be secured to an edge of the expansion card, and

a fastening component interconnecting said rail component and said sliding unit for releasably positioning said sliding unit relative to said rail component.

11. The expansion card connecting module as claimed in claim 10 , wherein said sliding unit has a main portion extending in the sliding direction, and a securing portion extending from said main portion in the inserting direction for being aligned with the expansion card in the sliding direction, said securing structure being formed on said securing portion, the edge of the expansion card extending in the sliding direction.

12. The expansion card connecting module as claimed in claim 11 , wherein said securing structure of said sliding unit is an engaging groove that extends in the inserting direction, and that opens toward the edge of the expansion card.

13. The expansion card connecting module as claimed in claim 12 , wherein said expansion card connecting device is adapted for accommodating a plurality of expansion cards, said securing portion of said sliding unit being formed with a plurality of said engaging grooves for being engaged respectively with the edges of the expansion cards.

14. The expansion card connecting module as claimed in claim 11 , wherein:

said main portion of said sliding unit and said rail component are plate-shaped and normal to the inserting direction; and

said securing portion of said sliding unit is plate-shaped and is normal to the sliding direction.

15. The expansion card connecting module as claimed in claim 11 , wherein

said rail component is formed with at least one sliding slot extending in the sliding direction,

said main portion of said sliding unit being formed with at least one engaging hole that is registered with said sliding slot,

said sliding unit further having a connecting member that is disposed on a side of said rail component that is opposite to said main portion of said sliding unit,

said connecting member including a plate body and at least one engaging hook that extends from said plate body through said sliding slot and that engages said engaging hole of said main portion.

16. The expansion card connecting module as claimed in claim 15 , wherein said main portion of said sliding unit is further formed with a threaded hole, said connecting member being formed with a through hole that extends through said plate body, said fastening component being a screw that extends through said through hole and said sliding slot to engage threadedly said threaded hole.