Auto-lock mechanism
A locking mechanism for securing a component card to a main board is provided and includes a base having a top portion with a beveled edge and a coupling portion engageable with the main board. The locking mechanism includes a sliding element slidably, coupled to the base, having an extended protrusion. The sliding element is slidable between a locked and an unlocked position, where the protrusion is displaced towards the base in the unlocked position. The locking mechanism includes a biasing element between the base and the sliding element within a protuberance opposite the protrusion. The biasing element urges the sliding element toward the locked position. The protuberance includes an aperture formed at an end opposite the protrusion and allows a portion of the biasing element to pass through. In the locked position, a bottom surface of the protrusion and a top surface of the base define a receiving space.
1. A locking mechanism configured to secure a component card to a main board, the locking mechanism comprising:
a base having a top portion and a coupling portion engageable with the main board;
a sliding element slidably coupled to the base, the sliding element having a protrusion extending therefrom and a beveled edge, wherein the sliding element is slidable between a locked position and an unlocked position, the unlocked position having the protrusion displaced towards the base relative to the locked position; and
a biasing element disposed between the base and the sliding element within a protuberance extending opposite the protrusion, the biasing element urging the sliding element toward the locked position, wherein the protuberance comprising an aperture formed at an end opposite the protrusion and configured to allow at least a portion of the biasing element to extend through as the sliding element is transitioned to the unlocked position, wherein the protuberance comprises a spring receiving portion disposed within the base, wherein the sliding element has a spring guide disposed within the spring receiving portion forming an annulus between the spring guide and the spring receiving portion, and the spring disposed within annulus and coupled with the sliding element;
wherein the base and the sliding element are arranged so that in the locked position, a bottom surface of the protrusion and a top surface of the base define a receiving space.
2. The locking mechanism of claim 1 , further comprising a handle portion formed on the sliding element opposite the protrusion, the handle portion configured to assist sliding between the locked position and the unlocked position.
3. The locking mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the coupling portion comprises at least one securing element configured to be disposed through an aperture formed in the main board, the securing element forming a pressure fit with the aperture.
4. The locking mechanism of claim 3 , wherein the coupling portion has a tab extending therefrom configured to abut a top surface of the main board as the securing element is disposed through an aperture formed in the main board.
5. The locking mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the aperture formed at the end opposite the protrusion is configured to allow at least a portion of the spring guide to pass through.
6. The locking mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the component card is an M.2 card having a substantially semicircular notch, the notch receivable into a correspondingly shaped receiving space defined between the sliding element and the base.
7. The locking mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the sliding element comprises at least one tab configured to engage with a track formed on the base, one end of the track corresponding to the locked position and another end opposite the one end corresponding to the unlocked position.
8. A component board comprising:
at least one locking mechanism comprising:
a base having a top portion and a coupling portion engageable with the component board;
a sliding element slidably coupled to the base, the sliding element having a protrusion extending therefrom and a beveled edge, wherein the sliding element is slidable between a locked position and an unlocked position, the unlocked position having the protrusion displaced towards the base relative to the locked position; and
a biasing element disposed between the base and the sliding element within a protuberance extending opposite the protrusion, the biasing element urging the sliding element toward the locked position, wherein the protuberance comprising an aperture formed at an end opposite the protrusion and configured to allow at least a portion of the biasing element to extend through as the sliding element is transitioned to the unlocked position, wherein the protuberance comprises a spring receiving portion disposed within the base, wherein the sliding element has a spring guide disposed within the spring receiving portion forming an annulus between the spring guide and the spring receiving portion, and the spring disposed within annulus and coupled with the sliding element;
wherein the base and the sliding element are arranged so that in the locked position a bottom surface of the protrusion and a top surface of the base define a receiving space.
9. The component board of claim 8 , further comprising a handle portion formed on the sliding element opposite the protrusion, the handle portion configured to assist sliding between the locked position and the unlocked position.
10. The component board of claim 8 , wherein the coupling portion comprises at least one securing element configured to be disposed through an aperture formed in a main board, the securing element forming a pressure fit with the aperture.
11. The component board of claim 10 , wherein the coupling portion has a tab extending therefrom configured to abut a top surface of the main board as the securing element is disposed through an aperture formed in the main board.
12. The component board of claim 8 , wherein the aperture formed at the end opposite the protrusion is configured to allow at least a portion of the spring guide to pass through.
13. The component board of claim 8 , wherein the component card is an M.2 card having a substantially semicircular notch, the notch receivable into a correspondingly shaped receiving space defined between the sliding element and the base.
14. The component board of claim 8 , wherein the sliding element comprises at least one tab configured to engage with a track formed on the base, one end of the track corresponding to the locked position and another end opposite the one end corresponding to the unlocked position.
15. A locking mechanism configured to secure a component card to a main board, the locking mechanism comprising:
a base having a top portion and a coupling portion engageable with the main board;
a sliding element slidably coupled to the base, the sliding element having a protrusion extending therefrom and a beveled edge, wherein the sliding element is slidable between a locked position and an unlocked position, the unlocked position having the protrusion displaced towards the base relative to the locked position, wherein the sliding element comprises at least one tab configured to engage with a track formed on the base, one end of the track corresponding to the locked position and another end opposite the one end corresponding to the unlocked position; and
a biasing element disposed between the base and the sliding element within a protuberance extending opposite the protrusion, the biasing element urging the sliding element toward the locked position, wherein the protuberance comprising an aperture formed at an end opposite the protrusion and configured to allow at least a portion of the biasing element to extend through as the sliding element is transitioned to the unlocked position,
wherein the base and the sliding element are arranged so that in the locked position, a bottom surface of the protrusion and a top surface of the base define a receiving space.
16. A component board comprising:
at least one locking mechanism comprising:
a base having a top portion and a coupling portion engageable with the component board;
a sliding element slidably coupled to the base, the sliding element having a protrusion extending therefrom and a beveled edge, wherein the sliding element is slidable between a locked position and an unlocked position, the unlocked position having the protrusion displaced towards the base relative to the locked position, wherein the sliding element comprises at least one tab configured to engage with a track formed on the base, one end of the track corresponding to the locked position and another end opposite the one end corresponding to the unlocked position; and
a biasing element disposed between the base and the sliding element within a protuberance extending opposite the protrusion, the biasing element urging the sliding element toward the locked position, wherein the protuberance comprising an aperture formed at an end opposite the protrusion and configured to allow at least a portion of the biasing element to extend through as the sliding element is transitioned to the unlocked position,
wherein the base and the sliding element are arranged so that in the locked position a bottom surface of the protrusion and a top surface of the base define a receiving space.