Frame structure for housing printed circuit boards

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

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AUSTRALIA

I’nlcnts Act

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▼ INSTRUCTIONS (a) -Insert “Convention” if applicable (b) Insert FULL name(s) of appHcant(s) (c) -Insert “of addition” if applicable (d) Insert TITLE ofinvention (e) insert FUL L· name(s) AND addnrss(es) of declarants) (See headnote*) «I ft ft &gt;. C8C O « · a ft · 0 · _&lt;€(0 « ft • ·· &lt; ··

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Insert FULL name(s) AND addrcss(es) of actual inventor(s) (g) Recite how applicants) derive(s) ' title from actual inventor(s) (See .headnote · ·) • · · ·· 0 • · · · ft ® ft . ft ft ft • ft ft « · e (h) Insert country» filing date, and basic applicant(s) for the/dr EACH basic application j- ‘(kJ insert PLACE of signing (I) Insert DATE of signing . (m) Signature'»:) of declarani(s)

Note: No legalization or other witness required

DECLARATION FOR A PATENT APPLICATION 8535 5/82

In support of the ^(a) convention (b)

Rittal-CSM Limited application made by (hereinafter called “applicant(s) for a patent ^&lt;c)invention entitled ^(d)

Card Frames for an

I/We &lt;^c&gt;

' Peter Lyulph Lumley. Company Secretary of the said Rittal-CSM

Limited, of 15 Rosebank Lodge, Rownhams, Hampshire, England.

de

I.

1.

2.

2.

solemnly and sincerely declare as follows:

for, in the case of an application by a body corporate)

I am/WtXXKX authorized to make this declaration on behalf of the applicant(s).

for, where the applicant(s) is/are not the actual inventor(s)) (f)

David Paul Erlam of Spindlewood, Partridge Down, Oliver's Battery, Winchester, Hampshire, England.

is/Xflt the actual inventor^) of the invention and the facts upon which the applicant(s) xc/are entitled to make the application are as follows:

The applicants are the assignees of the invention from the actual inventor.

fNote: Paragraphs 3 and 4 apply only to Convention applications)

The basic application(s) for patent or similar protection on which the application is based is/M* identified by country, filing date, and basic applicant(s) as follows:

3.

(h)

4.

-&lt;1 fl &amp;*

4*1

8119941 , United Kingdom, Rittal-CSM Limited (in its former name of CSM (Engineering) Limited).

The basic applicationfx) referred to in paragraph 3 hereof was/wxie the first application^) made in a Convention country in respect of the invention the subject of the application.

To: The Commissioner of Patents

Declared at &lt;^k) Eastleigh

Dated &lt;') ₂₈ 1982

- R C- C. L·...........

(Peter Lyulph Lumley)

PHILLIPS ORMONDE &amp; FITZPATRICK

Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys

367 Collins Street

Melbourne. Australia i

·. ·5· f ‘'ί· . » ft

This invention relates to card frames, and is more plurali the (12) AUSTRALIAN PATENT ABRIDGMENT (19) AU (11) AU-B-85355/82 (54) PACKAGED CIRCUIT CARD FRAME KIT (71) RITTAL-WERK RUDOLF LOH GmbH AND CO KG

<td> (21 ·</td><td> 85355/82</td><td> 554369</td><td> (22)</td><td> 25.6.82</td>

<td></td><td></td><td></td><td> (24)</td><td> 29.6.81</td>

<td> (31)</td><td> 8119941</td><td> (32) 29.6.81</td><td> ( 33 )</td><td> GB</td>

<td> (43)</td><td> ' 6.1.83</td><td></td><td> (44)</td><td> 21.8.86</td>

(51)³ HO5K 7/18 HO5K 7/14 (72) DAVID PAUL ERLAM (74) PO (56) US 3838777 (57)

This invention relates to card frames, and is more particularly directed to the packaging and. erection thereof.

A ’card frame' (also known as a 'sub-rack') is a kind of frame structure used to house electrical circuitry mounted on 'cards' which, for example, comprise circuit boards, for instance printed circuit boards, mounting circuit components. A typical card frame comprises a pair of side plates spaced apart by generally horizontally extending cross rails secured at their ends to the side plates, the cross rails typically mounting card guides for receiving the cards and connectors for making electrical connections to the cards.

Card frames are often manufactured by specialist manufacturers and supplied by them, in kit form, to the end

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100)/31 i?·”

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(11) AU-B-85555/82 typically electronics

The user.

the card frame from the kit into a particular form assembles suited to the precise requirements of the end product to be assembled from the cards and card frame.

CLAIM

1.

card cross each &amp; rtV manufacturer who manufactures circuit cards and erects or '•V

A packaged card frame kit comprising a pair of side plates, a plurality of cross rails that can be assembled tor-^ther with the side plates to form at least part of a frame, and a box capable of housing said side plates and rails for transporting said side plates and cross rails, of said side plates comprising a main body portion, each rail adapted to be secured side plates when said side orientation with said main predetermined distance, supporting said side plates with said main laid flat condition during transport, said including a pair of first receptor means spaced apart by predetermined distance and adapted to engage portions of side plates and to support said side plates in said predetermined upright orientation with said main body portions spaced apart by said predetermined distance, said support means further of said to said main body portions of plates are in a predetermined body portions spaced apart by said box including support means body portions support means •5 'j cross said upright for in a also said said including second receptor means associated first receptor means, said second receptor to engage end portions of said cross rails with each means and maintain which said adapted said cross rails in a predetermined orientation in cross rails extend between saic first receptor means during transport, said second receptor means allowing movement of the cross rails between the side pjates when the side plates are in said predetermined upright orientation, to allow attachment of the cross rails to the side plates while the side plates are in said upright orientation.

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Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys 367 Collins Street Melbourne, Australia t'gru.

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AUSTRALIA

Patents Act

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COMPLETE SPECIFICATION (ORIGINAL)

Application Number:

Lodged:

Class

Int. Class

Jht anerKiraemi _under

-Uou 49.

Complete Specification Lodged:

« St 9 » . * . * Accepted:

&gt; · · • · « Published:

« * «

Priority:

I

I and is correct for pnntlng.

&lt; c e β If · °°^e * Related Art:

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APPLICANT’S REF.: F868/9/IJC/SJS

Name(s)of Applicant(s): -RITTAL COM LIIITTF~D ' ,1-t/ir-k. Loh i(L f/L,

0-L347 , H is I'Kiy,

Address(es) of Applicant(s): Parham Drive, Boyat^ Wood Industrial Estate, Eastleigh, Hampshire, England.

β · · »»· « Actual Inventor(s):

• · « ft 6 6 • · o

David Paul Erlam.

<td> Address for Service is:</td><td> PHILLIPS, ORMONDE &amp; FITZPATRICK Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys 367. Collins Street Melbourne, Australia, 3000</td>

Complete Specification for the invention entitled:

CARD FRAMES

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This invention the packaging and erection thereof house electrical circuitry frame structure used to card frame comprises a pair by generally horizontally plates spaced apart side guides for electr ical the cards specialist frames are ,'ften manufactured by

Card to the end a particular form the card frame from the kit into product to be end the precise requirements of the from the cards and card frame is that once the card frame the

An advantage of by securing has of the cross and to some extent as its own jig for the basic structure can be difficult since it tends to be a job for which two hands are not enough.

manufacturer who manufactures circuit cards and erects or cards and connectors for making at least some

However, the initial assembly of

Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys 367 Collins Slreet Melbourne. Australia relates to card frames, and is more at their ends to the side (also known as a ’sub-rack’) is a for instance printed example, comprise circuit

A ’card frame’ manufacturers and supplied by them, in kit form, been erected on ’cards’ which, for circuit boards, mounting plates, the cross rails typically mounting card components. A typical

The end user is typically an electronics

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the box cap side pl said to cross rails said between predete cross r.

said up frame k to a

KR spaced further side pl adapted plates then be orienta particularly directed to kind of mounted boards, circuit extending cross rails secured receiving the connections to user assembles suited to assembled basic structure thereof together the side plates rails, the structure acts further assembly purposes.

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support laid fl.

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According to the present invention there is provided a packaged card frame kit comprising a pair of side plates, a plurality of cross rails that can be assembled together with the side plates to form at least part cf a card frame, and a box capable of housing said side plates and cross rails for transporting said side plates and cross rails, each of said side plates comprising a main body portion, each cross rail adapted to be secured to said main body portions of said side plates when said side plates are in a predetermined upright a for in a also said said orientation with said main body portions spaced apart by predetermined distance, said box including support means supporting said side plates with said main body portions laid flat condition during transport, said support means including a pair of first receptor means spaced apart by predetermined distance and adapted to engage portions of side plates and to support said side plates in said predetermined upright orientation with said main body portions spaced apart by said predetermined distance, said support means further including second receptor means associated with each of said first receptor means, said second receptor means adapted to engage end portions of said cross rails and maintain said cross rails in a predetermined orientation in which said cross rails extend between said first receptor means during transport, said second receptor means allowing movement of the cross rails between the side plates when the side plates are in said predetermined upright orientation, to allow attachment of the cross rails to the side plates while the side plates are in said upright orientation.

Thus, by virtue of the above arrangement, a card frame kit may be packed in a compact configuration and shipped to a user in such configuration. Once the user receives and opens the box, he may stand up the side plates in their relative use orientation and then has two hands free to then secure together at least some of the cross rails and the side plates to complete an initial stage of erecting the card frame, the box thus may act as a disposable and ready-to-hand jig to enable this process to be carried out. The side plates may then be held in or substantially in their relative use orientation by the cross rails that have been secured to them whereby any card frame c

The in a variety generally of pair of .inse each other i (i) a respec member and ( each insert longitudinal said predete body portior the predete) being adapts when the sic orientation,

They the like, cardboard c

A now be here drawings, i

Fi of a card f Fi prior to as

Fi two side pi of them stc

Fi pair of fol

Fi where the ( ad , a th

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Lde gr ί a Lso lid lid neans ;h of :ed

Ld .'OSS sport, rails the ?ped id in

Lde rame, to lem * ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft

Oft ft ft ft ft • 30

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KR

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whereby any remaining cross card frame can be assembled invention may, of ways, the form wherein said rails and other component of the in a convenient manner.

of course be carried into effect

Preferably, however, the kit may be support means comprises a spaced apart relation to receptor means including disposed in each insert

The in a variety generally of pair of insert members disposed in each other in said box, said first (i) a respective longitudinal slot member and (ii) a respective transverse slot defined between each insert member and an adjacent side wall of the box, the longitudinal slots in the insert members being spaced apart by said predetermined distance and adapted to receive the main body portions of the side plates when the side plates are in the predetermined upright orientation, the transverse slots being adapted to receive respective flanges on the side plates when the side plates are in the predetermined upright orientation, the second receptor means comprising additional transverse slots formed in each of said insert members, each of the additional transverse slots extending from the longitudinal slot said in its associated insert member insert members.

The said inserts may take a from the inserts comprise folded may for example be moulded Preferably, however, ©·· ft ft ft • «'ft ft ·♦ ft ft ft' ft ft ft ft • ft,ft • .». ft ft and toward the other of

They the like. cardboard cutouts.

A preferred embodiment variety of forms, expanded polystyrene or of the present invention will now be herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of one end of a card frame;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the card frame, prior to assembly, accommodated in a box;

Figure 3 is a view corresponding to Figure 2, two side plates of the card frame removed from the box of them stood up in the box in its use position:

Figure 4 is a transverse cross section through pair of folded cardboard inserts of the box;

Figure U is a scrap sectional where the ends of the side plates that showing and one one of a view showing the region are disposed rearwardly

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V

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Figure 6 is a scrap view of the structure shown in

Figure 5, taken in the direction of the arrow

VI in Figure

5.

Referring first to Figure of the accompanying drawings, the illustrated card frame comprises a right-hand side plate

10a having a front mounting flange and three outriggers extending rearwardly from the rear edge ft ft · ft ft ft ft • ft ft a ft e ft «· « a t λ « a * *a t»a « Oft ft ♦· a a · a c· ώ thereof.

second side second side

The illustrated card frame further comprises a plate 10b, plate 10b,

10a and is disposed at frame, is oriented in plate 10a except that which is which is the other not shown in Figure 1. The identical to the side plate or left hand end of the card the same manner as the it is rotated through axis extending from its front to its rear.

right hand side

180° through an

In other words, the two side plates 10a, 10b lie in vertical planes spaced apart from one from the sides

When

10a, 10b are cross rails

10b and are another and their flanges 12 extend outwardly of the card frame at the front.

the card frame is erected, the side plates maintained in the above relative orientation by that extend between the two side plates 10a, secured at their ends to the side plates by virtue of screws 18 that extend through in the side plates into tapped holes 22 cross rails 16. In a manner well known clearance holes 20 in the ends of the to those skilled in the and the art, rear card card guides cross-rails (not shown) extend between the front to accommodate cards inserted into frame. Further, other cross rails (not shown) are

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in ire to make electrical connections to cards (not connectors used shown) inserted into the card frame.

ng

Pr ior ind packed in the form of a kit in a cardboard box 30 shown in ee having a lid

Ige which is hinged thereto and is provided with closure tabs pair of like folded cardboard inserts 40 are disposed be seen from one at

Figure ird form an elongate box section having a plurality of spaced cut-outs 42 and a continuous elongate slot 44.

ily by virtue of one end of each cross housed in the slots 42 in ' cut-out 42 in one insert 40 and rail being accommodated :es the other end being accommodated in a corresponding cut-out in the other insert 40.

laid out flat adjacent one another in plates 10a and 10b are the flanges 12 lying above the final protective in the slots

U-shaped strip 50 of

Figures 5 be seen from the side plate 10a is disposed as shown around the edge of the the i

I cross rails 16, the tray 32,

36. A i ,· measure, as can best

4, each insert 40 is folded from a cardboard blank to and 6, a roughly i' card frame kit is packed in the box 30 the cross rails 16 plate 10 a to form a cushion against impact between

Figures 2 and 3. The box 30 comprises a tray 32

As can best be seen from Figures 3 and 4, when the to erection or assembly, the card frame is (and optionally other non-illustrated cross rails) are

As can best be seen from Figures 2 and 4, the side each end of the tray 32. As can best

44. As a connected between the side plates 10a, 10b to mount

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Fab

Ά ^Λ '· ' - i ·ζ&lt;ϊ»'.··'·..ΗΓ-.-:+1-)., ·. .. · ,·. · ·, plates closed and secured and transported in

When the box 30 and then stands up the

To complete the package, in place

The card frame such condition.

user wishes to erecv. the removes the side plates 10a and in the slots 44 in the inserts the lid 34 is kit is stored kit, he opens

10b, which he as shown for

0 ·

a a a «a

0 0 ··· 0

0 0 ·

0 0 the right hand there will inserts 40 be and side plate 10a in Figure sufficient space between the inside of the front the of (To this end, fronts of the the box to •· 9 •· · • 6 · · • « · •· β • · « • 9· •· Λ

0

0* ft

O ft0 ti

9ft O permit the therebetween) flanges 12 when provided to enter

The two side plates 10a and 10b are held at least approximately in their relative thus use orientation whereby the operator has his hands free commence erection by virtue of using the box as a jig hold the side plates. That is remove and assemble sufficient of the structure in a substantially to to to say, the operator can the cross rails 16 to hold rigid condition, whereupon he can remove the so-erected structure from the box to continue the erection of any remaining cross rails and the further components of the card frame, which further components may have been packed in the box 30 or shipped separately &lt;1 'si

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