Card retention system and method

Abstract

A card retention system comprises a retainer adapted to apply an increasing level of retention force to an expansion card disposed in a chassis as a size of the expansion card increases. The system also comprises a support member adapted to support the retainer in a plurality of different locations relative to the expansion card.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A card retention system, comprising: 
 a retainer adapted to apply an increasing level of retention force to an expansion card disposed in a chassis as a size of the expansion card increases; and    a support member adapted to support the retainer in a plurality of different locations relative to the expansion card.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the support member is adapted to be rotatably coupled to the chassis.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the retainer comprises a biased retention arm adapted to apply the retention force to the expansion card.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the retainer comprises a rotatable grip adapted to engage the expansion card to apply the retention force to the expansion card.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the retainer comprises a compressible grip pad adapted to engage the expansion card.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the retainer comprises a torsion spring adapted to generate the retention force.  
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the support member is adapted to be releasably coupled to the chassis.  
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the retainer is adapted to apply the retention force to an edge of the expansion card.  
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the retainer comprises: 
 a base adapted to be releasably coupled to the support member; and    a retention arm rotatably coupled to the base and biased away from the base for applying the retention force to the expansion card.    
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the increasing level of retention force corresponds to an increasing width of the expansion card.  
     
     
         11 . A method for manufacturing a card retention system, comprising: 
 providing a support member adapted to be releasably coupled to a chassis;    coupling a retainer to at least one of a plurality of mounting locations disposed on the support member, the retainer adapted to apply an increasing level of retention force to an expansion card disposed in the chassis as a size of the expansion card increases.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising coupling a compressible grip pad to the retainer adapted to engage the expansion card.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising coupling a rotatable grip to a retention arm of the retainer adapted to cooperate with the expansion card.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising coupling a grip to a retention arm of the retainer adapted to engage an edge of the expansion card for applying the retention force to the expansion card.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising coupling a retention arm to a base of the retainer, the retention arm biased away from the base for applying the retention force to the expansion card.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein providing the support member comprises providing a support member adapted to accommodate a plurality of retainers disposed adjacent each other for applying the retention force to a plurality of adjacently disposed expansion cards.  
     
     
         17 . A card retention system, comprising: 
 means for applying an increasing level of retention force to expansion card disposed in a chassis as a size of the expansion card increases; and    means for supporting the means for applying the retention force in at least one of a plurality of positions relative to the expansion card.    
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the means for applying the retention force comprises a rotatable grip means adapted to engage the expansion card.  
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the means for applying the retention force comprises a compressible means adapted to engage the expansion card.  
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the means for applying the retention force comprises means for engaging an edge of the expansion card.  
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the means for applying the retention force comprises means for biasing a retention arm away from a base to apply the retention force to the expansion card.  
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 17 , further comprising means for rotatably coupling the supporting means to the chassis.  
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the supporting means is adapted to accommodate a plurality of means for applying a retention force disposed adjacent each other.  
     
     
         24 . A card retention system, comprising: 
 a base;    a retention arm rotatably coupled to the base and biased away from the base; and    a rotatable grip coupled to the retention arm, the grip adapted to engage an expansion card disposed in a chassis.    
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24 , further comprising a compressible grip pad coupled to the grip, the grip pad adapted to engage the expansion card.  
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 24 , further comprising a torsion spring coupled to the base and the retention arm for biasing the retention arm away from the base.  
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the rotatable grip is adapted to engage an edge of the expansion card.  
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 24 , further comprising a compressible grip pad coupled to the grip, the grip pad adapted to engage an edge of the expansion card.  
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the grip comprises a rubber grip pad adapted to engage an edge of the expansion card.  
     
     
         30 . A card retention system, comprising: 
 a base;    a retention arm coupled to the base and biased away from the base for applying a retention force to an expansion card; and    a compressible grip pad coupled to the retention arm and adapted to engage the expansion card.    
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 30 , further comprising a torsion spring coupled to the base and the retention arm for biasing the retention arm away from the base.  
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein the grip pad is adapted to engage an edge of the expansion card.  
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein the compressible grip pad comprises a rubber grip pad.  
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein the grip pad is pivotally coupled to the retention arm.  
     
     
         35 . A card retention system, comprising: 
 a chassis adapted to receive a plurality of expansion cards; and    a retaining assembly adapted to be releasably coupled to the chassis, the retaining assembly adapted to apply a retention force to at least two of the plurality of expansion cards, the retention force increasing as a size of the corresponding expansion card increases.    
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein the retaining assembly comprises a compressible grip pad adapted to engage an edge of the expansion cards.  
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein the retaining assembly is rotatably coupled to the chassis.  
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein the retaining assembly comprises: 
 a support member coupled to the chassis; and    a plurality of retainers coupled to the support member, each retainer adapted to apply the retention force to the corresponding expansion card.    
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein at least two of the expansion cards comprise different sizes.  
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein the retaining assembly comprises a plurality of retainers each adapted to apply the retention force to the corresponding expansion card.  
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein the retaining assembly comprises a plurality of retainers each having a retention arm biased toward the expansion cards for applying the retention force to a corresponding expansion card.  
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein each retaining assembly comprises a plurality of retainers each having a rotatable grip adapted to engage an edge of a corresponding expansion card.  
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein the retaining assembly is adapted to apply the retention force to an edge of the at least two expansion cards.