Circuit board cam-action standoff connector

Abstract

A cam-action expanding standoff connector and related method are disclosed for mounting a circuit board. The standoff connector includes a body and a plurality of mounting members having interior longitudinally-extending camming portions for engagement by a cam. A cam is configured to be positioned within the mounting members in a first position in which the mounting members are not expanded against the interior of a mounting opening and in a second position in which the cam engages the camming portions to expand the plurality of mounting members against the interior of the mounting opening. Since the camming action is horizontal only (purely radial), practically no vertical forces are applied to the circuit board and a best-fit alignment between a circuit board and heatsink can be established and maintained.

1 . A method mounting a circuit board using an expandable standoff connector, the method comprising the steps of:
 mounting a body of the expandable standoff connector to a chassis;   inserting an engagement portion of the expandable standoff connector within an interior of a mounting opening of the circuit board, the engagement portion including a cam opening between a plurality of mounting members, each mounting member having an interior longitudinally-extending camming portion;   providing a cam within the cam opening, the cam including an interior longitudinally-extending engager for each camming portion, and wherein the cam and the cam opening are positioned within the interior of the mounting opening of the circuit board; and   moving the cam from a first position in which the mounting members are not expanded against the interior of the mounting opening and in a second position in which each engager engages a corresponding camming portion to expand the plurality of mounting members against the interior of the mounting opening; where in the expanding of the plurality of mounting members in the second position consists of forcing the plurality of mounting members radially against the interior of the mounting opening to mount the circuit board.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the moving step includes rotating the cam. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the inserting step includes providing each camming portion with a decreasing radius relative to a center of the cam opening from the first position to the second position. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the moving step includes securing the cam in the second position by placing each engager in an engager seat.