SELF-LOCKING ELECTRONIC CIRCUIT CARD MOUNTING ASSEMBLIES AND METHODS

Electronic circuit card mounting assemblies and methods are disclosed. An electronic circuit card and an electronic equipment system include mating connectors to operatively couple the circuit card to the equipment system. The circuit card and the equipment system also include respective mating elements of a mounting assembly that engage each other to releasably mount the electronic circuit card to the electronic equipment system. The connectors and the elements of the mounting assembly are positioned to releasably hold the connectors in an operative position when the circuit card is mounted to the equipment system. Related methods of manufacturing electronic circuit cards and equipment systems are also provided. In one embodiment, the mounting assembly elements include a key and a socket to receive the key, and the key and the socket control one or more of a circuit card insertion force, a circuit card retention force, and a circuit removal force.