International Business Machines Corporation

Kevin K Cooke

John R Dewitt

Paul J Galinis

Paul A Kerezman

Jay H Neer

Myron F Davis

Dennis Crompton

John E McCloskey

Walter B Koteff

Michael Sven Miller

Mark Evan Cohen

Ronald V Davidge

Thomas H Newsom

Robert D Wysong

Thomas A Anzelone

Victor V Zaderej

Eddie M Reid

Terry M Espersen

Lau H Nguyen

Samuel T Cheung

Computer housing

A cable connector, terminator, or shield is fastened in place over a port connector in a unit having a lockable cover, by fastening means which can only be accessed when the cover is unlocked and opened or removed. In a first version, the cable connector, terminator, or shield includes a pair of tabs extending into the unit through a slot at each end of the port connector, with each tab having a notch which forms a latching surface. A rotatable bracket, engaging these latching surfaces, prevents the removal of the connector, terminator, or shield. With the cover opened or removed, this bracket can be rotated into a position in which the latching surfaces are released. In a second version, a locking bracket is provided to extend around an outer portion of the cable connector, terminator, or shield. This locking bracket includes a shaft extending through a hole into the unit, to be fastened in place by a nut engaging a threaded portion of the shaft. The nut can be accessed to release the shaft from within the unit only when the lockable cover is opened or removed. In a third version, the connector, terminator, or shield includes a pair of slidably mounted shafts, which extend through holes at each end of the port connector to engage holes within a latching bar. When the lockable cover is opened or removed, the latching bar can be manually slid from a locked position in which these shafts are held in place, to an unlocked position, in which they are released. Thus, in all versions, physical access to electronic circuits within the port connector is prevented as long as a cable connector, terminator, or shield is held in place with the lockable cover locked in its closed position.

Means for locking cables and connector ports

A personal computer system unit has a planar card upon which is mounted a processor card. The processor has mounted thereon those components, except for system memory, which are most likely to be replaced for a system upgrade. The processor card has a printed circuit board with printed circuits thereon that terminate along one edge at contacts. Two aligned edge connectors are mounted on the planar board. One connector has a key which engages a slot on the edge of the processor card to align the many contacts with contact arms. Two levers are mounted on the card and cooperate with frame elements to insert, extract and latch the processor card. Each element also has a guide to align the processor card for insertion into the edge connectors.

Personal computer processor card interconnect system

A grounding structure is provided for a disk drive rail wherein the rail includes two sides, one side of which is mountable on a side of a disk drive or other rail mounted device. The grounding structure includes a substantially flat main body extending laterally along one side of the rail to a first end of the rail. The grounding structure further includes a wrap around portion extending from the main body at the first end of the rail and around the first end of the rail and further extending along a portion of the remaining side of the rail so as to hold the grounding structure to the rail. The wrap around portion is connectable to a ground contact adjacent thereto.

Grounding apparatus for rail-mounted devices employed in a computer

A personal computer enclosure is provided which is reinforced by a disk drive support structure inside the box. The enclosure is a substantially parallelepiped outer box having an opening for providing access to the interior of the box. The box includes a plurality of mounting locations on the interior of the box. The inner support structure includes a plurality of bays for receiving respective disk drives therein. These bays communicate with the opening in the enclosure. The structure is attached to said outer box at said mounting locations to provide structural integrity thereto.

Support structure for devices in a computer apparatus

A computer enclosure is provided which is capable of accommodating a plurality of drive devices therein in a fashion whereby the drive devices are readily removable. The enclosure includes a box having first and second opposed sides and a substantially rectangular opening extending between the first and second sides. The enclosure further includes a drive device retainer member having first and second opposed ends, the first end of the retainer being removably pivotally attachable to the first end of the box, the second end of the retainer member being attachable to the second side of the box. The retainer member contacts the drive devices to hold the drive devices in the box. The enclosure further includes a bezel structure having first and second opposed ends. The bezel structure is situated atop the retainer member, the first end of the bezel structure being removable pivotally attachable to the second side of the box, the remaining first end of the bezel structure being removably attachable to the first end of the box so as to hold the retainer member on the box.

Enclosure apparatus for retaining devices within a computer

A removable rail guide apparatus is provided for a disk drive mounting structure which is capable of receiving disk drives or other rail-mounted devices therein. The mounting structure includes a frame including a bay capable of accepting therein one first height drive or two second height drives which are smaller than the first size drive. The bay includes first and second opposed side walls situated in spaced apart relationship. First and second stationary rail guides are fixedly situated on the first and second side walls, respectively, to mate with corresponding side rails of the first size disk drive. First and second removable rail guides are removably mounted on the first and second side walls, respectively, at a distance spaced apart from the first and second stationary rail guides. The first and second removable rail guides mate with corresponding side rails of the second size disk drive when the first size disk drive is not present in the first and second stationary guide rails. The user is provided with flexibility in that a first height drive can be installed when the removable rail guides are removed from the bay so as to avoid interference between the first height drive and such rail guides. Alternatively, the user can install one second height drive in the bay on the stationary nonremovable rails and/or a second height drive in the bay on the removable rails when such rails are installed in the bay.

Removable guide apparatus for a rail-mounted device employed in a

A shielding strip is provided for a computer including an electrically conductive housing and a non-conductive drive mounting structure situated within the housing. The drive mounting structure includes a plurality of bays which communicate with an opening in the housing. An electrically conductive retainer is situated over the opening to hold the disk drives in the bays. The shielding strip includes a longitudinal main portion extending along a first side of the housing adjacent the opening and situated between the first side of the housing and the drive mounting structure. The shielding strip further includes a plurality of spring structures extending laterally away from the main portion and toward the bays, each of such spring structures including a first spring portion for contacting a conductive portion of a disk drive mounted in a respective bay and a second spring portion for contacting the retainer.

Apparatus for reducing electromagnetic radiation from a computer device

An improved planar support structure for a planar of a personal computer system is comprised of an integral structure having a plurality of connector support frames. The planar support structure is interposed between the planar and a supporting structure and securely fastened to each. Each frame surrounds the perimeter of a corresponding connector of the expansion slots on the planar. Each frame supports a connector to prevent the connector from flexing the planar when an adapter board is inserted into the connector. Additional alignment pins associated with the planar support structure improve ease of assembly during construction of the system.

Planar board support structure

There is disclosed an electromagnetic compatibility grounding connector having a contact portion deflectable between a first and a second position. In the first position only a line contact is established in contact with a complementary connector. In a second position a surface contact is established of greater surface contact area than the line contact. Electrical resistance is thus reduced and conductivity increased. Also disclosed is a support for an electronic device having such a connector and a personal computer housing having such supports and interconnecting with such connectors.

Deflectable contact for providing positive surface contact for shielding

A pivotable power supply for a computer rotates away from the computer circuit board so that servicing of system components located behind the power supply is facilitated. The power supply is provided with a ground strap which remains attached during power supply pivoting thus assuring that the power supply will be grounded after system servicing. Also, a threaded, spring-loaded fastener for locking the power supply in position is designed such that the covers cannot be replaced on the housing unless the power supply is connected to the system circuit board.

Pivoting power supply

An apparatus for electromagnetically shielding electronic equipment has a first and second spaced apart housing members having a gap between them. A rigid member having a plurality of openings is interposed between them. A spring member connected to the rigid member has a plurality of spring fingers extending through openings in the rigid member. A cover member has a cam which forces the first housing member against one side of the spring member to extend the spring finger into the second housing member in order to cause an electrical connection between the first and second housing members.

Growing community of inventors

Delray Beach, FL, United States of America

Kevin K Cooke