Dell Products Inc.

International Business Machines Corporation

Dell USA L P

Dell Computer Corporation

Roy A Rachui

Mark S Manley

Robert C Sloan

Stephen Gill

Donald Lee Thompson

Forrest J Pobst

Danny Marvin Neal

James Robert Taylor

Jose L Huerta

Scott Joseph Boyd

Fred Ervin Zumwalt

Grainger I Simpson, Jr

James E Roberts

An assembly support platform apparatus, system and method assembles a motherboard into an information handling system by coupling simulated electronic connectors of the platform to electronic connectors of the motherboard to support movement of the motherboard to an installation position in the information handling system. Openings in the assembly platform allow insertion of attachment devices to attach the motherboard to the chassis of the information handling system. Once the motherboard is secured, the assembly platform is removed by pulling away from the motherboard to de-couple the simulated electronic connectors of the assembly board from the electronic connectors of the motherboard.

System for information handling system motherboard assembly

A motherboard is assembled into an information handling system by coupling simulated electronic connectors of an assembly platform to electronic connectors of the motherboard to support movement of the motherboard to an installation position in the information handling system chassis. Openings in the assembly platform allow insertion of attachment devices to attach the motherboard to the chassis of the information handling system. Once the motherboard is secured to the chassis, the assembly platform is removed by pulling away from the motherboard to de-couple the simulated electronic connectors of the assembly board from the electronic connectors of the motherboard.

Method for assembly of a motherboard into an information handling system chassis

Connector tips for paired fiber optic strands are protected from damage by a tip protector held in position with one or more flexible members that are disposed to cover the connector tips with the tip protector in an unflexed position and to flex to expose the connector tips by moving the tip protector. The flexible members, such as a pair of extension springs, are coupled to the paired fiber optic strands with a clamp that holds the flexible members on opposing sides of and parallel with the fiber optic strands to provide structural support to the fiber optic strands. Bending of the flexible members from parallel alignment with the fiber optic strands removes the connector tips from a recess of the tip protector. The flexible members are biased to return to the parallel alignment so that the tip protector is biased to return to a position that covers the connector tips.

System and method for protecting a fiber optic cable connector tip

An apparatus and method for cooling a heat-generating component according to which a body member is placed over a portion of a heat sink so that flanges on the body member engage the component. The body member is forced away from the heat sink so that the flanges force the component and the heat sink into intimate contact.

Apparatus and method for cooling a heat generating component

An apparatus for automatically disconnecting a plug-in connector. A cord has a first end connected to the connector and has a second end extending from the connector. A catch member is attached to the second end. A fixed member includes an opening which is sized to permit the cord to move through the opening and to restrain the catch member from moving through the opening. As a result, movement of the connector away from the fixed member moves the cord through the opening until the catch member engages the opening, so that further movement of the connector is limited.

Apparatus and method for unattended disconnect of plug-in connectors

A modular component receiving structure (,) includes a guide structure (,) for guiding a modular component (,) into a proper installed position and for ensuring that the module is handled properly during installation. A drive arrangement including a threaded drive opening (,) may be included with the guide structure (,) for use in applying a proper installation force to move the memory module (,) into a proper installed position. The drive arrangement facilitates the use of a rotary tool to apply the installation force.

Modular component receiving apparatus and method for installing modular components

A flow rack including a frame with a plurality of elongated channels attached to the frame. Each channel includes two spaced apart sides and a base wall extending between the sides. A plurality of rollers is movably mounted in each one of the channels. A portion of each roller extends above the respective channel at a first height. A reverse flow stop is pivotally mounted within each channel for movement between a stop position and a flow position. Each stop includes a stop arm. A weighted portion is attached to each stop for automatically biasing each stop to the stop position whereby the respective stop arm extends above the respective channel at a second height, greater than the first height. When the stop is in the flow position, the stop arm extends above the channel at a height equal to or less than the first height.

Flow rack with reverse flow limiting device

An option card retainer (,) includes a first elongated leg member (,) and a second elongated leg member (,). The two leg members (,) are aligned with their upper ends connected by a bridge structure (,). The first leg member (,) includes a first clip structure (,) at its lower end and the second leg member (,) includes a second clip structure (,) at its lower end. A biasing device (,) is located beneath the bridge structure (,) between the first and second leg members. The retainer (,) is fastened over an option card (,) with the biasing device (,) compressed between the bridge structure (,) and a top edge (,) of the option card with the clip structures (,) in a gripping engagement with an underside of the option card connector (,).

Option card retainer and retaining method

A circuit board guidance device is arranged to have a circuit board such as a PCI I/O board 205 inserted therein for connection into an electrical socket or connector 203 located on a system motherboard 201. The guidance device includes a guidance mechanism which translates an insertion force applied in one direction into a connecting force effective to move the circuit board in a second direction. The guidance device is effective to aid in locating the circuit board 205 above connector 203 on the system motherboard 201, and also to aid in forcing the desired electrical connection between corresponding connectors on the circuit board 205 and a system motherboard 201. The guidance device is also effective in aiding in the extraction of the circuit board from its connection to the motherboard connector 203. An I/O bracket 261 is implemented to provide EMI grounding to the system bulkhead.

Locating and guidance device for printed circuit boards

A retention device for retaining the forward edge of a PCI or ISA adapter card in a computer frame is provided. The retention device has a channel mounted to the frame opposite a rearward edge of the card. The channel has upper and lower panels which define a slot for receiving the forward edge of the card. A finger is pivotally mounted to one end of the channel and has grooves on a lower surface for engaging grooves on an upper surface of the forward edge. The finger is movable between an engaged position for capturing the forward edge to retain it from moving, and a disengaged position for releasing the forward edge and allowing the card to be removed from the slot.

PCI and ISA adapter card guide pincher

A thumbscrew apparatus for fastening a first device to a second device. In a first embodiment, the apparatus comprises a screw attached to the second device and a first cylinder screwed onto the screw for fastening the first device to the second device. The first cylinder has an outboard end with a one-way slot feature that allows a screwdriver to be used to loosen the first cylinder while inhibiting the use of the screwdriver to tighten the cylinder. In a second embodiment, the shaft of the screw has a first portion smaller in diameter than a second portion. The first portion also has a thread pitch smaller than that of the second portion. A second cylinder contained within the first cylinder is screwed onto the second portion of the shaft while the first cylinder is screwed onto the first portion. A pin is used to lock the first cylinder to the second cylinder such that both cylinders are turned at the same revolution. However, since the pitch of the second portion of the shaft is greater than that of the first portion, the second cylinder moves faster along the axis of the screw than the first cylinder. Hence, when both cylinders are being turned in the loosening direction, the second cylinder pushes the screwdriver out of the one-way slot of the outboard end of the first cylinder before the first cylinder reaches the end of its travel.

Backbracket thumbscrew assembly

A modular envelope feed mechanism which may be used with a cut sheet feeder attachment for high speed printers or the like is disclosed. Envelopes are more reliably fed and separated because they are urged toward a pair of separators at the separation station with uniform force by a pressure plate containing a pivotable member provided with resilient pads positioned in alignment with the separators.

Growing community of inventors

Georgetown, TX, United States of America

Roy A Rachui