The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 03, 1990
Filed:
Jun. 20, 1989
William D Lewis, San Jose, CA (US);
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY (US);
Abstract
A modular electrical component packaging system which utilizes a plurality of identical structural elements is disclosed. The system incorporates one or more generally rectangular card cages for receiving and retaining printed circuit boards, power supplies, ventilation fans etc. Welded onto, bolted to, formed integrally on, or attached separately to two opposed sides of each rectangular card cage are a pair of identical vertically oriented channel members which serve to provide vertical support and to enclose a lock mechanism. A plurality of identical exterior panel members is provided, each including a planar surface and a pair of generally perpendicular side walls having mounting pins for coupling each exterior panel member to a pair of vertical channel members. Each exterior panel member thus overlies an entire side of the generally rectangular card cage and a portion of each side of the card cage having a vertical channel member mounted thereon. The lock mechanism within each vertical channel member serves to selectively engage the mounting pins, thereby securing each exterior panel member in place. In this manner, each card cage within a stacked modular system requires two identical vertical channel members and two identical exterior panel members, thereby minimizing the number of distinct structural elements which must be provided for the packaging system.