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:
Sep. 12, 2000
Filed:
Oct. 22, 1998
Cynthia M Grosser, Apex, NC (US);
Mohanlal Savji Mansuria, Apex, NC (US);
Leo Harold Webster, Jr, Cary, NC (US);
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY (US);
Abstract
A removable card insulator and guide prevents inadvertent shorting during the insertion or removal of an adapter card into a 'hot-plug' computer system. The card insulator includes perpendicular first and second planar portions. When installed in a computer system, the first planar portion is positioned perpendicular to the motherboard, and the second planar portion is positioned parallel to the motherboard such that any components on the motherboard are positioned between the second planar portion and the motherboard. The second planar portion includes a slot through which an adapter card connector can be passed to mate with a connector on the motherboard. A step has perpendicular riser and tread portions, wherein the riser is attached perpendicular to the second planar portion, such that the tread is parallel to and offset from the second planar portion. When installed in the computer system, the tread is closer to the motherboard than the second planar portion and provides protection against the inadvertent shorting of an adapter card bracket to the motherboard. The opposing edges of the card insulator are inserted into guides attached to opposing walls of the computer system.