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:
Aug. 21, 2001
Filed:
May. 21, 1999
Daniel Paul Beaman, Cedar Park, TX (US);
M. Lawrence Buller, Austin, TX (US);
Brian Michael Kerrigan, Austin, TX (US);
John Richard Pugley, Round Rock, TX (US);
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY (US);
Abstract
A computer system including a computer chassis that includes a rear panel is provided. The rear panel defines a set of expansion card slots. A printed circuit board is received within the chassis includes a set of expansion card connectors aligned to the set of expansion card slots. A card retention bracket of the system includes first and second plates joined at a common end. The second plate extends substantially perpendicularly from the first plate. The first plate is adapted for being removably attached to an interior surface of the rear panel of the chassis such that the second plate extends exterior to the chassis. The second plate includes a set of card retention tabs including at least one retention tab corresponding to each expansion card slot. The retention tabs are positioned within the second plate to align an expansion card to a corresponding expansion slot and to restrict movement of the expansion card when the retention bracket first plate is attached to the rear panel of the chassis and placed in a set position. In one embodiment, the first plate includes a single hole, such as a thumbscrew that is operable with the aid of screwdrivers or other tools, for fastening the first plate to the chassis rear panel via a single fastener. In one embodiment, the retention tabs are arranged in pairs where each pair of tabs corresponds to a corresponding expansion card slot. In this arrangement, a first tab of each pair of tabs is oriented parallel to the first plate to restrict movement of the expansion card in a plane perpendicular to the chassis rear panel when the retention bracket is properly attached to the rear panel. The second tab of each pair is oriented perpendicular to the first plate to restrict movement of the expansion board in a plane approximately parallel to the rear panel. Preferably, the retention bracket including the retention tabs comprises a single piece of formed sheet metal.