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:
Feb. 18, 2003
Filed:
Apr. 09, 2001
Michael E. Gomez, Garland, TX (US);
Ronnie L. Watkins, Allen, TX (US);
Denise L. Smart, Plano, TX (US);
Cisco Technology, Inc., San Jose, CA (US);
Abstract
A railing system for printed circuit boards, an apparatus and method advantageously allow modular arrangements of printed circuit boards (PCBs) in a shelf and maximize space in a shelf by providing rails on the PCBs that are slidably connectable with card guides in the shelf. The railing system includes a PCB having two sides, at least one of the sides with electronic components disposed thereon, and at least one rail secured to the PCB, the rail being perpendicular to the sides of the PCB, wherein the rail permits insertion of the PCB into a shelf outfitted with one or more guides for securing the rail and the PCB within the shelf by suspension from the rail and independent of further support. The rail in combination with the one or more card guides provide a crude alignment for mating the electrical components on the PCB with connectors disposed in the shelf. Further, the rail in combination with the one or more card guides conserve space within the shelf by permitting contiguous PCB installation within the shelf.