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:
Dec. 23, 2003
Filed:
Jul. 12, 2002
Dennis R. Barringer, Wallkill, NY (US);
Gregory H. Richardson, Sumner, WA (US);
Harold M. Toffler, Newburgh, NY (US);
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY (US);
Abstract
A hot docking mechanism enables a PCI type card with an edge connector to be inserted into an enclosure and docked in a card socket on the motherboard without operator access to the enclosure interior. A card holder carries the card and is supported on a card guide for sliding motion into the enclosure to a position at which the edge connector is aligned with the socket secured to the device motherboard. A camming assembly includes a cam lever extending outside the enclosure to convert horizontal or pivoting motion of the cam lever to vertical motion of the card into and out of the socket. The camming assembly, mounted above and proximate the mother board surface, increases mechanical advantage during docking and undocking. The card is supported within the card holder and the camming connection between the card and camming assembly is disposed intermediate the longitudinal ends of the socket to maximize mechanical advantage and minimize misalignment during card docking and undocking.