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:
Nov. 16, 2004
Filed:
Nov. 27, 2002
Bruce E. Baker, Round Rock, TX (US);
Martin Joseph Crippen, Apex, NC (US);
Robert Mark Lindsay, Raleigh, NC (US);
Michael Sven Miller, Raleigh, NC (US);
Peter Andrew Smith, Cary, NC (US);
Brian Alan Trumbo, Apex, NC (US);
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY (US);
Abstract
The functionality of a blade is expanded by the installation of an expansion unit including expansion components. The blade and expansion unit are provided with connectors allowing the blade components to access and utilize the expansion components when the connectors are mated. The blade and expansion unit include elements ensuring that the connectors align properly as the expansion unit is installed onto the blade, making the installation simple and quick. The blade and expansion unit also include elements securing the connection between the two, once made.