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. 09, 2011
Filed:
Dec. 19, 2008
Vinh H. Diep, Milpitas, CA (US);
Giles Matthew Lowe, San Francisco, CA (US);
Peter Russell-clarke, San Francisco, CA (US);
Phillip Satterfield, East Palo Alto, CA (US);
Clark Everett Waterfall, Campbell, CA (US);
Alex Chun Lap Yeung, South San Francisco, CA (US);
Vinh H. Diep, Milpitas, CA (US);
Giles Matthew Lowe, San Francisco, CA (US);
Peter Russell-Clarke, San Francisco, CA (US);
Phillip Satterfield, East Palo Alto, CA (US);
Clark Everett Waterfall, Campbell, CA (US);
Alex Chun lap Yeung, South San Francisco, CA (US);
Apple Inc., Cupertino, CA (US);
Abstract
A component retention mechanism facilitates improved installation, retention and removal of hardware components (e.g., PCI cards) on a personal computer. The retention mechanism includes a locking component, support member, and release mechanism coupled to each other. The locking component can be a steel bar or other stiff item positioned proximate to multiple socket connectors on a circuit board. The locking component moves between unlocked and locked positions that mechanically and simultaneously unlock or lock in place multiple add-in cards inserted into the socket connectors. The support member moves and thereby facilitates movement of the locking component between locked and unlocked positions. The release mechanism facilitates movement of the support member and is actuated when a force is exerted by a user thereto. An associated slider housing coupled to the release mechanism and support member includes a fan, support shelves and a door that provides additional support to oversized PCI cards.