Integrated electrical connector guard device for use in a personal computer

The present invention provides, for use in a personal computer having a chassis with an electrical interface configured to form a connection with an electrical apparatus that extends externally from the chassis, an electrical connector protection device. The protection device comprises an electrical connector guard movably coupled to the chassis adjacent the interface to move between a retracted storage position and an extended guard position with respect to the chassis. The electrical connector guard, when in the extended guard position, is configured to guard and protect the electrical interface and the electrical apparatus from sustaining damage when the two are connected together by extending under a portion of the electrical apparatus, to thereby guard and protect the electrical interface and the electrical apparatus from sustaining damage.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention is directed, in general, to a personal computer, and 
more specifically a portable computer having an integrated electrical 
connector guard device incorporated therein. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The use of and advantages associated with portable computers are well known 
in the art. Over the last decade, there has been an intense effort in the 
computer industry to down size the personal computer ("PC") to provide 
users with a powerful yet portable computer that can be taken out of the 
office and filly utilized at home or on the road. As advancements have 
been made in both microprocessing chip and battery technologies, 
particularly over the last decade, PCs were eventually downsized into 
"laptop computers". While these computers offered the portability and 
processing power of a full sized PC, the laptop was still somewhat large 
and heavy for the user to carry around. In response to these 
disadvantages, the laptops were downsized even further into what is now 
commonly known in the industry as a notebook computer, which is smaller 
and more light weight yet possessing equal or greater processing 
capabilities than their earlier laptop counterpart. 
In order to achieve a useful portable computer in the size of the notebook 
computers presently known in the art, many design processing and space 
saving changes occurred both in the electronics portion of the computer 
and in the exterior design. However, while the size of these portable 
computers has decreased, the expectations of the user with respect to the 
processing capacity and interfacing capabilities have expanded. 
Thus, to accommodate this expanding need for a "super" portable computer, 
portable computer memory card international association ("PCMCIA") cards, 
which are small expansion modules each roughly the size and shape of a 
credit card, have been developed. These PCMCIA cards allow the user to 
temporarily expand the processing or interfacing capabilities of a 
portable computer with the insertion of a single card into the computer 
and interfacing it with the motherboard in the computer. Several different 
types of PCMCIA cards are presently available to portable computer users. 
These PCMCIA cards are often used in conjunction with a computer to 
easily, rapidly and interchangeably add various operational capabilities 
to the computer such as additional memory, enhanced video characteristics, 
networking or a fax/modem. For instance, some PCMCIA cards have been 
designed to allow the user to increase the RAM processing memory of the 
personal computer or interface the personal computer with varying types of 
Networks systems, such as Local Area Networks ("LAN"). Other PCMICA cards, 
alternatively, have been designed to operate as a modem or even as a 
supplemental hard disk drive. These and other various types of PCMCIA 
cards are now commercially available and extensively used. 
Typically, a PCMCIA card is insertable through an exterior housing side 
wall slot of the computer into an interior housing card chamber within 
which a PCMCIA frame or connector having an ejector mechanism associated 
therewith is positioned. The inner end of the inserted card is forcibly 
plugged into and electrically connected to a PCMCIA frame that is, in 
turn, electrically connected to the computer system planar or motherboard. 
The outer end of the PCMCIA card has an electrical plug connected thereto 
for electrically connecting the PCMCIA card to another electrical device, 
such as a variety of connector plugs for communications, network system, 
etc. 
While PCMCIA cards greatly expand the utility of portable computers, the 
plugs connected to the outer end of the PCMCIA card are susceptible to 
being broken off or inadvertently disconnected because the plug typically 
extends outwardly from the computer's chassis a substantial distance. For 
example, when the user picks up the portable computer to move it, the user 
often fails to disconnect the plug from the PCMCIA card or remove the 
PCMCIA card from the personal computer. In picking up the machine, the 
user naturally pivots the device at the delicate juncture of the PCMCIA 
card and the connector plug, which often breaks or damages the interface 
or pins in the connector, the PCMCIA card, or both. In another example, a 
portable computer may be installed in a docking station that provides 
access to the PCMCIA plug when the portable computer is fully installed in 
the docking station. When the portable is removed from the docking 
station, the connector can shear off when it comes in contact with the 
support or housing components of the docking station. Yet another example 
is when the computer device, especially portable computers, are moved 
while the PCMCIA card is still in the computer, and the PCMCIA card is 
still connected to the cable. In such instances, the resistance of the 
cable or components connected to the cable either simply disconnect the 
plug or actually break it. 
Other electrical connections between the computers electrical interface and 
an apparatus external to the computer are also extensively used. For 
instance, printer cables connector ends that connect to an interface 
positioned on the computers chassis are susceptible to damage resulting 
from a strong downward or upward force that may be applied against the 
connection point. In such instances, the resulting force can bend the 
connector pins and thus damage the printer cable's connector end or the 
interface device. Another example is where an external mouse device 
attaches to the computer. Prior art devices have provided a surface on 
which the mouse can be moved. Unfortunately, however, they are not 
designed to provide support to the electrical connection between the mouse 
cable and the computer's interface. 
Moreover, most portable computers that have PCMCIA slots incorporated into 
their chassis included hinged covering doors that automatically cover the 
PCMCIA slot when not in use. While these doors function well to inhibit 
dirt and other debris from entering the interior portion of the chassis, 
they do not function to guard or protect the connection point between the 
interface and the electrical apparatus. In other models, there is a single 
hinged door covering the PCMCIA slot that functions primarily to cover the 
PCMCIA slot when it is not in use. Unfortunately, however, the door's 
length is not sufficient to guard or protect the connection point between 
the computer's interface and the electrical apparatus. 
Thus, what is needed in the art is an integrated electrical connector guard 
for use in a personal computer that functions to guard and protect an 
electrical apparatus that is connected to the interface of a personal 
computer such that the interface device or the electrical apparatus are 
not easily susceptible to damage when the two are connected together. 
Additionally, the electrical connector guard can also serve as a covering 
for a PCMCIA slot when the slot is not in use. The electrical connector 
guard of the present invention addresses these needs. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
To address the above-discussed deficiencies of the prior art, the present 
invention provides an electrical connector protection device. The device 
is intended for use in a personal computer having a chassis with an 
electrical interface configured to form a connection with an electrical 
apparatus that extends externally from the chassis. The protection device 
comprises an electrical connector guard movably coupled to the chassis 
adjacent the interface to move between a retracted storage position and an 
extended guard position with respect to the chassis. When in the extended 
guard position, the electrical connector guard is configured to guard and 
protect the electrical interface and the electrical apparatus from 
sustaining damage when the two are connected together. In a preferred 
embodiment, the electrical connector guard extends under a portion of the 
electrical apparatus, to thereby guard and protect the electrical 
interface and the electrical apparatus from sustaining damage from an 
upward or downward force exerted against the electrical connector guard. 
In a preferred embodiment, the electrical connector protection device 
further has an opening formed therein that is configured to receive an 
electrical cable therethrough. The opening provides a means for routing 
the cable from the electrical connector guard and retaining the cable in a 
relatively fixed position with respect to the chassis and the electrical 
connector protection device. 
In a preferred embodiment, the electrical connector guard has a side wall 
joined to an elongated rectangular support wall. The support wall 
preferably forms a portion of a base wall of the chassis and covers a base 
wall opening formed in the base wall, even when in the extended guard 
position. Additionally, the side wall preferably forms a portion of a 
chassis side wall when the electrical connector guard is in the retracted 
storage position. In this particular embodiment, the opening through which 
the electrical cable is routed may be formed in the side wall of the 
electrical connector guard. 
In another embodiment, the electrical connector guard further comprises 
detents formed in a side portion thereof configured to cooperatively and 
releasably engage locking projections coupled to the chassis adjacent the 
interface, to thereby secure the electrical connector guard at a selected 
extended position. The detents and locking projections may have various 
configurations. For example, the detents may be notches formed in the side 
edge of the base wall such that they engage the locking projections that 
are coupled to the chassis adjacent the interface. The locking projections 
may be of conventional configurations ranging from a spring-biased ball 
that partially protrudes from a ball housing to a flexible arm having one 
end attached to the chassis and a second semi-spherical end that engages 
the detents. Whatever configuration is used, the releasably engagable 
locking projections and detents serve to hold the electrical connector 
guard in a selected position to accommodate various sizes of electrical 
apparatus. 
In a preferred embodiment, the electrical connector guard is slidably 
connected to the chassis and may be slidably coupled to the base wall of 
the chassis via a ledge formed in a side portion thereof that slidably 
engages a corresponding groove formed in the base wall opening of the 
chassis. 
In another aspect, the present invention provides a personal computer 
comprising a chassis having a chassis side wall joined to a base wall. The 
base wall preferably has a base wall opening formed therein that is 
covered by the support wall of the electrical connector guard when it is 
the retracted storage position. The chassis side wall has an aperture with 
an electrical interface therein that is configured to form a connection 
with an electrical apparatus that extends externally from the chassis. In 
a preferred embodiment, the electrical interface is an exterior end of a 
PCMCIA card received in a PCMCIA frame positioned within an interior 
portion of the chassis, and the electrical apparatus is an electrical 
cable connector connectable to the exterior end. The chassis also may 
include a guard pocket positioned within an interior portion of the 
chassis. The guard pocket is configured and positioned to house a 
substantial portion of the electrical connector guard when in the 
retracted storage position. This embodiment further comprises an 
electrical connector protection device, including an electrical connector 
guard having a side wall joined to an elongated rectangular support wall 
and movably coupled to the chassis adjacent the interface to move between 
a retracted storage position and an extended guard position with respect 
to the chassis. 
In a preferred embodiment, the electrical guard is moved via a sliding 
action wherein the electrical connector guard is slidably connected to the 
chassis. In such embodiments, the electrical connector guard preferably 
has a ledge formed in the support wall that is slidably engagable with a 
corresponding groove formed in the base wall of the chassis, which allows 
the electrical connector guard to be moved to an extended position. In a 
preferred embodiment, the groove is formed in a base wall opening formed 
within the chassis's base wall. When in the extend position, the 
electrical connector guard is configured to guard and protect the 
interconnected interface and the electrical apparatus from sustaining 
damage by extending under a portion of the electrical apparatus. 
In another aspect of the embodiment just discussed above, the support wall 
preferably forms a portion of the base wall and covers the base wall 
opening. Additionally, the side wall preferably forms a portion of the 
chassis side wall and substantially covers the aperture when the 
electrical connector guard is in the retracted storage position. 
In yet another aspect of the embodiment just discussed, the chassis further 
comprises locking projections coupled to and positioned within an interior 
portion of the chassis adjacent the aperture, and the electrical connector 
guard further comprises detents formed in the support wall configured to 
cooperatively and releasably engage the locking projections to thereby 
hold the electrical connector guard at a selected extended position. 
Another aspect of the present invention provides a method of protecting and 
guarding an electrical interface within a chassis of a personal computer 
and an electrical apparatus from sustaining damage when the two are 
connected together. The method comprising the steps of 1) Extending an 
electrical connector guard from a retracted storage position to an 
extended position external to the chassis. The electrical connector guard 
has a side wall joined to an elongated rectangular support wall and is 
movably coupled to the chassis adjacent the electrical interface. When in 
the extended position, the electrical connector guard is configured to 
guard and protect the interface and the electrical apparatus from 
sustaining damage when the two are connected together. Preferably, the 
extending step includes the step of sliding the electrical connector guard 
with respect to the chassis and extending the electrical connector guard 
to extend under a portion of the electrical apparatus when connected to 
the electrical interface. In a preferred embodiment, the step of sliding 
includes the step of engaging a ledge formed in the support wall with a 
corresponding groove formed in the base wall of the chassis; and 2) 
electrically connecting the electrical apparatus to the electrical 
interface. Preferably, the electrical interface is an exterior end of a 
PCMCIA card received in a PCMCIA frame positioned within an interior 
portion of the chassis, and the electrical apparatus is an electrical 
cable connector that is connectable to the exterior end. 
The method may further include the step of routing a portion of an 
electrical cable connected to the electrical apparatus through an opening 
in the side wall. 
In other embodiments, the method may further comprise the step of 
retracting the electrical connector guard to a storage position within an 
interior portion of the chassis and substantially covering the aperture 
the chassis side wall. 
The method may also further comprise the step of releasably positioning the 
electrical connector guard to a selected extended position by engaging 
locking projections coupled to and positioned within an interior portion 
of the chassis with detents formed in the support wall. 
In yet another embodiment, the method may further comprise the step of 
housing a substantial portion of the electrical connector guard within a 
guard pocket positioned in an interior portion of the chassis when the 
electrical connector guard is moved to the retracted storage position. 
The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical 
advantages of the present invention so that those skilled in the art may 
better understand the detailed description of the invention that follows. 
Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described 
hereinafter that form the subject of the claims of the invention. Those 
skilled in the art should appreciate that they can readily use the 
disclosed conception and specific embodiment as a basis for designing or 
modifying other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the 
present invention. Those skilled in the art should also realize that such 
equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the 
invention in its broadest form.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
Referring initially to FIG. 1, in a preferred embodiment thereof, there is 
illustrated a personal computer 10 with an electrical connector guard 12 
incorporated therein. The personal computer 10 is preferably a notebook 
computer and having conventional electrical components housed therein and 
is comprised of a conventionally designed covering lid 14 that has a 
viewing screen 16 incorporated therein. The covering lid 14 is hingedly 
attached to a chassis 18 that has a top covering member 20 with a keyboard 
22 and a chassis side wall 24. The electrical connector guard 12, which is 
shown in a retracted storage position, preferably forms a portion of the 
chassis side wall 24 when it is in the retracted storage position and has 
an opening 26 formed therein through which an electrical cable may extend. 
Referring now to FIG. 2, there is illustrated an exploded isometric 
interior and exterior view of a portion of the chassis 18 with the 
electrical connector guard 12 shown in an extended position. The chassis 
18 has an aperture 28 formed in the chassis side wall 24 from which an 
electrical interface may extend. The electrical interface may have various 
configurations and applications. For example, the electrical interface may 
be a printer port or an exterior end of a PCMCIA card 30 received in a 
conventional PCMCIA frame 32 positioned within an interior portion of the 
chassis 18. Within an interior portion of the chassis 18 is a guard pocket 
34 that is positioned adjacent the aperture 28 and configured to house a 
substantial portion of the electrical connector guard 12 when it is in the 
retracted storage position. The guard pocket 34 may serve many functions. 
First it provides a housing for the electrical connector guard 12. Second 
it serves as a support structure for a motherboard 36 to which the PCMCIA 
frame 32 may be attached. Third, it serves as a barrier to prevent debris 
from entering the interior portion of the chassis 18 when the electrical 
connector guard 12 is in an extended guard position. 
The electrical connector guard 12 preferably has a side wall 38 joined to a 
support wall 40 with the openings 26 formed in the side wall 38 through 
which an electrical cable may extend. The openings 26 may have a 
notch-like design to allow an electrical cable to be easily inserted into 
and removed from the opening 26. In a preferred embodiment, the side wall 
38 forms a portion of the chassis side wall 24 when the electrical guard 
12 is in the retracted storage position and has a overall design and 
configuration that generally conforms with the chassis side wall 24. 
Preferably, the electrical connector guard 12 is comprised of the same 
hard rigid plastic from which the chassis 18 is constructed. In such 
instances, the side wall 38 is integrally formed with the support wall 40. 
The support wall 40 preferably has a generally elongated rectangular shape 
and extends into the interior portion of the chassis 28 through the 
aperture 28. In preferred embodiments, the width of the guard pocket 34 
does not substantially exceed the width of the electrical apparatus or the 
electrical interface, and the width of the support wall 40 is less than 
the width of the guard pocket 34 so that the support wall 40 can be 
received within the guard pocket 34. What is meant by "substantially 
exceed" can be determined from FIGS. 1-4 by one skilled in the art. 
Detents 42 are formed on a side edge 44 of the support wall 40 and are 
cooperable with corresponding locking projections 46 that are coupled to 
the interior portion of the chassis 18 adjacent the aperture 28. 
Preferably, there are a plurality of spaced apart detents 42 that allow 
the electrical connector guard 12 to be held at varying positions with 
respect to the chassis 18. Electrical connector guard guides 48 are also 
preferably coupled to the interior portion of the chassis 18 and function 
to keep the electrical connector guard 12 properly aligned with respect to 
the guard pocket 34. 
The locking projections 46 may have a variety of configurations. For 
example, they may be of conventional configurations ranging from a 
spring-biased ball that partially protrudes from a ball housing to a 
flexible arm having one end attached to the chassis and a second latching 
end that engages the detents. There are numerous other detent-locking 
projection configurations that will be apparent to those skilled in the 
art. In the preferred illustrated embodiment, the locking projections 46 
are comprised of a ball 50 that partially protrudes from a ball housing 
52. The ball 50 is biased outwardly from the ball housing 52 via a spring 
54. 
Exploded from the interior portion of the chassis 18, is a representative 
configuration of an electrical interface 56 that may be associated with 
the personal computer 10. In the preferred embodiment, the electrical 
interface 56 is comprised of the conventional PCMCIA card 30 or device 
such as a hard disk drive received in a conventional PCMCIA frame 32. The 
PCMCIA card 30 or device has an exterior end 58 with a conventional 
pin-socket or connector pin configuration that is connectable to an 
electrical apparatus (not shown) of a cable, such as a telecommunications 
or network cable. While the preferred PCMCIA electrical interface 56 has 
been illustrated, it will, of course, be appreciated that the electrical 
interface 56 could be a number of electrical interfaces typically 
associated with personal computers, such as a printer cable interface or a 
mouse-cable interface. 
Turning now to FIG. 2A, an electrical apparatus 60 electrically connected 
to the electrical interface 56 of the personal computer 10 is illustrated. 
As shown, the electrical connector guard 12 extends under a portion of the 
electrical apparatus 60, which extends outwardly from the chassis side 
wall 24. The electrical connector guard 12 guards and protects the 
electrical interface 56 and the electrical apparatus 60 from sustaining 
damage that might occur to either device when a strong upward or downward 
force is exerted against either apparatus. Such a force might arise when 
the electrical apparatus 60 is inadvertently hit by the user or forcefully 
contacted against another object such as a table top or docking station. 
Again, the type of electrical apparatus 60 that might be connected to the 
electrical interface 56 may vary greatly, depending on the application and 
design of the personal computer 10. However, in the preferred embodiment, 
the electrical apparatus 60 is a electrical connector typically associated 
with devices that are electrically connected to the PCMCIA card 30 or 
other PCMCIA devices. 
Also shown in FIG. 2A are the openings 26 formed in the side wall 38 of the 
electrical connector guard 12 with an electrical cable 64 extending 
therethrough. As seen from FIG. 2A, the opening 26 functions to hold the 
electrical cable 64 in proper orientation with respect to the electrical 
connector guard 12 and the personal computer 10. 
Referring now to FIG. 3, a base wall 66 of the chassis 18 with the 
electrical connector guard 12 extending from the chassis 18 is 
illustrated. As seen from FIG. 3, when the electrical connector guard 12 
is in the extended position, a portion of the interior of the chassis 18 
would normally be exposed to the surrounding environment through a base 
wall opening 68 formed in the base wall 66 of the chassis 18, thereby 
allowing dirt and other debris to enter the interior portion of chassis 18 
and deposit on the sensitive electrical components housed therein. 
However, due to the presence of the guard pocket 34 the interior portion 
of the chassis 18 is not exposed to the environment. Also, it is clearly 
seen how the support wall 40 of the electrical connector guard 12 forms a 
portion of the base wall 66. 
Turning now to FIG. 4, there is illustrated a cross-sectional view of FIG. 
2 taken along the line 4--4. The PCMCIA card is not shown in this view. 
Thus, the PCMCIA frame's 32 electrical connectors 32a are shown. This 
particular figure illustrates the preferred embodiment of the electrical 
connector guard 12 that has ledges 70 formed on its opposite sides that 
allow the electrical connector guard 12 to be slidably coupled to the 
chassis 18. The ledges 70 are slidably received in opposing grooves 72 
that are formed on opposite sides of the base wall opening 68. 
With the electrical connector apparatus protection device having been 
described, its operation and use will now be briefly described with 
general reference to FIGS. 1-4. When the user wishes to connect an 
electrical apparatus to an interface of the computer, the user grasps the 
electrical connector guard and slidably moves the electrical connector 
guard to an extended position. Generally, the electrical connector guard 
will be in the retracted storage position and a substantial portion of the 
rectangular length of the electrical connector guard will be housed with 
the guard pocket positioned within the interior of the chassis. When the 
electrical connector guard is in this position, the support wall will 
cover the base wall opening and the side wall will cover the aperture 
formed in the chassis side wall in which the electrical interface is 
positioned. 
As the electrical connector guard is being extended, the ledges that are 
formed on opposite sides of the electrical connector guard support wall 
are slidably received in the corresponding grooves on opposite sides of 
the base wall opening formed in the base wall of the chassis. The locking 
projections that are formed are opposite sides of the aperture 
incrementally engage the detents formed on opposite side edges of the 
support wall of the electrical connector guard. As the user extends the 
electrical connector guard from the chassis to the desired length the 
locking projections engage a set of detents. The user either supplies 
sufficient pulling force to disengage the locking projections from the 
detents, or manually presses against the locking detents or support wall 
to release the locking projections from the detents. In either case, once 
the locking projections are disengaged from the detents, the user 
continues to pull on the electrical connector guard until the locking 
projections engage the next set of detents. This procedure is repeated 
until the electrical connector guard has been extended to a length 
sufficient to accommodate the electrical apparatus to be connected to the 
computer's interface. When the electrical connector guard is extended, a 
portion of the chassis interior is exposed to the surrounding environment. 
However, due to the presence of the guard pocket, dirt and other debris is 
inhibited from entering the interior portions in which the sensitive 
electrical components are housed. 
The electrical apparatus is connected to the computer's electrical 
interface and the cable attached to the electrical apparatus is then 
routed through the opening formed in the side wall of the electrical 
connector guard. 
In preferred applications, the electrical interface will be the exterior 
end of a PCMCIA card or other PCMCIA device that is received in a 
conventional PCMCIA frame. In these instances, the exterior end of the 
PCMCIA card or device has an electrical interface to which the electrical 
apparatus may be electrically connected. In those applications involving 
PCMCIA cards, the PCMCIA card is first inserted into the PCMCIA frame 
after the electrical connector guard has been extended to the desired 
length. Once the PCMCIA card is fully positioned in the PCMCIA frame, the 
electrical apparatus is electrically connected to the exterior end of the 
PCMCIA card or device. 
After the use of the computer's interface is complete, the electrical 
apparatus is disconnected, and the electrical connector guard is then 
pushed to its retracted storage position. 
From the above description, it is apparent that the present invention 
provides, for use in a personal computer having a chassis with an 
electrical interface configured to form a connection with an electrical 
apparatus that extends externally from the chassis, an electrical 
connector protection device. The protection device comprises an electrical 
connector guard movably coupled to the chassis adjacent the interface to 
move between a retracted storage position and an extended guard position 
with respect to the chassis. The electrical connector guard, when in the 
extended guard position, is configured to guard and protect the electrical 
interface and the electrical apparatus from sustaining damage when the two 
are connected together by extending under a portion of the electrical 
apparatus, to thereby guard and protect the electrical interface and the 
electrical apparatus from sustaining damage. 
Although the present invention and its advantages have been described in 
detail, those skilled in the art should understand that they can make 
various changes, substitutions and alterations herein without departing 
from the spirit and scope of the invention in its broadest form.