Support for long PCI card in computer enclosure

Abstract: An edge of a long PCI card (34) plugs into a connector (32) at one end of a computer enclosure (21). The opposite end extends into the enclosure (21) and may be superimposed over a component such as a disk drive (28). The support of the present invention is rigidly mounted on the enclosure (21) to fit under the inner end of the card (34). A slide (61) on the support grips the inner end of the card (34). The slide (61) is adjustably positioned on the support to accommodate cards (34) of different lengths.

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a new and improved support for long PCI cards used in computer enclosures. More particularly, the invention relates to a mechanical mounting for the unrestrained inner edge of a long standard PCI card. Conventional computers accepting industry standard PCI cards have static "card guides" which secure and reference an edge of the card at only one position. Thus there are various means for supporting short PCI cards which snap onto an edge of the card. Such guides do not accommodate cards of varying lengths and further the card when so supported cannot share space with other components within the enclosure such as a hard drive or a different PCI card. The present invention overcomes these deficiencie s and so adds market value to the computer. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION: The PCI card is an industry standard I/O option card so that suppliers may create options which will work on any computer built to accommodate the card. Such cards may be approximately 4.2 inches by 7 inches in the shorter version or 4.2 inches x 13.5 inches in the long version and are approximately .062 thick. A connector is fixed in the computer enclosure; one edge of the card is inserted into the connector and therefor the direction of insertion is constrained, placing constraints on the mechanical design for supporting the otherwise unsupported longitudinal end of the card. A hard drive bracket and drive bay mechanical configuration can be used either for a second hard drive or a long PCI card interchangeably according to the needs of the user. The present invention makes optimal use of the existing space in an enclosure on a desk top computer where space utilization is a primary concern. If a long card is used, then the adaptor bracket is installed into the computer by means of two captive thumb screw fasteners without the use of special tools. The adaptor consists of a base having a metal substrate and two captive fasteners plus a plastic insulation shield. A sliding card guide bracket is moveable along the base, using a metal load bar and a thumb screw tightener. Where no long PCI card is used, a hard disk drive may optionally be installed in part of the space occupied by the long PCI card. In accordance with the invention, the long card adaptor is installed in the enclosure and then the PCI card is plugged into the connector along the rear end of the enclosure. Thereupon the sliding card guide is adjusted to the length of the particular PCI card being used and tightened with a thumb screw. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS: The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a computer enclosure in accordance with the present invention, the top of the enclosure being broken away to reveal internal construction. FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the support for the card guide. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the components of FIG. 3 assembled. FIG. 5 is a fragmentary end elevational view of the slide of the present invention broken away to reveal internal construction. FIG. 6 is a sectional view substantially along the line 5-5 of FIG. 6. FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of a portion of the structure of FIG. 2. FIG. 8 is an enlarged top plan view of the structure of FIG. 7. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. While the invention will be described in conjunction with the preferred embodiments, it will be understood that they are not intended to limit the invention to those embodiments. On the contrary, the invention is intended to cover alternatives, modifications and equivalents, which may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. FIG. 1 illustrates a typical container enclosure 21, the top of the enclosure being broken away to reveal internal construction. Enclosure 21 has a bottom 22, top 23, rear end 24, and side 26. Within the enclosure may be mounted a disk drive 28, and other electronic components 29, for example. If no long PCI card is installed, a second disk drive (not shown) may be installed above dive 28. On one side 26 adjacent rear wall 24 is a plug-in connector 31 of conventional structure attached to side 26. The present invention employs an industry standard long PCI card 34, one short end of which is attached to a cover 32 which closes off an 1/0 opening in rear wall 24 and is secured to the rear wall 24 by means not shown but well understood in the art. The other short end of card 34 extends inwardly of the enclosure 21, and in the case of the present invention may be slanted upwardly inwardly so that it may be superimposed over disk drive 28 and various electronic components 29. It will be understood that leaving the end of card 34 unsupported may cause electrical and mechanical difficulties, including safety problems. A portion of one longitudinal edge of card 34 may be plugged into pin connector 31 attached to side wall 26 adjacent rear wall 24. In accordance with the present invention, support 36 is provided. Such support consists of a metallic plate 37 having one narrow raised side 38 and an upwardly bent edge 39 outwardly of side 38. The distance between raised side 38 and the opposite edge of plate 37 is approximately equal to the width of card 34. The contour of edge 39 is irregular, and it will be seen that there is a top contactor 41 which engages top 23 to rigidify the support 36 within the enclosure. Screw 42 mounted in edge 39 screws into a bracket 43 fixed to side 26 or other suitable mount within the enclosure 21. The opposit e edge of plate 37 has an upwardly bent tab 46 which supports a similar screw 47 which screws into another bracket 48 suitably mounted in the enclosure 21. Preferably screws 42 and 47 are "captive" in that they are permanently retained in edge 39 and tab 46, respectively. The inner forward edge of plate 37 is formed with a notch 49. Openings 51 are formed in plate 37 and along the raised side 38 is an elongated slot 52, the forward edge of which is formed with an inwardly extending enlargement 53. Protector plate 56 formed of a non-conductive plastic such as MYLAR is formed with a notch 57 corresponding to the notch 49. Protector plate 56 is preferably adhered to plate 37 to insulate the card 34 from plate 37. Openings 51 may be formed in plate 37. Moveable longitudinally of plate 37 is a slide 61 consisting of a top 62, back 63, front 64, and a first side 67 formed with an inwardly extending foot 68 and a second side 71 also formed with an inwardly extending foot 68. Front 64 supports two horizontal card edge guides 66 which support the inner edge of card edge 34. In order to install the slide 61, foot 68 is inserted in enlargement 53 and foot 72 clears notches 49 and 57. The slide 61 is then moved laterally outwardly and then forwardly, the feet 68 and 72 fitting under the edges of raised portion 38 and plate 67 respectively. Knob 76, which is fixed to top 62, engages protector plate 56 and forces it against plate 37 and at the same time raises feet 68 and 72 to guides the plate 37 and hold the slide in a position of adjustment such that the guides 66 hold the inner edge of card 34 and the portion of plate 37 beyond slide 61 supports the adjacent edge of card 34. The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the Claims appended hereto and their equivalents.

Claims: A support for the inner, longitudinal, end of a PCI card (34) comprising a plate (37), means (39,43,46,48) for mounting said plate(37) in a computer enclosure (21) positioned to engage the inner end of said card (34), a slide (61) movable relative to said plate (37), and guide means (66) on said slide (61) to engage the inner end of said card (34), and adjustment means (76) to hold said slide (61) in position on said plate (37). The support of claim 1, in which said plate (37) is cut away in a limited area (53) to accept said slide (61) being movable away from said limited area (53), whereby said slide (61) may be installed on and removed from said plate (37), said slide (61) being non-removable from said plate (37) when said slide (61) is moved from said limited area (53). The support of claim 2, in which said plate (37) is formed adjacent a first edge with a longitudinal slot (52) and an inward enlargement (53) at said limited area and said plate (37) is formed with a notch (49) at a second edge opposite said inward enlargement (53). The support of any of the preceding claims, which further comprises an insulation means, preferable a plate (56), on said first-mentioned plate (37). The support of claim 4, in which said slide (61) further comprises adjustment means (76) to hold said slide (61) in position relative to said first-mentioned plate (37). The support of any of the preceding claims, in which said means for mounting said plate (37) comprises at least two upstanding tabs (39,46) on said plate (37) and screws (42,47) extending through said tabs (39,46) to engage brackets (43,48) on said enclosure (21) in which said support is mounted. The support of any of the preceding claims, in which said card (34) is a PCI card, more preferably a long PCI card. The support of any of the preceding claims, in which at least one said tab (39) has an upward extending contactor (41) to engage a top (23) for the enclosure (21) to rigidify said plate (37) relative to the enclosure (21). A computer enclosure (21) having a support for the inner end of a card (34) comprising a panel (24), a connector (32) on said panel (24) to support an outer end of said card (34), and a support for the inner end of said card as described in any of claims 1-8. The computer enclosure of claim 9, further comprising a long PCI card (34) in said enclosure (21) having an edge detachably connected to said connector (32) adjacent a first end and a second end extending into said enclosure (21). The computer enclosure of claims 9-10, further comprising a bottom (22) and a plurality of electronic components (28,29) on said bottom (22), said card (34) extending over said electronic components (28,29). The computer enclosure of claim 11, wherein said components comprise a data storage drive, preferably a disk drive (28). The combination of claim 11 or 12, which further comprises means for mounting a second data storage drive above said first-mentioned data storage drive (28), said means for mounting said second data storage drive being obstructed by said plate (37) when said plate (37) is mounted in said enclosure (21), said means for mounting said second data storage drive being accessible for installation of said second data storage drive when said plate (37) is removed.

Inventors: CARNEY JAMES M C O SUN MICROSY, DESILETS DAVE C O SUN MICROSYS, LEWIS QUENTIN C O SUN MICROSYS, CARNEY, JAMES M., DESILETS, DAVE, LEWIS, QUENTIN, Carney, James M., c/o Sun Microsystems Inc., Desilets, Dave, c/o Sun Microsystems, Inc., Lewis, Quentin, c/o Sun Microsystems, Inc.
Applicants: SUN MICROSYSTEMS INC, SUN MICROSYSTEMS, INC.
Application year: 1997
Main classification: G06F1
IPC codes: G06F1, H05K7, G06F13