Patent Publication Number: US-6902419-B2

Title: Bus slot connector retention system

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     Embodiments of the present invention are related to providing retention of a component in a receiving slot. More particularly, the present invention provides an apparatus and method to retain a component in an inserted position within a receiving slot. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Currently, numerous electronic and computer companies are marketing a variety of computer system types to customers, e.g., wholesalers, retailers, and/or consumers. Types of computer systems can include, but are not limited to, desktop computer systems, workstation computer systems, server computer systems, laptop and/or portable computers, and the like. 
     Many of the companies that provide computer systems to consumers also assemble and provide delivery of what they are marketing. A company would receive an order for a computer system from a customer. The company would then assemble the computer system according to the specifications of the customer. Once the computer system was assembled, the system is checked for defects and proper operation, e.g., monitor and display adapter card working, keyboard functional, sound and audio adapter card functioning, OS functionality, and the like. When the computer system is deemed to be fully functional, it is common for the company to then ship the assembled computer system to the customer. 
     It has been observed that during transportation of a computer system to a customer, some adapter cards in the computer system, e.g., a video adapter card, a sound adapter card, a NIC (network interface card), memory, and the like, can become loosened, uncoupled, or unplugged from their original location, e.g., an bus slot connector, a memory slot connector, or an alternative slot connector, within the computer system. In many instances, the shaking and vibrations that the computer system is subjected to during shipping can loosen or dislodge the adapter card which can render the peripheral device associated with the adapter card non-functional and/or causes the intermittent and unreliable operation thereof. 
     FIG.  1 A and  FIG. 1B  are each a prior art illustration of a current bus slot connector  7  (also commonly referred to as an expansion slot), e.g., a standard graphic bus slot connector  7   a  and a professional graphic bus slot connector  7   b , respectively, configured to be communicatively coupled (soldered) with and disposed upon a printed circuit board, e.g., a motherboard  40  ( FIGS. 2B ,  2 D), and adapted to receive an adapter card therein. In one example, graphic bus slot connector  7   a  and graphic bus slot connector  7   b  can be AGP (accelerated graphic port) connectors. In a conventional implementation, bus slot connector  7   a  may have outer dimensions of 2⅞ inches long by ⅜ inches wide and bus slot connector  7   b  may have outer dimensions of 4¼ inches long by ⅜ inches wide. The bus slot connectors shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B , e.g., connector  7   a  and connector  7   b , are not configured with a retentive mechanism other than the friction based retention provided when an adapter card, e.g., a graphic adapter card, is inserted therein. Accordingly, when subjected to shaking and/or vibration, an adapter card inserted in a bus slot connector  7   a  or  7   b  may become loosened or dislodged, which can cause intermittent operation or failure of the peripheral device associated with the inserted adapter card. 
     To overcome this disadvantage, a variety of ways to prevent dislodging of adapter cards have been attempted. Prior art  FIG. 2A  shows a device  10  that has been utilized to prevent adapter card dislodging. Device  10  is an aftermarket device and is adapted to be implemented subsequent to insertion of an adapter card in a bus slot connector  7 . Device  10  includes a left arm section  9   a  and a right arm section  8   a  and a top section  11 . Arm sections  8   a  and  9   a  are shown to have at each end opposite top section  11 , a hook/undercut portion  8   b  and  9   b , respectively. Hook portions  8   b  and  9   b  are adapted to hook under the right and left sides of a bus slot connector  7   a  (or  7   b ), respectively, while arm sections  8   a  and  9   a  straddle the adapter card inserted therein, as seen in prior art FIG.  2 B. Top section  11  of device  10  is slid downward to a position that holds an adapter card  30  in a bus slot connector  7   a , while simultaneously pulling on portions  8   b  and  9   b  to provide upward force to hold hook sections  8   a  and  9   a , respectively, under bus slot connector  7 , as shown in FIG.  2 B. 
     Disadvantageously, this attempt requires substantial dexterity on the part of the assembly worker and/or the consumer to install and use device  10  on bus slot connector  7   a . The assembly worker and/or consumer would have to delicately and with great care place each arm section over adapter card  30  ensuring no damage occurs to adapter card  30 . Further, the assembly worker and/or consumer would have to gently and carefully place hook portions  8   b  and  9   b  hook under bus slot connector  7   a , ensuring not to cause damage to the printed circuit board, e.g., motherboard  40 , upon which bus slot connector  7  is disposed. While this method to retain an adapter card in a bus slot connector may be acceptable to some assembly workers and/or some consumers, other assembly workers and/or consumers may find this method unwieldy and difficult to implement. 
       FIG. 2C , prior art, depicts another device to retain an adapter card in a bus slot connector.  FIG. 2C  shows a device  15  which has an bottom end section  17  adapted to slide under a bus slot connector  7  and an opposite top end section  16  adapted to slid down an edge surface of an adapter card  30 , thus providing retention of adapter card  30  in bus slot connector  7 . Analogous to device  10  of  FIGS. 2A and 2B , device  15  is an aftermarket product and is designed for assembly worker and/or consumer implementation. 
     Disadvantageously, device  15  requires care analogous to device  10  during assembly worker and/or consumer implementation, ensuring no damage is caused to either adapter card  30  it is adapted to retain, or the printed circuit board, e.g., motherboard  40 , upon which bus slot connector  7   a  is disposed. In this example, an assembly worker and/or a consumer would be required to slide bottom end section  17  under bus slot connector  7   a  while taking care to not cause damage to motherboard  40  upon which bus slot connector  7   a  is disposed. Further, the assembly worker and/or consumer would also have to slide the top end section down upon the upper edge of adapter card  30 , taking care not to damage the electronics and circuitry thereon. While some assembly workers and/or some consumers may find this method adequate, other consumers may find this awkward and beyond their dexterity. 
       FIG. 3  is an illustrated side-view of a prior art device  33  coupled with a bus slot connector  7   b  in yet another attempt to provide retention to an adapter card  30  inserted in a bus slot connector. Bus slot connector  7   b  is adapted to receive an adapter card  30 . When adapter card  30  is inserted in a receiving slot of connector  7   b , as indicated by arrow  29 , lower flange  34  of device  33  is contacted by adapter card  30 , such that device  33  rotates about a hinge or axis, as indicated by arrow  36 . As device  33  rotates in response to a downward force applied to adapter card  30  during insertion into bus slot connector  7   b , upper flange  35  of device  33  interlocks with opening  31  of adapter card  30 . 
     Disadvantageously, a force opposite to the force applied (arrow  29 ) to adapter card  30  for insertion can dislodge or loosen adapter card  30 . Therefore, device  33  may not provide sufficient retentive properties to a bus slot connector  7   b  to ensure constant proper placement of an adapter card therewithin. 
     Some bus slot connectors do not provide adequate retention of adapter cards inserted therein. Additionally, some retentive mechanisms adapted for use with some bus slot connectors are not easily or readily implemented by an assembly worker and/or a consumer. Further, some retentive devices do not adequately protect against loosening and/or dislodging of an adapter card from within a bus slot connector which can cause intermittent or non-operation of the peripheral device associated with the adapter card inserted within the bus slot connector. 
     Disadvantageously, adapter cards that can become loosened or dislodged can contribute to customer dissatisfaction regarding product reliability as well as causing an increase in warranty liability and fiscal expense for the company that provided the computer system. 
     DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
     Thus, embodiments of the present invention are drawn to providing a bus slot connector having retentive functionality contained therewith. In one embodiment, a bus slot connector is comprised of a housing with a slot disposed within the housing. The slot is adapted to receive a connector portion of an adapter card. The bus slot connector also has a retention mechanism that is moveably coupled to and slidable along the housing. The retention mechanism has a lock position and an open position. The retention mechanism prevents removal of an adapter card inserted in the slot when in the lock position. The retention mechanism permits insertion of the connector portion of the adapter card into the slot and permits the removal of the connector portion of the adapter card from the slot when the retention mechanism is in the open position. 
    
    
     
       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. 1A  is an illustration of a prior art bus slot connector. 
         FIG. 1B  is an illustration of another prior art bus slot connector that is larger than the bus slot connector of FIG.  1 A. 
         FIG. 2A  is a photograph of a prior art device for retaining an adapter card in a bus slot connector. 
         FIG. 2B  is a photograph of the prior art device of  FIG. 2A  implemented with a bus slot connector. 
         FIG. 2C  is a photograph of another prior art device for retaining an adapter card in a bus slot connector. 
         FIG. 2D  is a photograph of the prior art device of  FIG. 2C  implemented with a bus slot connector. 
         FIG. 3  is an illustration of yet another prior art device to retain an adapter card in a bus slot connector. 
         FIG. 4A  is an illustration of a bus slot connector shown having a retention device moveably coupled therewith, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4B  is an illustration of the bus slot connector of  FIG. 4A  shown with the retention device in a closed or locking position, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4C  is an illustration of an alternatively sized bus slot connector slot shown having a retention device moveably coupled therewith, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4D  is an illustration of the alternatively sized bus slot connector of  FIG. 4C  with the retention device in a closed or locking position, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4E  is an illustrated side view of a bus slot connector with a retention device moveably coupled therewith and with the retention device shown in a closed or locking position, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4F  is an illustrated side view of the bus slot connector and retention device of  FIG. 4E  with the retention device in an opened position, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4G  is an illustration of a bus slot connector with a retention device moveably coupled therewith and an adapter card that the bus slot connector is adapted to receive and retain, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5A  is an illustrated of a bus slot connector with a retention device moveably coupled therewith and in an open position, allowing an adapter card to be inserted into the bus slot connector, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5B  is a sequential illustration of  FIG. 5A  showing an adapter card inserted in a bus slot connector with the retention device of the bus slot connector in an opened position, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5C  is a sequential illustration of  FIG. 5B  showing the retention device of the bus slot connector in a closed or locking position, thus preventing loosening or dislodging of the adapter card inserted therein, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5D  is a sequential illustration of  FIG. 5C  showing the retention device moveable from a locking position to an open position allowing removable of an inserted adapter card, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a block diagram of circuitry and components of computer system upon which embodiments of the present invention can be practiced, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a flowchart of a process of retaining an adapter card inserted in bus slot connector having a retention device moveably coupled therewith, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
     Embodiments for a bus slot connector having a retentive mechanism for retaining an adapter card inserted therein are described. 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 these 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. Furthermore, in the following detailed description of the present invention, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. 
     A bus slot connector is, in one embodiment, comprised of a receiving portion adapted to receive an adapter card. The bus slot connector is further comprised of a retention device that is moveably coupled therewith and slidable along the bus slot connector. The retention device has an open position, allowing an adapter card to be inserted into the receiving portion of the bus slot connector. The retention device has a locking position, preventing loosening, dislodging, or removal of an adapter card that has been inserted in the receiving portion of the bus slot connector. The retention device is easily moved from a locking position to an open position. 
     Advantages of embodiments of the present invention, as will be shown, below, are that when properly utilized, the retentive qualities provided by the present invention can properly retain an adapter card inserted in a bus slot connector. Another advantage is that the retentive device of the bus slot connector prevents loosening and dislodging of the adapter card, thus reducing incidences of intermittent operation or failure of the peripheral component associated with the adapter card. Additionally advantageous is that the retention device is easily and readily moveable from a locking position to an open position and vice versa. 
     Embodiments of the present invention are discussed primarily in the context of a bus slot connector which is configured to be mounted (soldered) upon and communicatively and electronically coupled to communicative and electronic pathway (bus) of a printed circuit board, e.g., a motherboard  600  of  FIG. 6 , and which is adapted to provide retention of an adapter card when inserted in the bus slot connector. However, it is noted that embodiments of the present invention can be utilized by other types of slot connectors to retain received alternative cards and other electronic components including, but not limited to, controller cards, memory cards, communication cards, memory devices, and many other types of cards and components whose functionalities can be detrimentally affected when insufficiently and/or improperly retained within a connector. 
     FIG.  4 A and  FIG. 4B  is an illustration of a bus slot connector system  100  for retaining adapter cards received therein, in one embodiment of the present invention. In  FIG. 4A , shown are a bus slot connector  100   a  and a retention device, e.g., slide clip  110 , in one embodiment of the present invention. In one embodiment, bus slot connector  100   a  is shown having an external width of three-quarters of an inch and an external length of two and seven-eighths inches. In the present embodiment, bus slot connector  100   a  of  FIGS. 4A ,  4 B,  4 G, and  FIGS. 5A-5D  is a standard AGP (accelerated graphics port) connector. In another embodiment, bus slot connector can have alternative external dimensions, e.g., bus slot connector  100   b , as shown in  FIGS. 4C and 4D . It is also noted that bus slot connector  100   a  and slide clip  110  can have alternative dimensions for utilization in alternative implementations including, but not limited to, system memory connectors, communication connectors, and the like. 
     Still referring to  FIG. 4A , bus slot connector  100   a  is shown having a receiving portion  102   a , in one embodiment. Receiving portion  102   a  is adapted to receive a connector portion of an adapter card e.g., connector portion  33  of a graphics adapter card  30  of FIG.  4 G. Disposed within bus slot connector  100   a  are a connector for communicative and electronic coupling with a motherboard  600 , e.g., connector  105 P and a connector  105 A, coupled with connector  105 P, and adapted to provide communicative and electronic coupling of a connector portion  33  of an adapter card  30  with a bus of motherboard, e.g., bus  608  of motherboard  600 . In one embodiment, bus slot connector  100   a  is shown having a plurality of slide rail channels, e.g., slide rail channel  104   l  and  104   r , that are disposed on opposing sides (left and right sides, respectively) of bus slot connector  100   a.    
     Shown also in  FIG. 4A  is a retention device, slide clip  110 , in one embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, slide clip  110  is coupled with a bus slot connector  100   a , although to more clearly describe slide clip  110 , it is shown separate from bus slot connector  110   a . Slide clip  110  is, in one embodiment, adapted to be moveably coupled with and slidable along bus slot connector  100   a . Accordingly, slide clip  110  has an internal dimension slightly larger than an outer dimension of a bus slot connector, e.g., bus slot connector  100   a  or  100   b , enabling sliding of a slide clip  110  along bus slot connector  100 . Slide clip  110  is, in one embodiment, shown having a slot  116  disposed on a top surface thereof. In one embodiment, slot  116  is slightly wider than a tab  32  of adapter card  30  (FIG.  4 G), enabling slide clip  110  to slide along bus slot connector  110   a  and enabling slot  16  of slide clip  110  to engage tab  32  of adapter card  30 , thus retaining an adapter card  30  ( FIG. 4G ) having a connector portion  33  inserted in slot  102   a.    
     Still referring to  FIG. 4A , slide clip  110  is also shown having plurality of slide rail keys, e.g., slide rails  114   l  and  114   r . Slide rails  114   l  and  114   r  are, in one embodiment, disposed on opposing internal surfaces of slide clip  110 , also shown in FIG.  4 G. Slide rails  114   l  and  114   r  are configured to mate with and be disposed within slide rail channels  104   l  and  104   r  of bus slot connector  100   a , as shown in FIG.  4 B. 
     Slide clip  110  of  FIG. 4A  also shows a finger gripping structure  118   l  and  118   r  which, in one embodiment, are disposed upon opposing external surfaces of slide clip  110  and are adapted to facilitate sliding of slide clip  110  along bus slot connector  100   a . In this example, finger gripping structures  118   l  and  118   r  are rounded in shape, although alternative shapes can be implemented, e.g., rectangular, elliptical, etc. It is noted that many alternatively shaped finger gripper structures can be implemented. 
     It is further noted that, in one embodiment, slide rails  114   l  and  114   r  and slide rail channels  104   l  and  104   r  are tapered, meaning there is one end that is wider/deeper than the other, as shown in  FIGS. 4A-4D . Having one end tapered provides positive positioning of slide clip  110  in a lock position, as shown in  FIG. 4B  as well as preventing decoupling of slide clip  110  when in an open position, as shown in FIG.  4 F. 
       FIG. 4B  is an illustration of bus slot connector  100   a  and slide clip  110  which shows slide clip  110  in a lock position, in one embodiment. When in a lock position, slide clip  110  prevents loosening and/or dislodging of a connector portion  33  of an adapter card  30  when inserted therein. In the present embodiment, bus slot connector  100   a  is configured to have connector portion  33  of adapter card  30  disposed within receiving slot  102   a  while tab  32  is positioned outside receiving slot  102   a . Accordingly, opening  116   a  would have tab  32  of adapter card  30  disposed therein. 
     FIG.  4 C and  FIG. 4D  is another illustration of a bus slot connector system  100  for retaining adapter cards received therein. In  FIG. 4C , shown are a bus slot connector  100   b  and a retention device, e.g., slide clip  110 , in one embodiment of the present invention. In one embodiment, bus slot connector  100   b  is shown having an external width of three-quarters of an inch and an external length of four and one-quarter inches. In the present embodiment, bus slot connector  100   b  of  FIGS. 4C and 4D  is a professional AGP (accelerated graphics port) connector. It is also noted that bus slot connector  100   b  and slide clip  110  can have alternative dimensions for utilization in alternative implementations including, but not limited to, system memory connectors, communication connectors, and the like. 
     A receiving slot  102   b  is disposed within bus slot connector  100   b , in one embodiment of the present invention. Slide rail channels  104   l  and  104   r  are also shown, analogous to slide rail channels  104   l  and  104   r  of  FIGS. 4A and 4B . 
     Slide clip  110  of  FIGS. 4C and 4D  is analogous to slide clip  110  of  FIGS. 4A and 4B . By virtue of bus slot connector  100   b  of  FIGS. 4C and 4D  being longer than bus slot connector of  FIGS. 4A and 4B , in the present embodiment tab  32  of adapter card  30  is disposed within a portion of receiving slot  102   b  when an adapter card  30  is inserted therein. 
       FIG. 4E  is an illustration of a bus slot connector, e.g., bus slot connector  100   a  and a retention device, e.g., slide clip  110 , in one embodiment of the present invention. In this illustration, slide clip  110  is shown in a lock position, preventing loosening or dislodging of an adapter card  30  inserted therein. It is noted that slide clip  110  also prevents removal or insertion of a connector portion  33  of an adapter card  30  into receiving slot  102   a  when in a lock position. 
       FIG. 4F  is an illustration of bus slot connector  100   a  and slide clip  110   a  of  FIG. 4E  in an open position. By virtue of the tapering of both slide rails,  114   l  and  114   r , and both slide rail channels,  104   l  and  104   r , slide clip  110  is prevented from being separated from bus slot connector  100   a . In another embodiment, slide clip  110  can be configured to be removeably coupled with alternative bus slot connectors, e.g., memory bus slots, communication bus slots, and the like. 
       FIG. 4G  is an illustration of a bus slot connector  110   a , a slide clip  110   b , and an adapter card  30 , in an implementation of one embodiment of the present invention. Slide clip  110   b  is functionally analogous to slide clip  110  of  FIGS. 4A-4F . Adapter card  30  is shown having a connector portion  33 , a tab  32 , and an opening  31 . Connector portion  33  of adapter card  30  is adapted to be inserted in a receiving slot  102   a  of bus slot connector  100   a , as indicated by arrow  29 , and to interface with connector  105 A of bus slot connector  100   a , as shown in FIG.  6 . 
     Also shown is bus slot connector  100   a . Bus slot connector  100   a  is analogous to bus slot connector  100   a  of  FIGS. 4A and 4B . Slide clip  110   b  is also shown. In this embodiment, slide clip  110   b  is configured with finger gripper structures  118   l-b  and  118   r-b , although by virtue of the viewing angle, finger gripper structure  118   r-b  is not visible. In this implementation, finger gripper structures  118   l-b  and  118   r-b  are ridges that extend outward from opposing sides of slide clip  110   b . In another implementation, finger gripper structures  118   l-b  and  118   r-b  can be trenches that are cut into opposing sides of slide clip  110   b . Also shown on slide clip  110   b  is slide rail  114   r  (shown,) which along with slide rail  114   l , (not shown by virtue of the viewing angle), are, in one embodiment, are disposed upon internal opposing surfaces of slide clip  110 . Slot  116  of slide clip  110   b  is configured to slide around tab  32  of adapter card  30  when slide clip  110   b  is in a lock position, as indicated by arrow  200 . 
     Referring collectively to  FIGS. 5A-5D , shown is a chronological pictogram illustrating a process of inserting an adapter card, e.g., adapter card  30 , into a bus slot connector, e.g., bus slot connector  100   a  and retaining the inserted card through utilization of the retentive functionality provided by embodiments of the present invention. 
       FIG. 5A  shows bus slot connector  100   a  with a movably coupled slide clip  110  in an open position, in one embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 5A  shows that by virtue of slide clip  110  in an open position, connector portion  33  of adapter card  30  can be inserted in receiving slot  102   a  (not visible by virtue of viewing angle) of bus slot connector  100   a , as indicated by arrow  51 . 
       FIG. 5B  is a chronological illustration of  FIG. 5A  subsequent to insertion of connector portion  33  of adapter card  30  into receiving slot  102   a , in one embodiment of the present invention. Slide clip  110  is shown still in an open position, prior to moving slide clip  110  into a lock position, as indicated by arrow  52 . An inserted adapter card  30  can become loosened or dislodged while slide clip  110  is in an open position. 
       FIG. 5C  is a chronological illustration of slide clip  110  subsequent to being moved to a lock position, in one embodiment of the present invention. By virtue of slide clip  110  in a lock position, adapter card  30  is prevented from becoming loosened or dislodged, thus connector portion  33  remains properly disposed within receiving slot  102   a.    
       FIG. 5D  is an illustration of adapter card  30 , bus slot connector  100   a , and slide clip  110 , prior to removal of connector portion  33  from receiving slot  102   a . It is noted that until slide clip  110  is moved to an open position, as indicated by arrow  53 , removal of adapter card  30  is prevented. 
       FIG. 6  is a block diagram of a printed circuit board, e.g., motherboard  600 , upon which bus slot connector system  100  of  FIGS. 4A-4G  can be implemented, in one embodiment of the present invention. It is noted that bus slot connector system  100  can be implemented on alternative printed circuit boards including, but not limited to, motherboards. 
       FIG. 6  is a functional block diagram of components and circuitry which can be implemented on a printed circuit board, e.g., MB (motherboard)  600 . MB  600  includes an address/data bus  608  for communicating information, a central processor  601  coupled with the bus for processing information and instructions, a volatile memory  602  (e.g., random access memory, RAM) coupled with the bus  608  for storing information and instructions for the central processor  601  and a non-volatile memory  603  (e.g., read only memory, ROM) coupled MB  600  also includes an optional data storage device  604  (e.g., hard disk drive) coupled with the bus  608  for storing information and instructions. Device  604  can be removable. In another embodiment, bus  608  can be nearly any type of bus structure and/or connectivity mechanism. 
     With reference still to  FIG. 6 , MB  600  also includes an optional alphanumeric input device  606  that in one implementation is a keyboard. Alphanumeric input device  606  can communicate information and command selections to processor  601 . MB  600  also includes an optional cursor control or directing device  607  coupled to bus  608  for communicating user input information and command selections to processor  601 . In one implementation, on-screen cursor control device  607  is a mouse. 
     Still referring to  FIG. 6 , MB  600  also has a bus slot connector  100  mountably coupled therewith. Bus slot connector  100  is shown having a connector  105 P and a connector  105 A. As described above, connector  105 P and  105 A are, in one embodiment, disposed within bus slot connector  100 . Bus slot connector  100  is adapted to be communicatively and electronically coupled with bus  608  of MB  600 . In one embodiment, bus slot connector  100  is soldered to motherboard  600 , although alternative methods of mounting can be utilized, e.g., receiving sockets, and the like. Connector  105 P provides communicative and electronic coupling of bus slot connector  100  to bus  608 . Connector  105 A is communicatively and electronically coupled with connector  105 P and provides communicative and electronic coupling of a connector portion  33  of an adapter card  30  ( FIG. 4G ) to connector  105 P. 
     An optional display device  605  can be coupled with bus  608  via coupling with adapter card  30  which is coupled with bus slot connector  100 , in one embodiment of the present invention. Display device  605  is for displaying information to a computer user. Display device  605  may be a liquid crystal display (LCD), a cathode ray tube (CRT), a flat panel display such as an FED (field emission display), an electronic paper display, or nearly any other display device suitable for creating and generating graphic images and alphanumeric characters recognizable to a user. 
       FIG. 7  is a flowchart  700  of steps performed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention for utilizing a bus slot connector system to retain adapter cards inserted therein. Flowchart  700  includes processes of the present invention which, in one embodiment, are carried out by a user. Although specific steps are disclosed in flowchart  700 , such steps are exemplary. That is, the present invention is well suited to performing various other steps or variations of the steps recited in FIG.  7 . Within the present embodiment, it should be appreciated that the steps of flowchart  700  may be performed by a computer support technician, by a computer consumer/user, or by many other individuals or groups of individuals striving to maintain proper connectivity of an adapter card inserted in a bus slot connector. 
     In step  702  of  FIG. 7 , slide clip  110  is in or has been moved to an open position, as shown in FIG.  5 A. By placing slide clip  110  is an open position, a connector portion  33  of adapter card  30  can be inserted in receiving slot  102   a  of bus slot connector  100   a  or  100   b.    
     In step  704  of  FIG. 7 , a connector portion  33  of adapter card  30  has been inserted in receiving slot  102   a  of bus slot connector  102   a , in one embodiment, as shown in FIG.  5 B. Subsequent to the insertion of portion  33  into receiving slot  102   a , slide clip  110  is then moved to a lock position, as shown in FIG.  5 C. 
     In step  706  of  FIG. 7 , slide clip  10  is in a lock position, as shown in FIG.  5 C. By virtue of slide clip  110  in a lock position, connector portion  33  of adapter card  30  is prevented from becoming loosened or dislodged from receiving slot  102   a  of bus slot connector  100   a.    
     In step  708  of  FIG. 7 , to remove or replace an adapter card  30  inserted in receiving slot  102   a  of bus slot connector  100   a , prior repositioning of slide clip  110  to an open position is mandated, as indicated by arrow  53 . 
     Advantageously, embodiments of the present invention provide a bus slot connector system that provides protection against loosening or dislodging of adapter cards inserted therein. Embodiments of the present invention further provide for an easily and readily activated retention device to properly retain an adapter card in a bus slot connector. Additionally, embodiments of the present invention can provide a reduction in warranty return work, thus realizing increased profitability while reducing customer dissatisfaction. Embodiments of the present invention are also well suited to provide decreased assembly time when compared with conventional retention mechanisms. 
     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 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.