Patent ID: 7315453

Claim:
An external expanding apparatus that is operable with a portable computer of a type having an input/output (I/O) connector positioned on a back plane thereof for interconnecting with a mating connector of the external expanding apparatus, the external expanding apparatus comprising: a substantially rigid two-part apparatus body having an upper apparatus body portion and a lower body apparatus portion being structured for mating together along a mutual line of contact, wherein: a) the upper apparatus body portion further comprises a substantially rigid bearing plate formed with a substantially rectangular computer bearing surface on an outer face thereof, an expansion connector drive mechanism coupled to an inner face thereof opposite from the bearing surface and being moveable relative to the bearing plate, and a side skirt portion extended from the bearing plate and having a mating surface coincident with the line of contact, b) the lower apparatus body portion is further adapted for mounting to an external support structure and comprising a side skirt portion extended from a bottom plate thereof and having a mating surface coincident with the line of contact, c) a peripheral device connector presentation surface provided on one of the upper and lower apparatus body portions, and d) a mounting apparatus formed along the line of contact, the mounting apparatus comprising: i) a pair of mating shapes along the line of contact between the respective skirt portions of the upper and lower apparatus body portions and forming a passage extending between outer and inner surfaces of the respective skirt portions, and ii) a nut pocket adjacent to the inner surface of the respective skirt portions and substantially aligned with the passage extending between the outer and inner surfaces thereof, the nut pocket having a plurality of intersecting substantially planar walls oriented substantially perpendicular to the outer surfaces of the respective skirt portions and a retainer opposite from the passage and spaced away therefrom; an engaging structure projected above the bearing surface at opposite corners thereof and being structured for matingly engaging the bottom surface of the casing of the portable computer; a computer expansion connector structured to mate with the I/O connector of the computer and being movably mounted on the expansion connector drive mechanism adjacent to the computer bearing surface of the bearing plate for moving relative thereto; and a plurality of peripheral device connectors electrically coupled to the computer expansion connector and presented at the peripheral device connector presentation surface, each of the peripheral device connectors being structured to receive a corresponding peripheral device connector.