Patent ID: 7035110

Claim:
A portable computer peripheral apparatus comprising: an elongated housing including: a lower cover including a lower wall, and an upper cover mounted over the lower cover, the upper cover including the upper wall of the housing, wherein at least one of the lower cover and the upper cover include side walls extending between the lower wall and the upper wall, and wherein the lower and upper covers include a front flange structure defining a front opening; a printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) including: a printed circuit board (PCB) mounted inside of the housing, at least one of a controller circuit and a memory circuit mounted on the PCB, and a plug connector mounted onto a front end of the PCB; and a front reinforced connecting ring including a first collar surrounding the front flange structure of the upper and lower covers, and defining a central opening, wherein the plug connector extends through the front opening of the housing and the central opening of the front reinforced connecting ring.