Patent ID: 7095622

Claim:
A backplane support system comprising: a backplane including: a planar printed circuit board extending in a first plane and having a first face, a second opposite face, and a perimeter having at least three sides; and at least one connector extending from the printed circuit board; and a backplane stiffener including: a first planar portion extending parallel to and across the first face; and a second opposite planar portion extending parallel to and across the second face, wherein the first portion and the second portion extend beyond at least three of the sides, wherein the first portion is coupled to the second portion beyond the perimeter, and wherein the printed circuit board includes a first aperture, wherein the first portion includes a second aperture in alignment with the first aperture and wherein the second portion includes a third aperture in alignment with the first aperture such that the first aperture, the second aperture and the third aperture an airflow path through the backplane and the backplane stiffener.