PCMCIA card and associated support and circuitry augmenting apparatus and methods

A method of removably connecting a computer card to a computer having a computer slot disposed therein and including first and second pairs of opposed support structures, said computer card having first internal electronic circuitry therein, a first side surface, inner and outer ends, and a pair of opposite side edge portions extending between said inner and outer ends and receivable in said first pair of support channel structures when said computer card is inserted, inner end first, into said slot, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing a circuitry augmenting and support structure having:
• a body portion with a shape similar to that of said computer card, a second side surface, first and second ends, and side edge portions extending between said first and second ends, and
• an attachment section secured to said second end and having second internal electronic circuitry and a first side portion projecting from said second side surface and facing toward said first end;
• removably securing said attachment section to said outer end of said computer card in a manner such that said attachment section is in a parallel relationship with said computer card with said first and second side surfaces facing one another and said first internal electronic circuitry being coupled to said second internal electronic circuitry;
• and
• inserting said computer card apparatus into said computer card slot in a manner such that said side edge portions of said computer card and said body portion of said circuitry augmenting and support structure respectively enter and are supported in said first and second pairs of opposed support structures.

For use in conjunction with a computer card slot extending into the interior of a computer and having first and second pairs of opposing card edge support structures, computer card apparatus operatively insertable into said slot and comprising:

• a computer card having opposite side edge portions removably receivable in said first pair of card edge support structures, and a first end;
• and
• means for electrically coupling said computer card to a device external to the computer, including:
• attachment means removably connectable to said end of said computer card, and additionally connectable to the device external to the computer, for providing an electrical interface between said computer card and the device, and
• support means for bracing said attachment means relative to said computer card, said support means including a support member having a shape similar to that of said computer card, an end secured to said attachment means, and opposite side edge portions configured and positioned to enter said second pair of opposed card edge support structures as said opposite computer card edge portions are being inserted into said first pair of card edge support structures.