Back to results
US 7,002,791 B2Granted
System, method, and apparatus for configuring card support bracket to conform to multiple profiles
AssigneeLenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
InventorsGeorge O. Diatzikis, Jennifer Lynn Greenwood, James Stephen Rutledge, Brian J. Zawacki
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system, method, and apparatus for configuring an electronics card support bracket to adaptably and readily conform to more than one computer system profile is disclosed. The bracket fits in both full height and low profile mechanical configurations. The design includes a hinged bracket that swings back from the full height configuration to the low profile configuration. The bracket hinge is placed so that a swing back portion of the bracket provides a required edge lip on one end of the bracket.
Claims14
A method of assembling components, comprising:
- (a) providing a product having an aperture that is configurable in either a first configuration or a second configuration, the first and second configurations having different form factors;
- (b) configuring the aperture of the product in one of the first and second configurations;
- (c) configuring a bracket to match the configuration selected in step (b) such that the bracket has a same form factor as the product, wherein
- step (c) comprises retaining the movable portion in either said one of the first and second configurations with a retention feature,
- steps (b) and (c) comprise configuring the aperture and the bracket, respectively, to support either a low profile electronics card or a full height electronics card,
- step (c) comprises positioning a movable portion of the bracket relative to a base portion of the bracket,
- step (c) comprises folding the movable portion relative to the base portion, and
- step (c) comprises positioning the movable portion in a co-planar position relative to the base portion in the first configuration and, in the second position, positioning the movable portion out of plane with respect to the base portion;
- (d) mounting the configured bracket to the product such that the aperture is covered by the configured bracket;
- and
- (e) providing a retention feature on the bracket for retaining the movable portion in either the extended position or the retracted position.
8 more elements
A system for configuring a product, comprising:
- an enclosure having an aperture that is configurable in either a first configuration or a second configuration, the first and second configurations having first and second form factors, respectively;
- a plurality of electrical components mounted to the enclosure for performing computational functions in response to commands;
- and
- a bracket mounted to the enclosure for covering the aperture, the bracket having a base portion and a movable portion that is movable relative to the base portion between an extended position such that the bracket is configured to cover the aperture in the second form factor, and a retracted position such that the bracket is configured to cover the aperture in the first form factor.
1 more element
A bracket, comprising:
- a base portion;
- a movable portion that is movable relative to the base portion between an extended position such that the bracket is configured in a first form factor, and a retracted position such that the bracket is configured in a second form factor;
- a hinge mounted to the base portion and the movable portion for moving the movable portion between the extended and retracted positions, wherein a pivot axis of the hinge is located between the first flange and the opposite end;
- a first flange on one end of the movable portion, and an opposite end of the movable portion forms a second flange for the base portion when the movable portion is in the retracted position;
- and a retention feature on the bracket for retaining the movable portion in either the extended position or the retracted position;
- wherein in the extended position, the movable portion is co-planar with the base portion and, in the retracted position, the movable portion is out of plane with respect to the base portion.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.