Computer tailgate having expansion slot alignment pins

• US 6,058,025 A
• Filed: 04/21/1998
• Issued: 05/02/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Ecker, Richard M., Edlinger, Franz, Kelly, Peter W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sparks, Donald
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gandhi, Jayprakash N.
• Application Number:
  US09/063,991
• Time in Patent Office: 742 Days
• Field of Search: 361/800, 361/801, 361/802, 361/816, 361/825, 361/796, 361/756, 361/753, 174/35 R, 174/35 GC, 174/35 TS, 174/51, 439/61, 439/607, 206/706, 206/709, 206/711, 206/722, 206/725, 211/41.17
• US Class Current: 361/816
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/184 Mounting of motherboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/185 Mounting of expansion boards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/186 Securing of expansion boards in correspondence to slots provided at the computer enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 9/0015 Gaskets or seals

Abstract

A tailgate assembly of a computer including a tailgate member having a plurality of slots behind which may be positioned removable expansion boards, and an EMC gasket between the tailgate member and the expansion boards. An alignment pin projects from the tailgate member on each side of each slot. The alignment pins on each side of each slot guide the expansion board into place as it is being positioned behind one of the slots and prevents the EMC gasket from sliding out of position.

Claims

1. A tailgate assembly comprising:

a tailgate member having a slot therethrough;

alignment pins projecting from said tailgate member, one on each side of said slot;

an ElectroMagnetic Compatibility (EMC) shield member having a slot in register with the slot through said tailgate member, said EMC shield further having holes therein for receiving said alignment pins such that said EMC shield may lie flat against said tailgate member; and

an expansion board movable over said slot in said tailgate member, said expansion board having an edge, a portion of said edge being exposed by the slot in said tailgate member in register with a corresponding slot in said EMC shield, said expansion board further being aligned between said alignment pins and trapping a portion of said EMC shield between said edge and said tailgate member as said expansion board is moved into place.

2. The tailgate assembly of claim 1 wherein said tailgate member has a plurality of slots, each slot having an alignment pin on two sides thereof, and

said EMC shield has a plurality of slots, each in register with one of said slots in said tailgate member, said EMC shield further having holes therethrough for receiving said alignment pins such that said EMC shield cannot slide out of position as expansion boards are moved into position over said registered slots.

3. The tailgate assembly of claim 2 further comprising fastening means at each end of said registered slots for securing said expansion board to said tailgate member with a portion of said EMC shield trapped therebetween.

4. The tailgate assembly of claim 3 wherein said fastening means comprises a tab in said expansion board having a hole therein, said EMC shield has a hole therein in register with the hole in said expansion board, said tailgate member has a screw hole in register with said holes in said EMC shield and said expansion board, and a screw through said holes in said EMC shield and said expansion board and screwed into said screw hole.

5. The tailgate assembly of claim 3 wherein said fastening means comprises a strip on one end of the slots of said tailgate member, said strip having a tab receiving slot therein, said EMC shield has a tab on one end for extending through said tab receiving slot, and said expansion board has a tab for extending through said tab receiving slot such that the tab on the EMC shield is trapped between the tab on the extension board and the tailgate member.