IP Library Granted Patent US 8,009,440
Granted Patent B2
US 8,009,440 · App. 11/563,798 · Granted Aug 30, 2011

Cartridge for space-restricted installation in rack-mounted computer system

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,009,440
App. No.
11/563,798
Granted
Aug 30, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

A computer device includes a chassis, a card connector, and a cartridge. The card connector is attached to the chassis and is adapted to receive a card. The cartridge includes a guide plate, a card holder, and an actuator. The guide plate is removably engaged to the chassis. The card holder is connectable to the card and movable, relative to the guide plate, between an engaged position and a disengaged position. In the engaged position, the card is connected the card connector, and in the disengaged position, the card is disconnected from the card connector. The actuator is engaged with the guide plate, and the actuator linearly moves between a first position and a second position relative to the guide plate. The movement of the actuator from the first position to the second position causes the movement of the card holder from the disengaged position to the engaged position. The computer device is a server, and the cartridge is introduced into front face or a rear face of the server.

Claims (45)

1. A cartridge for inserting a card into a card connector within a computer device, comprising:

a guide plate adapted to be received by the computer device;

a card holder connectable to the card and movable, relative to the guide plate, between an engaged position and a disengaged position; and

an actuator engaged with the guide plate, wherein

the actuator linearly movable between a first position and a second position relative to the guide plate, and

movement of the actuator from the first position to the second position causing the movement of the card holder from the disengaged position to the engaged position, wherein

the card holder moves between the disengaged position and the engaged position substantially perpendicular to movement of the actuator between the first position and the second position.

2. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the card holder moves linearly between the disengaged position and the engaged position.

3. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein

the guide plate includes a first parallel pair of linear slots and a second parallel pair of linear slots, and

the first parallel pair of linear slots being substantially perpendicular to the second parallel pair of linear slots.

4. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the actuator, in the first position, extends beyond an end of the cartridge.

5. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein

the actuator includes a pair of actuator slots, and each of the actuator slots having a first end and a second end,

the first end is further along than the second end in a first direction defined by movement of the actuator from the second position to the first position, and

the first end is further along than the second end in a second direction defined by movement of the card holder from the disengaged position to the engaged position.

6. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the actuator moves relative to the guide plate only along a single axis.

7. The cartridge device of claim 1 , wherein the computer device is a server.

8. A computer device, comprising

a chassis,

a card connector attached to the chassis and adapted to receive a card; and

a cartridge including

a guide plate removably engaged to the chassis,

a card holder connectable to the card and movable, relative to the guide plate, between an engaged position and a disengaged position, and

an actuator engaged with the guide plate, wherein

the actuator linearly movable between a first position and a second position relative to the guide plate,

movement of the actuator from the first position to the second position causing the movement of the card holder from the disengaged position to the engaged position,

in the engaged position, the card is connected the card connector,

in the disengaged position, the card is disconnected from the card connector, and

the card holder moves between the disengaged position and the engaged position substantially perpendicular to movement of the actuator between the first position and the second position.

9. The computer device of claim 8 , wherein the chassis includes at least one guide for engaging the guide plate and maintaining a position of the guide plate relative to the chassis.

10. The computer device of claim 8 , wherein movement of the guide plate relative to the guide, upon the guide plate engaging the guide, is substantially parallel to movement of the actuator between the first position and the second position.

11. The computer device of claim 8 , wherein planar movement of the guide plate relative to the guide, upon the guide plate engaging the guide, is substantially parallel to planar movement of the card holder between the engaged position and the disengaged position.

12. The computer device of claim 8 , wherein the card holder moves linearly between the disengaged position and the engaged position.

13. The computer device of claim 8 , wherein

the guide plate includes a first parallel pair of linear slots and a second parallel pair of linear slots, and

the first parallel pair of linear slots being substantially perpendicular to the second parallel pair of linear slots.

14. The computer device of claim 8 , wherein the actuator, in the first position, extends beyond an end of the cartridge.

15. The computer device of claim 8 , wherein

the actuator includes a pair of actuator slots, and each of the actuator slots having a first end and a second end,

the first end is further along than the second end in a first direction defined by movement of the actuator from the second position to the first position, and

the first end is further along than the second end in a second direction defined by movement of the card holder from the disengaged position to the engaged position.

16. The computer device of claim 8 , wherein the computer device is a server.

17. The computer device of claim 8 , wherein the actuator moves relative to the guide plate only along a single axis.

18. The computer device of claim 17 , wherein the cartridge is introduced into front face or a rear face of the server.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 10, 2014
From: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
To: LENOVO INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
Reel/Frame 034194/0291 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 28, 2006
From: DESROSIERS, NORMAN B.; HERRING, DEAN F.; JOHNSON, KEVIN D.; STEGNER, ERIC A.; STEGNER, ROBERT W.; WORMSBECHER, PAUL A.
To: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 018556/0381 →