Abstract: A computer tower chassis (10) has a base system unit (20) and a main circuit board subassembly (30). The base system unit (20) includes base system frame (200) having a front panel (21) and rear panel (26) and supporting frame (201, 202, 203, 204, and 205) therebetween. Disk (22), control panel (23), power supply (24), and floppy drives (29) mount to the base system unit (20). The main circuit board subassembly (30) includes main circuit board (31), input/output board and cable (32), speaker and cable (33), fan assembly and cable (35), keyboard cable (36), expansion card (37) and expansion card guides (38) and (39). Main circuit board subassembly (30) fits within and adjacent to base system unit (20), with chassis cover (40) surrounding both modules. The modular design allows for safer and more efficient manufacturing and handling.

Abstract: A computer tower chassis (10) has a base system unit (20) and a main circuit board subassembly (30). The base system unit (20) includes base system frame (200) having a front panel (21) and rear panel (26) and supporting frame (201, 202, 203, 204, and 205) therebetween. Disk (22), control panel (23), power supply (24), and floppy drives (29) mount to the base system unit (20). The main circuit board subassembly (30) includes main circuit board (31), input/output board and cable (32), speaker and cable (33), fan assembly and cable (35), keyboard cable (36), expansion card (37) and expansion card guides (38) and (39). Main circuit board subassembly (30) fits within and adjacent to base system unit (20), with chassis cover (40) surrounding both modules. The modular design allows for safer and more efficient manufacturing and handling.

Abstract: There is disclosed a system and method for allowing user to add circuit boards to a closed housing electrical system. The system relies upon a circuit board carrier which plugs into a connector permanently mounted within the housing. The carrier is fully removable from the system housing and has a support bracket for suspending a vertical partition, the bottom edge of which mates mechanically and electrically with the permanently mounted connector. Both sides of the partition support a plurality of edgewise connectors, stacked one over the other, for accepting the plug-in expansion circuit boards. The vertical partition connectors are electrically connected to the permanently mounted connector such that when the carrier is in position within the housing all of the mated expansion boards are electrically operable and connected to the existing system.