Patents Assigned to Dell Computer Corporation
  • Patent number: 5804875
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for simultaneously coupling a heat sink to an electrical device and reducing electromagnetic interference caused by the heat sink being coupled to the electrical device. A mother board, as used in an electronic circuit, is situated so that an electrical pad is located proximate to a socket for receiving the electrical device. The electrical device is placed inside the socket, and further has the heat sink thermally coupled to a top surface thereof. The heat sink serves to dissipate any heat radiating from the electrical device into a surrounding air mass. A heat sink clip physically and electrically engages with the heat sink and physically engages with the socket, thereby securing the heat sink to the device and the device to the socket. The heat sink clip also includes a tab that, when the clip is engaged with the heat sink, is in electrical contact with the pad, which in turn is in contact with a ground power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Assignee: Dell Computer Corporation
    Inventors: Ralph Remsburg, Erica Scholder
  • Patent number: 5782354
    Abstract: A corrugated end cap for packaging electrical products includes a die-cut sheet of corrugated material having perforations, scores, cutouts and fold lines. The corrugated die-cut is foldable to extend a plurality of ribs and a pair of rollover shoulders. A first one of the shoulders is on a first side of the ribs and a second one of the shoulders is on a second side of the ribs. The shoulders are foldable to interlock with the ribs for forming an end cap including a cavity for engaging a portion of an electrical product. The cavity includes only flat bearing surfaces for engagement with the product. In this manner no edge portions of the material engage the product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1998
    Assignee: Dell Computer Corporation
    Inventor: Pete Genix
  • Patent number: 5777848
    Abstract: A mounting assembly for mounting a component in electronic equipment, such as a computer system, which includes an enclosure and a mounting bracket pivotally mounted to the enclosure. One or more retaining members are disposed on the bracket for engaging the component to retain the component in the bracket in abutting relationship. The bracket, and therefore the component, are connected to the enclosure so that they can be pivoted between a position in which the component is mounted in the enclosure and a position in which it extends out of the enclosure. In the mounted position, the bracket forms a portion of one or more walls of the enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1998
    Assignee: Dell Computer Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew McAnally, Stephen Cook
  • Patent number: 5768099
    Abstract: A computer, or other similar type of electronic device including a chassis, and one or more disk drives mounted in the chassis. A mounting bracket for receiving a disk drive is mounted to the computer chassis and is precisely located relative to a wall of the chassis. A mounting plate for receiving another disk drive is mounted relative to the bracket and to the chassis and is also precisely located relative to a wall of the chassis and to the bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1998
    Assignee: Dell Computer Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy Radloff, Erica Scholder
  • Patent number: 5754397
    Abstract: A computer system includes a housing having a docking connector. A combined height adjustment and cover member is mounted on the housing and is movable from a first position wherein the connector is covered, to a second position wherein the connector is uncovered and the member is in abutment with an external surface of the housing and positioned to be engagable with a docking tray for elevating the housing above the tray surface. This provides a variable height adjustment capability between the docking connector of the computer and the mating connector on the docking tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1998
    Assignee: Dell Computer Corporation
    Inventors: Bryan Howell, Peter N. Skillman, Bryan K. Hunter
  • Patent number: 5647748
    Abstract: A printed circuit board ground clip is provided having upwardly extending retainers and downwardly extending legs. The legs are designed to insert within plated-through holes of a variable thickness printed circuit board. The upwardly extending retainers terminate as a spaced pair of flanges which frictionally receive and electrically couple with a hook. The hook extends from the chassis of an electronic device, through a slot within the printed circuit board and between the spaced flanges. Accordingly, the hook and ground clip form an electrical conduit between a ground supply connected to the electronic device chassis and a ground conductor formed within the printed circuit board. Chassis-to-ground conductor attachment is performed during assembly of the board to the chassis backplane. Attachment can be quickly and easily reversed to allow board re-work, without requiring placement of heat upon the board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 15, 1997
    Assignee: Dell Computer Corporation
    Inventors: R. Steven Mills, Jerry D. Gandre, Steve L. Sands, Gita P. Khadem
  • Patent number: 5623869
    Abstract: The present invention provides lap table for a portable computer. The lap table comprises a supple main body that has a top surface joined to a bottom surface and a sealed hollow interior for containing a filling material to give the main body a degree of rigidity sufficient to support the portable computer thereon. The filling material may be either an inflating gas or styrofoam beads. The lap table also includes a securing wall integral with the top surface that is configured to receive a footprint of the portable computer and exert a positive securing force against the portable computer, to thereby secure the portable computer to the top surface when the hollow interior is filled with the filling material. The securing wall may comprise four spaced-apart opposing right angled projections, the projections spaced to receive four opposing bottom corners of the portable computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 29, 1997
    Assignee: Dell Computer Corporation
    Inventors: David L. Moss, Erica J. Scholder
  • Patent number: 5625534
    Abstract: The present invention provides a personal computer comprising a main chassis having an exterior wall forming, in part, an interior portion of the personal computer. The exterior wall has a data card slot formed therein and is configured to receive a data card therethrough. The interior portion contains data processing circuitry for processing data recorded on a data card. A data card reader is positioned within the interior portion and has a reading head positioned adjacent a first end of the data card reader for linearly reading the data when the data card is received through the slot. Further, the data card reader has a second end electrically connectable to the data processing circuitry for transmitting the data to the data processing circuitry when the data card is passed through the data card reader. The data card reader may be incorporated into a PCMCIA structure such as a PCMCIA card housing or guide/socket frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 29, 1997
    Assignee: Dell Computer Corporation
    Inventors: Ken P. Okaya, Bryan Howell