Abstract: This invention provides systems, methods, and designs for a novel financial product which provides many lifecycle investment advantages compared to existing state of the art products currently available.

Abstract: A latch-spring assembly has a handle with prongs extending from a finger-grip portion. One prong has a circumferential groove. A leaf spring has an anchor portion for attachment to a subassembly wall and a spring portion flexibly coupled to the anchor portion. The spring portion has a latching tab extending from one side and cylindrical portions. The prongs pass through openings in the subassembly wall to enter the cylindrical portions. One cylindrical portion has a compressible region, which is compressed within the groove of the one prong to secure the handle to the leaf spring. The latching tab extends through an opening in the sidewall when the leaf spring is attached to a subassembly sidewall. When the subassembly enters an enclosure, the latching tab engages a latch-receiving mechanism in the enclosure. Deflecting the handle laterally disengages the latching tab from the latch-receiving mechanism, thus releasing the subassembly from the enclosure.

Abstract: Described is an apparatus for use supporting a heatsink thermally coupled to an integrated circuit component disposed on a first side of a circuit board. The heatsink has an opening that is aligned with an opening of the circuit board. The apparatus includes a support stud disposed beneath the heatsink on a second side of the circuit board. The support stud has a bore and is press fit into the opening of the circuit board from the second side and secured within the opening of the circuit board by a fastener passing through the aligned openings of the heatsink and the circuit board and into the bore. A capture mechanism, disposed on a surface adjacent and parallel to the second side of the circuit board, receives the support stud, thereby coupling the circuit board to the adjacent surface.

Abstract: A chassis having a cover, comprising: planar surface portions; a pair of spaced U-shaped hinges perpendicular to the planar surface portions of the cover and having arms of such hinges terminating at the planar surface portions; and a flap having handles at ends thereof, the handles being pivotally disposed in the U-shaped hinges, surfaces of the U-shaped hinges providing a camming surface to pivot the flap between a horizontal position parallel to the planar surface portions of the cover and a vertical position perpendicular to the planar surface portions of the cover.

Abstract: Described are a method and apparatus for keeping a power cord plugged into a plug receptacle. A bracket has a plurality of sidewalls that define an opening sized to frame the plug receptacle of an electronics housing. A first sidewall has an opening therein and a second sidewall has a lock mechanism. The bracket is coupled to the electronics housing so that the first and second sidewalls of the bracket are on opposite sides of the plug receptacle. A cable tie is coupled at the first end to an anchor point near the first sidewall of the bracket. The cable tie has sufficient length to extend from the anchor point through the opening in the first sidewall of the bracket and, after looping around a cord of a power cord that is plugged into the plug receptacle, to couple at the second end to the lock mechanism of the second sidewall of the bracket.

Abstract: Described is a lever-and-spring assembly for an electronic module. The electronic module has a flange extending from one of its sides. The lever-and-spring assembly has a lever coupled to the flange at a pivot point about which the lever-and-spring assembly can pivot. The lever-and-spring assembly also has a leaf spring with a base portion and a spring portion extending from an edge of the base portion and bending back over the base portion. The lever is disposed between the base portion and the spring portion. The base portion is affixed to the lever. The spring portion bends back over the lever. The flange slides closely between the spring portion and the lever when the lever-and-spring assembly pivots towards a closed position.

Abstract: In various embodiments, an electromagnetic shielding apparatus and method is provided. In one representative embodiment, an electromagnetic shielding apparatus is provided that comprises a plurality of spring fingers ganged together. At least one of the spring fingers includes an end extension adapted to facilitate a corner-to-corner contact with a mounting slot in a panel.

Abstract: A power cord retainer for retaining a plug portion of an electrical cord in an electrical socket mounted to a chassis. The retainer includes a pair of resilient, self supporting posts, each one having a distal end configured for affixation to positions of the chassis on opposing sides of the socket and a pair of shoulders, each one affixed to a proximal end of a corresponding one of the pair of posts. The pair of shoulders are configured to form a grove along adjacent inner sides thereof. The groove is axially aligned with the socket. The groove is configured to receive the power cord when the posts are in a stretched position. The shoulders are configured to engage a rear portion of the plug portion and, together with the forces provided by the pair of posts when such posts are enabled to return to an un-stretched position, retain such plug in the socket.

Abstract: Described is a connector assembly and interconnect system for absorbing physical tolerances. The connector assembly includes a shoulder screw, a spring, and an electrical connector. A barrel portion of the screw passes through hole in a flange of the connector. Secured to a structural member is a threaded portion of the screw. Coiled about the barrel portion of the screw, between the connector body and the structural member, is the spring. The interconnect system includes a second connector for mating with the electrical connector. One connector can be mounted in a chassis and the other to a subassembly. When the subassembly slides into the chassis, the connectors mate and compress the spring. A securing mechanism then couples the subassembly to the chassis, keeping the spring compressed and urging connectors against each other.

Abstract: A mount for a computer drive. The mount has a base structure having a plurality of lateral retainers and a top structure mountable to the base structure over a drive region. The top structure also has an arcuate drive interface extendable into the drive region.

Abstract: A cooling assembly for cooling a CPU on a motherboard in a low profile electronic device. The assembly comprises a channel-shaped heat sink having a flat first wall, an opposite wall, open first and second ends and internal heat exchange fins extending between those walls and ends. An electric blower having an inlet and an outlet is mounted to the heat sink so that the blower outlet is aligned with the first end of the heat sink and the heat sink is anchored to the CPU so that the first wall of the heat sink is flush against the CPU and the blower inlet overhangs an edge of the motherboard. Preferably, a baffle member is mounted to the heat sink to direct heated air from the second end of the heat sink to the atmosphere and to prevent recirculation of that air back to the blower inlet.

Abstract: A coupling for preventing the buildup of static electricity between adjacent conduits includes a sleeve enclosed by pivotally connected semicircular segments. The semicircular segments are in electrical contact with first and second conduits via bonding wires. The semicircular segments, bonding wires, and/or flanges are coated with a hard metallic ductile conductive coating, which is preferably a boron-nickel coating, to provide electrical conductivity between the conduits. The coupling may be entirely coated with the boron-nickel coating, or selectively coated to provide the required electrical conductivity between the conduits. The conduits include flanges mounted on the ends thereof. Each flange is selectively coated with a hard anodized, dry-lube, thin-film non-conductive, or other insulating coating to reduce or prevent arcing on the interior of the coupling under lighting strike or other hazardous electrical conditions.

Abstract: A circuit board is ejected from an electrical chassis by inserting a pair of implements into corresponding pairs of apertures disposed on opposing side members of the electrical chassis. The end portions of the implements are engaged in a first pair of notches, each one being disposed on each of a pair of opposing edges of the circuit board provided within the electrical chassis, and a force is exerted on each of the first notches disposed on each of the pair of opposing edges of the circuit board with the pair of implements, to disengage the circuit board from a connector located at one end of the electrical chassis.

Abstract: A containment system for significantly reducing the emission of high frequency electromagnetic waves from a computer system into the external environment. The containment system includes the combination of two enclosures and a shielding assembly. One of the enclosures is associated with the high frequency components and the other with the low frequency components of the computer system. The shielding assembly is positioned between the two enclosures to prevent high frequency electromagnetic waves from passing from one chamber to the other over the connection between the two chambers.

Abstract: Thermosettable, coreactable particulate powdereded compositions having particles comprising at least a first copolymer of an olefinically unsaturated monomer having at least one functional group and at least a second copolymer of an olefinically unsaturated monomer having at least one functional group which is reactive with the at least one functional group of the at least first copolymer are disclosed. Methods for making and using these compositions are also disclosed.

Abstract: A mechanical insertion/ejection lever device is provided for use in mounting a printed circuit board (PCB) into an electrical receptacle secured to a housing. Two lever members are pivotally mounted at or near the rear edge of a PCB, adjacent the corners. As the PCB is manually inserted into the housing unit, the lever members engage part of the housing. Rotation of the lever members causes a proportional linear motion of the PCB into engagement of the receptacle, overcoming frictional resistance of the electrical connectors. The lever members are rotatable through an arc of motion which corresponds to moving the PCB a linear distance sufficient to compensate for all accumulated manufacturing tolerances while fully seating the PCB within the receptacle. The lever members adjustably lock to retain the PCB in a fully seated position. The lever members also eject the PCB from the receptacle upon rotation in an opposite direction.

Abstract: An integrated installation assembly for removably supporting a hardware module within a computer cabinet. The integrated installation assembly comprises a substantially ridgid frame work having interconnected top frame member and bottom frame member which has a back portion. Also included is a cover spaced from the back portion of the bottom frame member. The frame members and the front cover define an interior support space in which a hardware module can be mounted. Shock absorbing means are connected to the framework of the assembly for minimizing the vibration of the hardware module. Ventilation is provided through the front cover and the top and bottom frame member for cooling the hardware module. The front cover also includes control elements for operating the hardware module and status information elements which give operating status information about the hardware module.

Abstract: A mounting system for mounting a disk drive mechanism in a computer circuit board card cage is described. The mounting system includes a support for the disk drive and a locking assembly associated with the support and movable towards the disk drive to lock the disk drive against movement with respect to the support. The mounting system also includes a cam and a locking and control assembly for selectively holding the cam in a first operative position and a second inoperative position.

Abstract: An expansion unit (24) that adds functions to a main computer unit (12) connects to it without cabling. The main unit (12) rests on the expansion unit, and electrical connections between the two units are thereby made automatically by complementary connectors (36, 134) on the upper surface (22) of the expansion unit and the lower surface (20) of the main unit. To insure engagement of the connectors, which the user cannot see when the main unit (12) is placed on the expansion unit (24), locating pins (26, 28) are provided on the upper surface (22) of the expansion unit (24), and guide surfaces (52, 60) guide the pins (26, 28) into the proper position as the main unit is being lowered. The two units (12, 24) are thereby properly positioned with respect to each other.

Abstract: A low clearance door assembly is provided which is suitable for a variety of applications. The assembly includes an easily operated door which has two guide pins extending from each end. Guide members provide slots in which the pins ride. A spring, connected between one of the pins and the adjacent guide member, assists the user in opening and closing the door. In addition, a detent disposed in one of the slots prevents the door from opening as a result of bumping.