Laurence M Mazzone

US Patent:

53830962, Jan 17, 1995

Filed:

May 3, 1993

Appl. No.:

8/056552

Inventors:

Matthew C. Benson - Fitchburg MA
Laurence M. Mazzone - Tewksbury MA

Assignee:

Digital Equipment Corporation - Maynard MA

International Classification:

H05K 900

US Classification:

361816

Abstract:

An apparatus for increasing the number of electrical I/O ports on an existing computer system chassis, while maintaining the RF shield of the chassis and without changing the design of the existing chassis, by the use of an I/O expansion box. The I/O expansion box comprises a bottom and a cover. The bottom has a base plate with openings for cables from the computer chassis to pass therethrough and has lips at the openings. The lips extend outwardly away from the recess and are used to attach the base plate to the chassis at its I/O port openings. The cover has a top with openings therein for the attachment of electrical cable connectors that are attached to the cables from the computer chassis. The number of openings in the top of the cover are greater than the number of openings in the base plate of the bottom. A "U" or channel type mounting clip is used to attach the I/O expansion box to an I/O port opening in an exterior panel on the computer system chassis and to extend the RF shielding of the computer system chassis to the I/O expansion box.