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US5504657A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

System for providing air flow control and EMR shielding of front panels of computers and similar electronic equipment

Assignee: AT&T Inc
•
Filing: 1994-06-27
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Granted: 1996-04-02
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Expires: 2014-06-27
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Abstract

Abstract A face plate with an elastomeric, electrically-conductive gasket to provide electromagnetic radiation and control air flow for a front panel of an electronic equipment frame. The metallic face plate has a plurality of edge surfaces which are capable of providing electrically conductive contact with the frame wherein one of the edge surfaces has the gasket. The gasket is an electrically-conductive contact with the face plate and an adjacent face plate which forms a thermal seal and an electrically-conductive surface.

Inventors

  • 👤 Richard A. Bellino
  • 👤 Paul E. Maass
  • 👤 William J. Harvey
  • 👤 Frank C. Stocco

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-02 19:42
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05K; H05K7/00; H05K7/14; H05K7/1461; H05K9/00; H05K9/0007; H05K9/0015; H05K9/0062

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim 105 words
A face plate apparatus for providing electromagnetic radiation shielding for a front surface of an electronic equipment frame, said apparatus comprising: a metallic face plate and gasket; said metallic face plate having a plurality of edge surfaces being capable of providing electrically conductive contact with said gasket, at least one of said plurality of edge surfaces having said gasket; said gasket being an electrically conductive, elastomeric material positioned so that said gasket forms an electrically conductive seal between said face plate and an adjacent face plate; and said gasket also providing a seal to air flow when said face plate is positioned in said frame.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 105 words
A face plate apparatus for providing electromagnetic radiation shielding for a front surface of an electronic equipment frame, said apparatus comprising: a metallic face plate and gasket; said metallic face plate having a plurality of edge surfaces being capable of providing electrically conductive contact with said gasket, at least one of said plurality of edge surfaces having said gasket; said gasket being an electrically conductive, elastomeric material positioned so that said gasket forms an electrically conductive seal between said face plate and an adjacent face plate; and said gasket also providing a seal to air flow when said face plate is positioned in said frame.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 99 words
A face plate apparatus for providing electromagnetic radiation shielding for a front surface of an electronic equipment frame, said apparatus comprising: a metallic face plate and gasket; said metallic face plate having a plurality of edge surfaces being capable of providing electrically conductive contact with said gasket, at least one of said plurality of edge surfaces having said gasket; said gasket being an electrically conductive, elastomeric material positioned so that said gasket forms an electrically conductive seal between said face plate and an adjacent face plate; and said gasket attaches to said face plate by an electrically conductive adhesive.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 99 words
A face plate apparatus for providing electromagnetic radiation shielding for a front surface of an electronic equipment frame, said apparatus comprising: a metallic face plate and gasket; said metallic face plate having a plurality of edge surfaces being capable of providing electrically conductive contact with said gasket, at least one of said plurality of edge surfaces having said gasket; said gasket being an electrically conductive, elastomeric material positioned so that said gasket forms an electrically conductive seal between said face plate and an adjacent face plate; and said gasket attaches to said face plate by an electrically conductive adhesive.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 114 words
A face plate apparatus for providing electromagnetic radiation shielding for a front surface of an electronic equipment frame, said apparatus comprising: a metallic face plate and gasket; said metallic face plate having a plurality of edge surfaces being capable of providing electrically conductive contact with said gasket, at least one of said plurality of edge surfaces having said gasket; said gasket being art electrically conductive, elastomeric material positioned so that said gasket forms an electrically conductive seal between said face plate and art adjacent face plate; and said gasket is applied to the front of at least one face plate to provide said electrically conductive seal with an adjacent one of said face plates.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 114 words
A face plate apparatus for providing electromagnetic radiation shielding for a front surface of an electronic equipment frame, said apparatus comprising: a metallic face plate and gasket; said metallic face plate having a plurality of edge surfaces being capable of providing electrically conductive contact with said gasket, at least one of said plurality of edge surfaces having said gasket; said gasket being art electrically conductive, elastomeric material positioned so that said gasket forms an electrically conductive seal between said face plate and art adjacent face plate; and said gasket is applied to the front of at least one face plate to provide said electrically conductive seal with an adjacent one of said face plates.
Claim 7
Independent Claim 128 words
An apparatus for providing electromagnetic shielding in an electronic equipment frame having a plurality of electrical circuit cards, said apparatus comprising: a plurality of face plates, each of said plurality of face plates being attached to one of said plurality of circuit cards; each of said plurality of face plates being electrically connected to an adjacent one of said plurality of face plates by a conductive, elastomeric gasket, so that all adjacent face plates collectively provide an electromagnetic radiation shield for said plurality of circuit cards; and said circuit cards are secured in a frame, wherein ones of said face plates contact said frame, so that said plurality of gaskets and said plurality of face plates form an electromagnetic radiation shield over a front portion of said frame.
Claim 8
Independent Claim 128 words
An apparatus for providing electromagnetic shielding in an electronic equipment frame having a plurality of electrical circuit cards, said apparatus comprising: a plurality of face plates, each of said plurality of face plates being attached to one of said plurality of circuit cards; each of said plurality of face plates being electrically connected to an adjacent one of said plurality of face plates by a conductive, elastomeric gasket, so that all adjacent face plates collectively provide an electromagnetic radiation shield for said plurality of circuit cards; and said circuit cards are secured in a frame, wherein ones of said face plates contact said frame, so that said plurality of gaskets and said plurality of face plates form an electromagnetic radiation shield over a front portion of said frame.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 40 words
An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said frame includes walls, top, bottom and back made of an electromagnetic shielding material, so that said frame, said face plates and said gaskets form an electromagnetic radiation shield around said circuit cards.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 88 words
A face plate apparatus for providing a thermal seal for a front portion of an electronic equipment frame, said apparatus comprising: a face plate and gasket; said face plate having a plurality of edge surfaces, one of said plurality of edge surfaces having said gasket affixed thereto; said gasket being an elastomeric material so that said gasket forms an air seal between said face plate and an adjacent face plate; and said gasket is affixed to the back of two adjacent face plates to provide said thermal seal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 88 words
A face plate apparatus for providing a thermal seal for a front portion of an electronic equipment frame, said apparatus comprising: a face plate and gasket; said face plate having a plurality of edge surfaces, one of said plurality of edge surfaces having said gasket affixed thereto; said gasket being an elastomeric material so that said gasket forms an air seal between said face plate and an adjacent face plate; and said gasket is affixed to the back of two adjacent face plates to provide said thermal seal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 88 words
A face plate apparatus for providing a thermal seal for a front portion of an electronic equipment frame, said apparatus comprising: a face plate and gasket; said face plate having a plurality of edge surfaces, one of said plurality of edge surfaces having said gasket affixed thereto; said gasket being an elastomeric material so that said gasket forms an air seal between said face plate and an adjacent face plate; and said gasket is affixed to the front of two adjacent face plates to provide said thermal seal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 88 words
A face plate apparatus for providing a thermal seal for a front portion of an electronic equipment frame, said apparatus comprising: a face plate and gasket; said face plate having a plurality of edge surfaces, one of said plurality of edge surfaces having said gasket affixed thereto; said gasket being an elastomeric material so that said gasket forms an air seal between said face plate and an adjacent face plate; and said gasket is affixed to the front of two adjacent face plates to provide said thermal seal.
Claim 14
Independent Claim 114 words
An apparatus for providing a thermal seal in a frame including a plurality of electrical circuit cards, said apparatus comprising: a plurality of face plates, each of said plurality of face plates being attached to one of said plurality of circuit cards; each of said plurality of face plates being sealed to an adjacent one of said plurality of face plates by an elastomeric gasket, so that all adjacent face plates provide a thermal seal for said plurality of circuit cards; and said frame includes walls, top, bottom and back made of a thermal sealing material, so that said frame, said face plates and said gaskets form a thermal seal around said circuit cards.
Claim 15
Independent Claim 114 words
An apparatus for providing a thermal seal in a frame including a plurality of electrical circuit cards, said apparatus comprising: a plurality of face plates, each of said plurality of face plates being attached to one of said plurality of circuit cards; each of said plurality of face plates being sealed to an adjacent one of said plurality of face plates by an elastomeric gasket, so that all adjacent face plates provide a thermal seal for said plurality of circuit cards; and said frame includes walls, top, bottom and back made of a thermal sealing material, so that said frame, said face plates and said gaskets form a thermal seal around said circuit cards.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3375408A Cited
US4401351A Cited
US5204496A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1999-04-02 1999-10-02 2000-04-02 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2003-04-02 2003-10-02 2004-04-02 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2007-04-02 2007-10-02 2008-04-02 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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