Computer PC tray to monitor assembly connection apparatus and associated methods

Claim 2

Electronic apparatus comprising: a wall member having first and second sides; a control member movably carried on said wall member and being manually operable from said first side thereof; a circuit structure supported adjacent said second side and including a switch structure operatively engageable by said control member in response to movement thereof, and a first connector electrically coupled to said switch structure; and a support structure adapted to carry an electrical device, said support structure having a second connector carried thereon and being connectable to the electrical device, said support structure being movable toward said second side of said wall member in a manner operatively coupling said first and second connectors.

Claim 3

The electronic apparatus of claim 1 wherein said wall member is a portion of a computer housing.

Claim 4

The electronic apparatus of claim 1 wherein said support structure is a PC tray.

Claim 5

The electronic apparatus of claim 3 further comprising an electrical device supported on said PC tray and operatively coupled to said second connector.

Claim 6

Electronic apparatus comprising: a housing having a wall with inner and outer sides; a user operable control member movably carried on said wall; a circuit structure supported inwardly adjacent said wall and including a switch structure operatively engageable by said control member in response to movement thereof, and a first connector electrically coupled to said switch structure; and an electronic assembly including support apparatus to which a second connector is secured, and electrical circuitry carried by said support apparatus and coupled to said second connector, said support apparatus being insertable into said housing in a manner mating said first and second connectors and thereby coupling said switch to said electrical circuitry.

Claim 7

Electronic apparatus comprising: a housing having a wall with inner and outer sides; a user operable control member movably carried on said wall; a circuit structure supported inwardly adjacent said wall and including a switch structure operatively engageable by said control member in response to movement thereof, and a first connector electrically coupled to said switch structure; and an electronic assembly including support apparatus to which a second connector is secured, and electrical circuitry carried by said support apparatus and coupled to said second connector, said support apparatus being insertable into said housing in a manner mating said first and second connectors and thereby coupling said switch to said electrical circuitry.

Claim 8

The electronic apparatus of claim 5 wherein: said support apparatus is inserted in said housing, and said first and second connectors are operatively mated.

Claim 9

The electronic apparatus of claim 5 further comprising: cooperatively engageable portions on said support apparatus and said housing for matingly aligning said second connector with said first connector as said support apparatus is being inserted into said housing.

Claim 10

The electronic apparatus of claim 7 wherein: said support apparatus is a tray structure having opposite corner sections, and said cooperatively engageable portions include elongated indentations formed in said corner sections, and upturned interior wall portions of said housing slidably receivable in said indentations.

Claim 11

The electronic apparatus of claim 5 wherein said electronic apparatus is a computer.

Claim 12

The electronic apparatus of claim 9 wherein said housing has a monitor structure disposed therein.

Claim 13

The electronic apparatus of claim 10 wherein said support apparatus is a PC tray.

Claim 14

A computer comprising: a housing having an exterior wall with inner and outer sides, an opening spaced apart from and facing said inner side of said exterior wall and an interior space extending between said opening and said inner side of said exterior wall; a display monitor mounted in said housing; a spaced plurality of user operable control members movably carried on said exterior wall; a circuit board supported inwardly adjacent said inner side of said exterior wall, said circuit board having a spaced plurality of depressible switch structures mounted thereon in alignment with said spaced plurality of control members and being operatively engageable by said control members in response to movement thereof, and a first connector electrically coupled to said switch structures; a PC tray movable into and out of said interior space through said opening, said PC tray having a second connector carried thereon and mateable with said first connector; electrical circuitry carried by said PC tray and coupled to said second connector; and cooperatively engageable portions on said PC tray and said housing for maintaining said first and second connectors in a predetermined aligned relationship as said PC tray moves into said interior space so that as said PC tray approaches said circuit board said first and second connectors mate to thereby operatively couple said switch structures to said electrical circuitry in a manner permitting said electrical circuitry to be controlled by movement of said control members.

Claim 15

A computer comprising: a housing having an exterior wall with inner and outer sides, an opening spaced apart from and facing said inner side of said exterior wall and an interior space extending between said opening and said inner side of said exterior wall; a display monitor mounted in said housing; a spaced plurality of user operable control members movably carried on said exterior wall; a circuit board supported inwardly adjacent said inner side of said exterior wall, said circuit board having a spaced plurality of depressible switch structures mounted thereon in alignment with said spaced plurality of control members and being operatively engageable by said control members in response to movement thereof, and a first connector electrically coupled to said switch structures; a PC tray movable into and out of said interior space through said opening, said PC tray having a second connector carried thereon and mateable with said first connector; electrical circuitry carried by said PC tray and coupled to said second connector; and cooperatively engageable portions on said PC tray and said housing for maintaining said first and second connectors in a predetermined aligned relationship as said PC tray moves into said interior space so that as said PC tray approaches said circuit board said first and second connectors mate to thereby operatively couple said switch structures to said electrical circuitry in a manner permitting said electrical circuitry to be controlled by movement of said control members.

Claim 16

The computer of claim 12 wherein: said PC tray is inserted in said housing, and said first and second connectors are operatively mated.

Claim 17

The computer of claim 12 wherein: said first connector is a socket type electrical connector, and said second connector is a circuit board having a body portion insertable into said first connector.

Claim 18

The computer of claim 12 wherein: said control members have inwardly movable plunger portions, and said switch structures have depressible button portions inwardly adjacent and aligned with said plunger portions.

Claim 19

The computer of claim 12 wherein: said PC tray has elongated indentations formed in opposite bottom side corner portions thereof, and said cooperatively engageable portions include said indentations and elongated interior portions of said housing slidably and supportingly receivable in said indentations.

Claim 20

For use in electronic apparatus having a housing with an exterior wall with inner and outer sides, and a spaced plurality of user operable control members movably mounted on said exterior wall, a method of operatively coupling electrical circuitry to said control members, said method comprising the steps of: supporting a circuit structure within said housing inwardly adjacent said control members, said circuit structure having thereon a spaced plurality of switch structures aligned with said control members for operative engagement by said control members in response to movement thereof, and a first connector electrically coupled to said switch structures; providing a support structure having a second connector thereon; disposing said electrical circuitry on said support structure; coupling said electrical circuitry to said second connector; and inserting said support structure into said housing in a manner operatively mating said first and second connectors.

Claim 21

For use in electronic apparatus having a housing with an exterior wall with inner and outer sides, and a spaced plurality of user operable control members movably mounted on said exterior wall, a method of operatively coupling electrical circuitry to said control members, said method comprising the steps of: supporting a circuit structure within said housing inwardly adjacent said control members, said circuit structure having thereon a spaced plurality of switch structures aligned with said control members for operative engagement by said control members in response to movement thereof, and a first connector electrically coupled to said switch structures; providing a support structure having a second connector thereon; disposing said electrical circuitry on said support structure; coupling said electrical circuitry to said second connector; and inserting said support structure into said housing in a manner operatively mating said first and second connectors.

Claim 22

The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of: utilizing cooperatively engaged portions of said support structure and said housing to matingly align said first and second connectors during the performance of said inserting step.

Claim 23

The method of claim 18 wherein: said electronic apparatus is a computer, said housing has a display monitor disposed structure in an upper portion thereof, and said inserting step is performed by inserting said support structure into said housing below said display monitor structure.