Internal pci adapter card carrier

Abstract

According to one embodiment, a tool includes a carrier having a substantially pentagonal planar face configured to engage a rectangular side portion of a substantially cuboidal adapter card; at least one lower retaining member comprising a planar surface extending from a lower edge of the carrier, wherein the planar surface is oriented perpendicular to the substantially pentagonal planar face of the carrier; and at least one upper retaining member comprising a second planar surface extending from an upper portion of the carrier, wherein at least a portion of the second planar surface is oriented perpendicular to the substantially pentagonal planar face of the carrier.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tool, comprising:
 a carrier having a substantially pentagonal planar face configured to engage a rectangular side portion of a substantially cuboidal adapter card;   at least one lower retaining member comprising a planar surface extending from a lower edge of the carrier, wherein the planar surface is oriented perpendicular to the substantially pentagonal planar face of the carrier; and   at least one upper retaining member comprising a second planar surface extending from an upper portion of the carrier, wherein at least a portion of the second planar surface is oriented perpendicular to the substantially pentagonal planar face of the carrier.   
     
     
         2 . The tool as recited in  claim 1 , the at least one upper retaining member further comprising a third planar surface joined to the second planar surface to form an obtuse angle. 
     
     
         3 . The tool as recited in  claim 2 , the at least one upper retaining member further comprising a fourth planar surface joined to the second planar surface at a right angle, wherein the fourth planar surface is configured to engage at least a portion of a rectangular side portion of the adapter card opposite the rectangular side portion of the adapter card which the substantially pentagonal planar face of the carrier is configured to engage. 
     
     
         4 . The tool as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the upper retaining member is joined to the carrier in a manner that permits the upper retaining member to be positioned in:
 an open position to facilitate installation and removal of the adapter card from the carrier; and   a closed position configured to engage an upper edge of the adapter card.   
     
     
         5 . The tool as recited in  claim 1 , the at least one lower retaining member further comprising a fifth planar surface joined to the planar surface to form an obtuse angle between the fifth planar surface and the planar surface. 
     
     
         6 . The tool as recited in  claim 1 , comprising a lateral retaining member extending from the carrier in a direction substantially perpendicular to the substantially pentagonal planar face of the carrier. 
     
     
         7 . The tool as recited in  claim 1 , comprising at least one side guide coupled to at least one side edge of the carrier and oriented substantially parallel to the substantially pentagonal planar face of the carrier. 
     
     
         8 . The tool as recited in  claim 7 , wherein each side guide is characterized by a shape substantially conformal to a corresponding feature of a computer chassis, wherein the shape of each side guide is configured to guide the carrier toward and away from an adapter card slot of the computer chassis via the corresponding feature of the computer chassis. 
     
     
         9 . The tool as recited in  claim 1 , comprising ribbing formed on portions of the substantially pentagonal planar face of the carrier, wherein the ribbing is configured to engage the rectangular side portion of the adapter card. 
     
     
         10 . The tool as recited in  claim 1 , comprising:
 a handle portion coupled to the carrier near or at an upper portion of the carrier; and   a positioning member on the handle portion.   
     
     
         11 . The tool as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the positioning member is characterized by a shape substantially conformal to a corresponding feature of a computer chassis, wherein the shape the positioning member is configured to guide the carrier toward and away from an adapter card slot of the computer chassis. 
     
     
         12 . The tool as recited in  claim 1 , comprising at least two lower retaining members, wherein at least one of the lower retaining members comprises a slot. 
     
     
         13 . The tool as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one upper retaining member comprises either a latch or a clip. 
     
     
         14 . A system comprising:
 a tool, comprising:
 a carrier having a substantially pentagonal planar face configured to engage a rectangular side portion of a substantially cuboidal adapter card; 
 at least one lower retaining member comprising a planar surface extending from a lower edge of the carrier, wherein the planar surface is oriented perpendicular to the substantially pentagonal planar face of the carrier; 
 at least one upper retaining member comprising a second planar surface extending from an upper portion of the carrier, wherein at least a portion of the second planar surface is oriented perpendicular to the substantially pentagonal planar face of the carrier; and 
 one or more side guides coupled to at least one side edge of the carrier and oriented substantially parallel to the substantially pentagonal planar face of the carrier, wherein each side guide is characterized by a shape substantially conformal to a corresponding feature of a computer chassis, and wherein the shape of each side guide is configured to guide the carrier toward and away from an adapter card slot of the computer chassis via the corresponding feature of the computer chassis; and 
   the computer chassis having the one or more corresponding features.   
     
     
         15 . The system as recited in  claim 14 , the at least one upper retaining member comprising a third planar surface joined to the second planar surface to form an obtuse angle. 
     
     
         16 . The system as recited in  claim 14 , the at least one upper retaining member comprising a fourth planar surface joined to the second planar surface at a right angle; and
 wherein the fourth planar surface is configured to engage at least a portion of a rectangular side portion of the adapter card opposite the rectangular side portion of the adapter card which the substantially pentagonal planar face of the carrier is configured to engage.   
     
     
         17 . The system as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the upper retaining member is joined to the carrier in a manner that permits the upper retaining member to be positioned in:
 an open position to facilitate installation and removal of the adapter card from the carrier; and   a closed position configured to engage an upper edge of the adapter card.   
     
     
         18 . The system as recited in  claim 14 , the at least one lower retaining member further comprising a fifth planar surface joined to the planar surface to form an obtuse angle between the fifth planar surface and the planar surface. 
     
     
         19 . The system as recited in  claim 14 , the tool comprising a lateral retaining member extending from the carrier in a direction substantially perpendicular to the substantially pentagonal planar face of the carrier. 
     
     
         20 . The system as recited in  claim 14 , the tool comprising:
 a handle portion coupled to the carrier near or at an upper portion of the carrier; and   a positioning member on the handle portion, wherein the positioning member is characterized by a shape substantially conformal to a corresponding feature of the computer chassis, wherein the shape the positioning member is configured to guide the carrier toward and away from the adapter card slot of the computer chassis.