Electricity: conductors and insulators – Anti-inductive structures – Conductor transposition
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-13
2001-07-03
Reichard, Dean A. (Department: 2831)
Electricity: conductors and insulators
Anti-inductive structures
Conductor transposition
C361S799000, C361S800000, C361S689000, C361S752000, C361S796000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06255583
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to chassis covers in general and more specifically to a cover having spacers to adapt to an irregularly shaped chassis.
BACKGROUND
Many types of equipment are housed in a chassis, such as computer equipment or other electrical equipment. Frequently a chassis for electrical equipment consists of a base to support electrical circuit boards and other components, with a rigid open framework extending up from the base. The open framework allows convenient access to the electrical components inside, but does not provide a finished appearance or protection of delicate components mounted in the chassis. Exterior panels or other methods of covering the chassis are often required to protect the contents from physical damage and to provide a finished appearance for a consumer or other user.
Furthermore, if the chassis houses electrical equipment, a cover is required to protect users from electrical shock, as bare electrical conductors are nearly always exposed inside electrical equipment. Preferably, a cover for electrical equipment is grounded to increase protection against accidental electrical shock. Electrical equipment can also be sensitive to dust, requiring a cover to reduce the amount of dust reaching the interior of the chassis.
Electrical equipment is often sensitive to radio-frequency (RF) interference, electromagnetic radiation in the various radio frequencies which can disrupt normal electrical operation. A cover for an electrical chassis, if properly designed, shields the chassis from externally generated RF interference. The cover also prevents electromagnetic interference (EMI), electromagnetic radiation generated by the electrical equipment, from leaving the chassis and interfering with nearby equipment. For example, an unshielded chassis housing electrical equipment can cause EMI which would interfere with television and radio reception near the chassis, and with any other systems using radio communication like baby monitors, wireless radio computer networks, or citizens band radios.
A cover also aids in cooling electrical systems. Electrical equipment housed in a chassis must often be cooled by electric fans mounted in the chassis to circulate air over the heat-generating electrical components, cooling them by convection. However, electrical fans are not as effective at cooling electrical components when blowing in large air spaces. A cover can provide a small area through which air is forced, concentrating air flow over the components.
Irregularly shaped chassis can be difficult to cover, requiring multiple panels or mounting brackets, complicating EMI, grounding, and cooling issues, and reducing esthetic appeal. For example, electrical chassis are frequently designed to be mounted in an electrical rack capable of housing multiple chassis. Such rack mount electrical chassis are not designed to be covered simply, since the design considerations for rack mounting and standalone use often conflict. Equipment with a rack mount chassis is often used as a standalone device, but designing and manufacturing two types of chassis can be cost prohibitive. For example, mass storage devices for computers, like autochanger systems, may be used most frequently in a rack to increase storage capacity, but may also be used as a standalone storage device.
A rack mount chassis may have channels in its sides to accept rollers in the racks, allowing the chassis to be retracted from the rack like a drawer. Such rack mounting features like channels present an irregular structure which is difficult to cover. A rack mount chassis also frequently has an oversized face or bezel designed to overlap the edges of the rack and meet with the bezels of the chassis directly above and below. To cover a chassis having an oversized bezel, the chassis must be elevated to prevent damaging the bottom of the bezel, and the chassis must be adapted to meet the top and side edges of the bezel which extend beyond the chassis.
Consequently, a need exists for a cover for a standalone chassis which is adapted to irregular chassis shapes and which is simple and easy to attach, having a small number of components, while providing for EMI and electrical shock protection and being esthetically pleasing. A need further exists for a cover which provides vertical support to a chassis to protect oversized bezels.
SUMMARY
To assist in achieving the aforementioned needs, the inventors have devised a cover for a standalone chassis, providing for an irregularly shaped chassis, simple assembly and EMI shielding, which provides vertical support to the chassis and protects an oversized bezel.
A cover for a standalone chassis having features of the present invention may comprise a plurality of feet attached to the standalone chassis and an enclosure attached to the plurality of feet to cover a portion of the standalone chassis. The feet extend below a bottom surface of the standalone chassis to provide vertical support for the standalone chassis. The feet may comprise a base portion and a body portion, with the body portion attached to a side of the standalone chassis and the base portion extending below the bottom surface of the standalone chassis to provide vertical support for the standalone chassis.
The invention may also comprise a method for covering a standalone chassis including providing a plurality of feet each comprising a base portion and a body portion and providing an enclosure comprising a top portion and at least two side portions. The body portions of the plurality of feet are attached to at least two side portions of the standalone chassis so that the base portions extend below a lower surface of the standalone chassis to provide vertical support to the standalone chassis. The at least two side portions of said enclosure are attached to the plurality of feet so that the top portion of the enclosure substantially covers a top of the standalone chassis and the at least two side portions of the enclosure substantially cover the at least two chassis side portions.
The invention may also comprise a kit for covering a standalone chassis, including four feet and an enclosure. The four feet each comprising a body portion and a base portion in an ‘L’ shape. The body portion has a threaded enclosure mounting hole and a chassis mounting hole so that the body portions of the four feet may be screwed to the sides of a standalone chassis through the chassis mounting hole. The base portions extend below a bottom surface of the standalone chassis. The enclosure has a top portion and two side portions, the two side portions each having two embossed mounting holes to enable the enclosure to be screwed to the threaded enclosure mounting holes of the four feet.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5045971 (1991-09-01), Ono et al.
patent: 5278351 (1994-01-01), Herrick
patent: 5369549 (1994-11-01), Kopp et al.
patent: 5392192 (1995-02-01), Dunn et al.
patent: 5729441 (1998-03-01), Murakami
patent: 5808237 (1998-09-01), Hancock
patent: 5844772 (1998-12-01), Lee et al.
patent: 5999416 (1999-12-01), McAnally et al.
Johnson Kristianne E.
Rottinghaus Nichole M.
Hewlett -Packard Company
Oliva Carmelo
Reichard Dean A.
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