Computer enclosure

Details Computer enclosure Computer enclosure

1999-10-18

2001-11-06

Picard, Leo P. (Department: 2835)

Electricity: electrical systems and devices

Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical...

For electronic systems and devices

C361S740000, C361S727000, C248S551000, C312S216000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06313983

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a computer enclosure, and in particular to a computer enclosure having a power supply support member that is capable to mount power supplies of different specifications to the enclosure.
2. The Prior Art
Personal computers are now in the trend of miniaturization requiring the size thereof to be continuously decreased while electronic devices thereof increasingly added to enhance functions thereof. Thus, space management of a personal computer becomes important, especially when considering assembling/disassembling parts during maintaining the computer.
A power supply is one of the major components of a personal computer. Conventionally, a power supply is directly fixed to a back panel of a computer enclosure by bolts. For allowing easy mounting of the power supply to the computer enclosure, other parts of the computer are not arranged in front of the space accommodating the power supply because if the computer parts are arranged in front of the space accommodating the power supply, the parts have to be removed in order to mount/dismount the power supply which causes inconvenience in maintaining the computer.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,172,305 discloses a swiveling support for mounting the power supply to a computer enclosure. Such a swiveling support allows the power supply to be completely moved outside the computer enclosure by rotating about a rotational axis whereby mounting/dismounting the power supply may be performed without interference caused by the computer enclosure and other parts. However, such a swiveling support is designed for mounting a power supply of a specific size and is not compatible with power supplies of other specifications. This increases costs of parts stocking and inventory.
Furthermore, a computer enclosure comprises a top cover and a bottom panel which are not soundly connected leading to a mechanical instability in resisting bending moment.
It is thus desired to provide a computer enclosure which overcomes the problems discussed above.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a computer enclosure comprising a power supply support member allowing ready mounting/dismounting of the power supply to the computer enclosure.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a computer enclosure comprising a support member for mounting a power supply to the computer enclosure and mechanically reinforcing the enclosure.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a computer enclosure comprising a support member capable of selectively mounting power supplies of different specifications to the enclosure.
To achieve the above objects, a computer enclosure in accordance with the present invention comprises an outer casing receiving an inner casing therein. The inner casing comprises a bottom panel and a front panel extending upright from the bottom panel. A disk drive rack is arranged above the bottom panel and attached to the front panel. A main board support panel supporting a main board is attached to the front panel, the bottom and the disk drive rack on a first side of the inner casing. A support member is connected between the disk drive rack and the bottom panel on an opposite second side of the inner casing for enhancing mechanical stability of the structure of the inner casing. The support member has an upper end pivotally attached to the disk drive rack whereby the support member is movable between an open position where the support member is substantially located outside the inner casing for facilitating maintenance and a closed position where an lower end of the support member engages with the bottom panel to releasably secure the support member to the bottom panel. The support member defines three sets of openings for selectively and interchangeably engaging with pawls of three receptacles that contain power supplies of different specifications whereby power supplies of different specifications may be selectively mounted to the computer enclosure.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4901202 (1990-02-01), Leschinger
patent: 5032951 (1991-07-01), Schropp et al.
patent: 6018456 (2000-01-01), Young et al.

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