Electricity: conductors and insulators – Boxes and housings – Hermetic sealed envelope type
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-28
2001-09-11
Reichard, Dean A. (Department: 2831)
Electricity: conductors and insulators
Boxes and housings
Hermetic sealed envelope type
C361S689000, C361S724000, C312S223200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06288333
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a computer enclosure, and in particular to a front bezel of a computer enclosure.
2. The Prior Art
A personal computer is usually housed in an enclosure. The computer enclosure has a front bezel mounted to the computer for shielding and aesthetic purposes. The bezel has to be dismounted from the computer for replacing or adding new components, such as a CD-ROM or a floppy disk drive. Thus, the bezel must have a structure capable of enduring repeated mounting/dismounting without being damaged or broken.
An example of a computer front bezel is disclosed in Taiwan Patent Application No. 81209656 and comprises a plastic body having resilient barbs integrally formed therewith for engaging with a computer enclosure thereby mounting the bezel to the computer enclosure. The plastic barbs may be scraped and damaged by sharp edges of the computer enclosure and thus become easily broken when mounting/dismounting the bezel.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,123,680 discloses metal retaining members for retaining a plastic bezel to a computer enclosure. The metal retaining members can endure repeated mounting/dismounting without breaking. However, the metal retaining members are subject to metal fatigue caused by frequent mounting/dismounting. Furthermore, the metal retaining members must be manufactured separately which increases costs.
A power switch, a reset switch and indicators are usually mounted on a front bezel of a computer. Wires of these switches and indicators extend through an opening stamped on a computer enclosure to be connected to a main board thereof. The stamped opening usually has a sharp edge which may cut the wires thereby causing malfunction or short-circuiting.
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 having a guiding feature for guiding engagement with a front bezel thereby protecting the bezel from being damaged during mounting/dismounting.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a computer enclosure having an extended bore for receiving and protecting a corresponding positioning pin formed on a front bezel.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a computer enclosure which protects wires extending therethrough from being damaged.
To achieve the above objects, in accordance with the present invention, a computer enclosure comprises a frame having a bottom plate and front and rear plates mounted to and extending from opposite edges of the bottom plate. A front bezel is mounted to the front plate. The front bezel has a plurality of resilient arms each forming a barb. The front plate defines a plurality of first openings for receiving the arms therein. A tab is connected to an edge of each first opening by an arcuate section for guiding the barb of the corresponding arm into the first opening whereby the barb engages with a free edge of the tab with the arm supported thereby. A plurality of bores is defined in the front plate with a tubular projection extending from the front plate surrounding each bore. A positioning pin extending from the bezel is snappingly received in the corresponding bore with the pin contacting and supported by an inside surface of the tubular projection thereby protecting the pin from being damaged by a sharp edge of the bore. A second opening is defined in the front plate for extension of wires of switches and indicators mounted on the bezel therethrough. A circumferential wall is formed on the front plate to surround the second opening for supporting the wires thereby preventing the wires from being damaged by a sharp edge of the second opening.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5392192 (1995-02-01), Dunn et al.
patent: 5547272 (1996-08-01), Paterson et al.
Chen Yun-Lung
Liu Alvin
Liu Yu-Tai
Chung Wei Te
Hon Hai - Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
Ngo Hung V
Reichard Dean A.
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