Electricity: electrical systems and devices – Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical... – For electronic systems and devices
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-27
2001-10-23
Gandhi, Jayprakash N. (Department: 2841)
Electricity: electrical systems and devices
Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical...
For electronic systems and devices
C361S689000, C361S800000, C361S801000, C174S034000, C439S607070
Reexamination Certificate
active
06307756
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a computer enclosure, and particularly to a computer enclosure having a connector holder attached thereto for readily and effectively fixing connectors to the enclosure.
2. The Related Art
Connectors for transferring signals and power, such as USB (Universal Serial Bus) connectors and IEEE 1394 connectors, are soldered to a motherboard. Openings are defined in a rear panel of a computer enclosure to expose the connectors for connection with other peripheral devices. Examples are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,347,430, 5,497,292 and 5,822,182. However, when assembling a mouse, a keyboard or a joystick to a computer with this kind of connector layout, users have to plug the connectors into the rear panel from the rear side of the computer, which causes great inconvenience to the users especially when the computer is placed in front of a wall or a fixture.
To solve the problem, USB connectors and IEEE 1394 connectors are mounted to a motherboard for being exposed through a front panel of a computer allowing peripheral devices to be directly attached to the computer from the front side. In a known arrangement, a circuit board with connectors mounted thereon is retained in a metal chamber secured to the front panel by engagement between a barb formed on the chamber and a fixing hole defined in the front panel. An aperture covered by a movable transparent plastic lid is defined in a decorative bezel attached to the front panel. However, a portion of the enclosure must be removed first before the chamber can be mounted to the enclosure. This is a time-consuming and complicated process. Moreover, the chamber is attached to the front panel by means of the metal barb, which makes the attachment unstable. Further, the metal chamber is covered by a transparent plastic lid, which has an adverse effect on the ornamental design of the computer bezel.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a connector holder for being mounted to a computer enclosure to allow connectors to be directly fixed to the front panel of the computer enclosure.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a connector holder having a simple structure which is easy to assemble.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a connector holder to be mounted to a computer enclosure which is visually and aesthetically compatible with the ornamental design of a computer bezel.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a connector holder for mounting connectors to a computer enclosure, an electrical path being formed between the connector holder and the front panel to ground the connector holder to the front panel.
To achieve the above-mentioned objects, a connector holder in accordance with the present invention comprises a conductive shield defining a chamber for receiving and retaining connectors therein and an insulating housing defining an interior space for receiving the shield therein. The connector holder is received in an opening defined in a front panel of a computer enclosure for fixing the connectors thereto. The shield comprises at least a finger engaging a notch defined in the housing for retaining the shield in the housing and at least a first opening for exposing the connectors therethrough. The shield forms a projection for engaging a first surface of the front panel which not only supports the connector holder on the front panel but also forms an electrical path grounding the shield to the front panel. The insulating housing forms at least a second opening corresponding to the first opening of the shield. The housing forms a resilient latch extending through the opening of the front panel to engage a corresponding second surface which is opposite the first surface of the front panel thereby securing the connector holder onto the front panel.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will be drawn from the following detailed description of an embodiment thereof with reference to the attached drawings, in which:
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patent: 5980320 (1999-11-01), Slack et al.
patent: 6113426 (2000-09-01), Lin
patent: 6166325 (2000-12-01), Wu
patent: 6220895 (2001-04-01), Lin
Liu Alvin
Liu Yu Tai
Chung Wei Te
Gandhi Jayprakash N.
Hon Hai - Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
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