Supports: racks – Special article
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-01
2001-02-06
Stodola, Daniel P. (Department: 3634)
Supports: racks
Special article
C211S041170, C211S181100, C248S027100, C361S726000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06182835
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a device for mounting computer expansion slot covers, and more particularly to a device for mounting computer expansion slot covers to a rear panel of a computer enclosure without screws.
2. The Related Art
Slots are defined in a rear panel of a computer enclosure for exposing expansion cards mounted in card sockets of a motherboard. Each of the slots is covered by a cover. Conventionally, the covers are mounted to the enclosure by screws. As is well known, as far as the computer assembly is concerned, the assembly by means of screws is time-consuming and laborious, which hinders efficient assembly of computers.
Furthermore, when adding or replacing expansion cards, a computer user must unscrew and remove the covers and then reinsert the removed screw into the cover of the added expansion card. Often, more than one card must be dealt with, whereby a number of screws must be removed and then reinserted. Each time this task is carried out, there is a risk of dropping one or more screws in the computer enclosure causing inconvenience.
Thus, it is desired to provide a mounting device for readily fixing covers to a rear panel of a computer enclosure in order to overcome the above-mentioned problems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a mounting device for fixing covers to slots defined in a rear panel of a computer enclosure without screws.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a mounting device for fixing covers of expansion cards to a computer enclosure and forming grounding paths therebetween.
In accordance with the present invention, a mounting device for fixing covers to expansion slots defined in a rear panel of a computer enclosure includes an elongate body forming a plurality of depressing portions thereon for engaging with and depressing the covers against the rear panel. One end of the body forms a pivot portion pivotally attaching the mounting device to the computer enclosure and the other end forms a grasping portion to be grasped by a user for moving the mounting device between a released position and a secured position. A locking portion is formed between the grasping portion and the body for engaging with a corresponding hook formed on the computer to retain the mounting device in the secured position whereby the body is deformed and forces are imposed to the covers via the depressing portions thus fixing the covers to the enclosure.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4748993 (1988-06-01), Llewellyn
patent: 5317483 (1994-05-01), Swindler
patent: 5575546 (1996-11-01), Radloff
patent: 5757618 (1998-05-01), Lee
patent: 5967466 (1999-10-01), Osborne et al.
Chung Wei Te
Harris Erica B.
Hon Hai - Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
Stodola Daniel P.
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