Electricity: electrical systems and devices – Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical... – For electronic systems and devices
Reexamination Certificate
1998-09-11
2001-09-11
Tolin, Gerald (Department: 2835)
Electricity: electrical systems and devices
Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical...
For electronic systems and devices
C361S689000, C312S223100, C312S223200, C312S223300
Reexamination Certificate
active
06288892
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a front cover for a computer housing.
The front of computer housings is usually covered by a front panel made of plastic. This front panel has, inter alia, recesses for the installation locations of disk drives, as well as an immobilizing lock, pushbuttons for switching on and off, indicator lamps, possibly an LCD display element, and much more.
The increasing opportunities for the use of a personal computer, particularly in the area of multimedia applications, have produced a series of additional components, and there is very often insufficient space available on the front panel for their connection elements. In order to satisfy the respective customer requirements with regard to these additional components to a sufficient extent, as comprehensive an offer as possible would essentially have to be provided. On the other hand, for space reasons, preference would also have to be given to fitting equipment on an individual basis. However, this would then inevitably require the front panel to have a different layout depending on the equipment of the personal computer, an extravagance which cannot in itself be justified in view of the high tool costs.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,327,683 A discloses a front cover for a computer housing; this cover is designed as a front panel in the form of a frame, and individual wall elements can be releasably inserted into this front panel in the form of a frame.
Furthermore, EP 687 970 A and EP 647 897 A disclose computer housings having attachable front panels, the front having a different layout depending on the accessory equipment required, and having a correspondingly different front panel fitted on it.
Hence, there is a need for a front cover for a computer housing which makes it possible to match the front panel to the various equipment of the computer using the simplest means possible.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention satisfies the aforenoted needs by providing a front cover for a computer housing. The computer housing includes a front panel having a number of installation locations for externally accessible disk drives. The front cover comprises a front panel comprising an aperture for providing access to at least one disk drive and a longitudinal edge comprising a function strip. The function strip comprises at least one application-specific accessory module selected from the group consisting of a plug connection, a connection socket, a card reader and an infrared receiver. The function strip matably engages a multi-functional panel with at least one aperture for providing access to the at least one application-specific accessory module of the function strip.
In an embodiment, the multi-function panel is detachably connected to the function strip by at least one latching element.
In an embodiment, the multi-functional panel comprises an inner face directed towards the function strip. The inner face comprises a slot for guiding a sliding panel for at least partially covering the aperture disposed in the front panel.
In an embodiment, the function strip comprises a smart-card reader and the multi-functional panel comprises a slot for providing access to the smart card reader.
In an embodiment, the multi-functional panel comprises a lock.
In an embodiment, the function strip comprises at least one plug connection, at least one connection socket, at least one smart-card reader and at least one infrared receiver. Consequently, the function strip comprises a plurality of apertures for providing access to the plurality of application-specific accessory modules of the function strip.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from reading the following detailed description and appended claims, and upon reference to the accompanying drawing.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4425014 (1984-01-01), Bleep
patent: 4810833 (1989-03-01), Meyers
patent: 4874110 (1989-10-01), Klein et al.
patent: 5164886 (1992-11-01), Chang
patent: 5327683 (1994-07-01), Chu
patent: 5768097 (1998-06-01), Jelinger
patent: 5794164 (1998-08-01), Beckert et al.
patent: 0 674 897 A2 (1994-10-01), None
patent: 0 687 970 A1 (1995-02-01), None
patent: 2 293 493 A (1994-09-01), None
patent: 296 03 161 U1 (1996-02-01), None
Jerg Jürgen
Lanz Michael
Scherer August
Chang Yean-Hsi
Schiff & Hardin & Waite
Siemens Nixdorf Informationssysteme Aktiengesellschaft
Tolin Gerald
LandOfFree
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