Electricity: electrical systems and devices – Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical... – For electronic systems and devices
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-28
2001-10-09
Picard, Leo P. (Department: 2835)
Electricity: electrical systems and devices
Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical...
For electronic systems and devices
C361S724000, 36, C292S148000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06301102
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention is directed to computer components and monitors and, more particularly, to systems and methods for protecting computer components or monitors, and for displaying graphics or advertisements thereon.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A typical computer system includes a central processing unit (“CPU”), a plurality of input devices (e.g., a keyboard and a mouse), a plurality of output devices (e.g., a display and a printer), a plurality of memory devices and a power source. The computer system is commonly used for a number of years even if portions of the system are upgraded more frequently. The components of the system are accordingly designed to withstand the wear and tear associated with regular computer use over extended lengths of time.
FIG. 1
illustrates a portion of a typical computer system
10
according to the prior art. The computer system
10
includes a CPU
12
and a monitor
14
. The CPU
12
has a housing
21
with a front panel or bezel
13
, a top panel
24
, and opposing side panels
26
. A number of disc drives
16
, controls
18
and a vent
20
are at the front panel
13
. The CPU
12
also has a decal
22
or similar marking indicating the brand of the computer or one of its components. The monitor
14
has a display device including a display screen
28
for displaying information. The monitor also has a top panel
30
and opposing side panel
32
.
The top and side panels
24
/
26
of the CPU
12
and the top and side panels
30
/
32
of the monitor
14
protect the electronic parts within these components. The panels
24
/
26
/
30
/
32
are accordingly typically manufactured from hard plastic. The top and side panels
24
/
26
/
30
/
32
also typically have textured surfaces to camouflage scratches, nicks, dings, fingerprints, smudges, etc. Such blemishes would likely be immediately apparent on smooth, glossy surfaces without a textured finish. The textured finish, however, diffuses light reflecting off the surfaces so that blemishes blend with the textured surface. As a result, CPUs and monitors with textured surfaces can be used for longer periods of time before they look excessively worn.
CPUs and monitors with textured surfaces, however, have a number of disadvantages. First, because the surface is textured, it is more difficult to clean than a smooth surface. Textured surfaces eventually can become dingy with grease, dirt, etc., from fingerprints, dust or contact with other items. Second, ultraviolet light, such as sunlight radiating through a window, damages plastic. After a long period of time, for example, sunlight bleaches or “yellows” plastic surfaces. Such damage from ultraviolet rays is often irreversible. As discussed above, the housing of a component may need to be replaced to provide an acceptable appearance.
Temporary covers have been developed to protect the computer during periods of non-use. These covers typically have been oversized shrouds, or dust covers, that loosely encase the entire component and prevent dust from collecting on the component during periods of non-use. These covers, however, generally do not protect the computer during use because they must be removed to access the computer components. Additionally, these covers are inconvenient because the user must remove and replace these covers each time the computer is used. Moreover, if the user fails to replace the cover after using the computer, the computer will not be protected.
As introduced above, a sticker
22
or decal can also be placed on the computer bearing the name of the entity that manufactured the computer or one of its components. Stickers and decals, however, do not generally protect computer components because they only cover a small percentage of the surface area of a computer component. Moreover, it may not be acceptable, such as in a professional office environment, to affix decals to a computer. Stickers and decals are further problematic because they are difficult to remove and leave a tacky residue. Thus, stickers and decals are not protective devices, and they are generally undesirable because they are virtually permanent fixtures of the computer component.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed toward systems and methods for protecting the external surfaces of computer components. Several embodiments of the present invention are also directed toward displaying graphics on computer components for enhancing the aesthetics of computer systems and/or advertising goods and services.
One computer system of the invention has a computer component with internal devices, a housing enclosing at least a portion of the internal devices, and a protective cover releasably attached to the housing. The computer component can be a CPU, monitor, keyboard, printer or other type of computer device. A CPU for example, typically has a number of internal devices including a processor, at least one memory device and a power supply. The housing is generally sized and shaped to enclose at least a portion of the internal devices of the computer component. The housing, for example, can have a front bezel, a top portion and a side portion. The top and side portions are configured to releasably engage the bezel. The top and side portions of the housing can have external surfaces facing away from the internal devices of the computer component. At least one of the external surfaces can have at least one first fastening area to releasably hold the cover to the housing.
The flexible cover can be a thin, semi-permanent sheet configured to conform to the top portion and at least one side portion of the external surface of the housing without interfering with the operation of the computer component. The cover can have a receiving surface configured to receive the graphics. The cover further can also have at least one second fastening area releasably engageable with the first fastening area on the housing. The second fastening area can be positioned on the cover to align with the first fastening area on the housing when the cover conforms to the housing, and can releasably engage the first fastening area to releasably retain the cover to the housing and display the graphics on the computer component. The cover can remain attached to the housing while a user operates the computer, and the cover can be quickly replaced when it is worn. Thus, the cover protects the housing when it is most likely to be damaged, and it can easily be replaced to change or enhance the aesthetics of the computer.
In another embodiment of the present invention, graphics can be displayed on the computer component by printing the graphics on the cover. For example, one method of the invention for displaying graphics and/or information on a housing of a computer component includes printing information on the cover, conforming the cover to the contour of the top and side portions of the housing, and releasably attaching the cover to the housing. The cover can accordingly be used to advertise goods or services, or to change the aesthetics of the computer.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4535376 (1985-08-01), Nomura et al.
patent: 5105338 (1992-04-01), Held
patent: 5218474 (1993-06-01), Kirschner
patent: 5328145 (1994-07-01), Charapich
patent: 5701230 (1997-12-01), Liang et al.
patent: 6064568 (2000-05-01), Schmitt
Duong Hung Van
Micro)n Technology, Inc.
Perkins Coie LLP
Picard Leo P.
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