Gas separation – Combined or convertible
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-09
2001-10-30
Simmons, David A. (Department: 1724)
Gas separation
Combined or convertible
C055S385600, C055S493000, C055S496000, C055SDIG003
Reexamination Certificate
active
06309437
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to air filters for computers and, more particularly, to air filters designed to cover an entire surface of a computer box to filter air drawn into the computer box through openings on the surface.
2. Description of the Related Art
Located inside most computers is a fan which draws outside air into the computer box to cool the CPU and other components located inside. As the CPU's clock speed increases, a greater amount of air must be drawn into the computer box to cool the CPU. Unfortunately, when more air is drawn into the computer box, more dust and dirt accumulates inside.
It is widely known that a large quantity of the air drawn into the computer box enters through switch and light openings and through floppy and CD-ROM disc drive openings all located on the front surface of the computer box. It is also widely known that the shape or profile of the front surface on the computer box varies with different computer manufacturers. The height and width of the computer box varies also.
What is needed is a filter cover that can be selectively used to substantially cover different shaped front surfaces and different sizes of computer boxes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a filter cover that substantially covers the front surface of a computer box.
It is an object of the present invention to provide such a filter cover that can be used on computer boxes with front surfaces having different shapes or profiles.
It is another object of the invention to provide such a filter cover that can be used with different sized computer boxes.
These and other objects of the present invention are met by a computer box filter cover for a computer box that includes a frame assembly that selectively attaches to a computer box, a door assembly that attaches to the frame assembly that during use, selectively opens and closes over the front surface of the computer box. Located inside the door assembly is an air filter. Formed on the outside surface of the door assembly opposite the filter is a plurality of air inlet openings. When the door assembly is closed over the front surface of the computer box, the fan located inside the computer box causes air to be drawn through the air inlet openings and filter and into the computer box. During assembly, the frame assembly is aligned and attached with a frame assembly attachment means to the computer box adjacent to the front surface. In the preferred embodiment a pivoting means, such as a pair of hinges, is disposed between the frame assembly and the door assembly to enable the door assembly to be selectively opened and closed thereon. The frame assembly includes an abutment means which properly aligns the frame assembly on the computer box so that the edges of the door assembly may press against the edges of the frame assembly during use thereby creating a seal. The door assembly is a relatively deep structure and the abutment means allows the position of the upper section of the frame assembly when attached to the computer box to be adjusted so that the filter cover may be used on different front surfaces. In another embodiment, the lengths of the frame assembly and door assembly may be adjusted so that the filter cover may be used on different heights and widths of computer boxes.
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Craine Dean A.
Prince Fred
Simmons David A.
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