U.S. patent application number 10/672216 was filed with the patent office on 2004-09-09 for housing of an electronic device with a window and a window panel for closing the window.
This patent application is currently assigned to AOPEN INC.. Invention is credited to Li, Chao-Kang.
Application Number | 20040174099 10/672216 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32924578 |
Filed Date | 2004-09-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040174099 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Li, Chao-Kang |
September 9, 2004 |
Housing of an electronic device with a window and a window panel
for closing the window
Abstract
A housing of an electronic device includes a housing wall that
confines an inner space therein and that is formed with a window
for access into the inner space, a rail unit formed on the housing
wall and disposed adjacent to the window, and a window panel
mounted movably on the rail unit and movable between a closed
position, in which the window is covered by the window panel, and
an open position, in which at least a portion of the window is
exposed from the window panel.
Inventors: |
Li, Chao-Kang; (Taipei
Hsien, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MERCHANT & GOULD PC
P.O. BOX 2903
MINNEAPOLIS
MN
55402-0903
US
|
Assignee: |
AOPEN INC.
Taipei Hsien
TW
|
Family ID: |
32924578 |
Appl. No.: |
10/672216 |
Filed: |
September 26, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
312/223.2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H05K 5/0239 20130101;
G06F 1/181 20130101; H05K 5/0221 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
312/223.2 |
International
Class: |
A47B 097/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 4, 2003 |
TW |
092104570 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A housing for an electronic device, comprising: a housing wall
that confines an inner space therein and that is formed with a
window for access into said inner space; a rail unit formed on said
housing wall and disposed adjacent to said window; and a window
panel mounted movably on said rail unit and movable between a
closed position, in which said window is covered by said window
panel, and an open position, in which at least a portion of said
window is exposed from said window panel.
2. The housing of claim 1, wherein said window has two opposite
sides, said rail unit including a pair of opposite first rails,
each of which defines a first guiding groove that is disposed
adjacent to a respective one of said opposite sides of said window,
said window panel having two opposite sides, each of which has
opposite top and bottom ends, said window panel being formed with a
pair of first studs that respectively project from said top ends of
said opposite sides of said window panel into said first guiding
grooves in said first rails.
3. The housing of claim 2, wherein said rail unit further includes
a pair of opposite second rails, each of which defines a second
guiding groove and each of which is disposed below and is aligned
with a respective one of said first rails, said window panel being
further formed with a pair of second studs that respectively
project from said bottom ends of said opposite sides of said window
panel into said second guiding grooves in said second rails.
4. The housing of claim 3, wherein each of said first rails
includes a pair of parallel first inner and outer ribs that
cooperatively define said first guiding groove therebetween, said
first inner rib having opposite top and bottom ends and a side face
that extends from said bottom end of said first inner rib to said
top end of said first inner rib, and that confines one side of said
first guiding groove, said first inner rib further having a top end
face that extends transversely from said side face of said first
inner rib, each of said first studs being in sliding contact with
said side face of said first inner rib of the respective one of
said first rails when said window panel is disposed between said
closed and open positions, and being seated on said top end face of
said first inner rib of the respective one of said first rails when
said window panel is moved to said closed position.
5. The housing of claim 4, wherein each of said second rails
includes a pair of parallel second inner and outer ribs that
cooperatively define said second guiding groove therebetween, said
second inner rib having opposite top and bottom ends and a side
face that extends from said bottom end of said second inner rib to
said top end of said second inner rib, and that confines one side
of said second guiding groove, said second inner rib further having
a top end face that extends transversely from said side face of
said second inner rib, each of said second studs being in sliding
contact with said side face of said second inner rib of the
respective one of said second rails when said window panel is
disposed between said closed and open positions, and being seated
on said top end face of said second inner rib of the respective one
of said second rails when said window panel is moved to said closed
position.
6. The housing of claim 5, further comprising an urging member that
is mounted on said housing wall and that abuts against said window
panel when said window panel is moved to said closed position.
7. The housing of claim 6, wherein said window panel is formed with
a protrusion that projects transversely therefrom and that defines
an inclined face inclined relative to said window panel and having
an inner end and an outer end which is opposite to said inner end
and which is distal from said window panel, said urging member
having a spring arm with a free end that is in sliding contact with
and that abuts against said inner end of said inclined face of said
protrusion when said window panel is moved from said open position
to a position adjacent to said closed position, and that is in
sliding contact with and that abuts against said outer end of said
inclined face of said protrusion when said window panel is moved
further to said closed position, said spring arm of said urging
member being moved in a direction away from said window panel when
slid from said inner end to said outer end of said inclined face of
said protrusion upon movement of said window panel from said open
position to said closed position, thereby providing an urging force
against said window panel to retain relesably said window panel at
said closed position.
8. The housing of claim 4, wherein said side face of said first
inner rib of each of said first rails has an inclined segment that
extends inclinedly from said top end face of said first inner
rib.
9. The housing of claim 5, wherein said side face of said second
inner rib of each of said second rails has an inclined segment that
extends inclinedly from said top end face of said second inner
rib.
10. The housing of claim 1, further comprising a friction providing
unit including a first friction member that is mounted on said
housing wall, and a second friction member that is mounted on said
window panel and that engages frictionally and movably said first
friction member so as to provide a frictional force between said
window panel and said housing wall upon movement of said window
panel between said closed and open positions.
11. The housing of claim 10, wherein said window panel has two
opposite sides, said window having two opposite sides, said first
friction member including a pair of pinions that are mounted on
said housing wall and that are respectively disposed adjacent to
said opposite sides of said window, said second friction member
including a pair of racks that are respectively mounted on said
opposite sides of said window panel, and that engage respectively
said pinions.
12. An electronic device, comprising: a housing adapted to receive
electronic components therein and including a housing wall that
confines an inner space therein and that is formed with a window
for access into said inner space, a rail unit formed on said
housing and disposed adjacent to said window, and a window panel
mounted movably on said rail unit and movable between a closed
position, in which said window is covered by said window panel, and
an open position, in which at least a portion of said window is
exposed from said window panel.
13. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein said window has two
opposite sides, said rail unit including a pair of opposite first
rails, each of which defines a first guiding groove that is
disposed adjacent to a respective one of said opposite sides of
said window, said window panel having two opposite sides, each of
which has opposite top and bottom ends, said window panel being
formed with a pair of first studs that respectively project from
said top ends of said opposite sides of said window panel into said
first guiding grooves in said first rails.
14. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein said rail unit
further includes a pair of opposite second rails, each of which
defines a second guiding groove and each of which is disposed below
and is aligned with a respective one of said first rails, said
window panel being further formed with a pair of second studs that
respectively project from said bottom ends of said opposite sides
of said window panel into said second guiding grooves in said
second rails.
15. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein each of said first
rails includes a pair of parallel first inner and outer ribs that
cooperatively define said first guiding groove therebetween, said
first inner rib having opposite top and bottom ends and a side face
that extends from said bottom end of said first inner rib to said
top end of said first inner rib, and that confines one side of said
first guiding groove, said first inner rib further having a top end
face that extends transversely from said side face of said first
inner rib, each of said first studs being in sliding contact with
said side face of said first inner rib of the respective one of
said first rails when said window panel is disposed between said
closed and open positions, and being seated on said top end face of
said first inner rib of the respective one of said first rails when
said window panel is moved to said closed position.
16. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein each of said second
rails includes a pair of parallel second inner and outer ribs that
cooperatively define said second guiding groove therebetween, said
second inner rib having opposite top and bottom ends and a side
face that extends from said bottom end of said second inner rib to
said top end of said second inner rib, and that confines one side
of said second guiding groove, said second inner rib further having
a top end face that extends transversely from said side face of
said second inner rib, each of said second studs being in sliding
contact with said side face of said second inner rib of the
respective one of said second rails when said window panel is
disposed between said closed and open positions, and being seated
on said top end face of said second inner rib of the respective one
of said second rails when said window panel is moved to said closed
position.
17. The electronic device of claim 16, further comprising an urging
member that is mounted on said housing wall and that abuts against
said window panel when said window panel is moved to said closed
position.
18. The electronic device of claim 17, wherein said window panel is
formed with a protrusion that projects transversely therefrom and
that defines an inclined face inclined relative to said window
panel and having an inner end and an outer end which is opposite to
said inner end and which is distal from said window panel, said
urging member having a spring arm with a free end that is in
sliding contact with and that abuts against said inner end of said
inclined face of said protrusion when said window panel is moved
from said open position to a position adjacent to said closed
position, and that is in sliding contact with and that abuts
against said outer end of said inclined face of said protrusion
when said window panel is moved further to said closed position,
said spring arm of said urging member being moved in a direction
away from said window panel when slid from said inner end to said
outer end of said inclined face of said protrusion upon movement of
said window panel from said open position to said closed position,
thereby providing an urging force against said window panel to
retain relesably said window panel at said closed position.
19. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein said side face of
said first inner rib of each of said first rails has an inclined
segment that extends inclinedly from said top end face of said
first inner rib.
20. The electronic device of claim 16, wherein said side face of
said second inner rib of each of said second rails has an inclined
segment that extends inclinedly from said top end face of said
second inner rib.
21. The electronic device of claim 12, further comprising a
friction providing unit including a first friction member that is
mounted on said housing wall, and a second friction member that is
mounted on said window panel and that engages frictionally and
movably said first friction member so as to provide a frictional
force between said first and second friction members upon movement
of said window panel between said closed and open positions.
22. The electronic device of claim 21, wherein said window panel
has two opposite sides, said window having two opposite sides, said
first friction member including a pair of pinions that are mounted
on said housing wall and that are respectively disposed adjacent to
said opposite sides of said window, said second friction member
including a pair of racks that are respectively mounted on said
opposite sides of said window panel, and that engage respectively
said pinions.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority of Taiwanese Application
No. 092104570, filed on Mar. 4, 2003.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] This invention relates to a housing of an electronic device,
more particularly to a housing of an electronic device with a
window and a window panel mounted movably on the housing for
closing the window.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Desktop personal computers normally include a housing
defining an inner space for accommodating electronic components,
such as a mother board, a hard disc drive, a CD-ROM drive, and a
power unit, therein. The housing includes housing walls that are
assembled together through screw means. To gain access into the
inner space in the housing, the screw means are required to be
removed from the housing, which is relatively inconvenient and
laborious.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide
a housing of an electronic device that is capable of overcoming the
aforesaid drawback of the prior art.
[0007] According to the present invention, there is provided a
housing for an electronic device. The housing comprises: a housing
wall that confines an inner space therein and that is formed with a
window for access into the inner space; a rail unit formed on the
housing wall and disposed adjacent to the window; and a window
panel mounted movably on the rail unit and movable between a closed
position, in which the window is covered by the window panel, and
an open position, in which at least a portion of the window is
exposed from the window panel.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] In drawings which illustrate an embodiment of the
invention,
[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a
housing of an electronic device according to this invention;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of the
housing of FIG. 1;
[0011] FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the housing of
FIG. 1 to illustrate how a window panel is mounted slidably on the
housing;
[0012] FIGS. 4 to 6 are enlarged fragmentary views of the housing
of FIG. 1 to illustrate consecutive steps of movement of the window
panel from an open position to a closed position;
[0013] FIGS. 7 to 9 are fragmentary sectional views of the housing
of FIG. 1 that respectively correspond to FIGS. 4 to 6; and
[0014] FIG. 10 is a side view of the housing of FIG. 1 viewed from
an inner side of the housing to illustrate how the window panel is
retained at the closed position through an urging member.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0015] FIGS. 1 to 3 illustrate the preferred embodiment of a
housing 2 for accommodating electronic components (not shown) of an
electronic device, such as a desktop personal computer, according
to this invention.
[0016] The housing 2 includes: a housing wall 21 that confines an
inner space therein and that is formed with a window 211 for access
into the inner space; a rail unit 3' formed on the housing wall 21
and disposed adjacent to the window 211; and a window panel 23
mounted movably on the rail unit 3' and movable between a closed
position (see FIG. 6, 9, and 10), in which the window 211 is
covered by the window panel 23, and an open position (see FIGS. 4
and 7), in which at least a portion of the window 211 is exposed
from the window panel 23. The window panel 23 is preferably
transparent.
[0017] The rail unit 3' includes a pair of opposite first rails 3,
each of which defines a first guiding groove 30 that is disposed
adjacent to a respective one of two opposite sides 2111 of the
window 211. The window panel 23 has two opposite sides 230, each of
which has opposite top and bottom ends 2301. The window panel 23 is
formed with a pair of first studs 241 that respectively project
from the top ends 2301 of the opposite sides 230 of the window
panel 23 into the first guiding grooves 30 in the first rails
3.
[0018] The rail unit 3' further includes a pair of opposite second
rails 4, each of which defines a second guiding groove 40 and each
of which is disposed below and is aligned with a respective one of
the first rails 3. The window panel 23 is further formed with a
pair of second studs 242 that respectively project from the bottom
ends 2301 of the opposite sides 230 of the window panel 23 into the
second guiding grooves 40 in the second rails 4.
[0019] Each of the first rails 3 includes a pair of parallel first
inner and outer ribs 31, 32 that cooperatively define the first
guiding groove 30 therebetween. The first inner rib 31 has opposite
top and bottom ends 311, 312 (see FIGS. 3 and FIGS. 7 to 9) and a
side face 313 that extends from the bottom end 312 of the first
inner rib 31 to the top end 311 of the first inner rib 31, and that
confines one side of the first guiding groove 30. The first inner
rib 31 further has a top end face 314 that extends transversely
from the side face 313 of the first inner rib 31. Each of the first
studs 241 is in sliding contact with the side face 313 of the first
inner rib 31 of the respective one of the first rails 3 when the
window panel 23 is disposed between the closed and open positions,
and is seated on the top end face 314 of the first inner rib 31 of
the respective one of the first rails 3 (see FIG. 9) when the
window panel 23 is moved to the closed position.
[0020] Each of the second rails 4 includes a pair of parallel
second inner and outer ribs 41, 42 that cooperatively define the
second guiding groove 40 therebetween. The second inner rib 41 has
opposite top and bottom ends 411, 412 and a side face 413 that
extends from the bottom end 412 of the second inner rib 41 to the
top end 411 of the second inner rib 41, and that confines one side
of the second guiding groove 40. The second inner rib 41 further
has a top end face 414 that extends transversely from the side face
413 of the second inner rib 41. Each of the second studs 242 is in
sliding contact with the side face 414 of the second inner rib 41
of the respective one of the second rails 41 when the window panel
23 is disposed between the closed and open positions, and is seated
on the top end face 414 of the second inner rib 41 of the
respective one of the second rails 4 (see FIG. 9) when the window
panel 23 is moved to the closed position The window panel 23 is
formed with a protrusion 27 that projects transversely therefrom
and that defines an inclined face 271 inclined relative to the
window panel 23 and having an inner end 2711 and an outer end 2712
which is opposite to the inner end 2711 and which is distal from
the window panel 23. An urging member 26 is mounted on the housing
wall 21, and has a spring arm 260 with a free end 2601 that is in
sliding contact with and that abuts against the inner end 2711 of
the inclined face 271 of the protrusion 27 when the window panel 23
is moved from the open position to a position adjacent to the
closed position, and that is in sliding contact with and that abuts
against the outer end 2712 of the inclined face 271 of the
protrusion 27 when the window panel 23 is moved further to the
closed position. The spring arm 260 of the urging member 26 is
moved in a direction away from the window panel 23 when slid from
the inner end 2711 to the outer end 2712 of the inclined face 271
of the protrusion 27 upon movement of the window panel 23 from the
open position to the closed position (see FIG. 3 and FIGS. 7 to 9),
thereby providing an urging force against the window panel 23 to
retain relesably the window panel 23 at the closed position. To
open the window 211, the window panel 23 is pushed inwardly of the
housing 2 so as to move the first and second studs 241, 242 away
from the top end faces 314 of the inner ribs 31 of the first rails
3 and the top end faces 414 of the inner ribs 41 of the second
rails 4 and so as to permit downward movement of the window panel
23 to the open position by virtue of the weight of the window panel
23. A weight (not shown) may be provided on the window panel 23 to
facilitate downward movement of the window panel 23. An operating
lever 231 is formed on the window panel 23 for facilitating opening
and closing operations of the window 211.
[0021] The side face 313 of the first inner rib 31 of each of the
first rails 3 has an inclined segment 3131 that extends inclinedly
from the top end face 314 of the first inner rib 31 for
facilitating movement of the respective first stud 241 between the
top end face 314 of the first inner rib 31 and the aide face 313 of
the first inner rib 31. The side face 413 of the second inner rib
41 of each of the second rails 4 has an inclined segment 4131 that
extends inclinedly from the top end face 414 of the second inner
rib 41 for facilitating movement of the respective second stud 242
between the top end face 414 of the second inner rib 41 and the
side face 413 of the second inner rib 41.
[0022] A friction providing unit 25 includes a first friction
member 251 that is mounted on the housing wall 21, and a second
friction member 252 that is mounted on the window panel 23 and that
engages frictionally and movably the first friction member 251 so
as to provide a frictional force between the window panel 23 and
the housing wall 21 upon movement of the window panel 23 between
the closed and open positions and so as to prevent free fall of the
window panel 23 during downward movement of the window panel 23
from the closed position to the open position.
[0023] In this embodiment, the first friction member 251 includes a
pair of pinions 251' that are mounted on the housing wall 21 and
that are respectively disposed adjacent to the opposite sides 2111
of the window 211. The second friction member 252 includes a pair
of racks 252' that are respectively mounted on the opposite sides
230 of the window panel 23, and that engage respectively the
pinions 251'.
[0024] FIGS. 4 to 6 illustrate consecutive steps of movement of the
window panel 23 from the open position to the closed position.
FIGS. 7 to 9 are sectional views that correspond to FIGS. 4 to 6,
respectively.
[0025] Since the inner space of the housing 2 can be accessed
through the window 211, which can be easily opened by pushing the
window panel 23 inwardly of the housing 2 to permit downward
movement of the window panel 23 by virtue of the weight of the
window panel 23, the aforesaid drawback as encountered in the prior
art can be eliminated accordingly.
[0026] With the invention thus explained, it is apparent that
various modifications and variations can be made without departing
from the spirit of the present invention.
* * * * *