U.S. patent application number 11/676294 was filed with the patent office on 2008-08-21 for computer housing.
This patent application is currently assigned to COMPUCASE ENTERPRISE CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to I-Ching Chou, Yuh-Wen Huang, Chih-Wei Lin.
Application Number | 20080197260 11/676294 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39705818 |
Filed Date | 2008-08-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080197260 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chou; I-Ching ; et
al. |
August 21, 2008 |
COMPUTER HOUSING
Abstract
A computer housing includes: a housing body; a first supporting
plate mounted in the housing body; a second supporting plate
mounted in the housing body and cooperating with the first
supporting plate to define a mounting space therebetween; and an
operating lever pivoted to the second supporting plate, formed with
an engaging tongue, and rotatable relative to the second supporting
plate between a first angular position, in which the engaging
tongue extends into the mounting space for retaining a box-like
device in the mounting space, and a second angular position, in
which the engaging tongue is disposed outside of the mounting space
for permitting removal of the box-like device.
Inventors: |
Chou; I-Ching; (Tainan
Hsien, TW) ; Lin; Chih-Wei; (Tainan Hsien, TW)
; Huang; Yuh-Wen; (Tainan City, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BROOKS KUSHMAN P.C.
1000 TOWN CENTER, TWENTY-SECOND FLOOR
SOUTHFIELD
MI
48075
US
|
Assignee: |
COMPUCASE ENTERPRISE CO.,
LTD.
Tainan City
TW
|
Family ID: |
39705818 |
Appl. No.: |
11/676294 |
Filed: |
February 18, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
248/346.01 ;
G9B/33.034 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 1/187 20130101;
G11B 33/128 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
248/346.01 |
International
Class: |
A47B 96/00 20060101
A47B096/00 |
Claims
1. A computer housing comprising: a housing body defining an inner
space therein; a first supporting plate mounted in said inner space
in said housing body; a second supporting plate mounted in said
inner space in said housing body, parallel to said first supporting
plate, and cooperating with said first supporting plate to define a
mounting space therebetween, said mounting space being adapted to
receive a box-like device that is formed with an engaging hole,
said second supporting plate being formed with first and second
through-holes; and an operating lever having first and second end
portions and a middle portion that extends between said first and
second end portions and that is pivoted to said second supporting
plate, said middle portion having opposite first and second ends,
said first end portion extending and being bent from said first end
of said middle portion, said first end of said middle portion being
formed with an engaging tongue that extends into said first
through-hole in said second supporting plate, said second end
portion being bent and extending from said second end of said
middle portion into said second through-hole in said second
supporting plate, said operating lever being rotatable relative to
said second supporting plate between a first angular position, in
which said second end portion is disposed outside of said mounting
space and in which said engaging tongue extends through said first
through-hole in said second supporting plate and into said mounting
space and is adapted to engage the engaging hole in the box-like
device, thereby preventing removal of the box-like device from said
computer housing, and a second angular position, in which said
second end portion of said operating lever extends through said
second through-hole in said second supporting plate and into said
mounting space and in which said engaging tongue is disposed
outside of said mounting space and is disengaged from the engaging
hole in the box-like device, thereby permitting removal of the
box-like device from said computer housing.
2. The computer housing as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second
supporting plate has an inner surface facing toward said first
supporting plate, and an outer surface opposite to said inner
surface, said second supporting plate being formed with a C-shaped
protrusion projecting from said outer surface and defining a
retaining recess, said middle portion of said operating lever being
formed with a pivot pin that is retained in said retaining recess
so as to permit pivoting of said operating lever to said second
supporting plate.
3. The computer housing as claimed in claim 2, wherein said middle
portion of said operating lever is further formed with a spring arm
that protrudes therefrom to abut resiliently against said outer
surface of said second supporting plate.
4. The computer housing as claimed in claim 3, wherein said first
supporting plate is formed with a pair of resilient arms having
protrusions protruding therefrom into said mounting space between
said first and second supporting plates and adapted to urge the
box-like device toward said second supporting plate.
5. The computer housing as claimed in claim 4, wherein said first
and second end portions of said operating lever are bent from said
middle portion of said operating lever in opposite directions.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The invention relates to a computer housing, more
particularly to a computer housing including an operating lever for
retaining releasably a box-like device in the computer housing.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Data-storing or read/write devices are usually box-like in
shape and are to be mounted in a computer housing. Threaded holes
are formed in lateral sides of the devices for extension of
fasteners therein so as to permit fastening of the devices to the
computer housing.
[0005] FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a conventional computer housing 1
adapted for mounting at least one box-like device 2 that has
lateral sides formed with a plurality of threaded holes 21 therein.
The computer housing 1 includes a housing body 11, a first
supporting plate 12 mounted to the housing body 11 and a second
supporting plate 13 mounted to the housing body 11 and disposed
opposite to the first supporting plate 12. The first supporting
plate 12 is formed with a pair of resilient arms 122 punched and
bent therefrom. Each of the resilient arms 122 is formed with a
protrusion 123 that is adapted to be registered with a respective
one of the threaded holes 21 in the box-like device 2 for
engagement therebetween. The second supporting plate 13 is formed
with a pair of through-holes 132, each of which is adapted to be
registered with a respective one of the threaded holes 21 in the
box-like device 2.
[0006] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, to mount the box-like device 2 in
the computer housing 1, the former is inserted into a space between
the first and second supporting plates 12, 13 from a front opening
of the computer housing 1. During the process of insertion, the
resilient arms 122 will be pushed outwardly and accumulate an
urging force so that when the threaded holes 21 in one of the
lateral sides of the box-like device 2 are registered with the
protrusions 123, the protrusions 123 are urged into the threaded
holes 21. A pair of fasteners 14 are subsequently threaded into the
threaded holes 21 in the other of the lateral sides of the box-like
device 2 by extending through the through-holes 132 in the second
supporting plate 13 so as to secure the box-like device 2 to the
computer housing 1. However, securing of the box-like device 2 to
the computer housing 1 using the fasteners 14 is relatively
inconvenient.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide
a computer housing that can overcome the aforesaid drawback
associated with the prior art.
[0008] Accordingly, a computer housing of this invention comprises:
a housing body defining an inner space therein; a first supporting
plate mounted in the inner space in the housing body; a second
supporting plate mounted in the inner space in the housing body,
parallel to the first supporting plate, and cooperating with the
first supporting plate to define amounting space therebetween, the
mounting space being adapted to receive a box-like device that is
formed with an engaging hole, the second supporting plate being
formed with first and second through-holes; and an operating lever
having first and second end portions and a middle portion that
extends between the first and second end portions and that is
pivoted to the second supporting plate. The middle portion has
opposite first and second ends. The first end portion extends and
is bent from the first end of the middle portion. The first end of
the middle portion is formed with an engaging tongue that extends
into the first through-hole in the second supporting plate. The
second end portion is bent and extends from the second end of the
middle portion into the second through-hole in the second
supporting plate. The operating lever is rotatable relative to the
second supporting plate between a first angular position, in which
the second end portion of the operating lever is disposed outside
of the mounting space and in which the engaging tongue extends
through the first through-hole in the second supporting plate and
into the mounting space and is adapted to engage the engaging hole
in the box-like device, thereby preventing removal of the box-like
device from the computer housing, and a second angular position, in
which the second end portion of the operating lever extends through
the second through-hole in the second supporting plate and into the
mounting space, and in which the engaging tongue is disposed
outside of the mounting space and is disengaged from the engaging
hole in the box-like device, thereby permitting removal of the
box-like device from the computer housing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] Other features and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent in the following detailed description of the
preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings,
of which:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional computer
housing;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the conventional
computer housing;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a schematic partly sectional top view of the
conventional computer housing;
[0013] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of
a computer housing according to the present invention;
[0014] FIG. 5 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of the
preferred embodiment;
[0015] FIG. 6 is a schematic partly sectional view illustrating a
state where an operating lever of the preferred embodiment is
disposed at a first angular position; and
[0016] FIG. 7 is a fragmentary partly sectional view illustrating
another state where the operating lever of the preferred embodiment
is disposed at a second angular position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0017] Referring to FIGS. 4 to 7, the preferred embodiment of a
computer housing according to the present invention is shown to
include: a housing body 4 defining an inner space 40 therein; a
first supporting plate 5 mounted in the inner space 40 in the
housing body 4; a second supporting plate 6 mounted in the inner
space 40 in the housing body 4, parallel to the first supporting
plate 5, and cooperating with the first supporting plate 5 to
define a mounting space 80 therebetween, the mounting space 80
being adapted to receive a box-like device 3 that is formed with
upper and lower engaging holes 31 in two lateral sides thereof, the
second supporting plate 6 being formed with upper and lower first
through-holes 64 and a second through-hole 63; and an operating
lever 7 having first and second end portions 76, 78 and a middle
portion 71 that extends between the first and second end portions
76, 78 and that is pivoted to the second supporting plate 6. The
middle portion 71 of the operating lever 7 has opposite first and
second ends 711, 712. The first end portion 76 extends and is bent
from the first end 711 of the middle portion 71. The first end 711
of the middle portion 71 is formed with upper and lower engaging
tongues 74 that extend respectively into the upper and lower first
through-holes 64 in the second supporting plate 6. The second end
portion 78 of the operating lever 7 is bent and extends from the
second end 712 of the middle portion 71 into the second
through-hole 63 in the second supporting plate 6. The operating
lever 7 is rotatable relative to the second supporting plate 6
between a first angular position (see FIG. 6), in which the second
end portion 78 of the operating lever 7 is disposed outside of the
mounting space 80 and in which the upper and lower engaging tongues
74 extend respectively through the upper and lower first
through-holes 64 in the second supporting plate 6 and into the
mounting space 80 between the first and second supporting plates 5,
6 and engage respectively the upper and lower engaging holes 31 in
the box-like device 3, thereby preventing removal of the box-like
device 3 from the computer housing 4, and a second angular position
(see FIG. 7), in which the second end portion 78 of the operating
lever 7 extends through the second through-hole 63 in the second
supporting plate 6 and into the mounting space 80 and in which the
upper and lower engaging tongues 74 are disposed outside of the
mounting space 80 and are disengaged from the upper and lower
engaging holes 31 in the box-like device 3, thereby permitting
removal of the box-like device 3 from the computer housing 4. The
first and second end portions 76, 78 of the operating lever 7 are
bent from the middle portion 71 of the operating lever 7 in
opposite directions.
[0018] In this embodiment, the second supporting plate 6 has an
inner surface 611 facing toward the first supporting plate 5, and
an outer surface 612 opposite to the inner surface 611. The second
supporting plate 6 is formed with a pair of C-shaped protrusions
621 projecting from the outer surface 612 and each defining a
retaining recess 622. The middle portion 71 of the operating lever
7 is formed with a pair of pivot pins 721 that are respectively
retained in the retaining recesses 622 in the C-shaped protrusions
621 so as to permit pivoting of the operating lever 7 to the second
supporting plate 6.
[0019] The middle portion 71 of the operating lever 7 is further
formed with a spring arm 75 that protrudes therefrom to abut
resiliently against the outer, surface 612 of the second supporting
plate 6 for urging the operating lever 7 to move from the first
angular position toward the second angular position.
[0020] The first supporting plate 5 is formed with a pair of
resilient arms 52 having protrusions 53 protruding therefrom into
the mounting space 80 between the first and second supporting
plates 5, 6 for urging the box-like device 3 toward the second
supporting plate 6. The protrusions 53 are respectively registered
with and protrude into the upper and lower engaging holes 31 in the
box-like device 3 when the box-like device 3 is positioned in the
mounting space 80. It should be noted herein that the resilient
arms 52 and the protrusions 53 of the first supporting plate 5 are
formed by punching techniques.
[0021] To mount the box-like device 3 in the computer housing, the
box-like device 3 is moved into the mounting space 80 between the
first and second supporting plates 5, 6 from a front opening of the
housing body 4. During the process of insertion, the resilient arms
52 of the first supporting plate 5 will be pushed outwardly and
accumulate an urging force so that when the upper and lower
engaging holes 31 in one of the lateral sides of the box-like
device 3 are registered with the protrusions 53, the urging force
of the resilient arms 52 will urge the protrusions 53 to move into
the upper and lower engaging holes 31. In the meantime, the second
end portion 78 of the operating lever 7 will be pushed outwardly of
the mounting space 80 such that the operating lever 7 pivots about
the pivot pins 72 to drive the upper and lower engaging tongues 74
through the upper and lower first through-holes 64 in the second
supporting plate 6 to engage the upper and lower engaging holes 31
so as to secure the box-like device 3 to the computer housing.
[0022] When the box-like device 3 is to be removed from the
computer housing, the first end portion 76 of the operating lever 7
is pulled in a direction away from the second supporting plate 6 so
as to disengage the upper and lower engaging tongues 74 from the
upper and lower engaging holes 31, thereby permitting removal of
the box-like device 3 from the computer housing. Note that the
spring arm 75 of the operating lever 7, which abuts against the
second supporting plate 6, will accumulate a restoring force when
the box-like device 3 is mounted between the first and second
supporting plates 5, 6. Hence, when the box-like device 3 is
removed from the computer housing, the restoring force of the
spring arm 75 will restore the operating lever 7 from the first
angular position to the second angular position.
[0023] With the inclusion of the operating lever 7 in the computer
housing of this invention, the fasteners required for securing the
box-like device to the conventional computer housing are dispensed
with such that the aforesaid drawback associated with the prior art
can be eliminated.
[0024] While the present invention has been described in connection
with what is considered the most practical and preferred
embodiment, it is understood that this invention is not limited to
the disclosed embodiment but is intended to cover various
arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest
interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and
equivalent arrangements.
* * * * *