US 5,823,644 A · Personal computer with an easy assembly structure

Abstract

The present invention is a personal computer case that is easy to assemble and disassemble. The computer case can be separated into two members, the first covering the top, front, right and left sides of the case, and the second covering the bottom, front, and rear sides of the case. A push button operated latch enables one member to become detached from the other member, allowing the case to be opened, without requiring the use of screws or special tools. The push button contains a slidable detent feature that can prevent the button from being depressed, thus preventing the inadvertent disassembly, separation, and opening of the computer case. The case contains a security feature that involves attaching a padlock to a tab portion of one member that is slid through a hole in the other member. With the padlock attached, the tab can not be retracted from the hole, thus preventing the unwanted separation of the two members.

A personal computer with an easy assembly structure comprising:

a bottom plate accommodating mounting of components of said personal computer, said bottom plate having a bottom surface, first and second walls erected in spaced-apart relation respectively on front and rear sides;
a front upper cover assembly, inserted to slide onto said bottom plate, said front upper cover assembly comprising:
a front cover defining a front side of said personal computer, and
an upper cover comprised of upper, left, and right lateral sides of said personal computer, and a rear flange extending around said upper, left, and right sides of said rear side of said computer;
and
a locking mechanism, mounted on said front upper cover assembly, comprising:
a pivotable latching member engaging an edge of an aperture in said first wall of said bottom plate,
said pivotable latching member being supported by a U-shaped bracket having opposite first and second sidewalls separated by an intermediate front wall integrally joined to said first and second sidewalls and attached to an inside of said front cover, said first sidewall being perforated by a slot;
said pivotable latching member having opposite first and second flanges separated by an upper central web integrally joined to said first and second flanges, said first and said second flanges each having a distal end terminated by a hook extending away from said web and engaging said edge of said aperture in said bottom plate in a locked configuration, said web having a front end bearing a protrusion extending upwardly away from said flanges, said first and second flanges each having a front end coaxially and pivotally coupled between said sidewalls of said bracket to rotate around an axis generally between said protrusion and said hooks;
a button mechanism mounted within an interior formed between said bottom plate and said front upper cover assembly, said button mechanism having a coil spring biasing said button mechanism to protrude laterally outwardly beyond said first wall of said bottom plate and laterally outwardly beyond said front upper cover assembly, said button mechanism responding to manual manipulation of depression of said button mechanism toward said coil spring bias by forcing said pivotable latching member to rotate and to disengage from said edge of said aperture on said first wall, thereby allowing said front upper cover assembly to be separated from said bottom plate, wherein said push button mechanism is a monolithically integrated unit comprised of:
a push button at one end of the button mechanism;
and
a flat plate part fixed at a proximal end to said button and extending to an end opposite said push button, said flat plate part comprised of a groove bounded by a latching edge on a side of said groove opposite said push button and an inclined edge on a side of said groove closest to said button, said groove engaging a protrusion on said pivotable latching member, said inclined edge of said groove camming said protrusion on said pivotable latching member as said push button is pressed, and thereby causing said pivotable latching member to pivot against said spring bias;
a detent feature for said push button comprising:
said push button protruding from said front cover assembly through a lateral side of said front cover;
a socket on the underside of said push button;
a slide groove on said lateral side of said front cover of said front upper cover assembly;
and
a locking knob slidably located in said slide groove, said locking knob comprised of:
a protruding tab on one end of said locking knob that fits into said socket underneath said push button, thus preventing said push button, from being depressed, and
a gripping protrusion located on an end of said locking knob opposite said protruding tab, said gripping protrusion containing a ball and an elastic member biasing said ball laterally inwardly against a surface of said groove, thus preventing inadvertent sliding of said locking knob, and thereby preventing inadvertent disengagement of said front cover assembly from said bottom plate.

18 more elements

Personal computer with an easy assembly structure

Life of this patent

Personal computer with an easy assembly structure

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims10