Access door assembly for a computer case
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorElizabeth B. Diaz
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention is directed to an access door assembly for a computer case in which a drive door can be easily opened, thereby allowing access to the module data storage media drive which is connected to the removable door. Advantageously, the use of an access door which is easily opened facilitates upgrade and/or maintenance and repair of the removable media drive. The media drive can be, for example, a floppy disc drive or a hard disc drive. Because of the ease of use, the access door can be opened by a person without any technical skill, thereby lowering warranty costs. Maintenance and upgrades can be done by an unskilled consumer without the necessity of either having to ship the computer back to the manufacturer or have a service technician visit the consumer.
Claims18
A door assembly, adapted to be attached to a wall of a computer case having a plurality of walls that define an inside space of said computer case, and, when so attached, substantially covering an opening in said wall of said computer case, said door assembly comprising:
- a substantially flat plate, comprising an inwardly directed surface and an outwardly directed surface, wherein said inwardly directed surface is adapted to be directed toward said inside space of said computer case when said door is attached to said wall, wherein said door is adapted to be completely detachably attached to said wall in closing association with said opening, and wherein said flat plate is of a size that at least covers said opening when said door is attached to said wall;
- means to detachably connect a media drive to said door proximate to an inwardly directed surface of said substantially flat plate such that when said door is attached to said wall and is in a closed position covering at least said opening, said media drive is contained within said inside space;
- means on said inwardly directed surface of said substantially flat plate to space said media drive, from said flat plate;
- and
- at least one substantially “L” shaped ramp(s) extending away from said inwardly directed surface of said substantially flat plate,
- wherein said “L” shaped ramp(s) is/are adapted to be directed toward said inside space of said computer ease when said door is in a closed position;
- wherein a first leg of said “L” is attached to and extends from said inwardly directed surface, and a second leg of said “L” is attached to and extends from said first leg in a direction transverse to said first leg whereby defining a space between said inwardly directed surface and said second leg;
- wherein said ramp(s) is/are adapted to be inserted into a corresponding number of recesses in said wall spaced from said opening and adapted to slidingly engage at least one corresponding, substantially flat surface of said wall proximate to said recess(es);
- and
- wherein said door is adapted to be placed over said opening with said ramp(s) in said whereby engaging said “L” shaped ramp(s) with said substantially flat surface in a recess(es) and is adapted to be slid in a direction that is substantially parallel to said wall whereby engaging said “L” shaped ramp(s) with said substantially flat surface in a disengageable, substantially locking, relationship.
A method of attaching at least one completely removable drive door assembly to at least one of a plurality of exterior walls of a computer case;
- wherein said wall to which said door assembly is adapted to be attached comprises:
- an opening therein adapted to provide access to an interior space within said case;
- and
- a plurality of recesses proximate to said opening and defining substantially flat portions of said wall that are accessible from said opening;
- wherein said door assembly comprises:
- a substantially flat plate having an inwardly directed side and an outwardly directed side and having at least one “L” shaped ramp extending from said inwardly directed side;
- and
- means to attach a media drive to the door assembly;
- said method comprising:
- positioning said flat plate over said opening such that said ramp(s) are disposed in a corresponding number of said recesses and said flat plate is substantially parallel to said wall;
- and
- slidingly moving the door in a direction that is substantially parallel to said wall such that said ramps disengagingly engage a corresponding flat portion of said wall of said computer case that is proximate to said recess(es);
- whereby fastening said door to said computer case and causing said media drive to be enclosed within said inner space.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.