# US 7,744,172 B2 · Computer enclosure with interchangeable I/O plate > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,744,172 B2 - Document ID: US7744172B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/738,530 - Filed: 2007-04-23 - Published: 2008-06-26 - Granted: 2010-06-29 - Earliest claimed: 2006-12-22 - Assignees: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Wen-Tzu Chen; Li-Ping Chen; Chia-Kang Wu; Yi-Lung Chou - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7744172B2 ## CPC - G06F 1/183: Internal mounting support structures, e.g. for supporting printed circuit boards - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract A computer enclosure includes a rear plate defining a through opening therein, a mounting bracket secured on the rear plate to cover the through opening of the rear plate, and an interchangeable I/O plate. The mounting bracket includes a top wall perpendicular to the rear plate and, a front wall parallel to the rear plate. The top wall forms an engaging tab thereon. The front wall defines a through opening therein corresponding to the through opening of the rear plate. The I/O plate is configured for covering the through opening of the front wall of the mounting bracket, and defines a securing hole therein for receiving the engaging tab of the mounting bracket. A locking piece is formed on the I/O plate and together with the I/O plate sandwiches an edge of the through opening of the mounting bracket therebetween. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A computer enclosure comprising: a rear plate defining a first through opening therein; a bottom plate perpendicularly connected to the rear plate; a mounting bracket secured on the rear plate to cover the first through opening of the rear plate, the mounting bracket comprising a top wall perpendicular to the rear plate and a front wall parallel to the rear plate, the top wall forming an engaging tab thereon, the front wall defining a second through opening therein corresponding to the first through opening of the rear plate; and an interchangeable I/O plate configured for covering the second through opening of the front wall of the mounting bracket, the I/O plate defining a securing hole therein for receiving the engaging tab of the mounting bracket, a locking piece being formed on the I/O plate and together with the I/O plate sandwiching an edge of the second through opening of the front wall of the mounting bracket therebetween; wherein the engaging tab extends towards a first direction parallel to the rear plate to engage in the securing hole, and the locking piece together with the I/O plate is movable towards a second direction opposite to the first direction to sandwich the edge of the second through opening of the mounting bracket; the top wall of the mounting bracket defines a mounting hole therein, the I/O plate defining a second mounting hole therein, the mounting hole of the top wall of the mounting bracket and the second mounting hole of the I/O plate being configured for receiving a mounting member therein to thereby securely mount the I/O plate on the mounting bracket; and the I/O plate defines a plurality of cutouts, the computer enclosure further comprising a shielding plate which is secured on the I/O plate and forms a plurality of resilient clips and finger pieces for inserting through the cutout of the I/O plate to electrically touch the front wall of the mounting bracket. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The computer enclosure as described in claim 1, wherein the engaging tab extends perpendicularly from the top wall, so that the I/O plate cannot be detached from the mounting bracket along a direction perpendicular to the rear plate after the engaging tab is inserted into the securing hole of the I/O plate. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The computer enclosure as described in claim 1, wherein a support piece and a mounting piece are perpendicularly bent from the I/O plate, and the securing hole and the second mounting hole of the I/O plate are respectively defined in the support piece and the mounting piece. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The computer enclosure as described in claim 3, wherein the support piece, the mounting piece, and the locking piece are positioned on a same side of the I/O plate facing the mounting bracket. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The computer enclosure as described in claim 1, wherein the mounting bracket further comprises a bottom wall, a positioning hole being defined at a junction between the bottom wall and the front wall for the locking piece of the I/O plate inserting therethrough. ### Claim 6 A computer enclosure comprising: a rear plate defining a first through opening therein; a mounting bracket secured on the rear plate to cover the first through opening of the rear plate, the mounting bracket comprising a top wall perpendicular to the rear plate and a front wall parallel to the rear plate, the front wall defining a second through opening therein corresponding to the first through opening of the rear plate; an I/O plate configured for covering the second through opening of the front wall of the mounting bracket; a positioning structure formed on the mounting bracket and the I/O plate to locate the I/O plate on the mounting bracket; and a mounting member securing the I/O plate on the mounting bracket to prevent the I/O plate from releasing from the mounting bracket; wherein the I/O plate is slidable along a direction parallel to the rear plate to be attached to or detached from the mounting bracket; and the I/O plate defines a plurality of cutouts, the computer enclosure further comprising a shielding plate which is secured on the I/O plate and forms a plurality of resilient clips and finger pieces for inserting through the cutout of the I/O plate to electrically touch the front wall of the mounting bracket. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The computer enclosure as described in claim 6, wherein the positioning structure comprises an engaging tab formed on the top wall of the mounting bracket and a support piece formed on the I/O plate, the support piece defining a securing hole therein for receiving the engaging tab. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The computer enclosure as described in claim 7, wherein the positioning structure further comprises a locking piece formed on the I/O plate, the locking piece cooperating with the I/O plate sandwiches an edge of the second through opening of the front wall of the mounting bracket therebetween. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The computer enclosure as described in claim 8, the mounting bracket further comprises a bottom wall, a positioning hole being defined at a junction between the bottom wall and the front wall for the locking piece of the I/O plate inserting therethrough. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The computer enclosure as described in claim 6, wherein the top wall of the mounting bracket defines a mounting hole therein, the I/O plate defining a second mounting hole therein, the mounting hole of the top wall of the mounting bracket and the second mounting hole of the I/O plate being configured for receiving the mounting member therein to thereby securely mount the I/O plate on the mounting bracket. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The computer enclosure as described in claim 10, wherein a support piece and a mounting piece are perpendicularly bent from the I/O plate, and the securing hole and the second mounting hole of the I/O plate are respectively defined in the support piece and the mounting piece. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The computer enclosure as described in claim 7, wherein the engaging tab is perpendicular to the top wall, so that the I/O plate cannot be detached from the mounting bracket along a direction perpendicular to the rear plate after the engaging tab is inserted into the securing hole of the I/O plate.