This application is the U.S. National Stage of International Application Number PCT/EP2020/081113 filed Nov. 5, 2020 and claims priority from Danish Application Number PA 2019 01310 filed Nov. 8, 2019.
The present invention relates to computer cabinets. LAN Parties or Esports events are emerging sport disciplines, where the players can compete with real competitors and show off their powerful or fancy gaming rigs. These events often require that the players bring their own computer for participation. This means that portability is a major concern when building a gaming computer suitable for such events. The player will need a compact, strong, and lightweight computer case that is easy to carry and move around from one place to another. Furthermore, it needs to be easy to set up.
Hence, it is an object of the present invention to provide a computer suitable for LAN Parties or Esports events. To make the setup and packing routine easy, the inventors have developed a computer with a set of supports on each side of the cabinet, each with mechanized legs that are operated e.g. by the press of a button on a handle.
This is essential, as it allows the user to set everything up in a single action and precisely adjust the equipment with full control in a comfortable posture.
When the button is pressed, it releases a spring and a locking mechanism and forces the legs downwards, allowing the user to place it on the table while carrying a small fraction of the weight. As the legs move downwards, their angle is controlled by a guide recess in a guide member, that affects a sled in their top and forces their foot away from the cabinet to stabilize the cabinet in a vertical position. As the button is released, the locking mechanism (toothed rack and locking means on the sled) is re-activated and holds the cabinet in this position.
When the button is pressed yet again, the locking mechanism is released, and it is possible to force the cabinet downwards towards the table. When doing so, the sled of the front leg will push the sled of the back leg upwards and finally they both are in their starting position, being forced into place by the guide recess.
A first aspect relates to a collapsible support for a computer cabinet comprising:
A second aspect relates to a computer cabinet comprising a, preferably two, collapsible supports according to the present invention.
In one or more embodiments, the locking means comprises a row of teeth adapted for engaging with the toothed rack.
In one or more embodiments, the guide recess comprises a curved first part, a straight middle part, and a curved second part. Preferably, when the support is in its collapsed configuration, the guide pin of the second leg is positioned in the straight middle part of the guide recess, and the guide pin of the first leg is positioned in the curved first part of the guide recess; and when the support is in its unfolded configuration, the guide pin of the second leg is positioned in the curved second part of the guide recess, and the guide pin of the first leg is positioned in the straight middle part of the guide recess.
In one or more embodiments, the position of the guide pin relative to the leg part, and the shape or path of the guide recess is configured to ensure that the leg part will tilt relative to the guide member when the sled move from the first end of the guide recess and towards the opposing end of said guide recess.
In one or more embodiments, the disengagement means comprises a lever arm connected to the toothed rack at one end, and to a push button mechanism at the other end. When pressing the push button mechanism, the lever arm pulls in the toothed rack that thereby slides from said first position to said second position relative to said guide member.
In one or more embodiments, the support further comprises push means adapted for advancing the sleds in the direction of the opposite end of the guide recess. The push means may be spring actuated.
A third aspect relates to a computer comprising:
In one or more embodiments, the computer further comprises:
wherein two supports are flanking said casing, one on each side.
In one or more embodiments, the support is configured as a handle. This configuration allows the user to lift the computer by both hands. Preferably, the disengagement means may be activated in the handle, e.g. by a push button mechanism.
It should be noted that embodiments and features described in the context of one of the aspects of the present invention also apply to the other aspects of the invention.
As used in the specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Ranges may be expressed herein as from “about” or “approximately” one particular value and/or to “about” or “approximately” another particular value. When such a range is expressed, another embodiment includes from the one particular value and/or to the other particular value. Similarly, when values are expressed as approximations, by use of the antecedent “about”, it will be understood that the particular value forms another embodiment.
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Each leg 150, 160 comprises a foot 152, 162, a leg part 154, 164 connected to the foot 152, 162, and a sled 156, 166 connected to the leg part 154, 164. The sled 156, 166 comprises a locking means 157, 167 adapted for engaging with the toothed rack 140. Here, the locking means is shown comprising a row of teeth adapted for engaging with the toothed rack 140. The sleds 156, 166 also comprise a guide pin 158, 168 (
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Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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PA 2019 01310 | Nov 2019 | DK | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/EP2020/081113 | 11/5/2020 | WO |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
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WO2021/089691 | 5/14/2021 | WO | A |
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20150276121 | Max | Oct 2015 | A1 |
20170362069 | Randall | Dec 2017 | A1 |
20190060768 | Cragg | Feb 2019 | A1 |
20190166240 | Hayahi | May 2019 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
207848860 | Sep 2018 | CN |
2 318 287 | Apr 1998 | GB |
2017083713 | May 2017 | WO |
Entry |
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Danish Patent and Trademark Office, Search Report, application No. PA 2019 01310, completed Apr. 24, 2020, 3 pages. |
Bibliographic Data for CN207848860U including English Abstract, 1 page. |
International Search Report (ISR), International Application No. PCT/EP2020/081113, dated Feb. 23, 2021, 3 pages. |
Written Opinion of the International Searching Authority, International Application No. PCT/EP2020/081113, dated Feb. 23, 2021, 5 pages. |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20220386493 A1 | Dec 2022 | US |