BACKGROUND
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a computer enclosure, particularly to a computer enclosure in which a top cover thereof is conveniently detached by upward movement of a lever.
2. Description of Related Art
Generally, there are frequent occasions when a user must replace or repair hardware components disposed within a computer. To facilitate maintenance, computer chassis typically include a removable cover.
However, in such conventional computers, the removable cover is attached to the chassis by fasteners, and a tool is needed to remove or install the cover. Furthermore, because the cover and the chassis have completely separate structures from each other, it is difficult to correctly align the cover with the chassis during assembly.
Therefore, a need exists for a computer having a chassis with an improved detachable cover for allowing a user to easily replace and/or repair hardware components accommodated in the chassis.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an isometric, exploded view of a chassis and a top cover of a computer enclosure of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view of a sidewall of the chassis of a computer enclosure of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the top cover of the exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 4 is an assembled view of FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is similar to FIG. 4, but showing from another aspect; and
FIG. 6 is similar to FIG. 4, but showing a detaching state of the computer enclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring to FIG. 1, a computer enclosure includes a chassis 10 and a top cover 30.
The chassis 10 includes a bottom panel 11, a pair of parallel sidewalls 13 extending from opposite sides of the bottom panel 11 and a front panel 15. Referring also to FIG. 2, A rim 131 is horizontally formed on a top portion of each sidewall 13. A generally upside-down U-shaped receiving flange 135 is formed on a distal end of the rim 131. A receiving space 139 is cooperatively defined by the rim 131 and the receiving flange 135. Each receiving flange 135 defines two T-shaped recesses 136 at a top portion and an inner portion of the receiving flange 135. A cutout 133 is defined in one of the flanges 135 of the chassis 10. A motherboard 50 is disposed in the chassis 10. The motherboard 50 has at least one slot 53.
Referring also to FIG. 3, the top cover 30 includes a top panel 31 and a pair of external edges 32 perpendicularly extending from opposite sides of the top panel 31. A lever 90 is pivotable to each external edge 32 of the top cover 30. A handle 91 and a propelling portion 93 are respectively formed on opposite ends of the lever 90. A round lump 95 is formed on an outer surface of the lever 90. An opening 315 is defined in the top panel 31 adjacent to each external edge 32, so that the lever 90 is accessible through the top cover 31 from an outer side thereof. Each external edge 32 has two T-shaped locking bulges 33 at an outer surface thereof for engaging with the corresponding recesses 136 of the chassis. A cutout 931 is defined in each external edge 32 for receiving the propelling portion 93. A hole or recess 951 is defined in an inner surface of the external edge 32 for engaging with the lump 95 of the lever 90, thereby the lever 90 held at an inner surface of the external edge 32. At least one expansion card 80 mounted in a bracket 70 is arranged at an inner surface of the top panel 31. Each expansion card 80 has a connector 801 communicating with the motherboard 50 through the slot 53.
Referring through FIG. 4 to FIG. 6, assembled views of the top cover 30 and the chassis 10 are shown. When assembling the top cover 30 to the chassis 10, the levers 90 are rotated to an open position where the handle 91 with each lever 90 is positioned above the top panel 31. The propelling portion 93 of one lever 90 is first positioned into the receiving space 139 of one sidewall 13, and the propelling portion 93 of other lever 90 is positioned into the receiving space 139 through the cutout 133. Then the top cover 30 is moved down towards the chassis 10 with the locking bulges 33 engaging with the flanges 135 in the correspondingly recess 136 thereof. Then the levers 90 are urged to rotate to an original position where the lever 90 is attached to the inner surface of the external edge 32. The connector 801 of the expansion card 80 is inserted into the corresponding slot 53 of the motherboard 50, so that the expansion card 80 could communicate with the motherboard 50. The top cover 30 is assembled to the chassis 10.
Referring in particular to FIG. 6, a detached view of the top cover 30 and the chassis 10 is shown. When detaching the top cover 30 from the chassis 10, the handles 91 of the levers 90 are moved upward, and the propelling portions 93 of the levers 90 urge the corresponding rims 131 to raise the top cover 10. The locking bulges 33 are detached from the flanges 135 of the chassis 10, and the at least one expansion card 80 is detached from the motherboard 50. The top cover 30 is then detached from the chassis 10.
The computer enclosure of the present invention has following advantages: first, little force is needed to manipulate the lever 90; second, the expansion card 80 on the top cover 30 can be readily detached from the motherboard 50 with the detachment of the top cover 30 from the chassis 10 by lifting up the lever 90.
It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.
Patent Application
20090284915
