FR2838621A1 - Case for audio, audiovisual or storage equipment has mounting slides on its sides to permit mounting in a modular flexible storage system together with other components to form an entire system - Google Patents

Abstract

Case (1) has opposing sides (2a, 2b), each with a slide (3a, 3b) in its surface that allow the case to be mounted on a support (5) with one or more runners (7) that mesh in one of the slides. The invention also relates to alternative supports, brackets, racks, etc. for mounting of an inventive case and a mounting assemby for two or more cases.

Description

audit arc element.

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  MULTIMEDIA DEVICE HOUSING FOR

MULTIPLE POSITIONING

  The present invention relates to a case, in particular for housing a multimedia device, and supports intended to receive the case, as well as accessories for

mounting the housing.

  We designate by multimedia device in the present description all types

  of data reading and / or recording apparatus used in the field of data processing, the video or audio, as well as the apparatuses of reception of 0 data such as tuners radio or tele. In particular, it designates in particular the

  several curses and backups on bandes for computer, readers or readers-

  CD or DVD burners and CD duplicators.

  In the field of computer science, multimedia devices are generally exclusively intended for their mounting in standardized computer cases. Other wind exclusively intended for their assembly in wall boxes or standardized cupboards such as the boxes known as “19 inch racks”. Today, others are only intended for use

  outside the computer case by being connected to it by cords.

  In the field of hi-fi systems or video systems, these devices are generally not incorporated in a housing of the equipment concerned, because

  each device in the chain or assembly has its own unit.

  A drawback of current multimedia devices is that they are not intended to be able to be indifferently mounted in a standard box or arranged in isolation or arranged within a set of devices, whereas the same multimedia device is capable of be used in different ways

  association with a variable number of other multimedia devices.

  Furthermore, current multimedia devices which are not intended to be incorporated into a housing of the assembly to which they are connected, is in the form of a simple housing - generally parallelepipedic - intended to rest on a flat surface, possibly by means of small non-removable feet fixed to the housing. This solution offers the user only one possibility for placing or storing these multimedia devices, namely placing them directly on a flat surface such as a shelf or a desk. In addition to the deplorable aesthetics of such an arrangement, it has the drawback of wasting space on the support considered, all the more so if several multimedia devices are placed side by side. Sometimes it is possible to overlay multimedia devices, but the shape and size of the boxes does not always allow this. On top of that, the devices on the top of the stack can slide for example during their handling, which makes their \\ E [[RSCH6 \ PATENTS \ Patents \ 19200 \ 19221.doc - 23/04/02 - 12 inconvenient. : 13 - 1/12

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  handling and carries the risk of scratching the casings of the devices

  below, or even the fall of the devices being manipulated.

  The invention aims to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art. In particular, it aims to provide in a simple way multiple possibilities of positioning or mounting of the same multimedia device. Wile also aims to limit the case requiring space used by the device on the support on which it is available - for example a desk -, to allow a simple and secure association with other multimedia devices, while also allowing a convenient handling

  and safe of these devices, and finally allowing to ensure a pleasant aesthetic.

  o For this, the invention provides a housing for a multimedia device, comprising

  a side with a slide accessible from the outside of the housing.

  It preferably includes a front face and a rear face, the slide being

  arranged in a direction which cuts the rear face and the front face.

  The slide can advantageously be provided to be engaged from the rear face.

  Furthermore, the slide is preferably in the form of a groove.

  According to a preferred embodiment, the housing comprises a second side opposite the first side, the second side having a second slide

  accessible from outside the housing.

  According to another aspect, the invention provides a support for at least one housing according to the invention, presenting at least one slide capable of engaging the slide (s) of the housing. The support can advantageously present a plurality of

  slides capable of engaging the slide (s) of a plurality of housings.

  According to an advantageous embodiment of the support, the wind sliders

  agencies on two uprights articulated to a part forming a seat.

  I1 can advantageously be provided a free space of at least 12.5 centimeters in height, between a support surface of the support and a housing mounted on the support. According to yet another aspect, the invention provides a mounting bracket for a housing according to the invention, comprising two wings, one of which has a slide capable of engaging the slide (s) of the housing. According to one embodiment, the two wings have a different length and the slide can be mounted on either

the two wings.

  According to yet another aspect, the invention proposes an element for assembling 3s two boxes according to the invention, comprising two sliders which are each capable of engaging a slide of a respective housing, in which the two sliders provide a face to face positioning of the dimensions of the two boxes presenting the slides

engaged by the slides.

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  The invention also relates to an assembly comprising: a multimedia device housed in a housing according to the invention; and - an electrical power supply for the multimedia device, the power supply being housed in another case provided to be selectively fixed and removed from the case

s housing the multimedia device.

  According to one embodiment, the electrical supply box is designed to receive a slider capable of engaging the slide (s) of the housing

the multimedia device.

  According to another embodiment, a hooking system allows lo selectively to hang and unhook the box from the electrical supply of the box housing the multimedia device, the hooking system comprising two ribbons, preferably in fabric, one of which includes a surface covered with loops and the other of which has a surface covered with hooks or shaped protrusions

  mushrooms to grab the loops of the other ribbon.

  Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading

  the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, given as

  example and with reference to the accompanying drawing.

  Figure 1 is a perspective view of the rear of a multimedia device box and a removable support leg according to an embodiment of the invention. Figure 2 is a perspective view of the housing of Figure 1 mounted on its

foot, but seen from the front.

  Figure 3 shows a support for housing ^ of Figure 1, in the folded position.

  Figure 4 shows the support of Figure 3, in the unfolded position.

  Figure 5 represents, seen from ['front, the support of Figure 3 in position

  folded out, with boxes of multimedia devices.

  FIG. 6 illustrates a variant of the support of FIG. 5.

  Figure 7 illustrates the mounting of several multimedia devices of the

  type of figure 1 in a standard box.

  Figure 8 shows in perspective an element used to assemble two

  multimedia devices of Figure 1.

  Figure 9 is an exploded view of a bracket for mounting a housing ^

  of figure 1 in a standard box for computer hardware.

  Figure 10 is an exploded perspective view of a planned power supply

  to be mounted on a box of the type of figure 1.

  The invention provides a housing with a slide arranged on one side of the housing and accessible from outside the housing. The slide is preferably \\ HIRSCH63REVETS \ BreYets \ 19200 \ 19221.doc - 04/23/02 12:13 PM - 3112

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  housed on the outside of this side of the housing. Advantageously, a second slide accessible from the outside of the housing is arranged on a second side opposite the first side. Thus, the housing can be mounted on any kind of support having one or more sliders provided to cooperate with the s or slides of the housing. The casing can also be mounted in standard computer boxes or cabinets using brackets with slides designed to engage the casing slides. Or, the housings can be assembled side by side by assembly elements presenting a double slide cooperating with a slide of each housing. Generally speaking, the groove of the housing and the slide of the support, of the brackets or of the assembly element therefore form a sliding connection, which may furthermore advantageously have a slightly tight adjustment for maintaining in the assembled position while allowing sliding due to manipulation by the user. This tight adjustment can advantageously be replaced by a mechanical tightening means capable of being tightened and loosened selectively, such as for example a screw screwed into a lip of the slide and the end of which presses on the slide to obtain the tightening and

  thus preventing the translation of the slide in the slide.

  In Figure 1 is shown a housing ^ 1 for multimedia device. The housing 1 comprises two opposite sides 2a and 2b. Each dimension 2a, 2b comprises a respective slide 3a, 3b. The slides 3a, 3b are preferably made in the form of a groove in the corresponding dimension. Alternatively, they can be made projecting from the corresponding side. Nevertheless, the grooved shape is preferred because the housing 1 can then be easily installed by one or the other of the two dimensions 2a, 2b on a flat surface such as a desk when the dimension of the housing is considered. presents a

overall flat surface.

  FIG. 1 also illustrates a foot 5 which can serve as a support for the housing 1. The foot 5 comprises a flat support surface 6 by which the foot can rest, for example, on a desk or a shelf. On the top, the foot 5 includes a sliding part 7 adapted to cooperate with one or the other of the slides 3a, 3b of the housing 1. As already mentioned, it is advantageous to provide a tight adjustment or a means selective clamping between the slide 7 and the slides 3a, 3b. This tightening adjustment or this selective tightening means is preferably chosen to allow manual mounting of the housing 1 on the foot 5, while then avoiding that the

  bo ^ tier 1 does not disengage too easily from foot 5.

  The two slides 3a, 3b open onto the rear face 4 of the housing 1, which

  allows to engage the slide 7 in the slide 3a or 3b considered.

  On the other hand, it is preferable that the slides do not open onto the front face 8 of the housing 1. In this way, the slide 7 comes into abutment in the slide, this \\ HIRSCH6 \ PATENTS \ Patents \ 19200 \ 1922 1 .doc 23/04/02 - 12:13 - 4/12

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  which ensures a respective positioning of the housing ^ 1 on the foot 5. It will be understood that the front designates the face of the housing which comprises - mainly - the control buttons of the multimedia device, its possible displays such as LCD or LED, possibly an on-off button as well as any drawers or hatches for receiving the recording medium. The rear side generally covers the connection connectors of the multimedia device, if necessary a power connector and / or an on-off button. On the contrary, the walls connecting the front face 8 to the rear face 4- whose dimension or dimensions provided with a slide according to the invention do not in principle co-exist with any of the above elements, except one or the another exceptionally. As can be seen from FIG. 1, the slides 3a, 3b preferably have a direction extending from the rear face towards the front face, which advantageously allows the mounting of the housing 1

  in a support of the type of Figures 3 to 6 described below.

  As can be seen in FIG. 2, it is preferable that the planar support surface 6 is wider than the sides 2a, 2b to ensure good stability of the housing 1, especially in the case where the two sides 2a, 2b wind not very wide compared to the distance which separates them. In this case, the foot S advantageously makes it possible to arrange the bowl ^ tier 1 vertically on any surface with the advantage of saving space compared to the case where the box ^ tier 1 rests on another dimension of great

  surface and also to provide a different aesthetic.

  The fact that the housing 1 has two slides 2a, 2b makes it possible to mount it on the foot 5 either on one of the two dimensions 2a, 2b. Of course, it is possible to provide a single slide and therefore arranged on only one of the two sides

  2a, 2b in which case the foot 5 can only be mounted on this side.

  The grooves 3a, 3b in the form of grooves preferably have a T-shape. Other forms of grooves can be used, for example, a dovetail shape. In the case of the slides 3a, 3b in the form of grooves, the slide 7 can advantageously be produced in the form of a rail as shown in the figure

  1. The slide 7 can be attached to the foot 5 using screws.

  By way of examples, the slide 7 is made of cut and factory steel or else is obtained by molding or spinning plastic or an aluminum alloy. The base of the foot S can for example be made of cut steel and

  or be obtained by molding an alloy of steel or aluminum.

  Figures 3 a S illustrates a support 10 provided to support a trots housing

  multimedia devices of the type of FIGS. 1.

  The support 10 comprises a seat 11 allowing the support to be placed on any flat surface such as a desk or a shelf. Support 10 includes \\ EERSCH6 \ BREVl5TS \} 3revets \ 19200 \ 1922 I.doc - 23/04/02 - i 2:13 - 5/12

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  two uprights 12a, 12b. The two uprights 12a, 12b are preferably mounted pivoting on the seat 11. In this way, in the folded position, the support 10 takes little

  place, thus facilitating its transport or its storage if it is not used.

  The upright 12a comprises sliding trots 13a, 14a, 15a which each wind apses to cooperate with a first slide 3a or 3b of the housing 1. Likewise, the upright 12b comprises trots slides 13b, 14b, 15b which each wind to cooperate with the other of the slides 3a or 3b of the housing 1. Thus, in the folded position, it is possible to mount up to three housing trots 17 of the type of FIG. 1, each engaging a given slide of each upright 12a , 12b. This situation is

o illustrated by Figure 5.

  In the unfolded position, the sliders of the uprights 12a, 12b are preferably oriented so that the housings 17 extend substantially parallel to the surface

  on which the seat 10 rests.

  An end 16a, 16b of each upright 12a, 12b can advantageously ensure - or contribute to - maintaining in the unfolded position of the support 10 by stop

on the bearing surface.

  The distance between the first slides 15a, 15b and the seat 11 can advantageously be chosen to provide a free space between the bearing surface and the first inserted housing. This free space can be used to store various items, such as for example CD 18 cases typically having a height of

  12.5 cm, as shown in Figure 5.

  As can be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, each slide of the uprights 12a, 12b can be produced in the form of two aligned protuberances which are attached to the upright. The section of each protuberance is well heard

  adapted to be able to engage the slide 3a or 3b.

  As a variant, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the uprights 12a, 12b can be fixedly mounted on the seat 11, in which case they can be made in one piece, for example by cutting and bending aluminum or by bending aluminum tube Or other. FIG. 6 also illustrates a variant concerning the production of the sliders of the uprights 12a, 12b which here each wind in the form of a portion of rail. FIG. 7 illustrates the mounting of several boxes 20, 21, 22 of multimedia devices of the type of FIG. 1 in a standard box - for example of the type 19 inches (482.6 mm) wide - generally fixed to the wall or in the form of a cabinet placed on the ground and usually receiving peripherals or other computer elements such as repeaters or switches. This type of enclosure generally includes vertical mountings at the front and rear on which the components are

  IT equipped with fixed wind steps by screws.

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  For their use in standard 19 inch enclosures, it is advantageous that the height of the enclosures is a whole multiple generally 1, 2 or 3 - of the unit of standard enclosure, commonly called in English "rack unit", and which corresponds a 1.75 inch (44.45 mm). With regard to the width of the boxes, two types can advantageously be defined: - a first width - called simple width making it possible to accommodate two of these boxes side by side in the box, as shown for boxes 20 and 21 in the figure 7; and - a second width - called double width - corresponding to the width of two

  o single-sided width boxes side by side.

  These widths and heights can of course be combined to define enclosures according to the volume of multimedia devices that each must accommodate, which advantageously allows them to be modularly mounted in a standard 19 inch box. The two housings 20 and 21 are mounted adjacent and assembled to each other by means of a mutual assembly element 23 not visible in FIG. 7. The mutual assembly element 23 is an element designed to cooperate with the slide 3a or 3b of each of the boxes 20 and 21 which meet face to face, in order to maintain the

two boxes 20 and 21 side by side.

  An example of an assembly element 23 is illustrated in FIG. 8. The element 23 - of longitudinal shape - has a section forming a double slide, one dimension of which - the left part in the figure - is capable of engaging a slides 3a, 3b of the housing 20 and the other side - the right part in the figure - is capable of engaging one of the slides 3a, 3b of the housing 21. The element 23 makes it possible to assemble the two housing 2s while preferably tightening them together. Element 23 can be

  produced by plastic extrusion.

  The free side of the bolt case 20 - that opposite of the case 21 - is fixed to a

  vertical upright 24 of the enclosure - not shown - thanks to a bracket 25.

  The square 25 is illustrated in FIG. 9. The square 25 comprises two wings of different lengths. The longest wing 26 is provided with a slide capable of engaging a slide 3a, 3b of the housing 20. In the embodiment considered, the wing 26 has two holes 27 allowing the slide to be mounted by screwing who

  is formed in this example by two protuberances 28.

  The most racing wing 29 includes two holes 30 provided for screwing the bracket

3s 25 on the amount 24 of the box.

  The bracket 25 is intended to be usable in a reversible manner, as will be described later. For this reason, the wing 26 also includes two holes 31 provided for screwing the bracket on the vertical uprights of the box and the wing 29 comprises two \\ H [RSCH63REVETSU3revets \ 19200 \ 19221 doc - 23/04/02 - 12 : 13 - 712

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  holes 32 for mounting the slide, that is to say the two protuberances 28 in our example. A cover 33 - bearing for example an acronym or a mark can be provided to close the holes 32 - or the holes 27 as the case may be - which are not used, for aesthetic reasons. It will be understood that to ensure the reversibility of use, the protuberances 28 and the cover 33 removable wind, and not

not permanently fixed.

  With reference to FIG. 7, it can be seen that the housing 21 is also fixed to the

  upright 24 opposite the cabinet by means of another bracket 25.

  The housing 24 is fixed to the vertical uprights 24 of the cabinet using two brackets 34. The brackets 34 are identical to the brackets 25, but used in the second configuration described with reference to FIG. 9. In other words, the slide formed in this case by the protuberances 28 is mounted on the racing wing

  29 while it is the long wing 26 which is screwed to the uprights 24.

  The length of the wings 26 and 29 of the brackets therefore makes it possible to mount in the box indifferently, either a single box of type 1, or two boxes of type

1 side by side.

  Of course, the mounting of the boxes can be carried out in the same way

  both on the uprights before and back of the cabinet.

  It will be understood that the slide of the bracket 25 can be produced in a different form than the two protuberances 28; it could for example be a

  element in the shape of a rail section.

  Furthermore, when the power supply unit of the multimedia device is separated from the case of the multimedia device, it can be provided to be mounted on the case of the multimedia device thanks to the slide of the case. This situation is illustrated in 2s in FIG. 7 where the power supply 40 of the multimedia device of the housing 20 is mounted on the latter, behind the bracket 25. In the same way, the power supply 41 of the multimedia device of the housing 21 is mounted on the latter, behind the bracket 25. It can obviously be the same for the housing 22. To allow this assembly, it suffices to provide a slide 42 on the block feed, as illustrated in FIG. 10. The slide 42 can be removable from the block 40, the fixing being done for example with screws 43. The length of the slide 42 is preferably limited to allow mounting in the same slide of bo ^ both the

  slide 28 of a bracket 25 and slide 42 of a power supply 40.

  As a variant, the power supply unit is designed to be easily hooked and unhooked from the housing housing the corresponding device thanks to a fastening system of the type comprising two ribbons of fabric - for example nylon - one of which includes a surface covered with loops and the other one covered with hooks or mushroom-shaped protuberances to grip the loops \ UDRSCH6 \ PATENTSU3revets \ 19200 \ 1922 1.doc - 23104102 - 12:13 - 8/12

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  on the other ribbon. The power supply unit is provided with one of the ribbons and the housing housing the device is provided with the other ribbon. The two ribbons are chosen so that the hooking of hooks or protuberances in the loops of the other ribbon is sufficient to support the weight of the power supply, while allowing it to be separated from the housing of the device. by manual user action. A

  An example of this type of hanging system is known as Velcro.

  Of course, this system for attaching the power supply unit to the housing of the device can be implemented regardless of the existence or not of the

  slides according to the invention on the housing.

  o Of course, the present invention is not limited to the examples and to the embodiment described and represented, but it is susceptible of numerous variants accessible to the man of [art. Thus, the stand 5 of Figures 1 and 2 could be widened to receive several parallel slides 7 to receive side by side - and vertically several boxes of multimedia devices. Another support can have the form of a bridge under which wind agencies one or more slides which

  allow each to vertically suspend a box.

  Furthermore, the cases and accessories described can also be used

  for devices other than multimedia devices.

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Claims (15)

RESELL I CAT IONS   1. A case for multimedia device, including a side (2a)   having a slide (3a) accessible from the outside of the housing.   2. The housing of claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a front face (8) and a rear face (4), in which the slide (3a) is arranged according to   a direction which cuts the back face and the front face.   0 3. The housing according to claim 2, characterized in that the slide   (3a) is provided to be engaged from the rear face (4).   4. The bo ^ tier according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterizes   in that the slide (3a) is in the form of a groove.   5. The bo ^ tier according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized   in that it comprises a second side (2b) opposite the first side (2a), the second side (2b) having a second slide (3b) accessible from the outside of the housing.   6. Support for at least one housing as defined in one   any one of claims 1 to 5, having at least one slide (7) adapted to   engage the slide (s) (3a; 3b) of the housing.   7. The support according to claim 6, characterized in that it has a plurality of slides (13a-15a, 13b - 15b) able to engage the or the   slides (3a; 3b) of a plurality of housings.   8. The support according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the wind slides arranged on two uprights (12a; 12b) articulated has a part forming a seat (11).   9. The support according to any one of claims 6 to 8, characterized   in that a free space of at least 12.5 centimeters in height is provided between   3s a support surface of the support and a housing mounted on the support.   \\ mRSCH6 \} 3REVETS \ Patents \ 19200 \ 19221.doc-23/04 / 02- 12: 13- 10 /] 2 10. A mounting bracket for a bolt maker such as deLmi in one   any one of claims 1 to 5, comprising two wings (26, 29), one of which   has a slide (28) capable of engaging the slide (s) (3a; 3b) of the housing.   11. The bracket according to claim 10, characterized in that the two wings (26, 29) have a different length and the slide (28) can be mounted   indifferently on the two wings (26, 29).   12. An assembly element (23) of two boxes of the type such as defni   o in any one of claims 1 to 5, comprising two slides apses a   each engage a slide (3a; 3b) of a respective housing (1), in which the two slides ensure a face to face positioning of the dimensions (2a; 2b) of the two   housing (1) presenting the slides engaged by the slides.   13 A set comprising: - a multimedia device housed in a box as defined in one   any of claims 1 to 5; and   - an electrical power supply for the multimedia device, the power supply being housed in another box designed to be selectively fixed and removed from the housing housing the multimedia device.   14. The assembly of claim 13, characterized in that the cas ^ tier of electrical power is provided to receive a slide (42) adapted to engage   the slide (s) (3a; 3b) of the housing housing the multimedia device.   15. The assembly of claim 13, characterized in that a hanging system selectively allows to hang and unhook the box from the power supply of the box housing the multimedia device, the hanging system comprising two ribbons, one of which includes a surface covered with loops and the other a surface covered with hooks or shaped protuberances   mushrooms to grab the loops of the other ribbon.