GB2143117A

GB2143117A - Case for accommodating a micro computer

Info

Publication number: GB2143117A
Application number: GB08319246A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard Douglas Mountford
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1983-07-15
Filing date: 1983-07-15
Publication date: 1985-02-06
Also published as: GB8319246D0

Abstract

A two-part case (10) comprises a base (12) for accommodating a microcomputer (30, 32) and a lid (14) hinged to the base. When closed, the lid covers a portion only of the base leaving an uncovered portion for accommodating the microcomputer keyboard (32). The keyboard is thus accessible for operation when the lid is closed. The keyboard may be covered when not in use, by transparent cover (52). When the lid is hinged open, access may be had to the contents of the normally-covered rear portion of the base. The lid is adapted to accommodate at least one peripheral storage device (40) for the microcomputer access to which is provided in the front edge (44) of the lid. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Case This invention relates to cases for microcomputers such as 'personal' computers and for at least some of the peripheral devices such as disc drives associated with them.

The invention is defined in the appended claims to which reference should now be made.

The invention will be described in more detail by way of an example, and with reference to the drawings, in which~ Figure 1 is a perspective view of a case embodying the invention containing a microcomputer and with the lid closed, the front cover in place, and the handle extended for carrying; and Figure 2 is a similar perspective view of the case with the front cover removed and the lid open showing the disc drive units in position, and with the microcomputer body and keyboard removed, and the handle retracted.

Referring to the drawings, the case 10 illustrated comprises a base 12 and a lid 14. The base 12 has an undersurface 16, side faces 18, a back 20 and a front 22. The front 22 is less high that the back 20 and the front part of the side edges 18 slope down to the front as at 24. The lid 14 is generally cuboid and is hinged at 26 to the back of the base so as to be raised or lowered.

The lid 14 does not cover the whole of the base 12, but rather covers only the rear portion of the base leaving the front portion defined by the sloping section 24 of the side faces 18 uncovered.

The base 12 is designed to receive an Apple (Trade Mark) microcomputer which has a main body 30 containing the computer hardware and having a keyboard 32 mounted on the front portion thereof. When the microcomputer is received in the base 12 and the lid 14 is lowered the keyboard 32 remains accessible to the user while the rest of the body 30 of the microcomputer is covered by the lid 14. Thus the microcomputer can be operated while in the case.

The lid 14 is sufficiently deep to accommodate two disc drive units 40. These are held in place by a rigid strap 42 screwed to appropriate fixings in the lid 14. The front 44 of the lid contains two openings 46 which receive the front faces 48 of the disc drive units so that when the lid is closed the slots 50 for receiving the storage discs are accessible to the user and are conveniently located above the keyboard 32.

The case is also provided with a front cover 52 which fits over the front portion of the base so as in conjunction with the case lid 14 completely to cover the base. The cover 52 is secured to the base by suitable catches 54 on each side. The rear edge 56 of the cover 52 extends over the front edge of the lid 14 so that when the cover is in position the lid can not be opened. The case is preferably formed from moulded plastics material and is opaque, whereas the cover 52 is transparent. The hinge 26 can be formed in any suitable way, e.g. as a separate metal piano-type hinge or as a moulded hinge. One or two stays 58 may be provided to limit and/or control the extent of opening of the lid. The case has feet (not shown) both on the undersurface 1 6 of the base 12 and on the rear of the case so that it can rest on its base or on its rear end.

The front 22 of the case is provided with a handle 60 which can be extended as shown in Figure 1 for carrying or can be pushed in to a retracted position as shown in Figure 2 so as not to get in the way of the keyboard user. The microcomputer is secured in the base 12 by suitable screwed fixings as at 62, and rubber cushioning may also be provided.

The back of the base 12 mounts a fan 64 which draws air in through a grating in the back 20 of the case and when the lid is down makes it flow through the microcomputer and the disc drives. A rubber strip 66 serves the dual purpose of cushioning and of restricting air flow past the sides of the microcomputer to force air to flow through it and out of the keyboard 32. An air filter is preferably associated with the fan. The air flow through the disc drives 40 reduces the amount of dust which settles in them.

Mains electricity is supplied to the case through a cable terminating in an electrical filter 70 of known type. The mains supply can be isolated by a switch 72 mounted on the front 44 of the lid. The appropriate wiring connections are not shown in the figures. Switched mains output sockets 74 are also provided for other peripheral devices such as a monitor and printer, and appropriate connectors 76 enable the microcomputer to be connected to these further peripherals. The microcomputer is permanently connected to connectors 76 when in the case so that the peripherals can be coupled up by simple connection to the back of the base. The monitor can in use conveniently be positioned on the top of the lid 14.The lid can, if desired, be internally screened to reduce R.F. interferences from the computer to other electrical devices and to prevent externally generated signals such as from a monitor interfering with the operation of the disc drive units.

The case provides a particularly convenient and effective container for the microcomputer and disc drives. The body of the case provides physical protection to its contents and in particular to the connecting cabling. When the computer is not in use, the front cover prevents dust and dirt settling on the computer and entering the disc drives and causing damage to them, and landing on the motherboard and reducing the heat dissipation. In this condition the unit is readily portable, yet it can be made ready for use in the case extremely quickly. When necessary, the lid can readily be raised to gain access to the computer body, e.g.

for board insertion.

Claims

1. A two-part case comprising a base for accommodating a microcomputer, and a lid hinged to the base, the lid when closed covering a portion only of the base to leave an uncovered front portion of the base for accommodating the microcomputer keyboard so as to be accessible for operation when the lid is closed, and the lid when hinged open enabling access to the contents of the normally-covered rear portion of the base, the lid being adapted to accommodate at least one peripheral storage device for the microcomputer, access to which is provided in the front edge of the lid.

2. A case according to claim 1, including one or more disc drive units accommodated in the lid.

3. A case according to claim 1 or 2, including a fan mounted in the rear portion of the base for providing a flow of cooling air through the case when closed.

4. A case according to claim 3, including an air filter associated with the fan.

5. A case according to any preceding claim, in which the case is provided with electrical connection means for effecting electrical connection of a microcomputer in the base to the storage device(s).

6. A case according to any preceding claim, in which the case is provided with electrical connection means for effecting electrical connection of at least the microcomputer to a supply of mains electricity.

7. A case according to claim 6, including a switch mounted on the front edge of the lid for isolating the mains supply.

8. A case according to claim 6 or 7, in which the case accommodates an electrical filter for improving the quality of the mains supply.

9. A case according to claim 6, 7 or 8, in which the case is provided with mains outlet sockets for connection to further peripheral devices.

10. A case according to any preceding claim, including a removable front cover member for covering the front portion of the base left uncovered by the lid.

11. A case according to claim 10, in which the cover member is provided with securing means for removably securing the cover member to the base, and the cover member and the lid have mutually-engaging formations such that when secured in position the cover member holds the lid locked in the closed condition.

12. A case according to claim 10 or 11, in which the base and lid are opaque and the cover member is transparent.

13. A case according to any preceding claim, including a carrying handle affixed to the case.

14. A case according to claim 13, in which the carrying handle is on the front edge of the base and is movable between an extended outer position for carrying and an inner retracted position for use of the microcomputer keyboard in which the handle projects substantially less from the case.

15. A case according to any preceding claim, including feet members both on the underside of the base and on the rear of the case.

16. A case substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the drawings.