US20060006771A1

US20060006771A1 - Assembly/disassembly structure of flippable side panel of computer unit

Info

Publication number: US20060006771A1
Application number: US10/887,097
Authority: US
Inventors: Deng-Hsi Chen
Original assignee: Lian Li Industrial Co Ltd
Current assignee: Lian Li Industrial Co Ltd
Priority date: 2004-07-09
Filing date: 2004-07-09
Publication date: 2006-01-12

Abstract

Disclosed is an improved assembly/disassembly structure of a flippable side panel of a computer unit, provided to a side panel of a lateral side of a computer casing, the side panel having a lower edge being engaged with the computer casing, and an upper edge being assembled and disassembled by a lever to allow easy assembly and maintenance of equipment within the computer unit while protecting the computer unit at the same time.

Description

1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to an improved assembly/disassembly structure of a flippable side panel of a computer unit, particularly to a side panel assembled to a side of a computer casing, where the side panel has a lower edge that is inserted into the computer casing and an upper edge that is assembled and disassembled by a lever to allow easy assembly and maintenance of equipment within the computer unit while protecting the computer unit at the same time.

2. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

To enhance the appearance and to allow easy assembly and disassembly, the computer casings of the upright conventional computers adopt various assembly measures, such as assembling an internal frame to an external casing, assembling an internal frame to two side panels, or assembling a fixed casing to a rear-pulling frame, each of which is featured with its unique characteristics and advantages. The measure that is most commonly adopted in the market is by assembling an internal frame to two side panel.
With reference to FIG. 1, upper and lower edges of inner faces of two side panels a are provided with hooks a1 projecting inwardly forwards, where the upper and lower edges of a frame of the computer casing are correspondingly formed with notches b1. A front edge of the side panel a is formed with clips a2 opening forwards, where the clips are engaged with a folding edge b2 of the frame b. A rear edge of the side panel a is bent inwards to form a retaining plate a3 that is formed with plural screw holes a4. To assemble the side panel a to the casing, the side panel a is first pressed inwards to insert the hooks a1 into the notches b1, and then slid forwards to engage the clips a2 at the front edge of the side panel a with the folding edge b2 at the front edge of the frame b, and to lean the retaining plate a3 against the rear edge of the frame b. Screws c are then used to affix the side panel a to the computer casing to complete the assembly. However, while one intends to re-assemble the above construction, it is not uncommon that the hooks a1 at the side of the side panel a cannot be easily inserted into the notches b1, resulting a raised configuration formed at an end of the side panel a or a gap formed between the clips a1 at the front edge of the side panel a and the front panel, thereby ruining the overall appearance of the computer casing. In addition, the hooks a1 provided to the side panel a may easily causes scratches to the side edge of the side panel a, that should be kept smooth to ensure an aesthetic appearance.

3. SUMMARY OF INVENTION

In view of the above, this invention provides an improved assembly/disassembly structure for the side panel that allows easy assembly and disassembly, with superior affixing effects. In addition, the side panel is provided at a periphery thereof with a serrated anti-slipping structure and ribs with smooth surfaces, to eliminate the potential risks of scratching the user in use.
Thus, this invention discloses an improved assembly/disassembly structure of flippable side panel of computer unit that eliminates the shortcomings of the prior art.
It is thus a primary objective of this invention to provide an assembly/disassembly structure of a side panel that may be easily assembled and disassembled, which allows easy operation and provides improved affixing effects.
It is another objective of this invention to provide a side panel structure capable of eliminating damages due to accidental dropping of the side panel in manipulation.
To achieve the above objectives, this invention discloses an improved assembly/disassembly structure of a flippable side panel of a computer unit, including a lever provided to a computer casing; notches provided to a side panel, wherein the lever is provided at a side face thereof with plural hooks, the hooks being provided at tops thereof with a sliding portion for engaging with a sliding groove provided to the computer casing, the sliding groove being provided at a rear end thereof with plural aligning tabs, the lever being affixed with a grip at a rear end thereof, the grip extending beyond a rear panel of the computer casing, the grip being removably provided with a quick-release screw, the rear panel being formed with a screw hole at a location corresponding to the quick-release screw; and wherein the side panel is provided at a periphery thereof with a serrated anti-slipping structure, the side panel is provided at a lower edge thereof with plural clips opening downwards, and plural retaining posts and ribs at an upper edge and opposing side edges of an inner face of the side panel, the rib at the upper edge being formed with plural notches at a side thereof, and the retaining posts being inserted into retaining holes formed at corresponding locations of the computer casing, the ribs at the opposing side edges being distant from each other at a distance corresponding to a width of a lateral opening of the computer casing.
To assemble the side panel to a computer casing, the clips at the lower edge of the inner face of the side panel are first engaged with a folding edge provided to a lower side of the computer casing, the retaining posts and the ribs provided at the opposing side edges are then correspondingly inserted into the retaining holes and lateral opening of the computer casing. In use, the user may grip the quick-release screw to cause forward and rearward displacement of the lever, subjecting the hooks provided to the lever to engage with the notches of the ribs, while the quick-release screw locks the lever to the rear panel of the computer casing upon assembling the side panel to the computer casing to prevent from separation. Not only can this invention firmly secures the side panel to the computer casing, but the serrated anti-slipping structure provided to the periphery of the side panel also helps eliminate damages due to accidental dropping of the side panel in manipulation.

4. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other modifications and advantages will become even more apparent from the following detained description of a preferred embodiment of the invention and from the drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the prior art;
FIG. 2 is an exploded, perspective view of this invention;
FIG. 3 is an assembled, perspective view of this invention;
FIG. 3A is a partial enlarged view illustrating engagement between the lever and aligning tabs of this invention;
FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view illustrating engagement between the lever and aligning tabs of this invention;
FIG. 4A is an enlarged view of the anti-slipping structure provided to the edges of the side panel of this invention;
FIG. 4B is a top view of the anti-slipping structure provided to the edges of the side panel of this invention;
FIG. 5A is a first schematic view illustrating engagement between the side panel and the computer casing according to this invention; and
FIG. 5B is a second schematic view illustrating engagement between the side panel and the computer casing according to this invention.

5. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the improved assembly/disassembly structure of flippable side panel of computer unit mainly includes a lever 10 provided to a computer casing 1 and a 10.
The lever 10 is an elongated, flattened rod with plural hooks 11 extending outwards from a side thereof. With reference to FIGS. 3A and 3B, the hooks 11 are provided at tops thereof with a sliding portion 12 that is assembled to plural aligning tabs 1 a provided to the computer casing 1. The aligning tabs jointly form a sliding groove 1 a 1 to allow forward and rearward displacement of the lever 10 and to prevent wobbling of the lever 10 within the sliding groove 1 a 1 of the computer casing 1. The sliding groove 1 a 1 of the computer casing 1 is provided at a front end and a rear end thereof with plural retaining holes 1 b. The lever 10 is affixed with a grip 13 at a rear end thereof. The grip 13 extends beyond a rear panel of the computer casing 1. The grip 13 is removably provided with a quick-release screw 13 a and formed with a locking hole 13 b. The rear panel is formed with a screw hole at a location corresponding to the quick-release screw 13 a. In use, the user may grip the quick-release screw 13 a to cause forward and rearward displacement of the lever 10 while the quick-release screw 13 a locks the lever 10 to the rear panel of the computer casing 1 upon assembling the side panel 20 to the computer casing 1 to prevent from separation.
With reference to FIGS. 4A and 4B, the side panel 20 is provided at a periphery thereof with a serrated anti-slipping structure 20. The side panel 20 is provided at a lower edge of an inner face thereof, along a horizontal direction, with plural clips 22 opening downwards, and at appropriate locations of an upper edge of the inner face thereof with plural retaining post 23 and ribs 24. The rib 24 provided to the upper edge of the side panel 20, along the horizontal direction, is formed with plural notches 24 a at a side facing inwards. The retaining posts 23 are correspondingly inserted into retaining holes 1 b formed at corresponding locations of the computer casing 1. The ribs 24 at the opposing side edges are distant from each other at a distance corresponding to a width of a lateral opening 1 c of the computer casing 1.
According to the above construction of this embodiment, the computer casing may be formed with through holes 14 at each of a front end and a rear end of a top inner face thereof, through which the lever 10 passes to prevent from separation of the lever 10 during the reward and forward displacement.
With reference to FIGS. 3A, 5A and 5B, to assemble the side panel 20 to a computer casing 1, the clips 22 are first engaged with a folding edge ad provided to a lower side of the computer casing 1. The retaining posts 23 and the ribs 24 provided at the opposing side edges are then correspondingly inserted into the retaining holes 1 b and lateral opening 1 c of the computer casing 1, subjecting the hooks 11 provided to the lever 10 of the computer casing 1 to engage with the notches 24 a of the ribs 24 provided to the upper edge of the side panel 20. The lever 10 is then slid forwards subjecting the hooks 11 to engage with the hooks 24 a. The quick-release screw 13 a of the grip 13 provided at the rear end then locks the lever 10 to the rear panel 20 of the computer casing 1. The grip 13 may further include a locking hole 13 b to provide anti-theft effects after inserting a locking tab 1 e provided to the computer casing 1 into the locking hole 13 b to form a tab-hole engagement, and locking the tab-hole engagement by a lock.
Accordingly, in the improved assembly/disassembly structure of flippable side panel of computer unit of this invention, the inter-engagement between the hooks of the lever, which is provided to the computer casing and capable of c displacement, and the retaining posts, ribs and notches of the side panel guarantees easy assembly while firmly securing the side panel to the computer casing. The serrated anti-slipping structure provided to the periphery of the side panel further helps eliminate damages due to accidental dropping of the side panel in manipulation.
The present invention has been described with a preferred embodiment thereof and it is understood that the scope and the spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. An improved structure for a flippable side panel of a host, provided to the side panel of a casing for the host, a bottom edge of the side panel being inserted into the casing, and a top edge being assembled and disassembled by a lever for convenient assembly, maintenance and protection, characterized in that:

The lever being a flattened rod with plural hooks extending outward and side-on and provided inside top portion of the casing, further that, a rear end of the lever extending outside a rear side panel, whereby pulling the lever causes a movement of back and forth; and

A plurality of clipping portions downward being horizontally installed on a lower portion of an inner surface of the side panel, a rib being located on an upper portion of the inner surface as well, besides, plural notches corresponding to hooks being on the rib;

Wherein the clipping portions insert and clamp into a folding edge of a lower portion of the casing firstly, continuously moving the lever is to make the hooks hold on an inner surface of the rib by means of the notches for fastening, whereby the side panel is quickly disassembled by adopting a reversed operation.

2. The improved structure for the flippable side panel of the host according to claim 1, wherein the lever is affixed with a grip protruding outside the rear side panel of the casing, and a quick-release screw is pivotally installed on the grip, the rear panel being formed with a screw hole corresponding to the quick-release screw, therefore gripping the quick-release screw is to make the lever move back and forth, and the lever is fastened on the rear side panel firmly after an assembly of the quick-release screw is completed.

3. The improved structure for the flippable side panel of the host according to claim 2, wherein a locking device penetrates through an assembly of a locking tab inserting into a locking hole of the grip for anti-theft.

4. The improved structure for the flippable side panel of the host according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of retaining columns are mounted on the side panel and located beyond the rib, further that a plurality of retaining holes are provided to a side of the folding edge and corresponding to the retaining columns.

5. The improved structure for the flippable side panel of the host according to claim 1, wherein a serrated anti-slipping structure is provided at a circumference of the side panel.

6. The improved structure for the flippable side panel of the host according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of through holes. are formed on each of front ends and rear ends of the top portion inside the casing .for the host; the lever passing through and moving back and forth without falling down.