US20070227939A1

US20070227939A1 - Storage structure for electronic device

Info

Publication number: US20070227939A1
Application number: US11/393,080
Authority: US
Inventors: Kuei-Hua Chen
Original assignee: Inventec Corp
Current assignee: Inventec Corp
Priority date: 2006-03-29
Filing date: 2006-03-29
Publication date: 2007-10-04

Abstract

A storage structure for an electronic device includes a storage base; a cover part for covering the storage base to form a storage space between the storage base and the cover part, so as to receive the electronic device in the storage space; at least one pivot member comprising an elastic unit and a buffer unit, wherein the elastic unit is pivotally disposed between the storage base and the cover part, so as to allow the cover part to pivotally turn in relation to the storage base by means of resilience from the elastic unit, and the buffer unit is connected to the storage base and the cover part, so as to limit a degree of turning of the cover part; and at least one elastic coupling member for coupling the cover part to the storage base.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to storage structures, and more particularly, to a storage structure for an electronic device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

With improvement of the technology, various kinds of electronic devices have been developed, and most electronic components disposed inside an electronic device can be inspected and replaced by removing a cover of the electronic device.
Generally, a casing for storing an electronic device such as a server comprises a base and a cover, which are separately disposed. The casing is further formed with a storage space for storing important electronic components of the electronic device such as mainboard, central processing unit (CPU) and so on, so as to protect the electronic components via the casing. The cover is detachably mounted to the base, so as to allow easy inspection and replacement of the electronic components. Initially, the cover is fixed to the base by screws. However, the use of many screws for fixing the cover makes attachment and detachment processes of the cover quite time-consuming and complicated. Thus, how to reduce the number of screwing elements being required for fixing the cover and to have quick and convenient attachment and detachment of the cover is a problem to be solved at that time.
Accordingly, there has been developed a method of assembling the cover to the base and then fixing them together via only a few screwing elements. FIG. 1 shows a conventional storage structure for an electronic device. The storage structure comprises a cover 11 and a base 12. The cover 1 comprises a protruding portion 110 at one end thereof for being assembled to the base 12, and a hook 111 at the other end thereof for hooking a protruding piece 120 of the base 12, wherein the protruding piece 120 is formed by bending a rear part of the base 12 outwardly. The base 12 further comprises a supporting piece 122, which is formed by bending a side part of the base 12, for supporting the cover 1, such that the cover 1 can be fixed to the base 12 by a bolt 13.
The above assembly method effectively reduces the number of screwing elements being used. However, when the assembly method is applied to some kinds of servers such as a thin server that does not have a rear part of casing, the cover cannot be properly secured to a rear side of the thin server unless additional fixing members are used. As shown in FIG. 2, gourd-shaped holes 220 are formed on sides of the base 22, and positioning posts 210 are formed on corresponding sides of the cover 21 to be coupled to the gourd-shaped holes 220 so as to allow the cover 21 to be assembled to the base 22 and cover the base 22. However, this arrangement causes inconvenience when closing and opening the cover in relation to the base.
Moreover, the cover and the base of the server are mostly disposed separately, which not only cause inconvenience in assembly and disassembly of the cover and the base, but also occupy a relatively larger operating area.
Therefore, the problem to be solved here is to provide a storage structure for an electronic device to overcome the above drawbacks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In light of the above drawbacks of the prior art, an objective of the present invention is to provide a storage structure for an electronic device, which can be widely applied for storing various kinds of electronic devices. Another objective of the present invention is to provide a storage structure for an electronic device, to allow a user to easily inspect the electronic device received in the storage structure.
Still another objective of the present invention is to provide a storage structure for an electronic device, for a user to operate it conveniently and without occupying a large operating area.
A further objective of the present invention is to provide a storage structure for an electronic device, for a user to perform assembly and disassembly of the storage structure without any tool.
In accordance with the above and other objectives, the present invention provides a storage structure for an electronic device. The storage structure comprises: a storage base; a cover part for covering the storage base to form a storage space between the storage base and the cover part, so as to receive the electronic device in the storage space; at least one pivot member comprising an elastic unit and a buffer unit, wherein the elastic unit is pivotally disposed between the storage base and the cover part, so as to allow the cover part to pivotally turn in relation to the storage base by means of resilience provided by the elastic unit, and the buffer unit is connected to the storage base and the cover part, so as to limit a degree of turning of the cover part; and at least one elastic coupling member for coupling the cover part to the storage base. The electronic device can be a server or a computer.
The storage structure of the present invention has the storage base and the cover part connected together by the pivot member. When a user wishes to open the cover part of the storage structure to examine the electronic device in the storage space, he or she only needs to press the elastic coupling member to release a coupling status between the cover part and the storage base, wherein the cover part turns in relation to the storage base by means of resilience provided by the elastic unit of the pivot member, such that the cover part is opened and the electronic device in the storage space is exposed. At the same time, as the buffer unit of the pivot member limits the turning degree of the cover part, the cover part can only be opened to a predetermined degree, so as to allow the user to examine, repair and replace the electronic device conveniently.
Contrarily, when the user wishes to close the cover part of the storage structure, he or she only needs to press down the cover part to allow the elastic coupling member to couple the cover part to the storage base, such that the electronic device in the storage base is being protected.
Therefore, compared with the conventional storage structure having separate arrangement of a base and a cover of a casing for storing an electronic device, the storage structure of the present invention not only can be widely applied to all kinds of electronic devices, but also has the cover part and the storage base connected to each other, so as to avoid the drawbacks such as inconvenience in assembly and disassembly and occupying a large operating area as in the prior art.
Furthermore, the storage structure of the present invention has an open/close mechanism for the cover part to be easily and quickly operate without any assistant tool, thereby avoiding the problems caused by the conventional storage structure, such as requiring screws for assembly, forming gourd-shaped holes and corresponding positioning posts to make assembly and disassembly processes of a cover and a base become complicated, and so on.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention can be more fully understood by reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, with reference made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 (PRIOR ART) is a schematic diagram of a conventional storage structure for an electronic device;
FIG. 2 (PRIOR ART) is a partial schematic diagram of another conventional storage structure for an electronic device;
FIG. 3 is an exploded schematic diagram of a storage structure for an electronic device according to the present invention;
FIG. 4A is a schematic diagram of the storage structure at a close status according to the present invention; and
FIG. 4B is a schematic diagram of the storage structure at an open status according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Preferred embodiments of a storage structure for an electronic device according to the present invention are described as follows with reference to FIGS. 3, 4A and 4B. It is to be noted that the drawings are simplified schematic diagrams and only show components relating to the present invention. In practice, the layout of components could be more complicated. It should be understood that the following embodiments are not construed to limit the scope of the present invention.
Referring to FIG. 3, a storage structure 3 for an electronic device according to the present invention comprises: a storage base 32; a cover part 31 for covering the storage base 32 to form a storage space 300 between the cover part 31 and the storage base 32, so as to receive the electronic device (not shown) in the storage space 300; at least one pivot member 33 formed at one end of the storage base 32 and the cover part 31, and comprising an elastic unit 331 and a buffer unit 332, wherein the elastic unit 331 is disposed between the storage base 32 and the cover part 31, so as to allow the cover part 31 to pivotally turn in relation to the storage base 32 by means of resilience provided by the elastic unit 331, and the buffer unit 332 is connected to the storage base 32 and the cover part 31, so as to limit a degree of turning of the cover part 31; at least one elastic coupling member 34 formed at the other end of the storage base 32 and the cover part 31, and for coupling the cover part 31 to the storage base 32.
The electronic device disposed in the storage space 300 formed by the storage base 32 and the cover part 31 can be a server or a computer.
As shown in FIG. 3, the storage base 32 and the cover part 31 can be a rectangular box and a rectangular lid, respectively. The one end of the cover part 31 is provided with two protruding portions 311 on two opposite sides thereof respectively, wherein the protruding portions 311 have an inverted U shape. Each of the protruding portions 311 is formed with two through holes 312 on two sides thereof. The one end of the storage base 32 is formed with openings 321 on two opposite sides thereof, the openings 321 corresponding to the through holes 311 of the protruding portions 311 of the cover part 31. The one end of the storage base 32 is further formed with two protruding pieces 322 on the two opposite sides thereof, wherein the protruding pieces 322 are extended toward the storage space 300 to positions under the protruding portions 311 of the cover part 31.
Further as shown in FIG. 3, there are a pair of the pivot members 33 disposed on the two opposite sides of the end of the storage base 32 having the protruding pieces 322 and the two opposite sides of the end of the cover part 31 having the protruding portions 311. Each of the pivot members 33 comprises the elastic unit 331 (such as a spring) and the buffer unit 332 (such as an arc metallic piece). The elastic unit 331 is pivotally disposed between the cover part 31 and the storage base 32 by a thin rod 350 (such as a latch), wherein the thin rod 350 is provided with two first fixing members 351 (such as pegs) at two ends thereof respectively, allowing the first fixing members 351 to fix the thin rod 350 to the through holes 312 of each of the protruding portions 311 of the cover part 31 and each of the openings 321 of the storage base 32. The buffer unit 332 is wrapped around the elastic unit 331, and is connected to each of the protruding pieces 322 of the storage base 32 and each of the protruding portions 311 of the cover part 31 by at least one second fixing member 352 (such as a bolt). The elastic units 331 of the pivot members 33 allow the cover part 31 to pivotally turn in relation to the storage base 32 due to resilience provided by the elastic units 331, and the buffer units 332 of the pivot members 3 limit the degree of turning of the cover part 31.
There can be a pair of the elastic coupling members 34 formed on two opposite sides of the other end of the storage base 32 and the cover part 31. Each of the elastic coupling members 34 comprises a fixing portion 341, an operating portion 342 and a coupling portion 343. The fixing portion 341 can rivet the elastic coupling member 34 to an inner surface of the storage base 32. The operating portion 342 can be a button, and the coupling portion 343 can be a protruding block. A first opening 361 is formed on each of the two sides of the other end of the storage base 32 and corresponds to the operating portion 342 of each of the elastic coupling members 34, such that the operating portion 342 can be protruded from the first opening 361. A second opening 362 is formed on each of the two sides of the other end of the storage base 32 and corresponds to the coupling portion 343 of each of the elastic coupling members 34, such that the coupling portion 343 can be protruded from the second opening 362. A third opening 363 is formed on each of two opposite sides of the other end of the cover part 31 and corresponds to the coupling portion 343 of each of the elastic coupling members 34. When closing the cover part 31, it only needs to press down the cover part 31 to allow the third opening 363 to be coupled to the coupling portion 343 of each of the elastic coupling members 34 such that the cover part 31 is coupled to the storage base 32.
Referring to FIG. 4A, it illustrates that the cover part 31 is covering the storage base 32. The cover part 31 has one end pivotally connected to one end of the storage base 32. When a user wishes to close the cover part 31, he or she only needs to press down the cover part 31 to make it pivotally turn in relation to the storage base 32 and allow the third openings 363 of the cover part 31 to be engaged with the corresponding coupling portions 343 of the elastic coupling members 34, such that the cover part 31 can be effectively coupled to and covering the storage base 32 to provide protection for the electronic device stored in the storage space 300.
Referring to FIG. 4B, when the user wishes to open the cover part 31 to examine the electronic device in the storage space 300, he or she only needs to press the operating portions (buttons) 362 of the elastic coupling members 34, which are exposed via the first openings 361 of the storage base 32, to allow the coupling portions (protruding blocks) 343 of the elastic coupling members 34 to retract and be uncoupled from the third openings 363 of the cover part 31, such that the cover part 31 can itself turn in relation to the storage base 32 due to the resilience from the elastic units 331 of the pivot members 33, and thus the cover part 31 is opened. The turning degree of the cover part 31 is limited by the buffer units 332 of the pivot members 33, such that the cover part 31 can only be opened to a certain predetermined degree, so as to allow the user to examine, repair and replace the electronic device in the storage space conveniently.
Therefore, the storage structure of the present invention has the storage base and the cover part connected together by the pivot members. When the user wishes to open the cover part of the storage structure to examine the electronic device in the storage space, he or she only needs to press the elastic coupling members to release a coupling status between the cover part and the storage base, wherein the cover part turns in relation to the storage base by means of resilience provided by the elastic units of the pivot members, such that the cover part is opened and the electronic device in the storage space is exposed. At the same time, as the buffer units of the pivot members limit the turning degree of the cover part, the cover part can only be opened to a predetermined degree, so as to allow the user to examine, repair and replace the electronic device conveniently.
Contrarily, when the user wishes to close the cover part of the storage structure, he or she only needs to press down the cover part to allow the elastic coupling members to couple the cover part to the storage base, such that the electronic device in the storage base is being protected.
Therefore, compared with the conventional storage structure having separate arrangement of a base and a cover of a casing for storing an electronic device, the storage structure of the present invention not only can be widely applied to all kinds of electronic devices, but also has the cover part and the storage base connected to each other, so as to avoid the drawbacks such as inconvenience in assembly and disassembly and occupying a large operating area as in the prior art.
Furthermore, the storage structure of the present invention has an open/close mechanism for the cover part to be easily and quickly operate without any assistant tool, thereby avoiding the problems caused by the conventional storage structure, such as requiring screws for assembly, forming gourd-shaped holes and corresponding positioning posts to make assembly and disassembly processes of a cover and a base become complicated, and so on.
The present invention has been described using exemplary preferred embodiments above, however, it is to be understood that the scope of the present invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar changes. The scope of the claims, therefore, should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements.

Claims

1. A storage structure for an electronic device, comprising

a storage base;

a cover part for covering the storage base to form a storage space between the storage base and the cover part, so as to receive the electronic device in the storage space;

at least one pivot member disposed on one end of the storage base and the cover part, the pivot member comprising an elastic unit and a buffer unit, wherein the elastic unit is pivotally disposed between the storage base and the cover part, so as to allow the cover part to pivotally turn in relation to the storage base by means of resilience provided by the elastic unit, and the buffer unit is connected to the storage base and the cover part, so as to limit a degree of turning of the cover part; and

at least one elastic coupling member disposed on the other end of the storage base and the cover part, for coupling the cover part to the storage base.

2. The storage structure of claim 1, wherein the electronic device is one of a server and a computer.

3. The storage structure of claim 1, wherein the cover part comprises at least one protruding portion formed on the one end thereof, the protruding portion having an inverted U shape and being formed with through hole on two sides thereof, and wherein the storage base comprises an opening formed on the one end thereof and corresponding to the through holes of the protruding portion of the cover part, and a protruding piece formed on the one end of the storage base and extended toward the storage space to a position under the protruding portion of the cover part.

4. The storage structure of claim 3, wherein the at least one pivot member comprises a pair of the pivot members disposed on two sides of the end with the protruding piece of the storage base and of the end with the protruding portion of the cover part.

5. The storage structure of claim 3, wherein the elastic unit is pivotally disposed between the cover part and the storage base by a thin rod, and the thin rod is provided with two first fixing members at two ends thereof respectively, allowing the first fixing members to fix the thin rod to the through holes of the protruding portion of the cover part and the opening of the storage base.

6. The storage structure of claim 3, wherein the buffer unit is wrapped around the elastic unit and is connected to the protruding piece of the storage base and the protruding portion of the cover part by at least one second fixing member.

7. The storage structure of claim 1, wherein the elastic unit is a spring and the buffer unit is an arc metallic piece.

8. The storage structure of claim 1, wherein the elastic coupling member comprises a fixing portion, an operating portion and a coupling portion.

9. The storage structure of claim 8, wherein the fixing portion is for fixing the elastic coupling member to an inner surface of the storage base, the operating portion is a button, and the coupling portion is a protruding block.

10. The storage structure of claim 8, wherein the storage base is formed with a first opening corresponding to the operating portion, allowing the operating portion to be protruded from the first opening, and the storage base is further formed with a second opening corresponding to the coupling portion, allowing the coupling portion to be protruded from the second opening, and the cover part is formed with a third opening corresponding to the coupling portion.