WO1999001016A1

WO1999001016A1 - Mounting arrangement for an electronic peripheral device

Info

Publication number: WO1999001016A1
Application number: PCT/US1998/013300
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jeffrey A. Zeiders; Harold E. Friedline
Original assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
Priority date: 1997-06-27
Filing date: 1998-06-26
Publication date: 1999-01-07
Also published as: AU8267598A

Abstract

This invention provides an electronic peripheral device mounting arrangement (10) having an electronic enclosure (12) and a base (14). The enclosure (12) is securable to the base (14) by cooperation of a securing member (50) with a groove (65). The enclosure (12) may be placed on a desk top in a horizontal orientation without the base (14). Alternatively, the enclosure (12) is securable to the base (14) in a vertical orientation for positioning next to a tower unit.

Description

MOUNTING ARRANGEMENT FOR AN ELECTRONIC PERIPHERAL DEVICE

This invention is related generally to electronic peripheral devices and more specifically to a mounting arrangement for such a device.

Movement of the computer industry toward a universal serial bus (USB) standard has precipitated the need for hubs to be utilized for connecting peripheral devices such as mouses, modems, keyboards, and other devices to a computer. Such hubs are designed to have a singular input from a USB port of the computer and multiple output connections to each of the peripheral devices to be connected.

Since it is preferable to locate these hubs near the USB connection point to the computer, they will typically occupy either a desk top space near a desk top computer or a floor space near a tower computer. A problem exists in that it is desirable to minimize the amount of desk top or floor space occupied by the hub while maintaining an aesthetically pleasing appearance for the device. It is also desirable that the device be adaptable for placement next to a computer on a desk top or next to a tower unit on a floor.

The present invention addresses the above mentioned problem by providing an electronic peripheral device which is packaged such that it is usable on a desktop or a floor. The device contains a base which is oriented substantially perpendicular to a major surface of the device enclosure, a securing member extending from the base and a groove formed along a major surface of the device housing which is slidingly engagable with the securing member.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying figures of which:

Figure 1 shows a three dimensional view of the peripheral device according to the present invention. Figure 2 shows a three dimensional view of the device of figure 1 as viewed from the bottom.

Figure 3 shows an exploded three dimensional view of the maj or components . Figure 4 shows a three dimensional view of an alternate stand for use with the housing shown in figure 3.

Figure 5 shows a three dimensional view of a second alternate enclosure and stand. Figure 6 shows a planned view of the enclosure and stand of Figure 5 during assembly.

Figure 7 shows a planned view similar to that of Figure 6 after assembly.

The invention will first be described generally with reference to Figure 1. The electronic peripheral device (10) consists of an enclosure (12) and a base (14). By way of example, this enclosure (12) contains an input port (28) and a plurality of output ports (30) disposed along opposite sides (31) . The enclosure (12) is profiled to have two opposite sides (31), a top (18), a bottom (16) , a curved side (24) extending between the opposite sides (31) , and a straight side (26) extending between the opposite sides (31) .

Each of the major components will now be described in greater detail with reference to Figures 2 and 3. The enclosure (12) is formed of a top (18) and a bottom (16) which fit together to enclose a circuit board (32) .

Figure 2 shows the enclosure (12) as viewed from the bottom (16) . A slot (65) extends along the bottom (16) from the curved side (24) to the straight side

(26) . This slot (65) is defined by opposing projections (62) which extend from the bottom (16) into a recessed area (67) . Semicircular retaining projections (64) are disposed along the sides of the slot (65) and extend towards each other near the curved side (24) . A similar set of semicircular projections (66) also extend into the slot (65) near the straight side (26) . Bumper feet (70) are also provided along the bottom (16) . The bumper feet (70) are formed of a malleable material such as rubber for preventing the enclosure (12) from sliding when placed on a desk top.

The base (14) will now be described in greater detail. The base (14) (Fig 3) consists of a top surface (42) a bottom surface (40) and an enclosure receiving section (35) defined by a curved surface (38) and a supporting shoulder (34) . A clip receiving opening (36) is provided in the center of the curved surface (38) near an edge. A securing clip (50) is formed in a generally "U" shape and has pair of securing feet (52) at its free ends. A pair of arms (53) extend each from a respective securing foot (52) toward a joining section (54) which connects the two arms (53) together. Securing kinks (56) are formed in each arm (53) . It should be noted here that while not visible in the figures, the base (14) may have bumper feet along its bottom surface (40) similar to the bumper feet (70) on the enclosure (12) for preventing sliding along a desk or floor surface.

Assembly of the electronic peripheral device (10) will now be described in greater detail with reference to Figure 3. First, the securing clip (50) is assembled to the base (14) by urging the arms (53) towards each other such that the securing feet (52) are insertable into the opening (36) . As the securing clip (50) is urged further into the opening (36) the arms will return to their relaxed position and the securing feet (52) will lock behind edges of the opening (36) . The enclosure (12) is assembled by placing the circuit board (32) into the bottom (16) and then securing the top (18) to the bottom (16) over the circuit board (32) . The enclosure (12) may then be slid over the securing clip (50) such that the clip (50) is positioned within the securing slot (65) . When the securing projections (64) interlock with the securing kinks (56) , the enclosure is fully assembled to the base (14) as shown in Figure 2. The supporting shoulder (34) engages the top (18) to capture the enclosure (12) in the enclosure receiving area (35) . It should be noted that the enclosure (12) is securable to the base (14) in two orientations. The first orientation is shown in Figure 1 in which the flat side (26) is positioned inside the enclosure receiving area (35) . The supporting shoulder (34) engages the top (18) and the securing kinks (56) interlock with securing projections (66) . The second orientation is shown in Figure 2 in which the curved side (24) is positioned inside the enclosure receiving area (15) of the base (14) The supporting shoulder (34) engages the bottom (16) and the securing kinks (56) interlock with securing projections (64) . It should also be noted that the enclosure (12) may be placed on a desk without the base (14) such that its bottom surface (16) is placed upon the desk surface.

An alternate base (14') will now be described in greater detail with reference to Figure 4. This alternate base (14') is similar to that shown in Figure 3 in that it has a top surface (42') a bottom surface (40'), and an enclosure receiving area (35') . The enclosure receiving area (35') has a similar curved surface (38') and a similar support shoulder (34'). This base (14') differs in that a retaining tongue (50') extends from the curved surface (38') near an edge. The tongue (50') has reinforcing ribs (60') to add strength along its length. The tongue (50') is similarly co- operable with the slot (65) and is retained therein by projections (62) . It should be noted here that the tongue (50) is profiled such that it does not engage the securing projections (64) or (66) .

Yet another alternate embodiment of the base and enclosure are shown in Figures 5-7. In this embodiment, the enclosure (20') has a similar outer shape in that it has a pair of sides (31* ), a curved side (24'), and a straight side (26¹). The securing arrangement, however, is slightly different because the bottom (16') is formed to have a securing opening (65') in place of the slot (65) of the previous embodiments. The securing opening

(65') is profiled to have a partially oval section (62') surrounded by a pair of partially rectangular sections

(64'), (66') at its opposite ends.

The alternate base (114) is similar to that of the previous embodiments in that it has an enclosure receiving area (135) defined by a support shoulder (134) , a curved surface (138) , and a tongue (150) extending from the curved surface (138) generally parallel to the support shoulder (134). A securing projection (160) extends from the tongue (150) along a major surface toward the support shoulder (134) . The securing projection (160) consists a pair of ears (162) each being slightly spaced apart from each other and having lead in surfaces (164) which are semiconical in shape. Each of the ears (162) are supported by rectangular stand-offs (166) to create a small space between the ears (162) and the tongue (150) . This space is dimension to be slightly larger than the wall thickness of the bottom (16').

Assembly of the alternate enclosure (20') to the alternate base (114) will now be described in greater detail with reference to Figures 6 and 7. Referring first to Figure 6 it can be seen that the securing projection (160) is insertable into the oval section (62') of the securing opening (65') defining a prelocked orientation. In this orientation the enclosure (20') is rotatable about the securing projection (160) as shown in Figure 6. The enclosure can be rotated such that either the curved side (24') or the straight side (26') is located inside the enclosure receiving area (135) . Figure 7 shows the enclosure (20) in a final assembly orientation. In order to secure the enclosure (20') into the enclosure receiving area (135) , the enclosure (20') is urged toward the curved surface (138) after the securing projection (160) is inserted into the securing opening (65') . It can be seen from Figure 7, that in this orientation the securing projection (160) resides within the partially rectangular portion of (66') of the securing opening (65'). The rectangular stand-offs (166) are thus in engagement with side walls of the partially rectangular portion (66') to secure the enclosure (20' to the tongue (150) and within the enclosure receiving area (135) .

An advantage of this invention is that it provides an electronic peripheral device (10) capable of being positioned on a desk top without the base (14) or capable of being secured to the base (14) for positioning next to a tower unit or another device in a vertical orientation. Also, an additional advantage is that the enclosure (12) is insertable into the enclosure receiving area (35) of the base (14) with either the curved side (24) engaging the curved surface (38) of the base (14) or the straight edge (26) engaging the curved surface (38) of the base (14) . This allows for orienting the enclosure (12) in a vertical orientation such that wires can exit from either one side or the other.

Claims

We claim

1. A peripheral electronic device 10 having circuitry surrounded by an enclosure 20 comprising:

a groove 65 formed along a major surface 16 of the enclosure 20, the groove 65 being defined by a plurality of projections 62 positioned along and extending into a recess 67, a base 14 having a major surface positioned to be approximately perpendicular to the groove 65, the base 14 having an enclosure area 35 defined by an end surface 38, a support shoulder 34 extending from the end surface 38, and a securing member 50 also extending from the end surface 38 parallel to the shoulder 34 and spaced apart from the shoulder 34,

whereby the securing member 50 is insertable into the groove 65 to secure the enclosure 20 in the enclosure receiving area 35 of the base 14.

2. The peripheral electronic device as recited in claim 1 wherein the end surface 38 of the base is curved.

3. The peripheral electronic device as recited in claim 1 wherein the securing member 50 is a tongue.

4. The peripheral electronic device as recited in claim 1 wherein the securing member 50 is a clip.

5. The peripheral electronic device as recited in claim 4 wherein the clip 50 comprises: a pair of securing feet 52, a pair of arms 53 each extending from a respective securing foot 52, and a curved joining section 54 connecting the pair of arms 53 opposite the securing feet 52.

6. The peripheral electronic device as recited in claim 5 wherein the clip 50 further comprises a pair of securing kinks 56 formed in each of the arms 53.

7. A mounting arrangement for a peripheral electronic device comprising:

a base 14 having a major surface, an enclosure receiving area 35 formed in the major surface, and a support member 50 extending from the enclosure receiving area 35 generally perpendicular to the major surface,

whereby the support member 50 cooperates with the peripheral electronic device to secure it to the base 14.

8. The mounting arrangement as recited in claim 7 wherein the enclosure receiving area 35 is defined by a shoulder 34 formed in the major surface, an end wall 38, and the securing member 50 extending from the end wall 38 near an edge of the base.

9. The mounting arrangement as recited in claim 8 wherein the securing member 50 is a clip being securable in the enclosure receiving area 35.

10. The mounting arrangement as recited in claim 8 wherein the securing member 50 is a tongue being integrally molded with and extended from the end wall 38 of the housing receiving area 35.