PERSONAL COMPUTER SYSTEM HOUSING AND SECURITY SYSTEM

• US 20030067741A1
• Filed: 10/10/2001
• Published: 04/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Tompkin, Crispian Grant, Gerard, Christian Okonsky, Alfonso, Pedro Marcos
• Granted Patent: US 6,570,756 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/683
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/181 Enclosures for portable computers G06F1/1613
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/86 Secure or tamper-resistant housings
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/88 Detecting or preventing theft or loss

Abstract

A computer assembly is disclosed having a computer system having at least a central processing unit and memory located within a chassis, and a housing, wherein the computer system is located within and coupled to the housing The housing has first and second portions positioned substantially adjacent to one another and configured so as to define therebetween at least first and second substantially identical ports in at least first and second sides of the housing respectively. The assembly further includes a mounting member for mounting the computer assembly to a supporting structure, with the mounting member being capable of being removably coupled to the chassis through either of the first and second ports. The computer assembly may also include a locking assembly having a locked state in which the first and second housing portions cannot be separated from one another, and an unlocked state in which the first and second housing portions can be separated from one another.

Claims

1. A computer assembly comprising:

computer system having at least a central processing unit and memory located within a chassis;

a housing, said computer system being located within and coupled to said housing, said housing having first and second portions positioned substantially adjacent to one another, and configured so as to define therebetween at least first and second substantially identical ports in at least first and second sides of said housing respectively; and

a mounting member for mounting said computer assembly to a supporting structure, said mounting member being capable of being removably coupled to said chassis through either of said first and second ports.

2. The computer assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a locking assembly, said locking assembly having an unlocked state in which said second housing portion can be separated from said first housing portion, and a locked state in which said second housing portion cannot be separated from said first housing portion.

3. The computer assembly according to claim 2, wherein said locking assembly further comprises:

a sliding member positioned substantially adjacent an exterior of said housing and movable between a locking position and an unlocking position; and

an engaging member positioned within an interior of said housing and coupled to said sliding member through said housing, said engaging member having an engaged position in which it engages said chassis, and a disengaged position in which it does not engage said chassis;

wherein moving said sliding member from said locking position to said unlocking position causes said engaging member to move from said engaged position to said disengaged position.

4. The computer assembly according to claim 3, wherein said locking assembly further comprises a bar member positioned within said housing and coupled to said sliding bar, said bar member having a bar member aperture therein that is substantially aligned with a lock aperture in said housing when said sliding member is in said locking position.

5. The computer assembly according to claim 4, said locking assembly further comprising a lock having a projection having a configuration such that it can be inserted through said bar member aperture and said lock aperture, wherein when inserted, said lock projection being rotatably by a lock activator inserted in said lock to a position in which it engages said bar member.

6. The computer assembly according to claim 4, wherein said chassis has a chassis lock aperture therein that is substantially aligned with said lock aperture in said housing, said locking assembly further comprising a lock having a projection having a configuration such that it can be inserted through said bar member aperture, said lock aperture, and said chassis lock aperture, wherein when inserted, said lock projection being rotatably by a lock activator inserted in said lock to a position in which it engages an interior of said chassis.

7. The computer assembly according to claim 6, wherein said lock projection has a substantially T-shaped configuration.

8. The computer housing assembly according to claim 2, wherein said locking assembly further comprises:

a sliding member positioned substantially adjacent an exterior of said housing and movable between a locking position and an unlocking position;

an engaging member positioned within an interior of said second housing portion and coupled to said sliding member through said housing, said engaging member having an engaged position in which it engages said first housing portion and a disengaging position in which it does not engage said first housing portion; and

wherein moving said sliding member from said locking position to said unlocking position causes said engaging member to move from said engaged position to said disengaged position.

9. The computer assembly according to claim 8, wherein said locking assembly further comprises a bar member positioned within said housing and coupled to said sliding bar, said bar member having a bar member aperture therein that is substantially aligned with a lock aperture in said second housing portion when said sliding member is in said locking position.

10. The computer housing assembly according to claim 9, said locking assembly further comprising a lock having a projection having a configuration such that it can be inserted through said bar member aperture and said lock aperture, and wherein when inserted, said lock projection being rotatable by a lock activator inserted in said lock to a position in which it cannot be removed from said bar member and lock apertures.

11. The computer assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a port cover covering said at least one port that has not received said mounting member.

12. The computer assembly according to claim 1, wherein said computer housing is rotatably mounted to a supporting surface by said mounting member.

13. The computer assembly according to claim 1, wherein said mounting member is a foot member, and wherein said foot member is fixedly secured to a supporting surface by a plurality of securing elements, and wherein at least one of said plurality of securing elements is positioned so as to be substantially inaccessible when said foot member is coupled to said chassis.

14. The computer assembly according to claim 1, wherein said mounting member is a modular mounting member capable of securing said computer assembly to a chassis of a second computer assembly through a port in a housing of said second computer assembly.

15. The computer assembly according to claim 1, wherein said mounting member is a stand member for supporting selected objects.

16. The computer assembly according to claim 1, wherein said mounting member is a computer component coupling element for coupling said computer assembly to a selected computer component.

17. The computer assembly according to claim 1, wherein said computer system has a media bay therein for receiving a peripheral device, and a media bay ejector for ejecting said peripheral device from said media bay, and said housing has a media bay aperture therein substantially aligned with said media bay, and a housing media bay ejector capable of activating said computer system media bay ejector.

18. The computer assembly according to claim 17, wherein said computer system further includes a media bay ejector lock for deactivating said media bay ejector, said media bay ejector lock being inaccessible when said computer system is positioned within said housing.

19. The computer assembly according to claim 1, wherein said housing has a cable aperture therein, and said computer assembly further comprises a cable holder having at least one opening therein for guiding cables connected to an exterior of said chassis to an exterior of said housing through said at least one opening, said cable holder projecting outwardly from said housing through said cable aperture and being engaged to said computer assembly.

20. The computer assembly according to claim 19, wherein said cable holder is engaged with said chassis.

21. The computer assembly according to claim 19, wherein said cable holder has an inner projection that engages an interior of said housing.

22. The computer assembly according to claim 1, wherein said chassis further comprises at least first and second substantially identical receiving members positioned substantially adjacent to said at least first and second ports respectively, and wherein said mounting member is capable of being removably coupled to either of said first or second receiving members.

23. The computer assembly according to claim 22, wherein said chassis receiving members further comprise first and second substantially hook shaped projections projecting outwardly from said chassis and towards one another.

24. The computer assembly according to claim 23, wherein said mounting member engages said first and second substantially hook shaped projections.

25. The computer assembly according to claim 22, wherein said housing further includes third and fourth ports therein in third and fourth sides respectively, and wherein said mounting member is capable of being removably coupled to said chassis through either of said third and fourth ports.

26. The computer assembly according to claim 25, wherein said chassis further comprises third and fourth receiving members positioned substantially adjacent to said third and fourth ports respectively, and wherein said mounting member is capable of being removably coupled to said chassis through either of said third and fourth receiving members.

27. A computer housing assembly comprising:

a housing having a first housing portion and a second housing portion positioned substantially adjacent one another so as to define therebetween at least first and second ports in first and second sides of said housing respectively, said housing being capable of substantially surrounding a computer chassis; and

a mounting member coupled to said computer housing assembly through a selected one of said first and second ports, said mounting member being capable of being coupled to said computer housing assembly through either if said first and second ports.

28. A computer housing assembly comprising:

a housing having a first housing portion and a second housing portion substantially adjacent to one another so as to define therebetween at least first and second ports in first and second sides of said housing respectively, said housing being capable of substantially surrounding a computer chassis; and

a mounting member having a coupling element capable of being received through either of said first and second ports for mounting said computer housing assembly to a supporting surface.

29. The computer housing assembly according to claim 28, wherein said first housing portion and second housing portions and said mounting member are capable of being coupled to said chassis.

30. The computer housing assembly according to claim 28, wherein said first and second housing portions are coupled to one another.

31. The computer housing assembly according to claim 28, wherein said coupling element of said mounting member is capable of being coupled to said chassis.

32. The computer housing assembly according to claim 28, wherein said coupling element of said mounting member is coupled to said housing.

33. The computer housing assembly according to claim 28, further comprising a port cover for covering the at least one port that has not received said mounting member.

34. The computer housing assembly according to claim 28, further comprising a locking assembly, said locking assembly having an unlocked state in which said first and second housing portions can be separated from one another, and a locked state in which said first and second housing portions cannot be separated from one another.

35. The computer housing assembly according to claim 34, wherein said locking assembly further comprises:

a sliding member substantially adjacent an exterior of said housing and movable between a locking position and an unlocking position; and

an engaging member positioned within an interior of said housing and coupled to said sliding member through said housing, said engaging member having an engaged position in which it engages said chassis and a disengaging position in which it does not engage said chassis,

wherein moving said sliding member from said locking position to said unlocking position causes said engaging member to move from said engaged position to said disengaged position.

36. The computer housing assembly according to claim 35, wherein said locking assembly further comprises a bar member positioned within said housing and coupled to said sliding bar, said bar member having a bar member aperture therein that is substantially aligned with a lock aperture in said housing when said sliding member is in said locking position.

37. The computer housing assembly according to claim 36, said locking assembly further comprising a lock having a projection having a configuration such that it can be inserted through said bar member aperture and said lock aperture, and wherein when inserted, said lock projection is rotatably to a position in which it cannot be removed from said bar member and lock apertures.

38. The computer assembly according to claim 37, wherein said chassis has a chassis lock aperture therein that is substantially aligned with said bar member aperture, said lock projection being insertable through said chassis lock aperture.

39. The computer housing assembly according to claim 34, wherein said locking assembly further comprises

a sliding member positioned substantially adjacent an exterior of said housing and movable between a locking position and an unlocking position;

and

an engaging member positioned within an interior of said second housing portion and coupled to said sliding member through said housing, said engaging member having an engaged position in which it engages said first housing portion and a disengaging position in which it does not engage said first housing portion,

wherein moving said sliding member from said locking position to said unlocking position causes said engaging member to move from said engaged position to said disengaged position.

40. The computer housing assembly according to claim 39, wherein said locking assembly further comprises a bar member positioned within said housing and coupled to said sliding bar, said bar member having a bar member aperture therein that is substantially aligned with a lock aperture in said second housing portion when said sliding member is in said locking position.

41. The computer housing assembly according to claim 40, said locking assembly further comprising a lock having a projection having a configuration such that it can be inserted through said bar member aperture and said lock aperture, and wherein when inserted, is rotatable to a position in which it cannot be removed from said bar member and lock apertures.

42. The computer housing assembly according to claim 41, wherein said mounting member is fixedly secured to a supporting surface by a plurality of securing elements, and wherein at least one of said plurality of securing elements is substantially inaccessible when said first and second housing portions are not separated from one another.

43. The computer housing assembly according to claim 28, wherein said housing has a cable aperture therein, and said computer housing assembly further comprises a cable holder having at least one opening therein for guiding cables connected to an exterior of the chassis to an exterior of the housing through said cable aperture and said at least one opening, said cable holder being secured within said housing and projecting outwardly from said housing through said cable aperture.

44. The computer housing assembly according to claim 28, said first and second housing portions further defining therebetween at third and fourth ports in third and fourth sides of said housing, said third and fourth ports being of substantially identical configuration to said first and second ports, and said coupling element being capable of being received through either of said third and fourth ports for mounting said computer housing assembly to said supporting surface.

45. A method for housing a computer system comprising the steps of:

mounting a mounting member to a support surface;

coupling a chassis of said computer system to a first housing portion of a computer housing so that said computer system is partially positioned within said first housing portion;

coupling said mounting member to said chassis;

positioning a second housing portion of said computer housing substantially adjacent said first housing portion so that said first and second housing portions substantially surround said chassis, so that said first and second housing portions define therebetween at least first and second substantially identical ports in first and second sides of said computer housing respectively, and so that said mounting member extends through a selected one of said first and second ports; and

coupling said second housing member to said chassis.

46. The method according to claim 45, wherein said second housing coupling step further comprises the step of engaging an engaging element of said second housing portion with said chassis, said engaging element being movable between an engaged position in which said engaging element engages said chassis and a disengaged position in which said engaging element does not engage said chassis.

47. The method according to claim 46, further comprising the step of preventing said engaging element from disengaging said chassis.

48. The method according to claim 47, wherein said engaging element is mechanically coupled to a bar element positioned within said second housing portion, and wherein said preventing step further comprises the step of inserting a lock element through a lock aperture in said housing and a bar aperture in said bar to prevent movement of said bar element relative to said housing and thereby prevent movement of said engaging element to said disengaging position.

49. The method according to claim 48, further comprising the step of moving said lock element relative to said apertures so that it cannot be removed from said apertures.

50. The method according to claim 45, further comprising the steps of, prior to said positioning step, positioning a cable holder having at least one opening therein so that it extends outwardly from said second housing portion through a cable aperture in said second housing portion;

and extending out through said at least one opening at least one cable that is coupled to said computer system.