Computer with a detachable liquid crystal display

• US 20030090866A1
• Filed: 03/17/2002
• Published: 05/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wistron Corporation
• Original Assignee: Wistron Corporation
• Inventors: Kuo, Yan-Lin
• Granted Patent: US 6,816,361 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/679.6
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/16 Constructional details or arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/181 Enclosures for portable computers G06F1/1613
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/917 Video display screen support

Abstract

A desktop computer has a pedestal, a front housing, a motherboard, a display, and a rear cover. The pedestal is used to support the desktop computer on a desk. The bottom of the front housing is pivotally mounted on the pedestal and tilt-able in a forward-backward direction. The front housing has a front panel facing a user, a top panel horizontally fixed on a top edge of the front panel, and a bottom panel horizontally fixed on a bottom edge of the front panel. The display is fixed vertically on a front side of the front panel. The desktop computer combines the display with the computer housing so as to decrease the volume and simplify the structure. Furthermore, since the display is detachable fixed on the computer housing, the maintenance and the replacement of the display are easier and feasible.

Claims

1. A desktop computer comprising:

a pedestal for supporting the desktop computer on a desk;

a front housing, the bottom of the front housing being pivotally mounted on the pedestal and tilt-able in a forward-backward direction, the front housing having;

a front panel facing a user;

a top panel horizontally fixed on a top edge of the front panel facing a backward direction; and

a bottom panel horizontally fixed on a bottom edge of the front panel facing a backward direction, the front, top, and bottom panels forming a recess with an opening facing a rear end of the front housing;

a motherboard fixed vertically on a rear side of the front panel and between the top and bottom panels, a central processing unit (CPU) and at least a memory module installed on the motherboard for controlling the desktop computer;

a display fixed vertically on a front side of the front panel and comprising;

a metal frame having a squared rear panel fixed vertically on the front side of the front panel of the front housing, and four front flanges fixed on four front edges of the squared rear panel, the squared rear panel and the four front flanges forming a squared recess facing a forward direction;

a flat display panel electrically connected to the motherboard and having a front side for displaying images, and a rear side fixed vertically inside the squared recess of the metal frame; and

a plastic cover fixed on a front side of the metal frame for covering a periphery of the metal frame, an opening installed on a front end of the plastic cover for displaying the images of the flat display panel; and

a rear cover installed on the rear end of the front housing for covering the recess on the rear end of the front housing.

2. The desktop computer of claim 1 wherein the squared rear panel of the metal frame is detachably fixed on the front side of the front panel of the front housing.

3. The desktop computer of claim 2 wherein the squared rear panel of the metal frame and the front panel of the front housing comprise a plurality of sets of latching devices for temporarily clasping the squared rear panel of the metal frame on the front panel of the front housing, and a locking device for locking the squared rear panel of the metal frame on the front panel of the front housing so as to prevent the plurality of sets of latching devices from being separated.

4. The desktop computer of claim 3 wherein each of the plurality of sets of latching devices comprises a horizontal sliding slot and a flange, so that when the squared rear panel of the metal frame is attached to the front panel of the front housing, each of the flanges of the plurality of sets of latching devices is pushed horizontally and then clasped into the corresponding horizontal sliding slot, after which the squared rear panel of the metal frame is locked onto the front panel of the front housing via the locking device so as to prevent each of the flanges of the plurality of sets of latching devices from being separated from the corresponding horizontal sliding slot.

5. The desktop computer of claim 2 wherein the display further comprises a handle installed on the top of the squared rear panel of the metal frame, so that when the squared rear panel of the metal frame is fixed on the front side of the front panel of the front housing, a user is capable of utilizing the handle for carrying the desktop computer.

6. The desktop computer of claim 1 wherein the pedestal comprises a slot facing a forward direction for installing a compact disc drive.

7. The desktop computer of claim 1 wherein the flat display panel is a liquid crystal display panel.

8. The desktop computer of claim 1 wherein a plurality of pores are installed on the top and bottom panels of the recess of the front housing, and top and bottom ends of the rear housing for venting heat generated by the motherboard and the central processing unit (CPU) inside the recess of the front housing.

9. The desktop computer of claim 8 further comprising a fan installed on the top panel of the front housing adjacent to the pores for upwardly venting the heat from the recess and the rear housing.