Technique for mounting a power supply in a computer

• US 20060018090A1
• Filed: 07/23/2004
• Published: 01/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Tuttle, Erick J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,046,510 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/679.580
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/184 Mounting of motherboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/188 Mounting of power supply units
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C

Abstract

A computer according to a preferred embodiment of the invention may have a power supply mounted therein without the use of tool-requiring fasteners. A chassis of the computer may have a chassis hook and either a stop or an elastic catch. A power supply of the computer may have a power supply hook and either an elastic catch or a stop. When the power supply is mounted to the chassis, the power supply hook engages the chassis hook, and the elastic catch engages the stop in a manner that prevents the power supply hook from disengaging from the chassis hook.

Claims

1. A computer, comprising:

a chassis having a first chassis hook and either a first stop or a first elastic catch; and

a power supply having a first power supply hook and either the first elastic catch or the first stop;

wherein, when the power supply is mounted to the chassis, the first power supply hook engages the first chassis hook, and the first elastic catch engages the first stop in a manner that prevents the first power supply hook from disengaging from the first chassis hook.

2. The computer of claim 1:

wherein the first power supply hook is disposed at a first end of the power supply; and

further comprising a supporting mechanism operable to restrain the power supply in two axes at a second end opposite the first end.

3. The computer of claim 2:

wherein the supporting mechanism comprises a clearance hole in the chassis through which a portion of the second end of the power supply passes such that perimeter edges of the clearance hole engage side surfaces of the power supply.

4. The computer of claim 2, wherein:

the power supply comprises four side surfaces; and

the supporting mechanism comprises four rigid surfaces inside the chassis, each of the four rigid surfaces engaging one of the four side surfaces of the power supply.

5. The computer of claim 4, wherein the four rigid surfaces comprise protrusions extending inward from surfaces of the chassis.

6. The computer of claim 5, wherein the protrusions comprise:

three flanges for engaging three of the four side surfaces and a boss for engaging the fourth side surface.

7. The computer of claim 1, wherein:

the first chassis hook is integrally formed from a portion of the chassis.

8. The computer of claim 1, wherein:

the first stop is integrally formed from a portion of the chassis.

9. The computer of claim 1, wherein:

the chassis further comprises a second chassis hook and either a second stop or a second elastic catch;

the power supply further comprises a second power supply hook and either the second elastic catch or the second stop; and

when the power supply is mounted to the chassis, the second power supply hook engages the second chassis hook, and the second elastic catch engages the second stop.

10. The computer of claim 1, wherein:

the first elastic catch comprises a bent edge of an elastic member.

11. The computer of claim 10, wherein:

the bent edge comprises a rectangular hole such that a sharp edge of the elastic member is exposed to the first stop.

12. The computer of claim 10, further comprising:

a rigid member disposed adjacent the elastic member such that a force may be applied by holding the rigid member and pressing the elastic member toward the rigid member to disengage the first elastic catch from the first stop.

13. The computer of claim 10, further comprising:

a lip on the elastic member against which a force maybe applied to disengage the first elastic catch from the first stop.

14. A computer power supply, comprising:

a first power supply hook for engaging a first chassis hook protruding inward from a first surface of a chassis; and

either a first elastic catch on the power supply for engaging a first stop on the chassis or a first stop on the power supply for engaging a first elastic catch on the chassis.

15. The computer power supply of claim 14, further comprising:

a second power supply hook for engaging a second chassis hook protruding inward from the first surface of the chassis; and

either a second elastic catch on the power supply for engaging a second stop on the chassis or a second stop on the power supply for engaging a second elastic catch on the chassis.

16. The computer power supply of claim 14, wherein:

the first catch comprises a bent edge of an elastic member.

17. The computer power supply of claim 16, wherein:

the bent edge comprises a rectangular hole such that a sharp edge of the elastic member is exposed to the first stop.

18. The computer power supply of claim 16, further comprising:

a rigid member disposed on the power supply adjacent the elastic member such that a force may be applied by holding the rigid member and pressing the elastic member toward the rigid member to disengage the first catch from the first stop.

19. The computer power supply of claim 16, further comprising:

a lip on the elastic member against which a force maybe applied to disengage the first catch from the first stop.

20. A computer chassis, comprising:

a first chassis hook protruding inward from a first surface of the chassis for engaging a first power supply hook on a power supply; and

either a first stop on the chassis for engaging a first elastic catch on the power supply or a first elastic catch on the chassis for engaging a first stop on the power supply.

21. The computer chassis of claim 20:

wherein the first power supply hook is disposed at a first end of the power supply; and

further comprising a supporting mechanism on the chassis operable to restrain the power supply in two axes at a second end opposite the first end.

22. The computer chassis of claim 21:

wherein the supporting mechanism comprises a clearance hole in the chassis through which a portion of the second end of the power supply passes such that perimeter edges of the clearance hole engage side surfaces of the power supply.

23. The computer chassis of claim 21, wherein:

the power supply comprises four side surfaces; and

the supporting mechanism comprises four rigid surfaces inside the chassis, each of the four rigid surfaces engaging one of the four side surfaces of the power supply.

24. The computer chassis of claim 23, wherein the four rigid surfaces comprise protrusions extending inward from surfaces of the chassis.

25. The computer chassis of claim 24, wherein the protrusions comprise:

three flanges for engaging three of the four side surfaces and a boss for engaging the fourth side surface.

26. The computer chassis of claim 20, further comprising:

a second chassis hook protruding inward from a first surface of the chassis for engaging a second power supply hook on the power supply; and

either a second stop on the chassis for engaging a second elastic catch on the power supply or a second elastic catch on the chassis for engaging a second stop on the power supply.

27. The computer chassis of claim 20, wherein:

the first chassis hook is integrally formed from a portion of the first surface of the chassis.

28. The computer chassis of claim 20, wherein:

the first stop is integrally formed from a portion of the first surface of the chassis.