Cover plate for a personal computer rear panel

• US 20060141830A1
• Filed: 12/28/2004
• Published: 06/29/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Ip, Michael C., Diaz, Elizabeth Brandon Swan, Hassur, Karl R., Karim, Amear A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,429,191 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/101
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/447 Shutter or cover plate
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/465 Identification means, e.g. labels, tags, markings H01R9/2475, H01R9/2683 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/74 Means for mounting coupling parts in openings of a panel
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/06 for computer periphery

Abstract

A cover plate for a rear panel of a personal computer (PC) is disclosed. The cover plate has openings for connectors and ports found on the rear panel of the PC. Another portion of the cover plate conceals a portion of the rear panel from view. The portion of the cover plate that conceals the rear panel of the PC has text-labels identifying the openings in the cover plate. The cover plate is removably coupled with the rear panel of the PC.

Claims

1. A cover plate comprising:

a first region comprising an opening for a connector;

a second region comprising;

a cover for a portion of a rear panel a personal computer; and

a text label identifying said first opening;

wherein said plate is removably coupled with said rear panel of said personal computer.

2. The cover plate of claim 1, wherein said plate further comprises a third region comprising an opening for mounting said plate to said rear panel of said personal computer by means of a screw.

3. The cover plate of claim 1 wherein said first region further comprises a grouping of openings and said second region comprises an auxiliary text label identifying said grouping.

4. The cover plate of claim 3 wherein said grouping of openings comprises openings for audio output connectors.

5. The cover plate of claim 3 wherein said grouping of openings comprises openings for television signal reception.

6. The cover plate of claim 3 wherein said grouping of openings comprises openings for video input connectors.

7. The cover plate of claim 1 wherein said cover plate is comprised of metal.

8. The cover plate of claim 1 wherein said cover plate is comprised of plastic.

9. The cover plate of claim 1 wherein said opening is for a network port.

10. The cover plate of claim 1 wherein said opening is for a television source input.

11. A personal computer comprising:

a processor;

a motherboard coupled to said processor;

a memory coupled to said processor;

a peripheral component interconnect (PCI) card slot coupled to said processor;

a rear panel comprising a port and a connector, said rear panel on an enclosure that houses said processor; and

a cover plate for said rear panel, wherein said cover plate is removably coupled with said rear panel, and wherein said cover plate comprises;

a first region comprising an opening for said port;

a second region comprising an opening for said connector; and

a third region comprising;

a cover for a portion of said rear panel;

a first text label for said port; and

a second text label for said second connector.

12. The personal computer of claim 11 wherein said first region of said cover plate further comprises a grouping of openings and said third region comprises a third text label identifying said grouping.

13. The personal computer of claim 11 further comprising a digital video disc (DVD) player, a television tuner, a video processor, an audio chip and a frequency modulation (FM) tuner, and wherein said rear panel further comprises a plurality of connectors and a plurality of ports, said plurality of connectors comprising:

a television source input;

an audio input;

an audio output;

an infrared transmitter connector;

a video input; and

a video output;

an antenna input; and

said plurality of ports comprising;

a universal service bus (USB) port;

a FireWire port; and

a wireless local area network (LAN) port.

15. The personal computer of claim 11 further comprising a system for storing said video and audio data, and a system for processing said video and audio data.

16. The personal computer of claim 11 wherein said network is an Internet network.

17. The personal computer of claim 11 further comprising a system for accessing television signal data.

18. The personal computer of claim 11 further comprising a system for accessing radio signal data.

19. The personal computer of claim 11 wherein said first region of said cover plate further comprises a grouping of openings and said third region comprises a third text label identifying said grouping.

20. The personal computer of claim 11 wherein said rear panel further comprises a plurality of connectors and a plurality of ports, said plurality of connectors comprising:

a television source input;

an audio input;

an audio output;

an infrared transmitter connector;

a video input; and

a video output;

an antenna input; and

said plurality of ports comprising;

a universal service bus (USB) port;

a FireWire port; and

a wireless local area network (LAN) port.

14. A personal computer comprising:

a first system for accessing video data;

a second system for accessing audio data;

a third system for accessing a network;

a rear panel comprising a connection and a port, said rear panel on an enclosure that houses said first, second and third systems;

a cover plate for said rear panel, wherein said cover plate is removably coupled with said rear panel, and wherein said cover plate comprises;

a first region comprising an opening for said port;

a second region comprising an opening for said connector; and

a third region comprising;

a cover for a portion of said rear panel;

a first text label for said port; and

a second text label for said second connector.