Modular computer chassis

• US 5,136,468 A
• Filed: 03/15/1991
• Issued: 08/04/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Amkly Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Amkly Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Wong, Albert C., Kutnick, Robert D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WHANG, YOUNG
• Application Number:
  US07/670,026
• Time in Patent Office: 508 Days
• Field of Search: 361/380, 361/392, 361/393, 361/394, 361/399, 361/390, 361/415, 361/391, 361/413, 439/61, 439/59, 439/64, 439/74
• US Class Current: 361/679.6
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/184 Mounting of motherboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/187 Mounting of fixed and removable disk drives
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/188 Mounting of power supply units
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/126 Arrangements for providing electrical connections, e.g. connectors, cables, switches
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/128 of the plurality of recording/reproducing devices, e.g. disk drives, onto a chassis

Abstract

A modular computer chassis comprises a main chassis to which a motherboard is attached and a subchassis attachable to the main chassis. The subchassis is capable of having at least one computer component attached thereto such that the computer component is electrically connected to the motherboard. The computer component is thus separable from the main chassis by removing the subchassis from the main chassis. The subchassis contains those computer components subject to mechanical wear and most often requiring replacement, i.e. the power supply and disk drives. The subchassis is mechanically connected to the main chassis by using slots and tabs such that when the cover is in place upon the computer, then the subchassis is secured therein. The subchassis and the computer components disposed thereon thus form a module which is conveniently removable and replaceable such that those computer components most frequently requiring service can be quickly removed and replaced by a person unskilled in computer repair.

Claims

1. A modular computer chassis comprising:

(a) a main chassis to which a motherboard is attached;

(b) a subchassis removably attached to said main chassis, to which a power supply and at least one disk drive are attached such that with said subchassis attached to said main chassis which said power supply and said at least one disk drive are electrically connected to said motherboard;

(c) a first electrical connector attached to said subchassis;

(d) a complimentary second electrical connector attached to said motherboard;

(e) at least one first slot formed at the rear of said main chassis;

(f) at least one second tab formed at the rear of said suchassis, said at least one second tab received by said first slot such that said second tab and said first slot cooperate to substantially prevent lateral movement of said subchassis;

(g) at least one second slot formed at the front of said subchassis;

(h) at least one first tab formed at the front of said main chassis, said at least one first tab received by said at least one second slot such that said at least one first tab and said at least one second slot cooperate to

(i) a hinged handle attached to said subchassis, said hinged handle having an operative position in which said hinged handle is extended for use and having a stowed portion in which said hinged handle is disposed in laminar juxtaposition to said subchassis; and

(j) a cover disposable over a substantial portion of said main chassis, said subchassis being secured to said main chassis by said cover.

2. A modular computer chassis comprising:

(a) a main chassis to which a motherboard is attached;

(b) a subchassis removably attached to said main chassis, having at least one computer component disposed thereon such that said computer component is electrically connected to said motherboard;

(c) a first elongate pin electrical connector attached to said subchassis;

(d) a complimentary second elongate pin electrical connector attached to said motherboard;

(e) guide posts formed one of said first and second elongated pin electric connectors and complimentary apertures formed upon the other of said first and second elongated pin electrical connectors for assuring alignment of said first and second elongated pin electrical connectors during mating thereof;

(f) wherein said at least one computer component is separable from said main chassis by removing said subchassis from said main chassis; and

(g) wherein attaching said subchassis to said main chassis causes said first and second elongated pin electrical connectors to mate.

3. A modular computer chassis comprising:

(a) a main chassis to which a motherboard is attached, said main chassis comprising;

(i) at least one firs slot; and

(ii) at least one first tab;

(b) a subchassis removably attached to said main chassis, at least one computer component disposed upon said subchassis such that said at least one computer component is electrically connectable to said motherboard, said subchassis comprising;

(i) at least one second tab received by said at least one first slot; and

(ii) at least one second slot receiving said first tab;

(c) wherein said at least one computer component is separable from said main chassis by removing said subchassis from said main chassis; and

(d) wherein said at least one first slot and said at least one second tab cooperate to substantially prevent lateral movement of said subchassis and wherein said at least one first tab and said at least one second slot cooperate to substantially prevent longitudinal movement of said subchassis when said subchassis is attached to said main chassis.

4. The modular computer chassis as recited in claim 4 further comprising a hinged handle attached to said subchassis, said hinged handle having an operative position in which said hinged handle is extended of ruse and having a stowed portion in which said hinged handle is disposed substantially in laminar juxtaposition to said subchassis.

5. The modular computer chassis as recited in claim 4 further comprising a cover disposable over a substantial portion of said main chassis, said subchassis being secured to said main chassis by said cover when said cover is disposed over said main chassis.

6. A modular computer chassis as recited in claim 5 wherein said at least one second tab is curved such that it hingeably connects said subchassis to said main chassis when said at least one second tab is received by said at least one first slot, such that said subchassis pivoted about said at least one first slot and said at least one second tab as said subchassis is attached to said main chassis.

7. A modular computer chassis as recited in claim 6 further comprising, said motherboard having a connector disposed thereon for electrically connecting said motherboard to said subchassis.

8. The modular computer chassis as recited in claim 7 wherein said subchassis further comprises:

(a) a power supply; and

(b) a switch disposed upon said subchassis for turning the computer on and off.