Extruded encolosure for a computer system

• US 5,450,285 A
• Filed: 07/22/1993
• Issued: 09/12/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsystems Company LLC
• Original Assignee: Microsystems Company LLC
• Inventors: Schlemmer, James L.
• Primary Examiner(s): GREEN, BRIAN
• Application Number:
  US08/095,861
• Time in Patent Office: 782 Days
• Field of Search: 312/208.1, 312/208.4, 312/257.1, 312/263, 312/265.5, 312/265.6, 312/223.1, 312/223.2, 248/615, 248/677, 248/917, 248/919, 248/921, 248/922, 220/4.02, 220/4.32, 361/679, 361/683, 361/725, 361/726, 361/724, 361/727, 361/730, 361/736, 361/752
• US Class Current: 361/724
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 91/00 Feet for furniture in general castors B60B33/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/181 Enclosures for portable computers G06F1/1613
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1638 Computer housing designed to operate in both desktop and tower orientation
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/04 Metal casings
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/921 Plural angular

Abstract

An enclosure for a computer system is disclosed, which has the capability of being used in a desktop, tower or rack-mount configuration. The enclosure includes side extrusions having a center portion and two end portions which are substantially perpendicular to the center portion. Foot grooves are located on the end portions and on the center portion near each corner, and center grooves are located along the wider center portion. Pliable feet may be slid into position into foot grooves of the end portions of both side extrusions, in the desktop configuration. The tower configuration may be obtained by installing support feet which wrap around the corner of the side extrusion, mating in both the foot grooves on the end portions and those in the center portion of the side extrusion. The disclosed enclosure also enables rack-mounting by way of rack slides mounted into the center grooves of the center portion of the side extrusions. Flexibility in deployment of a computer contained within such an enclosure is obtained by way of the disclosed construction.

Claims

1. A computer, comprising:

first and second side structures, each comprising;

a center portion having first and second ends and a length defined between said first and second ends;

a first angled portion disposed along a first side of said center portion, and extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to said center portion so as to define a first corner with said center portion, said first angled portion having a first foot groove in its exterior surface which extends the length of said center portion; and

a second angled portion disposed along a second side of said center portion, and extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to said center portion so as to define a second corner with said center portion, said second angled portion having a second foot groove in its exterior surface which extends the length of said center portion;

wherein said center portion has, in its exterior surface, third and fourth foot grooves which extend the length of said center portion, said third groove disposed near said first corner, said fourth groove disposed near said second corner, said third and fourth foot grooves having a shape and size substantially the same as said first and second foot grooves;

a front panel, connected to one end of each of said first and second side structures;

a first surface panel, mated with said first angled portion of each of said first and second side structures;

a second surface panel, mated with said second angled portion of each of said first and second side structures in an opposing fashion relative to said first surface panel; and

electronic circuitry, disposed within a space defined by said first and second side structures, said front panel, and said first and second surface panels, for performing data processing operations.

2. The computer of claim 1, further comprising:

first and second feet disposed within said second foot groove of said second angled portion of each of said first and second side structures, respectively.

3. The computer of claim 2, wherein said first and second feet extend substantially the length of said center portion of each of said first and second side structures.

4. The computer of claim 1, further comprising:

first and second feet disposed within said third and fourth foot grooves, respectively, of said center portion of said first side structure.

5. The computer of claim 4, wherein said first foot is also disposed within said first foot groove of said first angled portion of said first side structure;

and wherein said second foot is also disposed within said second foot groove of said second angled portion of said first side structure.

6. The computer of claim 1, wherein said center portion of each of said first and second side structures also has, at its exterior surface, a center groove extending along its length and adapted for receiving a rack slide.

7. The computer of claim 1, wherein said front panel comprises a rotatable LCD panel that may be oriented in either of first and second perpendicular directions and that is electrically connected to said electronic circuitry.

8. The computer of claim 1, wherein said center portion of said first side structure also has a component groove at its interior surface;

and wherein said electronic circuitry is mounted to said component groove of said first side structure.

9. The computer of claim 1, wherein said first angled portion of each of said first and second side structures has a first panel groove;

and wherein said first surface panel is disposed within said first panel groove of each of said first and second side structures.

10. The computer of claim 9, wherein said second angled portion of each of said first and second side structures has a second panel groove;

and wherein said second surface panel is disposed within said second panel groove of each of said first and second side structures.