Reconfigurable modular computer assembly having a main chassis with a removably attached face plate and at least one spacer removably attached to the face plate

• US 5,768,097 A
• Filed: 04/26/1996
• Issued: 06/16/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: RICHARD E. O'ROURKE & MELANE ALI, Server Systems Technology, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Server Systems Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Jelinger, Conrad A. H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Phillips, Michael W.
• Application Number:
  US08/639,187
• Time in Patent Office: 781 Days
• Field of Search: 364/708.1, 312/223.2, 312/223.1, 312/223.6, 312/334.7, 312/205, 312/348.4, 312/265.5, 312/265.6, 312/263, 361/683, 361/685, 361/687, 361/725, 361/727, 361/826-829
• US Class Current: 361/679.37
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/181 Enclosures for portable computers G06F1/1613

Abstract

A reconfigurable modular computer assembly. The computer assembly comprises a housing having parallel longitudinal guide walls and a main chassis for carrying electronic components. The main chassis is slidably mounted to the housing using bayonet sliders. The main chassis includes a control panel and a cable opening for allowing cables from a transom to pass through to components located in the main chassis. A computer power supply is removably attached to the main chassis. In a preferred embodiment, a 3.5" drive cage sub-chassis and a 5.25" drive cage sub-chassis are removably attached to the main chassis. Alternatively, two 3.5" drive cage sub-chassis can be removably attached to the main chassis. When the main chassis is in a deployed position, the drive cage sub-chassis and power supply can be easily disconnected and removed from the computer assembly for cleaning, replacement or repair without powering down the computer assembly. A face plate is removably attached to the main chassis. At least one spacer is removably attached to the faceplate.

Claims

1. A reconfigurable modular computer assembly, comprising:

a housing having parallel longitudinal guide walls;

a main chassis for carrying electronic components;

mounting means attached to said guide walls for slidably mounting said main chassis to said housing;

at least one drive cage sub-chassis being removably attached to said main chassis;

a faceplate removably attached to said main chassis; and

at least one spacer removably attached to said faceplate.

2. A reconfigurable modular computer assembly according to claim 1, wherein said at least one drive cage sub-chassis further includes connection tabs that extend from each drive cage sub-chassis, each connecting tab including a connecting hole for receiving connecting screws.

3. A reconfigurable modular computer assembly according to claim 1, wherein said at least one drive cage sub-chassis includes a plurality of mounting holes for receiving floppy drive mounting screws.

4. A reconfigurable modular computer assembly according to claim 1, wherein said at least one drive cage sub-chassis is removably attached to the main chassis using a plurality of insertion tabs, said at least one drive cage sub-chassis being attached to said main chassis by inserting said insertion tabs into receiving slots located on said main chassis and moving said at least one drive cage sub-chassis such that an extended portion on each insertion tab is positioned under a corresponding receiving slot.

5. A reconfigurable modular computer assembly according to claim 1, wherein a width of said at least one drive cage sub-chassis is adjustable.

6. A reconfigurable modular computer assembly according to claim 1 further comprising at least one disk drive attached to said at least one drive cage sub-chassis.

7. A reconfigurable modular computer assembly according to claim 1, wherein said faceplate is removably attached to said main chassis by using snaps that engage snap-receiving tabs located on said main chassis.

8. A reconfigurable modular computer assembly according to claim 1 further comprising a drive cover removably attached to said faceplate.

10. A reconfigurable modular computer assembly according to claim 1, wherein said at least one spacer is removably attached to said faceplate by using snaps that engage snap-receiving tabs located on said faceplate.

11. A reconfigurable modular computer assembly according to claim 1, wherein said mounting means for slidably mounting said main chassis to said housing comprises bayonet sliders.

12. A reconfigurable modular computer assembly according to claim 11, wherein said bayonet sliders are made of a 16" non-bearing neoprene bearing surface material.

13. A reconfigurable modular computer assembly according to claim 1 further comprising a power supply removably attached to said main chassis.

14. A reconfigurable modular computer assembly according to claim 13, wherein said power supply includes fans angularly mounted on said power supply to provide cooling of the electronic components in said computer assembly.

15. A reconfigurable modular computer assembly according to claim 1, wherein said housing further comprises an open front end and an open rear end.

16. A reconfigurable modular computer assembly according to claim 15, wherein said main chassis is slidable from a retracted position not extending from said open front end of said housing to a deployed position extending from said open front end of said housing.

17. A reconfigurable modular computer assembly according to claim 16 further comprising a transom for carrying cables when the main chassis is moved from the retracted position to the deployed position and for causing cables to extend through said open rear end of said housing when the main chassis is moved from the deployed position to the retracted position.

18. A reconfigurable modular computer assembly according to claim 17, wherein said transom is mounted to said open rear end of said housing using plastic clamps attached to said mounting means.

9. A reconfigurable modular computer assembly according to claim 9, wherein said drive cover is removably attached to said faceplate by using snaps that engage snap-receiving tabs located on said faceplate.

19. A reconfigurable modular computer assembly, comprising:

a housing having an open front end, an open rear end and parallel longitudinal side walls;

a main chassis slidably mounted to said housing, said main chassis being movable from a retracted position to a deployed position;

a power supply removably attached to said main chassis, said power supply including fans angularly mounted on said power supply to provide cooling of internal components in said computer assembly;

a transom for carrying cables, said transom being mounted to said open rear end of said housing;

at least one drive cage sub-chassis removably attached to said open front end of said main chassis by inserting a plurality of insertion tabs into receiving slots located on said main chassis and moving said at least one drive cage sub-chassis such that an extended portion on each insertion tab is positioned under a corresponding receiving slot;

a faceplate removably attached to said main chassis; and

at least one spacer removably attached to said faceplate,

wherein said at least one drive cage sub-assembly and said power supply can be accessed and disconnected without the need for powering down said computer assembly when said main chassis is in the deployed position.

20. A reconfigurable modular computer assembly according to claim 19, wherein a width of said at least one drive cage sub-chassis is adjustable.