Modular external peripheral housing

• US 6,147,859 A
• Filed: 08/18/1999
• Issued: 11/14/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: QPS, Inc. (Digital Peripheral Solutions Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: OPS, L.P.
• Inventors: Abboud, Pierre
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vortman, Anatoly
• Application Number:
  US09/376,787
• Time in Patent Office: 454 Days
• Field of Search: 361/683, 361/684-686, 361/688, 361/687, 361/728-747, 312/9.1, 312/236, 312/283, 312/284, 312/286, 312/223.1, 312/223.2, 369/75.1, 369/77.1
• US Class Current: 361/679.39
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/20 Cooling means
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/022 Cases
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/1406 Reducing the influence of the temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0013 assembled by resilient members

Abstract

An external casing having a modular design for encasing a variety of hardware peripherals within an interior compartment formed by releasably engaging upper and lower halves that receive an interchangeable interface panel and allow the passage of air above and below the peripheral, thereby eliminating the need for a cooling fan internal of the casing.

Claims

1. A housing for encasing a computer peripheral device comprising:

an upper half having a domed top portion flanked by a pair of downwardly projecting side walls having a first fastener element, said upper half further including a pair of opposing upper tracks;

a lower half configured with a lower support surface adjoined to a pair of upwardly projecting side walls having a second fastener element configured for releasable engagement with said first fastener element, said lower half further including a pair of lower tracks for alignment with said upper tracks;

an interface panel configured to be slidingly received in said upper and lower tracks and further formed with at least one opening for carrying interface components to be connected between the peripheral device and a second device; and

wherein said halves cooperate when engaged to form an interior compartment for receipt of the electrical device and a forward port for access to the electrical device.

2. The housing as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said lower support surface includes support legs.

3. The housing as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said interface panel is rectangular.

4. The housing as set forth in claim 2 wherein:

said top portion includes a set of grooves constructed such that the legs of an additional housing may be placed therein.

5. The housing as set forth in claim 1 further including:

at least one C-shaped side cover constructed to releasably engage one side of the housing.

6. The housing as set forth in claim 5 wherein:

said side cover includes a fingergrip region having a plurality of depressions.

7. The housing as set forth in claim 1 further including:

a frontal slot reducer releasably engaged with said forward port of the housing and having an open area of smaller cross section than said forward port.

8. The housing as set forth in claim 5 wherein:

said C-shaped side cover is dimensioned to provide a storage area between the interior of said side cover and said side walls of the housing.

9. The housing as set forth in claim 8 further including:

a battery pack stowed in said storage area.

10. The housing as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

the interior surface of said support surface includes a plurality of support flanges forming a seat for maintaining the peripheral device away from the support surface to provide substantially unimpeded air flow underneath the peripheral device.

11. The housing as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said top portion is arcuately shaped when viewed in longitudinal cross section.

12. The housing as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said first fastener element includes at least one pair of inwardly inclined barbs; and

said second fastener element includes a channel shaped portion for slidable receipt over said barbs.

13. The housing as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said interior compartment tapers inwardly in the rearward direction.

14. The housing as set forth in claim 10 wherein:

said support flanges are spaced apart to support the lower surface of different sized peripheral devices.

15. The housing as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said upper and lower halves are formed with recesses for close fitting receipt of side covers and a frontal slot reducer, said recesses being constructed such that the exterior surface of said side covers and said frontal slot reducer is flush with the exterior surface of said domed portion.

16. The housing as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said interface panel includes at least one opening constructed for receipt of an SCSI port.

17. The housing as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said interface panel includes at least one opening constructed for receipt of a USB port.

18. The housing as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said halves are constructed of a rigid plastic material.

19. The housing as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said interior compartment provides a heat exchange chamber about the peripheral device whereby ambient air is allowed to flow about the peripheral device.

20. The housing as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said interface panel includes at least one opening constructed for receipt of a parallel port.

21. The housing as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said interface panel includes at least one opening configured for receipt of a PC card.

22. The housing as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said lower support surface is arcuately shaped when viewed in longitudinal cross section.

23. The housing as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said lower support surface includes a plurality of conical anchors constructed to be received in the peripheral for restricting lateral and longitudinal movement of the peripheral within said compartment.

24. The housing as set forth in claim 1 further including:

a frontal slot reducer and a pair of side covers for reinforcing the engagement of said upper and lower halves.

25. The housing as set forth in claim 1 further including a pair of side covers for reinforcing the engagement of said upper and lower halves.

26. A modular external casing for a hardware peripheral comprising:

an upper domed element supported from a pair of downwardly projecting side walls terminating in a first fastening element, said side walls including opposing, inwardly facing, upper panel slots;

a curved lower tray element flanked on both sides by a pair of upwardly projecting side walls terminating in a second fastener element configured for releasable engagement with said first fastener element, said tray further including a series of stand off ribs on its interior surface constructed to provide an elevated seat for the electrical component, said upwardly projecting side walls further including opposed confronting lower panel slots;

an interface panel slidably disposed within said upper and lower panel slots and constructed with an array of interface openings for carrying interface connectors;

wherein said releasable engagement of said upper domed element and said lower tray forms an interior compartment dimensioned for placement of the peripheral and an open rectangular forward slot providing access to the electrical component; and

said interior compartment further provides a heat exchange chamber about the peripheral.