Computer system with in-line switchbox mounting

• US 6,185,092 B1
• Filed: 09/03/1999
• Issued: 02/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP (Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Company)
• Original Assignee: Compaq Computer Corporation (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Owens, Michael, Landrum, Gary
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BUI, TUNG M
• Application Number:
  US09/390,233
• Time in Patent Office: 522 Days
• Field of Search: 361/686, 361/683, 361/681, 361/724, 361/727, 312/223.1, 312/223.2, 364/705.01, 364/708.1
• US Class Current: 361/679.11
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/16 Constructional details or arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1601 Constructional details related to the housing of computer displays, e.g. of CRT monitors, of flat displays constructional details related to flat displays integrated in a portable computer, e.g. laptop, handheld computer G06F1/1637; constructional details related to television receivers H04N5/64
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1612 Flat panel monitor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1494 having hardware for monitoring blades, e.g. keyboards, displays methods or software therefore H05K7/1498

Abstract

An apparatus includes a cabinet, a keyboard assembly, and a switchbox. The cabinet has mounting rails. The keyboard assembly includes a keyboard tray and a keyboard slide. The keyboard slide has fixed and moveable portions. The fixed portion is mounted to the mounting rails, and the moveable portion is mounted to the keyboard tray. A switchbox is mounted to the fixed portion of the keyboard slide.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a cabinet, having mounting rails;

a keyboard assembly, the keyboard assembly, including;

a keyboard tray; and

a keyboard slide having fixed and moveable portions, the fixed portion being mounted to the mounting rails, and the moveable portion being mounted to the keyboard tray; and

a switchbox mounted to the fixed portion of the keyboard slide.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a display mounted in the cabinet, wherein the display includes a display cable, the keyboard tray includes a keyboard having a keyboard cable, and the switchbox is coupled to the display cable and the keyboard cable.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

mounting a display in the cabinet, the display including a display cable;

providing a keyboard in the keyboard tray, the keyboard having a keyboard cable; and

coupling the display cable and the keyboard cable to the switchbox.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a plurality of servers mounted in the cabinet, wherein the switchbox is adapted to couple a selected one of the servers to the display cable and the keyboard cable.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the keyboard assembly and the display assembly are mounted to the cabinet in different vertical positions.

6. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

mounting a plurality of servers in the cabinet; and

selectively coupling a selected one of the servers to the display cable and the keyboard cable through the switchbox.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein mounting the keyboard assembly and mounting the display assembly include mounting the keyboard assembly and the display assembly to the cabinet in different vertical positions.

8. A method for assembling a computer system, comprising:

providing a cabinet, having mounting rails;

mounting a keyboard assembly to the mounting rails; and

mounting a switchbox to the mounting rails in-line with the keyboard assembly.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the keyboard assembly includes a keyboard tray and a keyboard slide having fixed and moveable portions, and the method further comprises mounting the fixed portion to the mounting rails and mounting the moveable portion to the keyboard tray.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein mounting the switchbox comprises mounting the switchbox to the fixed portion of the keyboard slide.