Filter assembly for a memory storage device cooler

• US 6,297,950 B1
• Filed: 06/17/1999
• Issued: 10/02/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intellectual Ventures Assets 97 LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Inclose Design, Inc.
• Inventors: Erwin, Chris
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHANG, YEAN HSI
• Application Number:
  US09/335,448
• Time in Patent Office: 838 Days
• Field of Search: 361/684, 361/685, 361/695, 361/725, 361/727, 361/686-688
• US Class Current: 361/679.49
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2265/06 Details of supporting structures for filtering material, e.g. cores
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2279/45 for electronic devices, e.g. computers, hard-discs, mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/0005 Mounting of filtering elements within casings, housings or frames B01D46/2422 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/10 Particle separators, e.g. dust precipitators, using filter plates, sheets or pads having plane surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/18 Packaging or power distribution
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/20 Cooling means
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/1446 Reducing contamination, e.g. by dust, debris
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20181 Filters; Louvers

Abstract

An air filter assembly is useful with an external hard drive, a computer housing and memory storage device housings. The air filter assembly includes a frame, an air filter, and a retainer for slidably holding the air filter in the frame. Air filter deformation may result in captured dust and particulate matter dropping from the filter. The retainer of the present invention is specially configured for preventing filter deformation and dusty messes.

Claims

1. An air filter assembly for a memory storage device bay, comprising:

a frame having a first lateral side with a hinge connectable with the memory storage device bay having an inner periphery with grooves, and having a second lateral side with an opening;

an air filter; and

a retainer for sliding the air filter into the opening of the frame, the retainer having two sides and a flexible joint to move the sides between an open configuration to a closed configuration, in the closed configuration, the sides of the retainer sandwich the air filter to hold the air filter, each side has edges that slide in the grooves of the frame to insert the retainer in the frame when the retainer is in the closed configuration.

2. An air filter assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein the flexible joint spring biases the retainer in the open configuration to press the edges against the grooves of the frame when the retainer inserts into the frame.

3. An air filter assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein the air filter has an inner face and an outer face, the sides of the retainer surround the inner face and the outer face, respectively.

4. An air filter assembly as set forth in claim 3, wherein the sides of the retainer form a grate.

5. An air filter assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein the frame has an inlet, an outlet and two lateral sides, one side defines an opening that aligns with the grooves of the frame for receiving the retainer and the air filter.

7. An air filter assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein the air filter has a rectangular shape to fully cover a memory storage device bay.

8. An air filter assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein the retainer is fabricated from metal.

6. An air filter assembly for a memory storage device bay, comprising:

a frame connectable with the memory storage device bay and having an inner periphery with grooves;

an air filter;

a retainer for sliding the air filter into the frame, the retainer having two sidles and a flexible joint to move the sides between an open configuration to a closed configuration, in the closed configuration, the sides of the retainer sandwich the air filter to hold the air filter, each side has edges that slide in the grooves of the frame to insert the retainer in the frame when the retainer is in the closed configuration; and

wherein the frame has two lateral sides, one lateral side defines an opening for receiving the retainer and the air filter, and the other lateral side includes a hinge to attach the frame to the memory storage device bay, the hinge enables the frame to swing about attach hinge between an open position and a closed position, the open position exposes the opening to enable air filter removal and replacement.

9. An air filter assembly for a memory storage device bay, comprising:

a frame having an inlet, an outlet and two lateral sides, one lateral side includes a hinge connectable with the memory storage device bay, the frame has an inner periphery with grooves;

an air filter; and

a retainer having two sides and a flexible joint to move the sides between an open configuration to a closed configuration, in the closed configuration, the sides of the retainer sandwich the air filter to hold the air filter, each side has edges that slide in the grooves of the frame to insert the retainer in the frame when the retainer is in the closed configuration.

10. An air filter assembly as set forth in claim 9, the other lateral side of the frame defines an opening that aligns with the grooves of the frame for receiving the retainer and the air filter.

11. An air filter assembly as set forth in claim 9, wherein the flexible joint spring biases the retainer in the open configuration to press the edges against the grooves of the frame when the retainer inserts into the frame.

12. An air filter assembly as set forth in claim 9, wherein the sides air filter has an inner face and an outer face, the sides of the retainer surround the inner face and the outer face.

13. An air filter assembly as set forth in claim 12, wherein the sides of the retainer form a grate.

14. An air filter assembly as set forth in claim 12, wherein the air filter has a rectangular shape to fully cover a memory storage device bay.

15. An air filter assembly as set forth in claim 12, wherein the retainer is fabricated from metal.

16. A memory storage device housing having at least one memory storage device bay and a cooler assembly for cooling the memory storage device bay, comprising:

a hard drive cooler assembly having a fan mounted in at least one memory storage device bay for convectively cooling the memory storage device bay;

a frame for covering the fan, the frame being connectable with the memory storage device bay, the frame has an inner periphery with grooves;

an air filter; and

a retainer having two sides and a flexible joint to move the sides between an open configuration to a closed configuration, in the closed configuration, the sides of the retainer sandwich the air filter to hold the air filter, each side has edges that slide in the grooves of the frame to insert the retainer in the frame when the retainer is in the closed configuration.

17. A memory storage device housing as set forth in claim 16, wherein the flexible joint spring biases the retainer in the open configuration to press the edges against the grooves of the frame when the retainer inserts into the frame.

18. A memory storage device housing as set forth in claim 16, wherein the air filter has an inner face and an outer face, the sides of the retainer surround the inner face and the outer face, respectively.

19. A memory storage device housing as set forth in claim 18, wherein the sides of the retainer form a grate.

20. A memory storage device housing as set forth in claim 18, wherein housing includes multiple memory storage device bays, the frame, air filter and retainer cover the multiple bays.

21. A memory storage device housing having at least one memory storage device bay and a cooler assembly for cooling the memory storage device bay, comprising:

a hard drive cooler assembly having a fan mounted in at least one memory storage device bay for convectively cooling the memory storage device bay;

a frame for covering the fan, the frame being connectable with their memory storage device bay, the frame has an inner periphery with grooves;

an air filter;

a retainer having two sides and a flexible joint to move the sides between an open configuration to a closed configuration, in the closed configuration, the sides of the retainer sandwich the air filter to hold the air filter, each side has edges that slide in the grooves of the frame to insert the retainer in the frame when the retainer is in the closed configuration; and

wherein the frame has two lateral sides, one lateral side defines an opening for receiving the retainer and the air filter, and the other lateral side includes a hinge to attach the frame to the memory storage device bay, the hinge enables the frame to swing about the hinge between an open position and a closed position, the open position exposes the opening to enable air filter removal and replacement.