Modular external peripheral housing

• US 6,301,103 B1
• Filed: 11/13/2000
• Issued: 10/09/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pierre Abboud
• Original Assignee: Pierre Abboud
• Inventors: Abboud, Pierre
• Primary Examiner(s): Tolin, Gerald
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vortman, Anatoly
• Application Number:
  US09/712,355
• Time in Patent Office: 330 Days
• Field of Search: 361/683-688, 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: 361/679.6
• 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:

a lower half configured with a lower support surface adjoined to a pair of upwardly projecting side walls having a first fastener element, said lower half further including a pair of lower retainer flanges;

an upper half having a top portion including a leading edge positioned at a predetermined height relative to said lower half and a centrally disposed section positioned higher than said predetermined height, said top portion being flanked by a pair of downwardly projecting side walls having a second fastener element configured for releasable engagement with said first fastener element, said upper half further including a pair of opposing upper retainer flanges for alignment with said lower retainer flanges;

an interface panel configured to be releasably engaging with said upper and lower retainer flanges 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 aperture for access to the peripheral device.

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

said top portion includes a centrally disposed apex relative to said leading edge and is curved when viewed in lateral cross section and longitudinal cross section.

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

said top portion includes a centrally disposed apex relative to said leading edge and is curved when viewed in longitudinal cross section.

4. A housing for encasing a computer peripheral device and an interface connector said housing comprising:

the planar edges

an upper half having an arcuate 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 for slidably receiving the edges of the interface connector; and

wherein said halves cooperate when engaged to form an interior compartment for receipt of the peripheral device and a forward port for access to the electrical device and a rearward port such that the interface panel may carry interface components to be connected between the peripheral device and a second device.

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

an upper half having a 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, when viewed in longitudinal cross section, a curved 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 peripheral device.

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

an upper half having an arcuate 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 an arcuate 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 peripheral device.