Apparatus for mounting a panel to a chassis of a computer

• US 6,373,690 B1
• Filed: 10/21/1999
• Issued: 04/16/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dell USA LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell USA LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: George, Greg, Buican, Eugene
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHANG, YEAN HSI
• Application Number:
  US09/422,903
• Time in Patent Office: 908 Days
• Field of Search: 292/80, 292/81, 292/83, 292/91, 292/87, 361/679, 361/683, 162/23, 163/27, 163/28, 163/31
• US Class Current: 361/679.59
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/181 Enclosures for portable computers G06F1/1613
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/183 Internal mounting support structures, e.g. for printed circuit boards, internal connecting means for buses G06F13/409
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/0894 Spring arm
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/0895 Operating means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/0898 Cam
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/0902 Rigid
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/0907 Multiple head

Abstract

An apparatus for mounting a panel to a chassis of a computer. The apparatus includes a release member movably mounted on a top surface of the chassis and a flange fixedly mounted to a base portion of the chassis. The release member is movable between a static position and a release position. A panel is pivotally attached adjacent to a base portion of the chassis. The panel is movable between a closed position and an open position. A resilient retention member is attached to the panel. The retention member is engaged with the flange when the panel is in the closed position. The release member resiliently deflects the retention member from engagement with the flange when the release member is moved from the static position toward the release position to allow the panel to be moved from the closed position to the open position. The panel can be accurately and consistently aligned and attached to the chassis of the computer system after each removal. Furthermore, the panel can be quickly and easily engaged and disengaged with minimal force without the use of tools or having to manipulate fasteners such as screws.

Claims

1. An apparatus for mounting a panel to a computer chassis, comprising:

a release member movably mounted on the chassis, the release member being movable between a static position and a release position;

a flange attached to the chassis;

a panel pivotally attached to the chassis, the panel being movable between a closed position and an open position;

a first alignment member attached to the panel and wherein the chassis includes a second alignment member for engagement with the first alignment member; and

a resilient retention member attached to the panel, the retention member engaged with the flange when the panel is in the closed position, the release member deflecting the retention member from engagement with the flange when the release member is moved from the static position toward the release position thereby allowing the panel to be moved from the closed position to the open position.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the release member includes a plurality of mounting tabs and wherein the chassis includes a plurality of elongated slots in a top surface thereof, each one of the mounting tabs being mounted in a corresponding one of the slots.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the release member is mounted to a top surface of the chassis and wherein the panel is pivotally attached adjacent to a base portion of the chassis.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the panel and the retention member are integrally formed.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the flange and the chassis are integrally formed.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the panel is a bezel panel including an opening for providing access to an associated peripheral device mountable in the chassis, the first alignment member and second alignment member being positioned to align the opening with respect to the associated peripheral device.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising a retaining member attached to the panel, the retaining member being engaged with a base portion of the chassis for enabling the panel to be pivoted between the open position and the closed position.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising retaining members attached to the panel, the retaining members being engaged with a base portion of the chassis for enabling the panel to be pivoted between the open position and the closed position.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the panel, the retaining members and the retention members are integrally formed.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the release member includes a disengagement member positioned adjacent to the retention member and a flexible beam portion attached to the disengagement member, the retention member being deflected by the disengagement member when the flexible beam is moved from the static position to the release position.

11. A computer system, comprising:

a chassis;

a microprocessor mounted in the chassis;

an input coupled to provide input to the microprocessor;

a mass storage coupled to the microprocessor;

a memory coupled to the microprocessor to provide storage to facilitate execution of computer programs by the microprocessor;

a release member movably mounted on the chassis, the release member being movable between a static position and a release position;

a flange attached to the chassis;

a panel pivotally attached to the chassis, the panel being movable between a closed position and an open position;

a first alignment member attached to the panel and wherein the chassis includes a second alignment member for engagement with the first alignment member; and

a resilient retention member attached to the panel, the retention member engaged with the flange when the panel is in the closed position, the release member deflecting the retention member from engagement with the flange when the release member is moved from the static position toward the release position thereby allowing the panel to be moved from the closed position to the open position.

12. The computer system of claim 11 wherein the release member is mounted to a top surface of the chassis and wherein the panel is pivotally attached adjacent to a base portion of the chassis.

13. The computer system of claim 11 wherein the release member includes a plurality of mounting tabs and wherein the chassis includes a plurality of elongated slots in a top surface thereof, each one of the mounting tabs being mounted in a corresponding one of the slots.

14. The computer system of claim 11 wherein the panel is a bezel panel including an opening for providing access to an associated peripheral device mountable in the chassis, the first alignment member and second alignment member being positioned to align the opening with respect to the associated peripheral device.

15. The computer system of claim 14 further comprising a retaining member attached to the panel, the retaining member being engaged with a base portion of the chassis for enabling the panel to be pivoted between the open position and the closed position.

16. The computer system of claim 11 further comprising retaining members attached to the panel, the retaining members being engaged with a base portion of the chassis for enabling the panel to be pivoted between the open position and the closed position.

17. The computer system of claim 11 wherein the release member includes a disengagement member positioned adjacent to the retention member and a flexible beam portion attached to the disengagement member, the retention member being deflected by the disengagement member when the flexible beam is moved from the static position to the release position.

18. An apparatus for mounting a panel to a computer chassis, comprising:

a flexible release member movably mounted on a top surface of the chassis, the release member being movable between a static position and a release position, the release member including two spaced apart disengagement members with a flexible beam portion attached between the two disengagement members;

a flange attached to the chassis adjacent to each one of the disengagement members;

a panel pivotally attached adjacent to a base portion of the chassis, the panel being movable between a closed position and an open position;

a first alignment member attached to the panel and wherein the chassis includes a second alignment member for engagement with the first alignment member; and

a pair of spaced apart resilient retention members attached to the panel, the retention members engaged with a corresponding one of the flanges when the panel is in the closed position, the disengagement members deflecting the retention members from engagement with the flanges when the release member is moved from the static position toward the release position thereby allowing the panel to be moved from the closed position to the open position.

19. A method of releasably attaching a panel to a chassis, comprising the steps of:

movably mounting a release member on the chassis for being moved between a static position and a release position;

attaching a flange to the chassis adjacent to the release member;

attaching a resilient retention member to the panel;

pivotally attaching the panel to the chassis for being moved between a closed position and an open position;

providing a first alignment member on the panel;

providing a second alignment member on the chassis for engagement with the first alignment member;

in response to the panel being moved to the closed position, engaging the retention member with the flange; and

in response to the release member being moved from the static position toward the release position, deflecting the retention member from engagement with the flange to allow the panel to be moved from the closed position to the open position.