Computers with power exhaust systems

• US 6,592,448 B1
• Filed: 03/07/2000
• Issued: 07/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Contrapposto Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Contrapposto Incorporated
• Inventors: Williams, John Williamson
• Primary Examiner(s): Lu, Jiping
• Application Number:
  US09/519,270
• Time in Patent Office: 1,225 Days
• Field of Search: 454/184, 361/695
• US Class Current: 454/184
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/20 Cooling means

Abstract

Computers with power exhaust systems include a visually dominant top or side mounted power exhaust stack in fluid communication with an exhaust fan mounted proximate to the top or side mounted stack. The power exhaust fan pulls ambient air in from the lower portion of the computer and forces it out the top or a top portion of the housing into a power exhaust stack. The power exhaust stack is prominently positioned on the computer to provide a visual focal point reminiscent of an automotive “souped-up” operating machine which can forcibly cool the computer even when loaded with high-end graphics cards and fast microprocessors. The power exhaust stacks can be configured in a number of ways such as in an arcuate or linearly extending diesel truck-like chrome stack configuration, or in a header or laterally extending exhaust pipe(s) configuration.

Claims

1. A computer housing with a power exhaust stack, comprising:

a computer housing with at least one upstanding wall and a ceiling attached to and overlying said at least one upstanding wall to define an enclosure space;

at least one power exhaust stack extending upwardly from said housing ceiling, said power exhaust stack comprising a tubular section with an air flow channel formed therein, wherein said power exhaust stack tubular section has a profile when viewed from the side which rises a distance up from said ceiling and arcuately turns to direct said air flow channel above and away from said enclosure toward the rear of said computer housing and terminates proximate to the rear of the computer housing in a space above the ceiling;

a plurality of air vents disposed in at least one of said at least one upstanding wall; and

an exhaust fan mounted proximate to said ceiling in fluid communication with said power exhaust stack first end portion, wherein, during operation of a computer residing within said computer housing, said exhaust fan directs air out from said computer housing through said power exhaust stack.

2. A computer housing according to claim 1, wherein said power exhaust stack has a reflective external surface.

3. A computer housing according to claim 2, wherein said power exhaust stack external surface has the appearance of chrome.

4. A computer housing according to claim 3, wherein said computer housing is red.

5. A computer housing according to claim 1, wherein said at least one wall is four upstanding walls which includes a front wall, a rear wall, and two opposing side walls, and wherein said plurality of air vents comprises two air vents on a first side wall and two air vents on an opposing second side wall.

6. A computer housing according to claim 5, further comprising a plurality of air filters, at least one of said air filters being in fluid communication with each of said plurality of air vents.

7. A computer housing according to claim 5, further comprising a lid pivotably connected to the end of said power exhaust stack second portion.

8. A computer housing according to claim 1, further comprising an exhaust filter in fluid communication with said air flow channel of said power exhaust stack to inhibit the introduction of foreign objects therein.

9. A computer housing according to claim 1, wherein said ceiling has a length and a width, said length direction extending between the front and rear walls of said computer housing, and wherein said power exhaust stack tubular section is a single cylindrical shaped exhaust stack with a round cross-section which has a diameter sized at about at least 25-30% the length of said ceiling.

10. A computer housing according to claim 1, wherein said at least one power exhaust stack comprises a plurality of aligned power exhaust stacks, each of which has a tubular section of round cross-section with a diameter of about at least 4 inches.

11. A computer housing according to claim 1, wherein said ceiling has a length and a width, said length direction extending between the front and rear walls of said computer housing, and wherein said power exhaust stack tubular section has a substantially round cross-section with a diameter which is substantially equal to the width of said ceiling.

12. A computer housing according to claim 1, wherein said exhaust fan is rated to exhaust about 50-70 cubic feet per minute.

13. A computer housing according to claim 1, wherein said at least one wall comprises four upstanding walls which includes a front wall, a rear wall, and two opposing side walls, and wherein said at least one power exhaust stack tubular section is mounted on said ceiling adjacent said rear wall of said computer housing.

14. A computer housing according to claim 1, wherein said power exhaust stack is sized and configured to reside substantially within the space above the perimeter bounds of the ceiling of the computer housing to thereby direct exhaust air out and into the environment.

15. A computer housing according to claim 1, wherein said power exhaust stack is rigid.

16. A power exhaust modification kit for a computer, the computer having a top and opposing front and rear portions and side portions defining an enclosure therein, said kit comprising:

an upwardly extending power exhaust stack comprising a tubular section having an air flow channel therein and opposing first and second end portions, wherein said power exhaust stack has a profile when viewed from the side such that it vertically rises a distance up from said tubular first end portion and then arcuately turns such that said tubular second end portion resides above and laterally away from said first end portion;

a template configured to overlay at least a portion of the top of a computer, said template having visual indicia representing an opening sized and configured to correspond with said power exhaust stack first end portion for allowing a user to identify a desired location for an opening in the top of the computer; and

an exhaust fan sized and configured to assemble to the computer proximate to the desired opening location, wherein, in position, said exhaust fan is operably associated with said power exhaust stack air channel to direct air above and away from the computer during operation.

17. A kit according to claim 16, further comprising a second template configured to overlay at least a portion of one side of the computer, said second template having visual indicia representing at least one air vent inlet aperture included thereon for allowing a user to identify at least one of a desired location or size for at least one opening in the side of the computer.

18. A kit according to claim 17, further comprising at least one grommet having an intermediate opening extending therethrough, said grommet sized and configured to reside in the opening identified by said template.

19. A kit according to claim 18, further comprising at least one filter for each air vent inlet opening introduced into the computer, such that, in position, said filter is configured and sized to inhibit the migration of particulate matter into the computer.

20. A kit according to claim 19, wherein said filters are integrally formed with said grommets into a grommet and filter assembly, and wherein said grommet and filter assembly are configured to be removably attachable to the computer to provide externally accessible replaceable filter units.

21. A kit according to claim 17, wherein said visual indicia of said second template represents two air vent inlet apertures for allowing a user to identify the desired location for two openings in at least one side of the computer.

22. A kit according to claim 16, further comprising a sealing means for sealably attaching said power exhaust stack to the computer such that it is in fluid communication with said exhaust fan.

23. A kit according to claim 16, wherein said power exhaust stack tubular section has a substantially round cross-section with a diameter of at least about four inches.

24. A kit according to claim 23, wherein said power exhaust stack tubular section has a reflective external surface.

25. A kit according to claim 16, wherein said power exhaust stack external surface has the appearance of or is chrome.

26. A kit according to claim 25, wherein said power exhaust stack is rigid.

27. A kit according to claim 16, wherein said power exhaust stack is sized and configured, so that when assembled, it resides substantially within the space above the perimeter bounds of a ceiling of the computer to thereby direct exhaust air out and into the environment.

28. A computer housing with a visually dominant top-mounted exhaust stack, comprising:

a computer housing with four upstanding walls and a ceiling overlying said four upstanding walls, having opposing forward and rearward surfaces; and

at least one power exhaust stack extending upwardly from said housing ceiling, said power exhaust stack comprising a tubular section with an air flow channel therein, said power exhaust tubular section having opposing first and second end portions, wherein said power exhaust stack has a profile when viewed from the side which rises generally vertically a distance up from said ceiling and then arcuately turns to direct said air flow channel toward the rear of said computer housing, and wherein said power exhaust stack second end portion is sized and configured to reside a distance above the ceiling of the housing and terminate proximate to the bounds of the rearward surface of the housing.

29. A computer housing according to claim 28, wherein said power exhaust stack has a reflective external surface.

30. A computer housing according to claim 28, wherein said power exhaust stack external surface has the appearance of or is chrome.

31. A computer housing according to claim 28, wherein said computer housing is red.

32. A computer housing according to claim 28, wherein said computer housing includes a plurality of aligned power exhaust stacks, each of which has a tubular section of substantially round cross-section having a diameter of about at least 4 inches.

33. A computer housing according to claim 28, wherein said ceiling has a length and a width, said length direction extending between the front and rear walls of said computer housing, and wherein said power exhaust stack tubular section is a single exhaust stack of substantially round cross-section which has a diameter sized at about at least 25-30% the length of said ceiling.

34. A computer housing according to claim 28, wherein said ceiling has a length and a width, said length direction extending between the front and rear walls of said computer housing, and wherein said power exhaust stack tubular section comprises a substantially round cross-section with a diameter which is substantially equal to the width of said ceiling.

35. A computer housing according to claim 28, wherein said power exhaust stack tubular section has a substantially round cross-section with a diameter of at least about four inches.

36. A computer housing according to claim 28, wherein said at least one power exhaust stack tubular section is configured and sized to have a length that positions the power exhaust stack within the space above the perimeter bounds of said ceiling.

37. A computer housing according to claim 28, wherein said power exhaust stack is rigid.