Configurable air vents on a computer enclosure

• US 6,604,799 B2
• Filed: 07/10/2001
• Issued: 08/12/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Black, Paul B., Searby, Tom J
• Primary Examiner(s): WILKENS, JANET MARIE
• Application Number:
  US09/903,082
• Publication Number:
  US 20030011287A1
• Time in Patent Office: 763 Days
• Field of Search: 312/223.2, 312/265.5, 312/265.6, 312/213, 454/184
• US Class Current: 312/223.2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/181 Enclosures for portable computers G06F1/1613
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/20 Cooling means

Abstract

A computer having configurable air vents. A louver assembly may be attached to the computer enclosure or removed therefrom so that the enclosure may be adapted to the environment in which it will be used. For a desktop or other office environment, the louver assembly may be attached to the computer enclosure. For an industrial or rack-mount setting, the louver assembly may be removed. The louver assembly may be mounted in a bezel, which itself may be removably attached to the computer enclosure. A catch on the louver assembly engages a corresponding hole or depression in the enclosure or bezel, forming a detent. The holding force of the detent may be overcome by pushing the louver assembly out of the enclosure or bezel by hand, but is sufficiently strong to hold the louver assembly in place during normal operation of the computer.

Claims

1. A computer, comprising:

a louver assembly; and

an enclosure having an opening therein for removably receiving the louver assembly, the opening defining a direction of insertion and a direction of removal for the louver assembly;

wherein, when the louver assembly is in the opening, it is retained therein by a detent, the detent comprising;

a raised portion disposed on a resilient tab; and

a recess, hole or channel configured to receive the raised portion;

wherein a surface of the raised portion that faces the direction of insertion slopes away from the direction of insertion, and a surface of the raised portion that faces the direction of removal slopes away from the direction of removal.

2. The computer of claim 1 wherein:

the louver assembly and the detent are made of plastic.

3. The computer of claim 1 wherein:

the resilient tab is located on the louver assembly and the recess, hole or channel is located on the enclosure.

4. The computer of claim 1 wherein:

the resilient tab is located on the enclosure and the recess, hole or channel is located on the louver assembly.

5. The computer of claim 1 wherein:

when the louver assembly is in the opening, it is retained therein by four detents.

6. The computer of claim 5, wherein:

the four detents are disposed as pairs on opposite sides of the louver assembly.

7. A computer, comprising:

a louver assembly;

an enclosure; and

a bezel for mounting on the enclosure and having an opening therein for removably receiving the louver assembly, the opening defining a direction of insertion and a direction of removal for the louver assembly;

wherein, when the louver assembly is in the opening, it is retained therein by a detent, the detent comprising;

a raised portion disposed on a resilient tab; and

a recess, hole or channel configured to receive the raised portion;

wherein a surface of the raised portion that faces the direction of insertion slopes away from the direction of insertion, and a surface of the raised portion that faces the direction of removal slopes away from the direction of removal.

8. The computer of claim 7, wherein:

the louver assembly, the bezel and the detent are made of plastic.

9. The computer of claim 7 wherein:

the resilient tab is located on the louver assembly and the recess, hole or channel is located on the bezel.

10. The computer of claim 7, wherein:

the resilient tab is located on the bezel and the recess, hole or channel is located on the louver assembly.

11. The computer of claim 7, wherein:

when the louver assembly is in the opening, it is retained therein by four detents.

12. The computer of claim 11, wherein:

the four detents are disposed as pairs on opposite sides of the louver assembly.