Modular computer enclosure with bracket system and rotatable plates

• US 9,377,808 B1
• Filed: 02/10/2014
• Issued: 06/28/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AmZetta Technologies, LLC (American Megatrends International, LLC)
• Original Assignee: American Megatrends Incorporated
• Inventors: Sivertsen, Clas G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Edmonds, Lisa Lea
• Application Number:
  US14/176,273
• Time in Patent Office: 869 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/181 Enclosures for portable computers G06F1/1613
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/20 Cooling means

Abstract

A modular computer enclosure is disclosed that can include a housing, one or more doors, and a modular bracket system. The housing is configured to receive a wall mount, whereby the wall mount is affixed to a wall and the housing is removably coupled to the wall mount. The modular bracket system can include an outer bracket and an inner bracket. The modular bracket system can be configured to receive one or more plates of various sizes. The plates are configured to receive one or more computing components. The plates can be installed, removed, and replaced by other plates depending on the particular application.

Claims

1. A modular computer enclosure, comprising:

a housing configured to house components within the housing;

a door rotatably coupled to the housing;

a modular bracket system affixed to the housing, the modular bracket system comprising an inner bracket configured to receive a plate; and

the plate comprising one or more securement appendages to receive one or more computing components.

2. The modular computer enclosure of claim 1, wherein the plate is coupled to the housing through at least one tab of the plate inserted within at least one aperture of the housing.

3. The modular computer enclosure of claim 1, wherein the plate is coupled to the inner bracket using a threaded fastener.

4. The modular computer enclosure of claim 1, further comprising an outer bracket operative to receive a second plate or at least one computing component.

5. The modular computer enclosure of claim 4, further comprising a circuit board mounted to the outer bracket comprising at least one visual indicator.

6. The modular computer enclosure of claim 5, wherein the visual indicator is a light emitting diode.

7. The modular computer enclosure of claim 5, wherein the outer bracket is configured so that the visual indicator is viewable when the door is in a closed position.

8. The modular computer enclosure of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of plates affixed to the inner bracket.

9. The modular computer enclosure of claim 8, wherein the plurality of plates are of different sizes.

10. The modular computer enclosure of claim 1, wherein the door is rotatably coupled to the housing using a hinge apparatus, the hinge apparatus comprising

a first hinge fixedly attached to the door,

a second hinge fixedly attached to the housing, and

a hinge pin inserted through the first hinge and the second hinge, wherein the hinge pin is sized and shaped that the hinge pin not removable when the door is in a shut orientation and removable when the door is in an open orientation, but removable if inserted from the center of the housing.

11. The modular computer enclosure of claim 1, further comprising a first air filter disposed within a portion of the housing and proximate to a top of the housing, wherein the first air filter is configured to filter at least a portion of air entering the housing.

12. The modular computer enclosure of claim 11, further comprising a second air filter disposed proximate to the bottom of the housing, wherein the second air filter is configured to filter at least a portion of air entering the housing.

13. The modular computer enclosure of claim 1, further comprising a fan assembly operative to pull air from inside the housing and exhaust the air outside the housing.

14. The modular computer enclosure of claim 13, wherein the fan assembly comprises a fan attachment plate and at least one fan and a securement tab, wherein the fan attachment plate and securement tab are operative to receive and secure the at least one fan without a threaded fastener.

15. The modular computer enclosure of claim 14, wherein the fan attachment plate comprises at least one securement tab and an indention, wherein at least one securement tab is operative to abut and cooperatively engage with an aperture in the at least one fan to secure the at least one fan to the fan attachment plate.

16. The modular computer enclosure of claim 14, wherein the fan attachment plate is attached to the housing using a single fastener.

17. The modular computer enclosure of claim 1, further comprising a locking mechanism to secure the door.

18. The modular computer enclosure of claim 1, wherein the door is operative to rotate open in a downward direction.

19. The modular computer enclosure of claim 18, further comprising a support designed to extend in a controlled manner to provide a smooth opening motion for the door.

20. The modular computer enclosure of claim 1, wherein the door is operative to rotate open in an upward direction.

21. The modular computer enclosure of claim 20, further comprising a support designed to maintain a position of the door.

22. The modular computer enclosure of claim 1, further comprising a second door, wherein the door is operative to rotate open in an upward direction and the second door is operative to rotate open in a downward direction.

23. The modular computer enclosure of claim 1, a wall mount configured for attachment to a wall, the wall mount comprising a wall mount lip designed to be received within a channel of the housing.

24. The modular computer enclosure of claim 23, further comprising a wall mount support designed to receive at least a portion of the weight of the housing if the wall mount lip cannot support all or a portion of the weight of the housing.

25. A modular computer enclosure, comprising:

a housing configured to house components within the housing;

a first door rotatably coupled to the housing through a first hinge apparatus and proximate to a top portion of the housing;

a second door rotatably coupled to the housing through a second hinge apparatus and proximate to a bottom portion of the housing;

the first hinge apparatus and the second hinge apparatus each comprising

a first hinge fixedly attached to the first door or the second door,

a second hinge fixedly attached to the housing, and

a hinge pin inserted through the first hinge and the second hinge, whereby the hinge pin is sized and shaped that the hinge pin not removable when the door is in a shut orientation and removable when the door is in an open orientation;

a first plurality of supports coupled to the first door and the housing, the first plurality of supports configured to maintain the first door in a desired position;

a second set of supports coupled to the second door and the housing, the second set of supports configured to extend in a controlled manner to provide a smooth opening motion for the second door;

a first filter disposed within a portion of the housing and proximate to the top portion of the housing, wherein the first filter is configured to filter at least a portion of air entering the housing;

a second filter disposed proximate to the bottom portion of the housing, wherein the second is configured to filter at least a portion of air entering the housing;

a modular bracket system affixed to the housing, the modular bracket system comprising

an inner bracket configured to receive at least a first plate, and

an outer bracket configured to receive at least a second plate,

wherein the inner bracket and the outer bracket are further configured to receive a first computing component; and

the plate configured to receive the first computing component or a plurality of second computing components.

26. The modular computer enclosure of claim 25, further comprising a light emitting diode assembly affixed to the outer bracket, the light emitting diode assembly comprising at least one light emitting diode.

27. The modular computer enclosure of claim 26, wherein the at least one light emitting diode is in communication with a computing component installed in the modular computer enclosure and configured to provide a visual indication.