Unibody construction triangular chassis

• US 9,395,765 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2014
• Issued: 07/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Hoss, Shawn P., Knapton, Edward D., Zielnicki, Steven J., Helberg, Christopher M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Edwards, Anthony Q
• Application Number:
  US14/448,086
• Publication Number:
  US 20160034005A1
• Time in Patent Office: 719 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B21D 28/00 Shaping by press-cutting; Perforating
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/181 Enclosures for portable computers G06F1/1613
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/182 with special features, e.g. for use in industrial environments; grounding or shielding against radio frequency interference [RFI] or electromagnetical interference [EMI]

Abstract

A base chassis of an information handling system with a generally triangular profile is formed by connecting a plurality of three-dimensional sheet metal structural elements, wherein at least two of the elements have the same shape and a gusset. The gusset connects two of the structural elements. A plastic chassis assembly may be fitted over the base chassis. One or more handles may also be fitted over the base chassis. They may be located at vertices of the base chassis. Side door covers may be secured by rims on the base chassis.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

fabricating a plurality of connectable three-dimensional sheet metal structural elements of a base chassis of an information handling system, wherein at least two of the sheet metal structural elements have the same shape; and

assembling the sheet metal structural elements into the base chassis, including interlocking at least two of the sheet metal structural elements, wherein the base chassis has a triangular profile with chamfered vertices.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the fabricating comprises:

fabricating a first sheet metal structural element from a first copy of a form; and

fabricating second sheet metal structural element from a second copy of the form, wherein the first sheet metal structural element differs from the second structural element.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the plurality of three-dimensional sheet metal structural elements comprise three sides and three gussets; and

each gusset connects two of the sides, the two sides and the gusset forming a chamfered vertex.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising attaching a plastic chassis assembly to the base chassis.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising attaching a handle to the plastic chassis assembly.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the attaching comprises attaching three handle portions to the plastic chassis assembly and the base chassis, wherein each handle portion is formed at a vertex of a triangle to provide cuffs for grasping.

7. An information handling system comprising:

a triangular base chassis with chamfered vertices, the base chassis comprising;

a plurality of connectable three-dimensional sheet metal structural elements, wherein at least two of the sheet metal structural elements have the same shape, the sheet metal structural elements to include a gusset, wherein the gusset is to connect two of the sheet metal structural elements, thereby forming a vertex of a triangle and the base chassis is formed by interlocking the sheet metal structural elements.

8. The information handling system of claim 7, further comprising a plastic chassis assembly to fit over the triangular base chassis.

9. The information handling system of claim 8, the plastic chassis assembly further comprising a handle to fit over a vertex of the base chassis.

10. The information handling system of claim 9, wherein the base chassis comprises rims to secure a door cover.

11. The information handling system of claim 9, wherein the base chassis comprises a handle to fit over a vertex of the base chassis.

12. The information handling system of claim 10, wherein the rims extend from the gussets.

13. The information handling system of claim 7, wherein the sheet metal structural elements further comprise mounting for components of the information handling system.

14. A base chassis of an information handling system comprising:

a plurality of connectable three-dimensional sheet metal structural elements, wherein at least two of the sheet metal structural elements have the same shape; and

a gusset, wherein;

the base chassis is formed by connecting the sheet metal structural elements;

the gusset connects two of the sheet metal structural elements; and

the base chassis has a generally triangular profile.

15. The base chassis of claim 14, wherein the three-dimensional sheet metal structural elements include a first structural element produced from a first copy of a form and a second sheet metal structural element produced from a second copy of the form, wherein the first sheet metal structural element differs from the second sheet metal structural element.

16. The base chassis of claim 14, wherein the generally triangular profile is equilateral.

17. The base chassis of claim 14, further comprising a handle.

18. The base chassis of claim 17, wherein the handle is located at a vertex of the base chassis.

19. The base chassis of claim 18, wherein the handle comprises a handle portion, wherein the handle portion is attached to a side of the base chassis and extends along the length of the side, and wherein the handle portion joins at vertices of the triangle to provide cuffs for grasping.

20. The base chassis of claim 19, further comprising three handle portions, wherein each handle portion is attached to a side of the base chassis and extends along the length of the side, and wherein pairs of the handle portions join at vertices of the triangle to provide cuffs for grasping.