Auxiliary electrical component utilized on the exterior of an electrical device that can be removed when the electrical device is powered

• US 5,822,186 A
• Filed: 02/23/1996
• Issued: 10/13/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: McNally, Mark P., Bull, William H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tolin, Gerald P.
• Application Number:
  US08/606,069
• Time in Patent Office: 963 Days
• Field of Search: 124/16.1, 312/223.1, 312/223.2, 165/80.3, 165/122, 165/126, 454/184, 416/223 R, 415/115, 415/177, 415/178, 415/208.3, 415/213.1, 415/214.1, 361/687, 361/690-695
• US Class Current: 361/695
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20172 Fan mounting or fan specifications

Abstract

A removable auxiliary electrical component for an electrical device that can be removed when the electrical device is powered is disclosed. The removable axillary electrical component includes a module located on an exterior portion of an electrical product. The removable axillary electrical component also includes a guard member connected to an electrical product. The electrical product includes an electrical contact portion connected to a power source of the electrical product, and a housing member containing a first electrical portion of the module. The electrical portion includes a second contact portion, the second contact portion is used for mateably engaging the first contact portion. The housing portion also includes a snap member for removable engagement with the exterior portion of the electrical product.

Claims

1. A system for locating a module on an exterior portion of an electrical product comprising:

a housing member coupled to the electrical product, the housing member including a first electrical contact portion coupled to a power source of the electrical product, the housing member having a first aperture therein, the first aperture having a central portion, the first electrical contact portion being recessed in the first aperture and offset from the central portion of first aperture to be inaccessible to a user from the exterior portion of the electrical product; and

a grill member containing an electrical portion of the module, the electrical portion including a second contact portion, the second contact portion mateably engaging the first contact portion, the grill member including a snap portion and a hook portion which facilitate removable engagement with the exterior portion of the electrical product and engagement of the second contact portion with the first contact portion.

2. The system of claim 1 in which the hook portion engages the first aperture within the housing member and rotation of the grill member and engagement of the snap portion with a second aperture in the housing member facilitates attachment of the module to the exterior portion of the electrical product.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the first aperture further comprises a shape, the shape being such that a finger of the user cannot be inserted through the first aperture to touch the first contact portion.

4. The system of claim 1 in which the module comprises a fan module.

5. The system of claim 4 in which the electrical portion of the grill member comprises:

a fan including a cable; and

a plurality of contacts coupled to the cable.

6. The system of claim 5 in which the module further includes a guard member coupled to the grill member to protect the fan.

7. The system of claim 2 which further includes a sheet metal cage coupled to the housing member to provide a space for the module to reside.

8. The system of claim 7 in which the sheet metal cage further comprises a box shape.

9. The system of claim 8 in which the sheet metal cage includes upper and lower openings for the hook and snap portions.

10. The system of claim 8 in which the sheet metal cage includes an array of holes.

11. A system for locating a fan module on an exterior portion of a computer comprising:

a housing member coupled to the exterior portion of the computer, the housing member including a first electrical contact portion coupled to a power source of the computer, the housing member having a first aperture therein, the first aperture having a central portion, the first electrical contact portion being recessed in the first aperture and offset from the central portion of first aperture to be inaccessible to a user from the exterior portion of the computer;

a grill member containing an electrical portion of the module, the electrical portion further comprising a fan including a cable, and a plurality of contacts coupled to the cable, the plurality of contacts mateably engaging the first contact portion;

the grill member including a snap portion and a hook portion, the hook portion engages the first aperture within the housing member, and wherein rotation of the grill member and engagement of the snap portion with a second aperture in the housing member facilitates attachment of the module to the exterior portion of the computer and engagement of the second contact portion with the first contact portion;

a guard member coupled to the grill member to protect the fan; and

a sheet metal cage coupled to the housing member to provide a space for the module to reside.

12. The system of claim 11 in which the sheet metal cage further comprises a box shape.

13. The system of claim 12 in which the sheet metal cage includes upper and lower openings for the hook and snap portions.

14. The system of claim 13 in which the sheet metal cage includes an array of holes.

15. The system of claim 11 wherein the first aperture further comprises a shape, the shape being such that a finger of the user cannot be inserted through the first aperture to touch the first contact portion.