System and method for providing a computer system with a detachable component

• US 6,563,698 B1
• Filed: 10/06/1999
• Issued: 05/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dell USA LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell USA LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Davis, Lawrence E., Ozias, Orin M., Titzler, David H., Bentley, Thomas L., Gerlings, Thijs J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schuberg, Darren
• Assistant Examiner(s): DUONG, HUNG V
• Application Number:
  US09/413,557
• Time in Patent Office: 1,315 Days
• Field of Search: 361/683, 361/724, 361/725, 361/726, 361/727, 361/686, 361/740, 361/759, 364/708.1, 248/551-553, 312/216, 312/218, 70/57, 70/58, 70/85, 292/42, 292/148, 292/151, 292/307.R
• US Class Current: 361/679.17
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/181 Enclosures for portable computers G06F1/1613
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device

Abstract

A system and method for providing one or more detachable components for a computer system are disclosed. The system and method allow for simplified customization of a user'"'"'s computer system. A system incorporating teachings of the present disclosure may include a housing component at least partially defining an exterior surface of the computer system. The housing component may have at least one mounting finger, which may be a pin like protrusion or an elongated and flat extension. The mounting finger may extend from the housing component and be formed to define a locking shoulder. The system may also include a detachable component having a mounting tab. The mounting tab may interact with the locking shoulder to releasably couple the detachable component to the housing component.

Claims

1. A computer system, comprising:

a housing component at least partially defining an exterior surface of at least a portion of the computer system;

the housing component having at least one mounting finger;

the mounting finger extending from the housing component and formed to define a locking shoulder;

a first detachable component having at least one mounting tab for releasably coupling the first detachable component to the exterior surface of the housing component by interacting with the locking shoulder;

the first detachable component having a first color and selected from the group consisting of a detachable keyboard component, a detachable monitor component, and a detachable tower component; and

the housing component having a second color that is different from the first color.

the detachable component having a first color, and

the housing component having a second color that is different from the first color.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the mounting tab comprises an elongated and flat extension.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first detachable component comprises a wrist rest.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first detachable component comprises extruded plastic.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the detachable component comprises extruded plastic and the housing component comprises extruded plastic.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the first detachable component comprises a monitor support ring.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the first detachable component comprises a tower top.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer system further comprises a keyboard and the housing component at least partially defines an exterior surface of the keyboard.

9. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

the housing component further comprising a keyboard and a tower;

the first detachable component releasably coupled to the keyboard; and

a second detachable component incorporating the second color and having at least one mounting tab, the second detachable component releasably coupled to the tower.

10. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

the housing component further comprising a keyboard and a monitor;

the first detachable component releasably coupled to the keyboard; and

a second detachable component incorporating the second color and having at least one mounting tab, the second detachable component releasably coupled to the monitor.

11. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

the housing component further comprising a tower and a monitor;

the first detachable component releasably coupled to the tower; and

a second detachable component incorporating the second color and having at least one mounting tab, the second detachable component releasably coupled to the monitor.

12. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

the housing component further comprising a keyboard, a monitor, and a tower;

the first detachable component releasably coupled to the keyboard;

a second detachable component incorporating the second color and having at least one mounting tab, the second detachable component releasably coupled to the monitor; and

a third detachable component incorporating the second color and having at least one mounting tab, the third detachable component releasably coupled to the tower.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the first detachable component comprises a wrist rest.

14. A method for providing a detachable component of a computer system, comprising the steps of:

forming a housing component that at least partially defines an exterior surface of a computer system such that the housing component has at least one mounting finger, the housing component having a first color;

forming the at least one mounting finger to extend from the housing component and to define a locking shoulder;

forming a detachable component such that the detachable component has a mounting tab and has a second color different than the first color, the detachable component selected from the group consisting of a detachable keyboard component, a detachable monitor component, and a detachable tower component; and

releasably coupling the detachable component to the housing component by interacting the mounting tab with the locking shoulder.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of forming a detachable component comprises forming a wrist rest and the step of forming a housing component comprises forming at least a portion of a keyboard.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of placing an order for the detachable component of the computer system via the Internet.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of forming a detachable component further comprises forming a detachable component for releasably coupling to a housing component that at least partially defines the exterior surface of a keyboard.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of forming a detachable component further comprises forming a detachable component for releasably coupling to a housing component that at least partially defines the exterior surface of a monitor.

19. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of forming a detachable component further comprises forming a detachable component for releasably coupling to a housing component that at least partially defines the exterior surface of a tower.

20. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of forming a detachable component further comprises:

forming a first detachable component for releasably coupling to a housing component that at least partially defines the exterior surface of a keyboard; and

forming a second detachable component for releasably coupling to a housing component that at least partially defines the exterior surface of a tower.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein the wrist rest comprises extruded plastic and the portion of the keyboard comprises extruded plastic.

22. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of choosing a desired second color for the detachable component.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising the step of selecting a design to be incorporated into an outer surface of the detachable component.

24. A computer system, comprising:

a housing component at least partially defining an exterior surface of at least a portion of the computer system;

a first detachable component operable to releasably couple to the housing component and the first detachable component selected from the group consisting of a detachable keyboard component, a detachable monitor component, and a detachable tower component;

the housing component having a first aesthetic characteristic; and

the first detachable component having a second aesthetic characteristic that is different than the first aesthetic characteristic.

25. The system of claim 24 wherein:

the first aesthetic characteristic comprises a first color; and

the second aesthetic characteristic comprises a second color different than the first color.

26. The system of claim 24 wherein the first aesthetic characteristic comprises a selectable design.

27. The system of claim 24 wherein the first detachable component comprises a wrist rest.

28. The system of claim 24 wherein the first detachable component comprises extruded plastic.

29. The system of claim 24 wherein the second aesthetic characteristic further comprises a user selectable aesthetic characteristic.

30. The system of claim 24 further comprising:

the housing component at least partially defining an exterior surface of a keyboard; and

the first detachable component releasably coupled to the keyboard.

31. The system of claim 24 further comprising:

the housing component at least partially defining an exterior surface of a tower; and

the first detachable component releasably coupled to the tower.

32. The system of claim 24 further comprising:

the housing component at least partially defining an exterior surface of a monitor; and

the first detachable component releasably coupled to the monitor.

33. The system of claim 24 wherein the first aesthetic characteristic comprises a first texture and the second aesthetic characteristic comprises a second texture different from the first texture.

34. The system of claim 30 wherein the first aesthetic characteristic comprises a first color and the second aesthetic characteristic comprises a second color different than the first color.

35. The system of claim 31 wherein the first aesthetic characteristic comprises a first color and the second aesthetic characteristic comprises a second color different than the first color.

36. The system of claim 32 wherein the first aesthetic characteristic comprises a first color and the second aesthetic characteristic comprises a second color different from the first color.

37. A method of providing a computer system having a selected aesthetic characteristic, comprising:

(a) providing a plurality of computer components having at least two housing components that define at least a portion of the outer surface of two computer components;

(b) providing at least two detachable components having at least one selected aesthetic characteristic, the atleast two detachable components selected from the group consisting of a detachable keyboard component, a detachable monitor component and a detachable tower component;

(c) attaching each of the at least two detachable components to a corresponding housing component to create a computer system having multiple components with a selected aesthetic characteristic.

38. The method of claim 37 wherein:

step (a) further comprises providing a keyboard and a monitor; and

step (b) further comprises providing a detachable keyboard component and a monitor ring.

39. The method of claim 37 wherein:

step (a) further comprises providing a keyboard and a tower; and

step (b) further comprises providing a detachable keyboard component and a detachable tower component.

40. The method of claim 37 wherein:

step (a) further comprises providing a monitor, and a tower; and

step (b) further comprises providing a monitor ring and a detachable tower component.

41. The method of claim 37 wherein the at least two detachable components comprise at least two accent color snap-on components.

42. The method of claim 37 wherein step (c) further comprises snapping the at least two detachable componets to a corresponding housing component.

43. The method of claim 37 wherein step (c) further comprises:

snapping a detachable keyboard component into a keyboard housing;

snapping a monitor ring into a monitor housing; and

snapping a detachable tower component into a tower.

44. The method of claim 37 wherein step (c) further comprises:

snapping a monitor ring into a monitor housing; and

snapping a detachable tower component into a tower.

45. The method of claim 37 wherein step (c) further comprises:

snapping a detachable keyboard component into a keyboard housing; and

snapping a monitor ring into a monitor housing.

46. The method of claim 37 wherein step (c) further comprises:

snapping a detachable keyboard component into a keyboard housing; and

snapping a detachable tower component into a tower.