Abstract:
A computer enclosure includes a front panel, a switch module, and a light guide module. The switch module is attached to the front panel and includes a mounting bracket, a switch member attached to the mounting bracket, and a light emitting diode (LED) attached to the mounting bracket. The light guide module is attached to the front panel and has a light guide slot and a first transparent board covering the light guide slot. The LED is configured to generate light that enters in the light guide slot and propagates out from the first transparent board.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The present disclosure relates to computer enclosures, more particularly to a computer enclosure with a light guide module. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    Computer enclosures usually include a front panel, a switch button attached to the front panel, and a light emitting diode (LED) attached to the front panel. The switch button includes a transparent portion. The LED is located behind the transparent portion. After the switch button is pressed to power on the computer, the LED is powered on and emits light via the transparent portion of the switch button to indicate that the computer is powered on. However, light emitted from the LED can just emit from the switch button. The indicating effect is not very obvious. 
         [0005]    Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    Many aspects of the embodiments can be better understood with references to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the embodiments. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  is an exploded view of a computer enclosure according to an embodiment. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is similar to  FIG. 1 , but viewed from another aspect. 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view of a light conduct module of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is an exploded view of a switch module of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is similar to  FIG. 4 , but viewed from another aspect. 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is an assembled view of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  is an assembled view of  FIG. 5 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 8  is an assembled view of  FIG. 2 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0015]    The disclosure is illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean at least one. 
         [0016]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , an embodiment of a computer enclosure includes a front panel  10 , a light guide module  20 , a pressable member  30 , a switch module  40 , and a transparent member  50 . The front panel  10  includes a front plate  12  and a top flange  14  connected to the front plate  12 . A mounting hole  121  is defined in the front plate  12 . An elongate holding slot  141  is defined in the top flange  14 . The pressable member  30  includes a pressing portion  32  and an L-shaped resilient arm  34  connected to the pressing portion  32 . The transparent member  50  includes an L-shaped main portion  52  and a transparent post  54  protruding from the main portion  52 . 
         [0017]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , the light guide module  20  includes a main shell  22 , a first transparent board  24 , and a second transparent board  26 . The main shell  22  includes a base plate  221  and a pair of side plates  223  connected to opposite sides of the base plate  221 . The main shell  22  has a closed end and an open end opposite to the closed end. A light guide slot  225  is formed between the side plates  223 . An L-shaped gap  227  is defined in each of the side plates  223  at the open end. The first transparent board  24  is configured to cover an upper opening of the light guide slot  225 . The second transparent board  26  includes a main plate  261  and a flange  263  extending perpendicularly and downwards from the main plate  261 . A shape and size of the main plate  261  is the same as that of the first transparent board  24 . In assembly of the light guide module  20 , the first transparent board  24  is attached on top edges of the side plates  223  and covers the upper opening of the main shell  22 . The main plate  261  abuts the first transparent board  24 . The flanges  263  abut vertical edges of the gaps  227 . 
         [0018]    Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the switch module  40  includes a mounting bracket  60 , a switch member  70 , a first LED  80 , and a second LED  90 . The mounting bracket  60  includes a first portion  62  configured for mounting the first LED  80  and the second LED  90 , and a second portion  64  configured for mounting the switch member  70 . The first portion  62  and the second portion  64  are jointed side by side. A height of the first portion  62  is greater than that of the second portion  64 . A first mounting slot  621  is defined in the first portion  62  for accommodating the first LED  80 . An arc-shaped holding piece  623  protrudes from an edge of the first mounting slot  621  towards a rear side of the first portion  62 . A first hook piece  625  protrudes from the rear side and is located adjacent to the first mounting slot  621 . The mounting bracket  60  further includes a first support piece  627  and a second support piece  629  protruding from a front side of the mounting bracket  60  (See  FIG. 5 ). A wedge-shaped protrusion  6271  is formed on a distal end of the first support piece  627 . A second mounting slot  641  is defined in the second portion  64 . A second hook piece  643  extends from the second portion  64  towards the front side. The switch member  70  includes a main body  72  and a switch button  74  attached to the main body  72 . 
         [0019]    Referring to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , in assembly of the switch module  40 , the main body  72  is mounted in the second mounting slot  641 . The second hook piece  643  clasps the main body  72  to secure the switch member  70  in the second mounting slot  641 . The switch button  74  extends through a top gap of the second portion  64 . The first LED  80  is mounted in the first mounting slot  621  and supported by the holding piece  623 . The first hook piece  625  clasps a rear side of the first LED  80  to secure the first LED  80  in the first mounting slot  621 . The second LED  90  is held by the first support piece  627  and the second support piece  629 . The wedge-shaped protrusion  6271  abuts the second LED  90  and prevents the second LED  90  from sliding off the mounting bracket  60  (see  FIG. 7 ). 
         [0020]    Referring to  FIG. 8 , in assembly of the computer enclosure, the light guide module  20  and the pressable member  30  are mounted in the holding slot  141 . The pressing portion  32  is received in the gap  227  and is movable along a vertical direction in the gap  227 . A free end of the resilient arm  34  is secured to the front panel  10 . The transparent post  54  is mounted in the mounting hole  121 . The main portion  52  is secured to an inner side of the front panel  10 . The switch module  40  is secured to the inner side of the front panel  10  at a position where the first LED  80  faces the transparent post  54  and the second LED  90  faces the open end of the light guide module  20 . The switch button  74  abuts a lower side of a corner of the resilient arm  34 . After the pressing portion  32  is pressed, the resilient arm  34  is deformed and urges the switch button  74  to power on the computer. The first LED  80  is lit and generates light that enters the light guide slot  225  and comes through the first transparent board  24  and the second transparent board  26 . The second LED  90  is also lit and generates light that emits from the transparent post  54  along the horizontal direction. 
         [0021]    While the present disclosure has been illustrated by the description of preferred embodiments thereof, and while the preferred embodiments have been described in considerable detail, it is not intended to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such details. Additional advantages and modifications within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure will readily appear to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the present disclosure is not limited to the specific details and illustrative examples shown and described.