Abstract:
A handle for a computer component, such as a motherboard, of an information handling system may have an adjustable size. By allowing the handle to change size, the advantages of a large handle, such as easy handling and reduced damage to nearby components, are gained, and the advantages of a small handle, such as reduced size and improved airflow, are gained. The handle may be affixed to a computer component by any fastener such as a screw, pin, clip, or plastic connector. The handle may change size by increasing in height from a collapsed position to an expanded position, or change size by decreasing in height from an expanded position to a collapsed position. The handle may be moved into the expanded position for handling during assembly or repairs of a computer system, and then moved in to the collapsed position for normal operation of the computer system.

Description:
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0001]    The instant disclosure relates to computer systems. More specifically, portions of this disclosure relate to handles for handling computer components, such as during installation or repair of computer systems. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    As the value and use of information continues to increase, individuals and businesses seek additional ways to process and store information. One option available to users is information handling systems. An information handling system generally processes, compiles, stores, and/or communicates information or data for business, personal, or other purposes thereby allowing users to take advantage of the value of the information. Because technology and information handling needs and requirements vary between different users or applications, information handling systems may also vary regarding what information is handled, how the information is handled, how much information is processed, stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the information may be processed, stored, or communicated. The variations in information handling systems allow for information handling systems to be general or configured for a specific user or specific use such as financial transaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise data storage, or global communications. In addition, information handling systems may include a variety of hardware and software components that may be configured to process, store, and communicate information and may include one or more computer systems, data storage systems, and networking systems. 
         [0003]    These information handling systems include motherboards that interconnect components within an information handling system. “Motherboards” are named from their functionality as being the “mother” board where other boards are plugged in during assembly. The motherboard often includes components such as a socket for a processor, memory slots for random access memory (RAM), and peripheral board slots for graphics cards, networking cards, and the like. Motherboards are also one of the largest components within a computer system in terms of lateral size because the motherboard interconnects many of the components together. One of the first components placed in a chassis when a computer system is being built is the motherboard, and there may be little clearance on any side of the motherboard in the chassis for handling the motherboard during assembly. That is, the chassis is often sized to fit snugly around the motherboard. To minimize possible damage to the motherboard during assembly and other handling, handles may be attached on a topside of the motherboard. Examples of such handles are shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 . The handles may be held, rather than the motherboard itself, and used to insert and remove the motherboard in the chassis and position the motherboard within the chassis and throughout assembly. Because workers are not handling the actual motherboard, damage to the motherboard, such as broken connectors or components, is reduced. 
         [0004]      FIG. 1  is one example of a motherboard handle according to the prior art. A motherboard  102  includes connectors  102 A, such as for connecting storage devices, and slots  102 B, such as for receiving memory modules. The motherboard  102  also includes a handle  110  affixed to the motherboard  102  by a screw (not shown). An elevation view of the handle  110  is shown in blow-out graphic  112  of  FIG. 1 . The handle  110  has a width W and a length L selected to be large enough to allow easy handling of the motherboard  102 . Although the handle  110  may provide benefits during assembly or repair of a computer system, the handle  110  presents challenges to design of the computer system. One challenge is that the handle  110  occupies a large amount of space within the chassis. Computer systems are continuing to decrease in size, particularly when used in information handling systems installed in data centers, and the size of handle  110  makes further size reductions difficult. Another challenge is that the handle  110  blocks air flow through the chassis. Computer systems are increasing in computational power and, while also increasing in power efficiency, the cooling needs of computer components, particularly in small chassis are more demanding. Blocking airflow of cool air into the chassis or hot air out of the chassis can mean the handle  110  can significantly change temperatures within the chassis and adversely impact performance of components in the chassis. 
         [0005]    One solution to these problems is to reduce the size of the motherboard handle, as shown in the example of  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 2  is another example of a motherboard handle according to the prior art. The motherboard  102  of  FIG. 2  includes a handle  210  affixed to the motherboard  102  by latches  210 A. The handle  210  is shown in elevation view with a width W 2  and a height L 2  that may be smaller than the width W and length L of handle  110 . However, the handle  210  becomes more difficult to handle. For example, when a worker is reaching for the handle  210  and moving his hand around to locate the handle  210  the worker may inadvertently scratch or break off nearby component  220 . 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    Certain embodiments of this disclosure include a handle with an adjustable size for a computer component. The adjustable handle may be a member adapted for gripping by a user that may support all or at least a portion of the weight of the device and may be used for manipulating the computer component and positioning the computer component for installation, servicing, repairing, and uninstalling with respect to a chassis or other container or storage unit. By adapting the handle to change size, advantages of a large handle, such as easy handling and reduced damage to nearby components, may be gained, and advantages of a small handle, such as reduced size and improved airflow, may be gained. The handle may be affixed to a computer component by any suitable fastener, such as a screw, pin, clip, snap hook, or plastic connector. The handle may change size by increasing in height from a collapsed position to an expanded position, or change size by decreasing in height from an expanded position to a collapsed position. The handle may be moved into the expanded position for handling during assembly or repairs of a computer system, and then moved in to the collapsed position for normal operation of the computer system. Thus, much of the space occupied by the handle is only occupied when there is a need for the handle&#39;s function. When the need for the handle&#39;s function is complete, the handle may be adjusted to a collapsed position such that its size is reduced according to some embodiments to reduce unnecessarily occupied space in a chassis. An adjustable handle according to some embodiments of the disclosure may provide an adjustable handle providing 50% more height without occupying more space than an equivalent prior art handle. In one embodiment, the adjustable handle may expand from a 10 mm height when in the collapsed position to a 15 mm height when in the expanded position. 
         [0007]    The handle of some embodiments may be attached to any computer component for handling of that computer component. In many of the examples described below, a handle is shown and described attached to a motherboard, and the handle provides easy handling of the motherboard to install the motherboard into or remove the motherboard from a chassis. However, the handle of some embodiments may be affixed to any appropriate host computer component to allow easy handling of that computer component. For example, the handle described may be attached to circuitry, such as motherboards, daughterboards, circuit boards, memory boards, peripheral component boards, and the like. The computer components used with the adjustable handle may also include drives, such as solid state drives (SSDs), compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM) drives, digital versatile disc read-only memory (DVD-ROM) drives, and Blu-ray drives. Further, the computer components may include power supplies, circuit boards, memory modules, cache modules, graphics cards, expansion boards, wireless modules, switching modules, routing modules, etc. Some embodiments of the adjustable handle may be particularly well suited for components with exposed circuitry, such as circuit boards, for which handling the components may damage the exposed circuitry. Some embodiments of the adjustable handle may be particularly well suited for components that fit into tight areas, such as motherboards, for which handling edges of the components are challenging for workers. 
         [0008]    According to one embodiment, an apparatus may include a handle for a computer component. The handle may be configured to extend to an expanded position for use during handling of the computer component. The handle may also be configured to contract to a collapsed position for operation of the computer component. 
         [0009]    In certain embodiments, the handle may include an outer portion and an inner portion. The inner portion may include a latch configured to fix the handle in one of the expanded position and the collapsed position. The outer portion may include a receiver for the latch, such as a groove, configured to receive the latch of the inner portion, and that groove may include a segment for storing the latch when the handle is in one of the expanded position and the collapsed position. In some embodiments, the latch and the receiver may alternatively be located on the outer portion and the inner portion, respectively. The handle may be affixed to the computer component through an opening extending through at least a portion of the handle, wherein the opening is configured to receive a fastener to affix the handle to the computer component. The opening may extend through the inner portion of the handle. 
         [0010]    Additionally, or alternatively, an apparatus may include a handle for a computer component. The handle may include a first piece comprising an opening extending through the first piece, wherein the opening is configured to receive a fastener to affix the first piece to the computer component. The handle may include a second piece fitting around the first piece, wherein the second piece is configured to operate in conjunction with the first piece to modify a height of the handle by moving from a collapsed position to an expanded position. 
         [0011]    In certain embodiments, the first piece may include a latch, and the second piece may include a groove configured to receive the latch of the first piece such that the groove allows fixation of the handle in at least one of the collapsed position and the expanded position. For example, the second piece may be configured to rotate around the first piece to move from the collapsed position to the expanded position by appropriately engaging or disengaging the latch. In one embodiment, the second piece may be configured to rotate a first amount to unlock the first piece from the collapsed position, to be pulled into the expanded position, and to rotate a second amount to lock the first piece in the expanded position. 
         [0012]    In various embodiments, a bias mechanism, such as a spring, may be included to bias the handle into one or other of the collapsed position or the expanded position. For example, a spring may hold the handle in the collapsed position until a sufficient force is provided, such as by a worker, to oppose the spring force and cause the handle to move into the expanded position. The worker may then engage a latch, such as by rotating the handle, and hold the handle in the expanded position. When the worker disengages the latch, such as by again rotating the handle, the spring causes the handle to move into the collapsed position. 
         [0013]    One method for actuating a handle of a computer component may include receiving a lateral force at a handle for a computer component; receiving a subsequent force, such as a rotational force, at the handle for the computer component; and/or moving the handle from a collapsed position to an expanded position using the received lateral force and the received subsequent force. In one embodiment, the lateral force may be received at an outer portion to move the handle from the collapsed position to the expanded position and the rotational force may be received at the outer portion to rotate the outer portion around an inner portion to lock the outer portion in the expanded position. In another embodiment, the lateral force may be received at an outer portion to move the handle from the collapsed position to the expanded position, the rotational force may be received at the outer portion to unlock the outer portion from an inner portion to release the handle from the collapsed position, and an additional rotational force may be received to lock the outer portion in the expanded position. Although a lateral force is described, the lateral force may include longitudinal forces depending on the orientation of the computer component. That is, where a “lateral force” is described herein, that “lateral force” should be considered to include longitudinal forces. 
         [0014]    The foregoing has outlined rather broadly certain features and technical advantages of embodiments of the present invention in order that the detailed description that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages will be described hereinafter that form the subject of the claims of the invention. It should be appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art that the conception and specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same or similar purposes. It should also be realized by those having ordinary skill in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. Additional features will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that each of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration and description only and is not intended to limit the present invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]    For a more complete understanding of the disclosed system and methods, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  is one example of a motherboard handle according to the prior art. 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is another example of a motherboard handle according to the prior art. 
           [0018]      FIG. 3A  is an illustration showing an adjustable handle for a computer component in a collapsed position according to one embodiment of the disclosure. 
           [0019]      FIG. 3B  is an illustration showing an adjustable handle for a computer component in an expanded position according to one embodiment of the disclosure. 
           [0020]      FIG. 3C  is an illustration showing an adjustable telescoping handle for a computer component in a collapsed position according to one embodiment of the disclosure. 
           [0021]      FIG. 3D  is an illustration showing an adjustable handle for a computer component affixed to the component with a snap hook according to one embodiment of the disclosure. 
           [0022]      FIGS. 4A-4B  are illustrations showing operation of an example adjustable handle for a computer component operated to move to an expanded position and again to a collapsed position according to one embodiment of the disclosure. 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  is an example flow chart showing operation of an example adjustable handle for a computer component according to one embodiment of the disclosure. 
           [0024]      FIGS. 6A-6D  are illustrations showing operation of another example adjustable handle for a computer component operated to move to an expanded position and again to a collapsed position according to one embodiment of the disclosure. 
           [0025]      FIG. 7  is an example flow chart showing operation of another example adjustable handle for a computer component according to one embodiment of the disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0026]    An adjustable handle for a computer component, such as a motherboard, may extend from a collapsed position to an expanded position. In the expanded position, the adjustable handle of some embodiments provides easy handling of the computer component. In the collapsed position, embodiments of the adjustable handle reduce space consumed in a chassis and/or improves airflow through the chassis. 
         [0027]    One example of an adjustable handle is shown in  FIGS. 3A-3B .  FIG. 3A  is an illustration showing an adjustable handle for a computer component in a collapsed position according to one embodiment of the disclosure. An adjustable handle may include an inner portion  304  and an outer portion  306 . The adjustable handle may be attached to a computer component through an opening in the inner portion  304  by fastener  308 . Although a screw is shown in  FIG. 3A , the fastener  308  may include other components such as a pin, plastic clip, snap hook, or other attachment device. In a collapsed state, the outer portion  306  may be approximately level with the inner portion  304 , such that the outer portion  306  does not extend above the inner portion  304  and the height of the handle is thus no larger than the inner portion  304  alone. A total height  312  of the adjustable handle may be smaller than other handles with similarly easy handling, such as the conventional handle of  FIG. 1 . The total height  312  of the adjustable handle may be approximately equal to or even smaller than other handles that are more difficult to handle, such as the conventional handle of  FIG. 2 . 
         [0028]    The adjustable handle of  FIG. 3A  may be moved from the collapsed position shown in  FIG. 3A  to an expanded position when handling the computer component  302 .  FIG. 3B  is an illustration showing an adjustable handle for a computer component in an expanded position according to one embodiment of the disclosure. The outer portion  306  may be raised above the inner portion  304  to extend a height of the adjustable handle from height  312  of  FIG. 3A  to height  314  of  FIG. 3B . The outer portion  306  may be raised above the inner portion  304  and/or locked in place over the inner portion  304  by a number of operating mechanisms, some of which are described with respect to embodiments illustrated below. In some embodiments, the inner portion  304  may be a frustum of a cone such that the lumen of outer portion  305  wedges against the surface of inner portion  304  when the handle is in an expanded position. 
         [0029]    One example technique for operating the outer portion  306  in conjunction with inner portion  304  includes using screw threads on an outside of the inner portion  304  to allow the outer portion  306  to be raised up and lowered down by turning the outer portion  306  around the inner portion  304 . Another example technique for operating the adjustable handle is by pulling the outer portion  306  upwards and twisting the outer portion  306  to lock the outer portion  306  in the expanded position, such as described with reference to  FIG. 4A ,  FIG. 4B , and  FIG. 5 . A further example technique for operating the adjustable handle is by rotating the outer portion  306  to unlock from the collapsed position, pulling up on the outer portion  306 , and then rotating the outer portion  306  to lock into the expanded position, such as described with reference to  FIG. 6A ,  FIG. 6B ,  FIG. 6C ,  FIG. 6D , and  FIG. 7 . 
         [0030]    The adjustable handle shown in  FIG. 3A  and  FIG. 3B  provides a height  314  in the expanded position of as much as 50% more than the height  312  in the collapsed position. Only a single outer portion  306  is shown in  FIG. 3A  and  FIG. 3B . However, additional outer portions may be added around outer portion  306  to provide further increases in available height in a telescoping manner. For example,  FIG. 3C  is an illustration showing a telescoping adjustable handle for a computer component in a collapsed position according to one embodiment of the disclosure. The adjustable handle of  FIG. 3C  is similar to that of  FIG. 3B  but includes an additional outer portion  316  around the outer portion  306 . The operation of outer portion  316  around outer portion  306  may be similar or dissimilar from the operation of outer portion  306  around inner portion  304 . 
         [0031]    Although a screw is shown in the embodiments of  FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C , other fasteners may be used to affix the adjustable handle to the computer component.  FIG. 3D  is an illustration showing an adjustable handle for a computer component affixed to the component with a snap hook according to one embodiment of the disclosure. In  FIG. 3D , the fastener  308  is shown as a snap hook that includes a locking piece that extends through the computer component  302 . The locking piece of the snap hook may be compressed to fit through an opening in the computer component  302 , and when the compression is remove the locking piece may expand to prevent removal back through the computer component  302 , and thus affix the adjustable handle to the computer component  302 . 
         [0032]      FIGS. 4A-4B  are illustrations showing operation of an example adjustable handle for a computer component operated to move to an expanded position and again to a collapsed position according to one embodiment of the disclosure. Referring first to  FIG. 4A , an adjustable handle  400  may include an inner portion  404  and an outer portion  402 . The inner portion  404  may include an opening  408  for a fastener (not shown) to attach the adjustable handle  400  to a computer component (not shown). A bias mechanism  406 , such as a spring, may be attached to the inner portion  404  and/or the outer portion  402  to maintain the adjustable handle  400  in either an expanded position or a collapsed position. The inner portion  404  may include a feature  404 A, such as a protrusion, that may be used as a latch to hold the adjustable handle  400  in either the expanded position or the collapsed position against a force applied by the bias mechanism  406 . 
         [0033]    Operation of embodiments of the adjustable handle  400  is described in  FIG. 5 .  FIG. 5  is an example flow chart showing operation of an example adjustable handle for a computer component according to one embodiment of the disclosure. A method  500  begins at block  502  with pulling an outer portion  402  of the adjustable handle  400  to an expanded position from a collapsed position.  FIG. 4B  shows the example adjustable handle moved to an expanded position according to one embodiment of the disclosure. The outer portion  402  is extended by height  412  to the expanded position. The outer portion  402  may then be rotated such that feature  404 A of inner portion  404  is moved into a groove (not shown) in the outer portion  402  such that the outer portion  402  is fixed in the expanded position even against the force of bias mechanism  406 . However, the groove and feature may alternatively be located on the outer portion  402  and the inner portion  404 , respectively. 
         [0034]    Operation of the adjustable handle  400  back to the collapsed position is described with further reference to  FIG. 5 . At block  506 , the outer portion  402  is rotated an opposite direction as the rotation of block  504 . The counter rotation of block  506  unlocks the outer portion  402  from the expanded position. Then, at block  508 , the outer portion of the handle is returned to the collapsed position. The return may be effected by application of manual force on the outer portion  402 , by a bias mechanism attached to the outer portion  402 , or a combination of the two. 
         [0035]      FIGS. 6A-6D  are illustrations showing operation of another example adjustable handle for a computer component operated to move to an expanded position and again to a collapsed position according to one embodiment of the disclosure. Referring first to  FIG. 6A , an adjustable handle  600  may include an inner portion  602  and an outer portion  604 . The inner portion  602  may include an opening  608  for a fastener (not shown) to attach the adjustable handle  600  to a computer component (not shown). The inner portion  602  may include a feature  602 A, such as a latch, that may be used to fix the outer portion  604  in an expanded position and/or a collapsed position. Operation of the adjustable handle  600  is described with reference to  FIG. 7 .  FIG. 7  is an example flow chart showing operation of another example adjustable handle for a computer component according to one embodiment of the disclosure. A method  700  begins at block  702  with rotating an outer portion  604  of the adjustable handle  600  to increase a height of the handle  600 . For example, the outer portion  604  may be rotated to unlock the outer portion  604  from the inner portion  602  and then a force applied to raise the outer portion  604  such that the two motions increase a height of the handle  600 . In another example, the outer portion  604  may be rotated such that the feature  602 A of inner portion  602  follows an angled guide groove that causes the outer portion  604  to move up and down the inner portion  602  when rotated. 
         [0036]      FIG. 6B  is an illustration showing moving of the adjustable handle to an expanded position according to one embodiment of the disclosure. The feature  602 A moves through groove  604 A to a portion of the groove  604 A that is vertically oriented to unlock the outer portion  604 . A force is then applied to move the outer portion  604  along the vertical portion of the groove  604 A. Referring back to  FIG. 7 , at block  704 , the outer portion  604  may be latched into place to hold the adjustable handle  600  in an expanded position.  FIG. 6C  is an illustration showing the adjustable handle  600  locked in an expanded position. A feature  602 A of inner portion  602  may travel through a groove  604 A defined by feature  604 B to lock the outer portion  604  in the expanded position. 
         [0037]    Operation of the adjustable handle  600  back to the collapsed position is described with further reference to  FIG. 7 . At block  706 , the outer portion  604  may be unlatched by rotating the outer portion  604  to return the feature  604 A of inner portion  602  to a vertical portion of the groove  604 A. Then, at block  708 , the outer portion is moved to decrease a height of the adjustable handle  600  and rotated to lock the adjustable handle in the collapsed portion.  FIG. 6D  is an illustration showing locking of the adjustable handle to a collapsed position according to one embodiment of the disclosure. The feature  602 A is rotated in the groove  604 A to a position over feature  604 B to lock the outer portion  604  in the collapsed position to prevent unintended height changes in the adjustable handle  600 . 
         [0038]    The illustrations of  FIGS. 3A-C ,  4 A-B, and  6 A-D are generally set forth showing similar shapes for a motherboard handle. However, embodiments of the adjustable handle may take other shapes. For example, the outer portion may be a quadrilateral shape, triangular shape, polygonal shape, circular shape, elliptical shape, or the like and rotate around the inner portion. Further, the outer portion may include section designed for gripping, such as by including ribbings or other traction enhancers. In some embodiments, the outer portion may not completely surround the inner portion, such as by the outer portion being a semicircle or other partial shape around portions of the inner portion. Such embodiments may form a “T”-shaped structure when the outer portion is not a symmetrical structure. In some embodiments, the outer portion may completely surround the inner portion, such as the outer portion being circular and the inner portion being circular. Such embodiments may form a large symmetrical handle that may be easier to handle that a “T”-shaped structure. 
         [0039]    For purposes of this disclosure, an information handling system may include any instrumentality or aggregate of instrumentalities operable to compute, calculate, determine, classify, process, transmit, receive, retrieve, originate, switch, store, display, communicate, manifest, detect, record, reproduce, handle, or utilize any form of information, intelligence, or data for business, scientific, control, or other purposes. For example, an information handling system may be a personal computer (e.g., desktop or laptop), tablet computer, mobile device (e.g., personal digital assistant (PDA) or smart phone), server (e.g., blade server or rack server), a network storage device, or any other suitable device and may vary in size, shape, performance, functionality, and price. The information handling system may include random access memory (RAM), one or more processing resources such as a central processing unit (CPU) or hardware or software control logic, ROM, and/or other types of nonvolatile memory. Additional components of the information handling system may include one or more disk drives, one or more network ports for communicating with external devices as well as various input and output (I/O) devices, such as a keyboard, a mouse, touchscreen and/or a video display. Any of these components may include an adjustable handle for handling the component, such as the adjustable handle of the embodiments described above. The information handling system may also include one or more buses operable to transmit communications between the various hardware components. 
         [0040]    The schematic flow chart diagram of  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 7  is generally set forth as a logical flow chart diagram. As such, the depicted order and labeled steps are indicative of aspects of the disclosed method. Other steps and methods may be conceived that are equivalent in function, logic, or effect to one or more steps, or portions thereof, of the illustrated method. Additionally, the format and symbols employed are provided to explain the logical steps of the method and are understood not to limit the scope of the method. Although various arrow types and line types may be employed in the flow chart diagram, they are understood not to limit the scope of the corresponding method. Indeed, some arrows or other connectors may be used to indicate only the logical flow of the method. For instance, an arrow may indicate a waiting or monitoring period of unspecified duration between enumerated steps of the depicted method. Additionally, the order in which a particular method occurs may or may not strictly adhere to the order of the corresponding steps shown. 
         [0041]    Although the present disclosure and certain representative advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims. Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, means, methods and steps described in the specification. For example, computer components described above may include circuitry, such as motherboards, daughterboards, circuit boards, memory boards, peripheral component boards, and the like. Further, the computer components may include drives, such as solid state drives (SSDs), compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM) drives, digital versatile disc read-only memory (DVD-ROM) drives, and Blu-ray drives. Further, the computer components may include power supplies, circuit boards, memory modules, cache modules, graphics cards, expansion boards, wireless modules, switching modules, routing modules, etc. As one of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from the present disclosure, processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be developed that perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodiments described herein may be utilized. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within their scope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps.