Abstract:
A computer testing platform for supporting computer hardware components in a highly visible and readily accessible manner for diagnostic testing and repair includes a housing made from clear acrylic plastic and a plurality of bays for storing the components. The bays are formed by removable shelving disposed vertically and horizontally within the housing.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
   The present invention is directed to a computer testing platform for supporting computer hardware such that the hardware components of the computer are accessible for testing and repair work. The computer testing platform allows the hardware components supported thereon to function as an operable computer, while individual components can be readily added, removed and interchanged for other components. 
   A computer can malfunction from time to time making it necessary to replace or repair the computer or component parts of the computer. Diagnostic testing of the hardware and software can also be required when reinstating the computer to an operable condition. 
   Typically, the hardware components of a computer are contained in a protective casing or cabinet. The protective casing generally covers and hides the computer components making it difficult to see and access those components. Since diagnostic testing and/or repair work generally require that the technician be able to see and reach the hardware components of the computer, it is necessary to remove the components from the casing or cabinet. 
   Once removed from the protective casing, the computer components can be difficult to maintain in a useable configuration. The loose components are more likely to be scattered, damaged, or lost. Therefore, it is desirable to have a device for mounting computer components in which the components are secured and maintained as a unit, yet are still visible and readily accessible. Also, there is a need for a support platform for a computer used in an industrial environment in which the components are readily accessible and easily interchanged without having to remove the computer from a protective casing each time access or interchanging is required. 
   When teaching computer repair and maintenance, it is desirable to maintain a high degree of visibility of the computer components in order for students to observe the process. By providing visual aids in a classroom, the student&#39;s understanding of the diagnostic/repair process on a computer can be greatly improved. Therefore, a platform for mounting a computer in such a way that the computer components are visible and readily accessible while allowing the computer to function in its full capacity is needed. 
   When testing or repairing a computer, it may be necessary to interchange one computer component part for another. By reducing the time required to exchange one component for another, the time for testing or repairing the computer can be reduced and the efficiency of repairing the computer can be increased. Consequently, there is a need for a computer testing platform in which one component can be quickly and easily interchanged with another component. 
   The computer testing platform of the present invention enables the computer&#39;s hardware, software utilities and other software programs to be tested and the hardware components quickly changed out or repaired while maintaining the computer&#39;s ability to function. 
   SUMMARY 
   The present invention is a computer testing platform for supporting a computer and/or computer components in a highly visible and easily accessible manner wherein the platform can be readily modified to accommodate various models of computers and components. 
   It is an object of the present invention to provide a support platform for a computer and/or computer components that allows direct access to the computer components. 
   It is a further object of the present invention to provide a support platform for removeably mounting computer components in an orderly arrangement. 
   It is a further object of the present invention to provide a support platform for a computer in which the computer components can be readily interchanged. 
   It is a further object of the present invention to provide a computer testing platform for supporting a computer undergoing diagnostic testing. 
   It is a further object of the present invention to provide a platform for supporting a computer used for testing computer hardware, software utilities and other software programs. 
   It is a further object of the present invention to provide a platform for supporting a computer in which the components are displayed in a highly visible manner. 
   It is a further object of the present invention to provide a platform for supporting computer components wherein the individual components can be easily accessed and manipulated by a technician. 
   It is a further object of the present invention to provide a platform for supporting a computer wherein the supported components can be easily installed and removed from the platform. 
   It is a further object of the present invention to provide a computer testing platform for supporting a computer which can be used for teaching diagnostic testing and/or computer repair. 
   Computers are generally connected to a power source by an electrical wire or wires. Also, the computer components are generally connected to each other by a myriad of wires. The computer testing platform of the present invention has an open bay arrangement in which all of the bays are opened to each other within the housing&#39;s interior area. The open bay arrangement accommodates the wires extending within the housing and the wires extending between the inside and outside of the housing. 
   The computer testing platform can be easily upgraded by varying the size of the platform and the number of bays to accommodate different computer configurations. In addition, the computer components can be mounted on the testing platform such that the combination of components can function as a fully operational computer. 
   Finally, the testing platform can be used when testing hardware including CD Roms, floppy drives, hard drives, video cards, modems, printers, PCS, USC, AGP devices and motherboard sockets. It can also be used when testing overclocking motherboards, processors, video cards and memory and for hard drive set-up and burn-in. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which are shown illustrative embodiments of the invention and from which novel features and advantages will be apparent. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective front view of a preferred embodiment of the computer testing platform of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective rear view of the computer testing platform of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the computer testing platform of  FIG. 1  showing a first embodiment of the motherboard plate. 
       FIG. 4  is a front planar view of a second embodiment of the motherboard plate which can be interchanged on the computer testing platform of  FIG. 1  with the motherboard plate of the first embodiment. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   The computer testing platform  1  as shown in  FIGS. 1-3  includes a housing  10 , vertical  21  and horizontal  31  plates and means for removably mounting plates in the housing. 
   The housing  10  is formed by a back  50 , a front  51 , sides  52 , and a bottom  55 . The sides  52  of the housing  10  are defined by end plates  11 , while the bottom  55  is a base plate  34 . The housing&#39;s back  50  is formed by a back plate  22  and an access opening  53 . The housing  10  contains an interior area  40  which includes a vertical support portion  20  and a horizontal support portion  30 . 
   Removably mounted in the interior area  40  of the vertical support portion  20  is a vertical plate  21 . The vertical plate  21  is a motherboard plate. It not only divides interior area  40  of the vertical support portion  20  into vertical bays  24 , but also supports at least one computer board thereon. 
   The horizontal support portion  30  houses a plurality of horizontal plates  31  and a central divider  32 . The horizontal plates  31  and central divider  32  define a plurality of horizontal bays  33  within the horizontal support portion. The horizontal plates  31  include a plurality of intermediate bay plates  35  and a top bay plate  36 , while the central divider  32  comprises left  32   a  and right  32   b  divider plates. 
   The end plates  11  include a left end plate  11   a  and a right end plate  11   b , both having a generally L-shape which gives the housing  10  an L-shaped profile. The left end plate  11   a  includes a notch  37  therein. 
   The means for removably mounting plates comprise a vertical plate support  13  and a horizontal plate support  14 . The vertical plate support  13  is formed by a pair of vertically elongated grooves  25 . Each of the vertically elongated grooves  25  is disposed in a respective left  11   a  and right  11   b  end plate. 
   The horizontal plate support  14  includes upper  15  and lower  16  plate supports. The upper plate support  15  comprises a pair of upper horizontal grooves  26 . The upper horizontal grooves  26  are positioned opposite each other and each is disposed in respective left  11   a  and right  11   b  end plates. The lower plate support  16  comprises a pair of lower left  39  and lower right  41  horizontal grooves. 
   The lower left horizontal grooves  39  are disposed opposite each other. One of the lower left horizontal grooves  39  is disposed in the left end plate  11   a  and the other lower left horizontal groove  39  is disposed in the left divider plate  32   a . The pair of lower right horizontal grooves  41  are disposed opposite each other with one of the lower right horizontal grooves  41  being in the right end plate  11   b  and the other lower right horizontal groove  41  being in the right divider plate  32   b.    
   In a preferred embodiment, the end plates  11 , the divider plates  32   a ,  32   b , the horizontal plates  31  and the vertical plate  21  are formed of transparent acrylic plastic, such as Plexi-glass. Although the base plate  34  of the computer testing platform  1  is preferably made of transparent plastic, it could be made of other suitable opaque or translucent material instead. 
   The computer testing platform  1  has a plurality of fasteners for holding various articles on to the housing  10 . Each of the fasteners are selectively releasable. These fasteners include a first releasable connector  61  and a second releasable connector  62 . The first releasable connector  61  is a strip of hook and loop fastener, such as Velcro™. The strip is disposed on the back plate  22 . The second releasable connector  62  is a plurality of strips of the hook and loop fasteners. It is mounted on an upper surface of the base plate  34  in the interior area  40  of the housing  10 . 
   Each of the vertical  24  and horizontal  33  bays provide a separate storage area for computer components or other equipment within the housing&#39;s interior area  40 . The bays  24 ,  33  have an open arrangement in which all of the bays  24 ,  33  are opened to the interior area  40  as well as opened to the outside of the housing  10 . 
   The motherboard plate  23  when mounted in the housing  10  divides the interior area  40  of the vertical support portion  20  into a plurality of separate vertical bays  24 . 
   The vertical plate support  13  mounts the motherboard plate  23  in the vertical support portion  20  of the housing  10 . The vertically elongated grooves  25  in the left  11   a  and right  11   b  end plates each receive a respective opposing edge of the motherboard plate  23  therein. At least one computer board can be mounted on the motherboard plate  23 . Consequently, the motherboard plate  23  and the computer boards attached thereto can be readily inserted into the housing  10  and readily removed therefrom. The vertical bays  24  are adapted to hold the computer board or boards that are attached to a motherboard plate  23  mounted in the housing  10 . 
   In the horizontal support portion  30 , the pair of upper horizontal grooves  26  engage the opposing edges of the top bay plate  36  when the top bay plate  36  is mounted in the horizontal support portion  30 . The top bay plate  36  has an upper work surface  45  that is generally planar and horizontally disposed when installed in the housing  10 . The upper work surface  45  is adapted for supporting various computer components thereon. In addition, the top bay plate  36  can be removed when additional access to the lower bays  42 , 43  is desired. 
   In the interior area  40 , the central divider  32  separates the horizontal support portion  30  into a lower left bay  42  and a lower right bay  43 . A rear horizontal bay  54  comprises part of the interior area  40 . The rear horizontal bay  54  is located beneath the vertical bay(s)  24  in the interior area  40  and between the back  50  of the housing  10  and a back edge of the horizontal plates  31 . Due to its size, the rear horizontal bay  54  can support larger-sized computer components and equipment. The horizontal  33  and vertical  24  bays open into the rear horizontal bay  54 . The access opening  53  and notch  37  provide direct access into the rear horizontal bay  54 . This allows a technician easy access to the components supported therein and further provides an opening for wiring to extend into the interior area  40  of the housing  10 . 
   Each pair of the left  39  and right  41  horizontal grooves slideably supports a respective left  35   a  and right  35   b  intermediate bay plate. By receiving opposing edges of the left intermediate plate  35   a  therein, the lower left horizontal grooves  39  can releasably hold the plate  35   a  in the horizontal support portion  30 . Similarly, opposing edges of the right intermediate bay plate  35   b  are received into respective ones of the right lower horizontal grooves  41 . Consequently, both the left  35   a  and right  35   b  lower horizontal bay plates can be readily inserted and removed from the housing  10 . 
   Each of the intermediate bay plates  35  is adapted to support computer components thereon. The base plate  34  can also support computer components on its upper surface. The horizontal bays  33  are disposed within the horizontal support portion  30  and are defined by the positions of the horizontal plates  31  and the left  32   a  and right  32   b  divider plates. The horizontal bays  33  house the components supported on the intermediate bay plates  35  as well as components on the base plate  34 . 
   When engaged, the second releasable connector  62  positively secures the supported components to the base plate  34 . The first releasable connector  61  can secure wire(s), cable bundles, power supply devices or other equipment to the housing  10 . 
   The access opening  53  on the back  50  of the housing  10  extends between a lower edge of the back plate  22  and a back edge of the base plate  34 . The access opening  53  cooperates with the interior area  40  of the housing  10 . The notch  37 , disposed in the left end plate  11   a  of the housing  10 , is contiguous with the access opening  53 . The notch  37  and the access opening  53  both provide communication between the interior area  40  of the housing  10  and the area outside of the housing  10 . 
   The top bay plate  36  extends the full width of the housing  10  and is larger widthwise than the intermediate bay plates  35 . However, the sizes of the housing, plates and bays can be varied to accommodate different computer parts and models. 
   The horizontal support portion  30  provides a base for the computer testing platform  1 . The vertical support portion  20  extends upwardly from the horizontal support portion  30 . Within the interior area  40  of the housing  10 , the vertical support portion  20  is separated into two discrete vertical bays  24  when the motherboard plate  23  is positioned in the vertical plate support of the vertical support portion  20 . However, when the motherboard plate  23  is removed from the housing  10 , the configuration of interior area in the vertical support portion  20  changes such that there is only one vertical bay  24  in the vertical support portion  20 . Therefore, the motherboard plate  23  can be selectively removed and inserted into the housing  10  to change the configuration and number of vertical bays  24 . 
   When installed in the horizontal support portion  30 , the top bay plate  36  and the two intermediate bay plates  35  divide the housing into a plurality of horizontal bays  33 . The horizontal bays  33  can be arranged into various configurations by selective installation and removal of the horizontal plates  31  within the horizontal support portion  30  of the housing  10 . For example, an intermediate bay plate  35  can be removed to provide a larger storage space in one of the lower left  42  or right  43  bays. Therefore, the number and sizes of the horizontal bays  33  and vertical bay(s) can be selectively varied, if desired. 
   To mount a computer board on the computer testing platform  1 , the motherboard plate  23  is removed from the interior area  40  of the vertical support portion  20  by sliding the plate  23  in a direction away from the base plate  34 . With the motherboard plate  23  removed from the vertical support portion  20 , full access to the motherboard plate  23  is allowed. The computer board is attached to the motherboard plate  23  and the motherboard plate  23  is then reinserted into the housing  10 . 
   The motherboard plate  23  is inserted into the vertical plate support  13  by first aligning two opposing edges of the motherboard plate  23  with the vertically elongated grooves  25  in the respective left  11   a  and right  11   b  end plates. With the plate&#39;s edges aligned with the vertically elongated grooves  25 , the motherboard plate  23  is moved so that the edges slide into the vertically elongated grooves  25  until the plate  23  is at least partially disposed in the vertical support portion  20  of the housing  10 . 
   Wires or cables from the components supported on the computer testing platform  1  can be extended through the access opening  53  and notch  37 . The open arrangement of the horizontal  33  and vertical  24  bays allows wiring connections between the components, equipment and a power supply. 
   The computer testing platform of the present invention can hold the components of a computer in such a way that those components are visible and readily accessible to the technician. Diagnostic testing and training can be done on the computer with the computer&#39;s components in view of the technician(s) and/or students. When necessary the components can be quickly changed out by simply removing the component from the computer testing platform and inserting the substitute component. The motherboard plate with an attached computer board can be easily removed and another motherboard plate can be reinserted in its place. With the motherboard plate being readily interchangeable with other motherboard plates, the computer boards can be quickly changed out when necessary. This can decrease the time required for testing and repairing the computer. Also, the motherboard plate can be easily removed from the housing in order to more easily access a computer board attached thereto. 
   A second embodiment of the motherboard plate  123  of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 4 . This motherboard plate  123  can be removably mounted in the vertical plate support of the housing in a manner similar to the first embodiment. The motherboard plate  123  has at least one plate aperture  160  and a handle  161 . The handle  161  is an elongate opening positioned alongside an edge of the plate  123 . The handle  161  provides means by which a technician can grasp and manipulate the plate, thereby facilitating the insertion and removal of the motherboard plate  123  from the housing. The plate aperture  160  can accommodate wiring. Wires can pass through the plate apertures  160  within the interior area of the housing. 
   In addition, the motherboard plates  23 ,  123  of the first and second embodiments can be interchanged with each other on the computer testing platform of the present invention. 
   Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions are possible. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein.