Abstract:
A cover module comprises a panel formed with a space on one side thereof, at least one hinge assembly, and a cover. The hinge assembly is demountably positioned in the space, and the cover is demountably engaged with the hinge assembly. With the hinge assembly, the cover can be demounted from and mounted to the computer case without disassembling the whole computer case. Furthermore, the users can replace the cover according to their needs whenever they wish.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention generally relates to a demountable cover module for a computer case, and more particular to a cover module that can be directly mounted to and demounted from a computer case.  
         [0003]     2. Description of Related Art  
         [0004]     With reference to  FIG. 1 , a cover  20   a  pivotally connected to a computer case  10   a  is shown. This cover is difficult to replace, and can be replaced only by disassembling the whole computer case  10   a . The user must undo many fastening parts and devices before it is possible to replace the cover. Furthermore, it is also difficult for the user to frequently change the appearance of the computer case by utilizing different types of covers according to his/her preferences.  
         [0005]     Therefore, in view of the above drawbacks, the inventor proposes the present invention to overcome the above problems based on his deliberate researches and related principles.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     The object of the present invention is to provide a demountable cover module for a computer case, which can be directly demounted from and mounted to the computer case, allowing the user to replace, repair or even update the cover easily. Another object of the present invention is to provide a demountable cover module for a computer case allowing the user to frequently change the appearance of the computer case by mounting different types of covers to the computer case according to his/her preferences.  
         [0007]     In order to achieve the above objects, the present invention provides a cover module for a computer case, which comprises a panel formed with a space on one side thereof, at least one hinge assembly demountably positioned in the space, and a cover demountably engaged with the hinge assembly. The panel is substantially a front panel of the computer case (not shown) and the hinge assembly is positioned in a space exterior to the computer case, and thus the cover can be easily demounted from and mounted to the hinge assembly. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]     The characteristics and the technical contents of the present invention will be further understood in view of the detailed description and accompanying drawings. However, it should be noted that the drawings are illustrative but not used to limit the scope of the present invention. Wherein:  
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating a conventional cover for a computer case;  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view illustrating a cover module for a computer case according to a first embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view illustrating a hinge assembly of the cover module shown in  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0012]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view illustrating the hinge assembly shown in  FIG. 3  in operation during the demounting process;  
         [0013]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view illustrating the hinge assembly shown in  FIG. 3  in operation during the mounting process;  
         [0014]      FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view illustrating a hinge assembly of a cover module for a computer case according to a second embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0015]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view illustrating the hinge assembly shown in  FIG. 6  in operation during the demounting process;  
         [0016]      FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view illustrating the hinge assembly shown in  FIG. 6  in operation during the mounting process;  
         [0017]      FIG. 9  is an exploded perspective view illustrating a hinge assembly of a cover module for a computer case according to a third embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0018]      FIG. 10  is an exploded perspective view illustrating hinge assemblies in combination with covers according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0019]      FIG. 11  is an exploded perspective view illustrating hinge assemblies in combination with covers according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0020]     With reference to  FIG. 2 , the present invention provides a cover module for a computer case, which comprises a panel  10 , at least one hinge assembly  30 , and a cover  20 . A space  11  for accommodating the hinge assembly is formed on one side of the panel  10 . A pivot  111  corresponding to the hinge assembly  30  is provided in the space  11 , and therefore the hinge assembly  30  is engaged with the pivots  111  and positioned in the space  11 . The cover  20  is demountably connected to the hinge assembly  30  which is positioned in the space  11  formed on one side of the panel  10 . Therefore, the cover  20  can be demounted from or mounted to the panel  10  without disassembling the whole computer case.  
         [0021]      FIG. 3  illustrates the hinge assembly  30  shown in  FIG. 2  in detail. The hinge assembly  30  comprises a holding member  31 , a releasing member  32 , and a connecting member  37 . The holding member  31  has a hook configuration. A cylindrical lever  311  is provided at the front end of the holding member  31 , and a T-shaped space  313  is formed adjacent thereto. The space  313  allows the releasing member  32  to move freely therein. A groove  314  of a square configuration is formed at the rear end of the holding member  31 . A curved locking portion  312  is formed between the groove  314  and the space  313 .  
         [0022]     A pair of coaxial posts  322  is protrudedly formed on the top and bottom surface of the rear end of the releasing member  32 , respectively. A recess portion  321  corresponding to the lever  311  is formed on the front end of the releasing member  32 . The lever  311  is rotatably engaged with the recess portion  321 . An inclined tongue  323  having a cylindrical end laterally extends from the releasing member  32 . Once the tongue  323  is pushed, the releasing member  32  can rotate in the space  313 .  
         [0023]     A connecting member  37  has a L-shaped configuration. A C-ring portions  372  are provided in the interior of the connecting member  37 . The C-ring portions  372  are engaged with the posts  322  inside the connecting member  37 , allowing the releasing member  32  to rotate about the connecting member  37  with the posts  322  thereof. A hook portion  373  extends from the interior of the connecting member  37  and reaches into the groove  314 , allowing the connecting member  37  to be engaged with the holding member  31 . A curved abutting portion  371  is formed, adjacent to the hook portion  373 , on the connecting member  37 . The abutting portion  371  and locking portion  312  abut against the pivots  111 , allowing the hinge assembly  30  to be engaged with the pivots  111 .  
         [0024]     As shown in  FIG. 4 , when the user would like to demount the hinge assembly  30 , he/she just pushes the tongue  323  to drive the releasing member  32  to rotate about the posts  322  and, simultaneously, the holding member  31  moves to disengage the abutting portion  371  of the connecting member  37  and the locking portion  312  from the pivots  111 . Thus, the hinge assembly  30  is released from the space  11 , and the cover  20  along with the hinge assembly  30  can be demounted from the computer case  10 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , alternatively, when the user would like to mount the hinge assembly  30 , he/she just pulls the tongue  323  to drive the releasing member  32  to rotate about the posts  322  and, simultaneously, the holding member  31  moves to engage the abutting portion  371  of the connecting member  37  and the locking portion  312  with the pivots  111 . Thus, once the hook portion  373  is engaged with the groove  314 , the hinge assembly  30  is engaged with the pivots  111  simultaneously and both are accommodated in the space  11 .  
         [0025]     Referring to FIGS.  6  to  8 , an alternative hinge assembly  30  is shown. The hinge assembly  30  comprises a stationary member  33 , a clamping member  34 , and a connecting member  37 . A cylindrical rod  331  is centrally formed in the stationary member  33 . A curved groove  332  is formed on one side of the rod  331 , and a pair of holes  333  is formed on the other side of the rod  331 . The stationary member  33  is engaged with the connecting member  37  by means of the holes  333 .  
         [0026]     The clamping member  34  comprises a clamping portion  342 , and O-ring portions  341  formed adjacent to the upper and lower edges, respectively, of the clamping portion  342 . A space  344  is formed between the O-ring portions  341 . The clamping member  34  also comprises an L-shaped member  343  laterally extending therefrom. The clamping member  34  accommodates the rod  331  in the space  344 . Since the O-ring portions  341  are pivotally connected with the rod  331 , the clamping member  34  can rotate about the stationary member  33 . Thus, the clamping portion  342  and the groove  332  are engaged with the pivots  111 , and consequently, the hinge assembly  30  is engaged with the pivots  111 .  
         [0027]     Referring to  FIG. 7 , when the user would like to demount the hinge assembly  30 , he/she just presses the L-shaped member  343  of the clamping member  34  to drive the clamping member  34  to rotate about the stationary member  33 , allowing the clamping portion  342  to be released from the original position where it was engaged with the pivots  111 . Thus, the hinge assembly  30  is released from the space  11 , and consequently, the hinge assembly  30  can be directly demounted from the panel  10 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , on the other hand, when the user would like to mount the hinge assembly  30 , he/she just presses the L-shaped member  343  to drive the clamping member  34  to rotate about the rod  331 , allowing the clamping portion  342  and groove  332  to be engaged with the pivots  111 . Thus, the hinge assembly  30  is engaged with the pivots  111  and accommodated in the space  11 .  
         [0028]     Referring to  FIG. 9 , an alternative connection between the space  11  and the hinge assembly  30  is shown. The space  11  is provided with a hole  112  that corresponds to the hinge assembly  30 . The hinge assembly  30  comprises an attaching member  35 , a latching member  36 , and a connecting member  37 . The attaching member  35  is provided with a pair of holes  351 . The attaching member  35  can be screwed with the connecting member  37  by the pair of holes  351 . Just like a latch, the latching member  36  is slidably connected with the attaching member  35 . The latching member  36  is provided with a projection  361 . When latching member  36  is moving with respect to the attaching member  35 , the projection  361  will reach out from the attaching member  35  and insert into the hole  112 , allowing the hinge assembly  30  to be engaged with the hole  112 . If the user would like to demount the hinge assembly  30  from the panel  10 , he/she can just move the latching member  36  in the direction that allows projection  361  to disengage from the hole  112 . Thus, the hinge assembly  30  can be separated from the space  11  and directly demounted from the panel  10 . Alternatively, if the user would like to mount the hinge assembly  30  to the panel  10 , he/she can just move the latching member  36  in the direction that allows the projection  361  to reach out from the attaching member  35  and insert into the pivot  111 . Thus, the hinge assembly  30  can be engaged with the hole  112  and accommodated in the space  11 .  
         [0029]     Referring to  FIG. 10 , the cover  20  is demountably connected with the hinge assembly  30 . Since the cover  20  is provided with at least one hole  21 , screws  40  can be fastened with holes  374  of the connecting member  37  through the holes  21 . Thus, the cover  20  is screwed with the hinge assembly  30 . Once the screws are loosened, the cover  20  can be demounted from the hinge assembly  30 .  
         [0030]     Referring to  FIG. 11 , an alternative connection between the cover  20  and the hinge assembly  30  is shown. The cover  20  is provided with an L-shaped hook  22  on the inner surface thereof, and the connecting member  37  is provided with a groove  375  corresponding to the L-shaped hook  22 . Thus, the L-shaped hook  22  of the cover  20  can be engaged with the groove  375 , allowing the cover  20  to be demountably connected to the hinge assembly  30 .  
         [0031]     In view of the above, according to the present invention, with the aid of the hinge assembly, the cover can be replaced without demounting the panel, nor loosening so many screws and disassembling the whole computer case. The present invention makes replacing a cover of a computer quick and convenient replacement, and also allows the user to change the appearance of his/her computer case according to his/her preferences.  
         [0032]     Although the present invention has been described with reference to the foregoing preferred embodiments, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the details thereof. Various equivalent variations and modifications may occur to those skilled in the art in view of the teachings of the present invention. Thus, all such variations and equivalent modifications are also embraced within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.