Abstract:
A computer with cable access door which securely conceals connected cables. In one example embodiment, the computer includes a housing including a cable access door having an open position and a closed position and a connector within the housing for connecting to a cable originating from outside the housing. The cable access door conceals the connector and the cable when the cable access door is in the closed position.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    Computer terminals used in retail point-of-sale (POS) and other environments typically have many ports and other connectors for power, monitor, keyboard, mouse, and a variety of peripherals, with many connected cables. Many consider cable connectors to be unsightly. Exposed cables are also subject to a risk of being disconnected 
         [0002]    Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a computer terminal with a cable access door that helps maintain cable connections and shield them from view. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    A computer with cable access door is provided. 
         [0004]    In one example embodiment, the computer includes a housing including a cable access door having an open position and a closed position and a connector within the housing for connecting to a cable originating from outside the housing. The cable access door conceals the connector and the cable when the cable access door is in the closed position. 
         [0005]    In another example embodiment, the computer includes a housing including an upper portion and a lower portion. The upper portion includes a cable access door having an open position and a closed position. The lower portion includes an aperture opposite the cable access door. A connector panel in the housing extends between the cable access door and the aperture, and the connector panel includes a plurality of connectors for connecting to cables originating from outside the housing and passing through the aperture from underneath the housing. The cable access door conceals the connector and the cables when the cable access door is in the closed position. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an example computer with a cable access door in a closed position. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the example computer with the cable access door in a partially open position. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the example computer with the cable access door in a fully open position. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a cross-section of the example computer illustrating a latch feature of the cable access door. 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is a partial view the example computer illustrating a hinge feature of the cable access door. 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is a cross-section of the example computer with the cable access door in the closed position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0012]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1-3 , an example computer  10  includes a housing  20 . Housing  20  includes an upper housing portion  30 , a lower housing portion  40 , and cable access door  50 . 
         [0013]    Cable access door  50  includes a first cover portion  60  adjacent upper housing portion  30 . In the example embodiment, cable access door  50  may alternatively be viewed as being part of upper housing portion  30 . Cable access door  50  further includes a second cover portion  70  extending between opposite side portions  80  of lower housing portion  40 . Second cover portion  70  is flexible to facilitate opening of cable access door  50 , and may additionally include tactile members  90  on each end, which aid an operator in opening cable access door  50 . 
         [0014]    With reference to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , cable access door  50  has cable retention features which prevent cable access door  50  from unintentionally opening. One cable retention feature is plate  150 . Plate  150  includes a first portion  160 , which supports the top portion of cable access door  50 . A second portion  170  supports the contoured surface of cable access door  50 . A third portion  180  reinforces lower cover portion  70 . 
         [0015]    Since housing  20  may be made of plastic, plate  150  may also serve to strengthen cable access door  50  against breakage and maintain its shape following manufacture. In one example, plate  150  may be added during manufacturing to prevent warping of cable access door  50 . Plate  150  may be attached with heat stake posts  195  through corresponding apertures in plate  150 , which is a lower cost option than using screws and eliminates the need for corresponding mounting bosses that would decrease the available underlying space for cables. 
         [0016]    To further protect cable access door  50  from breakage, housing  20  includes edge support  200 . Edge support  200  supports the long edge of cable access door  50  adjacent upper housing portion  30 . 
         [0017]    Another cable retention feature is the cable door latching mechanism. First cover portion  60  includes snaps  120  on opposite sides of lower cover portion  70 , close to tactile members  90 . With reference to  FIG. 4 , snaps  120  are aligned with, and engage, opposing latch members  130  of side portions  80 . Each latch member  130  includes a latch hook  220  which engages a corresponding snap hook  210  on each of snaps  120 . Opposing forces between snap hook  210  and latch hook  220  are substantially vertical. Thus, the outward orientation of snap hook  210  strengthens the locking force when a transverse pressure is applied against the inside of cable access door  50  by connected cables. 
         [0018]    In the example embodiment, an operator opens cable access door  50  by gently pressing on tactile members  90  to slightly bend lower cover portion  70  and snaps  120  inwards, thereby allowing snap hooks  210  disengage from latch hooks  220 . Part of the force required to release snaps  120  may include opposing forces from cables on the opposite side of lower cover portion  70 . A stop portion  230  of each latch member  130  limits bending of lower cover portion  70  and snaps  120  to prevent breakage. The operator continues to press tactile members  90  while rotating cable access door  50  upwards until snaps  120  have cleared latch members  130 . 
         [0019]    Closing cable access door  50  involves rotating cable access door  50  downwards until snap hooks  210  engage latch hooks  220 . 
         [0020]    Returning to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , cable access door  50  includes support arms  100  which extend from and recede into arm slots  110  during opening and closing. With reference to  FIG. 5 , each support arm  100  includes an axle portion  260 . Axle portion  260  rotates on lower hinge member  300 . Upper hinge member  290  is generally U-shaped and retains axle portion  260  in position over lower hinge member  300 . Upper hinge member  290  may also provide a friction fit against axle portion  260  to dampen rotation of cable access door  50 . Lower housing portion  40  may include a depression  270  under each support arm  100  and each depression  270  may include an aperture  280 . Together, depression  270  and aperture  280  provide sufficient clearance for support arm  100  to rotate to a closed position without striking the bottom surface of lower housing portion  40 . 
         [0021]    Housing  20  contains one or more circuit boards with one or more processors, memory, and program and data storage. The one or more circuit boards also include ports and/or input/output connectors  145  which are organized within a connector panel  140 . Example ports and/or connectors  145  accessible through the connector panel  140  include network ports, serial ports, video ports, audio ports, and power connectors. Lower housing portion  40  includes an aperture  190  to facilitate routing of cables from under lower housing portion  40  to connector panel  140 . 
         [0022]    With reference to  FIG. 6 , an example configuration is illustrated in which computer  10  is oriented with cable access door  50  facing an operator. In this configuration, cable  330  is routed below lower housing portion  40  and away from the operator to the opposite side of computer  10 . 
         [0023]    Other configurations are also envisioned. For example, cable access door  50  may be oriented away from an operator and cable  330  routed below and away from the operator. 
         [0024]    Advantageously, cable access door  50  facilitates concealment of cable connectors and is secure from outward forces produced by cable  330 . Cable  330  is hidden where it connects to connector  145  and where it runs beneath computer  10 . 
         [0025]    It is envisioned that computer  10  be used with various peripherals suited to its purpose. For example, computer  10  may include a point-of-sale (POS) terminal and include cable connectors for a monitor, cash drawer, receipt printer, and barcode scanner, in addition to network and other cable connectors. Other configurations are also envisioned. 
         [0026]    Although the present invention has been described with particular reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, variations and modifications of the present invention can be effected within the spirit and scope of the following claims.