Abstract:
A liftable and lockable fan is provided. The fan includes: a housing having a side wall; a tab mounted in the side wall, including an upwardly extending lower portion, an outwardly facing locking projection above the lower portion, and an inwardly facing surface above the outwardly facing locking projection; the tab having a first tab position in which the outwardly facing locking projection extends from the side wall and is configured to engage with an exterior locking surface, and a second tab position in which the outwardly facing locking projection is at least partially retracted into the housing; the housing having a recess above the outwardly facing locking projection; and a top cover rotatably mounted to the housing, including a handle on a first end of the cover, an arm on a second end of the cover.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The instant application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/202,500, filed Aug. 7, 2015, entitled QUICK RELEASE FAN MODULE WITH MINIMAL SPACE, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The various embodiments described herein relate generally to a fan for an electronic component. More specifically, various embodiments herein relate to a fan for an electronic component with a cover that can both lift the fan and disengage it from a supporting fan chassis. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Electronic devices typically generate heat during operation due to the flow of electricity through the device. Some electronic components are susceptible to damage if this heat is not removed. Consequently, various methods have been developed to remove heat from within electronic devices and/or electronic components. Passive methods use natural convection to remove heat. For example, the electronic device may have a housing with vents to let cool air flow into the device and hot air flow out. Other electronic devices use active methods, such as electric fans built into the housing, to provide a flow of cooling air through the device. 
         [0004]    The processors in many processor-based devices are susceptible to heat damage. Consequently, at least one cooling fan usually is needed to remove the heat from the processor to prevent the processor from being damaged. For example, a typical home computer has a cooling fan to remove the heat produced by the electronic components, including the processor, housed therein. In other computer systems, several fans may be used to remove heat from within the device. In mission critical systems, such as servers, redundant fans may be provided that are operable to respond when another fan fails, either by initiating operation or by increasing speed. 
         [0005]    Several different sizes and types of fans may be used in electronic devices, such as processor-based devices. Unfortunately, each type of fan typically requires its own unique method of installation. In addition, the securing methods may involve numerous parts, such as threaded fasteners. Furthermore, these fans typically are bulky and may not be disposed in a space-efficient side-by-side arrangement. Alternatively, fan connectors and finger guards may be oriented in such a manner that they interfere with the flow of air through the fan or otherwise add to the difficulty of installing the fan. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    According to an embodiment of the invention, a liftable and lockable fan is provided. The fan includes: a housing having a side wall; a tab mounted in the side wall, including an upwardly extending lower portion, an outwardly facing locking projection above the lower portion, and an inwardly facing surface above the outwardly facing locking projection; the tab having a first tab position in which the outwardly facing locking projection extends from the side wall and is configured to engage with an exterior locking surface, and a second tab position in which the outwardly facing locking projection is at least partially retracted into the housing; the housing having a recess above the outwardly facing locking projection; a top cover rotatably mounted to the housing, including a handle on a first end of the cover, an arm on a second end of the cover; wherein the top cover has a first cover position in which the arm is in the recess and the tab is in the first tab position, and a second cover position in which the cover extends upward to (a) allow the fan to be lifted by the handle, and (b) the arm pressures the tab from the first tab position to the second tab position. 
         [0007]    The above embodiment may have various optional features. The cover may be rotatably mounted to the housing. The tab may be integral with the side wall or rotatably mounted on the side wall. The cover may include an upper plate, a flange and the arm, wherein when the cover is in the second cover position, the arm contacts the tab and the flange contacts a top of the side wall. The fan may have a center of gravity that is offset from the side wall, wherein when the cover is in the second cover position and the fan is suspended by the cover, the weight of the fan rotates the fan away from the cover to maintain the cover in the second cover position. 
         [0008]    According to another embodiment of the invention, a liftable and lockable fan is provided. The fan includes: a housing having a side wall; a plurality of tabs mounted in the side wall, each including an upwardly extending lower portion, an outwardly facing locking projection above the lower portion, and an inwardly facing surface above the outwardly facing locking projection; each of the tabs having a first tab position in which the outwardly facing locking projection extends from the side wall and is configured to engage with an exterior locking surface, and a second tab position in which the outwardly facing locking projection is at least partially retracted into the housing; the housing having a recess for each of the tabs above the outwardly facing locking projection; a top cover rotatably mounted to the housing, including a handle on a first end of the cover, and a plurality of arms on a second end of the cover; wherein the top cover has a first cover position in which the arms are in the recesses and the tabs are in the first tab position, and a second cover position in which the cover extends upward to (a) allow the fan to be lifted by the handle, and (b) the arms pressure the tabs from the first tab position to the second tab position. 
         [0009]    The above embodiment may have various features. The cover may be rotatably mounted to the housing. The tabs may be integral with the side wall or rotatably mounted on the side wall. The cover may include an upper plate, a flange and the arms, wherein when the cover is in the second cover position, the arms contact the tabs and the flange contacts a top of the side wall. The fan may have a center of gravity that is offset from the side wall, wherein when the cover is in the second cover position and the fan is suspended by the cover, the weight of the fan rotates the fan away from the cover to maintain the cover in the second cover position. 
         [0010]    Details of one or more implementations are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, aspects, and potential advantages will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    Various embodiments in accordance with the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings, in which: 
           [0012]      FIGS. 1A and 1B  are perspective views of a fan with a retracted cover according to an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0013]      FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C  are perspectives views of a sidewall and tabs of the fan of  FIG. 1  according to any embodiment of the invention. 
           [0014]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  are perspectives views of a cover of the fan of  FIG. 1  according to any embodiment of the invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the fan of  FIG. 1  with a deployed cover according to an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0016]      FIGS. 5A and 5B  are perspective views of the cover interacting with the tabs according to an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a fan chassis according to an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0018]      FIGS. 7A, 7B and 7C  are perspectives views of the fan of  FIG. 1  relative to the fan chassis of  FIG. 6  according to an embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0019]    In the following description, various embodiments will be illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the Figures of the accompanying drawings. References to various embodiments in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean at least one. While specific implementations and other details are discussed, it is to be understood that this is done for illustrative purposes only. A person skilled in the relevant art will recognize that other components and configurations may be used without departing from the scope and spirit of the claimed subject matter. 
         [0020]    Several definitions that apply throughout this disclosure will now be presented. The term “substantially” is defined to be essentially conforming to the particular dimension, shape, or other feature that the term modifies, such that the component need not be exact. For example, “substantially cylindrical” means that the object resembles a cylinder, but can have one or more deviations from a true cylinder. The term “comprising” when utilized, means “including, but not necessarily limited to”; it specifically indicates open-ended inclusion or membership in the so-described combination, group, series and the like. The term “a” means “one or more” unless the context clearly indicates a single element. 
         [0021]    As used herein, the term “front”, “rear”, “left,” “right,” “top” and “bottom” or other terms of direction, orientation, and/or relative position are used for explanation and convenience to refer to certain features of this disclosure. However, these terms are not absolute, and should not be construed as limiting this disclosure. 
         [0022]    Shapes as described herein are not considered absolute. As is known in the art, metal surfaces often have waves, protrusions, holes, recess, etc. to provide rigidity, strength and functionality. All recitations of shape (e.g., “U-shaped,” “L-bracket”) is to be considered modified by “substantially” regardless of whether expressly stated in the disclosure or claims, and specifically accounts for variations in the art as noted above. 
         [0023]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1A and 1B , a fan  102  is shown. The fan  102  includes an outer housing  104  with at least a left sidewall (not shown), a bottom  106 , and a right sidewall  108 . The front  110  and back (not shown) are substantially open to facilitate air flow. A rotatable cover  114  is rotatable between a retracted position ( FIG. 1A ) that covers a top of fan  102  and a deployed position ( FIG. 1B ) that extends upwards from the fan  102  and acts as a handle as discussed below. 
         [0024]    Right side wall  108  includes side tabs  116  that extend upwards. Tabs  116  are separated by an intervening portion  118  of right sidewall  108 . 
         [0025]    Referring now also to  FIG. 2A-2C , the right sidewall  108  and tabs  116  are shown in more detail. Tabs  116  may be integral with right sidewall  108 , essentially defining cut outs. Tabs  106  may have a semi rigid spring like quality that will flex slightly toward the second position under inward pressure but will tend to return to the first position when that pressure is removed. In the alternative, tabs  116  may be rotatably mounted to right sidewall  108  via a shaft (not shown) through holes  214  ( FIG. 2 c   ). 
         [0026]    Tabs  116  each include a lower arm  202 , an outwardly extending flange  204 , and an inwardly extending flange  206 . Inwardly extending flange  206  may have a chamfered corner  210 . Right sidewall  108  has a recess  208  above each tab  116 . Hinge components  212  are near the top of right sidewall  108  adjacent each recesses  208 . 
         [0027]      FIG. 2A  shows tabs  116  in a first position in which lower arms  202  are generally flush with right sidewall  108 , outwardly extending flanges  204  extend outward from housing  104 , and inwardly extending flanges  206  are within housing  104 .  FIG. 2B  shows tabs  116  in a second position in which tabs  116  are depressed/moved inward from right sidewall  108  into housing  104  at a slight angle; flanges  204  correspondingly at least partially extended inward into right sidewall  108 , potentially so far inward that no portion of flanges  204  extend outward past right sidewall  108 . 
         [0028]    Tabs  116  are biased into the first position. The nature of the bias may in part depend on the nature of the connection of tabs  116  to right sidewall  108 . If rotatably mounted, a non-limiting example of a source of the bias is a spring (e.g., spring  404  in  FIG. 4C ). If integrally with right sidewall  108 , tabs  106  may have a semi rigid spring like quality that will flex slightly toward the second position under inward pressure but will tend to return to the first position when that pressure is removed. 
         [0029]    Referring now to  FIGS. 3A and 3B , rotatable cover  114  is shown in more detail.  FIG. 3A  shows cover  114  in a retracted position and  FIG. 3B  shows cover  114  in a deployed position. For ease of discussion  FIG. 3A  is considered the reference diagram for the “top” and “bottom” of components, although as noted above these are only for purposes of explanation and do not limit the scope of the invention. 
         [0030]    Cover  114  has an upper plate  302  with a recess  304  formed near the top to define a handle  306  large enough to be grasped by a hand or tool. An intermediate  308  flange extends from the bottom of upper plate  302 . A lower plate  310  extends from intermediate flange  308 . Lower plate  310  has an inverted U-shape, with a base  312  and arms  314 . Hinge components  316  extend from on either side of the base of upper plate  302 . 
         [0031]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , hinge components  212  of sidewall  108  and hinge components  316  of cover  114  are coaxially mounted about a shaft  402 . A user or tool can grip handle  306  against the bias of spring  404  to rotate cover  114  around the hinge components from the retracted position ( FIGS. 1A / 2 A/ 3 A) to the deployed position ( FIG. 1A / 2 B/ 3 B). 
         [0032]    Referring now to  FIGS. 5A and 5B , the interaction of cover  114  with tabs  116  is described in more detail. When cover  114  is in the retract position ( FIGS. 1A / 2 A/ 3 A), arms  314  of cover  114  extend into and through recesses  208  in right sidewall  108 . No pressure is applied to tabs  116 , and thus they are in the first position ( FIG. 2A ). As cover  114  rotated toward the deployed position ( FIGS. 1A / 2 A/ 3 A), arms  314  rotate inward into housing  104 . Arms  314  ultimately engage the outer face of inwardly extending flange  206 , pressuring flange  206  against the spring force of tab  116  and forcing the tabs  116  from the first position ( FIG. 2A ) to the second position ( FIG. 2B ). Cover  114  eventually engages the top portion of right sidewall  108 , and specifically intermediate flange  308  and base  312  of cover  114  engage the top surface and inner side of intervening portion  118 . Fan  102  can now be lifted and transported via handle  306 . 
         [0033]    The center of gravity of fan  102  is roughly coincident with the central rotating axis of fan  102 . When lifted, the point of suspension from cover  114  is along the right sidewall  108 . The weight of fan  102  will thus apply a rotational torque away from cover  114 , thereby forcing intervening portion  118  of right sidewall  108  onto lower plate  310  of cover  114 . Fan  102  will thus tend to remain in the position shown in  FIG. 1A  while lifted. 
         [0034]    Referring now to  FIG. 6 , a fan chassis  602  is shown. Fan chassis  602  includes fan receiving areas  640  configured to receive fans  102 . Five fan receiving areas are shown in  FIG. 6 , but the invention is not so limited and any number may be provided. 
         [0035]    Fan chassis  602  includes a side locking plate  604 . Locking plate includes recesses  606 , which are positioned to align with outwardly extending flanges  204  of fan  102  when inserted in fan chassis  602 . 
         [0036]    Referring now to  FIG. 7A , fan chassis  602  is shown with fan  102  inserted into fan receiving area  640 . Fan  102  is in its rest state, with components positioned as shown in  FIGS. 1A / 2 A/ 3 A/ 5 A. Outwardly extending flanges  204  extend into recesses  606  of side locking plate  604 . This engagement locks fan  102  into its corresponding fan recess  604 . 
         [0037]    Referring now to  FIG. 7B , fan chassis  602  is shown with fan  102  partially inserted therein and cover  14  rotated into the deployed position. The various components of the fan  102  will be in the positions as shown in  FIGS. 1B / 2 B/ 3 B/ 4 / 5 B. With tabs  116  biased inward into housing  104 , outwardly extending flanges  204  disengage from recesses  606 . This disengagement unlocks fan  102  from fan chassis  602 , whereby fan  102  can be lifted from fan chassis  602 . 
         [0038]    Fan  102  can be inserted into fan chassis  602  by one of several methods. One method is to reverse the removal sequence. The components of fan  102  will be in the positions as shown in  FIGS. 1B / 2 B/ 3 B/ 4 / 5 B when the fan  102  is lifted. During insertion, the outwardly extending flanges  204  are retracted and do not interfere with the insertion. After fan  102  is fully inserted, cover  114  returns to the retracted position (either manually or under bias from spring  120 ) to the position of  FIGS. 1A / 2 A/ 3 A/ 5 A. Arms  314  remove the pressure from tabs  116 , which return to their first position such that outwardly extending flanges  204  engage recessed  606  to lock fan  102  in place. 
         [0039]    A second method is to simply drop the fan with a closed cover directed into the fan recess  604 . Arms  314  will not interfere with movement of tabs  116 . When flanges  204  meet plate,  604 , they move inward until recesses  606 , which flanges  204  move into to lock fan  102  in place. 
         [0040]    Two tabs  116  and corresponding features of fan  102  are shown. However, the invention is not so limited, and any number of tabs may be provided. 
         [0041]    The first position of tabs  116  in  FIG. 2A  may be a natural rest position, but the invention is not so limited. Tabs  116  could come to rest at a point outside right sidewall  108  provides arms  314  can engage inwardly extending flange  206 . 
         [0042]    The above embodiments have been described with respect to a particular left-right orientation of components. However, the invention is not so limited, and the design could be reversed for a right-left orientation of components. 
         [0043]    The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes may be made thereunto without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.