Abstract:
A method and implementing computer system enclosure is provided which includes a selectively removable base support unit which is designed to stabilize vertical mounting capabilities when the base unit is attached to the enclosure and to allow horizontal mounting of the electronics enclosure when the base unit is detached. The electronics enclosure includes a locking edge on one of its sides. The locking edge is selectively engageable with a base support unit to provide a wide footprint for stable mounting of the electronics enclosure on the side of the enclosure which has the base unit attached. In an exemplary embodiment, the locking edge is tapered to force a tight fit between the enclosure and the support base unit. A locking mechanism is also operable at one end of the support base unit-electronics enclosure interface to provide a positive stop to lock the enclosure in place relative to the support base unit.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to electronics enclosures and more particularly to a methodology and implementation for providing an electronics enclosure which is convertible to stable positions in horizontal and vertical orientations. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The continuing advances in the state of the art in integrated circuits are resulting in smaller electronics devices in all fields and applications. This phenomenon is readily apparent with all electronic devices including PCs (personal computers), workstations and other computer-related systems. Recently, the widespread acceptance and use of the Internet has created a demand for even smaller computer related terminals referred to as “network computers”. The shrinkage of the electronics enclosures has resulted in thinner boxes which make it difficult or even impossible to position the box or enclosure on its side for vertically oriented placement since the thinner dimensions of the enclosure create an unstable base for vertical mounting situations. 
     Moreover, in many applications, it is desirable and even necessary to have the option to position the main computer enclosure in either a vertical orientation (typically for a workstation application) or a horizontal orientation (typically for a desktop application). Further, for most applications, the PC or network computer needs to be configured mechanically to be able to be mounted in either orientation, and also the electronics enclosure needs to be designed for compact packaging and shipment to dealers and end users. 
     Thus, there is a need for an improved methodology and implementing arrangement which allows and enables mechanical configuration options to provide for mechanically stable placement of thin electronics enclosures in either horizontal or vertical orientations. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A method and implementing electronics enclosure is provided which includes a selectively removable base support unit designed to stabilize vertical mounting capabilities when the base unit is attached to the enclosure, and to allow horizontal mounting of the electronics enclosure when the base unit is detached. The electronics enclosure includes a holding device to hold the base unit to the enclosure and a locking device to secure the base unit in a proper position relative to the enclosure. In an exemplary embodiment, a locking edge on the enclosure is tapered to force a secure fit between the enclosure edge and the support base unit. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     A better understanding of the present invention can be obtained when the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment is considered in conjunction with the following drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a partially cut-away perspective view of an electronics enclosure in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an elevation view of an exemplary base support unit for the enclosure illustrated in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is an illustration of one end of the base support unit showing an exemplary locking device; 
     FIG. 4 is a partially cut-away view of an electronics enclosure showing a mating locking device designed to engage with the base unit locking device illustrated in FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 5 is an illustration showing a tapered edge for the electronics enclosure of the present invention; 
     FIG. 6 is an illustration of an alternate tapered edge arrangement for the electronics enclosure; 
     FIG. 7 is a top view of an exemplary base support unit; and 
     FIG. 8 is an illustration showing a single-side edge design for the electronics enclosure of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The various methods and arrangements discussed herein may be implemented with regard to any electronics or other enclosure to provide for vertically stable mounting of the enclosure. For purposes of illustration however, the underlying concepts of the present invention are hereinafter explained in connection with the electronics enclosure for a “PC”, a computer workstation or a “network compute”, it being understood that the inventive techniques may be used in other applications as well. Details of the exemplary embodiment s shown herein are presented only in detail sufficient to understand the principles of the invention and are not specified to any greater extent than that considered necessary as illustrated, for the understanding and appreciation of the underlying concepts of the present invention and in order not to obfuscate or distract from the teachings of the present invention. Throughout the disclosure, like numerals refer to like parts in all of the Figures although not all of the parts are specifically and individually identified in all drawings. 
     In FIG. 1, there is shown a partially cut-away perspective view of an electronics enclosure in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated, an electronics enclosure  101 , such as the main electronics enclosure for a computer system, is shown in a vertically oriented position, standing on one of the enclosure&#39;s narrow sides. The enclosure  101  includes edges or edged side walls  103  and  104  which are identical in the example, and mounted on opposite narrow ends of the enclosure  101 . The edges can be separate elements mounted to the corresponding side walls of the enclosure  101  to extend beyond the enclosure walls, or the side walls themselves could be constructed to be “oversized” in order to overlap or extend beyond the enclosure to form the edges  103  and  104  as shown. Also, although the edges are illustrated as being rectangular in cross section, the edges may be other configurations as well (e.g. trapezoidal, etc.) so long as the edge on the enclosure can be mated with a corresponding coupling on an attaching base support apparatus as hereinafter described. Implementations other than an edge coupling may also be adapted to provide an equivalent “attaching device” on the enclosure cabinet  101 . 
     In FIG. 1, the edges  103 ,  104  are shown to have a length  105 , a width  107  and a thickness  109 . The edges  103 ,  104  are arranged to extend along the length of the enclosure  101  on opposite sides thereof. In the example, the thickness of the edged side walls  103  and  104  is varied (as shown in FIG.  5  and FIG. 6) along the length  105  of the side walls to facilitate and provide a secure attaching arrangement for an attached base support unit. In the FIG. 1 example, matching edges  103  and  104  are illustrated although the present invention may be practiced with a single edge embodiment as hereinafter described in connection with FIG.  8 . It is noted that the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, with the edges  103  and  104 , may be positioned “as is” in a level and horizontal orientation, and the enclosure  101  will be supported by both edges  103  and  104 . However, for positioning the enclosure  101  in a vertical orientation as shown, additional stability is provided by attaching base support unit  201 , as depicted in FIG. 2, to one of the edges  103  or  104 . 
     FIG. 2 shows an elevation view of an exemplary base support unit  201  designed to attach to the enclosure  101  illustrated in FIG.  1 . As illustrated, the base support unit  201  includes a base portion  202 , support side walls  203  and latching or holding walls  205 . The base support unit  201  is designed to define a cavity for receiving and attaching to one of the edged side walls of the enclosure  101 , such that the width of the attached edged side wall  107  will fit within the space  207  defined by the holding walls  205  of the base support unit  201 . The inside side wall  209  of the base support unit  201  is sized to be slightly larger than the thickness  109  of the edged side wall  103 . 
     FIG. 3 shows an illustration of one end of the base support unit  201 . As illustrated, the base support unit  201  includes cut-out areas  303  and  305  to define a flexible locking section or locking device  307  of the base support unit  201 . The locking device  307  includes a locking element including a raised locking element or locking extension  309  which forms an extension from the bottom surface of the base support unit  201 . The locking device  307  also includes a gripping device such as a finger grip  311  to allow a user to grip the locking device  307  to engage and disengage the locking extension  309  from a corresponding locking configuration built into the enclosure  101  as shown in FIG.  4 . 
     FIG. 4 is a partially cut-away view of the electronics enclosure  101  showing a mating locking receptacle  401  designed to receive the locking extension  309  shown in FIG.  3 . In the illustrated example, the locking receptacle  401  is a cavity although the locking device  401  may also be implemented with a recessed area to receive the extension  309 . The locking function provided by the extension  309  and the locking receptacle or locking cavity  401  is designed to provide a positive indication that the end of the enclosure has been reached as the enclosure  101  slides into engagement with the base support unit  201 . At the end of travel, the base support unit  201  will be aligned with, and substantially coextensive with, a side wall of the enclosure  101 . At that point, the extension  309  will be locked into engagement with the locking cavity  401  thereby securing the base support unit  201  in place relative to the enclosure  101 . The engagement will be maintained by the spring action of the flexible locking device  307 . When the base support unit  201  is to be disengaged from the enclosure  101 , the gripping device or finger grip  311  is utilized to pull the extension  309  out of engagement with the locking cavity  401  while sliding the base support unit  201  off of the enclosure edge  103  to which it is attached. 
     FIG. 5 is an illustration showing a tapered edge for the attaching side wall of the electronics enclosure  101 . The tapering of the edge is exaggerated out of scale in the drawings in order to better illustrate the construction. As shown, each enclosure side wall uses two tapered edges, one in the front  501  and one in the rear  503 . That arrangement is effective to remove the clearances between the two mating parts  103  and  201  when the support unit  201  is fully engaged with the edge  103  on the enclosure  101 . The enclosure side wall edge  103  may also be gradually tapered at a constant rate from front  501  to back  503 , or tapered only at the rear portion  503 . In any construction, when the base support unit  201  is fully engaged with and attached to the enclosure side wall  103 , the locking extension  309  will be engaged with the locking cavity  401 , and the enclosure side wall edge  103  will fit tightly and securely within the base support unit cavity  207 . The tapering also insures that the side wall edge can be slid into the base support unit  201  from only one direction  505 , with the front  501  of the edge  103  being inserted first into the base support unit  201 . The locking extension and the corresponding locking cavity may be arranged at either end of the base support unit although the preferred arrangement is as illustrated. 
     In FIG. 6, an alternate tapered edge arrangement for the electronics enclosure is illustrated in which a major portion  601  of the mounting edge  103 A is constant and only an end section  603  is tapered. As hereinbefore noted, other tapering arrangements may also be implemented to accomplish the function of allowing easy insertion of the base support unit while at the same time insuring a secure fit when fully attached to the enclosure  101 . 
     FIG. 7 is a complete top view of the exemplary base support unit  201  showing the locking extension  309 , the finger grip  311  and the width  107  of the enclosure mounting edge  103 . 
     FIG. 8 is an illustration showing a single-side edge design for the electronics enclosure of the present invention. In FIG. 8 a support structure  803  is shown attached to the enclosure  801 . The support structure  803  is designed to be narrower than the side wall of the enclosure  801  to allow an attaching edge  805  to extend beyond the width of the support structure  803  so that the base support unit  201  may attach to and slide into engagement with the attaching edge  805 . The operation of the base support unit attachment methodology is similar to the engagement of the side wall edge  103  and the base support unit  201  as hereinbefore described. The width of the attaching edge  805  is designed to be substantially the same as the width of the enclosure side wall so that the enclosure may be placed in a stable and level position on a desktop if a user desires a horizontal orientation without using the base support unit  201 . 
     The method and apparatus of the present invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment as disclosed herein. The disclosed methodology may be implemented in a wide range of mechanically equivalent arrangements to accomplish the desired results as herein illustrated. Although an embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described in detail herein, along with certain variants thereof, many other varied embodiments that incorporate the teachings of the invention may be easily constructed by those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the specific form set forth herein, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents, as can be reasonably included within the spirit and scope of the invention.