Abstract:
A mounting assembly for computer cover includes a chassis having a rearwall, a cover mounted to the chassis, a first connecting bar and second connecting bar movably mounted on the rearwall of the chassis and a driving member mounted on the chassis. The cover has two opposite sidewalls. A protrusion extends from each of the sidewalls. Each of the two connecting bars forms a stopping portion for engaging with the protrusion. A driving portion is provided on the driving member for urging the two connecting bars to move. The driving portion of the driving member drives the two connecting bars to urge the stopping portions to disengage from the protrusions when the driving member is driven.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to computer enclosures, and more particularly to a computer enclosure with a cover that can be easily removed and reattached as necessary. 
   2. Background of the Invention 
   With the popularization of computer, there is a growing need to make repairs or upgrades thereto. A cover of the computer may need to be frequently removed and then reattached. Typically, a cover mounting assembly generally utilizes a plurality of screws, which directly attach the cover to a chassis of the computer. Thus, a screwdriver or another tool is necessary for installation or removal of the cover, which causes inconvenience and time waste. Lately, many new mounting assembly designs have been introduced into the market. Some of the mounting assemblies do not require the use of screwdrivers or other tools during the course of removing the cover. These types of mounting assemblies are anticipated to become popular, owing to convenience. 
   A typical traditional mounting assembly utilizing screws for a computer cover includes a computer chassis, a cover, and two symmetrical plates. The chassis includes a bottom panel, a top panel, a front panel, and a rear panel. A flange is vertically formed at an edge of each panel. Each adjacent flange symmetrically forms a first side frame and a second side frame. A supporting panel is mounted to the inner side of the first side frame. The two side edges of the cover are both bent to form a rim, defining a plurality of hooks. The hooks are for clipping in corresponding holes of the chassis respectively, thereby assembling the cover, the first side frame and the second side frame together. However, the mounting assembly utilizes a plurality of screws to secure the cover, and a screwdriver or another tool is required during the course of attaching or removing the cover. Therefore, it is complicated and inconvenient to attach and remove the cover. 
   A typical mounting assembly not requiring the use of a screwdriver is arranged at an end of a computer chassis for removing or attaching a computer cover. A rearwall of the chassis is bent inward to form a supporting plate, and a hole is defined in the supporting plate. The cover is bent inward to form a locking tab and a second abutting portion. The locking tab has a locking opening defined therein. The mounting assembly includes a lever having a locking portion and a first abutting portion, and a resilient device located between the supporting plate and the lever. The locking opening of the locking tab engagingly receives the locking portion, thereby completing attachment of the cover to the chassis. Pulling the lever can release the locking portion from the locking opening, whereupon the first abutting portion of the lever pushes the second abutting portion of the cover, thereby allowing removal of the cover from the chassis. Although the mounting assembly does not require the use of a screwdriver, the above-described operation of the mounting assembly is unduly complicated. 
   What is needed, therefore, is a mounting assembly with a simplified configuration, that conveniently allows the removal and attachment of a cover from and onto a computer chassis. 
   SUMMARY 
   A mounting assembly in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a chassis having a rearwall, a cover mounted to the chassis, a first connecting bar and second connecting bar movably mounted on the rearwall of the chassis, and a driving member mounted on the chassis. The cover has two opposite sidewalls. A protrusion extends from each of the sidewalls. Each of the two connecting bars forms a stopping portion for engaging with the protrusion. A driving portion is provided on the driving member for urging the two connecting bars to move. The driving portion of the driving member drives the two connecting bars to urge the stopping portions to disengage from the corresponding protrusions when the driving member is driven. The cover is therefore easily removed from the chassis. 
   Other advantages and novel features will be drawn from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments with the attached drawings, in which: 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is an exploded, isometric view of a mounting assembly in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the mounting assembly including a cover, a first connecting bar, a second connecting bar, a rotating member, a driving member, two screws, two springs, and a chassis; 
       FIG. 2  is an enlarged view of the first connecting bar, the second connecting bar, the rotating member, the driving member, the screws and the springs of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is an isometric view of the cover of  FIG. 1 , but viewed from another aspect; 
       FIG. 4  is an enlarged view of a rear part of the chassis of  FIG. 1 , showing all of the other parts of the mounting assembly except the cover attached thereto; and 
       FIG. 5  is an assembled view of the mounting assembly of  FIG. 1 , but viewed from a rear aspect; 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , a mounting assembly of an enclosure of an electronic device like a computer in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a chassis  10 , a rotating member  20 , a driving member  30 , a pair of screws  40 , a first connecting bar  50 , a second connecting bar  60 , a pair of springs  70 , an elastic tab  80  and a cover  90 . In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the springs  70  can be other elastic components such as resilient cylinders. 
   Referring also to  FIG. 4 , the chassis  10  includes two opposite sidewalls  11 ,  12 , and a rearwall  14  between the sidewalls  11 ,  12 . A through slot  112  is defined in a rear end of the sidewall  11  of the chassis  10 . A through slot  122  is also defined in a rear end of the sidewall  12  of the chassis  10 . A recess (not labeled) having a curve side is defined on each of the sidewall  12 . The rearwall  14  is bent perpendicularly inward to form two flanges  16 ,  18 , and the flanges  16 ,  18  both define a through hole (not labeled) respectively for connecting of ends of the springs  70  thereat respectively. An elastic tab  80  is riveted on the flange  18 , for lifting the cover  90  up. A plurality of L-shaped supporting tabs  147  extends inward form the rearwall  14  of the chassis  10  below the two flanges  16 , 18 . Two inclined through slots  141 ,  143  are defined in the rearwall  14  of the chassis  10  between the two flanges  16 ,  18 . Moreover, a positioning hole  145  is defined in the rearwall  14  between the two through slots  141 ,  143 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 2 , the rotating member  20  is formed to have a rotating portion  22  at one side thereof, and a pair of circular posts  24  at the other side thereof. A screw hole  242  is defined in each circular post  24 . A positioning pillar  26  is perpendicularly formed on the rotating member  20  between the two circular posts  24 . A driving portion  32  is formed on the driving member  30  at each end thereof. A pair of circular holes  34  is defined in the driving member  30  between the two driving portions  32 , corresponding to the two circular posts  24  of the rotating member  20 . The screws  40  extend through the two circular holes  34  to engage in the screw holes  242  respectively. A locating post  36  is formed on the driving member  30  between the two circular holes  34 . A counterbore  362  is defined in the locating post  36 . The diameter of the locating post  36  is larger than that of the positioning hole  145  of the rearwall  14 , for preventing the locating post  36  from extending through the positioning hole  145 . A stopping portion  52  is formed at one end of the first connecting bar  50 , and a pressed portion  54  is formed at the other end of the first connecting bar  50 . A plurality of cutouts  56  is defined in the first connecting bar  50 . A protruding tab  58  extends outwardly from the first connecting bar  50  between centermost of the two cutouts  56 . A through hole  582  is defined in the protruding tab  58 , for connecting of the other end of a corresponding one of the springs  70 . The second connecting bar  60  has generally the same structure as that of the first connecting bar  50 , except that the structure of the second connecting bar  60  is generally symmetrical to that of the first connecting bar  50 . The second connecting bar  60  is formed to have a stopping portion  62  at one end thereof, and a pressed portion  64  at the other end thereof. A plurality of cutouts  66  is defined in the second connecting bar  60  between the stopping portion  62  and the pressed portion  64 . A protruding tab  68  extends outwardly from the second connecting bar  60  between two centermost of the cutouts  66 . A through hole  682  is defined in the protruding tab  68 , for connecting of the other end of a corresponding one of the springs  70 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 3 , the cover  90  includes opposite sidewalls  91 ,  92 . One protrusion (not visible) is formed at a front inner side of the sidewall  91 . Another protrusion  922  is also formed at a front inner side of the sidewall  92 . After mounting the cover  90  to the chassis  10 , the protrusion  922  of the sidewall  92  aligns below the through slot  122  of the sidewall  12  of the chassis  10 , and the protrusion of the sidewall  91  aligns below the through slot  112  of the sidewall  11  of the chassis  10 . A knob (not labeled) extends from each of the sidewalls  92  and is receivable in the corresponding recess of the sidewall of the chassis  10 . 
   Referring also to  FIG. 4 , when mounting the cover  90  to the chassis  10 , the cutouts  56  of the first connecting bar  50  are aligned with the corresponding supporting tabs  147  of the chassis  10  respectively, and then the first connecting bar  50  is moved toward the supporting tabs  147  until the first connecting bar  50  is received in a space formed between the supporting tabs  147  and the flange  18 . Furthermore, the first connecting bar  50  is moved horizontally until the stopping portion  52  of the first connecting bar  50  extends through the through slot  122 . Similarly, the cutouts  66  of the second connecting bar  60  are aligned with the corresponding supporting tabs  147  of the chassis  10  respectively, and then the second connecting bar  60  is moved toward the supporting tabs  147  until the second connecting bar  60  is received in a space formed between the supporting tabs  147  and the flange  16 . Furthermore, the second connecting bar  60  is moved horizontally until the stopping portion  62  thereof extends through the through slot  112 . In addition, the circular posts  24  of the rotating member  20  extend through the guiding slots  141 ,  143  of the rearwall  14  of the chassis  10  and align with the two circular holes  34  respectively. Simultaneously, the positioning pillar  26  extends through the positioning hole  145  of the rearwall  14  and becomes tightly seated in the counterbore  362  of the locating post  36  of the driving member  30 . The screws  40  are extended through the circular holes  34  to engage in the screw holes  242  of the circular posts  24  respectively, thereby mounting the rotating member  20  and the driving member  30  on the chassis  10 . Simultaneously, the driving portions  32  of the driving member  30  abut against the pressed portions  54 ,  64  of the first and second connecting bars  50 ,  60  respectively. Finally, one end of one of the springs  70  is engaged in the through hole  582  of the first connecting bar  50 , and the other end of this spring  70  is engaged in the through hole (not labeled) of the flange  18  of the chassis  10 . In the same way, the other spring  70  is connected between the second connecting bar  60  and the flange  16  of the chassis  10 . Thus, the first connecting bar  50  and second connecting bar  60  are slidably mounted on the chassis  10 . 
   Referring also to  FIG. 5 , in use, the rotating portion  22  of the rotating member  20  is held and rotated. The driving member  30  is thus rotated along with the rotating member  20 . Consequently, the driving portions  32  of the driving member  30  push against the pressed portions  54 ,  64  of the first and second connecting bars  50 ,  60 , thereby urging the first and second connecting bars  50 ,  60  to slide horizontally and inward. When the stopping portions  52 ,  62  of the first and second connecting bar  50 ,  60  are drawn back into the through slots  122 ,  112 , the cover  90  is pressed downwardly when the knob travels along the curve side of the recess of the sidewalls of the chassis so that the protrusion  922  of the sidewall  92  and the protrusion of the sidewall  91  align below the through slot  122 ,  112 . Finally, when the rotating member  20  is released, the first and second connecting bar  50 ,  60  return to their original positions due to rebounding of the springs  70 . Thereby, the stopping portion  52  of the first connecting bar  50  prevents the protrusion  922  of the sidewall  92  from moving vertically, and the stopping portion  62  of the second connecting bar  60  prevents the protrusion of the sidewall  91  from moving vertically. Thus, the cover  10  is securely mounted to the chassis  50 . 
   In removal of the cover  90 , the rotating portion  22  of the rotating member  20  is held and rotated. The driving member  30  is thus rotated along with the rotating member  20 . Consequently, the driving portions  32  of the driving member  30  push against the pressed portions  54 ,  64  of the first and second connecting bars  50 ,  60 , thereby urging the first and second connecting bars  50 ,  60  to slide horizontally and inward. When the stopping portions  52 ,  62  of the first and second connecting bars  50 ,  60  draw back into the through slots  122 ,  112 , the cover  90  is automatically lifted up by the elastic tab  80 . After the cover  90  is removed, the first and second connecting bars  50 ,  60  return to their original positions due to releasing of the rotating member  20 . 
   In addition, in an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the rotating member  20  and the driving member  30  can be replaced by a pivoting member. In such case, the pivoting member is formed to have a rotating portion and a driving portion. 
   While the present invention has been illustrated by the description of preferred embodiments thereof, and while the preferred embodiments have been described in considerable detail, it is not intended to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such details. Additional advantages and modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention will readily appear to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the specific details and illustrative examples shown and described.