Sliding door

This invention relates to a component door assembly for an electronic device which hides and protects removable electronic components. The door has separate locking and moving mechanisms so that two operations must be performed before the door can be opened. Specifically, in the preferred embodiment a resilient sliding door is mounted on tracks or grooves in the housing of an electronic device. The door has a button on one end and a handle on the other end. To open the door, the button is pressed inward while the handle is pulled in the direction of the button.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates generally to latches for sliding doors and in 
particular for sliding doors on computer equipment. 
Electronic devices typically have components which may be removed and 
replaced in the normal course of the device's operation. The housings for 
these devices must therefore provide the user easy access to the removable 
components. This invention is directed to a method and apparatus for 
providing access to electronic equipment components. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
One problem with some prior art electronic equipment access doors is the 
ease with which they may be accidentally opened. The electronic components 
contained by these devices are usually fragile and easily damaged. In 
addition, movement of the components during operation of the device or 
while the device's power is on may damage the device, the component, or 
both. What is needed, therefore, is a door to cover these components. 
Furthermore, while the electronic components may be appropriately removed 
by a qualified technician or repairperson, the device manufacturer may 
want to discourage the removal of the components by an ordinary user. The 
door therefore, should have a mechanism that discourages casual opening of 
the door or removal of the protector. 
This invention meets these and other needs by providing a component door 
assembly for an electronic device which hides and protects removable 
electronic components. The door has separate locking and moving mechanisms 
so that two operations must be performed before the door can be opened. 
Specifically, in the preferred embodiment a resilient sliding door is 
mounted on tracks or grooves in the housing of an electronic device. The 
door has a button on one end and a handle on the other end. To open the 
door, the button is pressed inward while the handle is pulled in the 
direction of the of the button.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
An electronic device 10 having a housing 12 is shown in FIG. 1. In the 
preferred embodiment, housing 12 has curved sides 14 and 16, although this 
shape is not critical to the invention. One or more electronic components 
18 are disposed in a space 20 within housing 12. An opening or port 22 is 
formed in side 14 of housing 12 adjacent the electronic components 18. 
Port 22 provides access to the interior of housing 12. 
Top and bottom tracks 24 and 26 are formed in the inside surface 28 of the 
top of housing 12 and in the inside surface 30 of the bottom of housing 
12, respectively. Tracks 24 and 26 follow the contours of side 14. A 
flexible door 32 is mounted in top track 24 and bottom track 26. In the 
preferred embodiment, door 32 is slightly smaller than opening 22 and is 
disposed within housing 12. 
A raised button 34 is formed on door 32. Surface 36 of button 34 is 
adjacent and substantially parallel to surface 38 of housing 12 when door 
32 is in the closed position. A handle 40 is formed on door 32 on the end 
of door 32 opposite button 34. 
To open door 32, button 34 is pressed inward, i.e., toward the interior of 
housing 12, thereby bending flexible door 32. Simultaneously, handle 40 is 
pulled in the direction of button 34 so that door 32 moves to the left as 
shown in FIGS. 2B and 2C. The distance between button 34 and handle 40 
requires this simultaneous operation to be performed by two different 
fingers of one hand or by two hands, thereby minimizing the chances of 
inadvertent opening of the door. 
As door 32 moves, button 34 disappears behind side 14 of housing 12. The 
leftward movement of door 32 is limited by the interaction of handle 40 
with surface 38. Opening door 32 exposes the components 18 mounted within 
housing 12 adjacent door 32 so that the components may be removed and/or 
replaced. 
To close door 32, handle 40 is pulled to the right. When door 32 reaches 
its rightward limit of movement, the spring action of flexible door 32 
will move button 34 forward so that surface 36 of button 34 is once again 
adjacent and substantially parallel to surface 38 of housing 12.