Computer enclosure

A computer enclosure includes a chassis, a side plate, and a securing member. The chassis includes a rear plate defining a sliding groove therein. The side plate is attached to a side of the chassis. At least one fixing post extends perpendicularly from an inner surface of the side plate located near a rear side. The securing member is movably mounted in the sliding groove. The securing member includes an operating portion exposed outside of the chassis through the sliding groove, and a clamping portion located in the chassis. When the securing member is moved along the sliding groove, the clamping portion is moved with the securing member to engage with or disengage from the at least one fixing post of the side plate. Thus, the side plate is attached to or removed from the chassis.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to computer enclosures, and especially to a computer enclosure for securely fixing side plates to a chassis of the computer enclosure.

2. Description of Related Art

A personal computer enclosure accommodates a number of electronic devices therein. The computer enclosure may need to be opened sometimes for a variety of reasons, such as for replacing a defective electronic device. Therefore, the computer enclosure should be able to be readily opened and subsequently reassembled.

Conventionally, a computer enclosure includes a base, a pair of side plates, and a top plate. Bolts are used to secure the side plates and the top plate to the base. However, attachment by bolts is tiresome and time-consuming.

To address the aforementioned problem, a computer enclosure not requiring the use of bolts includes a base, a pair of side plates, and a top plate. The side plates and the top plate are respectively secured to the base of the enclosure with separate securing elements. A plurality of locking slots is defined in the base. A plurality of locking tabs is formed on the side plates and the top plate, for engagement in the locking slots of the base to fix the side plates and the top plate to the base. However, the locking tabs and the corresponding locking slots easily come apart.

What is desired, therefore, is a computer enclosure with convenient easily secured side plates.

SUMMARY

An exemplary computer enclosure includes a chassis, a side plate, and a securing member. The chassis includes a rear plate defining a sliding groove therein. The side plate is attached to a side of the chassis, at least one fixing post extending perpendicularly from an inner surface of the side plate located near a rear side thereof. The securing member is movably mounted in the sliding groove. The securing member includes an operating portion exposed outside of the chassis through the sliding groove, and a clamping portion located in the chassis. When the securing member is moved along the sliding groove, the clamping portion is moved with the securing member to engage with or disengage from the at least one fixing post of the side plate. Thus, the side plate is attached to or removed from the chassis.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring toFIG. 1, a computer enclosure in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes a chassis10, a side plate20, a securing member30for fixing the side plate20to the chassis10, and two resilient members such as springs50,60.

The chassis10includes a bottom plate12defining a T-shaped hole120in a middle of one side surface thereof, a front plate14, a rear plate16, and a top plate18defining a T-shaped hole180corresponding to the hole120. The bottom plate12, the front plate14, the rear plate16, and the top plate18cooperate to bound a receiving space. A size of a first part of each of the holes120,180neighboring the front plate14is greater than the opposite second part of each of the holes120,180near the rear plate16. The rear plate16defines a sliding groove160therein near a side thereof. Two L-shaped positioning blocks162extend from the rear plate16at opposite ends of the sliding groove160. Each positioning block162includes an extending portion extending perpendicularly from the rear plate16, and a bent portion parallel to the rear plate16. Two tabs164each defining a fixing hole166respectively extend from the rear plate16between an edge of the rear plate16and one of the positioning block162.

Two fixing posts202perpendicularly extend from an inner surface of the side plate20neighboring a rear end thereof. Two L-shaped latching hooks204respectively extend from an upper side and a lower side of the side plate20. Each hook204extends perpendicularly from the inner surface of the side plate20, and then bends towards the rear end of the side plate20.

The securing member30includes a main body32, an L-shaped clamping portion34extending from a surface of the main body32, and an operating portion36extending from an opposite surface of the main body32. Two fixing blocks320each defining a hole therein (shown inFIG. 3) respectively extend from opposite ends of a same side of the main body32. The clamping portion34includes a fixing end extending from the corresponding surface of the main body32, and a free end bent upward from the fixing end.

Referring toFIG. 2andFIG. 3, in assembly, the operating portion36of the securing member30is passed through the sliding groove160of the rear plate16from the receiving space side of the rear plate16. An end of each of the first spring50and the second spring60is fixed to the fixing hole164of a corresponding tab166, and the other end of each of the first spring50and the second spring60is fixed to the hole of the corresponding fixing block320of the securing member30. When the first and second springs50,60are in an original state, a corresponding side of the main body32of the securing member30is resisted by the extending portion of the positioning block162neighboring the tabs164, and the securing member30is located in a first position. The side plate20is attached to the chassis10. The two latching hooks204of the side plate20are respectively passed into the first parts of the holes120,180. The operating portion36is moved along the sliding groove160to make the securing member30depart away from the tabs164, until the side away from the tabs164, of the securing member30is resisted by the positioning block162located away from the tabs164, and then the first spring50and the second spring60are stretched. The side plate20is moved rearward, with the latching hooks204thereof respectively moving along the holes120,180to engage in the second parts of the holes120,180. The operating portion36is released, and the first spring50and the second spring60are restored to urge the securing member30to move back to the first position. The clamping portion34of the securing member30moves between the fixing posts202and is restricted by the fixing posts of the side plate20.

To detach the side plate20, the operating portion36is moved along the sliding groove160way from the tabs164, until one side of the securing member30is resisted by the positioning block162located away from the tabs164. The clamping portion34of the securing member30moves away from the fixing posts202and is disengaged from the fixing posts202of the side plate20. Thus the side plate20is easily detached from the chassis10. The operating portion36is released, and the securing member30is moved to the first position by the first and the second springs50,60.

In other embodiments, The resilient members can be omitted, and the sliding groove160defined in the rear plate16is H-shaped. The operating portion36of the securing member30is moved along the sliding groove160, and the operating portion36can be moved down and engaged in a lower portion of the sliding groove160.