Information handling system support member

A support member includes a plate and an engaging member formed to the plate. The extends laterally and is defined by an upper surface, a lower surface and a rail that extends downward from the lower surface proximate an outer edge of the plate. The engaging member is formed to the lower surface of the plate and around a portion of the rail. The engaging member includes a surface engaging shoulder extending downward from a lower surface of the engaging member and formed around an outer surface of the engaging member. The surface engaging shoulder extends outside of and below the rail. The engaging member includes an upper shoulder formed above the surface engaging shoulder. The engaging member is configured so that the surface engaging shoulder and the upper shoulder flex upward when a force is applied downward to the upper surface of the plate.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates generally to information handling systems (IHSs), and more particularly to an IHS support member for supporting an IHS chassis.

IHSs typically include an IHS chassis that is commonly placed on a support surface when the IHS is being used. It is desirable for the IHS chassis to sit level with the support surface and not rock and/or wobble when a force is applied to the IHS chassis.

Preventing the rocking and/or wobbling of the IHS chassis, especially on an uneven surface, may be addressed by providing support members or ‘feet’ that extend from the bottom surface of the IHS chassis to engage the support surface in order to prevent the bottom surface of the IHS chassis from engaging the support surface. One solution includes relatively hard, solid support members fabricated from plastic, metal, or other similar materials. However, this type of solution requires careful control of the distortion tolerances in the IHS chassis that may be introduced during and/or after manufacture of the IHS to ensure that the rocking and/or wobble phenomenon is avoided. Distortion tolerances may arise due to assembly deviations, part bending, weight deviations, and/or any variety of reasons and thus, can raise costs of manufacturing the IHS. Another solution includes relatively soft solid support members fabricated from rubber or other similar material. However, the distortion tolerances discussed above can still result in the rocking and/or wobble phenomenon by preventing all of the support members from engaging the support surface simultaneously. Yet another solution is shown inFIG. 1and includes a double shoot support member (A) having a rubber outer portion (B), a plastic insert support (C), which includes an integrated plastic attachment heat stake (D) to hold the member (A) to the IHS chassis (E). As should be understood, the plastic insert support (C) that extends outward near the outer edges of the support member (A) causes the support member (A) to have a small deformation capability. However, these traditional support members cannot transform shape enough to absorb system wobble.

Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide an improved IHS support member for supporting an IHS chassis.

SUMMARY

According to one embodiment, a support member includes a plate and an engaging member formed to the plate. The extends laterally and is defined by an upper surface, a lower surface and a rail that extends downward from the lower surface proximate an outer edge of the plate. The engaging member is formed to the lower surface of the plate and around a portion of the rail. The engaging member includes a surface engaging shoulder extending downward from a lower surface of the engaging member and formed around an outer surface of the engaging member. The surface engaging shoulder extends outside of and below the rail. The engaging member includes an upper shoulder formed above the surface engaging shoulder. The engaging member is configured so that the surface engaging shoulder and the upper shoulder flex upward when a force is applied downward to the upper surface of the plate.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 2illustrates an embodiment of an IHS100including a processor102, which is connected to a bus104. Bus104serves as a connection between processor102and other components of IHS100. An input device106is coupled to processor102to provide input to processor102. Examples of input devices may include keyboards, touchscreens, pointing devices such as mouses, trackballs, and trackpads, and/or a variety of other input devices known in the art. Programs and data are stored on a mass storage device108, which is coupled to processor102. Examples of mass storage devices may include hard discs, optical disks, magneto-optical discs, solid-state storage devices, and/or a variety other mass storage devices known in the art. IHS100further includes a display110, which is coupled to processor102by a video controller112. A system memory114is coupled to processor102to provide the processor with fast storage to facilitate execution of computer programs by processor102. Examples of system memory may include random access memory (RAM) devices such as dynamic RAM (DRAM), synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), solid state memory devices, and/or a variety of other memory devices known in the art. In an embodiment, a chassis116houses some or all of the components of IHS100. One or more support members (e.g., feet)118are coupled to the chassis116and situated to support the IHS100on a surface. In an embodiment, the present disclosure provides a high flexibility rubber support (e.g., foot) design configured to absorb IHS system wobble. One embodiment includes a portable IHS (e.g., IHS100) having the front two support members118(e.g., support members located on a lower portion of the IHS chassis116nearest the user of the IHS100), wherein the support members118are configured as disclosed herein to flex and absorb system wobble when a user applies hands to the IHS keyboard. In an embodiment, the support members118are configured to absorb approximately 0.5-0.6 mm more system wobble than previous support member designs, such as that shown inFIG. 1.

Not all IHSs include each of the components shown inFIG. 2, and other components not shown may exist. Furthermore, some components shown as separate may exist in an integrated package or be integrated in a common integrated circuit with other components. Also, a processor (e.g.,102) and a memory I/O hub may be combined together. As can be appreciated, many systems are expandable, and include or can include a variety of components, including redundant or parallel resources. For example, it should be understood that other buses and intermediate circuits can be deployed between the components described above and processor102to facilitate interconnection between the components and the processor102.

FIG. 3Illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of the IHS support member118. The support member118includes a semi-ridged (e.g., plastic) frame/support plate128and a semi-flexible (e.g., rubber) engaging member130formed together, such as in an injection molded double-shoot configuration. In an embodiment, the plate128is molded an ABS plastic, such as PC+ABS type C7410 supplied by SABIC in a black color. In an embodiment, the material for the plate128includes 0% regrind material and has a flammability rating of VO. However, it should be understood that other semi-ridged materials having other properties may be used for the plate128. In an embodiment, the engaging member is molded as a rubber material, such as TPU type DP937OAU supplied by BAYER-DESMOPAN. However, it should be understood that other semi-flexible materials having other properties may be used for the engaging member130.

The plate128includes a pair of mounting heat stakes132formed from the same material as the plate128and extending upward from the plate128. The heat states132are formed to extend into the IHS chassis116. After passing through mounting apertures in the chassis116, the heat stakes132are heated with a heating element (not shown) to form the heat stake132so that it cannot pass back out of the mounting aperture. Thus, the support member118is mounted to the chassis116and does not fall off of the chassis116. See alsoFIG. 7, which is described in more detail below. The plate128also includes a locator guide134formed from the same material as the plate128and extend upward from the plate128. The locator guide134are formed to extend into a locating aperture in the IHS chassis116to position the support member118as desired on the IHS chassis116.

The engaging member130is formed to include a flex channel136. The flex channel136is formed in an upper portion of the engaging member and extend around the plate128. The flex channel acts as a hinge-type device for the engaging member130allowing the engaging member130to utilize the flexible properties of the engaging member130to flex and absorb wobble of the IHS chassis116as is explained in more detail below.

FIG. 4Illustrates a perspective cut away view along line4-4of the IHS support member shown inFIG. 3.FIG. 4also illustrates how the plate128and the engaging member130fit together. As can be seen, the plate128extends laterally having an upper surface138and a lower surface140. The plate128also includes a rail142that extends downward from the lower surface140of the plate128proximate an outer edge of the plate128. In an embodiment, the rail142is an integral part of the plate128and molded of the same material and at the same time as the plate128. The engaging member130is formed to the plate lower surface140and the rail142of the plate128using a double shoot molding process, which should be readily understood by those having ordinary skill in the art.

The engaging member130is formed having a surface engaging shoulder144formed at the lower most point of the support member118. The surface engaging shoulder144extends downward from a lower surface146of the engaging member130and is formed around an outer surface of the engaging member130. The surface engaging shoulder144extends outside of and below the rail142. The engaging member130also includes an upper shoulder148formed above a portion of the surface engaging shoulder144. The engaging member130is formed from a semi-flexible material (e.g., a rubber material) so that the surface engaging shoulder144and the upper shoulder148flex upward when a force is applied downward to the upper surface of the plate138. When the IHS chassis116includes multiple support members118extending down from a lower surface of the chassis116, the surface engaging shoulder144is intended to be the point on which the IHS100rests upon a supporting surface (e.g., a desk, table, etc.). As can be seen in the figure, the mounting heat stakes132may include a hollow inner surface that allows for easier deformation when contacted by a heat module to deform the stakes132for mounting to the chassis116.

FIG. 5Illustrates an elevation view along line4-4of the IHS support member118shown inFIG. 3. Also shown inFIG. 5is a number of approximate dimensions for an embodiment of the support member118. For example, in an embodiment, the plate128is formed to extend laterally approximately 8.14 mm rail-to-rail and the flex channel136is formed to be approximately 1.2 mm deep. Other dimensions are provided for reference to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to understand how the flex channel136, along with the plate128being a semi-ridged material and the engaging member130being a semi-flexible material, enables the surface engaging shoulder144and the upper shoulder148flex upward when pressure is applied downward to the upper surface138of the plate128. Accordingly, as should be understood, when multiple support members118are affixed to a lower portion of the IHS chassis116, unevenness of the support surface and/or unevenness of the lower portion of the IHS chassis116(e.g., due to manufacturing tolerances), may be absorbed by the flexible support members118to reduce or eliminate IHS wobble. It should be understood that the support member118may be formed using other dimensions and/or other proportions among the dimensions so long as the surface engaging shoulder144is allowed to flex upward along the flex channel136.

FIG. 6Illustrates an elevation view along line6-6of the IHS support member118shown inFIG. 3at rest while engaging the IHS chassis116. In other words, this is shown with the IHS100not resting on a support surface using the support members118. As shown, the chassis116includes a receiving trough150along a lower surface of the chassis116and extending upward from a bottom surface of the chassis116to mate with and receive the upper shoulder148of the support member118as the surface engaging shoulder144and the upper shoulder148flex upward to the chassis116(see alsoFIG. 7described below). As the mounting heat stakes132are located through chassis mounting apertures152and the locator guide134is located through chassis locating aperture154, the support member118is located so that the upper shoulder148flexes into the receiving trough150. The IHS chassis116may be configured without the receiving trough150so long as there is room above the upper shoulder148for the surface engaging shoulder144and the upper shoulder148to flex upward to absorb chassis wobble. In an embodiment a mounting washer156is located between the plate upper surface138and the chassis116. In an embodiment, the mounting washer156is formed from a plastic material. It should be understood that the IHS chassis116may be configured with or without the mounting washer156.

FIG. 7Illustrates an elevation view along line6-6of the IHS support member118shown inFIG. 3flexed while engaging the IHS chassis116.FIG. 7also illustrates an embodiment of the heat stake132in a deformed state158. The heat stake132is a molded part integrated with the plate128formed using a thermal plastic. As such, the heat stake132deforms when engaged by a heating element device that is above a threshold temperature for deforming the material used for the heat stake132. The heating element used to deform the stake132causes the stake132to expand after so that it can not pass back through the mounting aperture152. In other words, deforming the heat stake132after it passes through the mounting aperture152in the chassis116holds the support member118to the chassis116.

FIG. 7also shows the surface engaging shoulder144and the upper shoulder148flexed upward in direction160. As should be understood, pressure applied downward on the upper surface138of the plate128(e.g., when the IHS100is setting on a support surface), causes the engaging member130to flex at the flex channel136around the engaging member130. Each support member118may flex a different amount depending on downward pressure, levelness of support surface, flatness of the chassis116, flexibility of the engaging member130, and/or a variety of other circumstances as should be understood. Such flexing allows for the support member118to be flexed at a first distance below the bottom surface of the chassis116for one support member and at a different distance below the bottom surface of the chassis116for another support member. Accordingly, tolerances may be absorbed by the different flexing values to absorb IHS wobble.