Power supply containment device

Embodiments of the present invention disclose a power supply containment device for a computing system. According to one embodiment, the power supply containment device includes a main housing and a clamp portion coupled to the main housing. The clamp portion is configured to extend perpendicularly from the main housing so as to securely hold a power supply between the clamp portion and main housing of the containment device.

BACKGROUND

Computer system workstations are ubiquitous in today's fast-paced and information-dependent society. Among the many components of traditional computer systems, an electronic-visual display, personal computer, and power source are the most prevalent and standard features of a functional workstation. As advances in technology and the demand for smaller systems increase, manufacturers have developed integrated work centers (IWC) that aid in providing a compact and integrated display and personal computer. These work centers are particularly useful for space-constrained and public computing environments. However, the power source associated with such systems is typically bulky and incompatible with the thin and robust design of the most integrated work centers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following discussion is directed to various embodiments. Although one or more of these embodiments may be discussed in detail, the embodiments disclosed should not be interpreted, or otherwise used, as limiting the scope of the disclosure, including the claims. In addition, one skilled in the art will understand that the following description has broad application, and the discussion of any embodiment is meant only to be an example of that embodiment, and not intended to intimate that the scope of the disclosure, including the claims, is limited to that embodiment. Furthermore, as used herein, the designators “A”, “B” and “N” particularly with respect to the reference numerals in the drawings, indicate that a number of the particular feature so designated can be included with examples of the present disclosure. The designators can represent the same or different numbers of the particular features.

The figures herein follow a numbering convention in which the first digit or digits correspond to the drawing figure number and the remaining digits identify an element or component in the drawing. Similar elements or components between different figures may be identified by the user of similar digits. For example,143may reference element “43” inFIG. 1, and a similar element may be referenced as243inFIG. 2. Elements shown in the various figures herein can be added, exchanged, and/or eliminated so as to provide a number of additional examples of the present disclosure. In addition, the proportion and the relative scale of the elements provided in the figures are intended to illustrate the examples of the present disclosure, and should not be taken in a limiting sense.

Some integrated work centers/workstations include retro-fitted Velcro or similar adhesive straps for supporting the power supply. However, since the power supply is only supported at the few points where the Velcro strap or adhesive makes contact, this method fails to provide the requisite force and reliability for secure fastening. Other methods use a built-in casing for supporting an associated power supply. However, the presence of numerous cables coupled with the weight of the power supply often forces the casing open thus causing the power supply to slip and fall in many circumstances.

Examples of the present invention disclose a power supply containment device for a computing system. According to one embodiment, the power supply containment device includes a main housing and a clamp portion coupled to the main housing. The clamp portion is configured to extend perpendicularly from the main housing. Furthermore, rubber padding formed on facing surfaces of the clamp portion and main housing are used to securely hold a power supply module between the clamp portion and main housing of the containment device.

Referring now in more detail to the drawings in which like numerals identify corresponding parts throughout the views,FIG. 1is a three-dimensional perspective view of an integrated workstation and power supply containment device according to an example of the present invention. As shown here, integrated workstation100includes an all-in-one computing device (i.e., display and processing unit)102, a base stand104, and a power supply containment device105. The computing device102is attached to the base stand104so as to provide an upright viewing angle of the display to an operating user. According to one example, the power supply containment device105is affixed to a rear area108of the base stand104and includes a moveable clamp portion110. Furthermore and as will be explained in further detail below with reference to additional figures, the moveable clamp portion110of the power supply containment device105is configured to assist in clamping a power supply module—used to power the computing device—within the containment device105.

FIG. 2is another three-dimensional perspective view of an integrated workstation and power supply containment device according to an example of the present invention. As shown in this example embodiment, a power supply containment device210is attached to rear area208(i.e., area opposite front area207) of the base stand204. The power supply module220is positioned within the containment device205via the clamp portion210. Furthermore, the power supply module220includes cabling211coupled to the computing system202for providing power thereto. In one example, the containment device205includes cable management clip elements212for hiding and managing cabling211associated with the power supply module220. As shown here, cabling211wraps around and through the clip elements212. Additionally, upper positioning of the clip elements212on the containment device205allows the cables211of the power supply220to be dressed up and over the power supply220and main housing209of the containment device205so as to not interfere with the clamping means while also providing a more aesthetically pleasing design for the integrated workstation200.

FIGS. 3A and 3Bare three-dimensional views of the power supply containment device according to an example of the present invention.FIG. 3Adepicts the power supply containment device305and clamp portion310in a closed or retracted position. More particularly, when in a closed position, the clamp portion310of the containment device305is immediately adjacent to the main housing309of the containment device. According to one example embodiment, a pair of clip elements312aand312bare formed on a top surface316of the main housing309and are utilized to hold and route cables of the power supply module. As shown inFIG. 3B, a perimeter surface313of the main housing309includes a rubber pad315afor gripping a surface of the power supply module. Clamp portion310also includes a rubber pad315bformed on an inner surface314that is opposite and faces the perimeter surface313of the main housing309. The clamp portion310extends perpendicularly away from the perimeter surface313of the main housing309when in placed in an open or clamping position (similar to a disk tray). As a result, a flat plane or gap area317is created between the perimeter surface313of the main housing309and the inner surface314of the clamp portion310for receiving the power supply module. Combined with rubber pad315a, the clamp portion310and rubber pad315bthereof serve to aid in securely positioning the power supply module within gap area317as will be described in greater detail with reference toFIGS. 4A-4C. Moreover, due to its compact design, the power supply containment device305may be added onto the many existing base stand configurations.

FIGS. 4A-4Care side views of the integrated workstation and power supply containment device according to an example of the present invention. As shown inFIG. 4A, the power supply containment device405is affixed to a rear area of the workstation and base stand402. Here, the clamp portion410is in a closed or retracted position in which clamp portion410abuts the main housing409of the containment device405. In one example, an adjustment mechanism403for the clamp portion410is positioned within the main housing409of the containment device405. The adjustment mechanism403may be a spring-loaded clamp, adjustable clamp (manually adjustable by a user), latch, or similar mechanical mechanism that allows for protraction and retraction (e.g., paper tray movement) of the clamping portion410from/to the main housing409while also providing sufficient force to hold an item (i.e., power supply420,FIGS. 4B-4C) in a fixed position when clamped between surfaces (i.e., inner surface414,FIG. 4B, of clamping portion and perimeter surface413,FIG. 4C, of main housing). In the present example, a spring-loaded clamp is represented as the adjustment mechanism403. As shown here, the spring of the clamp403is in a normal extended position when the clamp portion410is in the closed position (i.e. adjacent to main housing). Moreover, a tab end419of the clamp portion410is attached to spring of the clamp403for providing the requisite movement of the clamp portion410as will be highlighted in the description of the figures below.

With respect toFIG. 4B, the clamp portion410is extended outward as indicated by the directional arrow so as to create a flat plane or gap area417between surfaces413and414for placement/insertion of the power supply420(as indicated by downward directional arrow). In turn, the tab end419of the clamp portion410slides perpendicularly with respect to the perimeter surface413of the main housing409so as to cause the clamp spring403to contract as shown inFIG. 4B. As mentioned above, rubber pads415aand415bare formed on a perimeter surface of the main housing407of the containment device405in addition to an inner surface414of the clamp portion410(i.e., surface opposite the perimeter surface414of the main housing409) respectively. When the clamp portion410of the containment device405is positioned in an open or clamping position, the rubber pads415aand415bare used to prevent the power supply420from slippage or lateral movement within the gap area417as shown inFIG. 4B. More particularly and according to one example embodiment, once the power supply420is positioned with the gap area417, the clamp portion410may be released causing the clamping spring403to expand and the clamp portion410to retract back (indicated by directional arrow ofFIG. 4C) towards the perimeter surface413of the main housing409. Such movement ensures that sufficient force is placed on the opposite contact sides421aand421bof the power supply module420by rubber pads415aand415bof the main housing409and clamp portion410respectively.

Many advantages are afforded by the containment device of the present examples. Since the clamp portion is adjustable, it may be used with equal effectiveness for power supply modules of different sizes and shapes. Furthermore, the rubber pads of the containment device—in combination with the clamp portion—provide enough force and stability to hold the power supply in a fixed position. Cable management integration combined with the omission of the unsightly and seldom used Velcro straps of prior solutions serves to provide a more aesthetically-pleasing overall look of the workstation. Still further, the containment device may be added to existing integrated workstations with minor modifications thus reducing manufacturing costs while providing seamless integration.

Furthermore, while the invention has been described with respect to exemplary embodiments, one skilled in the art will recognize that numerous modifications are possible. For example, although exemplary embodiments depict an all-in-one computer as the representative computing device, the invention is not limited thereto. For example, the computing device of the workstation may be a television monitor, a notebook computer, a tablet personal computing device, or any other electronic device and workstation having a base stand, supporting structure, or power supply.

Furthermore, the power supply containment device may be positioned at any location with respect to the base stand or workstation. For example, the containment device may be attached to the side or front area of the workstation and base stand. Similarly, the containment device and clamp portion can be formed in varying sizes and shapes rather than those depicted in the figures. Still further, the clamp portion may extend in any direction (e.g., vertically) with respect to the main housing so as to still provide a secure clamping means for the power supply module. Thus, although the invention has been described with respect to exemplary embodiments, it will be appreciated that the invention is intended to cover all modifications and equivalents within the scope of the following claims.