ATTACHABLE HOUSING UNIT FOR POWERED ELECTRICAL COMPONENT UNIT

Abstract: An auxiliary housing unit (10) mounted on a powered component unit (17) having wires and cables (51) attachable thereto using hand-tool operated fasteners comprising brackets (11, 12) attachable to unit (17) and a cover (13) hingedly mounted on the brackets (11, 12). Side panels (15, 16) may similarly be attached to brackets (11, 12) to provide further housing of unsightly wires and cables (51) and auxiliary units (43) attachable to unit (17) or cover (13).

Description: ATTACHABLE HOUSING UNIT FOR POWERED ELECTRICAL COMPONENT UNIT Background of the Invention Portable computers and other powered electrical and electronic component units have a plurality of outlets, connectors, power cords and other devices mounted on and extendible from the back of such component units. Powered components have power outlets for supplying power to adjacent units using cables and wiring to transmit power from one unit to another unit. Prior component units failed to properly enclose and protect the electrical cords and wires which are permanently or detachably connected to the back of the unit. Such units have also lacked certain auxiliary devices to provide versatility of power distribution, cooling and other functions.. Summary of the Invention Broadly, the present invention is an auxiliary housing unit for ready attachment to a powered electrical component unit. The housing unit includes brackets attachable to the back portion of the component unit and includes a hingedly mountable cover mountable on the brackets to form a partial housing unit attached to and adjacent the powered component unit. It is a feature of the invention that the brackets are readily fastened, using hand tools to the component unit and that side panels (and plates) may also be attached to the brackets to increase the area of enclosure of the housing unit. It is also a feature of the invention that the housing unit may carry or house operable auxiliary- equipment such as switches, outlets or cooling fans. Brief Description of the Drawings FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the housing unit and the back portion of a powered component unit to which it is attachable; FIG. 2 is a perspective view of two brackets and the cover of the housing unit including a bundle holder? FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view showing the cover in a closed position; FIG. 4 is an exploded sectional elevational view of a bracket and cover; FIG. 5 is a sectional elevational view of a bracket and cover assembled in the near-closed position; FIG. 6 is a sectional elevational view of a bracket and cover in the closed position; FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view showing the component unit with a cooling unit in exploded position; FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the bundle holder attached to the right side bracket with portions of wires and cables held by the bundle holder; and FIG. 9 is an elevational view of a lock piece. Description of the Preferred Embodiments Directing attention to FIG. 1, the auxiliary ø- housing unit 10 of the present invention includes left and right brackets 11, 12, hinged cover 13, and right and left end panels 15 and 16. Opening 14 in panel 16 permits wires, cables and other outlet elements to extend therethrough. Also shown is the powered component unit 17 to which auxiliary housing unit 10 is readily attached using hand-tool operable fasteners 20. Component unit 17 includes outer cover enclosure 18, chassis support frame 19, power inlet-outlet 21, vent opening 23 and printed circuit boards or units 24. Brackets 11, 12 and cover 13 may be made of any material including a deformable material but are preferably made of extruded aluminum or other suitable extrudable material. Brackets 11, 12 are shaped to engage and be mounted on the back portion of the chassis support frame 19. Each bracket 11, 12 includes a. vertical bracket section 26, a horizontal projecting bracket section 27 carrying a bracket hinge portion 36, fastener receiving extensions 29 and upper latch pieces 31 for engaging and latching cover enclosure 13 using closure lip 39.. Upper latch pieces 31 also have recesses 32 to engage the chassis support frame 19 (see FIG. 2) . Cover 13 has an elongated hinge element 34 which mates with hinge rings 36 of bracket sections 27. With further reference to FIG. 2, cable wire bundle bracket 37 is attachable to fastener receiving extension 29 using screw fastener 38. In FIG. 3, cover closure lip 39 is shown held in the closed position by latch piece 31. In this closed position, an opening 30 is provided between cover 13 and unit 17 to permit wires and cables to pass therethrough __5.*_ ? In FIGS. 4-6 cover 13 and brackets 11 are shown. Assembly is accomplished by positioning cover 13 at the proper angle to brackets 11 (and 12) permitting hinge ring 36 and cover hinge element 34 to engage. Ring 36 is shaped, with a portion of its circumference missing, to accommodate this procedure. Thus, when the cover 13 is opened and its rotation continued, it can be removed completely from ring 36. Alternatively, a snap-fit arrangement may be used in which one or more of the hinge elements deform to permit engagement. The cover 13 pivots about the assembled hinge 40 (FIG. 5) and is secured in the latched closed position (FIG. 6) preferably through action of horizontal bracket section 27 deflecting to permit the cover closure lip 39 to fit under and be secured to upper latch piece 31. To prevent opening of cover 13 fasteners 20 may be screwed (or otherwise fastened) through a side plate 15, 16 into both fastener receiver 29 and hinge ring 36 of bracket section 27 thus stiffening section 27 to prevent its deflection. Other locking arrangements are set out below. Turning now to FIG. 7, there is shown an air cooler unit 43 comprising a motor unit 44 and holder bracket 46. Right panel 16 includes a panel mount piece 52 which fits into slots 53 and 54 of bracket 12 (see also FIG. 2) . Cooler unit 43 may be mounted on the back wall 46 of chassis support frame 19 or on cover 13. When mounted on wall 46, it is preferred to align it with vent opening 23. Compressible resilient strips 47 may be used to reduce vibration. Also shown in FIG. 7 is side panel 15 having two (2) exterior electrical outlets 48, 49 which outlets are preferably connected to inlet-outlet 21 by a connector (not shown) . Inlet-outlet 21 is controlled by * * ~ an on-off switch of unit 17 (not shown) which switch in turn controls power (on or off) to outlets 48, 49. An outlet positioned on a side panel interior to the housing unit 10 may also be employed. For security, a key-operated lock may be mounted on a side panel 15, 16 with a turnable portion interior of the housing unit engaging and disengaging closure lip 39. Turning to FIG. 8, wire and cable bundle bracket 37 are shown attached to the interior of the right side panel 16 with wire-cable portions 51 therein. Finally, FIG. 9 shows a lock piece 57 having arms 58, 59 and upper lock tab 60. Lock piece 57 is dimensioned so that arm 58 can be placed in screw holes of upper and lower receiving extension 29 of either the left or right brackets 11, 12. As positioned, tab 60 extends up behind closure lip 39 to lock the cover 13 in the closure position. The spacing between cover 13 and unit 17 permits ready insertion and removal of lock key 57. c-:?ι

Claims: I CLAIM: 1. An auxiliary housing unit for attachment to an electrically powered component unit having an outlet back portion with electrical outlet elements thereon comprising a) bracket means readily attachable to the outlet back portion; b) hinge means on the bracket means; and c) cover means readily mounting on the hinge means to permit the cover means to be moved from a position in which the outlet elements are partially housed to a position where the outlet elements are exposed; whereby the cover means forms a partial housing adjacent the outlet back portion.. 2. An auxiliary housing unit of claim 1 having in addition housing side panels. 3. An auxiliary housing unit of claim 1 in which the brackets are secured to the unit back portion using hand tool operable fasteners. 4. An auxiliary housing unit of claim 1 having the size and volume to accommodate auxiliary equipment cooperatively connected to the powered component unit. 5. An auxiliary housing unit of claim 1 in which the housing unit is deformable to permit the cover means to be engaged in the closed position and is deformable for opening of the cover means. 6. An auxiliary housing unit of claim 1 having electrical outlet means mounted on the exterior of the housing unit and connector means for connecting the outlet means to the power component unit. 7. An auxiliary housing unit of claim 1 in the partial housing permits electrical outlet elements to extend outside the partial housing. 8. An auxiliary housing unit of claim 1 having in addition lock means for locking the cover means closed,

Inventors: BAER AUSTIN R, BAER, AUSTIN, R.
Applicants: ROTON CORP, ROTON CORPORATION
Application year: 1983
Main classification: H05K5
IPC codes: H05K5, H05K7