Abstract:
A computer enclosure includes a base ( 10 ), a side panel ( 80 ), a top panel ( 90 ), and a locking bar ( 50 ). The locking bar independently and readily secures the side and top panels to the enclosure. Either of the side and top panels can be detached from the enclosure independently, without affecting the attachment of the other to the enclosure. The enclosure is also easily protected from being opened by unauthorized persons.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to computer enclosures, and more particularly to enclosures which have a side panel and a top panel that can be independently and readily secured to the enclosure by a locking bar.  
           [0003]    2. Description of Related Art  
           [0004]    A typical contemporary personal computer enclosure accommodates a number of electronic devices therein. The enclosure needs to be opened on a number of occasions for a variety of reasons, such as for replacing a defective electronic device with a new one. Therefore, the enclosure should be able to be readily opened and subsequently reassembled.  
           [0005]    A conventional computer enclosure comprises a base, side panels, and a top panel. The side panels and the top panel 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 panels and the top panel, for engagement into the locking slots of the base. Screws are then used to secure the side panels and the top panel to the base.  
           [0006]    A tool is required for installation and removal of the screws. This is unduly inconvenient and time-consuming. Examples of the above-mentioned mechanisms are disclosed in Taiwan Patent Applications Nos. 85211135 and 86213035, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,600,540.  
           [0007]    An improved computer enclosure is desired to overcome the above-described disadvantages of the related art.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a computer enclosure which has a locking bar for readily securing a side panel and a top panel to the enclosure such that the side and top panels can be independently detached from the enclosure.  
           [0009]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a computer enclosure which can be protected from being opened by unauthorized persons.  
           [0010]    In order to achieve the objects set out above, a computer enclosure of the present invention comprises a base, a side panel, a top panel and a locking bar. The base of the enclosure comprises a rear plate forming a horizontal flange at a top edge thereof and a bent flange at a side edge thereof. A plurality of fixing tabs is formed on the bent flange and on the rear plate near the bent flange. The fixing tabs define a receiving space therebetween. An opening and a plurality of first locking slots are defined in the rear plate at the receiving space. An exposed portion of the rear plate is located above the receiving space. The locking bar is received into the receiving space, and can vertically move therewithin. A plurality of second locking slots is defined in the locking bar, corresponding to the first locking slots of the rear plate. An arm portion is formed at a top of the locking bar. A central blocking section projects upwardly from the arm portion. An operating tab extends from the locking bar and is received in the opening of the rear plate. The side panel forms a plurality of bent tabs received in the first and second locking slots. A catch is formed on the top panel, corresponding to the exposed portion of the rear plate. The blocking section of the locking bar blocks the catch. An operating block is engaged with the operating tab for facilitating operation of the locking bar. The locking bar and the operating block can be locked to a locking tab bent rearwardly from the rear panel, to protect the enclosure from being opened by unauthorized persons.  
           [0011]    Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]    [0012]FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a computer enclosure in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a base of the computer enclosure of FIG.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a locking bar of the computer enclosure of FIG. 1;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the base, the locking bar, a disk drive bracket and a side panel of the computer enclosure of FIG. 1 assembled together, with part of the disk drive bracket cut away for clarity;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 5 is an assembled view of FIG. 1, with part of a top panel of the computer enclosure cut away for clarity; and  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 6 is an assembled view of FIG. 1, but viewed from a rear of the computer enclosure.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0018]    Reference will now be made to the drawing figures to describe the present invention in detail.  
         [0019]    Referring to FIG. 1, a computer enclosure of the present invention comprises a base  10 , a disk drive bracket  20 , a locking bar  50 , a side panel  80  and a top panel  90 . FIG. 1 shows the top panel  90  in an inverted position. The locking bar  50  cooperates with a spring  100  to secure the side and top panels  80 ,  90  to the base  10 .  
         [0020]    Referring to FIG. 2, the base  10  of the enclosure comprises a bottom plate  12 , a front plate  14 , a rear plate  16  and a side plate  18 . A plurality of locking grooves  13  is defined in a side edge of the bottom plate  12  that is opposite to the side plate  18 . A bent flange  22  extends perpendicularly inwardly from an edge of the rear plate  16  that is opposite to the side plate  18 . A retaining tab  29  is inwardly formed on an upper portion of the bent flange  22 . A plurality of fixing tabs  24  is inwardly formed on the rear plate  16  near the said edge thereof, and also on the bent flange  22 . The fixing tabs  24  of the rear plate  16  are bent toward the fixing tabs  24  of the bent flange  22 , and all the fixing tabs  24  thereby cooperatively define a receiving space (not labeled) therebetween. An opening  26  is defined in an upper portion of the rear plate  16  between two uppermost fixing tabs  24  of the rear plate  16 . A locking tab  27  (see FIG. 6) is rearwardly bent from the rear plate  16  at one side extremity of the opening  26 . A first locking hole  25  (see FIG. 6) is defined in the locking tab  27 . A plurality of first locking slots  28  is defined in the rear plate  16 , in vertical alignment below the opening  26 . A first horizontal flange  30  extends inwardly from a top edge of the rear plate  16 . An exposed portion  31  of the rear plate  16  is located above the receiving space defined by the fixing tabs  24 . A pair of spaced cutouts  32  is defined in a free edge of the first horizontal flange  30 . A second horizontal flange  34  extends inwardly from a top edge of the side plate  18 . A plurality of first apertures  36  is defined in a junction of the second horizontal flange  34  and the side plate  18 . The first apertures  36  are L-shaped. A pair of locating holes  21  is defined near opposite sides of a top portion of the front plate  14  respectively.  
         [0021]    The disk drive bracket  20  comprises a sidewall  38 . A plurality of locking grooves  44  is defined in a bottom portion of the sidewall  38 . The locking grooves  44  of the disk drive bracket  20  are similar to the locking grooves  13  of the bottom plate  12  of the base  10 . A bent portion  40  extends horizontally inwardly from a top edge of the sidewall  38 . A plurality of second apertures  42  is defined in a junction of the bent portion  40  and the sidewall  38 . The second apertures  42  are also L-shaped.  
         [0022]    Referring to FIG. 3, the locking bar  50  is elongated. A plurality of second locking slots  52  is defined in the locking bar  50 , corresponding to the first locking slots  28  of the rear panel  16  of the base  10 . A top end of the locking bar  50  is bent generally perpendicularly to form an arm portion  54 . The arm portion  54  has a central blocking section  56  projecting upwardly from a middle thereof. The blocking section  56  has a vertical side face proximate to where the locking bar  50  is bent generally perpendicularly. Another face of the blocking section  56  slopes down from a top of the vertical side face toward a free end of the arm portion  54 . A connecting tab  62  is formed on an upper portion of the locking bar  50 , and extends in a direction parallel to a direction in which the arm portion  54  is bent from the locking bar  50 . A through hole  64  is defined in the connecting tab  62 . An operating tab  66  extends from the locking bar  50  between the arm portion  54  and the connecting tab  62 , in a direction opposite to the direction in which the arm portion  54  is bent from the locking bar  50 . A second locking hole  68  is defined in the operating tab  66 . Referring also to FIG. 1, an operating block  70  engages with the operating tab  66  for facilitating operation of the locking bar  50 . A third locking hole  72  is defined in the operating block  70 , corresponding to the first locking hole  25  of the locking tab  27  and the second locking hole  68  of the operating tab  66 .  
         [0023]    The side panel  80  of the computer enclosure forms a plurality of hooks  82  at top and bottom peripheral flanges thereof, and a plurality of bent tabs  83  bent inwardly from a rear peripheral flange thereof. The bent tabs  83  correspond to the first locking slots  28  of the rear plate  16  of the base  10 . The hooks  82  of the top peripheral flanges correspond to the locking grooves  44  of the sidewall  38  of the disk drive backet  20 . The hooks  82  of the bottom peripheral flanges correspond to the locking grooves  13  of the bottom plate  12  of the base  10 .  
         [0024]    The top panel  90  of the computer enclosure forms a pair of rims  92  extending perpendicularly from opposite sides thereof respectively. A plurality of nubs  94  is inwardly formed from the rims  92 . The nubs  94  correspond respectively to the first apertures  36  of the side plate  18  of the base  10 , and to the second apertures  42  of the disk drive bracket  20 . A pair of posts  91  extends inwardly from a front portion of the top panel  90 , for insertion into the locating holes  21  of the front plate  14  of the base  10 . A pair of latches  96  is inwardly formed at a rear end of the top panel  90 , corresponding to the cutouts  32  of the rear plate  16 . A catch  98  is inwardly formed at a rear corner of the top panel  90 , corresponding to the exposed portion  31  of the rear plate  16 .  
         [0025]    Referring to FIGS.  1 - 6 , in assembly, the locking bar  50  is inserted into the receiving space (not labeled). One end of the spring  100  is clasped to the retaining tab  29  of the rear plate  16  of the base  10 . The other end of the spring  100  is clasped into the through hole  64  of the connecting tab  62  of the locking bar  50 . The locking bar  50  is thereby connected to the base  10 . The operating tab  66  of the locking bar  50  extends through the opening  26  of the rear plate  16 . The operating block  70  is then attached to the operating tab  66 , with the second and third locking holes  68 ,  72  being aligned with each other. The locking bar  50  can vertically move in the receiving space, with the operating tab  66  moving within the opening  26 . When the spring  100  is in a normal state, the second locking slots  52  of the locking bar  50  are substantially higher than the corresponding first locking slots  28  of the rear plate  16 . The disk drive bracket  20  is then placed into the base  10 , such that it spans between the front and rear plates  14 ,  16  of the base  10 . The sidewall  38  of the disk drive bracket  20  is parallel to but opposite from the side plate  18  of the base  10 .  
         [0026]    In attachment of the side panel  80  to the base  10 , the hooks  82  of the side panel  80  are respectively loosely received in the locking grooves  13  of the bottom plate  12  of the base  10 , and in the locking grooves  44  of the sidewall  38  of the disk drive bracket  20 . At that time, the bent tabs  83  of the side panel  80  are aligned with the first locking slots  28  of the rear plate  16 . The side panel  80  is manually pushed forwardly. The hooks  82  are pressingly received in the locking grooves  13  of the base  10  and in the locking grooves  44  of the disk drive bracket  20 . The bent tabs  83  of the side panel  80  pass through the first locking slots  28  and force the second locking slots  52  downward. This causes the locking bar  50  to move downwardly, and the spring  100  to stretch. The bent tabs  83  of the side panel  80  are therefore extended through the second locking slots  52 . The spring  100  returns to its original position, pulling the locking bar  50  back up to its original position. The bent tabs  83  are prevented from exiting the first and second locking slots  28 ,  52 . Thus, the side panel  80  is secured to the base  10 .  
         [0027]    To attach the top panel  90  to the base  10 , the posts  91  of the top panel  90  are aligned with the locating holes  21  of the front plate  14 . The nubs  94  of the top panel  90  are loosely received in front portions of the first apertures  36  of the side plate  18  and second apertures  42  of the disk drive bracket  20 . The top panel  90  is manually pushed rearwardly, to cause the latches  96  of the top panel  90  to lockingly engage in the cutouts  32  of the rear plate  16 . The posts  91  of the top panel  90  are inserted into the locating holes  21  of the front plate  14 . The nubs  94  of the top panel  90  are interferentially received in rear portions of the first and second apertures  36 ,  42 . The blocking section  56  of the locking bar  50  is depressed by the catch  98  of the top panel  90 . The locking bar  50  is thus moved downwardly, and the spring  100  is stretched. The catch  98  passes over the sloped face of the blocking section  56  and beyond the vertical face of the blocking section  56 . The spring  100  then returns to its original position, pulling the locking bar  50  back up to its original position. The catch  98  is thus blocked from moving forwardly by the vertical face of the blocking section  56 . Thus, the top panel  90  is secured to the base  10 .  
         [0028]    In the above description, the side panel  80  is secured to the base  10  prior to the top panel  90  being secured to the base  10 . It will be readily appreciated that the side panel  80  and the top panel  90  can be independently secured to the base  10 . Accordingly, the top panel  90  can be secured to the base  10  prior to the side panel  80  being secured to the base  10 .  
         [0029]    In detachment of the side panel  80 , the operating block  70  is pushed downwardly. The side panel  80  is pushed rearwardly, so that the bent tabs  83  of the side panel  80  exit the first and second locking slots  28 ,  52 . The side panel  80  is then easily removed from the base  10 .  
         [0030]    In detachment of the top panel  90 , the operating block  70  is pushed downwardly. The top panel  90  is pushed forwardly, and the catch  98  is freed from the blocking section  56  of the locking bar  50 . The top panel  90  is then easily removed from the base  10 .  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 6 shows the side and top panels  80 ,  90  are secured to the base  10 . The second and third locking holes  68 ,  72  respectively of the operating tab  66  and operating block  70  are aligned with the first locking hole  25  of the locking tab  27 . The operating tab  66  and the operating block  70  can then be locked to the locking tab  27  by using a conventional locking device such as a padlock. The operating block  70  is thereby fixed to the rear plate  16  of the base  10 , and cannot be moved. This protects the enclosure from being opened by unauthorized persons.  
         [0032]    It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.