Abstract:
An information handling system case is disclosed which has a chassis suitable for containing an electronic component, an access door removably mounted to the chassis, the access door suitable for permitting access to an electronic component contained in the computer chassis, and a release mechanism adjacent to the access door, wherein the release mechanism is manually operable by a single hand of a user to release the access door from the chassis, the access door separating from the chassis upon manipulation of the release mechanism by the user. The quick release mechanism is preferably a squeezable handle. EMI shielding is accomplished through EMI clips.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention generally relates to the field of information handling system housing, and particularly to an EMI shielded computer case having single handed access for opening and removing an access panel door.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Modularity is the standard in the manufacture of computers. It is from time to time necessary to troubleshoot or upgrade the hardware of a computer. This requires access to the modular components within the computer case. Sometimes the computers are disposed in places which are hard for the troubleshooter to access. Although access panels have been used in the past, it is still not easy to reach certain computers. Often, the case, such as a tower case, desk-top case, or the like is hidden from view to increase the available work space, such as by hiding the case under a desk or in the corner of a cubicle. Gaining access to these systems may require even more time on the part of the information technology professional.  
           [0003]    During the assembly and shipping process, vacuum lifts can damage the computer case if the access panel is not securely mounted to the computer case.  
           [0004]    Another concern in the operation of conventional electronic equipment is that it is typically accompanied by the generation of electromagnetic radiation. If not properly shielded, such radiation can cause considerable interference with unrelated equipment. Accordingly, it is necessary to effectively shield and ground all sources of radio frequency and electromagnetic radiation. When the equipment housing is provided with a readily openable access panel or door, effective electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding presents more of a problem.  
           [0005]    EMI gaskets have been used around the access panels or doors. Gaskets have a high cost, are hard to install, can leak at their joints, and have problems of coming off and cracking with age.  
           [0006]    Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a computer case having easy access which is securely mounted and offers good EMI protection.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a method for removing and installing an access panel in an information handling system case using a single hand.  
           [0008]    In a first aspect of the present invention, an information handling system case is disclosed which has a chassis suitable for containing an electronic component, an access door removably mounted to the chassis, the access door suitable for permitting access to an electronic component contained in the computer chassis, and a release mechanism adjacent to the access door, wherein the release mechanism is manually operable by a single hand of a user to release the access door from the chassis, the access door separating from the chassis upon manipulation of the release mechanism by the user.  
           [0009]    The quick release mechanism is in one embodiment a squeezable handle. The use of a single handed release mechanism allows greater facility in gaining access to the components inside the housing of an information handling system.  
           [0010]    The locking rod which forms the part of the release mechanism internal to the chassis is generally cylindrical and has two notched portions which retain clips from the access door. The use of two clips helps to spread the force applied to the access door. The locking rod also has two ramp portions in the two notched portions to pop the access door slightly ajar upon opening. This facilitates door removal.  
           [0011]    In a second aspect of the present invention, a method is disclosed for accessing the inside of a computer case having an access panel door, comprising the step of opening the access panel door in a latched state by squeezing a handle.  
           [0012]    In a third aspect of the present invention, an access panel door for a computer is disclosed which includes a support body which extends so as to cover an opening in a computer chassis and a single long flange on each side of the door that mates with a corresponding EMI clip or pair of EMI clips on the computer chassis in which EMI sealing is done on an outer lip or rim of the side of the computer chassis to which the access panel door is mounted.  
           [0013]    This method of EMI sealing offers a complete seal, lower cost, and easy snap-on assembly.  
           [0014]    The hinging hooks of the access panel door are designed to facilitate placement and removal.  
           [0015]    It is to be understood that both the forgoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention as claimed. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate an embodiment of the invention and together with the general description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]    The numerous advantages of the present invention may be better understood by those skilled in the art by reference to the accompanying figures in which:  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of the invention;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of the access door show the clips and supplemental mounting tab;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 3 illustrates a computer case with an access panel removed;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 4 illustrates the side of the access panel for mating with the case;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of the access door showing the clips, hinging hooks, flanges, and mounting tab;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 6 illustrates the squeezable handle and release mechanism of the present invention in a normal position;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 7 illustrates the handle and release mechanism in a squeezed position;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 8 illustrates the latching rod of the quick release mechanism;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 9 illustrates a cut away view of the quick release mechanism mounted to the computer chassis; and  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 10 illustrates a cutaway view of a flange of the access panel engaging an EMI clip. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0027]    Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.  
         [0028]    Referring generally now to FIGS. 1 through 10, exemplary embodiments of the present invention are shown.  
         [0029]    This invention is for a quick release, tool-less access door on a computer case. Information handling systems having housings suitable for removable mounting of system components are known. The information handling system may be connected to a display device to enable a user to perform a variety of functions, such as word processing, spread sheets, presentation generation, or the like. The information handling system may also utilize a wide variety of components and peripheral devices to provide functionality, such as a printed circuit board, a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, laser disk, compact disk read-only memory (CD-ROM), digital versatile disk read-only memory (DVD-ROM), digital versatile disk random-access memory (DVD-RAM), or the like.  
         [0030]    Additionally, the information handling system may also utilize a wide variety of components including input/output devices to provide additional functionality. Exemplary devices include a mouse, joystick, trackball, trackpad, trackstick, infrared transducers, printer, modem, RF modem, bar code reader, charge-coupled device (CCD) reader, scanner, compact disk (CD), compact disk read-only memory (CD-ROM), digital versatile disk (DVD), video capture device, touch screen, stylus, electroacoustic transducer, microphone, speaker, or the like. Exemplary uses of the invention by an information technologies professional are for descriptive purposes only. The use of these terms is meant in no way to limit the scope of the present invention, the terms being used to merely facilitate discussion of the invention. It should be apparent that the information handling system of the present invention may be utilized in a variety of ways contemplated by a person of ordinary skill in the art.  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an information handling system housing  5  which includes a computer chassis  10  with a squeezable panel access handle  30 . The single-hand squeezable handle  30  in one embodiment is located midway along the height of the computer chassis  10  and near to the edge of one side where the removable panel  25  is placed. A rim  45  is formed inward on the case  10  to support the mounting of the removable panel  25 . Openings  80  are provided in the rim on one of its sides so that clips  70  from the panel may pass by and be engaged by the latching element controlled by the squeezable handle  30 . The two clips or hooks  70  are spread out to give a wider holding area, so that it will withstand being lifted by a “vacuum lift” when attached to the door. Flanges  60  from the access panel  20  are retentively engaged by the EMI clips  40  found along the edges of the rim  45 . A tab  50  formed near a flange  60  on the panel  20  permits a backup thumb screw attachment for shipping. Other possible means of attaching the tab  50  to the chassis  10  include riveting, welding, and soldering.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 2 shows a side view of the access panel door  25 . The clips or hooks  70  are distributed around the middle of the flange  60  which projects from panel body  20 .  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 3 shows the case with the panel  25  removed. Slots  90  are formed on the rim  45  opposite to the openings  80 . This permits hinging hooks or pins to be inserted for supporting the panel  25  during removal or attachment.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 4 shows the side of the access panel door  25  which mates with the case  10 . Hinging pins or hooks  100  are distributed along one side of the panel  25 . Spaced at an appropriate distance from the outer edges of the panel  25  are the flanges  60 . The flanges  60  may project generally vertically from the panel surface  20 . To provide EMI shielding, the panel is made of a conductive material. By extending a single flange almost entirely along each side of the access panel door, better EMI shielding is attained as there are fewer breaks or gaps in the resulting enclosure.  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the access panel door  25 . The hinging hooks  100  may preferably be flat plates of metal machined from an edge support layer and bent. They may also be mounted by welding, riveting, bolting, screwing, and the like. In the preferred embodiment, there are four pairs of hinging hooks, each pair fitting into one slot  90  of the computer chassis  10 .  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 6 shows the squeezable handle  30  in a normal, ungripped position. A fixed support body  120  is mounted on the case&#39;s metal frame  150 . In the frame  150  is formed an opening  140  for travel of an engaging member  160 . The engaging member  160  engages the latches or hooks  70  from the panel. The engaging member  160  preferably acts as a unitary structure with the movable portion  130  of the handle  30  and travels with the movable portion  130  of the handle  30 . The movable portion  130  and the engaging member  160  may travel within the opening  140 . The movable portion  130  has three differently sized sections along its longitudinal axis which also generally coincides with the longitudinal axis of the support body  120 . The section of the movable portion  130  proximal to the support body  120  may be rod shaped. The proximal section moves within and is guided through a hollowed out portion of the support body  120 . The middle section of the movable portion  130  acts as a stop against the support body  120  when the handle is squeezed. The greater contact area better distributes the force applied to the handle components, reducing breakage. The distal section of the movable portion  130  provides support for the handle  30 .  
         [0037]    A spring may be employed with the engaging member  160  to keep the movable portion  130  extended from the support body  120  at a maximal distance when the handle is in a normal, ungripped position. The spring may be implemented to pull on the engaging member  160  or to push the movable portion  130  away from the support body  120 . The engaging member in the normal position latches the latches or hooks  70  of the panel  25 . In addition, for guiding the moving elements, a rail formed from the chassis may be placed to guide the movement of the engaging member.  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 7 shows the handle  30  in a squeezed position.  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 8 shows a view of the engaging member  160  along the cut line B-B. The engaging member may be a generally cylindrical rod in which hooks  170  are formed by molding or removal of material. A ramp  180  of the rod facilitates release of the hooks or latches  70  from access panel door  25  so as to impart a spring like release to partially open the access door when the handle is squeezed. The engaging member  160  and the moveable portion  130  may be removably attached by pins  190 . The engaging member may be made of a self-lubricating material such as nylon or another plastic. Metal engaging members may also be used.  
         [0040]    Other mechanisms for correlating the movement of the movable portion  130  of the handle  30  with respect to the engaging member  160  may be employed as long as they permit engagement with and disengagement from the latches or hooks  70  or other latchable elements from the panel.  
         [0041]    The squeezable handle  30  may be contoured so as to be better grippable by an information technologies professional or other user who is to troubleshoot or otherwise access the computer. In one embodiment, small ridges are distributed along the finger contact areas. The squeezable handle  30  may also be abraded or coated so as to enhance grippability.  
         [0042]    Travel of the moveable portion  130  and the engaging member  160  is stopped by either or both of the movable portion  130  against fixed support body  120  and the engaging member  160  against the edge of the opening  140 .  
         [0043]    [0043]FIG. 9 shows a cross sectional view of the quick release mechanism along cut line A-A of FIG. 5. Part of the chassis  150  is bent to form a channel for the engaging member  160  to travel along. The engaging member  160  is attached to the movable portion  130  of handle  30  through one, two, or more slots made in the chassis to allow the physical connection and travel of the two parts.  
         [0044]    [0044]FIG. 10 shows an embodiment in which the flange  60  is retained in an EMI clip  40 . The door has metal or otherwise conductive flanges  60  on all sides that assemble into the EMI clips  40  that are attached to the inside of the computer case. In a preferred embodiment, there are eight EMI clips  40  on the case, two on each of the four sides. A detent of the clip goes into an opening in the case for superior retention. The EMI clips  40  are generally U-shaped, but may have other shapes. One aspect of the shape of the EMI clips  40  is that it securely retains the flange while providing adequate EMI protection and readily release the flange when the access panel door is in the process of being removed. The door flanges rest in the U-shaped cavities of the clips to establish a fully contained EMI sealing. The EMI clips  40  are preferably made from steel with some resiliency or spring so as to open them to permit entry and retention of the flanges of the door.  
         [0045]    In operation, squeezing the single squeeze handle  30  releases the door by releasing two latches or hooks  70  inside the computer chassis  10 . Referring again to FIGS. 6 and 7, when the handle is squeezed, the movable portion of the handle  130  moves down to the fixed support body  120 . In doing so, the engaging member  160  affixed to the movable handle portion  130  disengages from the latches or hooks  70 . The actuation of the squeeze handle unlocks and slightly opens the panel  20 . This slight opening may be achieved by a ramp structure within the engaging member  160  of the quick release mechanism  30 , may also be due to a mild spring action in the construction of the panel  25 , and the like.  
         [0046]    With the squeeze handle design, the access door may be removed from the front door of the case by reaching around the side of the case, squeezing the release handle, pivoting the door open, and removing the door. The door can be reattached to the case in a similar manner, but in a reverse order. The design enables an information systems technology professional or other user to access components within the housing of the information handling system.  
         [0047]    It is believed that the tool-less access cover and EMI tight access door of the present invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood by the forgoing description. It is also believed that it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the components thereof without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention or without sacrificing all of its material advantages. The form herein before described being merely an explanatory embodiment thereof It is the intention of the following claims to encompass and include such changes.