Abstract:
A case for a computer body may be constructed with a first case portion and a second case portion, forming a space by combination thereof along a first and a second coupling lines; a first coupling part for coupling the first and second cases along the first coupling line; a latch unit having a latch body slidable relative to the first case along the second coupling line, and at least one latch extended from the latch body along the second coupling line to be protruded toward the second case; and an engagement member provided in the second case, being engaged into or disengaged from the latch according to sliding of the latch unit. With this configuration, it is easy to assemble and disassemble the case and the computer body.

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY  
         [0001]    This application makes reference to, incorporates the same herein, and claims all benefits accruing under 35 U.S.C. §119 arising from an application for a Case For Computer Body earlier filed in the Korean Industrial Property Office on Sep. 9, 2000, and there duly assigned Serial No. 2000-53692.  
         FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention relates to the construction and assembly of computer housings generally, and, more particularly, to cases for enclosing the bodies of computers.  
         DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART  
         [0003]    Conventional computer system includes a computer body, a visual monitor and an input devices such as keyboards and mice. Most of these components are installed within the computer body, and a body case covering the computer body defines the outer appearance of the computer system. A plurality of holes are provided in the rear comers of the computer body, for coupling the main body with the body case. A plurality of holes corresponding to the holes are also provided in the body case.  
           [0004]    During assembly, the body case and the computer body are attached to each other by means of screws after positioning the holes and to be opposite to each other.  
           [0005]    In order to repair the computer body or install new hardware in the computer body, the computer body and the body case of the conventional computer have to be disassembled. For disassembling the computer body and the body case, separate tools or devices for removing the screws are needed, which may cause inconvenience or trouble to users. Furthermore, some of the screws may be lost in the process of assembling or disassembling the computer body and the body case.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a body case for a computer in which disassembly of the body case and the computer body is easily performed.  
           [0007]    Another object of the invention is to provide a body case for a computer which may be assembled and disassembled without special tools.  
           [0008]    Yet another object of the invention is to provide a body case for a computer which does not require screws for assembly and disassembly.  
           [0009]    These and other objects of the present invention maybe achieved by a provision of a case for a computer body, which includes two case portions, forming a space by combination of the two case portions along two coupling lines; a first coupling part for coupling the two case portions along one of the coupling lines; a latch unit having a latch body slidable relative to the first case portion along the other coupling line, and at least one latch extending from the latch body along the second coupling line to protrude toward the second case portion; and an engagement member provided in the second case portion, being engaged into or disengaged from the latch according to sliding of the latch unit.  
           [0010]    Effectively, the latch body includes a guide part having at least two elongated holes formed in the latch body along the movement of the latch body, and a guide screw engaged with the first case portion through the elongated holes.  
           [0011]    For convenience, a drawing handle is provided at one end of the latch body transversely relative to movement of the latch body.  
           [0012]    Effectively, the engagement member has one end connected to the inner wall of the second case and the other having an engagement hook engaged with the latch and elastically deformable transversely relative to the second coupling line, and a slanted guide is formed adjacent to the engagement hook of the engagement member, contacting the latch when the engagement member moves transversely relative to the second coupling line.  
           [0013]    The first coupling part may include a first hook extending from an inner wall face of the first case portion along the first coupling line for coupling to the second case portion, and a first catch provided in the inner wall face of the first case adjacent to the first coupling line, for holding the first hook.  
           [0014]    Effectively, the first coupling part includes at least a second hook extended from an inner wall face of the second case along the first coupling line; and at least a second catch provided in the inner wall face of the first case adjacent to the first coupling line, for holding the second hook.  
           [0015]    The first coupling part may include a hinge pin accommodating part formed in either of the first or second cases, and a hinge pin formed at one of the first and second cases, for being accommodated in the hinge pin accommodating part. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]    The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a computer system employing a case for a computer body constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the case shown by FIG. 1;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a case portion constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a case portion constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 5 is a view showing a coupling state of a latch unit and an engagement member constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a computer system employing a case for a computer body constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention; and  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional case and a computer body. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0024]    Turning now to the drawings, an exemplar of a conventional computer system discussed above will be described with reference to FIG. 7. Typically, conventional computer systems include a computer body  110 , a visual monitor (not shown) and an input device. A plurality of components (not shown) are installed within the computer body  110 , and a body case  120  covering the computer body  110  defines the outer appearance of the computer system. A plurality of holes  125  are provided in the rear comers of the computer body  110 , for coupling the main body  100  with the body case  120 . A plurality of holes  124  corresponding to the holes  125  are also provided in the body case  120 .  
         [0025]    During assembly, the body case  120  and the computer body  110  are attached to each other by means of screws  126  after positioning the holes  124  and  125  to be opposite to each other.  
         [0026]    In order to repair the computer body  110  or install new hardware in the computer body, the computer body  110  and the body case  120  of the conventional computer have to be disassembled. For disassembling the computer body  110  and the body case  120 , separate tools or devices for removing the screws  126  are needed, which may cause inconvenience or trouble to users. Further, some of the screws  126  may be lost in the process of assembling or disassembling the computer body  110  and the body case  120 .  
         [0027]    The present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. Referring to FIG. 1, a computer system  1  employing a case for a computer body according to one embodiment of the present invention, may be constructed with a computer body  10  in which a plurality of components are installed, a base plate  12  supporting the computer body  10 , a video monitor  15  combined with the computer body  10  for displaying pictures, and an input device (not shown) for inputting information into the computer body  10 .  
         [0028]    Within the computer body  10  are a motherboard (not shown) at which a variety of cards including a graphic card, as well as a central processing unit (CPU) and a random access memory (RAM), etc. are installed, and a hard disk drive, etc. A body case  20  covers the computer body  10  to define an outer appearance of the computer body  10 .  
         [0029]    Referring to FIG. 2 which is an exploded perspective view of the body case  20  of FIG. 1, FIG. which is an enlarged perspective view of one case portion according to the present invention, and FIG. 4 which is an enlarged perspective view of the other case portion according to the present invention, the body case  20  will be described in detail.  
         [0030]    The body case  20 , as depicted in FIG. 2, includes a case portion  21  and a case portion  23 , both approximately “U”-shaped. That is, case portion  21  has opposite sides  14  and  16  which are parallel to each other, and case portion  23  has opposite sides  24  and  26  which are parallel to each other. The “U” shape may be seen in FIG. 2 in the sides at right angles to opposite sides  14  and  16  in case portion  21 , and in the sides at right angles to opposite sides  24  and  26  in case portion  23 . In addition, body case  20  has an upper cover  25  covering the upper parts of case portions  21  and  23  and a lower cover  27  covering the lower parts of case portions  21  and  23 .  
         [0031]    A space for receiving the components in the computer body  10  is created by coupling the case portion  21  and the case portion  23 . Externally, the side edges of case portions  21  and  23  coupled to each other create coupling line  3  at the rear side of the computer body as shown in FIG. 2, and coupling line  5  at the front side. On the planar surfaces of case portions  21  and  23  are formed a plurality of engagement holes  28  and port openings  29 . The body case  20  has a coupling part  40  and a coupling part  70  coupling the case portions  21  and  23  along coupling lines  3  and  5 , respectively.  
         [0032]    Coupling part  40 , as illustrated in FIGS. 2,3 and  4 , includes a plurality of hooks  41  extending from the inner wall face of case portion  21  along coupling line  3 , that protrude toward case portion  23  during coupling. A plurality of catches  45  corresponding with hooks  41  are formed in the inner wall face of case portion  23 . A catch accommodating part is provided in hook  41  so as to allow the hook  41  to be engaged with catch  45  and to maintain the engagement. By the engagement of the hook  41  with catch  45  in response to the accommodation of catch  45  in the catch accommodating part, case portions  21  and  23  are coupled to each other.  
         [0033]    Coupling part  40  further includes a plurality of hooks  43 , extending from the inner wall face of case portion  23  along coupling line  3 , that protrude toward case portion  21 . A plurality of catches  46  are formed in the inner face wall of the case portion  21  toward case portion  23 . As shown in FIG. 2, there is provided a hook part by which hook  43  is allowed to be coupled with catch  46 . A user can couple case portion  21  to case portion  23  by engaging the hook part of hook  43  with a protrusion formed in catch  46 .  
         [0034]    With this configuration, hooks  41  and  43  are respectively engaged with catches  45  and  46  respectively formed in case portions  21  and  23 . When engaged, either of the case portions  21  or  23  is allowed to rotate relative to the other around coupling line  3 , but is not allowed to deviate from the first coupling line  3 . Hooks  43  engage catches  46  initially during the coupling of the case portions along coupling line  3 , and are the last to disengage upon uncoupling. The engagement of hooks  41  with catches  45  maintains the coupling of the case portions  21  and  23  along coupling line  3 .  
         [0035]    Coupling part  70  includes a latch unit  30  combined with case portion  21  along coupling line  5 , for opening and closing the case portions  21  and  23 , and an engagement member  50  provided in case portion  23  which may be engaged with or disengaged from the latch unit  30 .  
         [0036]    The latch unit  30  includes a latch body  31  provided at a side of case portion  21 , at least one latch  33  formed on the latch body  31  to protrude toward case portion  23 , and a drawing handle  35  formed at one edge of the latch body  31 .  
         [0037]    The latch body  31  includes a guide part  37  coupled to case portion  21  in an inner wall edge of case portion  21  adjacent to the second coupling line  5 , for guiding the latch body so as to slidably move parallel to coupling line  5 . The guide part  37  includes at least two elongated holes  38  formed in the latch body  31  in the direction of the movement of the latch body  31 , that is, parallel to the long direction of the latch body, and at least two guide screws  39  engaged with case portion  21  through the elongated holes  38 , to thereby define the movement range of the latch body  31 .  
         [0038]    The latch  33  is engaged with a detent  51  on the engagement member  50  provided in case portion  23 , and the drawing handle  35  is in the form of an extension of the latch body  31  transverse relative to the movement of the latch body.  
         [0039]    The engagement member  50  is provided in case portion  23  along coupling line  5 , and has detent  51  engaged with the latch  33  of case portion  21  and slanted guide  53  which faces inward, that is, toward opposite side  26  of case portion  23 . Engagement member  50  contacts the latch  33  when case portion  23  moves transversely relative to coupling line  5 , that is, when case portion  23  moves toward case portion  21 . The engagement member  50  can be elastically deformed in the direction perpendicular to the side of the case portion where engagement member  50  is attached, allowing case portion  21  and case portion  23  to be easily coupled to each other by the slanted guide  53 .  
         [0040]    According to the present invention, the computer body  10  and the body case  20  can be assembled and disassembled in the following process. The description of the process will refer to FIG. 5, which shows a view of a coupling state of the latch unit  30  and the engagement  50  member according to the present invention.  
         [0041]    In order to repair a computer or install a new hardware in the computer, a user first removes the upper cover  25  from the combined case portions  21  and  23 . FIG. 5 illustrates the upper cover  25  removed, and the latch body  31 , which can slidably move along the second coupling line  5 , is shown at the upper part of the drawing. The drawing handle  35  of the shown latch body  31  is drawn upward, and then the latch unit  30  is definitely moved by a predetermined distance determined by the elongated hole  38  and the guide screw  39  of the guide part  37 . The latch  33  of the latch body  31  is disengaged from the engagement body  51  of the engagement member  50 . The case portions  21  and  23  are respectively pulled in the opposite direction along the first coupling line  3 . In response, hooks  41  and  43 , formed in the edges of case portions  21  and  23  adjacent to the coupling line  3 , are disengaged from catches  45  and  46 ; thus, case portions  21  and  23  are disassembled. To assemble case portions  21  and  23 , the above-described process is conducted in reverse.  
         [0042]    In the above-described embodiment, coupling part  40  provided in case portions  21  and  23  has been described as including hooks  41  and  43  respectively formed on the edges of case portions  21  and  23  adjacent to the first coupling line  3 , and as including catches  45  and In another embodiment of the invention however, the hooks and catches may be replaced with a hinge pin accommodating part  73  formed at one of case portions  21  and  23 , and a hinge pin  75  formed at the other of the case portions, for being accommodated in the hinge pin  75  accommodating part  73 . An embodiment employing a hinge pin  75  and hinge pin accommodating part  73  is seen in FIG. 6.  
         [0043]    In another embodiment, coupling part  40  may include a latch unit  30  and an engagement member  50  of the general structure described in the second coupling part. To open the computer case, a user first disengages the latch unit  30  of the coupling part on one coupling line, and then disengages the coupling unit along the other coupling line, and the object and effect of the present invention may be achieved.  
         [0044]    With this configuration, assembling and disassembling of the computer body and the case of the body is simply constructed and easily manufactured and used, with the latch unit coupled to one case portion, and the engagement member engaged into and disengaged from the latch unit according to the sliding movement of the latch unit provided in the other case portion. This configuration further provides a case for a computer body without screws and screw holes connecting the case portions.  
         [0045]    In consequence, the body case having the latch unit and the engagement member provided in the case according to the present invention is advantageous with respect to the assembly and disassembly of the computer body and the body case.  
         [0046]    Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.