Abstract:
A computer enclosure includes a chassis ( 10 ) and a hood ( 20 ). A fastener ( 30 ) is movably attached to the chassis. The fastener defines an opening ( 35 ) and a slot ( 37 ) which are defined in different planes. The hood includes a tab ( 25 ) corresponding to the opening, and a hook ( 27 ) corresponding to the slot. The tab and the hook extend in directions corresponding to the opening and the slot respectively for inserting therein respectively. The tab is inserted into the opening for aligning the hook with the slot, whereupon the hook is inserted into the slot for securing the hood to the chassis.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to computer enclosures, and more particularly to a computer enclosure having a hood and a chassis, the hood being readily attached to and detached from the chassis by means of a fastener. 
   2. General Background 
   A conventional computer enclosure generally includes a chassis, a hood, and a bezel. The chassis is used to hold components such as motherboards, interface cards, a power supply, and disk drives. The chassis is generally U-shaped, and comprises a base, a front panel, and a rear panel. The hood is also U-shaped and has a top panel and two opposite side panels depending from the top panel. The hood is slidingly attached to the chassis along rails formed on opposite sides of the chassis, and then secured to the rear panel by screws. Finally, the bezel is mounted on the front panel of the chassis. 
   Securing the hood to the rear panel with screws is unduly complicated and time-consuming. Furthermore, it is difficult to simultaneously align the edges of both sides of the hood with their respective rails on the chassis. 
   Another kind of the conventional hood is secured to a chassis by means of engaging locking catches of the hood in slots of the chassis. However, disengaging this kind of hood from the chassis is unduly complicated and laborious. 
   What is needed, therefore, is a computer enclosure which has a fastener for readily mounting a hood to a chassis of the enclosure and readily removing the hood therefrom. 
   SUMMARY 
   A computer enclosure includes a chassis and a hood. A fastener is movably attached to the chassis. The fastener defines an opening and a slot which are defined in different planes. The hood includes a tab corresponding to the opening, and a hook corresponding to the slot. The tab and the hook extend in directions corresponding to the opening and the slot respectively for inserting therein respectively. The tab is inserted into the opening for aligning the hook with the slot, whereupon the hook is inserted into the slot for securing the hood to the chassis. 
   Other advantages and novel features will be drawn from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment with attached drawings, in which: 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is an exploded, isometric view of a preferred embodiment of a computer enclosure, including a hood, a chassis, and a fastener; 
       FIG. 2  is a partial view of the hood of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is an isometric view of the fastener of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 4  is an isometric partial view of the chassis of  FIG. 1  with the fastener attached.; 
       FIG. 5  is a partial pre-assembled view of the hood and the chassis of  FIG. 1  attached by the fastener of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a partial assembled view of the hood and the chassis of  FIG. 1  attached by the fastener of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 7  is a partial pre-disassembled view of disassembling the hood from the chassis; 
       FIG. 8  is an another partial pre-disassembled view of disassembling the hood from the chassis; 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , an enclosure of an electronic device like a computer in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a chassis  10 , a hood  20 , and a fastener  30 . 
   The chassis  10  includes a front panel  11 , a rear panel  13 , and a side panel  15 . A top edge of the rear panel  13  is bent perpendicularly inward to form a skirting panel  131  thereof. A plurality of holes  133  is defined in the skirting panel  131 . A top edge of the side panel  15  is bent inward to form a flange  151  with a plurality of grooves  155 . Referring also to  FIG. 4 , a pin  137  is formed from a bottom surface of the skirting panel  131 . A plurality of L-shaped clasps  135  is formed on the skirting panel  131  and the rear panel  13 . 
   Referring also to  FIG. 2 , the hood  20  includes a top panel  21  and a side panel  22  corresponding to the side panel  15 . A pair of L-shaped hooks  27  protrude downward then forward from a bottom surface of the top panel  21  adjacent a rear edge of the top panel  21 . The hooks  27  include first slopes  274  and second slopes  275 . A pair of triangle tabs  25  protrude between the pair of hooks  27 . The tabs  25  include first chamfers  251  and second chamfers  252 . The side panel  22  includes a plurality of catches  221  formed thereon. A plurality of clips  215  is formed on one edge of the top panel  21  opposite to the side panel  22 . 
   Referring also to  FIG. 3 , the fastener  30  includes a first piece  31  and a second piece  32  perpendicular to the first piece  31 . A plurality of cutouts  33  is defined in both the first piece  31  and the second piece  32 . Opposite ends of the first piece  31  are stamped perpendicularly to form two folding flanges  34  and define two receiving openings  39  thereof. The folding flanges  34  each define a slot  37  therein. A pair of openings  35  is defined in the first piece  31 . A triangle protrusion  351  protrudes from one corner of each of the openings  35  to divide the openings  35  into a wide portion  357  and a narrow portion  356 . The protrusions  351  include an end surface  354  and a slanted guiding surface  353 . A securing hole  36  is defined in one end of the first piece  31 . A handle  38  is formed on the second piece  32  for conveniently manipulating the fastener  30 . 
   Referring also to  FIG. 4 , the fastener  30  is put in the chassis  10  with the plurality of clasps  135  of the chassis  10  received in the plurality of cutouts  33  of the fastener  30 . One end of a spring  70  is secured to the pin  137 , and the other end is stretched to be retained in the securing hole  36 . The spring  70  then spontaneously returns to its normal length, thus the fastener  30  slides. The clasps  135  restrict the sliding of the fastener  30 . The openings  35  of the fastener  30  are in alignment with the holes  133  of the skirting panel  131  when the spring  70  is in its normal condition. 
   Referring also to  FIG. 5 , in assembly, the hood  20  is put on the chassis  10  with the catches  221  catching on the chassis  10  and the clips  215  received in the grooves  155 . A distance between the hook  27  and the first chamfer  251  of the adjacent tab  25  is longer than a distance between the slot  37  and the end surface  354  of the adjacent opening  35 . The tabs  25  and the hooks  27  of the hood  20  extend through the holes  133  until the first chamfers  251  of the tabs  25  abut the end surfaces  354  of the openings  35 . Then the hood  20  is pressed down with the first chamfers  251  sliding along the end surfaces  354  urging the fastener  30  to slide in direction A. Thus, the hooks  27  of the hood  20  are received in the receiving openings  39  and are in alignment with the slots  37  of the fastener  30  (The folding flanges  34  are partially cut-away in  FIG. 5  for illustrating the invention more clearly). 
   Referring to  FIG. 6 , the hood  20  is pushed in direction B. The tabs  25  move from the narrow portions  356  of the openings  35  to the wide portions  357 . The hooks  27  insert into the slots  37  with the first slopes  274  sliding along edges of the slots  37 , and thereby urging the fastener  30  to slide further along direction A. The first slopes  274  of the hooks  27  then slide across edges of the slots  37 , and the fastener  30  slides in direction A′, which is opposite to the direction A, by resilient force of the spring  70 . Then the hooks  27  of the hood  20  engage with the folding flanges  34  of the fastener  30 . Thereby the hood  20  is mounted on the chassis  10 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , in disassembly, the handle  38  of the fastener  30  is pushed in direction A. The hooks  27  disengage from the folding flanges  34 . Edges of the slots  37  guides the second slopes  275  of the hooks  27 , and the hood  20  moves in direction B′ which is opposite to the direction B. At the same time, the tabs  25  of the hood  20  move from the wide portions  357  of the openings  35  to the narrow portions  356 . The handle  38  of the fastener  30  is moved further along direction A. Edges of the openings  35  guides the second chamfers  252  of the tabs  25  and the hood  20  moves upwardly until the tabs  25  escape from the openings  35  completely. Then the handle  38  is released and the fastener  30  moves in direction A′ quickly enough by resilient force of the spring  70  to avoid the tabs  25  falling into the openings  35  again. So the hood  20  is in a detachable position and can be removed from the chassis  10 . 
   It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages have been set forth in the foregoing description of a preferred embodiment, together with details of the structure and function of the embodiment, 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.