Abstract:
A computer case includes a chassis ( 10 ), a cover ( 80 ) with a tray ( 70 ) pivotally attached to the chassis, and a shaft ( 20 ). The chassis comprises a bottom panel ( 12 ) with a mounting board mounted thereto. A pair of mounting plates ( 33 ) is stamped from the mounting board to secure the shaft. A number of support plates ( 31 ) are stamped from the mounting board to support the shaft. A number of support plates ( 71 ) are stamped from the tray to be supported on the shaft. The shaft thus shares the burden of the tray when the tray is rotated.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to a computer case, and more particularly to a computer case with a pivot cover.  
         [0003]     2. Description of Related Art  
         [0004]     New computer components and accessories are continually being developed. This necessitates regular maintenance, renewal and upgrading of components and fittings of existing computers. Accordingly, a computer case should allow readily accession.  
         [0005]     A conventional computer case comprises a chassis and a hood. Interior components, such as motherboard, power supply, interface cards, data storage devices, etc., are often installed in the chassis. However, the interior space of the chassis is limited. When one of the components needs maintenance or replacement, neighboring components have the risks of being damaged.  
         [0006]     An improved computer case is disclosed in Chinese Patent Application No. 93220537.2. The computer case comprises a chassis, and a pivot hood. Data storage devices such as disk drives are attached to an underside of the hood. When the hood is open for maintaining or replacing the interior components, the data storage devices are separated from the chassis, so that maintenance or replacement is prone to be easier. The hook is pivoted about the chassis via a pair of pivot bolts. However, the data storage devices increase the burden of the hood, and the hook is supported only by the pivot bolts during rotation, therefore, the pivot bolts are prone to be deformed or broken.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a computer case having a pivot cover which is strongly supported.  
         [0008]     To achieve the above object, the chassis in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a chassis, a cover with a tray pivotally attached to the chassis, and a shaft. The chassis comprises a bottom panel with a mounting board mounted thereto. A pair of mounting plates is stamped from the mounting board to secure the shaft. A plurality of support plates is stamped from the mounting board to support the shaft. A plurality of support plates is stamped from the tray to be supported on the shaft. The shaft thus shares the burden of the tray when the tray is rotated.  
         [0009]     Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will be drawn from the following detailed description of preferred embodiment of the present invention with the attached drawings, in which: 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]      FIG. 1  is an exploded, isometric view of a computer case in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, comprising a chassis, a cover and a shaft;  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged view of an encircled portion II of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged view of an encircled portion II of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  is an isometric view of the cover, viewed from another aspect;  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  is an assembled view of  FIG. 1 , with a front panel being partly cut off for better illustration; and  
         [0015]      FIG. 6  is a pre-assembled view of  FIG. 1 , showing a rotation state of the cover, and having a front panel being partly cut off for better illustration.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0016]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a case of an electronic device like a computer in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a chassis  10 , a cover  80 , and a shaft  20 .  
         [0017]     The chassis  10  comprises a bottom panel  11 , two side panels  13  respectively extending from two opposite sides of the bottom panel  11 , and a front panel  12  extending from a front edge of the bottom panel  11  so as to commonly define a space between these panels. Two side plates  50  are arranged at front portions of the side panels  13 , respectively. A mounting hole  51  is defined in a front portion of each side plate  50 . An arc-shaped guiding slot  53  is defined in a rear portion of each side plate  50 . A pair of rotation bases  15  is stamped inwardly from middle portions of the side panels  13  respectively, and in alignment with each other. A through aperture  151  is defined in each rotation base  15 .  
         [0018]     The front panel  12  defines a mounting opening  121  in a center thereof. A cam lock  100  extends through the mounting opening  121 . The cam lock  100  comprises an elliptic pushing portion. A U-shaped first support member  60  is attached to the bottom panel  11 . Two L-shaped second support member  45  are attached to the bottom panel  11 , and adjacent to the side plates  50  respectively. The first and second support members  60 ,  45  are located on a same line. Upright plates of the first support member  60  each define a slim slot  61 . An upright plate  47  of each second support member  45  defines a slim slot  47 . The mounting holes  51  of the side plates  50  are in alignment with the slim slots  61 ,  47 . Two locking bars  41  extend through the corresponding slim slots  61 ,  47 , respectively. Each locking bar  41  has a bent plate  42  located at inner sides of the upright plates of the first support member  60 . A spring  49  connects the bent plates  42  of the locking bars  41 . A row of posts  18  extends upwardly from a front portion of the bottom panel  11 . A spring  19  is placed around each post  18 .  
         [0019]     A mounting board  30  is disposed on the bottom panel  11  and behind the posts  18 . Referring also to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , a row of support plates  31  is stamped upwardly from the mounting board  30 , and two mounting plates  33  are stamped from the mounting board  30  at opposite sides of the row of support plates  31 . A cutout  312  is defined in each support plate  31 . A pivot hole  332  is defined in each mounting plate  33 .  
         [0020]     Referring also to  FIG. 4 , the cover  80  comprises two sidewalls  85 . A front portion of each sidewall  85  defines a slit  81  corresponding to the mounting hole  51  of a corresponding side plate  50 . A protrusion  83  is stamped outwardly from each sidewall  85  corresponding to the guiding slot  53  of the side plate  50  of the chassis  10 . A plurality of receiving chambers  82  as a receiving space is defined in the cover  80  for accommodating devices like disk drives  89  or other electronic components.  
         [0021]     A support tray  70  is attached to an underside of the cover  80 . The support tray  70  forms a row of support plates  71 , each of which defines a cutout  712 . A pivot plate  73  is formed at each of opposite sides of the support tray  70 . A pivot  75  with a threaded aperture (not labeled) is stamped outwardly from each pivot plate  73 .  
         [0022]     The shaft  20  defines two threaded holes in opposite ends  23  thereof. The shaft  20  extends through the pivot holes  332  of the mounting plates  33 , and is seated in the cutouts  312  of the support plates  31 . Two fasteners  21  such as screws engage in the threaded holes of the shaft  20 , thereby pivotally securing the shaft  20  to mounting board  30  of the chassis  10  to form a supportive mechanism.  
         [0023]     Referring also to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , in assembly, the disk drives  89  are received in the receiving chambers  82  of the cover  80 . The support tray  70  is attached to the cover  80 ; the support plates  71  of the support tray  70  rotatably receive the shaft  20  of the mounting board  30 . The pivot plates  73  of the support tray  70  are in alignment with the rotation bases  15  of the chassis  10 ; the pivots  75  of the pivot plates  73  extend through corresponding through apertures  151  of the rotation bases  15 , and engage with fasteners  90  such as screws. The cover  80  is thus pivotally mounted to the chassis  10 , and supported by the shaft  20  of the supportive mechanism.  
         [0024]     In closing the tray  70 , the protrusions  83  of the cover  80  are slid along the guiding slots  53 , until the support tray  70  is located horizontally and compresses the springs  19 . Then rotate the cam lock  100  until the elliptic pushing portion pushes the locking bars  41  outwardly, so that the locking bars  41  extend through the corresponding slits  81  of the cover  80  and the mounting holes  51  of the side plates  50  of the chassis  10 , thereby locking the cover  80  to the chassis  10 . The spring  49  is stretched.  
         [0025]     To open the cover  80 , the cam lock  100  is rotated so that the elliptic pushing portion leaves the bent plates  42  of the locking bars  41 . The locking bars  41  are moved toward each other via the restoring force of the spring  49 . The locking bars  41  are withdrawn from the mounting holes  51  of the side plates  50  and the slits  81  of the cover  80 , respectively. The cover  70  is rotated upwardly via the restoring force of the springs  19 , and supported on the springs  19 . Replacing or maintaining the disk drives  89  is therefore easier.  
         [0026]     In another embodiment, the tray  70  and the cover  80  are integrally formed. The mounting board  30  and the bottom panel  11  are integrally formed.  
         [0027]     While the present invention has been illustrated by the description of preferred embodiment thereof, and while the preferred embodiment has been described in considerable details, it is not intended to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention will readily appear to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the specific details and illustrative example shown and described.