Abstract:
A computer enclosure includes a chassis ( 30 ), a cover ( 20 ) attached to the chassis ( 30 ) and a lock system ( 40 ) for securing the cover ( 20 ) on the chassis ( 30 ). The lock system ( 40 ) includes a spring ( 46 ) and a locking piece ( 42 ) pivotally attached to the cover ( 20 ). The locking piece ( 42 ) has a driving portion ( 426 ) at one end and at least one hook ( 424 ) at the other end. The spring ( 46 ) urges the hook ( 424 ) to engage with the chassis ( 30 ). When the driving portion ( 426 ) is pushed, the hook ( 424 ) is levered and disengaged from the chassis ( 30 ).

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to a computer enclosure, and more particularly to a mounting mechanism which facilitates assembly of a computer cover to a computer enclosure.  
         [0003]     2. Background of the Invention  
         [0004]     In order to mount electronic components into computer conveniently, an opening is usually defined in a computer enclosure. The electronic components such as hard disk, CD-ROM, get through the opening and were secured therein. Then, a side plate is mounted on the computer enclosure to cover the opening.  
         [0005]     Previously, the side plate of the computer is typically secured to the computer enclosure by retaining screws. In the process to mount or demount components in the computer enclosure, it is necessary to remove the individual retaining screw firstly. However, there are a plurality of screws fastened in the computer enclosure. It is boring to manipulate the screws frequently. Furthermore, the tiny screw will be easily lost or dropped into other electronics of the computer. If not removed carefully, the presence of a screw can cause electronic or physical damage to the computer electronics.  
         [0006]     Accordingly, what is needed is a mounting mechanism which facilitates assembly of a computer cover to a computer enclosure.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     A computer enclosure includes a chassis, a cover attached to the chassis and a lock system for securing the cover on the chassis. The lock system includes a spring and a locking piece pivotally attached to the cover. The locking piece has a driving portion at one end and at least one hook at the other end. The spring urges the hook to engage with the chassis. When the driving portion is pushed, the hook is levered and disengaged from the chassis.  
         [0008]     Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will be drawn from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the present invention with the attached drawings, in which: 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]      FIG. 1  is an exploded, isometric view of a mounting mechanism in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged, exploded view of a lock assembly and a base shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view of a cover and the components shown in  FIG. 2 , but viewed from another aspect;  
         [0012]      FIG. 4  is an assembled view of  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0013]      FIG. 5  is an assembled, partially cutaway view of the mounting mechanism shown in  FIG. 1 , the cover being in a closed position;  
         [0014]      FIG. 6  is a partially enlarged view of portion VI in  FIG. 5 ;  
         [0015]      FIG. 7  is an assembled, partially cutaway view of  FIG. 1 , the cover being in an opened position; and  
         [0016]      FIG. 8  is an partially enlarged view of portion VIII in  FIG. 7 .  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0017]     Referring to  FIGS. 1, 2  and  4 , a mounting mechanism for an enclosure of an electronic device like a computer in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a cover  20 , a chassis  30  and a lock system  40  for securing the cover  20  to the chassis  30 .  
         [0018]     The chassis  30  is used to receive electronic components such as hard disk, CD-ROM, motherboard, power supply and so on. The chassis  30  includes a bottom wall  36 , a pair of side walls  32  extending from opposite sides of the bottom wall  36 , and a rear plate  34  between the side walls  32 . A pair of flanges  322  each with three securing slots  324  defined thereon is bent inwardly from the top edges of the side plates  32  respectively. A flange  342  with three apertures  344  defined is bent inwardly from a top edge of the rear plate  34 . A support member  326  extends outwardly from the front portion of each side wall  32 . A slide rail  328  is formed in the outside of the support member  326 . A bar  320  for preventing over-moving of the cover  20  is disposed between the two side plates  32  and protruded through the two side walls  32  respectively.  
         [0019]     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3  simultaneously, the cover  20  comprises a bracket  22  and a curved panel  24  covering on the bracket  22 . Three openings  220  are defined along one edge of the bracket  22  in correspondence with the apertures  344  in the chassis  30 . A pair of flanges  221  are formed inwardly at the lower side of the base  22  respectively. Three hooks  223  protrude from each flange  221  in correspondence with the securing slots  324 . A pair of tabs  222  extends upwardly from the bracket  22  adjacent to the openings  220 . A hole  224  is defined at the center of each tab  222 . A receiving piece  228  having a receiving notch  226  defined is stamped upwardly between the two tabs  222 . The bracket  22  further includes a pair of side plates  229 . A post  227  corresponding to the slide rail  328  of the chassis  30  is formed at a front corner of each side plate  229 . An arcuate slot  225  for receiving the distal end of the bar  320  is defined in the side plate  229  at a back position relative to the post  227 .  
         [0020]     A receiving hole  244  is defined at a back flange  243  of the curved panel  24 . A handle  246  for pulling the cover  20  extends from the panel  24 . A rectangular through opening  240  is defined in a rear portion of the panel  24 . A pair of securing barbs  242  are protruded at two sides of the opening  240  respectively.  
         [0021]     The lock system  40  includes a substantially E-shaped locking piece  42 , a button  44 , a spring  46  and a lock  48 . Three pairs of hooks  424  corresponding to the openings  220  in the bracket  22  are protruded from the underside of the locking piece  42 . A pair of tabs  422  is formed at opposite ends of the locking piece  42  respectively. A recession  420  is defined in the middle of the locking piece  42 . An L-shaped driving portion  426  extends outwardly from one edge of the locking piece  42  at a middle thereof. The driving portion  426  is formed at the same side with the tab  422 . A second receiving notch  421  is defined at a joint of the driving portion  426  and the locking piece  42 . A short post  428  is protruded from one side of the driving portion  426  over the receiving notch  421 .  
         [0022]     The button  44  includes a pressing body  442  and a pair of resilient arms  444  extending outwardly from opposite sides of the pressing body  442 . A securing hole  443  is defined in an end portion of each resilient arm  444  in correspondence with the securing barb  242  in the panel  24 . A protuberance  441  matched with the driving portion  426  is protruded from the bottom of the pressing body  442 .  
         [0023]     The spring  46  includes a short leg  460 , a long leg  462  and a coil portion  464 .  
         [0024]     The lock  48  includes a main body  482  and a lock tab  484  vertically protruding from a bottom of the main body  482 .  
         [0025]     Referring to  FIGS. 1-5 , in assembly, the pressing body  442  of the button  44  is received in the through hole  240  of the curved panel  24 . The securing barbs  242  of the panel  24  are engaged in the securing holes  443 . Thereby, the button  14  is attached to the panel  24 . The hooks  424  of the locking piece  42  are extended through the openings  220  in the bracket  22 . The tabs  422  of the locking piece  42  are pivotally engaged in the holes  224  of the tabs  222  respectively. Thereby, the locking piece  42  is attached to the bracket  22 . The short leg  460  and the long leg  462  of the spring  46  are respectively received in the first receiving notch  226  of the bracket  22  and the second receiving notch  421  of the locking piece  42 , and the coil portion  464  is attached to the post  428 . The main body  482  of the lock  48  is received in the receiving hole  244  of the panel  24 . Then, the bracket  22  is attached to the panel  24  to form an integrated top cover  20 , and the lock system  40  is disposed therebetween.  
         [0026]     The post  227  of the bracket  22  is pivotally received in the slide rail  328  of the support member  326 . A distal end of the bar  320  is inserted in the slot  225  of the bracket  22 . Then the front portion of the cover  20  is pivotally attached to the chassis  30 .  
         [0027]     Referring to  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6 , the cover  20  is in a closed state. The hooks  424  of the locking piece  42  are respectively engaged into the apertures  344  of the chassis  30  (see  FIG. 1 ), and other three hooks  223  (see  FIG. 3 ) are respectively engaged into the securing slots  324  (see  FIG. 1 ) of the chassis  30 . The protuberance  441  of the button  44  touches the driving portion  426  of the securing piece  42 . The lock tab  484  of the lock  48  presses on the locking piece  42  to prevent the hooks  424  disengaging from the aperture  344 . The cover  20  is thus secured to the chassis. In the closed state, the spring  46  is in an initial state.  
         [0028]     Referring to  FIG. 7  and  FIG. 8 , when in use, the lock tab  484  is rotated about 90 degree, and the locking piece  42  is free. When the pressing body  442  of the button  44  is pushed, the driving portion  426  is pressed downwardly. The locking piece  42  is forced to pivot about the tabs  222  of the bracket  22 . The hooks  424  of the locking piece  42  is drawn from the apertures  344  of the chassis  30 . At this time, the spring  46  is twisted to be tensioned. It is understandable that when the button  44  is released at this moment, the spring  46  rebounds to urge the locking piece  42  to engage with the chassis  30  again.  
         [0029]     Pushing the handle  246  outwardly, the cover  20  is pivotally moved relative to the support members  326  of the chassis  30  to an open position for accessing and servicing the components in the computer enclosure.  
         [0030]     When in closed position, the hooks  424  and  223  are respectively engaged into the apertures  344  and the securing slots  324  of the chassis  30 . The cover  20  is fastened both in horizontal and vertical direction. It is to be understood that the lock is not necessary.  
         [0031]     It is believed that the present invention and its advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the examples hereinbefore described merely being preferred or exemplary embodiments of the invention.