Abstract:
A system and method for latching an industrial PC to a rack which uses a front end mounted handle which actuates a retractable hook member which engages a void in the shelf of a slot in the rack.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention generally relates to computers, and more particularly relates to personal computers, and even more particularly relates to methods and systems for securing personal computers into racks.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    In recent years, industrial personal computers have become increasingly prevalent in many industries. It is not uncommon today to see rows of industrial PCs arranged in racks. These racks of PCs are typically massive objects which remain generally stationary during normal operation. However, the racks and the computers within them may be subject to vibration, bumps, and other physical disturbances. It is generally desirable to have the PC securely mounted in the racks to prevent damage and/or cabling disconnections. A typical rack attachment approach is to use a faceplate on the PC which is slightly larger than the remaining exterior of the PC chassis. The faceplate is then screwed to a support structure located between the PCs in the rack. While many of these industrial PCs are often designed and manufactured to higher standards than consumer PCs, they still are occasionally in need of repair. When this happens, the PC is usually required to be removed from the rack.  
           [0003]    While these enlarged faceplates, with mounting screws therethrough, have been used extensively in the past, they do have some drawbacks. First of all, it requires time, and it may require tools, to unscrew the mounting screws. Also, when these PCs are used outside of a rack, the oversized faceplate can cause problems. For example, the PC will often be sitting at an angle on a desktop etc., and then only having very limited contact with the desktop. Otherwise, the use of a desk-mount adapter, which is essentially a sleeve into which the PC is inserted, is required. If a desk-mount adapter is not used, then the desktop may also be subject to undesirable wear along the areas of contact, and the PC may be unstable and susceptible to tipping or slipping off the desktop.  
           [0004]    Consequently, there exists a need for improved methods and systems for securing a PC into a rack of PCs.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a system and method for securing a PC in a rack in an efficient manner.  
           [0006]    It is a feature of the present invention to utilize a retractable base latch hook.  
           [0007]    It is another feature of the present invention to include a front panel actuated latch handle.  
           [0008]    It is an advantage of the present invention to achieve quick release of the PC from the PC rack.  
           [0009]    It is another advantage of the present invention to reduce the need for desktop adapters.  
           [0010]    It is another advantage of the present invention to provide an attractive faceplate.  
           [0011]    The present invention is an apparatus and method securing industrial personal computers to a rack. The invention is designed to satisfy the aforementioned needs, provide the previously stated objects, include the above-listed features, and achieve the already articulated advantages. The present invention is carried out in a “mounting screw and enlarged faceplate-less” manner in a sense that the size of enlarged faceplates and the use of mounting screws have been greatly reduced.  
           [0012]    Accordingly, the present invention is a system and method including an industrial computer, having a retractable rack hook, which is actuated by a front panel mounted handle.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]    The invention may be more fully understood by reading the following description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, in conjunction with the appended drawings wherein:  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a system of the present invention.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a partially dismantled faceplate portion of a PC of FIG. 1, including the retractable hook apparatus.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the retractable hook member of the present invention taken from a view point inside the PC looking outwardly.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the front panel mounted handle with a hook member engaging pin thereon.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a back side of a faceplate of the present invention.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the cooperation between the pin receiving void of the hook member and the hook member engaging pin of the front panel mounted handle.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a completed assembly containing the hook member, the front panel mounted handle, and the faceplate, taken from a view point from behind the faceplate  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0021]    Now referring to the drawings wherein like numerals refer to like matter throughout, and more specifically referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a system of the present invention generally designated  100 , including a rack  102  for retaining industrial PCs. An industrial PC  104  is shown having been removed from a slot  105  in rack  102 . PC  104  has a front end  106  and a read end  107 . Front end  106  has a handle  108  thereon. Also shown in FIG. 1 is a retractable hook member tip  110  and a quick connecting blind mating connector  112 . Retractable hook member tip  110  will extend into hook receiving void  114  when PC  104  is placed within slot  105 .  
         [0022]    The PC  104  includes a faceplate  210  which is shown in FIG. 2 as having a retractable hook member  220  and handle  108 , having a hook member engaging pin  230  thereon.  
         [0023]    Now referring to FIG. 3, there is shown a retractable hook member  220  of FIG. 2, shown from an opposite direction from FIG. 2. Retractable hook member  220  is shown having a retractable hook member top section  302 , a retractable hook member horizontal middle section  304 , and retractable hook member bottom section  306 , as well as a retractable hook member hook section  308 . Retractable hook member hook section  308  includes an inclined leading hook member tip edge  310  and a hook member tip trailing edge  312 . Also shown is a handle pin receiving void  320  with a handle pin receiving void maximum height dimension  322  and a handle pin receiving void minimum height dimension  324 . The biasing of the retractable hook member  220  is accomplished by resilient member  330 , which includes resilient member free floating end  332  and resilient member fixed end  334 .  
         [0024]    Now referring to FIG. 4, there is shown a more detailed drawing of the handle  108  of FIG. 1, which includes a handle faceplate surface  410 , a finger receiving void  420 , and a handle stop  430 .  
         [0025]    Now referring to FIG. 5, there is shown a faceplate  210  of FIG. 2, which includes a faceplate side wall  510 , a hook member retaining wall  512 , a resilient member vertical stop  514 , a handle top guide shelf  516 , and a hook member bottom alignment guide  518 .  
         [0026]    Now referring to FIG. 6, there is shown an alternate view of the cooperation between pin  230  and handle pin receiving void  320 .  
         [0027]    Now referring to FIG. 7, there is shown a view of the faceplate  210 , retractable hook member  220 , and handle  108  in an assembled configuration.  
         [0028]    Throughout this description, reference is made to an industrial PC, because it is believed that the beneficial aspects of the present invention would be most readily apparent when used in connection with industrial PCs; however, it should be understood that the present invention is not intended to be limited to industrial PCs and should be hereby construed to include other non-industrial PCs.  
         [0029]    Throughout this description, the handle is shown as a sliding handle which moves a sliding retractable member. It is believed that this may be preferred. However, the present invention is intended to include alternate styles of handles; for example, hinged and pivoting handles, as well as pivoting retractable hook members.  
         [0030]    Throughout this description, the term “industrial PC” is used to represent a PC of the type which is capable of being stored in racks of multiple rows of PCs, where each row has multiple PCs and where the PCs are coupled to wiring associated with the rack and other equipment by at least one connector at the rear end of the PC. This definition of industrial PCs is not intended to include laptop PCs, which have connectors on the rear end of the laptop for coupling with a docking station or a port replicator. Consequently, the term “industrial PC” will specifically exclude any computer which has along its top side a hinged display screen hinged along the rear end of the PC.  
         [0031]    It is thought that the method and apparatus of the present invention will be understood from the foregoing description and that it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construct steps, and arrangement of the parts and steps thereof, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of their material advantages. The form herein described is merely a preferred exemplary embodiment thereof.