Abstract:
A panel assembly for reflecting and shielding rays of a light source ( 20 ), includes a panel ( 10 ) and a light-reflecting member ( 30 ) pivotably mounted to the panel. The panel includes a base ( 11 ) and a bent plate ( 13 ) perpendicular to the base. A light-pervious board ( 131 ) is disposed on the panel. The light-reflecting member defines an opening ( 32 ) facing the light pervious area, for reflecting light rays to be incident on the light-pervious area through the opening, wherein the light-reflecting member is rotatable to change position of the opening of the light-reflecting member relative to the light-pervious area, thereby adjusting the brightness of the light-previous area.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
   1. Technical Field 
   The present invention relates to front panels of computer systems, and more particularly to a front panel of a computer system with a light-reflecting and light-shielding apparatus. 
   2. General Background 
   Usually, a light source, such as a light-emitting diode, is installed on a front panel of a computer system, in order to display the working state of the computer system. Generally, a light-pervious switch button is positioned on the front panel. When the switch button is pushed to press an electrical switch, the power supply switches on and the light source emits light, and the switch button is illuminated. However, in conventional computer systems, one light source corresponds to only one switch button. If another switch button or light-pervious member needs illumination, additional light-emitting diodes should be provided. In addition, the light-emitting diode as a spot light source, lights only a limited area. 
   Another conventional apparatus is provided for illuminating more light-pervious members and enlarging the lit area of the light source, which includes an arcuate flat light-reflecting member mounted on a computer panel. The light-reflecting member includes a light incident surface, a light-guiding portion, and a light-showing portion. A bracket is disposed above the light incident surface for receiving a light source. Rays emitted by the light source are reflected by the light-guiding portion, and illuminate a larger area of the computer panel via the light-showing portion. However, the light of the computer panel cannot be shielded when users don&#39;t want to see the light while the computer is running. 
   What is needed, therefore, is a front panel of a computer system with a light-reflecting and light-shielding apparatus allowing a larger area of the computer panel to be lit and also shield the light when so desired. 
   SUMMARY 
   A panel assembly comprises a panel comprising a base and a bent plate perpendicular to the base, a light-reflecting member pivotably mounted to the base of the panel. The bent plate has a light-pervious area. The light-reflecting member defines an opening opposite to the light-pervious area, for directing light rays to be incident on the light-pervious area through the opening thereof, wherein the light-reflecting member is rotatable to change position of the opening of the light-reflecting member relative to the light-pervious area, thereby adjusting the brightness of the light-previous area. 
   Other advantages and novel features will be drawn from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments with attached drawings, in which: 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a light-reflecting and light-shielding apparatus in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, including a computer panel; 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded, isometric view of the light-reflecting and light-shielding apparatus of  FIG. 1 , also including a light-reflecting member, a securing apparatus, a button, and a light source; 
       FIG. 3  is an enlarged isometric view of the securing apparatus of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 4  is an assembled view of the button, the securing apparatus, and the light-reflecting member of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 5  is similar to  FIG. 4  but viewed from another aspect; 
       FIG. 6  is an assembled view of the light-reflecting and light-shielding apparatus; 
       FIG. 7  is similar to  FIG. 6 , but viewed from another aspect; and 
       FIG. 8  is similar to  FIG. 7 , the light-reflecting member rotated down. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , a light reflecting and shielding apparatus in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, includes a computer panel  10 . 
   The computer panel  10  includes a base  11 , and a bent plate  13  generally perpendicular to the base  11 . A pair of elongated hooks  18  protrudes from the inner surface of the base  11 . Each elongated hook  18  includes a supporting pole  181  and a clasp  183  protruding from a free end of the supporting pole  181 . A pair of positioning posts  17  is formed from the inner surface of the base  11  adjacent each elongated hook  18 . Each positioning post  17  defines a positioning hole  171  therein. A receiving hole  15  is defined in the base  11  between the pair of elongated hooks  18 . A pair of parallel guiding protrusions  132 , each with a slot defined therein, is formed on an inner surface of the bent plate  13 , and extends along a direction perpendicular to the base  11 . A generally ellipse-shaped through opening is defined in the bent plate  13 , and extends along a direction perpendicular to the guiding protrusions  132 . A light-pervious area, such as a generally ellipse-shaped transparent board  131 , is fitted in the through opening by engaging with the slots of the guiding protrusions  132 . A rectangular slot  135  is defined in the bent plate  13  adjacent the light-pervious board  131 . A pair of tabs  133  protrudes from the slot  135  at opposite side thereof. A plurality of teeth  134  is disposed on one of the tabs  133 . 
   Referring also to  FIG. 2 , the light reflecting and shielding apparatus in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, also includes a light-reflecting member  30  for reflecting rays of a light source  20  and enlarging an illuminated area, a button  70 , a switch module  80 , and a securing apparatus  50 . The light source  20  may, for example, be a light-emitting diode. The light-reflecting member  30  has a hollow body, a semicircular top wall  35 , a semicircular bottom wall  37  parallel to the top wall  35 , and a generally embowed sidewall  31  integrated with them. A generally rectangular through opening  32  for light passing therethrough, is defined by adjacent edges of the top wall  35 , the bottom wall  37 , and the sidewall  31 . A through hole  351  is defined at a rear end of the light-reflecting member  30 , and through the top wall  35  and the bottom wall  37  thereof, for accommodating the light source  30 . An operating handle  36  extends forward from a side edge of the light-reflecting member  30 , for extending through the slot  135  of the bent plate  13  of the computer panel  10 . An engaging projection  362  protrudes from the operating handle  36  for engaging with the teeth  134  of the tab  133  of the computer panel  10 . A pair of jointing portions  38  protrudes from the sidewall  31  at opposite sides thereof respectively. Each jointing portion  38  defines a pivot  39  therein. 
   The button  70  includes a button portion  72 , a pair of elastic portions  73  extends from the button portion  72  at opposite sides thereof respectively. A mounting portion  75  extends from each elastic portion  73  at the free end thereof, the mounting portion  75  includes an ellipse-shaped mounting hole  751 . The button  70  also includes a pressing portion (not shown) for triggering a switch head  81  of the switch module  80 . 
   Referring also to  FIG. 3 , the securing apparatus  50  includes a base  51 . A trapeziform bevel  52  is formed from a side of the base  51 . A pair of clips  53  each of which have a pivoting hole  531  defined therein, extends up from the bevel  52  at opposite sides thereof, for receiving the pivot  39  of the light-reflecting member  30 . A mounting portion  55  extends from a higher side of the bevel  52  between the pair of clips  53 . The mounting portion  55  includes a receiving hole  551  for receiving the light source  20  and a hook  553  for securing the light source  20  in the receiving hole  551 . A through opening  521  is defined in the base  51  corresponding to the mounting portion  55 . Two pair of mounting posts  58  having a plurality of supporting poles (not labeled) extending therearound, protrudes down from the base  51  of the securing apparatus  50 , for engaging in the positioning holes  171  of the positioning post  17  of the computer panel  10 . A pair of hooks  59  for securing the power module  80  extends down from the base  51  of the securing apparatus  50 . A pair of locking openings  56  is formed from the securing apparatus  50  at side edges thereof, for receiving the corresponding clasps  183  of the elongated hooks  18 . 
   Referring also to  FIGS. 4 to 7 , in assembly, the switch module  80  is secured on the securing apparatus  50 . The positioning posts  58  of the securing apparatus  50  are inserted into the corresponding mounting holes  751  of the button  70  respectively. At this time, the pressing portion contacts the switch head  81  of the switch module  81 . The pivots  39  of the light-reflecting member  30  are mounted in the corresponding pivoting holes  531  respectively. The light source  20  is inserted into the receiving hole  551  of the light-reflecting member  30  and secured by the hook  553  of the light-reflecting member  30 . Then the light-reflecting member  30  is pushed toward the base  11 , until the positioning posts  58  are respectively inserted into the positioning holes  171  of the positioning posts  17 . The hook protrusions  183  of the elongated hooks  18  engage with the locking openings  56  respectively. The light-reflecting member  30  is thus secured on the computer panel  10 . The light source  20  is positioned in the through hole  351 , and electrically connected with the computer system for receiving power. The operating handle  65  extends through the slot  135  of the bent plate  13  of the computer panel  10 , thereby exposing it, and the teeth  134  of the tab  133  are engaged with the engaging projection  362  of the light-reflecting member  30  for positioning the light-reflecting member  30 . The button portion  72  is received in the receiving hole  15  of the computer panel  10  and exposed outside. The through opening  32  of the light-reflecting member  30  is aligned with the transparent board  20 . 
   In use, when the computer system is on, the light source  20  emits light. Some rays of the light source  20  shine on the button portion  72  through the through hole  351  of the light-reflecting member  30  and the through opening  521  of the securing apparatus  50 . Normally, the through opening  32  of the light-reflecting member  30  is aligned with the transparent board  131 . Some rays directly irradiate the transparent board  131 , and other rays are reflected onto the transparent board  131  by an inner surface of the light-reflecting member  30 . Thus, the button portion  72  and the transparent board  131  are both illuminated, thereby rendering a beautiful effect on the computer panel  10  when the computer system is on. If users want the light only partially illuminating the transparent board  131 , the light-reflecting member  30  is rotated down to a position, which allows the desired amount of illumination, by pulling down the operating handle  36 . If users don&#39;t want the transparent board  131  to be illuminated at all, the operating handle  36  of the light-reflecting member  30  can be pulled down until there is no light to illuminate the transparent board  131 . Thus, the transparent board  20  is shielded from the light, as best shown in  FIG. 8 . 
   It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages have been set forth in the foregoing description of preferred embodiments, together with details of the structures and functions of the preferred embodiments, 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.