Abstract:
A computer enclosure includes a chassis ( 60 ) having a blocking portion ( 67 ) and a cover ( 10 ) attached to the chassis ( 60 ). A handle ( 20 ) having a pressing tab ( 26 ) is attached to the cover ( 10 ). A locking block ( 50 ) is locked with the blocking portion ( 67 ) to secure the cover ( 10 ) to the chassis ( 60 ). The locking block ( 50 ) includes an inclined face ( 53 ) for the pressing tab ( 26 ) sliding therealong. When the handle ( 20 ) is pulled, the locking block ( 50 ) is disengaged from the blocking portion ( 67 ) of the chassis ( 60 ).

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 a 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 are 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 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a chassis having a blocking portion and a cover attached to the chassis. A handle having a pressing tab is attached to the cover. A locking block is locked with the blocking portion to secure the cover to the chassis. The locking block includes an inclined face for the pressing tab sliding therealong. When the handle is pulled, the locking block is disengaged from the blocking portion of 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 computer enclosure in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  is a partial view of  FIG. 1 , and viewed from another aspect;  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  is an assembled view of  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0012]      FIG. 4  is an assembled view of  FIG. 1 , the cover being in a released station;  
         [0013]      FIG. 5  is a partially enlarged view of portion V in  FIG. 4 ;  
         [0014]      FIG. 6  is an assembled view of  FIG. 1 , the cover being in a locked station; and  
         [0015]      FIG. 7  is a partially enlarged view of portion VII in  FIG. 6 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0016]     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a mounting mechanism for a computer enclosure in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a cover  10 , a handle  20  received in the cover, a locking block  50  and a chassis  60 .  
         [0017]     The cover  10  includes a flange  11  protruding from one edge and a plate  12  extending inwardly from the other. A rectangular receiving recesss  13  is defined in the cover  10 . A pair of securing slots  131  are defined in the recess  13 . A rectangular opening  15  is defined between the two securing slots  131 . A post  17  adjacent to the opening  15  protrudes inwardly from the inner side of the cover  10 . A pair of opposite hooks  19  protrudes respectively from two sides of the post  17 . A sliding slot  18  is formed beside each hook  19 .  
         [0018]     The handle  20  includes a base  21  and a flange  22  formed therefrom. The base  21  sinks inwardly and forms a holding portion  23 . A plurality of catches  25  corresponding to the securing slots  131  protrudes from a bottom of the base  21 . An L-shaped pressing tab  26  corresponding to the opening  15  of the cover  10  extends backwardly from the bottom of the base  21 . A post  27  protrudes from the side wall of the base  21 . A first spring  30  is disposed around the post  27 .  
         [0019]     The locking block  50  is wedge-shaped, and includes a protuberance  55 . The locking block  50  has a pair of parallel side faces  51  and an inclined face  53 . A ridge  57  corresponding to the sliding slot  18  extends through the side face  51 . A securing notch  58  in correspondence with the hook  19  is defined at a corner of the side face  51 . A hollow  59  is formed in the bottom of the locking block  50  for receiving one end of a second spring  40 . The other end of the second spring  40  is disposed around the post  17 .  
         [0020]     The chassis  60  includes a front panel  61  and a rear panel  65 . A flange  63  extends backwardly from a side edge of the front panel  61 . A blocking portion  67  corresponding to the locking block  50  protrudes inwardly from the rear panel  65 .  
         [0021]     Referring to  FIG. 3 , one end of the second spring  40  is received in the hollow  59  and the other end is disposed around the post  17 . The ridges  57  of the locking block  50  are inserted into the sliding slots  18  of the cover  10 . After moving for a distance, the hooks  19  of the cover  10  are engaged into the securing notch  58  of the locking block  50 . Then the locking block  50  can be slid in a range between the cover  10  and the hooks  19 . Leaning the handle  20  little, the pressing tab  26  of the handle  20  gets through the opening  15  of the receiving recess  13  and touches against the inclined face  53  of the locking block  50 . The catches  25  of the handle  20  protrudes through the securing slots  131  and engages therein. One end of the first spring  30  is disposed around the post  27  of the base  21  and the other end is abutted against the plate  12  of the cover  10 . Thus, the handle  20  is assembled in the receiving recess  13 . The handle  20  and the locking block  50  is in an initial state.  
         [0022]     Referring to  FIGS. 4-7 , in assembly, pushing the cover  10  forwardly, the flange  11  of the cover  10  is inserted behind the side plate  63  of the chassis. The edge of side plate  63  abuts against the flange  11  to prevent the cover  10  further moving. While the cover  10  moving forwardly, the locking block  50  is forced to move outwardly by the blocking portion  67  of the rear panel  65 . The second spring  40  is compressed. When the protuberance  55  of the locking block  50  rides over the blocking portion  67 , the locking block  50  rebounds due to the spring  40 . The protuberance  55  is blocked by the blocking portion  67 , so that the cover  10  can not be moved back. Thus, the cover  10  is mounted on the chassis  60 .  
         [0023]     In disassembly, pulling the handle  20  backwardly in the receiving recess  13 , the pressing tab  26  is slid along the inclined face  53  towards the protuberance  55  until the locking block  50  is pressed to move outwardly. The locking block  50  is retracted to avoid the blocking portion  67 . Pulling the cover  10  backwardly, the cover  10  is disassembled from the chassis  60 . At this time, the handle  20  and the locking block  50  come back to the initial state respectively for the next operation due to the spring  30  and  40 .  
         [0024]     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.