Patent Publication Number: US-2011062836-A1

Title: Computer enclosure

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates to computer enclosures, and particularly to a computer enclosure providing coverage for expansion slots thereof. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     In order to upgrade the operating capabilities of a personal computer, a plurality of expansion cards is operatively installed in an enclosure of the personal computer. The expansion cards include network cards, sound cards, graphics accelerator cards, multi-media cards and others. The expansion cards may be installed in the enclosure during manufacture or after. 
     A plurality of slots is defined in a panel of the enclosure for mounting the expansion cards. A plurality of covering pieces is attached to the panel to cover the slots and provide shielding against electromagnetic interference when the slots are vacant. Often, each covering piece is L-shaped with an elongated portion and a bent portion extending perpendicular from the elongated portion. The elongated portion covers a corresponding slot, and the bent portion is fixed to the panel by screws. However, it is inconvenient to mount the covering piece on the panel using the screws. 
     Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Many aspects of the embodiments can be better understood with references to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the embodiments. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded isometric view of a panel of one embodiment of a computer enclosure and a covering piece thereof. 
         FIG. 2  is an isometric view of a covering piece of an embodiment of a computer enclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is an isometric view of a covering piece of one embodiment of a computer enclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is an assembly view of covering pieces mounted on the panel of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The disclosure is illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean at least one. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , an embodiment of a computer enclosure includes a panel  50  and a covering piece  10  for expansion slots of the panel  50 . 
     The covering piece  10  includes an elongated portion  11 , a bent portion  12  extending perpendicular from a top end of the elongated portion  11 , an insert portion  13  depending from a bottom end of the elongated portion  11 . Opposite sides of the insert portion  13  are stamped to form a pair of elastic protrusions  131  thereon. The protrusions  131  extend perpendicular to the insert portion  13 . 
     The panel  50  defines a plurality of expansion slots  51 . A pressure board  53  is pivotally mounted on the panel  50  above the expansion slots  51 . A support piece  58  is formed on the panel  50  above the expansion slots  51 . A plurality of restricting pieces  54  is formed below the plurality of expansion slots  51 , and each expansion slot  51  corresponds to one restricting piece  54 . A main portion of each restricting piece  54  is parallel to the panel  50 , and defines a receiving cutout  56  between the restricting piece  54  and the panel  50 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 4 , during attachment of the covering piece  10  to the panel  50 , the covering piece  10  is moved to the panel  50  with the elongated portion  11  covering one expansion slot  51  of the panel  50 . The insert portion  13  of the covering piece  10  is received in one corresponding receiving cutout  56 . The elastic protrusion  31  resists the restricting piece  54 , and is elastically bent by the restricting piece  54  perpendicular to a direction of the insert portion  13  received in the receiving cutout  56 . Then, the bent portion  12  of the covering piece  10  is placed on the support piece  58  of the panel  50 . The pressure board  53  rotates to bias bent portion  12  on the support piece  58  to secure the covering piece  10  on the panel  50 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , another embodiment of a covering piece  20  is shown. The covering piece  20  includes an elongated portion  21 , a bent portion  22  extending perpendicular from a top end of the elongated portion  21 , and an insert portion  23  depending from a bottom end of the elongated portion  21 . A middle portion of the insert portion  23  is stamped to form a curved elastic protrusion  231  thereon. The protrusion  231  extends perpendicular to the insert portion  23 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 4 , the covering piece  20  is secured on the panel  50  same as the covering piece  10 . The insert portion  23  of the covering piece  10  is received in the receiving cutout  56 , the curved elastic protrusion  231  is elastically bent by the restricting piece  54 , and the bent portion  22  is biased by the pressure board  53 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , another embodiment of a covering piece  30  is shown. The covering piece  30  includes an elongated portion  31 , a bent portion  32  extending perpendicular from a top end of the elongated portion  31 , and an insert portion  33  depending from a bottom end of the elongated portion  31 . The insert portion  33  is bent in a folded shape. The insert portion  31  is folded perpendicular to the insert portion  33 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the covering piece  30  is secured on the panel  50  the same as the covering piece  10 . The insert portion  33  of the covering piece  10  is received in the receiving cutout  56 , and is elastically bent by the restricting piece  54 . The bent portion  32  is biased by the pressure board  53 . 
     In the above embodiments, the insert portions of the covering pieces are bent by the restricting pieces to sandwich the insert portion of the covering pieces between the restricting pieces and the panel. Therefore, the covering pieces can be firmly and conveniently secured on the panel, while being easily removed. 
     It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the 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 present disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.