Patent Publication Number: US-2003230699-A1

Title: Computer tower stand

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] 1. Field of the Invention  
       [0002] This invention relates generally to a personal computer support device, and specifically to a structure utilized to support a computer device and conceal electrical cords and peripheral devices utilized in conjunction with the computer device.  
       [0003] 2. Discussion of Background  
       [0004] Computer owners have long been burdened by electrical cords, power outlet strips, surge protectors, AC adaptors, and other peripheral electrical devices that are utilized in conjunction with computer systems and that often create an unmanageable work space and unsightly and dangerous work environment. Typically, these peripheral devices include a variety of power and data cables and cords associated therewith to provide electrical signals to the device and connect the devices to the computer itself and an AC power outlet.  
       [0005] Desk top computer users, that utilize a computer tower chassis to house the computer, typically support the computer tower chassis on the floor or some other suitable flat surface that is disposed near the desk or other work space that the user is utilizing. The distance from the computer tower chassis to the associated peripheral electrical devices, such as a printer, a speaker(s), a monitor, a keyboard, and a mouse, is relative to the length of the power cable associated with the peripheral device and the distance from the device to the computer tower chassis and the AC electrical outlet. As a result of these constrictions, it is a common sight to see a plurality of electrical cords and cables disposed beside and extending from the computer tower. These electrical cords present an unsightly, distracting, and even dangerous environment to the computer user, a passerby, and to the computer system itself. Due to the proximity of the computer tower to the workspace of the user, the user or a passerby may trip over the electrical cords and cause injury to himself and/or the computer equipment. Furthermore, due to the sheer number of electrical cords utilized, it is common for these electrical cords to become tangled and twisted during the normal operation of the computer system. In this manner, manipulating the mouse or moving the keyboard, monitor, or some other peripheral device may cause one or more cords to pull on the adjacent cords such that one or more of the cords or devices become disconnected and/or damaged.  
       [0006] Furthermore, many conventional desktop computer systems utilize a variety of peripheral devices that afford the computer system multimedia capabilities. These peripheral devices often include one or two speakers that sit on a computer user&#39;s work surface, or some other surface adjacent to the user, to provide sound associated with a computer file being utilized. The speaker is provided with an electrical power cord that is connected to the computer tower chassis. Therefore, the additional power cords and associated speakers will also contribute to the unsightly pile of cords and devices utilized in conjunction with a conventional desktop computer system.  
       [0007] Therefore, there is a need for a device that supports a computer tower, for a computer system wherein the monitor and keyboard are separate from the computer, in a manner such that electrical peripheral devices and the excess length of electrical cords, that extend from the computer tower and the peripheral devices, may be both stored and concealed within the device while creating a safe working environment for the computer system, a user, and the general public.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0008] It is an object of the present invention to provide a support device for a computer tower associated with a computer system, and conceal the electrical peripheral devices and the excess electrical cord length associated with the computer system.  
       [0009] The computer tower stand comprises a structure including a shelf adapted to support a computer tower chassis, and a main compartment configured to conceal and store peripheral devices such as cables that extend from the computer tower chassis and the various other electrical devices utilized in conjunction with the computer system. The main compartment is also configured to contain a compartment that supports a speaker assembly. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0010]FIG. 1 is a front end perspective view of the computer tower stand supporting a computer tower chassis.  
     [0011]FIG. 2 is a front-end perspective view of the computer stand.  
     [0012]FIG. 3 is a side perspective view of the computer tower stand showing the wire and cable connections from the computer to various electrical devices stored within the computer tower stand and the interior of the computer tower stand.  
     [0013]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the computer tower stand.  
     [0014]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of still another embodiment of the computer tower stand.  
     [0015]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a computer system utilizing a work environment enhancer cable.  
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0016] Referring to FIG. 1, the present invention provides for a system for supporting a computer tower chassis and other electrical equipment including computer peripheral devices that are apart of a conventional desk top computer system wherein the computer tower chassis is configured to be separated from a computer monitor and keyboard. In such a conventional system, the computer tower chassis is configured to be supported by a floor or some other appropriate surface such that the monitor, keyboard, and other peripheral devices may be connected to the computer tower chassis by their respective electrical cords or cables. FIG. 1 shows a computer tower stand  100  supporting a computer tower chassis  102  that houses a computer  106 , of a desk top computer system, in an effort to facilitate the concealment of the excess length of cords  104 , and other electrical equipment (see FIG. 3) stored within the interior of the computer tower stand  100 .  
     [0017] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, computer tower stand  100  includes a housing  200  that comprises a shelf  202 , a first side rail  204 , a second side rail  206 , a first side wall  208 , a second side wall  210 , a front wall  212 , a back wall  214 , a bottom wall  246 , and a main compartment  300 , discussed in detail below, formed therein. Housing  200  is structurally configured to supportively support any conventional computer tower chassis and store various other equipment therein, as will be discussed in greater detail below. Housing  200  may be made out of a metal, wood, plastic or other material that has the capabilities and properties to effect the intended purpose of the present invention.  
     [0018] As illustrated in FIG. 2, shelf  202  extends a vertical height h 1  from a supporting surface  220  and connects front wall  212  to back wall  214 , and side walls  208  and  210  at junctions  216 , and  218 , respectively, formed between side walls  208  and  210  and side rails  204  and  206 . Shelf  202  includes a front portion  222  that is formed on a proximal side  224  of housing  200 , and a distal portion  226  that extends from front portion  222  to back wall  214 . A first opening  232  is formed adjacent on distal portion  236 , a third opening  236  formed adjacent front portion  222  of shelf  202 , and a second opening  234  is formed between first opening  232  and third opening  236 . Vibratory discs  238  are disposed on front portion  222 , and distal portion  226 , between first, second, and third openings  232 ,  234 ,  236 , and are configured to both dampen vibrations caused by electrical equipment stored in the computer tower stand  100  and shield computer chassis  102  from other forces that may act upon the same. Vibratory discs  238  also create a surface between computer chassis  102  and tower stand  100  in an effort to reduce wear and tear that may occur to housing  200  during normal operating conditions of the present invention. Vibratory discs  238  may be made of neoprene, felt, or any material that processes properties to effect the aforementioned intended purpose.  
     [0019] First, second, and third openings  232 ,  234 ,  236 , form first, second, and third passageways  240 ,  242 , and  244 , respectively, that communicate with main compartment  300 . First opening  232  has a sufficient width and length that afford sufficient space therein to pass electrical cords  104  into and out of main compartment  300 , and facilitates the placement of various peripheral and electrical devices in main compartment  300  in a manner such that these devices may be passed through first passageway  240  and permanently positioned in main compartment  300 . In an effort to supply electrical power to computer chassis  102  and various peripheral and electrical devices associated with a computer system, first opening  232  is formed in spatial relation to various electrical equipment and devices stored in main compartment  300  in a manner such that power may be afforded to computer chassis  102  and the various peripheral devices.  
     [0020] As illustrated in FIG. 2, second and third openings  234  and  236  are formed in proximal relation to first opening  232  and, similarly, have sufficient widths and lengths to facilitate the permanent placement of various peripheral and electrical devices within main compartment  300 . In this manner, electrical equipment may be passed through passageways  242  and  244  in a manner such the devices may be placed in their permanent positions disposed in main compartment  300 . The peripheral and electrical devices will be discussed in greater detail below.  
     [0021] Front wall  212  forms the front of housing  200  and has a plurality of slits  248  formed therein, the slits cooperating to form a speaker grille  250  configured to pass sound originating from a speaker assembly  330  (see FIG. 3) disposed behind speaker grille  250 . A stop  252  extends from front wall  212  in an upwardly vertical direction. Stop  252  includes a ledge  254 , that has a central section  256  that extends a distance x in an upwardly vertical direction from shelf  202  and is parallel to supporting surface  220 , and two lateral sections  258  and  260  that extend from central section  256  and slope in an upwardly direction to height h 2 .  
     [0022] Sidewalls  208  and  210  connect front wall  212  to back wall  214  and bottom wall  246 . Formed in sidewall  210  is a plurality of slits  262 , that cooperate to form vent  264  to provide air to main compartment  300  and provide an exit for heat to ventilate through, and a sound port  266  used in conjunction with speaker assembly  330  (see FIG. 3). Similarly, sidewall  208  may include a sound port and ventilation assembly (not shown). Side rails  204  and  206  extend in an upwardly vertical direction from sidewalls  208  and  210 , respectively. Side rails  204  and  206  each include ledges  268  and  270 , respectively, that include running portions  270 ,  272  and sloping portions  274 ,  276 , respectively. Side rails  204  and  206  cooperate with stop  252  and shelf  202  to form a supporting cavity  280  wherein computer tower chassis  102  is disposed when supported by stand  100 .  
     [0023] Back wall  214  (not shown) has an opening for a conventional power cord  278  that is configured to connect to a standard wall outlet to provide electrical power to the devices stored within main compartment  300 . A power status LED  282  may be disposed in front wall  212  to indicate whether an electrical component, such as speaker  330  (see FIG. 3), is on or off. Additionally, one or more ventilation assemblies and an opening through which a user may manipulate a power on/off switch, to control the components connected to an electrical device, may be formed in back wall  214 .  
     [0024] Referring to FIGS.  1 - 3 , the interior of main compartment  300  is configured to conceal the excess length of electrical cords  104  and store a plurality of electrical devices therein. The electrical devices may include a power supply, a surge protector and/or power strip  312 , AC adaptors  314  and  326 , a plurality electrical plugs  316 ,  318  for an external device, a bulky computer peripheral device  320  that may be utilized with the present invention, and a surge protector  322  that provides cable or phone line surge protection. For example, the bulky device  320  that may be stored within main compartment  300  may include extensions for mouse or keyboard cables, excess cable(s), AC adapters, secondary surge protectors, a power conditioner, a battery powered back-up power supply, external modems, fan assemblies, network input plugs, etc. The list is merely exemplary and not intended to be exhaustive. Surge protector  312  includes power cord  278  that extends from an opening (not shown) formed in back wall  214  such that the electrical devices, including computer  106 , may be afforded power through one connection between power cord  278  and a standard wall outlet. In this manner, an on/off switch  324  may be used to provide or terminate power to the electrical devices connected to surge protector  312 .  
     [0025] Electrical cords  104  may include a power cord  302  for a peripheral device, such as a scanner, monitor, or a printer (not shown), a cable or phone line cord  304  after passing through an electrical device, such as a surge protector  322  stored in main compartment  300 , a cable  306  that connects the computer  106  to a peripheral device, a power cord  308  for the computer  106 , and cable or phone line cord  310  extending from a line in the wall (not shown) and connecting to electrical device  322 . Although a few electrical cords and cables that may be associated with a computer are identified, this list is not exhaustive. For example, a plurality of computer peripheral devices that may be used in conjunction with computer  106  may include various electrical cords that may benefit from the present invention.  
     [0026] As illustrated in FIGS.  1 - 3 , computer tower stand  100  is utilized to store excess electrical cord and cable length that extends from computer tower chassis  102  and various other computer peripheral devices in an effort to create an organized arrangement of computer accessories and cables while minimizing unsightly, distracting, and dangerous computer systems that may result from a tangle of cords sitting beside a computer tower. To effect this purpose, computer tower stand  100  is configured to store and prevent excess cable length from engaging supporting surface  220 . As seen in FIG. 3, a portion of the electrical cords  104 , such as cable computer power cable  308 , extend from the computer tower chassis, through first opening  232  and first passageway  240 , and into main compartment  300  to power the computer devices, via AC adaptor  326  and surge protector  312 . A portion of the electrical cords  104  associated with various peripheral devices, such as cable  302  used to power a monitor or printer, extend into main compartment  300  and plug into surge protector  312  to provide power and surge protection to the associated device. Furthermore, a portion of the cables  104  associated with external devices, such as cable or phone line cord  310  and  304 , extend from an outlet disposed in a wall (not shown) into main compartment  300 , via passageway  240 , connect to surge protector  322  stored within main compartment  300 , and pass through passageway  240  as they extend out main compartment  300  to form a connection to the associated device such as computer  106 . Still Further, a portion of the cables  104  associated with peripheral devices, such as cable  328  that is utilized to transmit electrical signals to peripheral device  320 , extend from a source external to computer tower stand  100  into main compartment  300 , via passageway  240 , connect to peripheral device  320 , and extend out of main compartment to form a connection with computer  106 . In this manner, computer tower stand  100  raises the computer  106  above supporting surface  220  and stores the excess length of associated electrical cables  104  to effectively prevent the entanglement of cords  104 , and prevent the excess length of cables  104  from engaging supporting surface  220 . Therefore, an unsightly and dangerous environment wherein the cords may cause a passerby to trip, the cords are removed upon accidental engagement with the same and an individual, or the cords are inadvertently disconnected from their associated electrical devices upon direct manipulation of adjacent cords and cables, is prevented.  
     [0027] Computer tower stand  100  may also be utilized to encase a speaker assembly  330 . As illustrated in FIG. 3, a speaker compartment  332  is formed within main compartment  300  via a separation wall  334 . Speaker assembly  330  is mounted by conventional means to a back surface  338  of front wall  214  such that the sound produced therefrom may travel through speaker grille  250  formed in front wall  214  and disposed adjacent to speaker  330  (see FIG. 2). Speaker assembly  330  has an electrical power cable (not shown) that extends through speaker compartment  332  and through main compartment  300  to connect to computer  106 , via passageway  204 . Speaker  330  may be a subwoofer assembly or any speaker that may be electrically connected a computer system and housed within a similar compartment. Sound port  266  is formed in sidewall  210  and speaker compartment  332 . Although a preferred embodiment of speaker assembly  330  is illustrated herein, it is to be understood that variations may be made by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. For example, speaker assembly  330  may be a compact speaker assembly having a size and dimension to enable the same to fit within speaker compartment  332 . Furthermore, there may be multiple speaker compartments that house one or more speaker assemblies.  
     [0028] In a first embodiment, computer tower stand  100  is constructed in a manner such that shelf  202  is integral with housing  200 . As illustrated in FIG. 4, another embodiment of a computer tower stand  400  is shown wherein a housing  402  may be constructed such that a shelf  404  may be detached from housing  402  to facilitate the placement of electrical devices that are to be stored within a main compartment  420  of housing  402 . Referring to FIG. 4, a ledge  406  is formed around the inside periphery of housing  402  at a junction between a pair of opposing side walls  408 , and  410  and front wall  416 , and a pair of opposing side rails  412 , and  414 , and stop  418 , respectively. To enclose main compartment  420 , shelf  404  is lowered onto ledge  406  and maintained in a position on ledge  406  to thereby effect a support for computer tower chassis  102 . Computer tower stand  400  is operated in the same manner as computer tower stand  100  discussed with reference to FIGS.  1 - 3 .  
     [0029] As illustrated in FIG. 5, another embodiment of a computer tower stand  500  is shown wherein a housing  502  comprises a sidewall  504  that includes a fan assembly  506  disposed therein. The fan assembly  506  is electrically connected, via an AC adapter (not shown) to an electrical device such as surge protector  312  (see FIG. 3) to provide power to the fan assembly. In this manner, the electrical devices stored within computer tower stand  500  may be cooled by a stream of air directed by fan assembly  506  into a main compartment  508  formed within housing  502 . Alternatively, fan assembly  506  may be disposed in a back wall  510  of housing  502 .  
     [0030] As may be seen from the above discussion regarding the computer tower stand and associated computer system, a multi-media computer system may include a number of peripheral cables that are included and directed towards the computer tower chassis and the computer. Therefore, in an alternative embodiment, a cable  600  is structured to receive a plurality of utility cables  602  necessary to support various computer peripheral devices including the speakers  614 , keyboard  610 , mouse  612 , and monitor  608 . The utility cables  602  may include left and right speaker wires, a USB cable, monitor signal and power cords, a mouse signal cord, a keyboard signal cord, and any other power or signal cords that are utilized with conventional computer peripheral devices that a multi-media computer system may utilize. Other computer peripheral devices incorporated into a multi-media computer system, for example, may include a scanner, printer, external DVD or CD player, external tape drive, etc. The cable  600  extends from a computer tower chassis  606  to a work area  604 . The cable  600  may also extend from the computer tower stand to the computer tower chassis or directly to the individual computer devices. The excess length of the cable  600  may be stored in the computer tower stand in a manner such that the number of cords and cables  602  that are associated with the system is reduced in an effort to create a better work environment. In an alternative embodiment, a sleeve may be utilized to group the computer peripheral device utility cables together and configured to receive all of the utility cables  602  and provide organized passage of the utility cables  602  towards the rear of the computer tower chassis  606 .  
     [0031] While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the present invention. Thus, the present invention is to be limited solely by the appended claims.