Patent Abstract:
The present invention discloses a computer housing with specially shaped sides and removably attached aesthetic outer shells. The housing is formed of five sides where by four of them come together to form a sixth side, having at least one of these four sides hinged too open to reveal the interior of the computer housing. The housing is fastened to a base panel of an aesthetic outer shell where a top half section attaches itself to a base panel, concealing the housing.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Most personal computers in use today consist of a housing and panels that fasten directly to all sides of the housing. Once a personal computer is selected it limits the consumer to a single designated design, with perhaps the ability to change the front bezel and or its sides with removable square colored panels. 
     A process called modding can change the look of the computer; this is a way of altering the appearance of a standard computer case by make minor alterations and additions such as adding lights and cutting designs into the computer case. This leaves the original and usual tower and box shape remaining. So many have begun installing computer components into miscellaneous objects or creating ones from scratch. This is extremely time consuming and makes the ability to sell in quantity almost impossible. For the normal computer user such work is unfeasible not only because of the time but the need to possess and be familiar with certain tools. Leaving no choice but to purchase a standard computer case and/or computer from a manufacturer. The personal computer cases form also has an affect on the installation of components. 
     In a typical case design the installation of components are usually difficult because of cramped areas leaving little mobility of ones hands. As the cases form factor gets smaller the more difficult it gets. Advances to computer cases have been made, by allowing movable motherboard trays, a swing out side panel, and removable one-piece three sided tops. 
     The limitations with these are that in order to remove a fully assembled motherboard tray one has to remove the wires that are attached to the motherboard. While a swing out side panel allows for greater mobility it still leaves some area components confined. One piece three sided tops many times requires a multitude of screws that are attached to the housing. Even once it is removed it still leaves access to the computer components cramped because of the traditional unmovable four pillar housing structure. 
     It would be desirable for all users to be able to have a computer where it is not only easy to install components, but to allow them to directly effect the shape, not just the color. Transforming it into something that looks more like decorative art than a computer. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention, an improved computer case, is a uniquely shaped housing structure with multi-angled walls that fasten to separate removable outer shells without the use of tools. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       Figures 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded view of a personal computer housing. 
         FIG. 2  is a close up view of the disk drive assembly. 
         FIG. 3  is the underside view of the housing with brackets attached. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the housing with its front side in a closed position and its two sides folded open. 
         FIG. 5  is a close up view of the locking element and a side wall 
         FIG. 6  shows a rear perspective view of housing with a locked in place right side and a folded open left side. 
         FIG. 7  is the front view of the housings front wall. 
         FIG. 8  is an inside top view of the face covering. 
         FIG. 9  shows a perspective view of a closed housing with exploded face covering. 
         FIG. 10  shows a perspective view of the complete housing with attached face. 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view from the back of the left side of an exploded sphere shell 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective front view of the exploded sphere shell with the bottom half and base fastened, as well as a separate stand. 
         FIG. 13  is a close up view of the left side of the bottom of the sphere shell with the personal computer housing being slid into place. 
         FIG. 14  is a prospective view of the housing fastened to the outer shell. 
         FIG. 15  is a rear view of the personal computer with unscrewed top and exploded rear panel. 
         FIG. 16  is a close up view of the attaching of the rear panel. 
         FIG. 17  is a rear view of a completely closed sphere shell in its stand. 
         FIG. 18  is a perspective view of an opened hinge door of the sphere shell 
         FIG. 19  is a perspective view of an exploded pyramid shell. 
         FIG. 20  is a rear inside view of the closed pyramid shell. 
         FIG. 21  is a close up view of the closed pyramid shell fastening elements slid into the locked position. 
         FIG. 22  is a rear view of the pyramid shell with attaching rear panel and fastening thumbscrews. 
         FIG. 23  is a perspective view of an opened hinge door of the pyramid shell. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     “This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application 60/557,445, filed 032904.” 
     The casing for this personal computer includes a housing with completely separate interchangeable aesthetic outer shells. 
     Depicted in  FIG. 1  is the exploded view of a housing  10 . The housing  10  can be formed of any suitable material, e.g., plastic and metal, but preferably is formed of bent sheet metal. Housing  10  includes a bottom wall  12  which has one side bent upwardly to form a rear wall  14 . Housing  10  further includes a front wall  16  and two opposite lateral side walls  18 L and  18 R. 
     Bottom wall  12  has three hinge halves  24   a ,  24   b  and  24   c . Front wall  16  with a hinge half  26   a  and the two opposite lateral side walls  18 R and  18 L with their respective hinge halves  28   b  and  28   c , attach to bottom wall  12  hinge halves  24   a ,  24   b  and  24   c  with hinge pins  32 . These form complete working hinges, which will be now referred to as  30   a ,  30   b , and  30   c . Bottom wall  12  has risers with mounting holes  34  for motherboard on top, rear wall support holes  35  and rectangular bracket mounting holes  36  and  36 ′ on bottom (see  FIGS. 1 and 3 ). 
     Due to the shape of the case, the front wall  16  and the opposite lateral side walls  18 L and  18 R are cut and angled to form together with each other and the rear wall  14  of housing  10  when closed (see  FIGS. 9 and 10 ). Front wall  16  and opposite lateral side walls  18 L and  18 R have tops that are bent over and become parallel to bottom wall  12  when closed forming a top wall  140  (see  FIGS. 6 and 10 ). 
     Two slits  42  are placed along the bottom of either side of front wall  16 . Front wall  16  has apertures for drive bays  40 , power button control  52  and reset button control  54 , ventilation holes  38 , front USB ports  56 , Firewire port  58 , and front audio ports  60 . Mounting plate holes  50  are placed below drive bay  40  (see  FIGS. 4 and 7 ). 
     The parallel bend of front wall  16  forms a top plate for a slimline drive  66 . Placed along the top of slimline drive  66  are locking mechanism flanges  46 , a face flange  44  and a thumbscrew hole  48  to fasten to rear wall  14 . Each of the two opposite lateral side walls  18 L and  18 R parallel bends are bent and cut to create apertures  19 L and  19 R on their respective tops (see  FIGS. 1 ,  4  and  6 ). Side wall  18 L has ventilation holes  20  and a fan cable aperture  22 . 
     In ( FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  3 ) a drive support bracket  94  with a set of elongated supports  96  and slits  98  are secured to support holes  111  of rear wall  14  by affixing elongated support mounting plate  95  with fastening holes  100  by way of fasteners such as rivets. Rear wall  14  has support walls  118  that are bent perpendicular to itself and are fastened to bottom wall holes  35  with fasteners  62  such as rivots at support holes  120 . Rear wall  14  has apertures for motherboard peripheral faceplate  102 , an expansion card slot  104 , expansion card support  106 , an aperture for power supply  108  with mounting holes  110 , a PCI cover  116  and a flange  112  with thumbscrew hole  114  for front wall  16  to fasten too. 
     A rectangular bracket  124  has an extended bottom  126  that is past the front of housing  10 . A fastening hole  128  is placed through the extended bottom  126  for the use of a fastener such as thumbscrews  160  (see  FIGS. 1 ,  3 , and  10 ). Rectangular metal bracket  124  is fastened with holes  130  to the front of bottom wall  12  through the top of mounting holes  36 . A rectangular metal bracket  132  is fastened with holes  130 ′ to the back of bottom wall  12  through the top of mounting holes  36 ′ (see  FIGS. 1 and 3 ). 
     In the preferred embodiment a hard drive bracket  74  and a slimline Cd-drive bracket  64  are used. The drive brackets in the preferred embodiment are made of sheet metal. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1  hard drive bracket  74  has a top plate  76  that at its front is bent at a downward angle forming a mounting plate  84 . Mounting plate  84  has four mounting holes  86 , power button aperture  88 , reset button apertures  90 . Hard drive bracket  74  has a pair of downwardly bent sides  78  with tabs  80 . Hard drive bracket  74  has side fastening holes  82  for drive installation. The top plate  76  of the hard drive bracket  74  has two flanges  92  on either side. Slimline Cd drive bracket  64  has a top plate  66  with two downwardly bending sides  68  that again bend to form supports  70  for hard drive bracket  74 . Slimline Cd drive bracket  64  has side fastening holes  72  for drive installation. 
     The two flanges  92  on hard drive bracket  74  slide over slimline Cd supports  70 . This puts the hard drive mounting plate  84  and power button aperture  88 , reset button aperture  90  and hard drive mounting plate holes  86  inline with power button aperture  52 , reset button aperture  54 , and plate holes  50  of front wall  16 . They are than secured to each other with fasteners  62  (see  FIGS. 1 and 2 ). 
     A locking mechanism  134  has flanges  138  that fasten at mortises  46  at top of front wall  16  (see  FIGS. 4 ,  5  and  6 ). Locking mechanism  134  has side wall fastening tabs  136  for locking opposite lateral side walls  18 L and  18 R. In the preferred embodiment the locking mechanism is manufactured from injected molded plastic. The locking mechanism can be made of other suitable materials and take other forms. 
     Once assembled housing  10  is closed. The front wall  16  is folded up on hinge  30   a  to where a set of tab  80  of hard drive bracket  74  fit into elongated supports slits  98  of rear wall  14  (see  FIGS. 2 ,  4  and  6 ). This allows all drive brackets to rest on the elongated metal bracket  94 . The opposite lateral side walls  18 L and  18 R than fold up on their respective hinges  30   b  and  30   c  and connect to locking mechanism fastening tabs  136  with apertures  19 L and  19 R forming a top wall  140  (see  FIGS. 5 ,  6 , and  10 ). The elongated support bracket  94  and lateral side walls  18 L and  18 R act as a way for the case to distribute weight from front wall  16 &#39;s drives to the rest of housing  10 . 
     Once the housing is closed an optional plastic face  142  is attached by snapping face tabs  144  into place at slits  42  and flange  44  of front wall  16  (see  FIGS. 7 ,  8  and  9 ). Plastic face  142  has ventilation holes  146  that line up with front wall  16  ventilation holes  38 , cut out for power button  150 , reset button  152 , audio ports  154 , USB port  156 , firewire port  158  and drive aperture  148  (see  FIGS. 8 and 9 ). Plastic face  142  is used to cover up fasteners and to give the front a more finished look. 
     While housing  10  maintains its unique form and function, its size however may vary depending on the computer hardware used. This will affect the size of the machine by limiting your ability to upgrade later or by creating a machine larger in size. As one can see countless combinations are possible. 
     Now that housing  10  is finished being assembled and closed it is than placed into an aesthetic outer shell ( FIGS. 11–23 ) in so doing completing the personal computer case. The shells of said computer may be manufactured using cast metal, plastic, wood and other suitable materials. In the preferred embodiment, the shell is manufactured from injected molded plastic. The shells can be manufactured in a variety of colors, designs, and shapes. With the shapes not being limited too specific geometric shapes. 
     Even though any shape can be used, the preferred way is to take advantage of the unique design and function of housing  10 . The first embodiment of the shell design is a sphere shell  170  referred to in  FIGS. 11–18 . 
     The sphere shell  170  is divided into a top section  172 , a flat base  200 , and a bottom section  218  (see  FIG. 11 ). The top section of sphere  172  has a cut out in back  186  and fastening threads  174  at the bottom on the inside of its circumference. The front of top section of sphere  172  has an access door  176  that connects to the bottom of access bay  178  at an access door hinge  180 . An access door locking mechanism  182  on top of access bay  178  locks with a plastic extruded piece  184  on access door  176  (see  FIGS. 11 ,  15  and  18 ). 
     Bottom section  218  has ventilation holes  220  at its bottom and a raised platform  222 . Platform  222  has mounting holes  226  for flat base  200 , mounting holes  224  for a fan, and a fastening hole  228  for housing  10  (see  FIG. 11 ). 
     Flat base  200  has a fan cut out  214  at its middle and has fastening threads  212  at the upper part of its circumference. Flat base  200  has a cut out space  202  for the sliding and securing of housing  10 . The flat base  200  has an elevated back  206  that have two extended docking pieces  208  that jut out from its front. Under the two extended docking pieces  208  are two extrusion apertures  210  (see  FIGS. 11–13 ). 
     Flat base  200  is placed into bottom section of sphere  218  at raised platform  222  (see  FIG. 1 ). Flat base  200  is than secured to platform  222  through flat base holes  204  and platform-mounting holes  224  by platform fasteners  232  (see  FIG. 12 ). 
     The attachment of housing  10  is the same in all shell embodiments. Rectangular metal bracket  132  of housing  10  is slid over extended docking piece  208  of flat base  200 . Than rectangular bracket thumbscrew hole  128  of housing  10  aligns with base panel housing fastening hole  204  of flat base  200  and than secured by a fastener such as a thumbscrew  234 . This secures housing  10  to the flat base  200  (see  FIGS. 13 and 14 ). 
     Top section of sphere  172  is than screwed onto flat base  200 , by turning top section of sphere  172  clockwise on flat base  200 . This allows top section sphere fastening threads  174  to lock itself in place on flat base fastening threads  212 . A removable door  188  is than placed into back panel cut out  186  by inserting connection elements  196  into connection apertures  198 , than pushing the top of the removable door forward to where a connection flange  194  will lock into place. The removable door  188  prevents top section of sphere  172  from turning (see  FIGS. 15–17 ). 
     Due to the shape of the sphere a stand  236  is required. The preferred embodiment of stand  236  is shown in  FIG. 12  as having a circular base  238  and with a hollow pin  240  in the middle. It could however take any shape or form that will support the spherical shape. Stand  236  has three curved cut outs  242 . 
     With flat base  200  fastened to bottom section of sphere  218  it is than placed onto the stand  236  by matching up bottom section extruded stand holder  230  with the stands pin  240  (see  FIG. 12 ). It may be easier to put bottom section of sphere  218  onto stand  236  first before installing flat base  200 . Once bottom section of sphere  218  and flat base  200  is in place than housing  10  is put in place as was shown in  FIG. 14 . Top section of sphere  172  is than fastened to flat base  200  (see  FIG. 15 ). 
     The stand of said computer may be manufactured using cast metal, plastic, wood and other suitable materials. In the preferred embodiment, the shell is manufactured from injected molded plastic. The stand can be manufactured in a variety of colors and shapes. 
     The pyramid shell  244  is divided into a top section  246  and a base panel  248  (see  FIG. 19 ). The top section of pyramid  246  is made up of four panels, a front panel  268 , left and right panels  280 L and  280 R, and a back panel  288 . The back panel  288  of pyramid shell  244  has a cut out  290  to allow for connecting cables to be connected to housing  10 . Back panel  288  has thumbscrew holes  292  for connecting to base panel  248  (see  FIG. 22 ). 
     A set of extension attachments  282 L and  282 R that extend over base panel  248  are fastened to side panel&#39;s  280 L and  280 R by affixing side panel fastening holes  281  and extension fastening holes  286  with the use of a fastener  62 . Each extension has a plurality of shaped apertures  284 L and  284 R. Along the right and left side of base panel  248  are two sets of projecting posts  262 L and  262 R. Each base panel projecting post  262 L and  262 R has an extended edge  264  at its top. Under the extended edges  264  are extrusion apertures  266  (see  FIGS. 20 and 21 ). Base panel  248  has a cut out space  250  for the sliding and securing of housing  10 . The base panel  248  has a three-sided elevated back  252  that have two extended docking pieces  256  that jut out from its front. Under the two extended docking pieces  256  are two extrusion apertures  258 . The three-sided elevated back  252  has a pair of fastening holes  254  placed along its left and right sides as shown in  FIGS. 19 and 20 . Base panel housing fastening hole  260  is placed on top of front end of base panel  248  (see  FIG. 19 ). 
     Front panel  268  has an access door  270  that connects to the bottom of an access bay  272  at access door hinges  274 . An access door locking mechanism  276  on top of access bay  272  locks with a plastic extruded piece  278  on access door  270  (see  FIG. 23 ) 
     Rectangular metal bracket  132  of housing  10  is slid over extended docking piece  256  of base panel  248 . Than rectangular bracket thumbscrew hole  128  of housing  10  aligns with base panel housing fastening hole  260  of base panel  248  and than secured by a fastener such as a thumbscrew  306 . This locks housing  10  to the base panel  248 . Top section of pyramid  246  with apertures  248 L and  248 R is lowered down over the upwardly projecting posts  262 L and  262 R of base panel  248 . Thereby enabling top section of pyramid  246  to be installed by first a downward motion and than a push or pull forward (see  FIGS. 20 and 21 ). This aligns back panel thumbscrew holes  292  of top section of pyramid  246  with holes  254  of three-sided elevated back  252 . Fasteners such as thumbscrews  306  are than added securing the computer together (see  FIG. 22 ). A removable door  294  is than placed into back panel cut out  290  by inserting connection elements  302  into connection apertures  304 , than pushing the top of the removable door back to where a connection flange  300  will lock into place. The back removable door has fan ventilation holes  296  and a cable cut out  298 . 
     As one can see the primary difference for this completed computer case over ones in current use is that the outer plastic shell is a separate component. This allows users with a limited computer background to control the look of their computer from colors, shapes and designs easily through a quick standard process. As one can see countless combinations are possible. 
     REFERENCE NUMERALS 
     Starting with:
         Housing  10     Bottom wall  12     Rear wall  14     Front wall  16     Two opposite lateral side walls  18 L and  18 R   Two opposite lateral side wall apertures  19 L and  19 R   Side wall ventilation holes  20     Side wall fan cable aperture  22     Bottom wall hinges  24   a ,  24   b ,  24   c      Front wall hinge  26   a      Two opposite lateral side wall hinges  28   b  and  28   c      Complete formed hinges  30   a ,  30   b ,  30   c      Hinge pins  32     Motherboard riser holes  34     Rear wall support holes  35     Metal bracket mounting holes  36  and  36 ′   Front wall ventilation holes  38     Aperture for drive bay  40     Front wall face slits  42     Front wall face flange  44     Front wall top locking mechanism mortises  46     Thumbscrew hole to fasten to rear wall  48     Front wall mounting plate holes  50     Power button aperture  52     Reset button aperture  54     USB port aperture  56     Firewire port aperture  58     Audio port apertures  60     Case screws/Fasteners  62     Slimline Cd-drive bracket  64     Front wall Slimline top plate  66     Slimline bent sides  68     Slimline supports for Hard drive  70     Slimline installation holes  72     Hard drive bracket  74     Hard drive top plate  76     Hard drive bent sides  78     Hard drive tabs  80     Hard drive installation holes  82     Hard drive Mounting plate  84     Hard drive mounting plate fastening holes  86     Hard drive mounting plate power button aperture  88     Hard drive mounting plate reset button aperture  90     Hard drive Slimline fastening flanges  92     Elongated support bracket  94     Elongated support mounting plate  95     Elongated supports  96     Elongated support slits  98     Elongated support fastening holes  100     Motherboard faceplate cut out  102     Expansion card slot  104     Expansion card support  106     Expansion card base aperture  107     Aperture for power supply  108     Power Supply mounting holes  110     Rear Elongated support mounting holes  111     Rear wall flange  112     Rear wall flange thumbscrew hole  114     PCI Cover  116     Rear wall supports  118     Rear wall fastening hole to bottom wall  120     PCI cover aperture  122     Rectangular bracket  124     Rectangular bracket extension  126     Rectangular bracket thumbscrew hole  128     Rectangular bracket mounting holes  130  and  130 ′   Rectangular bracket  132     Locking mechanism  134     Locking mechanism side wall fastening tabs  136     Locking mechanism flange  138     Top wall  140     Plastic face  142     Plastic face tabs  144     Plastic face ventilation  146     Plastic face drive aperture  148     Plastic face power button cut out  150     Plastic face reset button cut out  152     Plastic face audio port cut outs  154     Plastic face USB port cut out  156     Plastic face firewire port cut out  158     Case thumbscrew  160     Sphere  170     Top section  172     Top section fastening threads  174     Access door  176     Access bay  178     Access door hinge  180     Door locking mechanism  182     Plastic extruded locking piece  184     Top half back cut out  186     Back removable door  188     Back removable door fan ventilation  190     Back removable door cable cut out  192     Back removable door connection flange  194     Back removable door connection elements  196     Base panel door connection element apertures  198     Flat base  200     Flat base cut out space  202     Flat base housing fastening hole  204     Elevated back  206     Extended docking pieces  208     Extended docking apertures  210     Flat base fastening threads  212     Flat base fan cut out  214     Flat base platform mounting holes  216     Bottom section  218     Bottom ventilation holes  220     Raised Platform  222     Platform Extruded Fan mounting holes  224     Platform Extruded flat base mounting holes  226     Extruded fastening hole for housing  228     Extruded stand holder  230     Platform screws  232     Shell thumbscrews  234     Stand  236     Stand base  238     Stand hollow pin  240     Stand cut outs  242     Pyramid  244     Top section  246     Base panel  248     Base panel cut out space  250     Elevated three sided back  252     Elevated three sided back thumbscrew holes  254     Extended docking piece  256     Jut piece apertures  258     Base panel housing fastening hole  260     Base panel projecting posts  262 L and  262 R   Projecting posts extended edge  264     Base panel extrusion apertures  266     Front panel  268     Access door  270     Access bay  272     Access door hinges  274     Door locking mechanism  276     Plastic extruded locking piece  278     Side panel&#39;s  280 L and  280 R   Side panel extension fastening holes  281     Extension attachments to top half  282 L and  282 R   Extension attachment apertures  284 L and  284 R   Extension attachment fastening holes  286     Back panel  288     Back panel cut out  290     Back panel thumbscrew holes  292     Back removable door  294     Back removable door fan ventilation  296     Back removable door cable cut out  298     Back removable door connection flange  300     Back removable door connection elements  302     Base panel connection element apertures  304     Shell thumbscrews  306

Technology Classification (CPC): 6