Abstract:
A protective assembly for electronic components. The protective assembly has a chassis and a removable cover. The removable cover is secured to the chassis by a latch and a catch. The catch is biased by a spring to a first position. The latch slidingly engages the catch to displace the catch during the installation of the cover. The spring returning the catch to the first position when the cover is disposed on the chassis in the securing position. The panel being removeable by sliding the catch against the spring to release the latch from the catch.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates generally to a system and method for protecting components within an enclosure, and particularly to a system for accessing electronic components housed within a protective enclosure. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Many electronic devices are composed of electronic components electrically coupled together within a protective enclosure. For example, the central unit of a desktop computer system typically consists of a microprocessor, hard drive, RAM, and power supply housed within a sheet metal enclosure. The central unit is typically coupled to a monitor, keyboard, printer, and mouse. 
   Protective enclosures for housing electronic components come in a variety of shapes and sizes. However, typically, they consist of a chassis with a removable cover. A cover is typically secured to the chassis by a number of screws. Occasionally, the components within the protective enclosure need to be accessed, either for repair or upgrade. To remove the cover and access the components, the screws securing the cover to the chassis must be removed. A tool, such as a screwdriver or drill, is needed to remove the screws from the enclosure. Additionally, installing and removing the screws consumes time, and the screws may be lost, adding additional time to the process. 
   Therefore, it would be advantageous to have a system that would allow access to the interior of a protective enclosure quickly, without the use of tools and producing no loose parts. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   A protective assembly for a computer system is featured. The protective assembly includes a chassis, an access panel, a latch member and a catch member. The latch member is secured to the access panel. The catch member is movably secured to the chassis and is biased by a spring to a first position on the chassis to secure the latch member. 
   According to another aspect of the present invention, a first member securable to a second member to form a moveable securing mechanism for securing a latch member to a chassis is featured. The first member includes a first surface configured for sliding engagement with the latch member as the access panel is pivoted towards a closed position on the chassis. The first member also includes a second surface configured to restrict movement of the latch member when the access panel is disposed in the closed position on the chassis. 
   According to another aspect of the present invention, a method of securing an access panel to a chassis is provided. The access panel has a latch member and the chassis has a moveable catch member biased to a first position on the chassis. The method includes the step of pivoting a first end of the access panel towards a closed position on the chassis. The method also includes the step of displacing the moveable catch member from the first position with the latch member. The method further includes the step of disposing the access panel in the closed position on the chassis. The moveable catch member is no longer displaced by the latch member and is biased back to the first position, thereby securing the latch member. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will hereafter be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements, and: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a protective enclosure for a computer system, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the protective enclosure of  FIG. 1  featuring an access panel in an open position; 
       FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  3 — 3  of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 3A  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  3 A— 3 A of  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view similar to  FIG. 3 , illustrating the operation of the access panel securing system during the closing of the access panel; 
       FIG. 4A  is a cross-sectional view of the area defined by line  4 A— 4 A of  FIG. 4 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view similar to  FIG. 3 , illustrating the operation of the access panel securing system once the access panel is closed; 
       FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view similar to  FIG. 3 , illustrating the operation of the access panel securing system during the opening of the access panel; 
       FIG. 6A  is a cross-sectional view illustrating the operation of the leaf spring in opening the access panel; 
       FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  7 — 7  of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 7A  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  7 A— 7 A of  FIG. 7 , 
       FIG. 8  is a bottom elevational view of an access panel, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 9  is an elevational view of a catch release, illustrating the side of the catch release facing an inner member of a catch mechanism, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 10  is an elevational view of the catch release of  FIG. 9 , illustrating the side of the catch release that is visible from the exterior of a protective enclosure; 
       FIG. 11  is an elevational view of a portion of the exterior of a protective enclosure, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 12  is an elevational view of an inner member, illustrating the side of the inner member that faces the catch release, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 13  is an elevational view of the inner member of  FIG. 12 , illustrating the side of the inner member that faces the interior of an enclosure; and 
       FIG. 14  is an alternative exemplary embodiment of a protective enclosure for a computer system. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Referring generally to  FIG. 1 , a computer system enclosure  20  is featured. Enclosure  20  includes a chassis  22 , a front bezel  24 , a rear panel  26 , an access panel  28 , and two moveable catches  30  for securing access panel  28  to chassis  22 . Each movable catch  30  is operated by a catch release  32  accessible from the exterior of chassis  22 . In the illustrated embodiment, each moveable catch  30  is disposed on two sides  33  of chassis  22 , towards rear panel  26 . Each catch release  32  is disposed in a recess  34  in each side  33  so as to minimize the profile of catch release  32 . In the illustrated embodiment, access panel  28  is released from chassis  22  by sliding both catch releases  32  towards rear panel  26 . 
   Referring generally to  FIG. 2 , chassis  22  is illustrated with access panel  28  in an open, or unsecured, position. The closed, or secured, position of panel  28  is shown in dashed lines. As best illustrated in  FIG. 8 , access panel  28  includes two tabs  36  used to secure access panel  28  to chassis  22 . Alternatively, access panel  28  may be configured with one tab, or more than two tabs. 
   Referring again to  FIG. 2 , to secure access panel  28  to chassis  22  each tab  36  is seated under a lip  38  on the top rear portion of front bezel  24 . Lip  38  and tabs  26  enable access panel  28  to be pivoted into the closed position. However, lip  38  prevents movement of tabs  36  when access panel  28  is in the closed position on chassis  28 . Alternatively, the end of access panel  28  proximate front bezel  24  can be secured to chassis  22  by another mechanism, such as a hinge. 
     FIG. 2  also illustrates latch  40  of access panel  28 . Chassis  22  and access panel  28  are preferably formed of sheet metal with latch  40  being formed by a series of bending operations on access panel  28 . However, latch  40  can also be formed separately. Latch  40  includes an angled latch portion  42 , a flat latch portion  44 , and a connecting member  46 . 
   Access panel  28  also includes two support rails  48  that extend along the sides of panel  28 . As best illustrated in  FIG. 8 , each support rail  48  includes a plurality of holes  50 . A ground spring  52  is disposed between each hole  50  and the main cover portion  54  of access panel  28 . Each rail  48  rests on a first bracket surface  56  and a second bracket surface  58  on each side  33  of chassis  22 . First bracket  56  includes a plurality of ground tabs  60 . Each ground tab  60  is configured for insertion through each hole  50  of access panel  28  so as to contact ground spring  52  and ground access panel  28  to chassis  22 . Second bracket  58  is configured with a leaf spring  62  to bias access panel  28  to an open position. 
   Referring generally to  FIGS. 3 and 3A , movable catch  30  also includes an inner member  64  secured to release switch  32 , shown in dashed lines. As best illustrated in  FIG. 11 , inner member  64  is connected to release switch  32  through a hole  66  in chassis  22 . Movable catch  30  includes a block portion  68  that extends through hole  66 . Block  68  has a side opening  70  that allows movable catch  30  to travel along a guide member  72  formed in chassis  22 . Block  68  could be disposed on release switch  32  or inner member  64 . However, in the illustrated embodiment, block  68  is disposed on release switch  32 . Chassis  22  also includes two tabs  74  that cooperate with block  68  and guide member  72  to secure a biasing spring  76 . 
   In the illustrated embodiment, inner member  64  includes a raised member  78  having an angled catch portion  80  and a flat catch portion  82 . Inner member  64  also includes a hole  84  through which a screw  86  is inserted to secure inner member  64  to release switch  32 . As best illustrated in  FIG. 9 , release switch  32  includes a corresponding threaded hole  88  into which screw  86  is threaded. As best illustrated in  FIG. 12 , inner member  64  includes four guideposts  90  that are configured for insertion into four guide holes  92  in central block  68 . 
   Referring again to  FIG. 3 , the illustrated embodiment of raised member  78  includes a second angled catch portion  94  and a second flat catch portion  96 . Second angled catch portion  94  and second flat catch portion  96  are symmetrical about an axis with angled catch portion  80  and flat catch portion  82 . The symmetry of inner member  64  allows a single design to be used on opposite sides of chassis  22 . 
   In the exemplary embodiment, two movable catches  30  are used to secure access panel  28  to chassis  22 . The operation of each movable catch  30 , preferably, is identical. Therefore, for clarity the following discussion of the operation of movable catch  30  will refer only to a single movable catch  30 . 
   Referring generally to  FIGS. 4 and 4A , as access panel  28  is being closed, angled latch portion  42  of access panel  28  contacts first angled catch portion  80  of inner member  64 . In this view, as access panel  28  is pivoted downward, angled latch portion  42  forces inner member  64  to the right, causing spring  76  to be compressed. Angled latch portion  42  of access panel  28  slides along the surface of angled catch portion  80  as it forces inner member  64  to the right. 
   Referring generally to  FIG. 5 , access panel  28  eventually pivots to a point where angled latch portion  42  no longer engages angled catch portion  80 . When that point is reached, the force of compression in spring  76  pushes block  68  to the left towards a biased position. The movement of movable catch  30  to the biased position causes flat catch portion  82  to be placed over flat latch portion  44 . Flat catch portion  82  blocks movement of flat latch portion  44 . The flat catch portions  82  of two movable catches  30  and lip  38  thus cooperate to secure access panel  28  to chassis  22 . Additionally, the spring force of leaf spring  62  must be overcome to place access panel  28  in the closed position. 
   Referring generally to  FIGS. 6 and 6A , release switch  32  is operated to displace movable catch  30  from the biased position to gain access to chassis  22 . An operator displaces movable catch  30  laterally to remove flat catch portion  82  from its blocking position over flat latch portion  44 . As best illustrated in  FIG. 6A , the force of leaf spring  62  then forces edge  98  of access panel  28  upward. This makes it easier for an operator to grab access panel  28  and remove it from chassis  22 . 
   Referring generally to  FIGS. 7 and 7A , electromagnetic shielding for enclosure  20  is provided by a system of ground springs  52  and ground tabs  60 . Each tab  60  on chassis  22  is inserted through a respective hole  50  in support  48  of access panel  28  when access panel  28  is installed in a closed position on chassis  22 . In the illustrated embodiment, ground springs  52  are formed of a strip of metal fixed at one end  100  to support  48 . Each tab  60  contacts a free end  102  of a respective ground spring  52 , thus grounding panel  28  to chassis  22 . 
   Referring generally to  FIG. 8 , a bottom view of access panel  28  is featured. Preferably, access panel  28  is made from a sheet metal. In the illustrated embodiment, latch  40  and support rails  48  are formed by a series of bending operations on the sheet metal of access panel  28 . 
   Referring generally to  FIGS. 9 and 10 , front and back views of the release switch  32  are illustrated.  FIG. 9  illustrates the side of catch release  32  facing inner member  64 .  FIG. 10  illustrates the side of catch release  32  that is visible from the exterior of protective enclosure  20 . Raised ridges  103  are provided on the outer surface of release switch  32  to enable an operator to more easily operate release switch  32 . 
   Referring generally to  FIG. 11 , an exterior view is shown of base  22 . This view illustrates recessed landing  34 , hole  66 , and guide member  72 . 
   Referring generally to  FIGS. 12 and 13 , front and back views of inner member  64  are illustrated.  FIG. 12  illustrates the side of inner member  64  that faces catch release  32 .  FIG. 13  illustrates the side of the inner member that faces the interior of enclosure  20 . 
   Referring generally to  FIG. 14 , an alternative embodiment of a chassis  104  is shown. In the illustrated embodiment, chassis  104  is configured so that movable catch  30  is proximate to front bezel  24  so that access panel  28  may be removed from the front of chassis  22 , rather than the back. 
   It will be understood that the foregoing description is of preferred exemplary embodiments of this invention, and that the invention is not limited to the specific forms shown. For example, elements, such as latch  40  and brackets  56  and  58  described as portions of chassis  22  and access panel  28 , may be formed separately and secured to chassis  22  and access panel  28 . These and other modifications may be made in the design and arrangement of the elements without departing from the scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.