Abstract:
A computer chassis includes a door mounted on the chassis. A hinge pivotally interconnects the door and the chassis. The hinge has a first end connected to the chassis and a second end connected to the door. A pair of spaced apart resilient receivers are provided on the chassis. A cam extension on the hinge is engaged for flexing the resilient receivers in response to pivotal movement of the hinge.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
         [0001]    The disclosures herein relate generally to computer systems and more particularly to a position damping detent hinge for a computer chassis door.  
           [0002]    Computer chassis and/or bezels include doors which cover access slots and ports. These doors are subjected to frequent openings and closings and are usually pivotally mounted on the computer chassis. The pivotal movement required to open the doors is usually at least 90°. Most doors do not have a hinge which provides a quality feel or a tactile feel when being pivoted. Also, most doors do not include a means for retaining the door in an open position without the aid of additional parts.  
           [0003]    Therefore, what is needed is a computer chassis door which includes a hinge having a built-in cam which urges the door into maintaining the open position and the closed position.  
         SUMMARY  
         [0004]    One embodiment, accordingly, provides a cammed hinge which helps to hold the door in the open position and the closed position. To this end, a computer chassis door includes a door mounted on the chassis. A hinge pivotally interconnects the door and the chassis. The hinge has a first end connected to the chassis and a second end connected to the door. A pair of spaced apart resilient receivers are provided on the chassis. A cam extension on the hinge is engaged for flexing the resilient receivers in response to pivotal movement of the hinge.  
           [0005]    A principal advantage of this embodiment is that the hinge provides a holding force to maintain the door in the open and closed position. The hinge is of a simple and inexpensive construction. A constant pressure is applied to the hinge during the pivotal motion which provides a position damping detent tactile feel when the door is being manually moved. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]    [0006]FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating an embodiment of a computer system.  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a computer chassis. FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a portion of a bezel and a door in a closed position.  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view illustrating the door of FIG. 3 in an open position.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a hinge.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view illustrating the hinge connected to the door.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view illustrating an embodiment of the door connection for receiving the hinge.  
         [0012]    FIGS.  8 - 10  are partial perspective views illustrating an embodiment of the hinge cam extensions for retaining the door in the open and closed positions.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0013]    In one embodiment, computer system  110 , FIG. 1, includes a microprocessor  112 , which is connected to a bus  114 . Bus  114  serves as a connection between microprocessor  112  and other components of computer system  110 . An input system  116  is coupled to microprocessor  112  to provide input to microprocessor  112 . Examples of input devices include keyboards, touchscreens, and pointing devices such as mouses, trackballs and trackpads. Programs and data are stored on a mass storage device  118 , which is coupled to microprocessor  112 . Mass storage devices include such devices as hard disks, optical disks, magneto-optical drives, floppy drives and the like. Computer system  110  further includes a display  120 , which is coupled to microprocessor  112  by a video controller  122 . A system memory  124  is coupled to microprocessor  112  to provide the microprocessor with fast storage to facilitate execution of computer programs by microprocessor  112 . It should be understood that other busses and intermediate circuits can be deployed between the components described above and microprocessor  112  to facilitate interconnection between the components and the microprocessor.  
         [0014]    A computer chassis is generally designated  210  in FIG. 2, shown in an open position, and includes a first portion  212  pivotably connected to a second portion  214  so that the chassis  210  can be pivoted to a closed position wherein first portion  212  is nested with second portion  214 . A front bezel  216  of chassis  210  requires doors provided for consumer accessible input-output (I/O) devices, e.g., USB ports, audio ports, etc.  
         [0015]    Bezel  216 , FIG. 3 includes a door  218  mounted thereon and pivotable between a closed position C and an open position O, FIG. 4. The pivotal motion of door  218  is accomplished by a hinge  220  connecting door  218  to the chassis  210 . Hinge  220  includes an end  222  connected to door  218  and an opposite end  224  connected to chassis  210 . A wall  210   a  of chassis  210  includes a pair of openings  226  for receiving end  224  of hinge  220 . In this manner, end  224  of hinge  220  is connected internally of wall  210   a , not visible in FIG. 4, and end  222  extends through openings  226  externally of wall  210   a  for connection to door  218 .  
         [0016]    Hinge  220 , FIG. 5 includes a pair of U-shaped arms  228  interconnected by an axle  230  adjacent end  224 . A cam extension  232  is formed on each opposite end of axle  230 . Each cam extension  232  is angularly disposed at about a 45° angle relative to a respective adjacent arm  228 . End  222  of each arm  228  includes a cylindrical snap-in member  234  including an axial slot  236  formed therein.  
         [0017]    Each snap-in member  234 , FIGS. 6 and 7 is received by a respective claw-shaped pair of snap tabs  238  attached to door  218 . The snap tabs  238  are inclined toward each other and include an elongated tooth member  240  between each tab for seating in slot  236  when snap-in member  234  is engaged by tabs  238 .  
         [0018]    End  224 , FIGS. 5 and 8- 10 , of hinge  220  is connected internally of chassis  210  by means of a snap connection with a mid-portion  242  of axle  230  which snaps into an axle receiver  244  on an internal surface of chassis wall  210   a . Each cam extension  232  seats between a pair of spaced apart receivers  246  which resiliently engage cam receiver  232  with a positive force.  
         [0019]    In operation, when door  218  is in the closed position C, FIGS. 3 and 8, cam extensions  232  are angularly disposed in a first orientation  01 , between the inwardly flexed receivers  246  which maintain a positive force on extensions  232  to urge door  218  closed. Hinge  220  is positioned within chassis  210 .  
         [0020]    Movement of door  218  towards the open position, FIG. 9, flexes receivers  246  apart and partially extends hinge  220  out of chassis  210 . Further movement of door  218 , to the fully open position, FIGS. 4 and 10, angularly disposes cam extensions  232  in a second orientation  02 , between the inwardly flexed receivers  246  which again maintains a positive force on extensions  232  to urge door  218  open. Hinge  220  is fully extended out of chassis  210 .  
         [0021]    As it can be seen, the principal advantages of these embodiments are that the hinge provides a holding force to maintain the door in the open and closed position. The hinge is of a simple and inexpensive construction. A constant pressure is applied to the hinge during the pivotal motion which provides a position damping detent tactile feel when the door is being manually moved.  
         [0022]    Although illustrative embodiments have been shown and described, a wide range of modification, change and substitution is contemplated in the foregoing disclosure and in some instances, some features of the embodiment may be employed without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the scope of the embodiments disclosed herein.