Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to a computer case and, more particularly, to a detachable computer case that can easily be opened without the use of any tools.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0004]     The case of a personal computer is generally comprised of a body shell and a cover shell covering the body shell. The cover shell is fastened to the body shell with screws. When opening the cover shell for changing the internal component parts, the user needs to remove the screws from the cover shell and the body shell at first. Therefore, it is inconvenient to open the cover shell.  
         [0005]     In order to eliminate the aforesaid problem, an easy-to-open computer case is disclosed. As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the easy-to-open computer case comprises a body shell  5 , and a cover shell  6  covering the body shell  5 . The body shell  5  has an opening  50  in one side, a plurality of protruding rods  51  and one stop block  52  at each of the two opposite lateral sides of the opening  50 , and a plurality of notches  53  respectively disposed between each two adjacent protruding rods  51 . The cover shell  6  comprises a plurality of open loop-like receiving elements  61  symmetrically disposed at two opposite lateral sides, and two stop devices  62  disposed at the two opposite lateral sides. Each stop device  62  has one end extended out of the cover shell  6  and terminating in a press portion  621 , and the other end suspended inside the cover shell  6  and mounted with a spring plate  622 . The spring plate  622  has a free end terminating in a stop block  623 .  
         [0006]     When covered the cover shell  6  on the opening  50  of the body shell  5 , as shown in  FIG. 1 , the open loop-like receiving elements  61  are respectively suspended in the notches  53 , and the stop blocks  623  of the spring plates  622  are respectively disposed at one side relative to the stop blocks  52 . Thereafter, the user can press the press portions  621  of the stop devices  62  to move the spring plates  622  of the stop devices  62 , causing the spring plates  622  to curve in direction away from the cover shell  6 , and therefore the stop blocks  623  are moved away from the cover shell  6 . When moving the cover shell  6  horizontally at this time, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the stop blocks  623  are forced to pass from one side of the stop blocks  52  to the other side below the elevation of the stop blocks  52 , thereby causing the protruding rods  51  to be forced into engagement with the open loop-like receiving elements  61  respectively. When released the hands from the press portions  621  of the stop devices  62 , the stop blocks  623  are returned to their former position by the spring power of the spring plates  622 . Because the stop blocks  623  are returned to their former position, pushing the cover shell  6  horizontally in the reversed direction at this time causes the stop blocks  623  to be respectively stopped against the stop blocks  52 , preventing removal of the cover shell  6  from the body shell  5 .  
         [0007]     The aforesaid design of computer case eliminates the inconveniences caused due to the use of tie screws. However, when locking the cover shell  6  to the body shell  5 , the user must press the press portions  621  with the thumbs of the two hands, i.e. the user cannot lock the cover shell  6  to the body shell  5  with one single hand. On the contrary, when removing the cover shell  6  from the body shell  5 , the user must keep pressing the press portions  621  with the thumbs of the two hands, and then use the other fingers to push the cover shell  6  horizontally in the reversed direction, and then remove the cover shell  6  from the body shell  5  after the open loop-like receiving elements  61  had been moved to the notches  53  and the stop blocks  623  of the spring plates  622  had been respectively moved below the stop blocks  52  to the other side. Because there is a certain friction resistance between the protruding rods  51  and the open loop-like receiving elements  61 , the user must employ much force to the push the cover shell  6  horizontally in the reversed direction to force the open loop-like receiving elements  61  away from the protruding rods  51 . This operation procedure requires much effort.  
         [0008]     Therefore, it is desirable to provide a detachable computer case that enables the cover shell  6  to be conveniently and quickly locked to the body shell  5 , and then rapidly unlocked and removed from the body shell  5  when desired. Thus, the supplier can accelerate the assembly time and improve the productivity. To consumers, this design of computer case enables the user to replace or expand the internal electronic components conveniently.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]     The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is one object of the present invention to provide a computer case, which enables the user to unlock the cover shell and then remove the cover shell from the body shell conveniently without the use of any tools.  
         [0010]     To achieve this and other objects of the present invention, the computer case comprises a body shell, said body shell comprising an opening in one side thereof, a plurality of engagement devices symmetrically disposed at two sides of said opening, and at least one springy retaining device located on an inside wall facing said opening, said at least one springy retaining device each comprising a stop member and a baffle; and a cover shell adapted to cover the opening of said body shell, said cover shell comprising a plurality of engagement devices symmetrically disposed at two sides and adapted to engage the engagement devices at said body shell upon a horizontal displacement of said cover shell relative to said body shell after said cover shell have been put on said body shell, at least one stop member located on an inner wall thereof adapted to stop against the stop member of each said at least one springy retaining device of said body shell and to prohibit backward displacement of said cover shell relative to said body shell after engagement between the engagement devices of said cover shell and the engagement devices of said body shell, and at least one swivel arm respectively pivoted to the inner wall of said cover shell, each said swivel arm having one end extended out of said cover shell and terminating in a finger strip for pulling by the user and an opposite end suspended inside said cover shell and terminating in a pressure tip adapted to force the stop member of the corresponding springy retaining device of said body shell away from the corresponding stop member of said cover shell and to further cause the engagement devices of said cover shell to be respectively disengaged from the engagement devices of said body shell upon turning of said swivel arm by the user. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a computer case according to the prior art when unlocked.  
         [0012]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the prior art computer case when locked.  
         [0013]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view of a computer case according to the present invention.  
         [0014]      FIG. 4  is a schematic sectional view showing the mounting procedure of the computer case according to the present invention (I).  
         [0015]      FIG. 5  is a schematic sectional view showing the mounting procedure of the computer case according to the present invention (II). 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0016]     Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , a computer case in accordance with the present invention is shown comprised of a body shell  1  and a cover shell  2  covering the body shell  1 . The body shell  1  has an opening  10  in one side, a plurality of engagement devices  11  symmetrically disposed at two sides of the opening  10 , and at least one, for example, one springy retaining device  12  located on the inside wall facing the opening  10 . The springy retaining device  12  comprises a stop member  121  and a baffle  122 . The cover shell  2  comprises a plurality of engagement devices  20  symmetrically disposed at two sides corresponding to the engagement devices  11  at the body shell  1 , at least one, for example, one stop member  32  located on the inner wall, and a swivel arm  31  pivoted to the inner wall adjacent to the stop member  32 . The swivel arm  31  has one end extended out of the top side of the cover shell  2  and terminating in a finger strip  311  and the other end suspended inside the cover shell  2  and terminating in a pressure tip  312  (see  FIG. 4 ). During assembly process, the cover shell  2  is covered on the body shell  1  to aim the engagement devices  20  at the engagement devices  11  respectively, and then push the cover shell  2  forwards to force the springy retaining device  12  downwards and to move the stop member  32  over the stop member  121 , thereby causing the engagement devices  20  to be respectively forced into engagement with the engagement device  11 . Upon engagement of the engagement devices  20  with the engagement devices  11 , the stop member  121  is returned to its former position due to the effect of the spring power of the springy retaining device  12 , and therefore the stop member  121  stops the stop member  32  from backward movement, i.e., the cover shell  2  is locked to the body shell  1 .  
         [0017]     In short, as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the engagement between the stop member  32  of the cover shell  2  and the stop member  121  of the body shell  1  prohibits horizontal displacement of the cover shell  2  relative to the body shell  1 , and the engagement between the engagement devices  20  of the cover shell  2  and the engagement devices  11  of the body shell  1  prohibits vertical movement of the cover shell  2  relative to the body shell  1 , and therefore, the cover shell  2  is positively locked to the body shell  1 .  
         [0018]     On the contrary, as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , when imparting a pulling force to the finger strip  311  in direction away from the body shell  1 , the swivel arm  31  is turned in one direction about an axis passing through the pivoted point between the swivel arm  31  and the cover shell  2 , the pressure tip  312  is moved to the springy retaining device  12  to push the springy retaining device  12  toward the inside of the body shell  1  and to further disengage the stop member  121  from the stop member  32 . Continuously turning the finger strip  311  in direction away from the body shell  1  causes the pressure tip  312  to stop against the baffle  122  and to further produce a reaction force, which forces the cover shell  2  to move relative to the body shell  1  and simultaneously forces the engagement devices  20  away from the engagement devices  11 . At this time, the user can move the cover shell  2  horizontally relative to the body shell  1  in the reversed direction to completely disengage the engagement devices  20  from the engagement devices  11 , thus the cover shell  2  can easily be removed from the body shell  1 .  
         [0019]     Referring to FIGS.  3 ˜ 5 , the engagement devices  11  of the body shell  1  each are comprised of a notch  112  and an elongated engagement element  111  suspending above the notch  112  at one side. The engagement devices  20  of the cover shell  2  each are comprised of a receiving element  201  shaped like an open loop. When put the cover shell  2  on the body shell  1 , the receiving elements  201  of the engagement devices  20  of the cover shell  2  are respectively suspended in the notches  112  of the engagement devices  11  of the body shell  1 . At this time, the user can push the cover shell  2  forwards relative to the body shell  1  to force the open loop-like receiving elements  201  of the engagement devices  20  into engagement with the elongated engagement element  111  to stop the cover shell  2  from vertical movement relative to the body shell  1 .  
         [0020]     Referring to FIGS.  3 ˜ 5  again, in order to let the cover shell  2  be easily and quickly locked to the body shell  1 , the stop member  121  is made shaped like a right-angled triangular block having a sloping top wall  1211  and a vertical lateral wall  1212 . The stop member  32  is a plate member  321  protruded from the inner wall of the cover shell  2 . When pushing the cover shell  2  horizontally forwards on the body shell  1  to the locking position, the plate member  321  will be moved over the sloping top wall  1211  of the stop member  121  to force the springy retaining device  12  downwards. When continuously moving the cover shell  2  forwards, the plate member  321  will be moved to the front side of the vertical lateral wall  1212 . At this time, the springy power of the springy retaining device  12  moves the stop member  121  back to its former position, and therefore the vertical lateral wall  1212  is stopped against the plate member  321 , preventing backward displacement of the cover shell  2  relative to the body shell  1 . At the same time, the loop-like receiving elements  201  of the engagement devices  20  are respectively forced into engagement with the elongated engagement element  111  to stop the cover shell  2  from vertical movement relative to the body shell  1 . Therefore, the cover shell  2  is locked to the body shell  1 .  
         [0021]     Referring to FIGS.  3 ˜ 5  again, if the swivel arm  31  is directly pivoted to the cover shell  2 , the fabrication procedure will be complicated and, the repair work of the swivel arm will be difficult. Therefore, a pivot holder  3  is fixedly provided at the cover shell  2  for receiving the swivel arm  31 , and a pivot pin  313  is installed to pivotally secure the swivel arm  31  to the pivot holder  3 . The stop member  32  is protruded from the inner wall of the cover shell  2  and spaced from the swivel arm  31  at a distance. The pivot holder  3  has a recessed receiving chamber  33  adapted to receive the finger strip  311  when the swivel arm  31  turned to a horizontal position in flush with the outer wall of the cover shell  2 . Further, the finger strip  311  has a finger hole  314  (see  FIG. 3 ). The user can insert one finger into the finger hole  314  to move the finger strip  311 .  
         [0022]     Referring to  FIG. 3  again, the springy retaining device  12  further comprises a support arm  123 . The support arm  123  has a fixed end  124  fixedly fastened to the body shell  1 , and a free end terminating in an actuating device  125  into which the stop member  121  and the baffle  122  are incorporated.  
         [0023]     A prototype of computer case has been constructed with the features of FIGS.  3 ˜ 5 . The computer case functions smoothly to provide all of the features discussed earlier.  
         [0024]     Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.

Technology Category: 3