Computer enclosure

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention generally relates to a computer enclosure, and in particular to a computer enclosure having a power supply support member that is capable to mount power supplies of different specifications to the enclosure.

[0004] 2. The Prior Art

[0005] Personal computers are now in the trend of miniaturization requiring the size thereof to be continuously decreased while electronic devices thereof increasingly added to enhance functions thereof. Thus, space management of a personal computer becomes important, especially when considering assembling/disassembling parts during maintaining the computer.

[0006] A power supply is one of the major components of a personal computer. Conventionally, a power supply is directly fixed to a back panel of a computer enclosure by bolts. For allowing easy mounting of the power supply to the computer enclosure, other parts of the computer are not arranged in front of the space accommodating the power supply because if the computer parts are arranged in front of the space accommodating the power supply, the parts have to be removed in order to mount/dismount the power supply which causes inconvenience in maintaining the computer.

[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 5,172,305 discloses a swiveling support for mounting the power supply to a computer enclosure. Such a swiveling support allows the power supply to be completely moved outside the computer enclosure by rotating about a rotational axis whereby mounting/dismounting the power supply may be performed without interference caused by the computer enclosure and other parts. However, such a swiveling support is designed for mounting a power supply of a specific size and is not compatible with power supplies of other specifications. This increases costs of parts stocking and inventory.

[0008] Furthermore, a computer enclosure comprises a top cover and a bottom panel which are not soundly connected leading to a mechanical instability in resisting bending moment.

[0009] It is thus desired to provide a computer enclosure which overcomes the problems discussed above.

[0010] Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a computer enclosure comprising a power supply support member allowing ready mounting/dismounting of the power supply to the computer enclosure.

[0011] Another object of the present invention is to provide a computer enclosure comprising a support member for mounting a power supply to the computer enclosure and mechanically reinforcing the enclosure.

[0012] A further object of the present invention is to provide a computer enclosure comprising a support member capable of selectively mounting power supplies of different specifications to the enclosure.

[0013] To achieve the above objects, a computer enclosure in accordance with the present invention comprises an outer casing receiving an inner casing therein. The inner casing comprises a bottom panel and a front panel extending upright from the bottom panel. A disk drive rack is arranged above the bottom panel and attached to the front panel. A main board support panel supporting a main board is attached to the front panel, the bottom and the disk drive rack on a first side of the inner casing. A support member is connected between the disk drive rack and the bottom panel on an opposite second side of the inner casing for enhancing mechanical stability of the structure of the inner casing. The support member has an upper end pivotally attached to the disk drive rack whereby the support member is movable between an open position where the support member is substantially located outside the inner casing for facilitating maintenance and a closed position where an lower end of the support member engages with the bottom panel to releasably secure the support member to the bottom panel. The support member defines three sets of openings for selectively and interchangeably engaging with pawls of three receptacles that contain power supplies of different specifications whereby power supplies of different specifications may be selectively mounted to the computer enclosure.

[0014] The present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art by reading the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0015] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a computer enclosure constructed in accordance with the present invention with a power supply support member located at a horizontal open position;

[0016] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the power supply support member at a vertical closed position, a power supply being attached to the support member;

[0017] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an inner casing of the computer enclosure showing the operation of the power supply support member;

[0018] FIG. 4 is a different perspective view of the power supply support member; and

[0019] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the power supply support member of the present invention together with receptacles for accommodating power supplies of different specifications.

[0020] Referring to the drawings and in particular to FIG. 1, a computer enclosure 100 constructed in accordance with the present invention is shown, comprising an outer casing 102 and an inner casing 10. The inner casing 10 is received in the outer casing 102 by being supported on and sliding along rails 104 formed on a bottom plate 103 of the outer casing 102. A power supply 90 is received in the inner casing 102 by being attached to a support member 40 by a receptacle 78 with the support member 40 received and fixed to the inner casing 10 as shown in FIG. 2.

[0021] Also referring to FIG. 3, the inner casing 10 comprises a bottom panel 18 and a front panel 12 extending upright from a front edge of the bottom panel 18. A main board support panel 16 is arranged on one side of the inner casing 10 and releasably attached to both the bottom panel 18 and the front panel 12. A disk drive rack 24 that is arranged above and substantially parallel to the bottom panel 18 extends from the front panel 12 for receiving and supporting disk drives (not shown). The main board support panel 16 is also attached to the disk drive rack 24. An opening 14 is defined in the front panel 12 substantially aligned with the disk drive rack 24 for receiving the disk drives.

[0022] The disk drive rack 24 comprises first and second walls 30, 32 integrally formed with each other whereby the first and second wall 30, 32 are perpendicular to each other with the second wall 32 substantially parallel to the bottom panel 18 of the inner casing 10 and the first wall 30 substantially parallel to the main board support panel 16. A separate third wall 34 is positioned opposite the first wall 30 and attached to the disk drive rack 24 and/or the front panel 12 of the inner casing 10 by suitable means, such as welding or rivets. A space is defined between the first and third walls 30, 34 for accommodating the disk drives. Two opposite and spaced lugs 26 are formed on the first wall 30 with holes 28 defined therein. The holes 28 are aligned with each other for forming a common axis. Preferably, the axis is substantially parallel to the bottom panel 18.

[0023] The bottom panel 18 of the inner casing 10 has an upright flange 19 in which an elongate opening 20 is defined opposite the lugs 26 of the disk drive rack 24. Preferably, the elongate opening 20 is formed in the connection between the flange 19 and the bottom panel 18 as shown in the drawings.

[0024] Also referring to FIGS. 2 and 4, the support member 40 comprises an elongate plate 42 having upper and lower ends. A perpendicular flange 60 is formed on the lower end of the support member 40. A connection portion 44 is formed on the upper end. Two spaced projections 45 transversely extend from the connection portion 44 corresponding to the lugs 26 of the disk drive rack 24. Aligned holes 46 are defined in the projections 45 for being aligned with the holes 28 of the lugs 26. A pivot shaft 74 extends through the holes 46, 28 of the projections 45 and the lugs 26 and is retained in position by a C-ring 74 for pivotally attaching the support member 40 to the disk drive rack 24 whereby the support member 40 is movable with respect to the inner casing 10 between a closed position where the lower flange 60 is received in and engages with the elongate opening 20 defined in the bottom panel 18 for securing the support member 40 between the disk drive rack 24 and the bottom panel 18 with the power supply 90 completely received in the enclosure 100 and an open position where the support member 40 is moved away from the inner casing 10 with the power supply 90 completely located outside the enclosure 100.

[0025] The support member 40 that connects between the first wall 30 of the disk drive rack 24 and the bottom panel 18 of the inner casing 10 is arranged opposite to the main board support panel 16 thereby providing a mechanical reinforcement between the disk drive rack 24 and the bottom panel 18.

[0026] Also referring to FIG. 5, the plate 42 of the support member 40 defines three sets of openings 46, 48, 50 therein respectively corresponding to receptacles 77, 78, 79 for accommodating power supplies of different specifications. The receptacles 77, 78, 79 are interchangeably and selectively engageable with the corresponding openings 46, 4850 for mounting a power supply of the corresponding specification to the support member 40. By means of the pivotal connection between the support member 40 and the disk drive rack 24, the receptacle 77, 78, 79 and the power supply 90 accommodated therein may be readily moved out of the computer enclosure 100 for replacement or maintenance.

[0027] Each receptacle 77, 78, 79 has a U-shape defining an interior space (not labeled) for accommodating the power supply 90 and comprises two transverse flanges 81, 80, 83 for abutting against the plate 42 of the support member 40. Pawls 82, 84, 86 are formed in the flanges 81, 80, 83 of the receptacles 77, 78, 79 for engaging with the corresponding openings 46, 48, 50 defined in the plate 42 of the support member 40 thereby mounting the receptacle 77, 78, 79 and the power supply 90 accommodated therein to the support member 40.

[0028] If desired, bolt holes 88 may be defined in the flanges 81, 80, 83 of each receptacle 77, 78, 79 in alignment with holes 58 defined in the plate 42 of the support member 40 for receiving bolts (not shown) to secure the receptacle 77, 78, 79 and the power supply 90 to the support member 40.

[0029] Although the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment, it is apparent to those skilled in the art that a variety of modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention which is intended to be defined by the appended claims.