US20100052483A1

US20100052483A1 - Computer casing

Info

Publication number: US20100052483A1
Application number: US12/202,752
Authority: US
Inventors: Hsin-Sheng Huang
Original assignee: SilverStone Tech Co Ltd
Current assignee: SilverStone Tech Co Ltd
Priority date: 2008-09-02
Filing date: 2008-09-02
Publication date: 2010-03-04

Abstract

A computer casing includes a supporting frame, a rear plate and two side plates. The supporting frame is composed of a front plate, a top plate and a bottom plate both integrally extending from the front plate. The rear plate is connected to the top plate and the bottom plate. The side plates are connected to both sides of the supporting frame. With the top plate, the front plate and the bottom plate being integrally formed, the manufacturing process can be simplified and the cost can be reduced. Further, the structural strength of the computer casing can be increased.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a computer casing, and in particular to a computer casing having an integral supporting frame.
2. Description of Prior Art
The conventional casing of a computer host includes a frame, a panel, a rear plate and two side plates. The panel covers the front surface of the frame. The rear plate is connected to the back surface of the frame. The side plates are inserted to both sides of the frame. The frame is usually constituted by means of connecting a plurality of metallic supports and a plurality of metallic plates. The connection can be achieved by screws or rivets.
However, in practice, such a structure still has drawbacks as follows. Since the frame is usually constituted by means of connecting a plurality of metallic supports and a plurality of metallic plates, the frame has so many constituent elements that increases the material cost of the computer casing. Furthermore, the procedure for manufacturing and assembling the frame is complicated and time-consuming. As a result, the manufacture cost of the whole computer casing is increased. On the other hand, since the metallic supports and the metallic plates are connected by screws or rivets, the connecting portions may be loosened after a long period time due to the vibration generated by the operation of the elements within the computer casing and the vibration generated by the operation of a hard disk or fan. As a result, the structural strength of the computer casing will be reduced, which may cause some problems with regard to the usage of electronic devices in the computer casing.
Therefore, it is an important issue for the present Inventor to overcome the above problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is to provide a computer casing having an integrally-formed supporting frame, thereby simplifying the manufacturing process and saving the manufacture cost.
The present invention is to provide a computer casing, which includes a supporting frame, a rear plate and two side plates. The supporting frame is constituted of a front plate, a top plate and a bottom plate both integrally extending from the front plate. The rear plate is connected to the top plate and the bottom plate. The side plates are connected to both sides of the supporting frame.
The present invention is to provide a computer casing having an integrally-formed supporting frame, thereby increasing the structural strength of the computer casing.
The present invention is to provide a computer casing having an integrally-formed supporting frame, thereby reducing the influence on the elements and devices within the computer casing by external vibrations and protecting the elements and devices within the computer casing from suffering damage.
The present invention is to provide a computer casing, wherein the supporting frame is formed by means of extruding and bending, so that the number of elements and thus the cost of the computer casing can be reduced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of the supporting frame of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a side view showing the supporting frame of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the devices arranged in the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of the supporting frame according to another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The detailed description and technical contents of the present invention will be explained with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the drawings are illustrative only but not used to limit the present invention.
Please refer to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of the supporting frame of the present invention. The present invention provides a computer casing, which includes a supporting frame 10, a rear plate 20 and two side plates 30.
The supporting frame 10 comprises a top plate 11, a front plate 12 and a bottom plate 13. The top plate 11 and the bottom plate 13 integrally extend from the front plate 12. The top plate 11 is parallel to the bottom plate 13. The top plate 11 and the bottom plate 13 are perpendicular to the front plate 12 respectively. The supporting frame 10 can be manufactured according to the following process. First, aluminum materials or other metallic materials can be extruded to form a rectangular plate. Then, this rectangular plate is bent to form a U shape, but the shape after bending is not limited thereto. Further, both sides of the supporting frame 10 are formed with a reinforcing strip 14 respectively. The reinforcing strip 14 penetrates the top plate 11, the front plate 12 and the bottom plate 13, so that the thickness of both sides of the supporting frame 10 becomes larger, thereby increasing the structural strength of the supporting frame 10.
Furthermore, the top plate 11 is provided with a through trough 15. Both ends of the inner surface of the top plate 11 and the bottom plate 13 are provided with a protruding rib 16 respectively. The protruding rib 16 is provided with a plurality of penetrating holes 161 for allowing the side plates 30 to be slidably inserted therein.
The top end and the bottom end of the rear plate 20 are connected to the top plate 11 and the bottom plate 13 respectively. The side plates 30 are connected to both sides of the supporting frame 10 respectively.
Please also refer to FIG. 3, which is a side view showing the supporting frame 10 of the present invention. The supporting frame 10 is integrally formed by means of an extruding and bending process. The structural strength of the integrally-formed supporting frame 10 is superior to that of the frame of a common computer casing. According to the present invention, using an extruding and bending process to manufacture the computer casing can save the working hours for manufacturing and assembling. Furthermore, in the computer casing of the present invention, the portions that are necessarily connected by fixing elements (not shown) are only the connecting portions between the top plate 11 and the rear plate 20 and those between the bottom plate 13 and the rear plate 20, so that the number of the fixing elements can be reduced greatly. Therefore, the problem that a long-time operation of the devices within the computer casing may make the fixing elements to get loosened so as to reduce the structural strength of the computer casing can be prevented.
Please refer to FIG. 4, which is a perspective view showing the devices arranged within the present invention. The devices that are arranged in the computer casing comprise a main board 40, a power unit 50, a data accessing unit 60 and a connector module 70.
The main board 40 is connected to the supporting frame 10 and the rear plate 20. The main board 40 is arranged in one side of the supporting frame 10. The main board 40 is arranged to be much closer to one of the side plates 30. The power unit 50 is connected to the supporting frame 10 and the rear plate 20. The data accessing unit 60 is connected to the supporting frame 10.
Please refer to FIG. 5, which is a perspective showing the external appearance of the supporting frame according to another embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the supporting frame 10′ can have another form which is constituted of a front plate 12′ and two side plates 17 extending from both sides of the front plate 12′. The supporting frame 10′ also comprises a reinforcing strip 14′ penetrating the two side plates 17 and the front plate 12′. The inner surface of the side plate 17 extends to have a plurality of protruding ribs 16′. The protruding ribs 16′ is provided with a plurality penetrating holes 161′. The supporting frame 10′ is combined with the corresponding top plate, the bottom plate and the rear plate (not shown) so as to constitute a complete computer casing. In this way, the supporting frame 10′ also has the same advantages as the above-mentioned supporting frame 10 does.
More specifically, the supporting frame 10′ is manufactured in the same manner as that of the supporting frame 10. That is, an aluminum material is first extruded and bent to form a U-shaped supporting frame 10′. The protruding rib 16′ allows the top plate and the bottom plate (not shown) to be connected thereto. In the present embodiment, the top plate and the bottom plate are parallel to each other, while the side plates 17 are perpendicular to the front plate.
Therefore, the computer casing of the present invention has advantageous features as follows.
(I) With the supporting frame 10 being integrally formed by an extruding process, the manufacturing procedure can be simplified and the manufacture cost can be saved.
(II) With the supporting frame 10 being integrally formed, the structural strength of the computer casing can be increased.
(III) With the supporting frame 10 being integrally formed, the influence on the elements and devices within the computer casing caused by external vibrations can be reduced, so that the elements and devices within the computer casing can be protected from suffering damage.
According to the above, the computer casing of the present invention already has industrial applicability, novelty and inventive steps. Further, the structure of the present invention has not been seen in articles of the same kind or let in public use. Therefore, the present invention conforms to the requirements for a utility model patent.

Claims

1. A computer casing, comprising:

a supporting frame composed of a front plate, a top plate and a bottom plate, the top plate and the bottom plate integrally extending from the front plate;

a rear plate connected to the top plate and the bottom plate; and

two side plates connected to both sides of the supporting frame separately.

2. The computer casing according to claim 1, wherein the supporting frame is made of aluminum.

3. The computer casing according to claim 1, wherein the supporting frame is of a U shape.

4. The computer casing according to claim 1, wherein both sides of the supporting frame are formed with a reinforcing strip penetrating the top plate, the front plate and bottom plate.

5. The computer casing according to claim 1, wherein both sides of the top plate and the bottom plate extend to form a protruding rib respectively for connecting the side plate.

6. The computer casing according to claim 1, wherein the side plate is connected to the protruding rib.

7. The computer casing according to claim 1, wherein the top plate and the bottom plate are parallel to each other.

8. The computer casing according to claim 1, wherein the top plate and the bottom plate are perpendicular to the front plate.

9. A computer casing, comprising:

a supporting frame composed of a front plate and two side plates integrally extending from the front plate;

a rear plate connected to the side plates;

a top plate connected to the top of the side plates; and

a bottom plate connected to the bottom of the side plates.

10. The computer casing according to claim 9, wherein the supporting frame is made of aluminum.

11. The computer casing according to claim 9, wherein the supporting frame is of a U shape.

12. The computer casing according to claim 9, wherein both sides of the supporting frame are formed with a reinforcing strip penetrating the top plate and the side plates.

13. The computer casing according to claim 9, wherein corresponding surfaces of the side plates extend to form a protruding rib separately for connecting the top plate and the bottom plate.

14. The computer casing according to claim 9, wherein the top plate and the bottom plate are connected to the protruding rib.

15. The computer casing according to claim 9, wherein the top plate and the bottom plate are parallel to each other.

16. The computer casing according to claim 9, wherein the top plate and the side plates are perpendicular to the front plate.