EP0647897A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Personal computer structure
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1994-10-10
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Granted: —
•
Expires: 2014-10-10
Abstract
Abstract A personal computer includes a frame unit and a top cover mounted to pivot on the frame unit. In one version of the computer, the top cover pivots upward and outward to the rear of the system as it is opened. In another version, the top cover pivots upward to the side. One or more DASD storage devices may be mounted to extend downward from the top cover. A planar board is attached atop the lower side of the frame unit, where flexible mounting hardware allows the attachment of one of several types of planar boards. A central support structure includes a riser card plugged into a connector of the planar board, and a number of card connectors into which option cards can be plugged for electrical connection with the planar board. The central support structure also includes a bracket extending along the rear of the computer, having slots through which port connectors of the option cards can extend. The central support structure is held in engagement with the connector of the planar board by the top cover when this cover is closed. When the top cover is open, the DASD storage devices may be easily replaced, the central support structure may be unplugged from the planar board, and the planar board can be easily replaced or serviced. A front surface of the computer includes a door, which is opened by rotation outward and downward, to be slid inward, providing access for the replacement of media in the storage devices. This door and the top cover are separately lockable using a multi-function lock.
Inventors
- 👤 John Robinson Dewitt
- 👤 Todd Arthur Mcclurg
- 👤 Jay Henry Neer
- 👤 Orlando Pimienta
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 17:37
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F1/00; G06F1/16; G06F1/18; G06F1/183; G06F1/185; G06F1/184; G06F1/186; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T70/00; Y10T70/50; Y10T70/5009; Y10T70/5093; Y10T70/554; Y10T70/5544
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 40
Claim 1
Independent Claim
190 words
Personal computer apparatus comprising: a frame section having an open side; a planar board assembly fastened within said frame section, by planar board attachment means, said planar board assembly including a riser connector directed toward said open side; a central support structure for electrically connecting option card assemblies with said planar board, said central support structure including a riser card engaging said riser connector, a plurality of card connectors on said riser card electrically connected through said riser card to said riser connector, and an attachment framework including means for attaching card assemblies in engagement with said card connectors; a top cover with an open side opposing said open side of the frame section; a storage device; cover attachment means attaching said top cover to said frame section along a cover attachment edge of said top cover and along a frame attachment edge of said frame section, permitting pivotal movement of said top cover between a closed cover position, in which said central support structure is held in engagement with said riser connector, and an open cover position in which said central support structure is disengagable from said riser connector.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
100 words
Apparatus as recited in Claim 1, wherein said cover attachment means includes: a pivotable bail with an upper bail portion on which said cover attachment edge is pivotally mounted, and a lower bail portion pivotally mounted along said frame attachment edge for pivotal movement between an inward position, in which said top cover is in said closed cover position, and an outward position, in which said top cover is in said open cover position; first holding means for holding said top cover in said open cover position; and second holding means for holding said pivotable bail in said outward position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
80 words
Apparatus as recited in Claim 2, wherein: said pivotable bail includes an end portion extending between said upper portion and said lower portion at each end, each said end portion including an inward extending portion; and said second holding means includes stopping surface contacted by each said inward extending portion, wherein the deflection of said inward extending portion in contact with said stopping surface results in the development of a frictional force holding said pivotable bail in said rearward position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: said cover attachment edge extends along a rear edge of said top cover; and said top cover includes a front cover bezel extending above a frame bezel with a top cover in said cover closed position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus according to any one of cliams 1 to 3, wherein: said cover attachment edge extends along an upper side of said cover; and said frame attachment edge extends along an upper side of said frame, adjacent to said cover attachment edge.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
Apparatus as recited in Claim 5, wherein: said frame attachment edge extends rearward from a front frame bezel, along a side cover of said frame; and said front frame bezel extends between said lower side of said frame and said upper side of said top cover.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
208 words
Apparatus according to any one of the previous claims, comprising in addition: a media access opening adjacent to said storage device; a media access door with an upward extending door latching slot and an outward extending pivot pin portion at each end; a downward extending door latching surface extending into said upward extending door latching slot when said media access door is in a closed door position filling said media access opening; a pocket for storing said media access door in a door open position, essentially perpendicular to said closed door position, below said storage device; a door track at each end of said media access door, wherein said pivot pin portions extend into upper front corner portions of said door tracks when said media access door is in said closed door position, with a first portion of each said door track extending to permit downward motion of said pivot pin from said upper front corner portion, with a second portion of each said door track extending to permit rearward motion of said pivot point from said upper front corner portion as said media access door is moved into said door open position; and spring means for holding said media access door upward in said closed door position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
63 words
Apparatus as recited in Claim 7, wherein: said frame section and said top cover together form an outer conductive structure enclosing electronic apparatus; and said pocket is formed by a "U"-shaped shield with an opening for receiving said media access door, said shield being in contact with portions of said outer conductive structure when said top cover is in said cover closed position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
56 words
Apparatus as recited in Claim 7 or Claim 8, comprising in addition a locking mechanism operable by an encoded key and movable between a first position, blocking downward motion of said media access door from said closed door position, and a second position, allowing downward motion of said media access door from said closed door position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
115 words
Apparatus as recited in Claim 9, wherein: said top cover additionally includes a cover latch engaging surface; said frame section additionally includes a cover latch movable between a cover latched position, in which said top cover is held in said closed cover position by engagement of said cover latch engaging surface with a notch in said cover latch, and a cover unlatched position, in which said cover latch engaging surface is released from said notch, thereby releasing said top cover to pivot into said open cover position; and said locking mechanism is additionally movable into a third position in which said cover latch is moved from said cover latched position into said cover unlatched position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
124 words
Apparatus as recited in Claim 10, wherein said locking mechanism includes: a lock with a lock rotor rotatable among first, second, and third angular positions when said encoded key is inserted therein; a door locking bracket movable between a first bracket position, in which an end of said door locking bracket prevents downward motion of said media access door and a second position in which downward motion of said media access door is permitted; and a cam attached to said lock rotor, said cam including a first cam surface moving said door locking bracket between said first and second bracket positions, said cam additionally including and a second cam surface moving said cover latch between said cover latched position and said cover unlatched position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
81 words
Apparatus as recited in Claim 10 or Claim 11, wherein: said apparatus additionally includes an intermediate access opening and an intermediate access door mounted to be moved between an intermediate open position and an intermediate closed position, filling said intermediate access opening; and said locking mechanism is additionally movable between a position in which said intermediate door cannot be moved from said intermediate closed position, and a position in which said intermediate door can be moved from said intermediate closed position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
110 words
Apparatus as recited in Claim 12 as dependent on claim 11, wherein: said lock rotor is rotatable among first, second, third and fourth angular positions when said encoded key is inserted therein; said locking mechanism includes an intermediate door locking member movable between an intermediate locking position blocking motion of said intermediate door between said intermediate closed position and said intermediate open position and an intermediate releasing position allowing movement between said intermediate closed position and said intermediate open position; and wherein said cam attached to said lock rotor includes a third cam surface moving said intermediate door locking member between said intermediate locking position and said intermediate releasing position.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
53 words
Apparatus as recited in Claim 12, wherein: said intermediate access door is mounted to pivot with a door shaft having a sector gear; said frame structure additionally includes a movably mounted actuator with a lever extending outward through an aperture in said frame structure, said actuator having gear teeth engaging said sector gear.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
105 words
Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising in addition: a lower link pivotally mounted at a lower pivot on said frame section; an upper link pivotally mounted at an upper pivot on said top cover, said upper and lower links being pivotally attached at a central pivot; said central pivot moving in a linkage opening direction between first and second positions as said top cover is moved between said closed and open positions, said second position being offset in said linkage opening direction from a line through said lower and upper pivots when said cover is in said cover open position; and
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
82 words
Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 14 comprising in addition: a lower link pivotally mounted at a lower pivot on said frame section; an upper link pivotally mounted at an upper pivot on said top cover, said upper and lower links being pivotally attached at a central pivot; and detent means at said central pivot, resisting relative movement of said lower and upper links as said cover is moved from said open cover position toward said closed cover position.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
84 words
Apparatus as recited in Claim 16, wherein said detent means includes: a detent surface of said upper link, disposed adjacent to said central pivot, said detent surface including a detent notch; a detent plate mounted to slide along said central pivot and to pivot with said lower link, said detent plate including a curved surface extending into said detent notch when said top cover is in said open cover position; and a detent spring holding said detent plate in contact with said detent surface.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
56 words
Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said central support structure additionally includes a front attachment framework having a plurality of front slots extending therethrough and means for attaching a plurality of card assemblies of a first type in alignment with said front slots and in engagement with various of said card connectors.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus as recited in Claim 18, comprising in addition an intermediate door in alignment with one of said front slots, movable between an intermediate door closed position and an intermediate door open position.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
102 words
Apparatus as recited in Claim 18, comprising in addition: a socket assembly for removably receiving a circuit card of a second type, said socket assembly including a plurality of socket contacts for establishing electrical contact with a plurality of mating contacts along an end of said second type of circuit card inserted therein; an ejection mechanism for facilitating removal of said second type of circuit card; and a bracket attaching said socket assembly and said ejection mechanism to said front attachment framework in alignment with one of said front slots for inserting and ejecting said circuit card of a second type therethrough.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
56 words
Apparatus as recited in Claim 20, including in addition: processor means; a system bus extending from said planar board through said riser connector and through traces in said riser card to said card connectors; and a second bus interface extending from said planar board through said riser card for direction connection to a said socket assembly.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
102 words
Apparatus as recited in Claim 1, comprising in addition: a socket assembly for removably receiving a circuit card of a second type, said socket assembly including a plurality of socket contacts for establishing electrical contact with a plurality of mating contacts along an end of said second type of circuit card inserted therein; an ejection mechanism for facilitating removal of said second type of circuit card; and a bracket attaching said socket assembly and said ejection mechanism to said front attachment framework in alignment with one of said rear slots for inserting and ejecting said circuit card of a second type therethrough.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
104 words
Apparatus as recited in Claim 1, wherein said cover attachment edge is pivotally mounted on a pivot rod by releasable means comprising: a bracket attached to said top cover, with a pivot engaging tip extending partly around said pivot rod; and a pivot holding member with a pivot holding tip extending partly around said pivot rod, said pivot holding member being movable between a pivot holding position in which said pivot rod is pivotally held between said pivot engaging tip and said pivot holding tip, and a pivot releasing position in which said pivot rod is released for movement away from said releasable means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
78 words
Apparatus as recited in Claim 23, wherein: said bracket includes a release stopping tab engaging a stop surface of said pivot holding member, to prevent motion of said pivot holding member from said pivot holding position into said pivot releasing position; and said pivot holding member includes a deflectable tip enclosed by said top cover when said cover is in said cover closed position, said tip being deflectable to move said stop surface past said release stopping tab.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus as recited in Claim 23, wherein said releasable means can engage any one of a plurality of different top covers.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus as recited in Claim 1, including in addition: processor means; and a system bus extending from said planar board through said riser connector and through traces in said riser card to said card connectors.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
222 words
Personal computer apparatus as recited in Claim 1, wherein said planar board attachment means includes: a planar board mounting plate extending above said generally flat lower side of said frame section, said mounting plate including an attachment aperture; a nut having a raised central nut portion extending upward through said attachment aperture, with an internally threaded hole in said central nut portion, and with a nut flange extending outward from an outer edge of said central nut portion under a portion of said mounting plate around said aperture; a spacer having a raised central spacer portion extending over and around said central nut portion and a spacer flange extending outward from an outer edge of said central spacer portion over a portion of said mounting plate around said attachment aperture; means for locking said nut in engagement with said spacer as said central spacer portion is pressed downward over said central nut portion; an attachment screw having a head above said planar board and an externally threaded portion extending downward through a hole in said planar board and through said clearance hole in said spacer to engage said internally threaded hole in said nut, whereby tightening said screw clamps said planar board between said head and said spacer while also clamping said mounting plate between said spacer flange and said nut flange.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
74 words
Apparatus as recited in Claim 27, wherein: said nut flange is divided into a number of flange segments extending radially outward; and said mounting plate includes a number of plate segments extending radially inward, providing a shape thereamong through which said nut flange can pass, and said mounting plate additionally includes a means for preventing rotation of said nut flange beyond a point at which said flange segments extend adjacent to said plate segments.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus as recited in Claim 27, wherein: said attachment aperture is non-circular; and said central nut portion includes non-circular sides extending through said attachment aperture, preventing rotation of said nut within said attachment aperture.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
55 words
Apparatus as recited in Claim 27, wherein: said mounting plate includes a first plurality of attachment apertures, said attachment apertures being at locations corresponding to attachment holes of various planar boards; and said apparatus includes a second plurality of said nuts, said spacers, and said attachment screws, assembled within a subset of said attachment apertures.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
80 words
Apparatus as recited in Claim 1, wherein: said top cover includes a plurality of slotted channels extending downward from said upper side for the attachment of storage devices, each said channel including a plurality of device attachment slots and a latching spring for holding one of said storage devices in attachment with an adjacent said slot; and said storage device attachment means includes an attachment hook extending into one of said device attachment slots, held therein by said latching spring.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
44 words
Apparatus as recited in Claim 1, wherein said top cover includes in addition a hook for attachment of said central support structure when said top cover is in said open cover position and when said central support structure is disengaged from said riser connector.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
262 words
Electronic apparatus comprising: a frame unit with a generally flat lower side, an open upper side, and a bracket aperture in a first side; a cover unit with an upper side an open lower side, attached to said frame unit to move between a cover closed position, in which internal apparatus is enclosed by said cover unit together with said frame unit, and a cover open position, in which said internal apparatus is outwardly exposed; a central support assembly including a central support structure with a first slotted bracket extending within said bracket aperture, said first slotted bracket including a plurality of card assembly attachment slots extending therethrough, said first slotted bracket additionally including card attachment means in alignment with said card attachment slots, said central support structure additionally including a riser card with a plurality of circuit card connectors electrically connected with said central attachment connector, various of said circuit card connectors being individually aligned with various of said card assembly attachment slots, said central support assembly additionally including a first type of circuit card assembly plugged into one of said circuit card connectors, said circuit card assembly including a port connector extending outward through one of said card attachment slots, wherein said central support assembly can be disconnected from said central attachment connector and removed therefrom with said cover unit in said open cover position, and wherein said central support structure is held in connection with said central attachment connector by proximity of said cover unit to said central support structure when said cover unit in said closed cover position.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
119 words
Electronic apparatus as recited in Claim 33, wherein: said central support assembly additionally includes a second slotted bracket, extending at an end of said central support assembly opposite said first slotted bracket, and a socket assembly for removably receiving a second type of circuit card through a slot in said second slotted bracket, together with an ejection mechanism for facilitating removal of said second type of circuit card from said socket, said socket assembly including a plurality of socket contacts for establishing electrical contact with a plurality of mating contacts along an end of said second type of circuit card inserted therein, and said apparatus additionally includes a lockable access door covering said slot in said second slotted bracket.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
188 words
Apparatus for interchangeably mounting either a first type of circuit card assembly, having a card attachment bracket and an edge tab configured for insertion into a card edge connector, or a socket assembly for removably receiving a second type of circuit card, together with an ejection mechanism for facilitating removal of said second type of circuit card, said socket assembly including a plurality of socket contacts for establishing electrical contact with a plurality of mating contacts along an end of said second type of circuit card inserted therein, said apparatus comprising: a central electronic structure including a card receiving connector for removably receiving said edge tab, a slotted attachment structure including a structure slot through which a terminal connector of said first type of card assembly may extend, and structure attachment means for attaching said card attachment bracket with said edge tab engaging said card edge connector; a socket attachment bracket attached to said socket assembly, said socket attachment bracket having bracket attachment means connectable with said structure attachment means with said socket assembly aligned to accept said second type of circuit card inserted through said structure slot.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
62 words
Apparatus as recited in Claim 35, wherein: said apparatus comprises in addition a housing with a movable cover and a planar board with an interconnection connector; and said central electronic structure comprises in addition an interconnection card held in connection with said interconnection connector by said cover in a closed position thereof and released from such connection as said cover is opened.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
299 words
Apparatus for providing controlled physical access within a computer system, said apparatus comprising: a cover assembly including a frame and a top cover movable between a closed cover position and an open cover position; a media access door movable between a closed media door position and an open media door position, in which media may be replaced in a storage device; a lock having a rotor rotatable among first, second, and third lock positions when a properly encoded key is inserted in a slot thereof, said second lock position being disposed between said first and third positions, said lock rotor not being rotatable between adjacent said lock positions when said key is not inserted in said slot; first locking means moved by rotation of said lock; cover locking means moved by said first locking means between a cover locking position, in which said cover is held in said closed cover position, and a cover releasing position, in which said cover is released from said closed cover position, wherein said cover locking means is in said cover locking position when said lock is in said first and second lock positions, wherein said cover locking means is in said cover releasing position when said lock is in said third lock position; media door locking means moved by said first locking means between a media door locking position, in which said media access door is held in said closed media door position, and a media door releasing position, in which said media access door is released from said closed media door position, wherein said media door locking means is in said media door locking position when said lock is in said first lock position and in said media door releasing position when said lock is in said second and third lock positions.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
207 words
Apparatus as recited in Claim 37, wherein: said apparatus comprises additionally track means for allowing the downward depression of said media access door, the outer rotation of an upper surface of said media access door, and the inward sliding of said media access door into a door receiving pocket, said outer rotation being prevented without said downward depression by engagement of said media access door with a latching portion of said cover assembly, said first locking means includes a cam attached to said lock rotor, having a first cam surface moving said cover locking means and a second cam surface moving said media door locking means; said cover locking means includes a latch movably mounted in said frame and a latching surface attached to said top cover, said latch being moved between a cover locking position, engaging said latching surface, and a cover releasing position, releasing said latching surface; said media door locking means includes a bracket mounted to move between a media door locking position, in which said downward motion of said media access door is blocked by an end of said bracket, and a media door releasing position, in which said media access door is allowed to move downward past said end of said bracket.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
247 words
Apparatus as recited in Claim 38, wherein: said apparatus additionally comprises an intermediate access door, rotatable with a pivot shaft between a closed intermediate door position and an open intermediate door position, in which access can be obtained to an intermediate area within said computer system, with said apparatus additionally comprising a door actuator with a gear segment meshing with a pivot gear on said pivot shaft, said apparatus additionally comprising intermediate door locking means, moved by said first locking means between an intermediate door locking position, in which said door actuator is held with said intermediate door in said closed position, and an intermediate door releasing position, in which said door actuator is released to move said intermediate door from said closed intermediate door position into said open intermediate door position; said lock rotor is additionally rotatable to a fourth lock position between said second and third lock positions, said cam additionally includes a third cam surface moving said intermediate door locking means; and said intermediate locking means is in said intermediate door locking position with said lock rotor in said first and second lock positions and in said intermediate door unlocking position with said lock in said third and fourth lock positions, wherein said cover locking means is in said cover locking position with said lock rotor in said fourth lock position, and wherein said media door locking means is in said media door releasing position with said lock rotor in said fourth lock position.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
201 words
Apparatus as recited in Claim 37, wherein: said apparatus additionally comprises an intermediate access door movable between a closed intermediate door position and an open intermediate door position, in which access can be obtained to an intermediate area within said computer system, with said apparatus additionally comprising intermediate door locking means moved by said first locking means between an intermediate door locking position, in which said intermediate door is held in said closed position, and an intermediate door releasing position, in which said intermediate door may be moved from said closed intermediate door position into said open intermediate door position; said lock rotor is additionally rotatable to a fourth lock position between said second and third lock positions, wherein said intermediate locking means is in said intermediate door locking position with said lock rotor in said first and second lock positions and in said intermediate door unlocking position with said lock in said third and fourth lock positions, wherein said cover locking means is in said cover locking position with said lock rotor in said fourth lock position, and wherein said media door locking means is in said media door releasing position with said lock rotor in said fourth lock position.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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