Patent US6297950B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6297950B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Filter assembly for a memory storage device cooler
Assignee: InClose Design Inc
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Filing: 1999-06-17
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Granted: 2001-10-02
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Expires: 2019-06-17
Abstract
Abstract An air filter assembly is useful with an external hard drive, a computer housing and memory storage device housings. The air filter assembly includes a frame, an air filter, and a retainer for slidably holding the air filter in the frame. Air filter deformation may result in captured dust and particulate matter dropping from the filter. The retainer of the present invention is specially configured for preventing filter deformation and dusty messes.
Inventors
- 👤 Chris Erwin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 14:05
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D46/00; B01D46/0002; B01D46/0005; B01D46/10; G; G06; G06F; G06F1/00; G06F1/16; G06F1/18; G06F1/20; G11; G11B; G11B33/00; G11B33/14; G11B33/1446; H; H05; H05K; H05K7/00; H05K7/20; H05K7/20009; H05K7/20136; H05K7/20181; B01D2265/00; B01D2265/06; B01D2279/00; B01D2279/45
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
126 words
An air filter assembly for a memory storage device bay, comprising: a frame having a first lateral side with a hinge connectable with the memory storage device bay having an inner periphery with grooves, and having a second lateral side with an opening; an air filter; and a retainer for sliding the air filter into the opening of the frame, the retainer having two sides and a flexible joint to move the sides between an open configuration to a closed configuration, in the closed configuration, the sides of the retainer sandwich the air filter to hold the air filter, each side has edges that slide in the grooves of the frame to insert the retainer in the frame when the retainer is in the closed configuration.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
126 words
An air filter assembly for a memory storage device bay, comprising: a frame having a first lateral side with a hinge connectable with the memory storage device bay having an inner periphery with grooves, and having a second lateral side with an opening; an air filter; and a retainer for sliding the air filter into the opening of the frame, the retainer having two sides and a flexible joint to move the sides between an open configuration to a closed configuration, in the closed configuration, the sides of the retainer sandwich the air filter to hold the air filter, each side has edges that slide in the grooves of the frame to insert the retainer in the frame when the retainer is in the closed configuration.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
An air filter assembly as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the flexible joint spring biases the retainer in the open configuration to press the edges against the grooves of the frame when the retainer inserts into the frame.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
An air filter assembly as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the air filter has an inner face and an outer face, the sides of the retainer surround the inner face and the outer face, respectively.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
An air filter assembly as set forth in claim 3 , wherein the sides of the retainer form a grate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
An air filter assembly as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the frame has an inlet, an outlet and two lateral sides, one side defines an opening that aligns with the grooves of the frame for receiving the retainer and the air filter.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
177 words
An air filter assembly for a memory storage device bay, comprising: a frame connectable with the memory storage device bay and having an inner periphery with grooves; an air filter; a retainer for sliding the air filter into the frame, the retainer having two sidles and a flexible joint to move the sides between an open configuration to a closed configuration, in the closed configuration, the sides of the retainer sandwich the air filter to hold the air filter, each side has edges that slide in the grooves of the frame to insert the retainer in the frame when the retainer is in the closed configuration; and wherein the frame has two lateral sides, one lateral side defines an opening for receiving the retainer and the air filter, and the other lateral side includes a hinge to attach the frame to the memory storage device bay, the hinge enables the frame to swing about attach hinge between an open position and a closed position, the open position exposes the opening to enable air filter removal and replacement.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
177 words
An air filter assembly for a memory storage device bay, comprising: a frame connectable with the memory storage device bay and having an inner periphery with grooves; an air filter; a retainer for sliding the air filter into the frame, the retainer having two sidles and a flexible joint to move the sides between an open configuration to a closed configuration, in the closed configuration, the sides of the retainer sandwich the air filter to hold the air filter, each side has edges that slide in the grooves of the frame to insert the retainer in the frame when the retainer is in the closed configuration; and wherein the frame has two lateral sides, one lateral side defines an opening for receiving the retainer and the air filter, and the other lateral side includes a hinge to attach the frame to the memory storage device bay, the hinge enables the frame to swing about attach hinge between an open position and a closed position, the open position exposes the opening to enable air filter removal and replacement.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
An air filter assembly as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the air filter has a rectangular shape to fully cover a memory storage device bay.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
An air filter assembly as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the retainer is fabricated from metal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
113 words
An air filter assembly for a memory storage device bay, comprising: a frame having an inlet, an outlet and two lateral sides, one lateral side includes a hinge connectable with the memory storage device bay, the frame has an inner periphery with grooves; an air filter; and a retainer having two sides and a flexible joint to move the sides between an open configuration to a closed configuration, in the closed configuration, the sides of the retainer sandwich the air filter to hold the air filter, each side has edges that slide in the grooves of the frame to insert the retainer in the frame when the retainer is in the closed configuration.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
113 words
An air filter assembly for a memory storage device bay, comprising: a frame having an inlet, an outlet and two lateral sides, one lateral side includes a hinge connectable with the memory storage device bay, the frame has an inner periphery with grooves; an air filter; and a retainer having two sides and a flexible joint to move the sides between an open configuration to a closed configuration, in the closed configuration, the sides of the retainer sandwich the air filter to hold the air filter, each side has edges that slide in the grooves of the frame to insert the retainer in the frame when the retainer is in the closed configuration.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
An air filter assembly as set forth in claim 9 , the other lateral side of the frame defines an opening that aligns with the grooves of the frame for receiving the retainer and the air filter.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
40 words
An air filter assembly as set forth in claim 9 , wherein the flexible joint spring biases the retainer in the open configuration to press the edges against the grooves of the frame when the retainer inserts into the frame.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
An air filter assembly as set forth in claim 9 , wherein the sides air filter has an inner face and an outer face, the sides of the retainer surround the inner face and the outer face.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
An air filter assembly as set forth in claim 12 , wherein the sides of the retainer form a grate.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
An air filter assembly as set forth in claim 12 , wherein the air filter has a rectangular shape to fully cover a memory storage device bay.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
An air filter assembly as set forth in claim 12 , wherein the retainer is fabricated from metal.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
144 words
A memory storage device housing having at least one memory storage device bay and a cooler assembly for cooling the memory storage device bay, comprising: a hard drive cooler assembly having a fan mounted in at least one memory storage device bay for convectively cooling the memory storage device bay; a frame for covering the fan, the frame being connectable with the memory storage device bay, the frame has an inner periphery with grooves; an air filter; and a retainer having two sides and a flexible joint to move the sides between an open configuration to a closed configuration, in the closed configuration, the sides of the retainer sandwich the air filter to hold the air filter, each side has edges that slide in the grooves of the frame to insert the retainer in the frame when the retainer is in the closed configuration.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
144 words
A memory storage device housing having at least one memory storage device bay and a cooler assembly for cooling the memory storage device bay, comprising: a hard drive cooler assembly having a fan mounted in at least one memory storage device bay for convectively cooling the memory storage device bay; a frame for covering the fan, the frame being connectable with the memory storage device bay, the frame has an inner periphery with grooves; an air filter; and a retainer having two sides and a flexible joint to move the sides between an open configuration to a closed configuration, in the closed configuration, the sides of the retainer sandwich the air filter to hold the air filter, each side has edges that slide in the grooves of the frame to insert the retainer in the frame when the retainer is in the closed configuration.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
41 words
A memory storage device housing as set forth in claim 16 , wherein the flexible joint spring biases the retainer in the open configuration to press the edges against the grooves of the frame when the retainer inserts into the frame.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
38 words
A memory storage device housing as set forth in claim 16 , wherein the air filter has an inner face and an outer face, the sides of the retainer surround the inner face and the outer face, respectively.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
A memory storage device housing as set forth in claim 18 , wherein the sides of the retainer form a grate.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
30 words
A memory storage device housing as set forth in claim 18 , wherein housing includes multiple memory storage device bays, the frame, air filter and retainer cover the multiple bays.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
214 words
A memory storage device housing having at least one memory storage device bay and a cooler assembly for cooling the memory storage device bay, comprising: a hard drive cooler assembly having a fan mounted in at least one memory storage device bay for convectively cooling the memory storage device bay; a frame for covering the fan, the frame being connectable with their memory storage device bay, the frame has an inner periphery with grooves; an air filter; a retainer having two sides and a flexible joint to move the sides between an open configuration to a closed configuration, in the closed configuration, the sides of the retainer sandwich the air filter to hold the air filter, each side has edges that slide in the grooves of the frame to insert the retainer in the frame when the retainer is in the closed configuration; and wherein the frame has two lateral sides, one lateral side defines an opening for receiving the retainer and the air filter, and the other lateral side includes a hinge to attach the frame to the memory storage device bay, the hinge enables the frame to swing about the hinge between an open position and a closed position, the open position exposes the opening to enable air filter removal and replacement.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
214 words
A memory storage device housing having at least one memory storage device bay and a cooler assembly for cooling the memory storage device bay, comprising: a hard drive cooler assembly having a fan mounted in at least one memory storage device bay for convectively cooling the memory storage device bay; a frame for covering the fan, the frame being connectable with their memory storage device bay, the frame has an inner periphery with grooves; an air filter; a retainer having two sides and a flexible joint to move the sides between an open configuration to a closed configuration, in the closed configuration, the sides of the retainer sandwich the air filter to hold the air filter, each side has edges that slide in the grooves of the frame to insert the retainer in the frame when the retainer is in the closed configuration; and wherein the frame has two lateral sides, one lateral side defines an opening for receiving the retainer and the air filter, and the other lateral side includes a hinge to attach the frame to the memory storage device bay, the hinge enables the frame to swing about the hinge between an open position and a closed position, the open position exposes the opening to enable air filter removal and replacement.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-10-01 | 2005-04-02 | 2005-10-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-10-01 | 2009-04-02 | 2009-10-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-10-01 | 2013-04-02 | 2013-10-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |