JP7534736B2 - Computer case cover fasteners and covers - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a cover fastener and cover for a computer case, and in particular to a cover fastener for attaching a top cover to the top of a computer case having exhaust holes on the top surface of the housing, and a computer case cover that includes the cover fastener and the top cover.

Some computer cases are provided with exhaust holes on the top surface of the case to facilitate dissipation of heat generated inside the case, and a shielding plate is removably fixed above the exhaust holes and spaced apart from the top surface of the case.
For example, Patent Document 1 (Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2-58376) describes how an electronic device housing has an upper cover (3) that detachably covers an upper opening of a housing (1) (see specification, page 5, lines 10-13 and Figure 1), and how the upper cover (3) is placed in a fixed position at the top of the housing (1) and the tip of a sliding fixture (10) is loosely inserted and engaged with the underside of a frame-shaped member (2) at the top of the housing, and then the upper cover (3) and the sliding fixture (10) are fixed to the frame-shaped member (2) using a set screw (5) (see specification, page 8, lines 13-18 and Figure 1).
Furthermore, Patent Document 2 (U.S. Pat. No. 10,514,732) describes that exhaust vents 107 are provided at the top of a smart computer case 100 (see lines 3-12 on page 6 and FIG. 1), and that top panels are provided at the top of the smart computer case 100 (see lines 20-29 on page 6 and FIG. 1).

However, although the upper cover (3) described in Patent Document 1 is removable, it is fixed to the frame member (2) using locking screws (5), sliding fixing brackets (10), reinforcing plates (12), U-shaped retaining brackets (13), and mounting screws (14), and therefore the structure is complex and it is not easy to attach or remove it.
Moreover, it is unclear how the top panels described in Patent Document 2 are attached to the top surface of the PC case (100).

Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 2-58376 U.S. Pat. No. 1,051,4732

The first object of the present invention is to provide a cover fixing device that easily and securely fixes a top cover above a personal computer case that has exhaust holes on the top surface of the housing, while also making the top cover and cover fixing device inexpensive.
A second objective of the present invention is to prevent the surface of the housing or upper cover from being damaged while the upper cover is being fixed or during use, and to make it difficult for the cover fixing device to move on the top surface of the housing, and a third objective is to improve the appearance of the PC case.

The invention according to claim 1 is a cover fastener for attaching a top cover to the top of a PC case having an exhaust hole on the top surface of the housing,
A lower columnar body having three or more permanent magnets and an upper columnar body having three or more permanent magnets,
The lower columnar body has a height of 50 mm or less and an upper and lower surface area of 50 to ⁹⁰⁰ mm2;
the upper column has a lower surface area that is 80 to 150% of the upper surface area of the lower column,
a lower surface of the lower columnar body is fixed to three or more locations of an area of the upper surface of the housing that does not have an exhaust hole by magnetic force;
placing the upper cover on the upper surfaces of the three or more lower columnar bodies;
The upper cover is fixed to the top of the PC case by placing the upper columnar member on the upper cover at a position corresponding to the upper surface of the lower columnar member .

The invention according to claim 2 is the cover fastener for a computer case according to claim 1,
A cushioning material having a thickness of 0.1 to 2 mm is fixed to the lower surface of the lower columnar body.

The invention according to claim 3 provides a computer case cover including the cover fastener for a computer case according to claim 1 or 2 and an upper cover attached to the upper part of the computer case,
The upper cover has a shape identical to that of the top surface of the housing of the PC case when viewed from above.

The invention according to claim 4 is the cover for the computer case according to claim 3,
The upper cover is characterized in that it is a transparent or semi-transparent glass plate or resin plate.

According to the cover fixing device for a computer case of the invention of claim 1, the device comprises a lower columnar body consisting of three or more permanent magnets and an upper columnar body consisting of three or more permanent magnets, the lower columnar body has a height of 50 mm or less and an area of the upper and lower surfaces of 50 to ⁹⁰⁰ mm2, and the area of the lower surface of the upper columnar body is 80 to 150% of the area of the upper surface of the lower columnar body, and the lower surface of the lower columnar body is fixed by magnetic force to three or more locations in an area of the upper surface of the housing that does not have exhaust holes, and an upper cover is placed on the upper surfaces of the three or more lower columnar bodies and the upper columnar body is placed on the upper cover at a position corresponding to the upper surfaces of the lower columnar bodies , thereby fixing the upper cover to the top of the computer case , so that the upper cover can be easily and reliably fixed to the top of a computer case where exhaust holes are provided on the top surface of the housing.

According to the cover fixing device for a computer case of the invention of claim 2, in addition to the effects of the computer case of the invention of claim 1, a cushioning material having a thickness of 0.1 to 2 mm is fixed to the underside of the lower columnar body, so that the lower columnar body made of a magnetic material or permanent magnet, or the upper columnar body made of a permanent magnet, does not come into direct contact with the top surface of the housing or the surface of the upper cover while the upper cover is being fixed or during use.
This prevents the surface of the housing or upper cover from being damaged while the upper cover is being fixed or during use, and furthermore, if the cushioning material is made of a material with high friction resistance such as elastomer or rubber, the lower columnar body is less likely to move on the top surface of the housing.

According to the computer case cover of the invention of claim 3, in addition to the effect of the cover fastener of the computer case of the invention of claim 1 or 2, it is equipped with an upper cover that is attached to the top of the computer case, and since the upper cover has the same shape as the top surface of the computer case housing in a plan view, both the cover fastener and the upper cover can be provided at low cost.

According to the invention of claim 4, in addition to the effect of the computer case of the invention of claim 3, since the top cover is a transparent or translucent glass plate or resin plate, the light from the light emitter built into the computer case can reach the user's eyes through the exhaust holes on the top surface of the housing and the top cover, improving the appearance of the computer case.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which the upper cover of the embodiment is attached to the top surface of the housing. FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing the position on the upper surface of the housing where the lower columnar body of the embodiment is arranged. 4A and 4B are cross-sectional views of a portion where an upper cover is fixed in the embodiment, and a view showing a cover fixing device. 13A and 13B are cross-sectional views of a portion where an upper cover of a modified example is fixed and a view showing a cover fixing device.

The following describes the embodiment of the present invention using examples.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the state in which an upper cover 3 of the embodiment is attached to the top surface of a housing 1, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the position on the top surface of the housing 1 where a lower columnar body 4 of the embodiment is disposed.
As shown in FIG. 1, the cover of the personal computer case in this embodiment is a computer case having a number of exhaust holes 2 on the top surface of the housing 1, and a top cover 3 is attached to the top of the housing 1 with a specified distance therebetween.
The upper cover 3 is a transparent glass plate having flat upper and lower surfaces and being rectangular in shape with the same shape as the upper surface of the housing 1 in a plan view.
The four sets of lower columns 4 and upper columns 5 are all made of neodymium magnets, and the four lower columns 4 are arranged at the four corners of the upper surface of the housing 1 and fixed in place by magnetic force.
The four upper columns 5 are positioned at the four corners (opposite the upper surface of the lower columns 4) of the upper cover 3 which is placed on the upper surface of the four lower columns 4, and clamp and fix the upper cover 3 by magnetic force.

FIG. 3(A) is a cross-sectional view of the portion in which the upper cover 3 of the embodiment is sandwiched and fixed between the lower columnar body 4 and the upper columnar body 5, and FIG. 3(B) is a diagram showing the cover fixing device of the embodiment.
As shown in Figures 3(A) and (B) , the cover fixing device of the embodiment comprises a lower column 4 made of a neodymium magnet, an upper column 5, and a transparent adhesive sticker 6 made of an elastomer attached to the lower and upper surfaces of the lower column 4.
Lower columnar body 4 is 15 mm high and has a square cross section with sides of 12 mm, while upper columnar body 5 is 15 mm high and has a square cross section with sides of 12 mm.
In addition, instead of the lower columnar body 4 and the upper columnar body 5, as shown in Figure 3 (C), a cylindrical lower columnar body 4' having a circular cross-sectional shape with a diameter of 12 mm and a height of 15 mm, and a cylindrical upper columnar body 5' having a circular cross-sectional shape with a diameter of 12 mm and a height of 12 mm may be used.
The transparent adhesive stickers 6 made of elastomer affixed to the lower and upper surfaces of the lower columns 4 and the transparent adhesive stickers 6' made of elastomer affixed to the lower and upper surfaces of the lower columns 4' both have a thickness of 0.8 mm, which prevents the lower columns 4, 4' from colliding with the housing 1 and scratching the surface of the housing 1 or the lower columns 4, 4' from chipping when the lower surfaces of the lower columns 4, 4' are attracted to the upper surface of the housing 1 by magnetic force.
Furthermore, the transparent adhesive stickers 6, 6' made of elastomer have the effect of making the lower columns 4, 4' less likely to slip on the top surface of the housing 1 and making the upper cover 3 less likely to slip on the top surface of the lower columns 4, 4' when the lower columns 4, 4' are adhered to the top surface of the housing 1 or after the upper cover 3 is clamped and fixed between the lower columns 4, 4' and the upper columns 5, 5'.

Modifications of the embodiment are listed below.
(1) In the cover fixing device of the embodiment, the lower columns 4, 4' are arranged at the four corners of the top surface of the housing 1, but if the lower columns 4, 4' are arranged in at least three locations on the top surface of the housing 1 and the center of gravity of the upper cover 3 is included inside a polygon whose vertices are the positions of the lower columns 4, 4' when the upper cover 3 is placed on the arranged lower columns 4, 4', the upper cover 3 can be stably supported, so it is sufficient to have three or more sets of lower columns 4, 4' and upper columns 5, 5'.
(2) In the embodiment, the lower columns 4, 4' and the upper columns 5, 5' are both made of neodymium magnets, but any permanent magnet can be used, not limited to neodymium magnets, and the lower columns 4, 4' must have sufficient magnetic force to be attracted to the top surface of the housing 1 made of a magnetic material, and the upper columns 5, 5' must have sufficient magnetic force to clamp and fix the upper cover 3 between the lower columns 4, 4' .

(3) The lower columnar bodies 4, 4' in the examples had a height of 15 mm and a cross-sectional shape of a square with sides of 12 mm or a circle with a diameter of 12 mm, but the height should be 25 to 50 mm if you want to increase the heat dissipation effect, and 1 to 5 mm if you want to block sound, so the height can be selected from 50 mm or less according to your preference. However, it is usually selected from 5 to 25 mm.
In addition, the cross-sectional shape can be various shapes and sizes depending on the size of the housing 1 and the weight and material of the upper cover 3, etc., but if it is circular, the diameter can be selected from the range of 8 to 30 mm, and if it is square, the length of each side can be selected from the range of 8 to 30 mm.
Additionally, other cross-sectional shapes may be selected from polygons, including rectangles, diamonds, triangles, hexagons, octagons, etc., ovals, semicircles, sectors, and L-shapes, and the cross-sectional shape may be varied.
In either case, the area of the upper and lower surfaces of the lower columnar body is selected from 50 to ⁹⁰⁰ mm2, and more preferably from 80 to ⁴⁰⁰ mm2.
(4) In the embodiment, the upper columnar bodies 5, 5' have a height of 12 mm and a cross-sectional shape of a square with a side of 12 mm or a circle with a diameter of 12 mm (the same shape as the lower columnar bodies 4, 4'), but the height and shape can be appropriately selected in consideration of ease of holding and design. However, in order to make it easy to remove the upper cover 3 for cleaning and not to get in the way when using it, the height is preferably 5 to 30 mm, and more preferably 10 to 20 mm.
Furthermore, the cross-sectional shape is not limited to being the same as that of the lower columns 4, 4' and may be a different shape, but it is better for the shape of the lower surface to be similar or similar to that of the upper surfaces of the lower columns 4, 4' (for example, a rectangle or diamond compared to a square, or an ellipse compared to a circle).
The area of the lower surface of the upper columnar body is preferably 80 to 150% of the area of the upper surface of the lower columnar body 4, and more preferably 90 to 120%.

(5) In the embodiment, the lower columns 4, 4' have 0.8 mm thick transparent adhesive stickers 6, 6' made of an elastomer attached to their upper and lower surfaces. However, these stickers are intended to prevent scratches on the upper surface of the housing 1 or the underside of the upper cover 3, to prevent the lower columns 4, 4' from chipping, and to increase the coefficient of friction between the lower columns 4, 4' and the upper surface of the housing 1 or the underside of the upper cover 3. Therefore, even if the stickers are not attached, it is possible to magnetically attract and fix the undersides of the lower columns 4, 4' to the upper surface of the housing 1 and to magnetically clamp and fix the upper cover 3 between the lower columns 4, 4' and the upper columns 5, 5', so they are not necessary.
Incidentally, since the underside of the upper cover 3 is not easily scratched, and even if it is scratched, it is not of much concern, the cushioning material may be fixed only to the undersides of the lower columns 4, 4'.
In addition, instead of attaching the transparent adhesive stickers 6, 6' made of an elastomer, an elastomer plate or a rubber plate with high frictional resistance may be fixed with an adhesive or a double-sided adhesive sticker, or as shown in Figure 4, an elastomer or rubber interference member 7, 7' having a recess slightly smaller than the upper and lower surfaces of the lower columns 4, 4' may be prepared and the interference member 7, 7' may be pressed into and fixed to the upper and lower surfaces of the lower columns 4, 4', or a resin coating may be applied near the upper and lower surfaces of the lower columns 4, 4' or over the entire surface.
Therefore, in this specification and claims, the elastomeric transparent adhesive seals 6, 6', the elastomeric or rubber interference members 7, 7' with recesses, the elastomeric plate, the rubber plate and the resin coating are collectively referred to as cushioning materials.
Furthermore, if cushioning material is fixed not only to the lower columns 4, 4' but also to at least the undersides of the upper columns 5, 5', it is possible to prevent damage to the upper surface of the upper cover 3 caused by the upper columns 5, 5', and to prevent the upper columns 5, 5' from chipping and slipping on the upper surface of the upper cover 3, which is even better.
(6) In the embodiment, 0.8 mm thick transparent adhesive stickers 6, 6' made of elastomer are attached to the upper and lower surfaces of the lower columns 4, 4', and in the modified example (5) shown in Figure 4, interference members 7, 7' are fixed. However, the thickness of the transparent adhesive stickers 6, 6' made of elastomer and the interference members 7, 7' is not limited to 0.8 mm as long as it does not interfere with the magnetic fixation of the lower columns 4, 4' to the upper surface of the housing 1.
However, if it is too thick, the magnetic force will be weak, and if it is too thin, the cushioning and durability will be poor, so the thickness of the elastomer transparent adhesive seals 6, 6' and interference members 7, 7' (cushioning material) is preferably 0.1 to 2 mm, and more preferably 0.6 to 1 mm.

(7) In the embodiment, transparent adhesive stickers 6, 6' made of elastomer are attached to the lower columns 4, 4', and in variant example (5), rubber plates or interference members 7, 7' are fixed, but a sheet of a material softer than the cushioning material and having a thickness of 0.3 to 1 mm (such as a TG sheet, which is an extremely thin adhesive sheet) may be provided on the underside of the lower columns 4, 4'.
The purpose of this is to adjust the height of the four upper surfaces by using the soft sheet to prevent wobbling, which may occur when the upper cover 3 is placed on the upper surfaces of the four lower columnar bodies 4, 4' if the upper surface of the housing 1 is warped or has uneven parts.
(8) In the embodiment, the upper cover 3 is a transparent flat glass plate. However, it may be a translucent glass plate, a transparent or translucent resin plate, or an opaque resin, wood, or metal plate.
Also, if the periphery of the upper surface is made higher or a frame that protrudes at least toward the upper surface is attached around the edge, it is better because it makes it difficult for items placed on the upper cover 3 to fall off and makes it difficult for liquid to flow out of the upper cover 3 if it is spilled.
Furthermore, if the top cover 3 is a transparent or translucent glass or resin plate and the light from the light-emitting element built into the computer case is visible through the top cover, then by installing a mirror, reflector, transparent or translucent plate extending upward from part of the periphery of the top cover 3 (if the top cover 3 is rectangular in a plan view, all or part of one to three sides), the appearance of the computer case can be improved by the light reflection and light guiding effects.

(9) The cover fastener and cover for a computer case according to the present invention can be provided to a user in the following ways.
A: Provide only the cover fixing device for the PC case (lower columnar body 4, upper columnar body 5, and transparent adhesive seal 6 or interference member 7 made of elastomer).
In this case, the user can purchase a glass or resin plate of an appropriate thickness that is the same size as the top surface of the case of their personal computer to use as an upper cover, and then attach the upper cover to the top surface of the case of their personal computer using a cover fixing device.
B: Provide the upper cover 3 of the PC case and the cover fixing device (PC case cover).
In this case, when the user obtains a cover for the personal computer case, the user should check whether the size of the upper cover 3 is equal to the size of the top surface of the housing of the personal computer he or she owns, and then use a cover fixing tool to attach the upper cover 3 to the top surface of the housing of the personal computer he or she owns.
C: Provide a case 1 and a computer case cover that fits the size of the top surface of the case 1.
In this case, the user need only set various boards, a power supply, etc. in the housing 1, and then attach the upper cover 3 to the top surface of the housing 1 using a cover fastener.
D: Provide a personal computer with various boards, power supply, etc. set in the housing 1, and a computer case cover that fits the size of the top surface of the housing 1.
The personal computer may be provided with the upper cover 3 attached to the housing 1 of the personal computer using a cover fastener, or with the cover of the personal computer case removed.
Then, when a user obtains the personal computer with the cover removed, the user attaches the upper cover 3 to the top surface of the housing 1 using a cover fastener.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Housing 2 Exhaust hole 3 Upper cover 4, 4' Lower columnar body 5, 5' Upper columnar body 6, 6' Elastomer transparent adhesive seal 7, 7' Interference member

Claims (4)

A cover fastener for attaching a top cover to the top of a PC case having an exhaust hole on the top surface of the housing,
A lower column and an upper column are each made of three or more permanent magnets,
The lower columnar body has a height of 50 mm or less and an upper and lower surface area of 50 to ⁹⁰⁰ mm2;
the upper column has a lower surface area that is 80 to 150% of the upper surface area of the lower column,
a lower surface of the lower columnar body is fixed to three or more locations of an area of the upper surface of the housing that does not have an exhaust hole by magnetic force;
placing the upper cover on the upper surfaces of the three or more lower columnar bodies;
The upper columnar body is placed on the upper cover at a position corresponding to the upper surface of the lower columnar body, thereby fixing the upper cover to the top of the PC case.
A cover fixing device for a computer case. 2. The cover fastener for a computer case according to claim 1, wherein a cushioning material having a thickness of 0.1 to 2 mm is fixed to the underside of the lower columnar body. A computer case cover fixing device according to claim 1 or 2, and an upper cover attached to the upper part of the computer case,
The cover for a computer case, wherein the upper cover has the same shape as the top surface of the housing of the computer case when viewed in plan. 4. The cover for a computer case according to claim 3, wherein the upper cover is a transparent or semi-transparent glass plate or resin plate.

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