US20070044408A1

US20070044408A1 - Panel fixing structure

Info

Publication number: US20070044408A1
Application number: US11/394,399
Authority: US
Inventors: Yung-Chin Hsu
Original assignee: Inventec Corp
Current assignee: Inventec Corp
Priority date: 2005-08-25
Filing date: 2006-03-31
Publication date: 2007-03-01
Also published as: TWM286395U

Abstract

A panel fixing structure for fixing a panel formed with at least a first engaging portion to an electronic device provided with at least a first fixing portion, wherein the panel fixing structure include a body; at least a second fixing portion that can be coupled with the corresponding first fixing portion; and at least a second engaging portion that can be coupled with the corresponding first engaging portion, such that the panel can be fixed to the electronic device. Due to the design and arrangement of the present invention, the panel fixing structure can be easy assembled and disassembled, with out using tools.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to panel fixing structures, and more particularly, to a panel fixing structure that can be applied to an electronic device.
2. Description of Related Art
Presently, enclosures or panels are usually disposed to electronic devices such as servers and computers not only in order to protect internal circuit components or mechanical components of the electronic devices and prevent dust but also obtain a decorative effect. In addition, screw holes are formed on an electronic device such as a server to fix a handle to the electronic device such that the electronic device could be pulled out easily for maintenance, test or operation.
To fix a panel to an electronic device, the following method is often adopted: first, the panel is locked to the electronic device by screws, and then a lock component having a lock sheet is inserted into the panel for strengthening the fixing effect.
For example, Taiwan Utility Model Patent No. M248203 discloses a quick assembly and disassembly structure of a panel for an electrical device. The quick assembly and disassembly structure comprises: a screw bolt fixed to each of screw bolt fixing plates located at two lateral sides of the electrical device; a pair of alar plates which are respectively formed at two flanks of the panel and provided with through holes; a central cylinder that is positioned by the through hole of each of the alar plates, the central cylinder being a tube-like body that has an axially penetrating space, one end of the central cylinder passing through the through hole of one of the alar plates and being fixed to the back side of the alar plate, a retainer ring being formed at the other end of the central cylinder; and a nut knob that can be movably coupled with the other end of the central cylinder provided with the retainer ring thereat, the nut knob having an inner screw hole into which a screw thread portion of the screw bolt could be screwed, thereby fastening the panel to the electronic device, wherein the interior of the nut knob has a displacement space, one side of which is open and at the central point of the other side of which there formed the screw hole, the diameter and length of the screw hole corresponding to that of the screw thread of the screw bolt.
To assemble or disassemble the above-mentioned structure of the panel for purpose of replacing components or modules or maintenance, tools need be used, which is troublesome and time-consuming that the application of the above structure is limited.
Meanwhile, to assemble a plurality of devices as a module, panels need to be disassembled frequently, that is, screws need to be disassembled and assembled for disassembling and assembling the panels, thereby bringing much inconvenience to users.
Moreover, when several servers are assembled as a module device and placed in a cabinet, because each of the servers often needs to be replaced or maintained, the panel is usually designed at the front of the server so it can be easily reached by users when placed in the cabinet. If the panel is fixed to the server by screws, during the assembling or disassembling process, the screws are liable to drop inside the cabinet and difficult to be found, thereby slowing down the assembling or disassembling process and even increasing cost.
In view of the above defects, other fixing structures without the use of screws are proposed. For example, Taiwan Utility Model Patent Publication No. 285315 discloses an improved structure of a computer panel through which the computer panel is engaged with the computer casing. The feature of the patent is that the computer casing is an open casing, mortises are disposed at two sides of the casing, a fastening sheet slightly bending inward is disposed between the mortises corresponding to the sidewall of the computer panel, tenons corresponding to the mortises are disposed at the side walls of the computer panel, the tenons are engaged with the mortises and meanwhile the fastening sheet abuts against the inner wall of one side of the computer panel, thereby forming mutually pulling forces.
However, because of the limited elasticity of the tenons, it is difficult to disassemble the above structure. Moreover, the tenons are easy to be damaged during the disassembling process, which results in the failure of the whole computer panel and accordingly increasing cost.
In view of the shortcomings of the prior art mentioned above, there exists a need to develop a panel fixing structure which not only is easy to assemble and disassemble, but also can strengthen the fixing effect.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the above defects, a primary objective of the present invention is to provide a panel fixing structure, which is easy to assemble and disassemble.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a panel fixing structure, which can fix a panel to a device firmly.
To achieve the above and other objectives, the panel fixing structure of the present invention for fixing a panel formed with at least a first engaging portion to an electronic device provided with at least a first fixing portion on at least a side thereof, comprises: a body; at least a second fixing portion that can be coupled with a corresponding first fixing portion; and a least a second engaging portion that can be engaged with a corresponding first engaging portion. Moreover, one or more panel fixing structures may be formed or employed to fix the panel to the electronic device, wherein one or more panel fixing structures may be formed with modifications.
Preferably, a side surface of the body of the panel fixing structure may be a curved surface; the second fixing portion may be a fastening hole; and the second engaging portion may be a recess. Furthermore, an operation portion may be further formed on the panel fixing structure and located at the back side of the corresponding second engaging portion. The operation portion may be a recess or a stepped recess. At least a receiving portion may be further formed on the panel fixing structure and located at a side thereof that is corresponding to the first engaging portion. The receiving portion may be a recess, wherein the shape of the receiving portion may be semi-circular. At least one structurally enhanced portion is further formed on the panel fixing structure. The structurally enhanced portion may be a protrusion such as a protruding rib or the like.
The first engaging portion may comprise a protruding structure, which may be a bump, a protruding rib or the like. In a preferred embodiment, the first engaging portion may have a right angle, hook portion or the like; however, in another preferred embodiment, the first engaging portion may be a circular chamfer, an arc or the like. A plurality of slots are further formed on at least a side plate of the panel, so as to allow the first engaging portion to resiliently bias relative to the panel. The slots may be formed next to both sides of the first engaging portions. Each of the slots may be a notch. A lock portion may be further formed on one or more side plates.
Compared with the prior art, the panel fixing structure of the present invention may be easily assembled and disassembled by hand without the use of tools, thereby saving time and cost for assembling and disassembling.
Moreover, the panel fixing structure of the present invention can strengthen the fixing effect by a simple structure, thereby preventing the defects of the limited elasticity and fragile structure of the prior art and reducing cost.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded diagram of a panel fixing structure and an electronic device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIGS. 2A to 2B are diagrams showing structure of a panel fixing structure located at the right side relative to the direction of view of FIG. 1;
FIGS. 3A to 3B are diagrams showing structure of a panel fixing structure located at the left side relative to the direction of view of FIG. 1;
FIGS. 4A to 4B are diagrams showing structure of a side plate located at the right side relative to the direction of view of FIG. 1;
FIGS. 5A to 5B are diagrams showing structure of a side plate located at the left side relative to the direction of view of FIG. 1;
FIG. 6A is a structure diagram of the electronic device to which the panel fixing structure at the right side has been assembled;
FIG. 6B is a structure diagram of the electronic device to which the panel fixing structure at the left side has been assembled; and
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the assembly of the panel with the electronic device via the panel fixing structure of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereunder, embodiments of the present invention will be described in full detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIGS. 1 to 7 are diagrams showing specific embodiments with respect to a panel fixing structure for fixing a panel to an electronic device according to the present invention. It should be noted that to make the features of the panel fixing structure much clearer, only compositions related to the present invention are shown in the drawings. Additionally, the number, size and shape of the compositions may not correspond exactly to those of the compositions in actual implementations, which are simply a series of design choices. In the present embodiment, a server is used as an example of the electronic device, but it is not limited thereto.
As shown in FIG. 1, a panel fixing structure 1 or 3 of the present invention used to fix a panel 9 to an electronic device 8, includes a body (not shown), at least a second fixing portion 11 and at least a second engaging portion, wherein the panel 9 is formed with having at least a first engaging portion, and the electronic device 8 is provided with at least a first fixing portion such as a screw hole at a side thereof.
In one embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2A to 2B in conjunction with FIG. 1, a panel fixing structure 1 located at a side of the electronic device 8 includes a body, at least a second fixing portions 11, at least a second engaging portions 13, wherein the second fixing portion 11 may be coupled with the corresponding first fixing portion 81. Further, the body of the panel fixing structure 1 may further comprise an operation portion 15. In the present embodiment, a side surface of the body of the panel fixing structure 1 may be a curved surface and the second fixing portion 11 may be a fastening hole or the like that is correspondingly coupled to the first fixing portion 81. The second engaging portion 13 may be a recess, and the operation portion 15 formed on the body may be a recess or a stepped recess, serving as a handle of the prior art and allowing users to hold it while having the second engaging portion 13 to be inserted to and engaged with the panel 9.
Further, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, a plurality of structurally enhanced portions 17, for example three structurally enhanced portions, may be further formed on the body. The structurally enhanced portions 17 may be protruding ribs or other similar protruding structures, which strengthen structure of the panel fixing structure 1 as well as fixing effect between the panel fixing structure 1 and a side plate 5 of the panel 9.
In one embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B in conjunction with FIG. 1, a panel fixing structure 3 may be located at the other side of the electronic device 8 and formed with a body (not shown), at least a second fixing portions 31, at least a second engaging portion 33, wherein the body further comprises an operation portion 35 and a receiving portion 37. The second fixing portion 31 may be coupled with the corresponding first fixing portion 81. In the present embodiment, a side surface of the body 3 may be a curved surface and the second fixing portion 31 may be a fastening hole or the like that is correspondingly coupled to the first fixing portion 81. The second engaging portion 33 may be a recess. The operation portion 35 formed on the body at a position that is a back side of the first engaging portion 33, may be a recess and serving as a handle of the prior art. The receiving portion 37 is formed at a side of the body and corresponding to the shape of a lock portion 75 and a side plate 7 of the panel 9, as shown in FIG. 1. The lock portion 75 may be formed with a lock hole 91. The receiving portion 37 may be a semi-circular recess, but is not limited thereto.
Similarly, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, a plurality of structurally enhanced portions 39, for example two structurally enhanced portions, may further be formed on the body of the panel fixing structure 3. The structurally enhanced portions 39 may be protruding ribs or other similar protrusions, which can strengthen structure of the panel fixing structure 3 as well as the fixing effect between the panel fixing structure 3 and the side plate 7 of the panel 9.
As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the side plate 5 located at a side of the panel 9 may comprise at least a first engaging portion 51 capable of engaging with the corresponding second engaging portion 13; and a plurality of slots 53 allowing the first engaging portion 51 to resiliently bias relative to the panel 9, while fixing with the structurally enhanced portions 17. The first engaging portion 51 may have a protruding structure such as a bump, a protruding rib or the like, which may have a right angle, a hook portion or the like. The slots 53 may be formed at an abutting side or both abutting sides of the second engaging portion 51.
In one embodiment, an angle θ1 of 90° is formed between the first engaging portion 51 and the non-protruding portion of the side plate 5. Each of the slots 35 may be a notch, however, it is not limited thereto. In addition, although the structurally enhanced portions 17 and the corresponding slots 53 are presented in the present embodiment, they may be omitted in other embodiments.
Referring to FIGS. 5A and 5B, the side plate 7 located at the opposite side of the panel 9 may be formed with a first engaging portion 71 capable of engaging with the corresponding second engaging portion 33; a plurality of slots 73 allowing the first engaging portion 71 to resiliently bias relative to the panel 9, while fixing with the structurally enhanced portions 39; and a lock portion 75 corresponding to the receiving portion 37 of the panel fixing structure 3. The first engaging portion 71 may have a protruding structure such as a bump, a protruding rib or the like, which may have circular chamfer, arc shape or the like. The slots 73 may be formed at both sides next to the second engaging portion 71.
In one embodiment, an angle θ2 bigger than 90° is formed between the first engaging portion 71 and the non-protruding portion of the side plate 7. Each of the slots 73 may be a notch, however, it is not limited thereto. The lock portion 75 is corresponding to the receiving portion 37 such that the lock hole 91 may be accommodated while fastening the panel fixing structure 3 to the side plate 7. Further, although the structurally enhanced portions 39 and the corresponding slots 73 are presented in the present embodiment, they may be omitted in other embodiments.
Before fixing the panel 9 to the electronic device 8, the panel fixing structure 1 or/and the panel fixing structure 3 may be fixed to the electronic device 8 first.
For example, first, the second fixing portion 11 of the panel fixing structure 1 is correspondingly coupled to the first fixing portion 81 of the electronic device 8 by using lock components (not shown) such as screws that are passed through the first fixing portion 81 from the side opposite to the panel fixing structure 1 and locked into the second fixing portion 11. As shown in FIG. 6A, the panel fixing structure 1 located at the right side is to the electronic device 8. Next, the second fixing portion 31 of the panel fixing structure 3 located at the opposite side is coupled to the corresponding first fixing portion 81 of the electronic device 8 in the same way. As shown in FIG. 6B, the panel fixing structure 3 at the left side is fixed to the electronic device 8.
Subsequently, the side plates 5 and 7 at both sides of the panel 9 are coupled to the electronic device 8, as described hereinafter.
For example, first, the first engaging portion 51 of the side plate 5 is engaged with the second engaging portion 13 from the right side relative to the direction of view and the structurally enhanced portions 17 are respectively engaged with the slots 53. Because there is an angle θ1, such as 90° between the first engaging portion 51 and the non-protruding portion of the side plate 5, a strong coupling effect is achieved. Thereafter, the side plate 7 located at the left side is fixed to the electronic device 8. Compared with the first engaging portion 51 of the side plate 5 at the right side that has a right angle or hook portion, the first engaging portion 71 of the side plate 7 at the left side that has a protruding structure of circular chamfer or arc shape is much easier to be engaged with the second engaging portion 33, as a result, it is easy to fix the side plate 7 to the electronic device 8 even if the side plate 5 has been fixed to the electronic device 8 in advance. Further, the engagement of the structurally enhanced portions 39, 17 with the corresponding slots 73, 53 can further strengthen the fixing effect between the panel 9 and the electronic device 8.
FIG. 7 shows an assembly structure of the electronic device 8 to which the panel 9 has been fixed. Therein the panel fixing structures 1, 3 are respectively coupled to the side plates 5, 7 and the electronic device 8. A lock component 10 of the prior art may then lock the panel 9 to the electronic component 8 by passing through the lock hole 91. Since the lock component 10 is a prior art, detailed description of it is thus omitted.
When the panel 9 is to be disassembled from the electronic device 8, the lock component 10 is unlocked or unscrewed first, and then the side plates 5, 7 are disassembled from the panel fixing structures 1, 3. The whole process can be done by hands without the use of tools. At this stage of the present invention, the panel fixing structures 1, 3 are still coupled with the electronic device 8 and do not need to be disassembled, if not required. Compared with the first engaging portion 51 of the side plate 5 at the right side, the first engaging portion 71 of the side plate 7 at the left side has a protruding structure of circular chamfer or arc shape such that it is much easier to be disengaged with the second engaging portion 33. As a result, disassembling processes of the side plate 7 is preferred to be performed first, before performing disassembling processes of the side plate 5.
Those skilled in the art should be understood that the order of the assembling processes and disassembly processes may be changed or reversed according to practical requirements. For example, if the first engaging portion 71 of the side plate 7 at the left side has a protruding structure of right angle or hook portion while the side plate 5 at the right side has a protruding structure of circular chamfer or arc shape, the side plate 5 may be assembled/disassembled before assembling/disassembling the side plate 7.
Furthermore, the structure of the panel fixing structure 1/side plate 5 at the right side may be interchangeable with or the same as that of the body 3/side plate 7. Furthermore, the curved surface of the fixing members 1, 3 may be changed.
Compared with the prior art that needs tools for assembling and disassembling the fixing structure, a panel fixing structure of the present invention may be easily assembled and disassembled by hand without the need of any tools, thereby saving time and cost.
Moreover, a panel fixing structure of the present invention can strengthen the fixing effect by such a simple structure, thereby preventing the defects of the limited elasticity and fragile structures of the prior art and reducing cost.
The invention has been described using exemplary preferred embodiments. However, it is to be understood that the scope of the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements. The scope of the claims, therefore, should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements.

Claims

1. A panel fixing structure for fixing a panel formed with at least a first engaging portion to an electronic device provided with at least a first fixing portion at least a side thereof, comprising:

a body;

at least a second fixing portion formed on the body at a position corresponding to the first fixing portion, allowing the first fixing portion to be fixed to the second fixing portion in order to couple the panel fixing structure to the electronic device; and

at least a second engaging portion formed on the body at a position corresponding to the first engaging portion, allowing the first engaging portion to be engaged with the second engaging portion in order to couple the panel to the panel fixing structure,

2. The panel fixing structure of claim 1, wherein at least a side surface of the body is a curved surface.

3. The panel fixing structure of claim 1, wherein the second fixing portion is a fastening hole.

4. The panel fixing structure of claim 1, wherein the second engaging portion is a recess.

5. The panel fixing structure of claim 1, wherein an operation portion is further formed on the body.

6. The panel fixing structure of claim 1, wherein the body is further formed with at least a receiving portion.

7. The panel fixing structure of claim 1, wherein at least a structurally enhanced portion is further formed on the body.

8. The panel fixing structure of claim 1, wherein the first engaging portion is a protrusion.

9. The panel fixing structure of claim 1, wherein a plurality of slots are further formed on the panel so as to allow the first engaging portion to resiliently bias relative to the panel.

10. The panel fixing structure of claim 1, wherein a lock portion is further formed on the panel.