초록 ▼

A computer enclosure, for replaceably securing a first standard sized fan ( 40 ) or a second standard sized fan ( 50 ) thereto, includes a front panel ( 10 ) and a drive bracket ( 20 ). The front panel comprising an array of vents ( 14 ), a first and a second set of fixing structures ( 11, 12, 13 )

A computer enclosure, for replaceably securing a first standard sized fan ( 40 ) or a second standard sized fan ( 50 ) thereto, includes a front panel ( 10 ) and a drive bracket ( 20 ). The front panel comprising an array of vents ( 14 ), a first and a second set of fixing structures ( 11, 12, 13 ) corresponding to the first and second standard fans, the first and second set of fixing structures being arranged around the array of vents. The drive bracket is attached to the front panel, and comprises a U-shaped bracket ( 21 ) and a pair of opposite first and second side plates ( 22, 25 ), the first side plate having a bridge shaped platform ( 23 ) for supporting an end of either of the fans, the second side plate forming two pairs of projections ( 261, 262 ) engaging respectively in apertures ( 41, 51 ) defined in the first and second fans.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A computer enclosure adapted to replaceablely secure a first sized fan or a second sized fan thereto, comprising:a panel comprising an array of vents, a first set of fixing structures for retaining the first sized fan to the panel in a first direction and a second set of fixing structures for ret

1. A computer enclosure adapted to replaceablely secure a first sized fan or a second sized fan thereto, comprising:a panel comprising an array of vents, a first set of fixing structures for retaining the first sized fan to the panel in a first direction and a second set of fixing structures for retaining the second sized fan to the panel in the first direction, the first and second sets of fixing structures being arranged around the array of vents; anda drive bracket attached to the panel, the drive bracket comprising first and second plates for sandwiching the first or second sized fan therebetween thereby retaining the first or second sized fan in second and third directions that are perpendicular to each other, the second and third directions both being perpendicular to the first direction, one of the first plate and the second plate forming at least one first projection for engaging with the first sized fan and at least one second projection for engaging with the second sized fan. 2. The computer enclosure as described in claim 1, wherein the first set of fixing structures comprises a pair of first latches extending perpendicularly inwardly from the panel above and below the array of vents respectively for sandwiching the first sized fan therebetween. 3. The computer enclosure as described in claim 2, wherein the second set of fixing structures comprises a pair of L-shaped hooks extending inwardly from the panel above the array of vents, and a pair of second latches extending inwardly from the panel below the array of vents, the hooks and the second latches adapted for cooperatively sandwiching the second sized fan therebetween, distal end portions of the second latches being flared for convenient operation during assembly and disassembly. 4. The computer enclosure as described in claim 1, wherein a plurality of slots is defined in a lower portion of the panel, the slots engagingly receiving a plurality of catches extending from the second plate. 5. The computer enclosure as described in claim 1, wherein the computer enclosure further comprises a U-shaped bracket attached to an upper portion of the panel, the first plate integrally extending from a bottom plate of the U-shaped bracket. 6. The computer enclosure as described in claim 5, wherein the U-shaped bracket defines a fixing hole in a side thereof, and the second plate defines a through hole for extension of a fastener to engage in the fixing hole. 7. The computer enclosure as described in claim 1, wherein the first plate comprises a platform comprising a central supporting section and two slant sections connecting the supporting section with a main body of the first side plate, a flange extending from the supporting section for fitly abutting against the first or second sized fan toward the panel. 8. The computer enclosure as described in claim 1, wherein a tongue is formed perpendicularly inwardly from the second side plate by stamping, and the at least one first projection and the at least one second projection are formed on the tongue. 9. A computer enclosure adapted to replaceablely secure any one of at least two different sized fans thereto, comprising:a panel comprising a plurality of vents and at least two sets of fixing structures corresponding to said at least two different sized fans respectively, the at least two sets of fixing structures adapted for sandwiching said at least two different sized fans in a first direction; anda drive bracket attached to the panel, the drive bracket comprising a pair of opposite first and second side plates for sandwiching any one of said at least two different sized fans therebetween in a second direction, a securing tongue cooperating with the panel for sandwiching said any one of said at least two different sized fans therebetween in a third direction, and at least two projections for engaging respectively in said at least two different sized fans thereby locating any one of said at least two different sized fans in th e computer enclosure, the first, second and third directions being perpendicular to one another. 10. The computer enclosure as described in claim 9, wherein a first set of the at least two sets of fixing structures comprises a pair of first latches extending perpendicularly inwardly from the panel at opposite positions above and below the plurality of vents. 11. The computer enclosure as described in claim 10, wherein a second set of the at least two sets of fixing structures comprise a pair of L-shaped hooks extending inwardly from the panel above the plurality of vents, and a pair of second latches extending inwardly from the panel below the plurality of vents, a length of each hook corresponding to a thickness of one of said at least two different sized fans, a distal end portion of each second latch being flared for convenient operation during assembly and disassembly. 12. The computer enclosure as described in claim 9, wherein a plurality of slots is defined in a lower portion of the panel, the slots engagingly receiving a plurality of catches extending from the second side plate. 13. The computer enclosure as described in claim 9, further comprising a U-shaped bracket attached to an upper portion of the panel, the first side plate bending and extending from a bottom plate of the U-shaped bracket. 14. The computer enclosure as described in claim 9, wherein the U-shaped bracket defines a fixing hole in a side thereof, and the second side plate defines a through hole corresponding to the fixing hole. 15. The computer enclosure as described in claim 9, wherein the first side plate inwardly forms a platform by way of stamping, the platform comprises a supporting section and two slant sections connecting the supporting section with a main body of the first side plate, and a flange extends from the supporting section for fitly abutting against on any one of said at least two different sized fans. 16. The computer enclosure as described in claim 9, wherein the tongue is formed perpendicularly inwardly by stamping. 17. A computer enclosure assembly comprising:an enclosure including:a panel defining a lengthwise direction thereof and an array of apertures therein;two sets of first retention devices formed on an interior face of the panel and defining two different dimensions along said lengthwise direction;a fan positionably retained by one corresponding set of the first retention device in said lengthwise direction;opposite first and second side plates located inside the panel, each of said first and second side plates defining a second retention device restricting said fan from moving along a transverse direction perpendicular to said lengthwise direction and along a front-to-back direction perpendicular to both said lengthwise direction and said transverse direction; whereinthe second retention device of at least one of said first and second side plates defines two different retention positions, and said fan is secured to one of said two retention positions, wherebyanother fan is adapted to be secured to the enclosure by means of the other set of the first retention device on the panel and the other position of the at least one of said first and second side plates, so that the enclosure is allowed to receive two different fans mutually exclusively. 18. A computer enclosure comprisinga panel defining a plurality of openings extending therethough in a front-to-back direction;upper and lower bracket units formed behind the panel along thereof a lengthwise direction perpendicular to said front-to-back direction,said upper bracket unit including two opposite side walls, and a bottom plate integrally extending from one of said side walls with thereof a transverse bar extending along a transverse direction perpendicular to both said front-to-back direction and said lengthwise direction; andsaid lower bracket unit including a first side plate split and integrally extending downwardly from the bottom plate, and a second side plate oppos ite to the first side plate; whereinsaid upper bracket unit is larger than the lower bracket unit along said transverse direction, and said first side plate, which is integrally formed with the bottom plate and the corresponding one of the side walls, is smaller than the said corresponding one of the side walls in said front-to-back direction. 19. The enclosure as described in claim 18, wherein said first side plate is smaller than the second side plate in said front-to-back direction. 20. The enclosure as described in claim 18, wherein a distal end of said transverse bar is engaged with the second side plate.