Patent application title: Fan mounting structure
Inventors:
Chia-Hao Wu (Dasi Township, TW)
IPC8 Class: AA47B9606FI
USPC Class:
2482132
Class name: Brackets specially mounted or attached on receptacle
Publication date: 2009-11-26
Patent application number: 20090289157
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Patent application title: Fan mounting structure
Inventors:
Chia-Hao Wu
Agents:
ROSENBERG, KLEIN & LEE
Assignees:
Origin: ELLICOTT CITY, MD US
IPC8 Class: AA47B9606FI
USPC Class:
2482132
Patent application number: 20090289157
Abstract:
A fan mounting structure includes a casing, a fixing support and a
protection means. The outside of the casing has an opening. The fixing
support is connected to the casing and is provided with a fan
accommodating space. The fan accommodating space is in communication with
the opening. The protection means is connected to the casing. Via this
arrangement, after the user detaches the fan body from the fixing
support, the protection means can protect the electronic components
within the casing from suffering damage due to external forces.Claims:
1. A fan mounting structure, comprising;a casing having an opening at its
outside;a fixing support connected to the casing and provided with a fan
accommodating space, the fan accommodating space being in communication
with the opening; anda protection means connected to the casing.
2. The fan mounting structure according to claim 1, wherein fixing support has at least two retaining walls, the two retaining walls are arranged on opposite sides of the fixing support with a space therebetween, the fan accommodating space is formed between the two retaining walls, one end of each retaining wall is connected to a fixing portion, the fixing portion abuts against the casing, the other end of the retaining wall is connected to a mounting portion, and the mounting portion is provided with a plurality of screw holes.
3. The fan mounting structure according to claim 1, further comprising a fan body, the fan body being received in the fan accommodating space and assembled to or detached from the fixing support via the opening.
4. The fan mounting structure according to claim 1, wherein the protection means comprises two rails and a sliding door, the two rails are provided on the casing and located on two opposite sides of the opening, the sliding door is slidingly provided between the two rails to cover or uncover the opening.
5. The fan mounting structure according to claim 4, wherein the protection means further comprises a retaining block and an elastic unit, the retaining block being fixed on the casing with a distance from the opening, and the elastic unit being provided between the sliding door and the retaining block.
6. The fan mounting structure according to claim 4, wherein the sliding door is provided with a plurality of through holes allowing air to pass through.
7. The fan mounting structure according to claim 1, wherein the protection means comprises a door frame, a door and a movable cover, the door frame is provided at the opening, both sides of the door frame are provided with a groove respectively, the door comprises a plurality of plates, both sides of the plates are inserted in the two grooves, the movable cover is provided between the door and the side plate to abut against the rear side of the lowest plate, so that the plates are arranged in the door frame to cover the opening.
8. The fan mounting structure according to claim 7, wherein the door is provided with a plurality of through holes for allowing air to pass through.
9. The fan mounting structure according to claim 1, wherein the protection means comprises a hinge means and a rotary door, the hinge means is provided on the casing, and one side of the rotary door is pivoted around the casing via the hinge means, thereby covering or uncovering the opening by the rotary door.
10. The fan mounting structure according to claim 9, wherein the side of the rotary door opposite the hinge means is provided with a first fixing portion, and the casing is provided with a second fixing portion for connecting to the first fixing portion.
11. The fan mounting structure according to claim 9, wherein the rotary door is provided with a plurality of through holes allowing air to pass through.
12. The fan mounting structure according to claim 1, wherein the protection means comprises a knob, a two-side gear wheel, a plurality of driven gear wheels, a plurality of driving gear wheels, a plurality of shutters and a plurality of linkages, one end of the knob is provided with a fixing shaft, a distal end of the fixing shaft is provided with a knob driving gear wheel, inner and outer sides of the two-side gear wheel are provided with inner teeth and outer teeth respectively, the driven gear wheels are engaged with the inner teeth, the knob driving gear wheel is engaged with the outer teeth, the driving gear wheels are engaged with the driven gear wheels respectively, one of the ends of the linkages is connected with the center of the rotating shaft of the driving gear wheels, the other end of the linkages is fixed to one side of each of the shutters.
13. The fan mounting structure according to claim 12, wherein the shutters are provided with a plurality of through holes for allowing air to pass through.
Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001]1. Field of the Invention
[0002]The present invention relates to a fan mounting structure, and in particular to a fan mounting structure having a protection means for protecting internal electronic components.
[0003]2. Description of Related Art
[0004]Taiwan Patent Application No. 95116409 discloses a conventional fan mounting structure which includes a casing having an opening at its outside and a fixing support connected to the casing, provided with a fan accommodating space. The fan accommodating space is in communication with the opening.
[0005]However, after the fan is detached from the fan accommodating space of the fixing support to make the fan accommodating space empty, dust in the air may enter the casing, affecting the operation of the electronic components within the casing. Further, the user may touch the electronic components within the casing accidentally, which may cause a danger to safety.
[0006]Consequently, because of the above technical defects, the inventor keeps on carving unflaggingly through wholehearted experience and research to develop the present invention, which can effectively improve the defects described above.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007]The object of the present invention is to provide a fan mounting structure provided with a protection means, whereby the electronic components within the casing can be protected from suffering damage due to external forces after the user detaches the fan body.
[0008]In order to achieve the above objects, the present invention provides a fan mounting structure, which includes a casing having an opening at its outside; a fixing support connected to the casing and provided with a fan accommodating space, the fan accommodating space being in communication with the opening; and a protection means connected to the casing.
[0009]The present invention has advantageous features as follows. The fan body can be removed directly from the opening provided outside the casing to perform replacement or maintenance. Further, after the fan body is removed, the protection means can avoid environmental dust entering the casing and protect the electronic components within the casing from suffering damage due to external forces.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010]FIG. 1 is an assembled perspective view showing the first embodiment of the present invention with the protection means omitted;
[0011]FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the first embodiment of the present invention;
[0012]FIG. 3 is another exploded perspective view showing the first embodiment of the present invention;
[0013]FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the second embodiment of the present invention;
[0014]FIG. 5 is another exploded perspective view showing the second embodiment of the present invention;
[0015]FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing the third embodiment of the present invention;
[0016]FIG. 7 is another exploded perspective view showing the third embodiment of the present invention;
[0017]FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view showing the fourth embodiment of the present invention;
[0018]FIG. 9 is an assembled perspective view showing the protection means of the fifth embodiment of the present invention in the state of uncovering the opening;
[0019]FIG. 10 is a rear view showing the protection means of the fifth embodiment of the present invention in the state of uncovering the opening;
[0020]FIG. 11 is an assembled perspective view showing the protection means of the fifth embodiment of the present invention in the state of covering the opening;
[0021]FIG. 12 is another assembled perspective view showing the protection means of the fifth embodiment of the present invention in the state of covering the opening; and
[0022]FIG. 13 is a rear view showing the protection means of the fifth embodiment of the present invention in the state of covering the opening.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0023]In order to further understand the characteristics and technical contents of the present invention, a detailed description relating thereto will be made with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the drawings are illustrative only, but not used to limit the scope of the present invention. In the drawings, the dimension of some elements may be exaggerated for better illustration and not drawn in scale.
[0024]Please refer to FIGS. 1 to 3, which show the fan mounting structure of a first embodiment of the present invention. The fan mounting structure includes a casing 10, a fixing support 20, a fan body 30 and a protection means 50a.
[0025]In the present embodiment, the casing 10 is exemplified as a housing of a personal computer, but it is not limited thereto. The casing 10 has at least one side plate 11. The outside of the side plate 11 is provided with an opening 111. The opening 111 is in communication with the interior of the casing 10 and the shape of the opening is not limited to a specific form.
[0026]The fixing support 20 is a plate and is provided with two retaining walls 21. The two retaining walls 21 are arranged in such a manner that they face each other with a distance therebetween. A fan accommodating space 22 is formed between the two retaining walls 21 for accommodating the fan body 30. The fan accommodating space 22 is in communication with the opening 111.
[0027]The rear end of each retaining wall 21 is connected to a mounting portion 23. The mounting portion 23 is located in the fan accommodating space 22. The upper and lower ends of the mounting portion are provided with a screw hole 231 respectively for mounting the fan body 30.
[0028]The front end of each retaining wall 21 is connected to a fixing portion 24. The fixing portion 24 abuts against the inner surface of the side plate 11 adjacent to the left and right sides of the opening 111. The two fixing portions 24 can be connected to the inner surface of the side plate 11 by means of soldering, riveting or locking, so that the fixing support 20 can be fixed to the casing 10.
[0029]The fan body 30 is an axial fan, a centrifugal fan or roller fan (or referred to as a cross flow fan). In the present embodiment, the fan body 30 is exemplified as an axial fan. Four corners of the fan body 30 are provided with a circular through hole 31 respectively for fixing the fan body 30.
[0030]The protection means 50a is connected on the side plate 11 of the casing 10. In the present embodiment, the protection means 50a comprises two rails 51a and a sliding door 52a. The two rails 51a are fixed on the side plate 11 of the casing 10 and are located on the upper and lower sides of the opening 111. Between the respective rail 51a and the side plate 11 is formed with a space (not shown) in which the upper and lower ends of the sliding door 52a can be inserted. In this way, the sliding door 52a is slidingly disposed between the two rails 51a. The sliding door 52a is provided with a plurality of through holes 521a for allowing air to pass through. The user can pull the sliding door 52a directly to make it slide along the horizontal direction, so that the opening 111 of the casing 10 can be covered or uncovered by the sliding door 52a.
[0031]In mounting the fan body 30, the sliding door 52a has to be pulled away from the opening 111 (FIG. 2) to uncover the opening 111. Then, the fan body 30 passes through the opening 111 and is received in the fan accommodating space 22 of the fixing support 20. Four screws 40 are used to pass through the four through holes 31 of the fan body 30 to lock the fan body 30 on the screw holes 231 of the mounting portion 23, so that the fan body 30 can be locked to the fixing support 20. In this way, the fan body 30 can be mounted in the casing 10 via the opening 111. Thereafter, the sliding door 52a is pulled back to the opening 111 (FIG. 3), thereby covering the opening 111 and the fan body 30.
[0032]When the fan body 30 is to be detached, the sliding door 52a is pulled away from the opening 111, thereby uncovering the opening 111. Four screws 40 at four corners of the fan body 30 are loosened via the opening 111, thereby releasing the locking between the fixing support 20 and the fan body 30. In this way, the fan body 30 can be removed out of the fixing support 20, and thus the fan body 30 can be detached from the casing 10 via the opening 111.
[0033]Therefore, after the fan body 30 is detached from the casing 10, the user pulls the sliding door 52a of the protection means 50a to cover the opening 111, so that the sliding door 52a can generate effects of filtering and protecting to obstruct dust in the air from entering the casing 10. Further, the user can be protected from touching the electronic components within the casing 10. Therefore, the problem that the user is in possible danger or the product suffers damage can be solved.
[0034]Please refer to FIGS. 4 and 5, which show a second embodiment of the present invention. The difference between the second embodiment and the first embodiment is described as follows.
[0035]In addition to the two rails 51a and the sliding door 52a, the protection means 50a further comprises a retaining block 53a and an elastic unit 54a. The retaining block 53a is fixed on the side plate 11 with a proper distance from the opening 111. In the present embodiment, the elastic unit 54a is a spring, but it is not limited thereto. The elastic unit 54a is provided between the sliding door 52a and the retaining block 53a. After the sliding door 52a is pulled (FIG. 4), the sliding door can return to the opening 111 via the restoring force of the elastic unit 54a, thereby covering the opening 111 (FIG. 5) to protect it.
[0036]Please refer to FIGS. 6 and 7, which show a third embodiment of the present invention. The difference between the third embodiment and the first embodiment is described as follows.
[0037]The protection means 50b comprises a door frame 51b, a door 53b and a movable cover 52b. The door frame 51b is formed into a U shape and is provided at the opening 111 of the side plate 11. Both sides of the door frame 51b are provided with a vertically-extending groove 511 respectively. The bottom of the two grooves 511b is connected to an accommodating space 512b.
[0038]The door 53b is formed by arranging a plurality of plates 531b that are adjacent to each other vertically. Connecting portions (not shown) are provided between the adjacent plates 531b, so that each plate 531b can drive a lower neighboring plate 531b to move. Both sides of the plates 531b are inserted in the grooves 511b respectively, so that the plates 531b can slide vertically.
[0039]The upper edge of each plate 531b is formed with a ramp 532b that is inclined downwardly from its rear end to the front end, and is provided with a plurality of through holes 533b that allows air to pass through. The topmost plate 531b is provided at its center with an operating portion 534b that can be pulled or lifted by fingers. The accommodating space 512b on the bottom of the door frame 51b is used to accommodate the plates 531b, and the height of the accommodating space is slightly larger than that of a plate 531b.
[0040]The movable cover 52b is provided between the door 53b and the side plate 11 to abut against the rear side of the lowest plate 531b. The movable shield is able to displace forwards and backwards via the action of an elastic unit 54b. When the sliding door 53b has not been pulled downwardly, the lowest plate 531b is abutted by the movable shield 52b, so that it is not retracted into the accommodating space 512b.
[0041]When the user pulls the operating portion 543b of the topmost plate 531b with his fingers, the lowest plate 531b will be pushed by the neighboring upper plate 531b and thus is retracted into the accommodating space 512b due to the pressure of the neighboring upper plate 531b and the profile of the ramp 532b provided on the upper edge of the plate 531b. At the same time, the movable shield 52b moves rearwards due to the action of the elastic unit 54b. In this way, the bottom of the door frame 51b forms two plates 531b overlapping in the forward and backward direction, thereby lowering the height of the door 53b. By pressing downwardly, all the plates 531b can be received orderly in the accommodating space 512b in such a manner that they overlap in the forward and backward direction, thereby descending the door 53b to the lowest position (FIG. 6) to open the door.
[0042]When the user lifts the operating portion 534b of the topmost plate 531b with his fingers, the topmost plate will drive the neighboring lower plate 531b to slide upwardly and orderly, so that the plates 531b are arranged in the door frame 51b (FIG. 7). At this time, the movable shield 52b returns to its original position forwards due to the elastic force of the elastic unit and abuts against the rear side of the lowest plate 531b, thereby closing the door.
[0043]In this way, after the fan body 30 is removed from the fan accommodating space 22 of the fixing support 20, the door 53b can be lifted to shield the opening 111, thereby protecting the electronic elements within the casing 10.
[0044]Please refer to FIG. 8, which show a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The difference between the fourth embodiment and the first embodiment is described as follows.
[0045]The protection means 50c comprises a hinge means 51c and a rotary door 52c. The hinge means 51c is provided on the side plate 11 and is located on one side of the opening 111. The rotary door 52c is provided with a plurality of through holes 521c for allowing air to pass through. One side of the rotary door 52c is pivoted to the side plate 11 via the hinge means 51c, so that the rotary door 52c can open or shield the opening 111 via the hinge means 51c.
[0046]The other side of the rotary door 52c, opposite the hinge means 51c, is provided with a first fixing portion 522c (hook in the present embodiment). The side plate 11 is provided with a second fixing portion 112 (hole in the present embodiment) that can be connected to the first fixing portions 522c correspondingly. Via this arrangement, after the rotary door 52c shields the opening 111, the rotary door 52c is fixed on the side plate 11 via the connection between the first fixing portion 522c and the second fixing portion 112 (i.e., the hook is engaged in the hole).
[0047]Therefore, after the fan body 30 is removed from the fan accommodating space 22 of the fixing support 20, the rotary door 52c can be rotated to shield the opening 111, thereby protecting the electronic components within the casing 10.
[0048]Please refer to FIGS. 9 to 12, which show a fifth embodiment of the present invention. The difference between the fifth embodiment and the first embodiment is described as follows.
[0049]The protection means 50d comprises a knob 51d, a two-side gear wheel 52d, a plurality of driven gear wheels 53d, a plurality of driving gear wheels 54d, a plurality of linkages 55d and a plurality of shutters 56d. One end of the knob 51d is provided with a fixing shaft 511d. The distal end of the fixing shaft 511d is provided with a knob driving gear wheel 512d.
[0050]The inside and outside of the two-side gear wheel 52d are provided with inner teeth 521d and outer teeth 522d. The driven gear wheels 53d are engaged with the inner teeth 521d, and the knob driving gear wheel 512d is engaged with the outer teeth 522d, so that the two-side gear wheel 52d, the driven gear wheels 53d and the knob driving gear wheel 512d are drivingly connected with each other.
[0051]The driving gear wheels 54d are engaged with the corresponding driven gear wheels 53d respectively. One end of each of the linkages 55d is connected to the center of the rotating shaft of one of the driving gear wheels 54d and thus can rotate synchronously with one of the driving gear wheels 54d. The other end of each of the linkages 55d are fixed on one side surfaces of the shutters 56d, thereby causing the shutters 56d to move. Of course, the shutters 56d can be provided thereon with a plurality of through holes (not shown) for allowing air to pass through.
[0052]When the user turns the knob 51d, the knob driving gear wheel 512d drives the two-side gear wheel 52d to rotate reversely (FIG. 10), which drives the driven gear wheels 53d to rotate in the same direction as the two-side gear wheel 52d. Further, the driving gear wheels 54d rotate to cause the other ends of the linkages 52d to displace, so that the shutters 56d can move respectively along a curved trajectory T, thereby opening the shutters 56d. When the user turns the knob 51d reversely (FIG. 13), the operation mentioned the above can be similarly applied, thereby moving the shutters 56d to shield the openings 111.
[0053]Therefore, after the fan body 30 is detached from the casing 10, the shutters 56d shield the openings 111, thereby avoiding the user from touching the electronic components within the casing 10 and preventing dust in the air from entering the casing 10.
[0054]According to the above, with the fan mounting structure of the present invention, the fan body can be removed directly from the opening provided outside the casing to perform replacement or maintenance. Further, after the fan body is removed, the protection means can protect the electronic components within the casing from suffering damage due to external forces and avoid the user from touching the electronic components within the casing or dust in the air from entering the casing. Thus, the product may not suffer damage.
[0055]While the invention has been described in terms of what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention needs not be limited to the disclosed embodiment. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims which are to be accorded with the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structures.
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