US20050001521A1

US20050001521A1 - Computer cover

Info

Publication number: US20050001521A1
Application number: US10/612,799
Authority: US
Inventors: Rebecca Illingworth McKinnon
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-07-02
Filing date: 2003-07-02
Publication date: 2005-01-06

Abstract

A cover for an electronic component has a frame with a wall disposed thereon so that the frame causes the wall to be substantially rigid. A first end-panel is substantially permanently or removably attached to the wall. A second end-panel can be one of removably attached to the wall opposite the first end-panel, substantially permanently attached to the wall opposite the first end-panel, or selectively removably attachable to the wall opposite the first end-panel to cover a front of the cabinet, when the electronic component is not being actively used by a user. The cover may extend to cover cables extending from the cabinet.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to computers and in particular the present invention relates to computer covers.

BACKGROUND

Covers are often disposed on computer monitor cabinets and/or central processing unit (CPU) cabinets to protect these cabinets and their contents from dust, beverage spills, etc. Some covers are disposed on computer monitor and/or CPU cabinets to make these cabinets more esthetically pleasing. Many covers are form-fitting covers that conform to the general shape of the computer monitor and/or CPU cabinets. However, form-fitting covers typically do not cover the cables that extend from computer monitor and CPU cabinets and, for example, interconnect the monitor and the CPU, connect the monitor and CPU to an electrical outlet, connect the CPU to various peripherals (e.g., printers, data networks, scanners, etc.), or the like.
For the reasons stated above, and for other reasons stated below which will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the present specification, there is a need in the art for alternative covers for computers.

SUMMARY

For one embodiment, the invention provides a cover for a cabinet of a computer. The cover has a frame. A wall is disposed on the frame. The frame causes the wall to bt substantially rigid. A first end-panel is one of substantially permanently or removably attached to the wall.
Further embodiments of the invention include methods and apparatus of varying scope.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a cover according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side view illustrating the cover of FIG. 1 covering an electronics cabinet according to another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a cover covering a central processing unit cabinet according to another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a cover covering a computer monitor cabinet according to another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown, by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. In the drawings, like numerals describe substantially similar components throughout the several views. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. Other embodiments may be utilized and structural, logical, and electrical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims and equivalents thereof.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a cover 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Cover 100 includes a wall 102 disposed on a frame 108 so that the frame causes the wall to be substantially rigid. Specifically, for one embodiment, wall 102 is of a substantially pliant material and is stretched over frame 102 so that frame 108 holds wall 102 taut. A portion of wall 102 is removed in FIG. 1 to expose frame 108 for illustrative purposes. It will be appreciated that wall 102 extends to an end 110 of frame 108. For one embodiment, wall 102 is of a porous fabric (or mesh), such as a nylon-based fabric. For another embodiment, frame 108 is substantially rigid and, for example, is of metal, such as steel or plastic, such as PVC, or the like.
For various embodiments, when wall 102 is disposed on frame 108, wall 102 includes a panel 112 connected between and substantially perpendicular to opposing panels 114 and 116. For one embodiment, panel 112 forms a top of cover 100 and panels 114 and 116 form sides of cover 100. For another embodiment, wall 102 is a single piece. For another embodiment, panels 112, 114, and 116 are individual pieces substantially permanently connected by sewing, or the like, or removably connected, for example, using hook-and-loop material, such as VELCRO. For some embodiments, cover 100 includes indicia 118, such as a decorative design, a company logo, etc. For one embodiment, indicia 118 are formed on a surface 119 of cover 100 by printing, silk-screening, sewing, etc.
For other embodiments, frame 108 includes rods 120 interconnected by connectors 122. For another embodiment, rods 120 are removably connected to connectors 122 to facilitate assembly or disassembly of frame 108 and thus cover 100. Rods 120 pass through loops 124 of wall 102 for removably connecting frame 108 to wall 102. For one embodiment, a loop 124 is continuous and spans approximately the length of the rod 120 passing therethrough. For another embodiment, each loop 124 is formed by a strap substantially permanently attached to wall 102 by sewing, or the like, or removably attached to wall 102, for example, using hook-and-loop material, such as VELCRO. For some embodiments, cover 100 has an opening 132 opposite panel 112, i.e., cover 100 is open at a base 134 of frame 108.
For one embodiment, rods 120 are inserted into loops 124, or loops 124 are formed around rods 124, to removably attach rods to wall 102. Then, rods 120 are removably interconnected using connectors 122.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side view illustrating cover 100 covering an electronics cabinet 200, such as a computer monitor cabinet, CPU cabinet, or the like. FIG. 2 shows that cover 100 includes an end-panel 140. For one embodiment, end-panel 140 selectively opens and closes cover 100 at an end 110 of frame 108. For another embodiment, end-panel 140 is removably attached to panels 112, 114, and 116, as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, a view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2, for example by hook-and-loop material, such as VELCRO. For another embodiment, end-panel 140 is substantially permanently attached to one of panels 112, 114, and 116 by sewing, or the like, and removably attached to the other panels of panels 112, 114, and 116 by hook-and-loop material, such as VELCRO, straps and buckles, or the like, such that end-panel 140 can selectively open and close cover 100 at end 110. For one embodiment, end-panel 140 is substantially permanently attached to panels 112, 114, and 116 by sewing, or the like. For another embodiment, end-panel 140 includes openings 142, e.g., for providing access to buttons, disk-drive slots, etc. of electronics cabinet 200. For another embodiment, end-panel 140 is integral with panels 112, 114, and 116. For other embodiments, end-panel 140 is of a porous fabric (or mesh).
For various embodiments, end-panel 140 is either substantially permanently attached or removably attached to wall 102 before covering electronics cabinet 200 with cover 100. In some embodiments, end-panel 140 is removably attached to wall 102 after covering electronics cabinet 200 with cover 100.
Cover 100 also may include an end-panel 144 located opposite end-panel 140 at an end 146 of frame 108 that is opposite end 110. For one embodiment, end-panel 144 is removably attached to panels 112, 114, and 116, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, for example by hook-and-loop material, such as VELCRO. For another embodiment, end-panel 144 is substantially permanently: attached to one of panels 112, 114, and 116 by sewing, or the like, and removably attached to the other panels of panels 112, 114, and 116 by hook-and-loop material, such as VELCRO, straps and buckles, or the like. For one embodiment, end-panel 144 is substantially permanently attached to panels 112, 114, and 116 by sewing, or the like. For another embodiment, end-panel 144 is integral with panels 112, 114, and 116. For other embodiments, end-panel 144 is of a porous fabric (or mesh).
For various embodiments, end-panel 144 is either substantially permanently attached or removably attached to wall 102 before covering electronics cabinet 200 with cover 100. In some embodiments, end-panel 144 is removably attached to wall 102 after covering electronics cabinet 200 with cover 100.
For another embodiment, there is an opening 148 between base 134 and end-panel 144. Opening 144 provides a lead-out for cables 150 that extend from electronics cabinet 200. For one embodiment, opening 148 is formed in end-panel 144. When cover 100 covers electronics cabinet 200, a portion of the cover extends to cover cables 150, as shown FIG. 2. As mentioned above, for some embodiments, frame 108 holds wall 102 of cover 100 taut so that cover 100 is not form-fitting and cannot conform to the general shape of electronics cabinet 200 when covering electronics cabinet 200. For one embodiment, end- panels 140 and 144 are of a substantially pliant material and are stretched taut when respectively closing cover 100 at ends 110 and 146. For other embodiments, the pliability of wall 102 and end- panels 140 and 144 enable wall 102 and end- panels 140 and 144 to be folded, e.g., for compact storage, when cover 100 is dissembled by disconnecting rods 120 from each other and removing rods 120 from loops 124.
FIGS. 4 and 5 are perspective views respectively illustrating cover 100 covering a CPU cabinet 400 and a computer monitor cabinet 500. The dashed line in FIGS. 4 and 5 represents end-panel 140 selectively removably attached to wall 102 for selctively closing cover 100 so as to cover a front 410 of CPU cabinet 400 in FIG. 4 when the CPU is not actively being used by a user or a front 510 of computer monitor cabinet 500 in FIG. 5 when the computer monitor is not actively being used by a user. For some embodiments, when cover 100 is used to cover CPU cabinet 400, for example, end-panel 140 covers front 410 of CPU cabinet 400 during use and openings 142 in end-panel 140, shown in FIG. 2, are used to provide access to CPU cabinet 400.

CONCLUSION

Embodiments of the present invention provide a cover for an electronic component. For one embodiment, the cover has a frame with a wall disposed thereon so that the frame causes the wall to be substantially rigid. A first end-panel is substantially permanently or removably attached to the wall. A second end-panel can be substantially permanently or removably attached to the wall opposite the first end-panel. For another embodiment, the cover extends to cover cables extending from the electronic component. This acts to hide the cables, which can be esthetically displeasing, and to protect the cables. The cover acts to protect the electronic component from dust and acts to make the electronic component more esthetically pleasing.
Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that any arrangement that is calculated to achieve the same purpose may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown. Many adaptations of the invention will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. For example, the attachment of end panels 140 and 144 need not be overlapping as shown, but may alternatively overlap the top and/or bottom of frame 108. Accordingly, this application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the invention. It is manifestly intended that this invention be limited only by the following claims and equivalents thereof.

Claims

1. A cover for an electronic component, the cover comprising:

a frame;

a wall disposed on the frame, wherein the frame causes the wall to be substantially rigid; and

a first end-panel that is one of substantially permanently or removably attached to the wall.

2. The cover of claim 1, wherein the wall and the first end-panel are at least one of a porous and substantially pliant material.

3. The cover of claim 1, and further comprising a second end-panel that is one of removably attached to the wall opposite the first end-panel, substantially permanently attached to the wall opposite the first end-panel, or selectively removably attachable to the wall opposite the first end-panel to close the cover, when the electronic component is not being actively used by a user.

4. The cover of claim 3, wherein the second end-panel is at least one of a porous and substantially pliant material.

5. The cover of claim 1, wherein the cover extends to cover cables extending from the electronic component.

6. The cover of claim 1, and further comprising a lead-out for the cables.

7. The cover of claim 6, wherein the lead-out is disposed between a base of the frame and the first end-panel.

8. The cover of claim 1, and further comprising indicia disposed on a surface of the cover.

9. The cover of claim 1, wherein the cover is open at a base of the frame.

10. The cover of claim 1, wherein the wall is removably connected to the frame.

11. The cover of claim 1, wherein the first end-panel includes openings for accessing the electronic component.

12. A cover for an electronic component, the cover comprising:

a frame;

a wall disposed on the frame so that the frame holds the wall taut;

a first end-panel that is one of substantially permanently or removably attached to the wall; and

a second end-panel that is one of removably attached to the wall opposite the first end-panel; substantially permanently attached-to the wall opposite the first end-panel, or selectively removably attachable to the wall opposite the first end-panel to close the cover, when the electronic component is not being actively used by a user;

wherein the cover extends to cover cables extending from the electronic component.

13. The cover of claim 12, wherein the wall and first and second end-panels are at least one of a pliant and a porous material.

14. The cover of claim 12, wherein the second end-panel includes openings for accessing the electronic component.

15. A cover for an electronic component, the cover comprising:

a frame having a plurality of removably interconnected rods;

a wall removably connected to the frame, wherein the frame causes the wall to be substantially rigid;

a first end-panel that is removably attached to the wall; and

a second end-panel that is one of removably attached to the wall opposite the first end-panel, substantially permanently attached to the wall opposite the first end-panel, or selectively removably attachable to the wall opposite the first end-panel to close the cover, when the electronic component is not being actively used by a user;

16. The cover of claim 15, wherein the wall comprises a top panel connected between opposing side panels.

17. The cover of claim 16, wherein the cover is open opposite the top panel.

18. The cover of claim 15, wherein the wall and first and second end-panels are at least one of a porous and pliant material.

19. The cover of claim 15, wherein the second end-panel includes openings for accessing the electronic component.

20. A method for covering an electronic component, the method comprising:

disposing a wall on a frame so that the wall is substantially rigid;

locating the electronic component within the frame with the wall disposed thereon so that the electronic component and cables extending from the electronic component are covered by the wall; and

attaching a first end-panel to the wall.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein attaching the first end-panel to the wall comprises removably attaching the first end-panel to the wall.

22. The method of claim 20, and further comprising attaching a second end-panel to the wall opposite the first end-panel.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein attaching the second end-panel to the wall comprises removably attaching the second end-panel to cover a portion of the electronic component when the electronic component is not being actively used by a user.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein removably attaching the second end-panel to cover the portion of the electronic component comprises stretching the second end-panel taut.

25. The method of claim 20, and further comprising forming the frame by removably interconnecting rods of the frame.

26. The method of claim 20, wherein disposing the wall on the frame comprises removably connecting the frame to the wall.

27. The method of claim 20, wherein disposing the wall on the frame so that the wall is substantially rigid comprises stretching the wall over the frame so that the wall is taught.

28. The method of claim 20, and further comprising forming a lead-out for the cables between the first end-panel and a base of the frame.

29. The method of claim 28, and further comprising passing the cables through the lead-out.

30. The method of claim 20, and further comprising stretching the first-end panel taut over an end of the cover.