Compaq Computer Corporation, Inc.

Donald E Moore

George R Daniels

Dean J Ryan

Charles R Lewis

Joseph R Fester

Dennis D Lamberth

James F Babb

Thomas C Kreiner

A tower unit for a personal computer wherein the tower unit is a generally rectangular box having a generally rectangular interior chassis. The interior chassis includes a first set of interiorly extending mounting flanges and tabs which are positioned and aligned on opposing chassis walls to mount one or more drives at an upwardly facing angle in order to allow the user visual and manual access to the drives for ease of operation. A similar combination of interiorly directed tabs and flanges are formed in the opposing side walls of the frame near the bottom of the tower unit chassis in order to mount a plurality of hard disk drives in horizontal positions. The frame includes a front frame panel which combines with the front bezel to provide a gripping area which cooperates with another gripping area formed in the rear bezel to allow the tower unit to be easily moved about.

Tower system unit with angled drive bay

An AC-powerable portable computer has an interior sheet metal chassis portion within which computer operating components are operatively disposed. The chassis has a removable metal access wall portion and is positioned within a plastic outer housing of the computer having a removable access wall that outwardly overlies the sheet metal access wall portion. A key-operable security locking system incorporated in the computer has a pawl portion positioned within the sheet metal chassis. The pawl is selectively movable to a locking position in which it interlocks with each of the plastic and sheet metal access walls and precludes their normal removal from the computer. When the plastic and sheet metal access walls are locked to the computer in this manner, entry into the chassis interior requires that the plastic access wall be broken, and that the metal access wall be forcibly bent away from the balance of the chassis structure. Accordingly, the access walls cannot be reinstalled on the computer without leaving readily visible evidence of the forcible entry into the computer. The locking system thus provides a dual barrier to unauthorized physical entry into the chassis, and visually alerts the legitimate user of the computer that a break-in has been attempted or achieved.

Double housing wall security locking apparatus for a computer

An AC-powerable portable computer has a housing structure with an external opening normally covered by a removable wall releasable interlocked with the housing structure. A security bracket is captively mounted on the housing structure for movement relative thereto between an extended position in which the bracket projects outwardly of the housing structure, and a retracted position in which the bracket projects into the interior of the housing structure and is essentially flush with its exterior surface. The bracket in its retracted position permits the normal removal of the housing wall. However, when the bracket is in its extended position an inner end portion thereof blocks an interior tab portion of the housing wall in a manner preventing its removal. An opening in an outer end portion of the bracket is positioned outwardly of the housing structure when the bracket is its extended position. The locking rod portion of a padlock may be passed through the opening to lock the bracket in its extended position. Alternatively, a locking chain or cable may be passed through the opening and then suitably locked to a table or desk to substantially deter theft of the computer is addition to locking the removable wall on the housing structure.

Security locking bracket apparatus for a portable computer

Growing community of inventors

Houston, TX, United States of America

Donald E Moore