Apple Inc.

Troy K Hulick

Wayman M Lee

Eric I Gruenberg

James J Halicho

Melvin J Phillips

Jimmy A Melton

A tower computer includes a housing and an access panel which can be opened to provide access to the interior components of the housing. A cooling fan is mounted on the panel and is electrically coupled to an electrical plug which is also mounted on the panel. That plug is adapted to become automatically connected to a receptacle mounted in the housing, in response to a closing of the panel. The plug automatically becomes disconnected from the receptacle in response to the panel being opened.

Personal computer having quick-release cooling fan

A personal computer includes a housing and a access panel providing access to the housing interior. The access panel is held closed by a latch, and the latch is locked against actuation, by a lock. The lock includes a bar that can be pulled out to a latch-locking position, whereupon an aperture of the bar is exposed for receiving an auxiliary locking member such as a padlock. The padlock prevents the bar from being retracted into a latch-release position. The access panel carries a cooling fan and a plug. The plug is automatically plugged into a receptacle carried by the housing, in response to the access panel being closed.

Personal computer having lockable access panel

An improved hinge assembly for a personal computer system. The hinge is comprised of a tubular portion which is rigidly connected to the cover unit of the computer. A part of the tubular hinge is left open to form a passageway into the cover unit. The tubular portion rotates relative to the main body section of the computer. The tubular portion has a longitudinal section removed from near its mid-point, forming a gap. This gap is closed by a curved cover element. The cover element is held stationary with respect to the main body section of the computer. Thus, when the cover unit is opened, the tubular portion rotates relative to the cover element. A cable connecting the electrical components in the cover unit to the main body section passes through an opening in the curved cover element, is bent, travels through the tubular section, parallel to its central axis, is bent again and passes into the cover unit.

Growing community of inventors

Saratoga, CA, United States of America

Troy K Hulick