Computer cooling fan vibration isolation apparatus

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 wherein: said securing step is performed in a manner at least slightly compressing said elastomeric vibration isolation material between said fan frame and said interior wall surface.

Claim 6

The method of claim 3 further comprising the step of: respectively joining first and second pairs of said four vibration isolation members with elongated strips of elastomeric material.

Claim 7

The method of claim 4 wherein said joining step includes the step of: configuring said elongated strips in a manner such that when said elongated strips are in place within said mounting frame they are inwardly offset from its interior surface periphery.

Claim 8

The method of claim 3 wherein: said fourth walls of said vibration isolation members project outwardly beyond said open rear side of said mounting frame when said fan frame is operatively installed within said mounting frame, and said securing step is performed in a manner such that said fourth walls of said vibration isolation members are at least slightly compressed between said interior wall surface of the computer and said fourth exterior surface portions of said fan frame corner sections.

Claim 9

The method of claim 6 wherein: said interior wall surface of the computer has a connecting lip projecting inwardly therefrom, said mounting frame has a first peripheral side wall, and an opposite peripheral side wall from which a connecting tab outwardly projects, and said securing step includes the steps of engaging said connecting tab and said connecting lip, pivoting said mounting frame toward said interior housing wall surface, and then fastening said second peripheral side wall to said interior wall surface of the computer.

Claim 10

Computer cooling fan apparatus connectable to an interior wall surface of a computer, comprising: a generally rectangular fan frame having diagonally inwardly enlarged corner sections, each of said corner sections having an exterior side surface area defined by contiguous first and second perpendicular peripheral portions extending between and generally transversely to spaced apart third and fourth opposite side portions; a motor-driven fan impeller operatively supported in said fan frame; four pocketed vibration isolation members formed from an elastomeric material and positionable on said fan frame corner sections to cover said exterior side surface areas thereof; and a mounting frame having a rectangular interior peripheral surface, an open rear side securable to said interior wall surface of the computer, and front wall corner portions, said mounting frame being configured to receive said fan frame, with said vibration isolation members operatively installed thereon, in a manner engaging said vibration isolation members with said front wall corner portions and at least slightly compressing said vibration isolation members between said interior peripheral surface of said mounting frame and said first and second peripheral portions of said exterior side surface areas of said fan frame corner sections.

Claim 11

Computer cooling fan apparatus connectable to an interior wall surface of a computer, comprising: a generally rectangular fan frame having diagonally inwardly enlarged corner sections, each of said corner sections having an exterior side surface area defined by contiguous first and second perpendicular peripheral portions extending between and generally transversely to spaced apart third and fourth opposite side portions; a motor-driven fan impeller operatively supported in said fan frame; four pocketed vibration isolation members formed from an elastomeric material and positionable on said fan frame corner sections to cover said exterior side surface areas thereof; and a mounting frame having a rectangular interior peripheral surface, an open rear side securable to said interior wall surface of the computer, and front wall corner portions, said mounting frame being configured to receive said fan frame, with said vibration isolation members operatively installed thereon, in a manner engaging said vibration isolation members with said front wall corner portions and at least slightly compressing said vibration isolation members between said interior peripheral surface of said mounting frame and said first and second peripheral portions of said exterior side surface areas of said fan frame corner sections.

Claim 12

The computer cooling fan apparatus of claim 8 wherein: said vibration isolation members, when said fan frame is operatively inserted into said mounting frame, have portions which project rearwardly beyond said open rear side of said mounting frame, and said computer cooling fan apparatus further comprises means for securing said open rear side of said mounting frame to said interior wall surface of the computer in a manner such that said rearwardly projecting portions of said vibration isolation members are at least slightly compressed.

Claim 13

The computer cooling fan apparatus of claim 9 wherein: said open rear side of said mounting frame has opposite first and second opposite outer side edge portions, and connecting tab means projecting outwardly from said first side edge portion, and said means for securing include connecting lip means cooperatively engageable with said tab means to releasably hold said first outer side edge portion of said mounting frame generally against said interior wall surface of the computer, and means for releasably fastening said second outer side edge portion of said mounting frame to said interior wall surface of the computer.

Claim 14

The computer cooling fan apparatus of claim 8 further comprising: a first elongated joining member formed from an elastomeric material and connected at its opposite ends to a first pair of said vibration isolation members, and a second elongated joining member formed from an elastomeric material and connected at its opposite ends to a second pair of said vibration isolation members.

Claim 15

In a computer having an interior wall surface, resiliently mounted internal cooling fan apparatus comprising: a generally rectangular fan frame having diagonally inwardly enlarged corner sections, each of said corner sections having an exterior side surface area defined by contiguous first and second perpendicular peripheral portions extending between and generally transversely to spaced apart third and fourth opposite side portions; a motor-driven fan impeller operatively supported in said fan frame; four pocketed vibration isolation members formed from an elastomeric material and removably installed on said fan frame corner sections and covering said exterior side surface areas thereof; a first elongated joining member formed from an elastomeric material and connected at its opposite ends to a first pair of said vibration isolation members; a second elongated joining member formed from an elastomeric material and connected at its opposite ends to a the other pair of said vibration isolation members; a mounting frame having a rectangular interior peripheral surface, an open rear side securable to said interior wall surface of the computer, and front wall corner portions, said mounting frame receiving said fan frame in a manner engaging said vibration isolation members with said front wall corner portions and at least slightly compressing said vibration isolation members between said interior peripheral surface of said mounting frame and said first and second peripheral portions of said exterior side surface areas of said fan frame corner sections, said vibration isolation members having portions projecting rearwardly beyond said open rear side of said mounting frame, and said open rear side of said mounting frame being removably secured to said interior wall surface of the computer in a manner at least slightly compressing said rearwardly projecting portions of said vibration isolation members.

Claim 16

In a computer having an interior wall surface, resiliently mounted internal cooling fan apparatus comprising: a generally rectangular fan frame having diagonally inwardly enlarged corner sections, each of said corner sections having an exterior side surface area defined by contiguous first and second perpendicular peripheral portions extending between and generally transversely to spaced apart third and fourth opposite side portions; a motor-driven fan impeller operatively supported in said fan frame; four pocketed vibration isolation members formed from an elastomeric material and removably installed on said fan frame corner sections and covering said exterior side surface areas thereof; a first elongated joining member formed from an elastomeric material and connected at its opposite ends to a first pair of said vibration isolation members; a second elongated joining member formed from an elastomeric material and connected at its opposite ends to a the other pair of said vibration isolation members; a mounting frame having a rectangular interior peripheral surface, an open rear side securable to said interior wall surface of the computer, and front wall corner portions, said mounting frame receiving said fan frame in a manner engaging said vibration isolation members with said front wall corner portions and at least slightly compressing said vibration isolation members between said interior peripheral surface of said mounting frame and said first and second peripheral portions of said exterior side surface areas of said fan frame corner sections, said vibration isolation members having portions projecting rearwardly beyond said open rear side of said mounting frame, and said open rear side of said mounting frame being removably secured to said interior wall surface of the computer in a manner at least slightly compressing said rearwardly projecting portions of said vibration isolation members.

Claim 17

A vibration isolation member removably securable to the fan frame portion of a computer cooling fan, said fan frame portion having a generally rectangular configuration with diagonally inwardly enlarged corner sections each having an exterior side surface area defined by contiguous first and second perpendicular peripheral portions extending between and generally transverse to spaced apart third and fourth opposite side portions, said vibration isolation member being formed from an elastomeric material and comprising: first and second spaced apart end portions each having first, second, third and fourth walls combinatively defining a pocket disposed therein and configured to operatively receive one of said fan frame corner sections with said first, second, third and fourth walls of the end portion, respectively, outwardly engaging the first, second, third and fourth exterior side surface portions of the received fan frame corner section; and an elongated joining portion connected at its opposite ends to said first and second end portions of said vibration isolation member.

Claim 18

A vibration isolation member removably securable to the fan frame portion of a computer cooling fan, said fan frame portion having a generally rectangular configuration with diagonally inwardly enlarged corner sections each having an exterior side surface area defined by contiguous first and second perpendicular peripheral portions extending between and generally transverse to spaced apart third and fourth opposite side portions, said vibration isolation member being formed from an elastomeric material and comprising: first and second spaced apart end portions each having first, second, third and fourth walls combinatively defining a pocket disposed therein and configured to operatively receive one of said fan frame corner sections with said first, second, third and fourth walls of the end portion, respectively, outwardly engaging the first, second, third and fourth exterior side surface portions of the received fan frame corner section; and an elongated joining portion connected at its opposite ends to said first and second end portions of said vibration isolation member.

Claim 19

The vibration isolation member of claim 13 wherein: said joining portion is formed integrally with said first and second end portions.

Claim 20

The vibration isolation member of claim 14 wherein: said joining portion has a strip-like configuration and is thinner than the end portion walls which it joins.