US5351176A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Panel for a computer including a hinged door with integral display
Assignee: NAI Technologies Inc
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Filing: 1992-12-31
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Granted: 1994-09-27
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Expires: 2012-12-31
Abstract
Abstract The present invention relates to front panel display construction for computers. The front panel includes a panel assembly secured to the computer having an opening formed therein so as to provide access to internal components of the computer. In addition, the front panel has a display member pivotably secured to the panel assembly which pivots between an open position and a closed position. In the open position the internal components of the computer are accessible to a user or operator and in the closed position, access to the internal components is inhibited.
Inventors
- 👤 Smith Stephen W.
- 👤 Mark T. Oliver
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 21:13
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05K; H05K7/00; H05K7/14; H05K7/1421; G; G06; G06F; G06F1/00; G06F1/16; G06F1/18; G06F1/181; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/13; G02F1/133; G02F1/1333; G02F1/133382; G02F1/133385; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S248/00; Y10S248/917
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
90 words
A front panel assembly for a computer, said front panel assembly comprising: panel means releasably securable to a computer, and having an opening formed therein so as to provide access to internal components of the computer; and a display for displaying images, pivotably secured to said panel means such that when said display is pivoted to an open position said opening in said panel means is exposed to a user and when said display is pivoted to a closed position access to said opening in said panel means is inhibited.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
90 words
A front panel assembly for a computer, said front panel assembly comprising: panel means releasably securable to a computer, and having an opening formed therein so as to provide access to internal components of the computer; and a display for displaying images, pivotably secured to said panel means such that when said display is pivoted to an open position said opening in said panel means is exposed to a user and when said display is pivoted to a closed position access to said opening in said panel means is inhibited.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The front panel assembly according to claim 1 further comprising first seal means disposed between said panel means and the computer so as to maintain the environmental integrity of the computer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The front panel assembly according to claim 2, wherein said environmental integrity includes preventing moisture and dust from entering the computer, and preventing energy fields from exiting the computer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The front panel assembly according to claim 3, wherein said first seal means comprises a conductive EMI and moisture resistant gasket.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The front panel assembly according to claim 4, wherein said gasket comprises a soft foam core and an outer nylon jacket which has been impregnated with silver and coated with a conductive, galvanically compatible coating.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
The front panel assembly according to claim 1 further comprising seal means disposed between said panel means and said display means such that when said display is in said closed position the environmental integrity between said panel means and said display is maintained.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The front panel assembly according to claim 6, wherein said seal means comprises a conductive EMI and moisture resistant gasket.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
The front panel assembly according to claim 7, wherein said gasket comprises a soft foam core and an outer nylon jacket which has been impregnated with silver and coated with a conductive, galvanically compatible coating.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
The front panel assembly according to claim 6, wherein said display means comprises: a display housing; a display medium for displaying said images disposed within said display housing; and latching means for releasably securing said housing to said panel means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
64 words
The front panel assembly according to claim 9, wherein said latching means includes a latch clamp secured to said display housing and configured to releasably secure said display housing to said panel means and to evenly distribute clamping forces between said latching means and said panel means along said seal means to effect an environmental seal between said display housing and said panel means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
104 words
A front panel assembly for a computer, said front panel assembly comprising: panel means releasably securable to a computer, and having an opening formed therein so as to provide access to internal components of the computer; a display for displaying images, pivotably secured to said panel means such that when said display is pivoted to an open position said opening in said panel means is exposed to a user and when said display is pivoted to a closed position access to said opening in said panel means is inhibited; and seal means for maintaining the environmental integrity between said panel means and said display.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
104 words
A front panel assembly for a computer, said front panel assembly comprising: panel means releasably securable to a computer, and having an opening formed therein so as to provide access to internal components of the computer; a display for displaying images, pivotably secured to said panel means such that when said display is pivoted to an open position said opening in said panel means is exposed to a user and when said display is pivoted to a closed position access to said opening in said panel means is inhibited; and seal means for maintaining the environmental integrity between said panel means and said display.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The front panel assembly according to claim 11 further comprising latching means for releasably securing said display to said panel means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
The front panel assembly according to claim 11, wherein said seal means comprises a conductive EMI and moisture resistant gasket.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
The front panel assembly according to claim 12, wherein said display comprises: a display housing; and a display medium disposed within said display housing for displaying said images.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
119 words
A computer assembly comprising: a computer housing at least having processing means, stored program means for controlling the operation of said processing means, memory means for short term and long term storage of data and user interface circuitry; panel means releasably secured to said computer housing, and having an opening formed therein so as to provide access to components of said computer housing; and display means for displaying images, pivotably secured to said panel means such that when said display means is pivoted to an open position said opening in said panel means is exposed to a user and when said display means is pivoted to a closed position access to said opening in said panel means is inhibited.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
119 words
A computer assembly comprising: a computer housing at least having processing means, stored program means for controlling the operation of said processing means, memory means for short term and long term storage of data and user interface circuitry; panel means releasably secured to said computer housing, and having an opening formed therein so as to provide access to components of said computer housing; and display means for displaying images, pivotably secured to said panel means such that when said display means is pivoted to an open position said opening in said panel means is exposed to a user and when said display means is pivoted to a closed position access to said opening in said panel means is inhibited.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
The computer assembly according to claim 15 further comprising first seal means disposed between said panel means and the computer so as to maintain the environmental integrity of the computer.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
The computer assembly according to claim 16, wherein said environmental integrity includes preventing moisture and dust from entering the computer, and preventing energy fields from exiting the computer.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
44 words
The computer assembly according to claim 15 further comprising seal means disposed between said panel means and said display means such that when said display means is in said closed position the environmental integrity between said panel means and said display means is maintained.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
39 words
The computer assembly according to claim 18, wherein said display means comprises: a display housing; a display medium for displaying said images disposed within said display housing; and latching means for releasably securing said housing to said panel means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
63 words
The computer assembly according to claim 19, wherein said latching means includes a latch clamp secured to said display housing and configured to releasably secure said display housing to said panel means and to evenly distribute clamping forces between said latching means and said panel means along said seal means to effect an environmental seal between said display housing and said panel means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
20 words
The computer assembly according to claim 15, wherein said components of said computer housing include at least one disk drive.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
130 words
A computer assembly adapted for rack mounting comprising: a computer housing having processing means, stored program means for controlling the operation of said processing means, and memory means for short term and long term storage of data, said computer housing being configured, dimensioned and adapted for rack mounting; panel means releasably secured to said computer housing, and having an opening formed therein so as to provide access to internal components of said computer housing; and display means for displaying images pivotably secured to said panel means such that when said display means is pivoted to an open position said opening in said panel means is exposed to a user and when said display means is pivoted to a closed position access to said opening in said panel means is inhibited.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
130 words
A computer assembly adapted for rack mounting comprising: a computer housing having processing means, stored program means for controlling the operation of said processing means, and memory means for short term and long term storage of data, said computer housing being configured, dimensioned and adapted for rack mounting; panel means releasably secured to said computer housing, and having an opening formed therein so as to provide access to internal components of said computer housing; and display means for displaying images pivotably secured to said panel means such that when said display means is pivoted to an open position said opening in said panel means is exposed to a user and when said display means is pivoted to a closed position access to said opening in said panel means is inhibited.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
21 words
The computer assembly according to claim 22 further comprising latching means for releasably securing said display means to said panel means.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
29 words
The computer assembly according to claim 22 further comprising seal means for preventing emission of energy fields from said computer housing and preventing moisture from entering said computer housing.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
21 words
The computer assembly according to claim 22, wherein said internal components of said computer housing include at least one disk drive.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
133 words
A computer assembly comprising: panel means monolithically formed to a computer housing, said computer housing encloses at least a processor, stored programs for controlling the operation of said processor, memory for short term and long term storage of data, at least one disk drive and user interface circuitry, said panel means having an opening formed therein so as to provide access to components within said computer housing; and a display for displaying images, said display being dimensioned to occupy substantially an entire front portion of said panel means, and pivotably secured to said panel means such that when said display is pivoted to an open position said components including said disk drive are accessible to a user and when said display is pivoted to a closed position, access to said components is inhibited.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
133 words
A computer assembly comprising: panel means monolithically formed to a computer housing, said computer housing encloses at least a processor, stored programs for controlling the operation of said processor, memory for short term and long term storage of data, at least one disk drive and user interface circuitry, said panel means having an opening formed therein so as to provide access to components within said computer housing; and a display for displaying images, said display being dimensioned to occupy substantially an entire front portion of said panel means, and pivotably secured to said panel means such that when said display is pivoted to an open position said components including said disk drive are accessible to a user and when said display is pivoted to a closed position, access to said components is inhibited.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
21 words
The computer assembly according to claim 26, further comprising latching means for releasably securing said display means to said panel means.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
38 words
The computer assembly according to claim 25 further comprising seal means disposed between said panel means and said display means for preventing emission of energy fields from said computer housing and preventing moisture from entering said computer housing.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-09-26 | 1998-03-28 | 1998-09-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-09-26 | 2002-03-28 | 2002-09-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-09-26 | 2006-03-28 | 2006-09-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |