Collapsible support for a computer cabinet, and a computer comprising a collapsible support

Abstract

The present invention relates to a collapsible and adjustable support for a computer cabinet.

Claims

1. A collapsible support (100) for a computer cabinet (10) comprising: a first endpiece (110); a second endpiece (120); an elongated guide member (130) connected to and spanning between said first endpiece (110) and said second endpiece (120); said guide member (130) comprising a first guide recess (132), and one or more first guide pins (134); an elongated toothed rack (140) spanning between said first endpiece (110) and said second endpiece (120); said toothed rack (140) comprising one or more second guide recesses (142), each adapted for receiving a first guide pin (134) of the guide member (130), thereby allowing said toothed rack (140) to slide from a first position to a second position relative to said guide member (130); a first leg (150) and a second leg (160), each comprising: a) a foot (152, 162); b) a leg part (154, 164) connected to the foot (152, 162); and c) a sled (156, 166) connected to the leg part (154, 164); wherein said sled (156, 166) comprises i) a locking means (157, 167) adapted for engaging with said toothed rack (140), and ii) a second guide pin (158, 168) adapted for engaging with the first guide recess (132) of the guide member (130), thereby allowing said sled (156, 166) and thereby said leg (150, 160) to move along said first guide recess (132); and disengagement means (170) adapted for sliding the toothed rack (140) from said first position to said second position relative to said guide member (130).

2. The support (100) according to claim 1, wherein the locking means (157, 167) comprises a row of teeth adapted for engaging with the toothed rack (140).

3. The support (100) according to claim 1, wherein the first guide recess (132) comprises a curved first part, a straight middle part, and a curved second part.

4. The support (100) according to claim 1, wherein the position of the second guide pin (158, 168) relative to the leg part (154, 164), and the shape or path of the first guide recess (132) ensures that the leg part (154, 164) will tilt relative to the guide member (130) when the sled (156, 166) moves from a first end of the first guide recess (132) and towards an opposing second end of said first guide recess (132).

5. The support (100) according to claim 1, wherein the disengagement means (170) comprises a lever arm (172) connected to the toothed rack (140) at one end, and to a push button mechanism (174) at another end.

6. The support (100) according to claim 1, further comprising push means (180) adapted for advancing the sled (156, 166) in a direction toward an end of the first guide recess (132).

7. The support (100) according to claim 6, wherein the push means (180) is spring actuated.

8. A computer comprising: a cabinet (10); and a collapsible support (100) according to claim 1.

9. The computer according to claim 8, further comprising: a display screen; and a casing adapted for supporting a computer screen; wherein two supports (100) are flanking said casing, one on each side.

10. A computer according to claim 8, wherein the collapsible support (100) is configured as a handle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0029] FIG. 1 shows a support according to the invention in a collapsed configuration;

[0030] FIG. 2 shows a support according to the invention in an unfolded configuration;

[0031] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a support according to the invention in a collapsed configuration;

[0032] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a support according to the invention in an unfolded configuration;

[0033] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a support according to the invention in an unfolded configuration, where parts have been removed to reveal the disengagement means;

[0034] FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of a support according to the invention in an unfolded configuration, where parts have been removed to reveal the disengagement means;

[0035] FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a support according to the invention in a collapsed configuration, where the guide member and toothed rack have been removed;

[0036] FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of a support according to the invention in an unfolded configuration, where the guide member and toothed rack have been removed;

[0037] FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of a support according to the invention in an unfolded configuration, where the toothed rack has been removed;

[0038] FIG. 10 shows a front view of a computer cabinet with two supports mounted thereto;

[0039] FIG. 11 shows a back view of a computer cabinet with two supports mounted thereto; and

[0040] FIG. 12 shows a side view of a computer with two supports flanking the cabinet.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0041] In FIG. 1, an exemplary support 100 for a computer cabinet according to the present invention is shown. Two supports 100 should preferably be used with a computer cabinet 10, as exemplified in FIGS. 10-12.

[0042] In FIG. 1, the support 100 is shown collapsed and comprising a first endpiece 110, a second endpiece 120, an elongated guide member 130 connected to and spanning between the first 110 and second 120 endpieces, an elongated toothed rack 140 spanning the first 110 and second 120 endpieces, a first 150 and a second 160 leg, and a disengagement means 170. FIG. 2 shows the support in the unfolded configuration.

[0043] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a support according to the invention in a collapsed configuration, and from the side suitable for connection to a computer cabinet. The guide member 130 is shown comprising four guide pins 134, and also comprises a guide recess 132 that can only be seen in FIGS. 2 and 9. The toothed rack 140 comprises four guide recesses 142, each adapted for receiving a guide pin 134 of the guide member 130, thereby allowing the toothed rack 140 to slide/displace from a first position to a second position relative to said guide member 130. This operation is crucial for the support to be able to move its legs 150, 160 from a collapsed configuration to an unfolded configuration.

[0044] Each leg 150, 160 comprises a foot 152, 162, a leg part 154, 164 connected to the foot 152, 162, and a sled 156, 166 connected to the leg part 154, 164. The sled 156, 166 comprises a locking means 157, 167 adapted for engaging with the toothed rack 140. Here, the locking means is shown comprising a row of teeth adapted for engaging with the toothed rack 140. The sleds 156, 166 also comprise a guide pin 158, 168 (FIGS. 7 and 8) adapted for engaging with the guide recess 132 of the guide member 130, thereby allowing said sleds 156, 166 and thereby the legs 150, 160 to move along said guide recess 132. The position of the guide pin 158, 168 relative to the leg part 154, 164, and the shape or path of the guide recess 132 (see e.g. FIG. 9) ensures that the leg 150, 160 will tilt relative to the guide member 130 when the sleds 156, 166 move from the first end of the guide recess and towards the opposing end of said guide recess 132. When the toothed rack 140 is in the first position relative to the guide member 130, it engages with the sleds 156, 166; and when the toothed rack 140 is in the second position relative to the guide member 130, it disengages from the sleds 156, 166, thereby allowing them to slide along said guide recess 132. When the support 100 is in its collapsed configuration, the sleds 156, 166 will be positioned at one end of the guide recess 132; and when the support 100 is in its unfolded configuration, the sleds 156, 166 will be positioned at the opposite end of the guide recess 132. However, the support 100 can also be used in positions, where the sleds 156, 166 are placed at positions between the two ends. In these situations, the leg parts 154, 164 will have a different angle relative to the guide member 130 than when the sleds 156, 166 are placed at the opposite end of the guide recess 132. Hence, the support's 100 position relative to e.g. a table surface may be varied. The support 100 may comprise a spring actuated push means 180 (FIGS. 2 and 8) adapted for advancing the sleds 156, 166 in the direction of the opposite end of the guide recess 132.

[0045] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a support according to the invention in an unfolded configuration, and from the side suitable for connection to a computer cabinet.

[0046] In FIGS. 5 and 6 parts of the support 100 have been removed to reveal the disengagement means 170 adapted for sliding the toothed rack 140 from said first position to said second position relative to said guide member 130. This embodiment is not intended to be limiting for the scope of the invention and is merely an example of how it could be configured. The disengagement means comprises a lever arm 172 connected to the toothed rack 140 at one end, and to a push button mechanism 174 at the other end. When pressing the push button mechanism 174, the lever arm pulls in the toothed rack 140 that thereby slides from said first position to said second position relative to said guide member 130.

REFERENCES

[0047] 10 Computer cabinet [0048] 100 Support [0049] 110 First endpiece [0050] 120 Second endpiece [0051] 130 Guide member [0052] 132 Guide recess [0053] 134 Guide pin [0054] 140 Toothed rack [0055] 142 Guide recess [0056] 150 First leg [0057] 152 Foot [0058] 154 Leg part [0059] 156 Sled [0060] 157 Locking means [0061] 158 Guide pin [0062] 160 Second leg [0063] 162 Foot [0064] 164 Leg part [0065] 166 Sled [0066] 167 Locking means [0067] 168 Guide pin [0068] 170 Disengagement means [0069] 172 Lever arm [0070] 174 Push button mechanism [0071] 180 Push means